Ambika Soni urges political fraternity to unite in fight against terrorism

New Delhi, Feb 18 (ANI): Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni on Saturday appealed to the leaders of various political parties to refrain from politicising the issue of the setting up of the anti-militancy unit, the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

"When an issue like terrorism and the innocent people affected by it has been discussed in this country, everybody has always said that politics has nothing to do with it and today even I think that everybody should reiterate that such an issue should not be politicized," she told the media here.

Meanwhile, viewing the increasing rift between the ruling Congress Party and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the setting up an anti-terror body, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Balbir Punj said the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief was welcome to join hands with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

"And now the situation has further worsened, apart from people at large who have no confidence in this government, even the allies and particularly an important ally like the Trinamool Congress and Mamata Banerjee, they have expressed their lack of faith, lack of confidence in this government repeatedly and we are not surprised by that," said Punj.

"Mamata Banerjee is a very important leader and chief minister of one of the largest state of the country and she has been a part of the NDA earlier and if she wants doors of the NDA are open for her," he added.

According to certain media reports, Mamata Banerjee, who is upset with the Centre's NCTC proposal, skipped Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram's function in Kolkata today, where he inaugurated the National Security Guards (NSG) hub.

The main task of the NCTC would be to ensure that the wide variety of security organizations in the country work in tandem, at least on issues related to terrorism.t will also have the power to seek information, including documents, reports, transcripts, and cyber information from any agency, including from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Investigation Agency, National Technical Research Organization, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and all seven central armed police forces including the National Security Guard (NSG).

The body, which will function under the Intelligence Bureau, has been given its own operational wing with powers to arrest and conduct searches under Section 43A of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. (ANI)