Chennai, Dec 28 (IANS): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Friday told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the move to set up a National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) should be taken in consultation with the states.
Jayalalithaa had earlier opposed the setting up of the NCTC, and reiterated her opposition Friday.
In a letter to Manmohan Singh, the text of which was released to the media here, Jayalalithaa said she learned from reliable sources about the renewed move to set up the NCTC under the union home ministry.
"I am sure that you will recall the views expressed by several chief ministers, including myself, against the NCTC emerging as a single point of control for counter terrorist measures at the special conference convened for this purpose, under your chairmanship in May 2012," she said.
Reminding Singh that many chief ministers had reservations on the move, Jayalalithaa requested him to communicate the draft of any proposal for the purpose.
"The finalisation of any such initiative may be done only after completing the process of consultation with the States," Jayalalithaa said.
The Tamil Nadu chief minister said any institution set up for this purpose should serve only as a nodal agency to interact with a nodal agency in the states for sharing intelligence.
She claimed that counter-terrorist operations were best left to the state police, and a Rapid Action Counter Terrorist Force should be created in each state to function under the nodal state agency.
"The flow of funds from the centre for this effort should be liberal, so as to enable state agencies to be equipped with modern means of communication and fire power," Jayalalithaa said.
Recalling one of the points made at the May 2012 conference that further action on the NCTC would be taken only in consultation with the states, Jayalalithaa said: "It appears that these commitments are all being thrown to the winds when it comes to the point of considering the views of chief ministers before finalising policy in the ministries of the union government."
"The situation has deteriorated to such a level that today the views of the chief ministers are not even heard, let alone considered before policy making."
The Tamil Nadu chief minister had, just a day ago, walked out in a huff when like all other chief ministers her speech too at the National Development Council in New Delhi was restricted to 10 minutes.