Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda backs NCTC

NEW DELHI: Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda today strongly supported the creation of the proposed National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) saying that the Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh recently had demonstrated the "nefarious designs of terrorists."

Speaking at the Conference of Chief Ministers on Internal Security here, Hooda said the issue needed urgent attention and added that the revised draft of the Home Ministry had taken care of the states' concerns on NCTC.

Hooda said that the attack on the cavalcade of Congress leaders in Chattisgarh should not leave any doubts about the "nefarious designs" of such anti-state actors.

"It was in this context that I had supported the need for NCTC and would like to stress that the issue needs urgent attention of this august gathering," Hooda further said.

"The revised draft of MHA, which has been circulated with the agenda notes, takes care of the concerns and the apprehensions of the states. Rather, the states have been envisaged as equal functional partners in this battle against terrorism of all types," he added.

Several chief ministers of opposition ruled states have in the past expressed reservations on the formation of the NCTC saying that its creation may not be in line with the federal structure of the country.

In his speech, Hooda said that cooperation and coordination between the Centre and states is needed to address the problems of internal security.

The Haryana CM also gave details of the initiatives taken by his government to strengthen the security scenario in his state.