The Union government cannot dictate the States’ policies as the elected governments in the States get to decide for themselves within the realm of the Constitution, Tamil Nadu Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiagarajan said on Saturday.

“Government of India nowhere gets the power to tell us what our priorities are. They are trying to dictate to us. The Constitution is clear about Government of India cannot dictate my State’s policies. If you try to do all things from Delhi because you are power-hungry, you will fail,” Mr. Thiaga Rajan said at a panel discussion on “More than a sum of parts: Reimagining India’s federalism”, moderated by Narayan Lakshman, Curator, The Huddle, and Opinion Editor, The Hindu.

Echoing similar sentiments, Kerala Law Minister P. Rajeeve said, “The Parliament cannot dictate the borrowing limits of the State. It cannot take away all powers and encroaching upon the States’ powers.”

Some Governors are behaving in a colonial era, and unfortunately, nobody understands the fact that under the new Constituent Assembly concept, those that did India proud will become Governors, he said.

Range of issues
Both the Ministers exchanged their views on a spectrum of issues such as devolution of funds, delimitation exercise, Centre–State relationship, and the role of the Governor.

Speaking on devolution of funds, Mr. Thiaga Rajan said that although the money was coming from the States, the shares were not being distributed as promised. “Five years ago, we were not divisible. The Centre is using Article 293 and provisions in back-to-loan to limit the borrowing limits of the State. We are capable of handling our finances. Who is questioning the Centre if the fiscal deficit is going beyond the roof?”

On delimitation
On the delimitation exercise, Mr. Rajeeve said: “We have serious concerns about delimitation. There should be a limit on how many seats should be maintained when the number of seats is increased. Equal representation has to be provided. It will be unfair if development index and population control is not considered and representation is reduced.”

Seeking a 30-year freeze on delimitation, the Tamil Nadu Minister said that States that successfully implemented population control were being punished. “Whichever party dominates the Hindi heartland happens to be in power. Importance of other 26 States will be inconsequential.”

He pointed out the equitable representation of the Goods and Services Tax and the contribution of States to GST pool or the population size.

Media: The Hindu