Centre Not Against Decentralisation, Says Deve Gowda

We can consider more areas where states can decide for themselves, he said while inaugurating the second meeting of the inter-state council here. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu even demanded that barring defence, internal security, currency and external relations, the Centre should cede authority in all other subjects to the states.

The Prime Minister propagated the new system of cooperative federalism and said the United Front government had already set a new style of governance in which consultations with the states was being given the importance it deserved.

The meeting is being attended by chief ministers, governors and Union Territory administrators.

The most important requirement of a healthy Centre-state relationship is frequent interaction. This would ensure that both sides are in a position to appreciate each others problems and arrive at responsible decisions, Gowda said.

A system of decision-making, which does not provide for adequate consultation, is bound to lead to distrust and needless tensions. There is, therefore, clearly a need for an institutionalised system of regular consultation between the Centre and states, he said. This system, which can be called as cooperative federalism, will help both the Centre and states, he said.

Gowda said that cooperative federalism would recognise the fact that in their own spheres of action, the Centre and states are both supreme, but in areas where their interests overlap, there has to be a system of continuous and sincere consultations and joint decision-making.

There are bound to be areas where conflicts would arise between the states and the Centre. But, what is of paramount importance is the interest of the country and the people at large, the prime minister said.

He said a narrow confrontationist approach based on the protection of interests of either the Centre or the states can only weaken the fabric that has held together independent India.

We have to rise above narrow perspectives and strengthen the forces of democracy and unity, Gowda said.

The Centre requires a continuous system of consultation with the states, so that our scarce and precious resources are put to the best possible use and we are in a position to jointly solve the wide array of economic, social and political problems that face us.

The inter-state council had become even more important today, when we have a coalition government with a number of parties participating, Gowda said.

The political situation has changed today in defence to this reality. We must all commit ourselves to a strong institutional framework for Centre- state consultations.

Gowda called for making the inter-state council, which is meeting after a gap of six years, a more effective organisation. We must ensure that its meetings are convened at regular intervals. We also need to establish a system by which major national issues are discussed, he said.

Expressing concern over the poor living standards of the people, he said a system which may ensure the periodic conduct of elections cannot be said to have achieved its objectives, unless we are able to remove poverty and provide the basic minimum requirements for them.

Our efforts at finding solutions to Centre-state problems and inter-state problems, have to be constantly guided by this larger national objective, he said.