"AN ATTACK ON FEDERALISM IN INDIA- A SOLUTION"

"AN ATTACK ON FEDERALISM IN INDIA - A SOLUTION"

                                                        "Only when each and every state's unique culture, identity is kept, coordinated and develop in a multi-parallel track, the nation, India, i.e Bharat, as an union of states would develop"

- Myself (☺)

                      In the past decade, to be precise from 2014-15, the fundamental of federalism is been on attack systematically & gradually in India, by the union gov towards the states. This may not be the first time, federalism is been attacked, the previous governments in union have also teased, bruised and hurt the federal nature, but the current regime have opted for a systematic & gradual erosion of federalism completely out of the nation both in letter and spirit in all possible ways. 

• The current NDA which came to power, rising slogans like 'One nation One tax One market One ration One etc' have boldly waged a war against the foundation of federalism. 

- Knowing that, One nation - is not at all possible in a completely diversified nation in a democracy; One tax - is a failed implementation; One ration - is not possible with abundant states not ready to share resources with lagging states, how come still the minions of this nation, believe in One nation theory?! 

• In terms of Fiscal federalism; the outright onslaught on the states is evident. GST which was built on the premise of 'trust' between the union gov and state, have failed on it's promises of GST dues, compensation and even extension requests on the term, and finally convinces the state to trust on centre, which have failed on it's promises. 

- But, when we have to look deeper, the number of states which support BJP(17/31) are greater than the number of states against BJP(14/31), and the fact is those who support BJP are the gainers who receive a huge portion of the compensation pool, contributing the least to it. Whereas, states like MH, TN & KA which contributes to the pool more, are given a very less only. Therefore, there is a need to restore 'fiscal justice to states'

- The idea of 'fiscal permeability' in India, where richer states feed the poorer states is acceptable, but the core question of how far the poorer states utilize the shared resources efficiently is a greater question and a clear audit of such 'differential resources' must be made by the one who contribute more. 

- So, an 'economical or fiscal grouping of contributing states' like MH, TN, KA and others must be made, and audit the resources 'shared' by them to states like Bihar, UP, Rajasthan and others. This would ensure accountability of the resources used effectively and not into waste. 

• In terms of Trade federalism; the union gov have cleverly sided with the 'merchant community' of the nation, favored them in all possible ways. For example: Protecting the 'big Indian business' from global competition by not entering the 'Regional comprehensive economic partnership' as well as from the 'rise of small business' which could be a threat to the big Indian businesses are also deliberately crushed by the 'demonetisation' and 'GST', which is evidently seen now. 

- So, the agenda of BJP towards a 'merchant community ruled polity' is slowly been enacted systematically. 

- What does the partiality in trade and commerce have to do with favoring political agendas?! Yes, the deeper idea, to 'cripple the regional parties' permanently making them 'permanently disabled' is the deeper idea here. By restricting local trade and hitting the small businesses, the regional parties which are been funded by small business and regional businesses are hindered, so the regional parties are lagging in funds, and cannot compete with the mammoth expense BJP does in every elections. 

- Thereby, by crippling the 'sources of regional parties', the BJP is cleverly making them "impotent to resist" the union gov. So, the regional parties must become aware of such tactics to safeguard their sources of incomes as well as the industrial (small and large) base of their state. 

• In terms of administration & legislature; the union gov have continuously used it's institutions to threaten and interfere with the administrative as well as legislative procedures of the state. 

- The trumpcard which the BJP uses is the 'Governor of State' who deliberately interfere with the day to day administration and affairs of the state, either to takeover the machinery, or to divert them from ruling the state well. The evidence examples of West Bengal where the union gov keeps on meddling with the state, and in case of Puducherry where the union gov have tookover the machinery and lots of others states like Maharashtra (they tried to and failed), Lakshwadeep islands, entirely their aim is to control both the administrative and legislative procedures to hinder the functioning of the state, all with he help of State Governors. 

- So, the State have to be most aware and careful of the Governors appointed to them, without trusting them blindly and have a huge watchful guardian, that none of the micro-agendas of BJP pushed into administration and legislation. 

• In terms of Health & Education; it is a known pathetic situation to see the union gov unilaterally taking control of the subjects of the states. This can be bearable, according to the situation, like done before during emergency and other times also, where union gov takes certain subjects into its hands, because states cannot do them well and they accept it and surrender. Whereas now, when the states are performing well, where is the need to takeover Health and education from states. 

- Coming to Health & Education, Tamilnadu is the best example. Why should the state like Tamilnadu, which already has a top notch higher education and an inclusive primary education have to listen to or surrender it's subject of education tot he centre? Why should the state of Tamilnadu, which have the best medical infrastructure and facilities both in terms of scale and implementing faculties depend on union gov to instruct them or on any other needs? Why should the state of Tamilnadu, which has achieved self sufficient status in foodgrains and have a perfect and best network of PDS system, depend or have to listen to the union gov which has no business to interfere with it? 

- The reason entirely lies in the clever agenda of BJP of introducing 'Central schemes' in the subjects of the state. Why should the union gov introduce a scheme in which Tamilnadu is already doing well? Not only in Tamilnadu, the entire Nationwide central schemes by the BJP are focused not on 'result based' but entirely for the purpose of 'interfering with the state subjects' alone. Imagine, Tamilnadu which have already been a role model for many states in Sanitation and hygiene, given a record in the website of union ministry that Tamilnadu have achieved open defecation free(ODF) status, now only, as per the union gov, whereas Tamilnadu been awarded ODF by various previous governments and organizations. It is not that the central wants a fruitful result, but to either 'steal the goodname' which someone already laid efforts to, or 'interfere in their subjects' like they are not putting efforts in that. It is entirely the act of keeping your name, for someone's child ,thereby increasing your publicity. 

- The States must resolve as a united way, not to accept any Central schemes pushed, in the subjects of the state. However or whatever it maybe, the state's subject must be taken care of through welfare programs of the state alone, leaving no space for the centre to keep its hand on state's subject. 

• In terms of Socio-Cultural fundamentals; every state is unique and has it's own beautiful culture and living, from what they consume, what they study, how they grow their children up, what they do to everything which comes under 'Right to life and liberty' given in the constitution. And, Ultimately the notion of 'One nation' is simply a cry to create orgasms for the hindutuva minions on one side, and looting the resources via the merchant community on the other side, making the richer states accountable & bear the burden of the 'deliberately made' poorer states and finally taking the role of 'victim' or 'martyr' of hindus to consolidate further troops of innocent minions.

- "Unity in diversity"(Pluralism) is been forgotten slowly by many of us. Slowly the words like Secularism, Federalism, Fraternity, Socialistic are ready to be attacked next. What can we do for it? What can we do to stop such goons from entering the state's 'socio-cultural' aspect also? 

- First, the revival of 'Regional identity' or 'Regionalism' and it's beautiful diversity. Second, the revival of fundamental values like Secularism, Socialism, Democracy, Equality & Justice  enshrined in the constitution. Third, to resist the idea, that hindutuva is the orgin of such regionalism. Because, their final strategy if they 'fail to conquer' is they 'smear'. They have started smearing the flavor of hindutuva to be the orgin of such regional tendencies and tastes in Bengal, Assam, and TN. It is like this, pushing you not to eat beef saying huge reasons and traditional logics and finally, when they clearly know they cannot push, they smear a thought that beef eating good and was infact advocated by hindutuva only. This is because, they do not have a standard or welfare ideology, their ultimate motive is land, money, power & women, for which they cook up stories and epics and term them to be the religion and push them to be the tradition and what them to be followed, only because finally it benefits the merchants, high castes and their footlicking politicians alone.