Chennai, February 18: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presented the first part of a high-level committee report on center-state relations in the assembly on Wednesday. This report reiterates the DMK government‘s long-standing demand for increased state autonomy and a robust federal framework.
The committee, chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Kurian Joseph, submitted its report to the Chief Minister on Monday. The committee also includes former bureaucrats K. Ashok Vardhan Shetty and M. Naganathan as members.
While presenting the report in the assembly, Stalin described this moment as a significant step towards redefining center-state relations. He stated, “Today marks the day we will initiate amendments to the Constitution to ensure state governments receive all necessary powers. If we cannot do this, then who can?”
The Chief Minister accused the central government of centralizing power without regard for the states, exercising its authority in a dictatorial manner.
He questioned, “The union holds all powers, and states are forced to rely on it for everything. How long can this continue?”
Stalin further explained that the purpose of the committee’s report is to provide a systematic solution to this imbalance. He remarked, “To put it plainly, we have now tied the bell around the cat’s neck.”
Indicating that he has outlined a bold initiative to address long-standing federal concerns, he argued that the BJP-led central government has been transferring many subjects from the state list to the concurrent list, thereby infringing upon the constitutional rights of the states.
He added, “States’ rights are being snatched away one by one, and we are being forced to fight for our people’s basic rights.”
The Chief Minister also expressed concerns about fiscal decentralization, alleging that economically developed states receive a smaller share of central funds despite contributing significantly to national revenue.
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S.A.K/V.C.
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