Badal wants federal structure in country

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Sunday called for drastic recast of the constitution to give the country a genuinely federal structure.

Speaking at the conference of chief ministers called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday, Badal said that the centre should have exclusive jurisdiction on subjects of national concerns, such as defence, external affairs, currency, railways, communications and a few others.

"Federalism is the only way to ensure speedy development to make India a true economic superpower and a world leader. States are like limbs of the country's body politic. Strong limbs mean a strong body. Strong states mean a strong India. Up to now, there has been confusion between a strong India and a strong centre. We stand for a strong and genuinely federal India," Badal said.

He also sought a drastic reversal in the formula for distribution of resources between the centre and states.

"The states must get a 50 percent share out of the central taxes and non-tax revenue, instead of the present 32 percent and these funds should be given in an untied manner, without prior conditions," Badal said.

He said that the distribution of funds among states should be based on a transparent formula so that larger states do not walk away with all the funds.