NCTC issue: Country's security a shared responsibility, says Centre

BADU/KARNAL: Faced with strong opposition from non-Congress Chief Ministers over setting up of an anti-terror body, the Centre today reached out to them saying security of the country is a shared responsibility and without coordination among states the war against terror cannot be won.

Inaugurating an NSG hub in Badu, about 50 kms from Kolkata, Home Minister P Chidambaram said the Constitution assigns law and order to the state government and also to the Centre to protect the country against external aggression or internal disturbance.

He said the founding fathers of the Constitution were also wise when they made article 355. "That is why they made national security, internal security a shared responsibility."

"I have a responsibility to work with the states to quell terror, any militancy or rebellion," he said at the function, which was skipped by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has opposed the formation of NCTC.

In Karnal, Union Home Secretary R K Singh said the Centre has the duty to fight those who wage war against the nation and this war can't be won if states start working independently.

"It is the duty of the Central government to deal with terrorists and to coordinate with the states to tackle the terrorists. If all states work independently and if there is no coordination, can we win this fight ?," he said.

Singh said the section that has been talked about, was part of that law (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act) since 2004.