New Delhi, Dec 28: Key UPA allies DMK and Trinamool Congress today expressed apprehensions that the Constitution Amendment Bill may erode the powers of states which are derived from the federal setup of the country.
“I am afraid that this Bill may erode the strength of the state governments...I would like to make it clear that our nation is functioning in a federal setup. Federal structure has to be honoured,” DMK's K P Ramalingam said in the debate at the Rajya Sabha.
Noting that co-operative societies come under control of states, the DMK MP said, “I have a doubt as to what is the need to bring this Bill now?...I would like to ask whether this amendment is necessary at this time. If so, will it not deprive the state governments of their power?”
He said if the state governments are deprived of all of their powers, “gradually, I fear that it will lead the state governments to demand autonomy.”
Ramalingam, in his speech in Tamil, said it does not matter whether it is one party or of multi-parties rule, “it has to be clear that our nation is functioning in a federal setup.”
“In a federal structure, the powers of the state governments have to be given due regard. They should not be deprived of their rights,” he said.
Taking part in the debate, Trinamool MP D Bandyopadhyay said to some extent, he agreed with Pyari Mohan Mohapatra (BJD), who had opposed the Bill saying it was not required and would encroach upon the rights of the state.
“To some extent, I support my friend Mohapatra, that it should not have gone into so much of details. Give a format and leave it to the states to do it. Basically, it is a State Subject except the multi-state cooperatives, for which you can have a complete law,” he said.
