Chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday flayed the BJP govt at the Centre, accusing it of not allocating enough funds and taking a narrow-minded approach in dealings with Tamil Nadu.
In his inaugural address at a seminar here on Centre-state relations, Stalin said, “Tamil Nadu contributes the highest revenue to Union govt through direct taxes and GST. However, in the financial devolution to Tamil Nadu, instead of providing the state its rightful share corresponding to the tax revenue, BJP govt is acting with narrow political motives.”
“Only strong states can make a strong India; while weak states cannot build a strong nation. In a union such as India, which is diverse with differences, true federalism and state autonomy must fundamentally exist,” Stalin said.
This was the first conference after Tamil Nadu formed a three-member high-level committee under former Supreme Court judge Kurian Joseph to review Centre-state relations over the past 50 years.
In the meeting, Stalin inaugurated a website (www.hlcusr.tn.gov.in) for the high-level committee and asked people of all the states to register their opinion on centre-state relationship. Stalin also asked states to form such a committee.
In his address deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said, “One of the basic ideologies of the DMK is to fight for state autonomy which our former leaders such as former CMs C N Annadurai and M Karunanidhi and former Union minister Murasoli Maran did in the past.”
Condemning the 130th Amendment Bill, Udhayanidhi said it is not just a threat to the state but to democracy in India. “Our chief minister will never allow the Bill to be passed,” Udhayanidhi said.
Source #TOI
