Sukhbir lauds Modi for policies favouring federalism

A day after accusing the Centre of "usurping" states' powers, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the country is "poised for a genuine federal structure".
"The Prime Minister has set the ball rolling for fiscal autonomy and it is for states and political parties to forget differences and make use of the political and constitutional opening created by the new atmosphere under the NDA government at the Centre," Badal said in a statement.
"The country is poised for a genuine federal structure. We have come a long way from times when successive Congress governments engaged in constitutional rampage and reduced states to mere beggars at the door of the Centre.

"No one appreciates the need for empowering states in fiscal and other matters more than Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Thanks to his long experience as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Yesterday's (Inter State Council) meeting was a major step forward in that direction. It should be remembered for laying the foundations for inclusive development of the country," the Deputy Chief Minister said.
The Centre asking states as to which model of development suited them best will result in more inclusive growth, he said.
Badal had yesterday used terms like "constitutional rampage" and reducing states to "beggars" to target the Centre without clarifying whether he meant the Modi government or its predecessors.

Calling for a review of subjects under the Union, State and Concurrent lists, he said it has been 60 years those were formulated. "Today much water has flown down the river and times have changed. Therefore, the subjects that were put in the Union List or State List or Concurrent List need to be reviewed," he added.

Denouncing previous Congress governments at the Centre, he said: "The founding fathers of the Indian Constitution had given the country a draft which was close to the spirit of federalism, but successive Congress governments violated its spirit by riding roughshod over the aspirations of the states.

"Under Modi, this trend of discrimination is set to be changed. He is not only aware of the problems faced by the states, but also best equipped to come out with solutions."
The SAD president termed the Amarinder's meeting with
PM as Arvind Kejriwal's style drama.
Amarinder was part of the Congress delegation led by party's national vice president Rahul Gandhi who met the PM.
Sukhbir said Amarinder had lied and deceived the farmers and even concocted forms which had no legal sanctity.
"This amounts to betraying the interests of farmers for cheap petty political gains", he added.
He said all this had happened because Amarinder was far removed from the people and the State.

"He does not live in the State nor does he have any time to meet the people of his former constituency Patiala or Amritsar," he said.
The Deputy CM said the issue of farm loans had been tackled holistically by coming out with the Settlement of Indebtedness bill besides ensuring that farmers were not charged excessive interest.
In March this year Punjab Assembly had passed 'The Punjab Settlement of Agricultural Indebtedness Bill, 2016', which stipulates that the interest payable on debt shall be calculated at such rate as may be notified by the government. This would be in consonance with the interest rates charged by banks on yearly basis.

It was followed up with formation of debt settlement tribunals so that all disputes of farmers were settled expeditiously, he added.
The SAD leader said the SAD-BJP government had recently even come to the aid of small farmers by extending them interest free crop loans of Rs 50,000.
"This was done to cover the cost of inputs of farmers during the recent sowing period. We are also committed to offering cooperative loans at nominal interest to farmers. I am sure the union government will come out with a good package for farmers in the forthcoming budget," he said.
The SAD president said the Punjab government had already done what Amarinder was promising to the farmers.

"It is for this reason farmers treat Badal as their messiah who protect their facilities like free water for irrigation and never betrayed them. You (Amarinder) on the other hand betrayed Punjabi farmers by withdrawing this facility...Practice what you preach before you get ready to befool farmers again with your false and hollow promises", he added.