News Analysis India

Tag: federalism

  • Stalin says DMK will dedicate INDIA bloc’s victory in Lok Sabha polls to Karunanidhi

    Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and ruling DMK President M K Stalin on Sunday said his party would dedicate the INDIA bloc’s victory in the Lok Sabha polls to late party patriarch M Karunanidhi and celebrate his centenary at the national level.

    On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Karunanidhi (1924-2018) on June 3, which also marks the culmination of year-long (2023-24) centenary celebrations of the DMK icon, Stalin heaped praise on the leader for his contributions to democracy and the nation. Whenever democracy faced crisis situations, “leaders from North India looked up to Karunanidhi” and it was his “stellar contributions” that ensured the retrieval of democracy and brought stability to the government, and “this cannot be disputed by anybody”, Stalin said.

    “It was Karunanidhi who championed state autonomy at the national level, batting for federalism.” He went on to say, “The Lok Sabha election results will be out on June 4. That day we shall hoist the victory flag and dedicate INDIA’s (bloc) victory to Kalaignar,” he said, adding that the centenary celebrations would be organised at the national level. The DMK has invited INDIA bloc leaders for the centenary celebrations on June 3 at its Delhi party office. The Dravidian party chief said that Karunanidhi, through his actions, has strongly reinforced DMK’s commitment to the ideals of social justice, harmony, state autonomy and protecting the mother tongue. That is why “those doing communal politics” are targeting the DMK “with malice” in poll-bound regions of the country by “spreading rumours”, Stalin said. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States”Their voice shows they are trembling due to the fear of defeat.” Without naming the BJP, Stalin said it can be understood that such forces are lamenting as they have realised the imminent formation of a ‘new India’ (a new government at the Centre by the INDIA bloc) with the support of the DMK. In a letter to party workers, Stalin exhorted them to celebrate the birth centenary of late party patriarch Karunanidhi on June 3 by organising events around welfare of the people, and said that such events should be adhere to the Model Code of Conduct which is in force. Stalin said the year-long centenary celebrations that commenced on June 3, 2023 and set to conclude on June 3 this year, was marked by DMK regime’s stellar schemes and initiatives that are beneficial to the people. The Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital in Guindy, Chennai, the Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai and the Kalaignar Memorial on the Marina beachfront were inaugurated during 2023-24 to mark the centenary celebrations. Referring to a slew of party events to mark the centenary year, the DMK president said that thanks to the work of all the party’s office-bearers, about one crore new members had been enrolled, which has taken the party’s membership count to 2 crore plus, he said, appreciating the “great work”.

  • ‘Against federalism’: Punjab CM says won’t accept Centre’s decision on BSF’s enhanced jurisdiction

    By Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi categorically said that his government will not accept the Centre’s decision to allow enhancement of BSF’s jurisdiction from existing 15 km to 50 km as it is “against the spirit of federalism”. 

    He hinted that a special cabinet meeting, an all-party meeting, and a special session of the Punjab assembly would be summoned on this issue.

    “I strongly oppose and condemn the GoI’s authoritarian decision to illogically expand the BSF’s jurisdiction to 50 km inside the Punjab territory. People of Punjab are greatly offended by this unilateral action. This is an anti-democratic and anti-federal decision by the Modi government,” tweeted Channi.

    He said all Punjabis must be united in this fight for “upholding Punjab’s constitutional dignity and federal autonomy. If necessary, we shall convene a special session of Vidhan Sabha to address this matter.” “In this fight, I urge all political parties in Punjab to work together. I warn Sukhbir Singh Badal not to misuse this sensitive issue for vested political ambitions,” he said in another tweet.

    I strongly oppose & condemn the GoI’s authoritarian decision to illogically expand the @BSF_India’s jurisdiction to 50 km inside the Punjab territory. People of Punjab are greatly offended by this unilateral action. This is an anti-democratic & anti-federal decision by Modi Govt.
    — Charanjit S Channi (@CHARANJITCHANNI) October 18, 2021
    The CM’s statement came a day after SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal requested him to convene an all-party meet at the earliest to decide the course of action in this regard.

    ALSO READ |  Police inspector runs over two girls in Punjab, one dead, another injured

    Soon after a cabinet meeting on Monday, CM Channi said since the law and order situation is a state subject and it is none of the Centre’s business to thrust this decision on Punjab without taking the state in confidence. The CM said his government was fully competent to handle the law and order situation across the state with its own police force.

    Channi said a special meeting of the state cabinet would be convened soon to take the further course of action over the BSF jurisdiction issue. The issue would also be thoroughly discussed in an all-party meeting and in case, the issue is not resolved, a special session of the Assembly’s would be summoned.

    As per the fresh order, the BSF, which was only empowered to take action up to 15 km in the states of Punjab, West Bengal, and Assam, has now been authorised to spread its jurisdiction up to 50 km without any hurdle or further permission either from central or state governments.

    However, its jurisdiction has been cut short by 20 km in the five northeastern states– Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya– where it had jurisdiction up to 80 km. Similarly in Gujarat, the BSF’s jurisdiction has been curtailed from 80 to 50 km. In Rajasthan, the BSF’s area of jurisdiction will remain the same at 50 km. 

  • BJP cites Modi government’s decisions on Punjab to laud its spirit of ‘cooperative federalism’

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Friday highlighted a number of decisions taken by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for Punjab in the “true spirit of cooperative federalism” and attacked its rivals for their “falsification”.

    Addressing a press conference, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri targeted opposition parties, which have accused the government of overriding powers of states, and said “for anyone to suggest they have been short-changed or not given their legitimate share will be a falsification”.

    The government recently sanctioned medical oxygen plants for 41 locations in Punjab under the PM Cares Fund, he said.

    He also took a swipe at the Congress government in Punjab over its alleged profiteering by selling its quota of Covid vaccines to private hospitals, and said it sparked conflicting statements from within the party.

    “Congress leaders are not on the same page. Some of them think profite_ering on centrally supplied medicines is legitimate. The health minister of Punjab govt claimed he had nothing to do with this scam,” Puri said.

    Citing various decisions of the Modi government, he said it abolished a “blacklist” carrying names of 333 Sikhs, granted citizenship rights to thousands of Sikhs oppressed in different countries, ensured action in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, gave FCRA registration to Golden Temple to receive foreign donations, launched 14 trains to connect holy Sikh sites and gave GST exemption to langar services run by gurdwaras.

    The list is long, he said, adding this is what Modi personally and his government have been doing for all states.

    Noting that it was alleged that the minimum support price (MSP) for grains will be abolished and mandi system repealed when the government enacted three farm laws, he said the Centre in fact made record procurement and transferred tens of thousands of crores directly to bank accounts of farmers.

    “Government has made it clear that if there are any doubts (regarding laws) we are ready to sit with you and are open to all suggestions. But template has to be benefit to farmers,” Puri said.

    He also demanded probe into crimes which have allegedly occurred at the sites of farmer protests.

    BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra added that democracy has space for agitations not crime.