PM Manmohan Singh to inaugurate CMs conference on internal security tomorrow

NEW DELHI: Strengthening of counter terror capabilities and intelligence apparatus, Maoist violence, police reforms and capacity building will be high on agenda at the Chief Ministers conference on internal security to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here tomorrow.

The day-long conference will also deliberate on how India is being affected due to its troubled neighbourhood and its obvious consequences in the country like cross border terrorism, covert support to insurgents, arms smuggling, circulation of fake Indian currency notes, inflow of refugees and immigration.

Active terror infrastructure in Pakistan, growing nexus between the Naxals and anti-India forces both within the country as well as abroad, better intelligence sharing among security forces, Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & System (CCTNS), border management, coastal security and other Centre-State issues will also figure prominently at the meeting where Home Minister P Chidambaram will deliver the opening address.

A separate session on Maoist violence will be held later in the day and will be attended by Chief Ministers of nine Maoist violence affected states.

The Central government has already conceded the demands of several non-Congress Chief Ministers, including ally Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, to hold a special meeting of Chief Ministers to exclusively discuss on the controversial issue of the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) on May 5.

So, the issue is unlikely to figure prominently tomorrow. Sources in Kolkata today said Banerjee will not attend tomorrow's chief ministers' meeting on internal security, but will take part in the CMs' meeting on NCTC.

No reason has been assigned for the West Bengal Chief Minister's decision.