PM's reply may address TMC concerns on NCTC today

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address at 12 noon on today.

Government sources said the PM’s reply will address concerns of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on the formation of National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

Though a TMC amendment to President Pratibha Patil's address to the joint session of Parliament seeking deletion of the reference to the controversial matter was rejected in the Lok Sabha, the concerns expressed by party chief Mamata Banerjee would be suitably reflected in the PM’s reply to the three-day debate, sources said.

The same has already been conveyed to Trinamool leader Sudip Bandopadhyay, sources stated, adding the party will not embarrass the government in Parliament on the issue.

The West Bengal Chief Minister had opposed the proposal for setting up of the NCTC, an issue over which the Trinamool Congress has made common cause with the Opposition and some non-Congress chief ministers, saying the states' rights were being encroached upon.

The TMC move to amend the President's address, which was rejected on technical grounds, could have embarrassed the government in Parliament.

Around 2,700 amendments to the President's Address have been submitted in both Houses in a bid to corner the government on issues like NCTC, federalism and corruption.

Meanwhile, another key UPA ally, the DMK too has given hints that it will not put the government on backfoot in Parliament on the issue of Sri Lankan war crimes.

The DMK has been pressing the government to make its stand clear on the resolution to be adopted on Sri Lankan war crimes issue at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).