Acknowledging the concerns of some Chief Ministers over certain provisions of the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Monday said States would have to come together to fight terrorism.
“We cannot allow terrorism in the country,” he told journalists after a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Bakkhali in South 24 Parganas district.
Asked whether he and Ms. Banerjee discussed the NCTC, Mr. Shinde said she and other Chief Ministers had expressed reservations about a “particular clause.”
“The matter involves Centre-State relations. We will sit and discuss the issue,” he said, adding the Chief Ministers were opposed to curtailment of the States’ rights.
Mr. Shinde, who is on a two-day visit to the State to review coastal security in the Sunderbans along the Bangladesh border, said he had fruitful discussions with Ms. Banerjee on the issue.
“We also made an inspection of the Jambudwip [island]. Yesterday [on Sunday], I visited the northern side near T junction and today we discussed the security of the southern side [of the Sunderbans].”
Earlier, Mr. Shinde, flying a hovercraft along with Ms. Banerjee, reviewed costal security at Bakkhali, and visited the Sagar Island — the largest among the 100-odd islands in the Sunderbans archipelago.
“We also had positive discussions on the requirement of land for the Border Security Force outpost in the State,” Mr. Shinde added.
ADG BSF (East) B.D. Sharma said Ms. Banerjee had agreed to give land for the battalion headquarters and the border outposts.
