If the Union Government takes any decision in the interests of the country, then it should be welcomed whether it is demonetization or any other decision. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said this during the India Today Conclave-2017 held in Grand Hyatt Hotel of Mumbai (Maharashtra) on Friday.
Chouhan beside Chief Minister of Mahrashtra Devendra Fadnavis and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti participated in the discussions on the subject, 'Cooperate and Compete - New Federalism'.
Chouhan said that the Chief Minister of any State has powers like any Cabinet Minister. Powers are distributed between the States and the Centre under the federal provision of the Constitution and each Government works within the limit under the Constitution. He said that it does not mean that there is no cooperation prevailing between the two. The Union and the State Governments both work for the welfare of the citizens with mutual understanding.
Chouhan said that after the formation of the Union Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet Ministers and Chief Ministers of the States work as a team India. Mutual cooperation is must between the States of the country. Competition among the States is all right but there should be no discrimination because they are all part of the country.
Chouhan further mentioned that it is baseless to mention that NITI Ayog discriminates between States. The Prime Minister is the Chairman of the Commission. All the States are equally part of the country. He said that after the formation of NITI Ayog by the Union Government, the share of the States in Central taxes has increased.
Referring to GST (Goods and Service Tax), Chouhan said that the concept that big States will be benefited more by this is wrong. He said that the GST will accelerate the pace of development.
Chouhan further stated that once Madhya Pradesh was a Bimaru (sick) State, now the situation has changed and the State is progressing rapidly in all the sectors whether it is agriculture or industrial sector. He said that agriculture growth rate of Madhya Pradesh is
The Chief Minister on the decision of demonetization of the Union Government said that if the Union Government takes any decision for the welfare of the country then it is not wrong. He informed that the Union Government and the RBI have taken demonetization decision in the interests of the country and the people did not face any problem.
Chouhan dismissed the allegation of the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee that the Union Government takes decision against any State. He said that the Union Government takes decisions related to RBI and Defence sector for the betterment of the country, which should be welcomed. He further said that after the formation of the present Union Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi several initiatives for better relations between the Centre and the States have been taken. He said that these initiatives are becoming fruitful.
During the discussions, Devendra Fadnavis and Mahbooba Mufti also accepted that the present Union Government is trying to strengthen the relations between the Centre and the States.