NCTC opposition not linked to image: Naveen Patnaik

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday denied that he was opposing the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) to save the image of his government, which has been under criticism due to incidents like alleged rape, attempt to murder and harassment of the dalit girl of Pipili.

"As the February 3 NCTC order has draconian overtone, we have been opposing it," Patnaik told reporters while replying to a question on whether he was raising the NCTC issue to regain his image.

The voice raised against the NCTC order was to retain the federal rights of the states being bestowed by the Constitution, he said.

Apart from a series of rapes, including that of the Pipili girl, Odisha was rocked by the hooch tragedy in Cuttack and Puri districts that claimed at least 34 lives recently.