Punjab CM calls for strong federalism, secularism and peace

Accusing the Centre of encroaching upon the rights of states, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called for recasting the Constitution to ensure implementation of federalism in the right spirit.
Expressing his concerns that the extension of special industrial package to neighbouring hilly states might affect investment sentiments in the state, Badal pitched for similar concessions for Punjab.
Addressing a gathering after unfurling the national flag at Guru Nanak Stadium here on the occasion of 65th Republic Day, the Chief Minister said with the passage of time the Centre had gradually been encroaching upon the rights of states as enshrined in the Constitution's State List, like agriculture, health and education, thereby drifting away from the basic essence of federalism.

"It is pitiable condition of the states which are merely relegated to the position of subordinates to discharge trivial functions for instance transferring a district agriculture officer from Ludhiana to Jalandhar and vice versa, whereas it has no control over significant issues related to the welfare of farmers such as fixation of the rates of agriculture inputs and the corresponding MSP of the crops," he said.
Badal bemoaned that the "very soul and spirit of the Constitution as infused by its architect B R Ambedkar" had been taken out deliberately "to weaken the states" on one hand, and "dilute its federal character" on the other.

He asked policy makers to shun the decade-long practice of "arbitrarily" doling out grants to its favourites at the cost of other states like Punjab.

"It is the high time now to awake from deep slumber to sanction central grants liberally without any riders thereby respecting the very sanctity of Indian Constitution," he said.
Badal alleged that the Centre had failed on all fronts in terms of safeguarding the nation's integrity from internal as well as external aggression, and added it was unable to uphold the ethos of secularism, communal harmony and amity.
He lauded the Punjabis for maintaining peace, communal harmony and brotherhood in the state, despite stiff provocation from its hostile neighbour, Pakistan.