The Hindu : National : Centre-State ties: `Review decision'

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Sunday, Apr 29, 2007
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Centre-State ties: `Review decision'

Anita Joshua

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday demanded a review of the Government's decision to set up a new commission on Centre-State relations as the States were not consulted in the process and the terms of reference did not conform to what was promised in the National Common Minimum Programme.

In a statement, the CPI(M) Polit Bureau said the entire matter should be reviewed at the forthcoming meeting of the National Development Council before a final decision is taken. What has upset the party is that the terms of reference of the Commission do not include any of the major points in Centre-State relations including the needed increase in the State's share of central taxes, transfer of centrally sponsored schemes in the State subjects to the States and the alleviation of the debt burden on States.

Further, according to the CPI(M), two terms of reference - pertaining to interference in the sphere of law and order, and suo motu deployment of central forces for certain category of crimes - intrude on the jurisdiction of States. Add to this the proposal to set up a central law-enforcing agency.

Also, the CPI(M) has charged the Government with violating the established convention of consulting the State Governments before finalising the terms of reference of such commissions. As a case in point, the Polit Bureau cited the process followed while finalising the terms of reference of the Finance Commission when the States were consulted.

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