Controversial NCTC may take some more time

Shinde has conveyed to Home Ministry officials that efforts to bring a consensus on setting up of NCTC, which has faced strong opposition from several states, should be made only after Parliament approves the proposed amendment in Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

With the amendment, the government intends to make UA(P)A more effective in preventing unlawful financial activities, money laundering, terror financing and circulation of Fake Indian Currency Notes and term such acts as terror activities.

The proposals on UA(P)A were approved by the Union Cabinet after taking nod from all states and though it was introduced in Monsoon session of Parliament, it could not be taken up for consideration due to the disruption of House proceedings. The Bill is expected to be tabled in Winter session of Parliament beginning next month.

Sources said though Shinde, who was given a thorough presentation on the NCTC, was initially inclined to hold a conference of Chief Ministers to allay their apprehensions and apprise them of the revised plan for the anti-terror hub, but later he appears to have changed his mind.

"There is no movement on NCTC. We have been told to wait till UAP(A) is amended," a source said.

Those who opposed the NCTC include Chief Ministers Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), Naveen Patnaik (Odisha), J Jayalalitha (Tamil Nadu) and Narendra Modi (Gujarat). (MORE)