NCTC should not be given unbridled powers: Siddaramaiah

NEW DELHI: Voicing reservations over the full-fledged operationalisation of the ambitious NCTC, Congress-ruled Karnataka today said the body should not be given "unbridled powers".

Newly-appointed Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also said that Naxal movement is "definitely trying to disturb" the security situation in his state.

"Some safeguards are necessary before setting up NCTC so that it is not given unbridled powers to encroach upon states' domain," Siddaramaiah said in his speech during the CM's internal security conference convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs here.

"As envisaged by the Union government, the National Counter-Terrorism Centre will have to involve multi-dimensional intelligence gathering and an action planning agency. Earlier efforts of containing terrorist activities by the existing organisation for intelligence networking have proved inadequate and ineffective.

"In principle, the government of Karnataka has recognised the importance of data and intelligence sharing, planning of anti-terrorist activities including activities that are aimed at preventing, disabling or even tackling a terrorist attack in progress and the need for coordination between state and central agencies and sometimes police of other states and even international agencies," he said.

The CM said Naxal activities are "expanding" in the state "albeit slowly" and hence Karnataka should be categorised as a Left Wing Extremism affected state.

"As I have earlier said, the Naxal movement is definitely trying to disturb our state. I, therefore urge the union government to declare this as a Naxal affected state and provide central assistance by funding and imparting special training to our personnel. Alternatively, assistance may be extended for undertaking preventive measures so that the Naxal movement does not make inroads into the state," he said.