Notwithstanding opposition from non-Congress states, President Pratibha Patil today favoured setting up of the NCTC, saying it would improve India's capability to counter internal security threats as terrorist modules continue to be active in the country.
Addressing the joint sitting of Parliament, Patil said the July 13, 2011 bomb blasts in Mumbai and September 7, 2011 explosion in Delhi were a grim reminder that terrorist modules continue to be active in the country.
"In 2011, eighteen terrorist modules were neutralised. The National Intelligence Grid and the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) aim to improve India's capability to counter internal security threats," she said.
The President's statement came even as over a dozen chief cinisters, including West Bengal Chief Minister and UPA ally Mamata Banerjee, Odisha's Naveen Patnaik, Bihar's Nitish Kumar and Tamil Nadu's J Jayalalitha, have opposed the creation of the NCTC on the ground that it would hurt the federal structure of the country and infringe into states' powers.
Patil said in the area of internal security, the UPA government has launched a number of measures towards development of areas affected by left-wing extremism.
She said the Integrated Action Plan with an outlay of Rs 3,300 crore in the last two years has brought development to the villages in the most backward and violence-affected districts of the country.
The plan, which was being implemented so far in 60 districts, has been extended to 78 districts, she said.
The President said the central government has shown that acts of violence can be contained with a firm but humane approach.
