GUWAHATI Feb 19 � In the midst of divided opinion on Centre�s proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today backed the new agency and sought cooperation from all levels to ensure its successful functioning.
On apprehensions that the NCTC will lead to encroachment on State Power by the Centre, the Chief Minister said, �The Centre will never interfere and hamper federal structure of our state.�
�What we are harping on is cooperation at all levels, from international to intra-state, which is necessary to fight terror and Assam will extend its support to the Centre,� Gogoi pointed out.
He pointed out that proper implementation of the laws is important to ensure that they are not misused and added that although the AFSPA is operational in Assam for more than a decade, there has been no hue and cry over it as it has been properly used.
The NCTC will be an agency under the IB and coordinate all counter terror measures in the country. The operations wing of the NCTC will be empowered to search or arrest anybody under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The proposed agency has drawn opposition from Chief Ministers of various states including West Bengal and Tripura.
