Tripura opposes NCTC

New Delhi, May 5(ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, on Saturday opposed the setting up of a National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) on grounds that it encroached on the state governments' authority.

After attending the much-awaited meeting presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the issue, Sarkar said it violated the federal principles of the Indian Constitution.

"This introduction of NCTC without prior consultations with the state governments, particularly, giving some powers to the hands of NCTC, is nothing but encroachment on the rights of the states. This is actually confronting the idea of federalism," Sarkar told reporters in here.

He called for a centre- state relationship to combat the onslaught of "terrorism, extremism and communalism."

"They should apply their mind so that the centre-state relation is further strengthened. Both centre and state should move together to face the onslaught of terrorism, extremis and communalism," added Sarkar.

The body, which will function under the Intelligence Bureau, has been given policing powers such as arrest and search, which are under the states domain. (ANI)