Chennai: Chief Minister MK Stalin has accused the BJP-led union government of stifling the states by binding the administration of the states to the governors' mansions, decreasing allocation of funds to the states in all Finance Commission and under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, among others.
He picked on Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi to attack the saffron regime in the Centre on not providing the assent to 19 bills passed by the legislative assembly.
Stalin was making these charges in the third episode of his podcast Speaking for India.
He also credited the BJP government for taking action of the corruptions he reeled out on the previous episode on the basis of the CAG report, by sacking the CAG officers who unearthed such corruption.
His dealt with the topic of 'State Rights' in the present episode, which was made available in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi.
"DMK is not just a party that celebrates its 75 years of functioning with its own set of unique policies but is also the third largest party in the parliament that is fighting to save democracy!"
'State Autonomy' is one among DMK's key virtues, he said.
"India is a federal nation made up of people with different languages, races, cultures and customs. Our folks have many religious beliefs; several forms of worship. They also have constitutional rights. Despite these differences, we all live in harmony. In short, India is like a magnificent garden full of various beautiful flowers!", Stalin said.
That is the reason the ones who created the administrative framework of the country did it as a union of states with a federal principle rather than a united nation, he added.
He recalled the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi served as the CM of Gujarat and how he spoke a lot in favour of state rights. After becoming, he did not even like the first line of the Constitution - “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States!”
He charged that PM wants to reduce states to be abolished or be reduced into mere municipalities, the least.
Stalin listed out five instances which PM Modi took a contrarian view when he was the CM and how he overturned.
He cited the abolition of planning commission and creation of 'Niti Aayog', among others.
He also accused BJP of resorting to breaking parties and buying MLAs, while forcing the States to wait at the threshold of the Union government even to get the smallest of projects.
"BJP had said in its election manifesto that it will consult with all the state governments to reform the indirect tax system. In addition, the Prime Minister said that he will give more financial powers to the state governments. But even the compensation period for GST has not been extended. State's share is also not being given regularly. In short, due to GST, the financial situation of the states is in the ICU!"
Stalin charged that the decrease in the allocation of funds in the 12th Finance Commission has set back Tamil Nadu by around Rs 85,000 crore rupees in the last 19 years. "We are poised to lose more than Rs 10,000 crore rupees every year from now on."
Stalin recalled how a council between the states having been formed to address inter-state issues were subsequently disbanded.
"There is no inkling to heed to the suggestions from the states. Nor are the states allowed to act within the powers given by the constitution. Binding the entire administration of the states to the governor's mansions has become BJP’s action plan, he said.
This is why BJP is using the governor to stop the approval of the 19 bills that were passed in the Legislative Assembly by all the representatives of the people of Tamil Nadu, he added.
"Overall, the State rights have been crushed under the BJP regime, federalism and democracy given by our constitution are made to shed tears along with the people of the country!"
He positioned 'State Autonomy' as the only way to shield the country from all the 'evils'.
"A Union government that prevents the states from functioning, governors who get their salaries paid from that state government but work against the state's welfare; despite these hurdles the opposition led states have accomplished so much. If we form a Union government that respects the federal norms, all the states will flourish better."
For the principle of state autonomy to prevail, INDIA alliance must come to power. People should prepare for it. Before the upcoming parliamentary elections, the five state assembly elections are going to be held, which are seen as mini parliamentary elections. I request the voters who are going to vote in it, to do so by keeping this in mind, he implored.
