Jayalalithaa firm on keeping National Counter Terrorism Centre in deep-freeze

CHENNAI: Jaya firm on wanting NCTC in deep-freeze Chennai Over the past fortnight, Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram sorted out three key issues: She got the Kudankulam nuclear power project back on track, won the Sankarankoil by-election, and welcomed her long-time aide Sasikala back to Poes Garden after Sasikala disowned her clan.

Having got those three prickly issues behind her, Jayalalithaa has shot off another missive to prime minister Manmohan Singh, asking him not to try and "steamroller into existence" the National Counter Terrorism Centre.

"Please recall my earlier letter conveying my strong objections to certain provisions of the office memorandum issued by the ministry of home affairs regarding the proposed formation and functioning of the NCTC and the manner in which it was sought to be constituted without consulting the state governments", Jayalalithaa reminded the PM, and added: "It is surprising that against this background a meeting of CMs has been convened on April 16 to discuss various matters relating to internal security.

Among the issues listed for discussion, NCTC also figures. It is indeed unfortunate that, without taking into consideration the views and sentiments of various CMs, the NCTC is sought to be steamrollered into existence".

The chief minister has also reminded the prime minister about "many other chief ministers conveying similar views" to him, and has requested that the "formation of the NCTC may be held in abeyance, and a separate meeting of CMs may be convened to discuss this matter".

She said that in spite of the state's reservations on the subject, she had directed her officers to attend a meeting convened by the union home secretary with chief secretaries/home secretaries and state DGPs on March 12, and pointed out that even some Congress-ruled states had disagreed with the present format suggested for the NCTC.

Jayalalithaa has been seen to move more confidently as the state government gets close to completing its first year in office next month. Immediately after voting ended for the Sankarankoil by-election, she ordered breaking up the protests that prevented work at the Kudankulam nuclear plant.

The by-poll provided more self-assurance to the AIADMK, when it trounced the DMDK, which had been the ruling party's ally in the 2011 assembly poll, before it turned the main opposition party, ahead of the DMK.