Include Chief Ministers in Plan Panel, says BJP

CHENNAI: BJP on Saturday suggested that Chief Ministers could be included in the Union Planning Commission so that it generates goodwill in the minds of the State governments.Delivering the Nani Palkivala memorial lecture on ‘Revisiting Centre-State Relations’ here, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said the people of the country aspire for ushering in a participatory democracy when it comes to Centre-State relationships. “It can be achieved only when we strengthen our existing institutions and respect law,” she said.Commentators have felt that the Planning Commission was extra-constitutional and non-statutory body. Including a group of Chief Ministers in the body will enhance goodwill, she asserted. Pointing out the studies made on Centre-State relations since 1966, Sitharaman recalled the recommendations of the First Administrative Reforms Commission headed by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai and later by K Hanumantaiah. Since then, many attempts have been made to study the subject, which included Sarkaria Commission appointed in 1983. Problems in Centre-State relations arose due to many reasons, including the office of the Governor, inter-State disputes, all India services (dual control), financial relations and planning and law and order, she pointed out.Very recently, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee resented the way the Centre went about a proposed treaty with a neighbouring country on river water sharing. TN government wants the Centre to revisit the international pact signed with Sri Lanka on Katchatheevu, she said.In this connection, she recalled the recommendation of Sarkaria Commission: “In order to reduce tension on important issues involving States, the desirability of prior consultation by the Union government with the inter-State Council may be considered before signing any treaty vitally affecting the interests of the States regarding matters in the State list”.Another aspect of the Centre-State relations was delay in giving assent to the Bills adopted by the State Assemblies, she said.