NCTC need of the hour as threat perception of terrorism continues: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: Unfazed by strong opposition, Home Minister P Chidambaram today said NCTC was the need of the hour as threat perception of terrorism continues to be high and delay in setting up the anti-terror hub will increase the risk in the country.

Chidambaram said the country needed an institutional mechanism by mobilising all elements of national power to tackle the menace of terrorism.

"Given the gravity of the situation, everyday we delay NCTC, we increase our risk," he said, addressing a meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Home Minister said Naxalism and insurgency in the North East were now becoming "terrorist in nature" and the country needed institutional mechanism to deal with it.

"We need to counter terrorism not just as a police operation but we need a counter-terrorism organisation that mobilises all elements of national power; diplomatic, financial, investigative, intelligence and police.

"Therefore, we need a counter-terrorism body like NCTC or similar organisation," he said.

Chidambaram's remarks came days after the Centre faced strong opposition from several Chief Ministers, including UPA ally and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on establishment of NCTC at a Conference of Chief Ministers.

The Chief Ministers, who opposed to the idea, had claimed that it would hurt the federal structure of the country and infringe on the states' powers.

This had led the Centre to declare that it would go into the concerns of the states on locating NCTC in the Intelligence Bureau and deciding on its operational powers.