For the second day in running, two more southern states protested against the Union government (Centre’s) partisan disbursal of funds to parties not rule by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) completely violating constitutional principles of federalism. Yesterday, it was Karnataka with chief minister Siddaramaiah taking the lead, today it was the Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments in two different locales in the capital.
Today’s protest organised by the Kerala government at Jantar Mantar on February 8 (Thursday) was on the attacks on federalism by the Centre, especially anomalies in devolution of resources, turned out to be a gathering of Opposition States.
Besides Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who inaugurated the protest, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann joined the protests. Senior political leaders such as CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI general secretary D. Raja, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Rajya Sabha member and lawyer Kapil Sibal, Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader Palanivel Thiaga Rajan and several Ministers, MPs and MLAs belonging to the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala too attended the gathering. Members of INDIA bloc partners other than the Congress and the Trinamool Congress also participated in the protest.
Facts
For every one-rupee Maharashtra gives Centre, it gets back Rs 0.08 paise, Karnataka gets Rs 0.15 paise, Gujarat gets Rs 0.28 paise, TN Rs 0.29 paise, while UP gets Rs 2.73 and Bihar gets Rs 7.06. At some stage, ‘penalising’ states for better demographic and economic performance was always going to become an issue. That most of these states are south of the Vindhyas and are opposition ruled gives their demands a political edge. Besides, the flood-hit opposition ruled states like Himachal Pradesh (HP) and TN and drought hit Karnataka have also claimed that their relief funds delayed. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has been vociferously claiming that Bengal’s MNREGA funds are being denied. Interestingly, way back a decade, when Narendra Modi was chief minister (CM), Gujarat, he used to make claims that the then UPA government was discriminating against Gujarat? Today’s detailed state issues are the manner in which the 16th Finance Commission has disbursed funds. The issue is crucial for co-operative federalism to be more than just a slogan
Democratic protest: Vijayan
In his inaugural address on Thursday morning, Mr. Vijayan said when federalism is destroyed, it will cause losses to all the States. “On top of that are the politically motivated actions against non-BJP-run States. Efforts are on by certain sections to depict the genuine demands of States as an issue of north-south divide. It is totally untrue, unfounded and baseless. Ours is a democratic protest against the undoing of federal structure and the sheer discrimination against the States irrespective of north-south considerations. However, taking into account the interests of our people and our State, we cannot be quiet,” he said.
Governors creating impediments: Kejriwal
Arvind Kejriwal said the situation has become such that the States have to come to Jantar Mantar to protest demanding their rights. “Mr. Vijayan is not here to ask some money for his family. He is here to get the allocations due to Kerala,” said Mr. Kejriwal, adding that other than denying resources, the Centre is using Governors and Lieutenant Governors to create impediments to the Opposition-ruled governments.
He referred to the arrests of Opposition leaders and said it is “a tactic” used by the BJP to silence Opposition. “We, the Opposition parties, represent 70 crore people of this country. Are you considering these States as your enemies?” Mr. Kejriwal asked, seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s explanation on the “attacks on federal rights.”
Mr. Mann said the Centre has denied shares of revenues to Punjab too. He said the BJP is “busy communalising” the country and that Punjab needs no lessons from the Sangh Parivar on patriotism.
DMK Lok Sabha MPs wear black robes to protest over non-allocation of funds to Tamil Nadu
Meanwhile, at another venue outside Parliament, beside the Gandhi statue, DMK member G Selvam said they are protesting against Centre not releasing flood relief funds. It has been raising the issue for last few days both inside and outside Parliament.
DMK wore black robes in protest against Centre over non allocation of requisite funds to Tamil Nadu in the interim budget. “We are wearing black robes in protest against Centre not releasing flood relief funds,” DMK member G Selvam told PTI. The DMK has been raising the issue of non-allocation of funds for the last few days both inside and outside Parliament.
Related:
Karnataka leads the southern states’ protest against squeeze of funds by Modi regime