In the midst of his Government’s turf war with the Centre, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday demanded complete decentralisation to strengthen India’s federalism and alleged Modi dispensation was interfering in functioning of States as well as “undermining” the judiciary.
Addressing a Chief Ministers’ conclave organised by his Government on ‘cooperative federalism’, Kejriwal accused the NDA regime of doing politics in allocation of funds and “arm-twisting” the States by using agencies like the CBI which he said was weakening the Centre-State relations.
The Delhi Chief Minister alleged that lt Governor Najeeb Jung was acting like “an agent” of the Centre by declaring 30 AAP Government orders “null and void” which he said was unprecedented in the country’s history.
Kejriwal, in presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, contended that only judiciary has the authority to declare the Government orders illegal if they go against the Constitution and wondered what was the need of courts in such a scenario.
“Centre and the l-G are not only impinging on powers of the State Governments. They are also taking away the powers of the judiciary. They are saying we will declare orders null and void and not the judiciary. It seems we do not need judges in Delhi any more,” he said.
The Delhi Government had invited all the Chief Ministers including those from the BJP and Congress ruled States to the conference. But only Banerjee and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar attended it while Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Mizoram’s lal Thanhawlal and Puducherry’s N Rangaswamy sent letters of support. UP CM Akhilesh Yadav was in Delhi but he did not attend Kejriwal’s programme.
“All of you are aware about the level of interference by the BJP-led Centre which is not only limited to Delhi as you can see it happening in States like West Bengal. In Constitution, separation of powers is clear and going against it is not right. Complete de-centralisation is a must. States will have to be given more power, rising above party politics,” said Kejriwal.
Pitching for supremacy of elected Governments, he also demanded a say for the State Governments in appointments of Governors and the l-G as per recommendation of the Sarkaria Commission. The States can send a panel of three names to the Centre which can pick one from them.”
Kejriwal accused the Centre of using “three instruments” to “interfere” in functioning of State Governments — the l-G or Governors, central investigating agencies like CBI and finances. Kejriwal also dared the Prime Minister to cite any three works that he accomplished after taking the reins of the country. Echoing the same concern, Mamata said, “I totally agree with Kejriwal.”
“May be in Delhi law and order is under the l-G. But, in my State the Governor wrote to the Union Government and demanded to provide Central police force ahead of the West Bengal municipality elections and I was not even told. I was shocked. Thanks to the Home Ministry that informed me about the move. This is an example of running a parallel Government which is not cooperative federalism,” Mamata said.
“Why do Governor need to call chief secretary, home secretary and various bureaucrats individually. I never witnessed such crisis. If a Governor feels there is any problem, he should directly speak to us. After all, he is getting salary from our fund,” she added.