Barbs from ally: SAD says Centre turning states into beggars

NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government drew sharp reactions from ally Shiromani Akali Dal, which rules Punjab, over continued centralisation of power with the Centre

NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government drew sharp reactions from ally Shiromani Akali Dal, which rules Punjab, over continued centralisation of power with the Centre and indulging in a ‘constitutional rampage’ by altering the subjects under states and central lists.

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Asking for devolution of more powers to state governments, Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal also alleged that the Centre was reducing states to the status of “mere beggars” by usurping its rights and authority.

“The most dangerous exhibition of this tendency is seen in how the Centre has been quietly shifting subjects from the State List to the Concurrent List and from the Concurrent to the Union List which amounts to constitutional rampage,” Badal said at the Inter-State Council meeting here on Saturday.

The SAD shares power with the BJP in Punjab and have had an alliance for more than two decades.

The relationship between the two have, however, seen ups and down in recent times, with their leaders opening taking digs at each other ahead of next year’s assembly elections.

Asking for greater operational freedom to choose and finance development priorities of its people, Badal stressed that due weightage should be given to the opinion of states government on matters in the Concurrent Lists and consultations should be held with affected states on matters under Central List.

He suggested that the post of governor should not be kept vacant for more than a month at a time.