CHENNAI: The DMK’s long-standing demand for federalism found echoes at the launch of a book on the issue in the city on Monday. “Joint governance is very much like a wedding,” said senior DMK leader and State Finance Minister K Anbazhagan. “Just like it is necessary for a man and woman to live in equity to make a marriage work, the Centre cannot afford to be authoritative and State governments cannot afford to be submissive,” he added.
He was talking at the launch of a book, Joint governance in India - Accumulation or Distribution?, written by M Naganathan, vice-chairman of the State Planning Commission. Anbazhagan pointed out that the nature of the Central and State governments had changed over time. “This is not an age when the Centre can just dismiss a State government. In fact, this is a time when State governments can dismiss the Centre,” he stressed. Reiterating his party’s stand, Anbazhagan said although the DMK had given up its demand for secession decades ago, the rationale remained relevant even today.
Naganathan, on the other hand, said the discretionary power of the Centre over fund allocation to State governments was against the concept of joint governance.
“The Centre has, on too many occasions, misused this power to deny funds to unfavourable governments. The moment a favourable government comes into place, an even greater amount is sanctioned,” he said.
Other speakers at the function proposed that the powers attributed to the Centre by the Constituent Assembly of India in the wake of Independence were against the backdrop of the partition and a need for national unity.
“Those needs do not exist anymore. When that rationale itself has expired, then what is the need for such powers remaining with the Centre?” asked senior advocate R Viduthalai.
Among the others who attended the function was Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol Thirumavalavan, who called on the Centre to divest its powers or continue facing unrest similar to what is being witnessed in the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir.
