State govts not strengthening local bodies but they seek more powers from Centre: Jairam

Taking a dig at state governments, a senior Congress member in Rajya Sabha on Friday said that while chief ministers seek greater powers for states, y have deprived local bodies such as municipal corporations and panchayats of greater automy. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, while participating in a debate on a private member's bill, termed it as "double standards" by such state governments and stressed that local bodies are also part of cooperative federalism. He also batted for a strong Centre, saying "if Centre is weak, India is weak", and at same time lamented that in last few years, country has seen "combative federalism and t cooperative federalism".

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"I support that greater ministrative and financial powers should be given to states but I have t seen one chief minister, who comes to Delhi and demands greater power from New Delhi, prepared to give same powers to panchayat and municipal bodies in state," said Ramesh in Upper House. chief minister, who is seeking to derive more powers from Centre, is willing to respect 73rd and 74th amendment of Constitution, through which local self-governance was introduced in rural and urban India, he said. "This is t happening and it is double standards here," said Ramesh.

Federalism does t mean Centre and state only but it also includes municipality and panchayat."This is like a Rudraksh mala (garland). All four are bound toger and this is true federalism," Ramesh said. He was speaking on a private member's bill moved by DMK leer Vaiko asking to bring back all subjects which were transferred from State List to Concurrent List in last 70 years. Vaiko has also demanded that re be review and restructure of Seventh Schedule of Indian Constitution which defines and specifies allocation of powers and functions between Centre and states. Opposing it, Ramesh said "it would open a Pandora's box". He also supported a strong Centre, saying that "this was intents of our leers". "We are a nation of a great diversity but Constitution of India was prepared at a time when single biggest concern was how to have a strong Centre. If Centre is weak, India is weak. Centre has to be strong," he said.

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However, Ramesh also ded that a strong Centre does t mean one langu or one religion or food but it means that "central government should have a pivotal role in raising resources and distributing m across states equitably." He said that Finance Commission, which is soon going to submit its 15th report, is a very good model of Constitution and contains positive elements of federalism. "In fact one of problems of GST is that power of Centre has reduced very substantially and that is creating problems for finance minister," Ramesh said However, he also said that in last few years, country has seen "combative federalism and t cooperative federalism" and this is t model implicit in Constitution.

"When you say cooperative federalism, it should t only reflect in word but also get reflected in actions of central government," he said, ding that "unitary and arbitrary actions" of Centre le to suspicion among states and should be stopped. Participating in debate, BJP leer Shiv Pratap Shukla said Modi Government believes in true spirit of federalism and has set up Policy Commission (NITI Aayog) by removing Planning Commission so chief ministers can discuss ir plans. It has also increased state government's share to 42 per cent in central taxes from earlier 32 per cent. Moreover, in GST regime, all decisions are w being taken by GST council, which has representation of all states and acts on unanimity.

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Trinamool Congress' Derek O' Brien expressed concern on role of goverrs citing recent developments in Maharashtra and West Bengal. He also vocated bringing back subject of education to State List, which was put in Concurrent List in 42nd amendment, saying that state governments would t mind to spend extra on education. Vijila Sathyananth (AIMK) said education touches lives of each and every person and subject should refore be under State List. Vishambhar Pras Nish (SP) said states should get equate financial powers and Centre should stop partial behaviour towards states. Amar Patnaik (BJD) also emphasised need for greater financial automy for states. K Keshav Rao (TRS), TK Rangarajan (CPI-M), Maj Kumar Jha (RJD) and Rakesh Sinha (m) also participated in discussion. 

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