Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Saturday criticised the Central government for seeking to reduce States into the status of “glorified municipal corporations.”
In her address to the National Development Council, which met in New Delhi, the Chief Minister, whose speech was read out by Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam in absentia, said that the NDC was a forum to consult with State Chief Ministers, as equal partners in the process of development, on issues of concern to the nation.
“I am not sure that the Government of India recognises the States as partners, leave alone equal partners, and respects their viewpoints. These meetings at best are ritualistic and are exercises in futility.”
When the Centre turned a deaf ear to even the States' reasonable requests such as restoration of the kerosene quota to mitigate the sufferings of the poor or additional power to tide over a crisis situation, such meetings only caused frustration to the States and their people.
The Chief Minister slammed the Centre for making attempts to “weaken the States with too much interference, reducing them to the status of glorified municipal corporations.” The Union government was continuously proving that “it is completely out of sync with ground realities and is far removed from the man on the street.”
Ms Jayalalithaa accused the Union government of appearing to be “hell-bent on penalising non-Congress governments.” Despite repeated requests for special assistance, funds were not provided to Tamil Nadu while a special package was given to West Bengal for the only reason that the present ruling party in West Bengal was an ally of the ruling party at the Centre. “This only indicates that step-motherly treatment is given to non-Congress governments.”
Reiterating her opposition to the Central government's plan to introduce the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, she described it as a “blatant attempt to totally bypass the State governments and concentrate all powers in the Central government.”
Turning to the Goods and Services Tax (GST), she said: “In its present form, the proposed GST is an assault on the fiscal autonomy of the States, which is difficult to accept.”
In the matter of a Common Entrance Test for Professional Courses too, the Centre seemed “obstinate,” without caring for local conditions and the views of the State governments.
“Even attacks on fishermen belonging to Tamil Nadu in the Palk Bay by Sri Lanka are not looked upon as acts of aggression against India. This issue is merely looked upon as a minor problem concerning Tamil Nadu alone. The Centre seems to think that the lives of fishermen belonging to Tamil Nadu are worthless and do not call for any potent action.”
Referring to the Planning Commission's approach paper, she said that it lacked clear direction and strategy. There was lack of emphasis in the Approach Paper on a direct attack on poverty, particularly in urban areas, “reflective of the apathy of the Government of India towards issues that really concern the common people.” She called for family based interventions to squarely and comprehensively address poverty.
Strongly advocating a more ambitious growth target for the 12th Plan, she added that 10 per cent growth in the 12th Plan should be the minimum target to aim for. However, certain instances that had occurred in the recent past did suggest that this goal was not going to be easy to attain.
Price rise was an area where the policies and actions of the Centre had “miserably failed” and were even counter-productive. Referring to the hike in the price of diesel 13 times and that of petrol 19 times during 2004-2011 besides the increase in price of domestic liquefied petroleum gas cylinders, she wondered, “If fuel prices are increased so many times, how do you expect inflation to come down?” Yet, the Government of India never failed to advise the States to forgo their Sales Tax in order to control prices.
She urged the Centre to modify guidelines of the programmes such as Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme so that a broad sectoral allocation could be made, allowing greater flexibility to the States to implement schemes based on local needs and capacity differentials.
Many of the points raised by the CM are relevant and it is time for the center to consider and ensure such disparities or unpopular bills do not come about. The center’s approach should be non partisan. The apprehension about the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill is not only from Tamilnadu .Other states have also expressed their disagreement with the provisions this bill. The periodic raise in the price of cooking gas, petrol and diesel is a case in point even when the international prices of oil have come down.
If the Central Government has reduced State government to "glorified"
municipal corporations. One can only imagine what respect and
treatment a "plain" Municipal corporation gets from the State
Government.
As a head of a State Government Jayalalitha has declared how much
respect she has for local bodies such as Municipal corporations.
Jayalalitha is a confrontationist.Her aim to decimate the DMK and other parties.Due her confrontationist attitude all parties who were aligned with her during the assembly polls have seperated and fought alone in local bodies poll. She is also an obstructionist, she was the one prodding the Kudankulam protesters to gain political mileage. There is no encroachment of central powers onto the states as mentioned in her "so called speech" read by her representative.I do not agree with the readers comments on her, if she became the Prime Minister we will have hostile neighbours and internationally she will isolate us with her attitude.
It is true that the congress govts.at the centre had always been against non-congress states govts.kudos to the iron lady of India-the
AMMA.
how Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme could solve the inflation problem?
Ms. Jayalalitha is the right candidate to become the next Prime-Minister. We need someone like her.
There is some truth in Jayalalithaa's comments on the attitude of National Development Council. Much of India seems to be only above the Vindhya, to the north.
It seems old ways are back for Jaya again, seeing the way she is clashing with the Central Government. Will she ever learn to do some good governance in Tamil Nadu. In her earlier regimes, not any single worthy project was executed, except it remained on paper. Making comments to attract attention from public, thereby neglecting the current issues may not go well in a long run. If she thinks centre is treating states like municipal corporations, then what about the way she handles the state. I still remember in her earlier tenure, the whole Chennai city used to have gates in roads linked with Anna Salai. This is to enable her convoy pass without any interruption.
The speech is nice. As a common man I hope, present ruling party will make revolutionary change in politics...
Well Done Ms.Jayalalitha. The Central Government is run by a family of two and all the intellectuals (psuedo or otherwise) in the cabinet wait for the signals from the First family to make any move. You are right on the attitude of the Central Government on the fishermen issue. Under such circumstances, the NDC meet is only there to trade charges. You have done well by ignoring the talk fest. Even sending your finance minster is a waste of tax payers' money. You should have used a video link to vent your views.
This is true; slowly but subtly the changes are being brought about in some cases to have a "controlling" central group ; evident especially in education ; the rural students can now have equal opportunity for education in professional courses in medicine / engg. The central group wants to break this ; so that training institutes can make money (which cannot be afforded by rural students and they will be left behind). But concept of GST is ok; needs to be implemented to avoid corruption at various levels and bring transperancy in the system.
There are some basic truths in what the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has said in NDC regarding the status of the states in the present dispensation of various parties heading the state governments and coalition government at the centre. The federal structure,we boast of, is only in letters and the spirit of federalism is blatently lacking what with the encroching state's power on one pretext or other. The point that the states are reduced to the status of glorified municipal corporations put forth by the Tamil Nadu CM need not be brushed aside as it is the feeling of every one far removed from active politics.
Leaders like Jayalalithaa should come forward boldly to organize a mass movement to make UNION of India a true FEDERATION, taking a few lessons from other federations. A restructuring of Indian Federation (the word federation is not used in the present Constitution)is imperative. But the political bosses view this country only as a big market to be exploited by different varieties of capitalists. A political movement for a NEW FEDERATION OF INDIA is what is needed.
National Develpment Council(NDC)is the apex body for decision making and deliberations on planned development matters inIndia!It comprises of PM;Union Cabinet Ministers;CMs of states or their substitutes; representatives of Union Territories and Members of the Planning Commission. It is regrettable that CM of Gujarat and representative of CM of Tamilnadu have resorted to talk about "extraneous matters"and caused serious discussion f 12th Five Year Plan difficult!Is it the way "development-oriented CM to behave?
It is amazing that the center advises states on reducing taxes, so that the additional burden imposed by the central government can be alleviated
That is just phase of changing politics in India, I feel. If your current assignment or alliance is not getting you the attention you need please feel free to do something else. For politicians, rich people, and people with least self respect are the only bunch who "make it" in India!
Please Email the Editor