NCTC: Top rebel too sees red like Naveen

BHUBANESWAR: In his opposition to UPA’s proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has found an unlikely ally in Sabyasachi Panda, Odisha State Organisational secretary of CPI (Maoist). The outlawed outfit on Monday came out in support of Naveen and other states which are protesting the NCTC formation. “The CMs of 10 states, led by Naveen, have opposed the way NCTC has been planned. Although their opposition is not without motive, it is still worth the appreciation,” a statement issued by Sabyasachi said. Sabyasachi, whose cadre name is Sunil, said the NCTC is nothing but the oppressive and undemocratic mindset of the UPA and the BJP. It was the latter, which had floated the NCTC, and now the Congress is taking it forward. “Using the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, NCTC can wreak havoc in the states. It can arrest anyone, cause torture in the garb of interrogation, seek any information it wants from states and its biggest flaw is the NCTC can be a tool in the hands of the ruling party at the Centre,” he added. Citing Operation Green Hunt, the CPI (Maoist) said the NCTC will be another mechanism through which resistance will be targeted in India. The way the Congress Government had unleashed Emergency in the 1975, the NCTC will be used the same way to target ministers and politicians of the states, Sabyasachi said. The Maoist leader also took the opportunity to take potshots at Naveen for allowing operation Green Hunt in Odisha and said it is time it was halted.