« Back to article

Print this article

'It is a conspiracy to grab power'

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre was nothing but a ploy to take away states' powers by the United Progressive Alliance.

Accusing the Centre of weakening the federal system, Modi questioned the need for a NCTC instead of anti-terror laws such as the Prevention Of Terrorism Act. Through this proposed body, the Centre wanted to use the Intelligence Bureau in states' domain, he said.

"It is a conspiracy to grab power through the backdoor. Already several opposition leaders are in the CBI's dragnet, now they are bringing in the NCTC," he alleged.

Click on NEXT for more...

'NCTC backdoor ploy by UPA'

Modi also demanded that the Sarkaria Commission's report on Centre-state relations and Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi's report on Centre-state financial relations be implemented.

"The meeting of Inter-state Council should be called immediately, and (it should be held) twice a year," Modi said.

He also alleged that the proposed Communal Violence Bill was aimed at taking away states' powers simply by "creating communal problems".

Click on NEXT for more...

'This is another ploy'

"Since the President's Rule cannot be imposed in a state easily, this is another ploy," he said.

Even the implementation of the Right to Information Act was putting a monetary burden on the states, as it required the appointment of separate officers, he said.

He also said that the Gujarat government's bill providing 50 per cent quota to women in the assembly was stuck at the level of the governor, who, incidentally, is a woman.

Similarly, a number of bills passed by the non-Congress state governments were awaiting the President's approval, Modi said.