BJP wanted "seamless response" to terror but opposes NCTC: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress today sought to turn the table on BJP on the issue of NCTC saying it was the opposition party which had pleaded for a "seamless response" to terror in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai strikes.

Party spokesman Manish Tewari today quoted extensively remarks of a BJP representative on December 18, 2008, to project that this was nothing but averment in favour of National Counter Terrorism Centre.

Accusing BJP of resorting to double-speak in the matter, Tewari recalled the BJP representative had in 2008 made these remarks while supporting the Centre's move to set up a National Investigation Agency.

He said the BJP leader had said at that time that "an anti-terror law or a machinery to investigate terrorism-related incidents, whether it is a central agency or a state agency, comes into picture not as an agency or law which can prevent the act of terrorism.

Tewari said the "most relevant part" of BJP's stand at that time was that "it is not an agency which per-se has the security forces at its disposal to prevent terrorism".

"If this is not an averment, if this is not a plea to have a seamless response to terror, then how else would you construe it? If this is not a plea to have NCTC, how else would you read it?" Tewari said.

He said it would be appropriate that BJP does not resort to "extreme or abject political opportunism" in order to score brownie points on a sensitive issue as important as fight against terror.

On West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's opposition to NCTC, Tewari said there is no question of ignoring the apprehensions of any one. The central government is in the process of corresponding with state governments.