Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday accused the NDA government at the Centre of disrespecting States, while calling for the strengthening of federalism in the country.
Tabling the first part of Justice Kurian Joseph committee report on Centre-State relations, Stalin told the Tamil Nadu Assembly that there is a need for a “structural reset” of the country’s federalism.
Stating federalism was about trust and autonomy, the DMK supremo called for amending the Constitution to strengthen federalism at the Centre and grant more autonomy to States.
“India’s federalism needs a structural reset. If we wish, we can again amend the Constitution. Meaningful federalism is not about control, but about trust, autonomy, and governance that responds to people’s realities,” the DMK president said.
“The first part of the report of the High-Level Committee constituted to study Centre–State relations has been tabled in the Assembly. The Constitution must be amended to transform State governments into fully empowered governments. All States must have autonomy. We are still in a situation where we have to struggle to secure rights over land and financial powers,” he added.
Elaborating further on his charge against the Narendra Modi government which has been in power at the Centre since 2014, Stalin said State governments have to “fight” with the Union government for every fund.
“The Union government, which has concentrated all powers in its hands, does not respect the State governments. How long must we continue in a position where they give and we merely receive? For a diverse country like India, federalism is the foundation. All States must have autonomy. We are not people who bow down repeatedly. We need State autonomy and federalism at the Centre; only then can we restore good governance. This is not the demand of a single political party. Beyond political differences, everyone must accept the demand for State autonomy,” the DMK leader stated further.
It may be noted that DMK founder and late CM CN Annadurai had in 1967 called for a strong Union to maintain the sovereignty and integrity of India. The southern party has ever since followed the policy of autonomy for States and federalism at the Centre.