Can’t take away states’ police powers: Jaitley

BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Tuesday accused the Centre of attempting to “substitute” the police powers of states and thereby violating India’s federal structure in its NCTC notification. HT reports.

BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Tuesday accused the Centre of attempting to “substitute” the police powers of states and thereby violating India’s federal structure in its NCTC notification. He said that federalism — the constitutional division of powers between the Centre and states — was part of the “basic structure” of the constitution that even the Parliament cannot undo. He demanded that the notification be kept in abeyance till there is consultation with the states. “It is fine if the Centre helps or intelligence is shared. But it cannot substitute police powers of the states. It can only aid and assist. The Centre cannot take away from the states their power of search and seizure, and the power to arrest,” Jaitley said. He added that while fighting terror is necessary, there is no contradiction between counter-terrorism and federalism.

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