haste" and the way the Centre has been taking away powers of states "creates a situation worse than the Emergency days". Pointing out to constitutional issues, Badal said the Centre has "progressively encroached upon the rights of states, acquiring rights to legislate on items listed in States list or shifting these items to Concurrent List, and items from Concurrent List to Union List". He said, "this is breaking the federal structure which is so necessary for a country full of religious, cultural and linguistic diversities", he said, adding that NCTC is the latest example of Centre's `assault' on federalism. "We cannot accept it. Its provisions are a direct encroachment on the rights, authority and jurisdiction of the states. Law and order is a state subject and any attempt to dilute this would create serious constitutional problems and endanger the federal principle on which our entire structure is based...We totally reject the decision to set up NCTC in its present form," he said. The Punjab CM urged the Centre to review and reverse this move on NCTC and hold fresh consultations with chief ministers of states who are the biggest stakeholders in the fight against militancy. "The Centre and the states should sit together and re- examine the issues in entirety. If need be, amendments in Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and enactment of NIA Act be revisited and contradictions smoothened out...", he said. PTI SKC
