Against the backdrop of states' opposition to the National Counter Terrorism Centre and proposed amendments to the Border Security Force Act, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met their Tamil Nadu counterpart J Jayalalithaa here.
After attending the chief ministers' conference on internal security, Patnaik and Modi went to the Tamil Nadu Bhawan to hold separate meetings with the Tamil Nadu chief minister.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is also expected to reach the Tamil Nadu Bhawan.
"I am here to pay courtesy call on madam J Jayalalithaa. Madam is an old family friend of my father, so I came here to pay a courtesy call," Patnaik told reporters.
Patnaik was the first to reach the Tamil Nadu Bhawan and Modi joined him later. Modi went inside the hall where the Odisha chief minister was meeting his Tamil Nadu counterpart. Modi and Patnaik exchanged greetings after which Patnaik left.
The meeting assumes significance as non-Congress governments in states were opposing the creation of a counter terrorism centre and proposed amendments to the BSF Act, maintaining that the two infringe upon the states' rights in a federal set up.
At the internal security meet, Jayalalithaa warned against an "emerging pattern" wherein the state's powers are "abrogated" by the Centre through passage of bills and accused it of showing "scant respect" for state governments.
Expressing similar sentiments, Modi criticised the Centre for its "non-consultative" approach with the state governments on key security issues and said the United Progressive Alliance government was creating "state within state" by amending RPF Act, BSF Act which take away powers from the state police and meddling with subjects under the state list.
In his address, Patnaik sought urgent consultations between the Centre and the states over issues like the NCTC, saying any delay would affect handling of law and order.
