“At a time when States need more powers, their rights are being taken away in key areas such as education and healthcare,” he said, accusing the Centre of encroaching on State powers and making them increasingly dependent on Delhi.
File photo
Launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led Union government for “continuously snatching away the legitimate rights of States” and undermining federal principles, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday called for a constitutional remedy to restore the due authority of States.
“At a time when States need more powers, their rights are being taken away in key areas such as education and healthcare,” he said, accusing the Centre of encroaching on State powers and making them increasingly dependent on Delhi. He reiterated the charge during his Independence Day address from the ramparts of Fort St. George.
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“Discrimination in the devolution of funds and in implementing developmental and welfare programmes through Central laws and court interventions has forced State governments to rely on the Union government,” he said. “Finding a constitutional remedy is the only way to ensure proper devolution of funds without discrimination and to retrieve the due authority of States.”
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Stalin said the current situation, where States have to approach courts to secure funds legitimately due to them, runs counter to the country’s federal principles and is detrimental to State development.
In April this year, he constituted a High-Level Committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Kurian Joseph to review Centre–State relations and suggest measures to strengthen State autonomy.
Later, when the Union Education Ministry withheld ₹2,151 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan for not implementing the New Education Policy (NEP), the Tamil Nadu government condemned the move as an attempt to impose Hindi through the NEP’s three-language formula. The State, committed to the two-language policy since 1967, moved the Supreme Court to get the funds released.
On Thursday, Stalin announced a boycott of the ‘At Home’ reception hosted by Governor RN Ravi, accusing him of undermining the elected government.
Nine Announcements
The Chief Minister also made nine announcements, including the expansion of free bus travel for persons with disabilities, ex-servicemen, and children of construction workers. Earlier in the day, Mr Stalin hoisted the national flag.
The Vidiyal Payana Thittam (free bus travel) scheme will now cover persons with disabilities along hilly routes. A hostel for ex-servicemen from Tamil Nadu will be built at Madhavaram in Chennai, spanning 33,000 sq. ft. at a cost of ₹22 crore.
The government will provide skill training worth ₹15 crore for college-going children of registered construction workers. The monthly aid for ex-servicemen who served during World War II will be raised to ₹15,000. The monthly pension for freedom fighters will be increased to ₹22,000, and for their families to ₹12,000.
Driving schools will be set up in every district, with two driving academies in each zone and one at the State level.
Later, the Chief Minister presented awards: IUML leader KM Kadhar Mohideen received the Thagaisal Thamizhar Award; ISRO Chairman V Narayanan received the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Award; Arjuna Award recipient Thulasimathi Murugesan received the Kalpana Chawla Award for Courage and Daring Enterprise.
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