'Govt can't win war on terror without states'

Faced with growing opposition to the setting-up of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) from non-Congress-ruled states, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on Saturday said the war against terror cannot be won if states start working independently.

Faced with growing opposition to the setting-up of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) from non-Congress-ruled states, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on Saturday said the war against terror cannot be won if states start working independently.

“It is the duty of the central government to deal with terrorists and to coordinate with states. If all states work independently and if there is no coordination, can we win this fight?” home secretary RK Singh said to reporters.

His comments came on a day when another UPA ally, the National Conference, also expressed reservations over the move.

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“In that (matters related to security of the country), nothing should be done which will infringe on the federal structure,” party president and union minister Farooq Abdullah said.

A day after it had attacked the state governments opposing the NCTC, the Congress on Saturday appeared to have struck a conciliatory note on the issue, with party spokesperson Manish Tewari saying the Centre will address the apprehensions of states.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded a meeting of the Inter State Council to discuss the setting-up of the NCTC through an executive order.

“The way the NCTC is being set up by an executive order without even consulting the states is now being objected to by even the UPA’s own allies such as the Trinamool Congress,” BJP spokesperson JP Nadda said.