Sushil Kumar Shinde to talk law and order with CM Mamata Banerjee

He was speaking to mediapersons after he met state Congress leaders at the party's state headquarters Bidhan Bhavan in Kolkata and was presented a memorandum alleging deterioration of law and order in the state and harassment of Congress workers by the ruling Trinamool Congress.

Asked whether the Centre would push for setting up of National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) following the Hyderabad blast, he said, "I have told the Rajya Sabha that we will pursue the NCTC. Many states are still opposing. We have to do it."

On whether he will take up the NCTC issue with Mamata Banerjee, he said: "I have already taken up this with the CM. Mamataji is very cooperative on this issue and others like Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Whenever the country faces difficulty, the CM is very cooperative," Shinde said.

He said the Darjeeling issue also has to be resolved. "There are a lot of problems in the country. We have to sort out Darjeeling problem,'' Shinde said.

Earlier in the day, Shinde visited Sunderbans to review the security system in the coastal belt. He Sarberia on a helicopter and taken to Dhamakhali, from where he visited a floating border out post (BOP) on speed boats.

"I have come to West Bengal to see the border areas. Tomorrow, I will be going to coastal areas with the Chief Minister and try to understand the problems faced by the people in the area,'' Shinde said as he reportedly advised BSF officials to strengthen surveillance along the vulnerable riverine Indo-Bangla border.

"Looking at the growing need for tighter security and dearth of manpower, the minister assured that the Centre would take steps to see that there can be a technological solution to the security problems here because it is not physically possible to keep a watch of the entire area throughout the year. Humans, aided with technology will make the system foolproof," said BD Sharma, DIG (BSF).

With inputs from Arshad Ali in Dhamakhali, Sunderbans

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