New Delhi: Amid escalating row over the Centre's proposal for NCTC, top Home Ministry officials will try to allay apprehensions about the anti-terror body at a crucial meeting of chief secretaries and police chiefs of all states in New Delhi on Monday.
During the meeting, Home Ministry officials led by Home Secretary R K Singh will try to explain the scope and functions of the National Counter Terrorism Centre and make it clear that the proposed anti-terror hub will not infringe on the states' power.
However, the meeting is unlikely to cut any ice as non- Congress chief ministers, who strongly objected to setting up of NCTC - a brain-child of Home Minister P Chidambaram - have been demanding discussions on the issue at the political level.
Over a dozen chief ministers have opposed the creation of NCTC on the ground that it would hurt the federal structure of the country.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha had asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convene a meeting of chief ministers to discuss the issue.
In all probability, NCTC will be the top agenda at the scheduled meeting of chief ministers to be held in New Delhi on April 16 if no headway is made in Monday's meeting.
In the wake of strong protests by non-Congress chief ministers, the Centre has put on hold the operationalisation of the NCTC from March 1 and decided to discuss with the state governments before going ahead with the plan.
Home Ministry officials are expecting participation of all states in the meeting. However, it is to be seen whether non-Congress-ruled states send their representatives, considering their objection to official level meeting.
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