The Chief Ministers of Opposition-ruled States on Saturday took on the Centre on issues ranging from political to financial at the Inter-State Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But then, successive Governments at the Centre pulling the strings through the Governors came in for special criticism by them.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar criticised the Centre for the non-transparency in appointment of Governors and called for the abolition of the gubernatorial post itself. Kumar said the existing federal democratic structure does not warrant continuance of post of Governor. If it is not possible to do away with the constitutional post, the discretionary powers that go with it be curtailed, Nitish said, adding the Chief Minister of a State should have a role in the appointment and removal of the Governor.
“The propensity to change the Governor, whenever a new Government is formed must be curbed by making constitutional provisions,” he demanded.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal backed Nitish’ demand saying said the Council meeting should pass a resolution that Chief Ministers should be consulted in the appointment of Governors and l-Gs. He blamed the Centre for trying to de-stablise the non-BJP governments.
“President’s Rule can only be imposed in any state if the government loses majority in the Assembly and not on any frivolous grounds by misusing the office of governors appointed by the Centre,” said Kejriwal.
The Delhi Chief Minister narrated several Bills passed by the Delhi Assembly were withheld by the Centre for settling political vendetta.
The Modi Government’s decision to impose President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand invited criticism that it misused constitutional provisions. The apex court’s verdicts in both the cases led to the restoration of Congress Governments.
Kejriwal also demanded that allegations of rise in prices of pulses was due to hoarding at the Mundra Port should be probed with all seriousness. He sid since it is being reported that pulses being imported from countries like Mozambique are being sold at a higher price in India.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, represented by Finance Minister O Paneerselvam, also took up the issue of appointment and removal of Governors as per the Justice MM Punchhi Commission report. However, she said: “It may not be appropriate to act with haste on the recommendation providing a fixed term of five years for Governors and removal only through an impeachment process and not at the pleasure of the President”.
Nevertheless, she strongly supported the Commission’s report that the Centre share the costs incurred by States in implementation of Central legislations, she said “the present Government in the Centre has been particularly guilty in the levy of cesses and surcharges in the last two years”.
Jayalalithaa welcomed the draft of the Centre-State Investment Agreement but said it was unacceptable to deduct dues from state governments. Reading her speech, the Finance Minister said this move is an attempt to pass financial burden to states. “I am concerned that through the CSIA, the Government of India is trying to pass on some of the financial burden it may suffer and making States liable under the CSIA mechanism is unfair,” she said.
“This trend must be reversed and the cesses and surcharges imposed (upon States) must be added back to the base taxes and shared with States”, she said.
On the Centre’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan scheme, she said in 2015-16, the HRD Ministry approved Rs 2,329.15 crore outlay for Tamil Nadu with 60 per cent share from the Centre. But the Centre released only Rs 821.11 crore against its share of Rs 1,397.49 crore, despite the State having submitted all necessary documentation, said Jayalalithaa
“Such shortfalls in release are unfortunate, particularly under SSA which has earmarked funding through the Education cess”, she added.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pointed out how the States were not given the agenda of the Inter State Council meet in advance. Countering Modi’s remarks on Direct Benefit of Transfers and Aadhar Card, she said 800 panchayats in the state still does not have a bank or a post office.