Centre invites state DGPs for NCTC meet on Mar 9

The home ministry today has reportedly invited the DGPs and the chief secretaries of all the states for a meeting to resolve the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) row on March 9.

The home ministry on Wednesday has reportedly invited the DGPs and the chief secretaries of all the states for a meeting to resolve the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) row on March 9.

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Earlier on Tuesday, the home ministry decided not to operationalise the NCTC on March 1 and to wait to take state governments on board at a meeting of police chiefs after the ongoing assembly elections.

The home ministry decision is in line with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had promised to put the centre on hold. Banerjee — the only Congress ally from amongst a dozen CMs of opposition-ruled states — has been one of the loudest opponents of the NCTC.

In a letter to chief ministers soon after, home minister P Chidambaram had promised that the "next steps" on the NCTC would be taken after the meeting of police chiefs and heads of state anti-terror units.

A home ministry official said the meeting was slated to be convened on March 9. The official said it was decided not to appoint the NCTC director and three joint director-level officers before the meeting as a symbolic gesture.