BJP to move amendments to President's address

NEW DELHI: BJP today said it will move amendments to the President's address, when it comes up for discussion and passage in the two Houses of Parliament, on "sensitive issues" including formation of NCTC without consent of the states.

Deputy Leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha S S Ahluwalia described President Pratibha Patil's speech as one "completely lacking in vision, having no big picture" and said it dealt with details of how many passport centres had been opened and where all cable TV digitisation has taken place.

"The President's address said nothing on how the government intends to deal with the present economic crisis. It does not indicate what steps the government intends to take to revive the economy and economic sentiments," Ahluwalia said.

BJP will move an amendment on the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) issue mentioned in the address to underline how this is an example of the Centre encroaching on federal rights of the states, he said. UPA allies TMC and NC are opposed to it and the opposition has sensed an opportunity to corner the government on this issue.

"In the name of national and internal security, the Centre has been encroaching on the federal structure and formed the NCTC without consulting the states. This is virtually snatching the rights of the states without consulting them," Ahluwalia said. He pointed out that when the order came, Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal had opposed it.

Asked about other amendments, he said the party will go into the "nitty gritty" of the speech and then decide.