Karat for restructuring federalism
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 02 2011:
The inherent structure of Centre State relation of the country is undemocratic, over centralised and mitigates against federalism, said CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat.
He was delivering a lecture on the topic, 'Neoliberal high growth trajectory and Centre-State fiscal relation' at the Senate hall of Manipur University today.
The lecture was hosted by the Economics Department of the varsity.
Prakash Karat said that India would become a strong country only when the ruling class recognises the diversity of India.
Regarding issues plaguing Manipur and the North East, Prakash Karat said, unless people are able to fight to change the conception of unitarian India, justice cannot be brought.
With regards to boundary-dispute in Arunachal Pradesh between India and China, Prakash Karat said that the matter cannot be resolved till there are people who say, 'Not even a grass must be given to China' .
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It can be settled only through negotiations according to the condition and situation.
Dissecting the current form of administrative set-ups of the country, the Left party leader said that India adopts federalism only in form but the character and practice are unitary in nature.
Maintaining that the States have been given limited powers and resources in socio-economic development, Prakash Karat added that all the major concerns in this regard are kept highly secured in the hands of the Centre.
Taking further dig at Indian federalism, the CPI (M) General Secretary said no federal Nation in the world appoints State Governors from the Centre.
He also criticised the policy of imposition of different conditionalities to the States in providing Central Government funds and schemes.
Expressing strong objection to the current practice of entitling supreme authority to the Planning Commission for allocation of annual plan amount of the States, Prakash Karat observed that representatives from different States must be there not only in the Planning Commission but also in National Development Council and Finance Commission.
In the current practice, he added, Planning Commission not only interferes the State matters but also to all the Departments and Ministries at the Centre.
Prakash Karat observed that National Development Council must be the main agency to decide the annual plan allocation to the States and the Planning Commission must be the subordinate agency.