Even British didn’t concentrate powers like Centre is doing now: Stalin

The founders of our Constitution didn’t create a unitary, monolithic government. The subjects over which they exercise power were separated into three, and placed under the Union List, the State List and the Concurrent List. Further, after the passing of the Panchayat Raj Act, local self-government bodies were given rights, and powers were devolved to them.

Hence, villages must grow. With the growth of villages, the state would prosper, and with the growth of states, the nation would flourish.

The Union government is bent on decimating the powers of the villages and states of India. This is antithetical to the Constitution of India.

The Union government has often breached the jurisdiction defined by the Indian Constitution and is encroaching on the powers of the states, intent on expanding its boundaries. Even the British who ruled over India did not set out to create such an all-powerful unitary structure as is being done now.

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Even in the Government of India Act, 1919, it was said that the self-government in provinces must be such that the interests of the locality and the provinces were taken care of. It was also said that the Union government must oversee and govern the unified framework of such provinces.

Union government looking to subjugate states

Hereby, I explicitly accuse the Union government of having a tendency to concentrate powers with an intent to subjugate the states and local bodies, something that even the British didn’t undertake.

Mahatma Gandhi had then said: “Self-government without autonomy is akin to replacing the white tiger with an Indian tiger”. That is the reality now. 

“Such independence is not worth anything”, is what the revolutionary Bhagat Singh had then said. In his letter to his mother, Bhagat Singh wrote: “Mother! I have no doubt that my country will one day attain independence. But I am nervous about Brown Elites occupying the seat vacated by the White Elites. Unless the old methods and frameworks are decimated, there can be no change”. And that is the reality now.

States are responsible for the wellbeing of their residents and are actively undertaking efforts towards such an end. If our rulers in Delhi derive joy in subjugating and making the states crawl before them, isn’t that treachery against the people? Is that not an act of extracting revenge from them? Under the impression that they were extracting revenge from the states, they are extracting revenge from the people.

GST depriving states of fiscal rights

Once the BJP came to power, it implemented GST, which infringes upon the rights of the states and deprives them of their fiscal rights. They have snatched away tax revenues. While they promised compensation, the disbursal of compensation is not complete.

And even the grossly inadequate compensation is not given on time. They are also not releasing the funds meant for the state government. Until now, Tamil Nadu is yet to receive Rs .21,000 crore.

The Planning Commission was the forum where States could raise these rightful demands and have meaningful dialogue. They have gone on to dismantle such an institution, which ensured a space for the voices of the states.

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The National Development Council was the forum where states could articulate these demands. Predictably, they have gone on to dismantle such an institution as well.

Meagre allocation of funds for  railway schemes in South India is another example of discrimination and arbitrariness. To ensure no such debates, the railway budget was done away with, predictably.

They will legislate on agriculture, a subject firmly placed in the State list of the Constitution of India, but there were no debates or a discussion on the crucial issue.

Legislation without debate

All acts are now legislated without any debate. Parliament is now devoid of any special, meaningful debates and there are no appropriate answers to any questions raised. The government in Delhi acts in a manner that is accountable to none.

The Union BJP government is now operating with impunity and thirst for power, to control even the co-operative societies in our villages.

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Given that they have a majority, they are executing every action with impunity. They think that all these acts can be implemented using the Office of Governor in each state. When there is an elected cabinet in each state, is it not unconstitutional for seeking to rule over the state through the office of Governor?

Can a Union government function this way? Is it constitutional for seeking to run a parallel government through the Raj Bhavan in the states ruled by opposition parties?

Bills lying with TN Governor

In Tamil Nadu, the NEET bills were passed twice by the constitutionally elected legislature, but have not been sent to the President by the Governor, who is engaging in delaying tactics. Is he acting in accordance with the Constitution?

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It is not just the NEET Bills,  there are 11 Bills in the hands of the Governor. What is the reason for him not acting upon them? Do the powers of the nominated Governor overrule the will of 8 crore people? If this is the norm of governance in several states ruled by opposition parties, then can we call this a functioning democracy?

While referring to a Governor who was bothering him, the great leader Jyoti Basu had once said: “He has created a killing field with an intent to kill democracy point blank – and has transformed the state into a practice field for experimenting with his wrongful political experiments”.

So, conduct themselves the Governors, to kill democracy.

Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi), who ruled Tamil Nadu five times, said: “Several paradoxes and problems persist in Indian politics for the sole reason that states are not given the powers”. He also once said, “While I’m in Fort St. George, I don’t even have the right to mow the grass around the Fort.”

Perarignar Anna (Anna Durai) bemoaned: “I became the Chief Minister with the intent to do good to the people. But upon assuming the position, I now see that this position is bereft of powers/”

The great leader EMS Namboodiripad wrote, “I went on to do good to the people of Kerala. Hence my government was dissolved.”

On not being yes-men

The reality is that, while I may be the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and Thiru Pinarayi Vijayan may be the Chief Minister of Kerala, if we are yes-men, they wouldn’t create any problems for the government.

The moment we legislate for improving the life of the poor, vulnerable and subjugated or talk about educational rights, or articulate our views about the culture of South India or speak on the principle of equality, they would throw a spanner into the works and disrupt the proceedings.

And we must face this, and we are facing this through the legislature, courts, and the public space.

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To face and overcome these active efforts of disruption, we must organise a collective of States — to fight, to resist. We must form a collective of the Chief Ministers of South India, and then form a collective of Chief Ministers of all the States of India, separately.

The Constitution of India needs to be amended to bestow more rights to the States. To make this happen, we must come together, united, looking beyond the boundaries of politics.

During my recent visit to Delhi, in an interview given to PTI news agency, I had insisted upon the need for such a unity. I had then said, “In Tamil Nadu, we have organised the secular forces as a unitary front. We function, not just as political parties dividing the constituencies among ourselves during the times of election, but also safeguard and sustain the relationship built on ideological grounds. This forms the bedrock of our victory. All the political parties should realise that unity is strength and to safeguard India, we must come together, united. To safeguard the diversity of India, the principle of federalism, Democracy, Secularism, Equality, Fraternity, State Rights and Educational Rights, we must set aside political differences and come together as one. And this is my appeal”.

I appeal for the same here, once again.

Unity, need of the hour

Given the current political climate, it is important for like-minded political parties to come together and bond, to form a united front.

Victory is possible only if like-minded political parties come together and it is this victory that will ensure the sustenance of this country, the ideals of social justice, equality, and secularism.

I hereby request every party to initiate action to ensure such a victory.

Let us fight for state autonomy!

Let us create a truly federal India!

Red salute, comrades!