What Centre proposes, State govts dispose

In a scathing observation against the State governments, the Supreme Court, the other day, has said "when the States don't listen to the Union Government, the situation is hopeless." Thick skinned as they are, the regional satraps may not care what the Apex Court says about them and might continue their arrogant and deviant ways of governance.

The said observation has emanated from a frustrated judiciary and does not come as a 'tongue in cheek' remark. The Court had asked the various State governments to respond to its notice and to the Union government's request, in the case relating to the establishment of elephant corridors, which was not forthcoming despite the Union government’s intimation about it to the State Governments.

The remarks made by a Bench of Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta hearing the matter which relates to setting up of 27 critical elephant corridors in 22 states to prevent elephant deaths and accidents. In this regard, the Court had directed the Environment Ministry to come up with a solution.

The Centre had sought a response from the 22 States pursuant to the same. But when the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, it informed the Court that 13 States had still not filed their responses. Miffed at this lackadaisical approach, Justice Lokur commented: “Nobody listens to the Government of India… States are not listening to the Government of India.

Yesterday we had the same problem, today we have the same problem. This is hopeless! There has to be a solution to this… is the Government of India helpless?” It is obvious that the response was not forthcoming from certain State governments due to politics. It throws up yet another question: Is environment and its conservation a matter of Union subject alone? Don't the State governments have any responsibility in joining hands in such drives.

It is really shameful that in the name of federalism and just because the party in power is opposed to the ruling party at the Centre, even good measures are prevented from getting implemented. There could be differences over any issue at the time it is mooted. But, when it is debated and argued over in the Parliament and a law is enacted, should there be a delay in its implementation. We have seen State governments in the country going back on the laws that they supported in the past.

Blind opposition to the Centre to score some brownie points is not in the interest of the nation. Wish our leaders understand the same. Or else, as the Bench observed, "it is a crisis. If State governments say we will do whatever we want and let the Government of India say anything, this country will break up."

Take for example the case of NEET. The way Tamil Nadu opposed, it always made us wonder whether we ever think as a nation. Kannada ego has hassles over everything. We have, a Bengalee pride, a Kashmiri pride, a Gujarati pride, a Dalit pride, a Maratha pride...all part of identity politics. How about an Indian pride? Or do we find one?