Only some states harbor mistrust against Central Government: Chidambaram

New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said that only some states harbor mistrust against the Central Government.

Responding to a question whether there is a trust deficit between the Centre and various states, Chidambaram said: "I don't agree with it as a general statement. Some states harbor mistrust against the Central Government. And therefore, I addressed and said it is regrettable that after five such conferences and we are built upon each conference as we moved on it is unfortunate that some states harbor mistrust against the Central Government.

"I would not say it about all states. In fact, if you count at heads, the vast majority of states have no distrust of the Central Government," he added.

Responding to a question that whether the government was still waiting for the NCTC meeting on May 5 following responses of some chief ministers yesterday that it was not on the agenda, Chidambaram said he was confident that the meeting called by the Centre will resolve the differences between some states and the Central Government on the issue.

"There were two chief ministers, who made a passing remark on that subject matter. But there were may other chief ministers, who emphasized the need for the Centre and states to cooperate in fighting terrorism as well as the Left-wing extremism. We had already circulated the agenda, which contained notes on the NCTC. And I have already offered that the standard operating procedure, draft of the SoP(Standard Operatiing Procedure), will be circulated before the next meeting," said Chidambaram.

"We will circulated the draft of the SoP before the meeting on the 5th of May and I am confident that the 5th of May meeting will resolve whatever a few differences there are between some states and the Central Government," he added.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had criticized the Centre on Monday, saying that it neither trusted the states nor showed them respect while taking security-related decisions.

The three chief ministers also met separately on Monday after the conference of the Chief Ministers.

Modi said unilateral decisions like the one to create a NCTC was "fuelling mistrust between the Centre and the states".

Asserting that there should be a trust between the Centre and the state governments on security, Modi said: " Unilateral decisions by the Centre must stop."

Modi also questioned the Central Government on why the recommendations of chief ministers had not been included in the Action Taken Report on 'internal security'.

Patnaik had said the Centre should take the various state governments into confidence as they decide to set up the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

"About the NCTC (National Counter Terrorism Centre), all of you know, all of us know, this is a matter of urgent public importance as it affects the security of our own country, of India," said Patnaik.

"I hope that this issue about the federal rights of all the states of our country, which certainly includes Orissa as well, will be done, these new acts that the union government, the central government brings out. They must be done in consultation with the state governments," he added.

Non-Congress Chief Ministers including UPA ally Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee have raised objections to the provisions in the NCTC, contending that it will upset the federal structure and encroach on the powers of the states. (ANI)