<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for state and Union governments to work together as Team India is welcome, considering that the relations between the Centre and the states are undergoing an extended period of stress. </p><p>These strains are prominent in ties between the Centre and states ruled by Opposition parties and so, it was appropriate that the Prime Minister made his call at the 10th governing council meeting of the NITI Aayog, in the presence of chief ministers. </p><p>The absence of three chief ministers – of Karnataka, West Bengal and Kerala – at the meeting may be taken as a sign of these strains. The Prime Minister said that joint efforts by the Centre and the states were needed to fast-track India’s development. The country has set for itself the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 which marks 100 years of Independence, and the Centre and all the states have to contribute to achieve this goal.</p>.<p>The Prime Minister has made a valid point that the nation’s development is the development of the states. The states need to maintain strong relations with the Centre to implement their development plans. A need for greater teamwork was underlined probably because the Prime Minister sensed the strains in the absence of some chief ministers and the demands made by those who were present. </p><p>The Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand demanded a greater share of tax revenues, asserting their apprehensions about the existing financial ties between the states and the Centre. Financial devolution from the Centre – a critical component in the development roadmap – has to be seen in the wider context of federal relations that have suffered much damage in the last few years.</p>.<p>This sense of distrust has limited both the Centre and the states. Governments led by the Opposition parties have blamed the Modi government for creating, and aggravating, this distrust. </p><p>The hostile conduct of Governors, the imposition of Central schemes, holding back of funds and deployment of Central investigative agencies against Opposition-led governments and politicians have put severe stress on federal relations. Some states feel that they are discriminated against and the Centre is hostile to them. </p><p>There is also the feeling that the Centre does not respect diversity and plurality and aims to impose uniformity across the country. There are not many forums where all the states can meet each other and the Centre. When the Prime Minister seeks better teamwork for development, he must also remain responsive to the concerns raised by the states.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for state and Union governments to work together as Team India is welcome, considering that the relations between the Centre and the states are undergoing an extended period of stress. </p><p>These strains are prominent in ties between the Centre and states ruled by Opposition parties and so, it was appropriate that the Prime Minister made his call at the 10th governing council meeting of the NITI Aayog, in the presence of chief ministers. </p><p>The absence of three chief ministers – of Karnataka, West Bengal and Kerala – at the meeting may be taken as a sign of these strains. The Prime Minister said that joint efforts by the Centre and the states were needed to fast-track India’s development. The country has set for itself the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 which marks 100 years of Independence, and the Centre and all the states have to contribute to achieve this goal.</p>.<p>The Prime Minister has made a valid point that the nation’s development is the development of the states. The states need to maintain strong relations with the Centre to implement their development plans. A need for greater teamwork was underlined probably because the Prime Minister sensed the strains in the absence of some chief ministers and the demands made by those who were present. </p><p>The Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand demanded a greater share of tax revenues, asserting their apprehensions about the existing financial ties between the states and the Centre. Financial devolution from the Centre – a critical component in the development roadmap – has to be seen in the wider context of federal relations that have suffered much damage in the last few years.</p>.<p>This sense of distrust has limited both the Centre and the states. Governments led by the Opposition parties have blamed the Modi government for creating, and aggravating, this distrust. </p><p>The hostile conduct of Governors, the imposition of Central schemes, holding back of funds and deployment of Central investigative agencies against Opposition-led governments and politicians have put severe stress on federal relations. Some states feel that they are discriminated against and the Centre is hostile to them. </p><p>There is also the feeling that the Centre does not respect diversity and plurality and aims to impose uniformity across the country. There are not many forums where all the states can meet each other and the Centre. When the Prime Minister seeks better teamwork for development, he must also remain responsive to the concerns raised by the states.</p>
