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PM wants 'continuous system of consultation' to improve Centre-state ties

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today declared his firm commitment to take suitable steps to ensure harmonious Centre-state relations and accused the previous regimes at the Centre of weakening the authority of the states by concentrating excessive powers.

''The concentration of powers in the hands of the Centre adversely affects the national economy, the democratic self-government at the grassroots and management of the social sector for the benefit of the poor,'' Vajpayee said in his speech at the fifth meeting of the Inter-State Council.

He reiterated his government's commitment to the decentralisation of powers up to the grassroot level by activating and involving the panchayats and local bodies.

Vajpayee said the Centre-state relations have also seen sharp differences on specific issues between political parties ruling at the Centre and in the states. He proposed a continuous system of consultation with the states to remove needless tensions and distrust on specific political and economic issues.

The meeting is being attended by chief ministers of almost all states besides several Union ministers.

The prime minister said the Centre-state relations could improve only if there is a feeling of oneness.

''One should feel that we are jointly striving to solve many economic, social and political problems facing us,'' he said.

A system of decision-making that does not provide for adequate consultation is bound to lead to distrust and needless tension, he noted.

The meeting, which is being held after a gap of one and a half years, will debate on the safeguards for preventing the misuse of Article 356 that gives the Centre emergency powers to dismiss a state government. Devolution of financial powers will also be discussed at the meeting.

Vajpayee also said that certain minor amendments and modifications are necessary in the existing guidelines for the smooth functioning of the council.

He noted that the perceptions of the Centre and the states could differ on certain areas. ''There is no denying this fact. But what is important is that we continue to meet on a common platform provided by this council to understand each other's perception. It would help us arrive at a consensus in the spirit of democratic functioning.''

Referring to Article 356, Vajpayee said a consensus had emerged that it should not be scrapped but amended to provide adequate safeguards to prevent its misuse.

The sixth meeting of the standing committee has discussed the question of safeguards against the Article. A sub-committee, headed by Defence Minister George Fernandes was constituted, but it could not reach a consensus on the safeguards.

''The issue therefore requires wider debate and consultations. I hope that the council's deliberations would be a step forward in securing the consensus,'' Vajpayee said.

''We are convinced that there is a clear case for devolution of more financial and administrative powers to the states. We will take suitable steps to ensure harmonious Centre-state relations and also effect decentralisation right up to the grass-roots level by activating and involving the panchayats and local bodies,'' he said.

He said there had been ''sharp differences'' on specific issues between political parties ruling at the Centre and the states.

''The manner in which the Centre-state relations evolved in the post-Independence period weakened our states by concentrating excessive powers with the Centre. The overall consequence was an adverse effect on the national economy, democratic self-governance at the grassroot level and management of the social sectors for the benefit of poor and marginal sections of the population,'' he observed, adding that one of the greatest challanges is to remove these shortcomings.

Vajpayee said the Sarkaria Commission's recommendations on social and economic planning relate to arrangement and mechanism for the planning process and the states participation therein. These recommendations were generally endorsed by the Inter-State Council.

Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani said the Centre has to discharge its constitutional obligations to protect states against internal rebellion and situation of gross public disorder.

He also favoured constant vigil on ground realities in the entire country. ''Distrubances, insurgencies and rebellions do not occur overnight. They are seeded and nurtured overtime by forces inimical to the security of the country,'' he noted.

He urged the council to view the obligations of the Centre in the light of insurgencies in different parts of the country generated by the cross-border agencies.

He also referred to a statement of S B Chavan in 1992 when he was the home minister. At a meeting of the sub-committee of the Inter-State Council, Chavan had stated that in the context of distrubances, it was possible that in a certain situation the perceptions of the Centre and the state government may differ. In such a situation, the Union government has to act according to its own perception of the situation.

Referring to article 356, he said it was for the council to discuss the issue thoroughly. ''There are considerable divergent views expressed at the standing committee meeting of the council. No consensus could emerge,'' he recalled.

UNI

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