Telangana asserts its rights in federal spirit

For Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, maintaining cordial relations with the Centre and at the same time ascertaining state’s rights, when it comes to upholding its self-respect, has been a challenge. Whatever is required for the state has been demanded and, in the process, TS got approvals and sanctions for many of its proposals. There were specific instances when KCR had to be vocal and raise the voice.

For instance, in April 2017 when the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Bill, 2017, was passed in the Telangana State Legislative Assembly and Council, KCR unveiled his strategy for getting the approval of the enhanced reservation quota for the Muslim Minorities in the form of BC-E category as well as that of Scheduled Tribes. He categorically mentioned in the House that, “I am not going to beg! I am going to fight! I will mention it in the NITI Aayog meeting. I will approach the Apex Court if needed.”

It may be mentioned here that as CM said in the Assembly, the Centre should also allow the States to take decisions on certain important policy matters like the reservations based on each state’s requirement and population as well as other ground realities. In a vibrant and matured democracy like ours, the Centre should allow the States to take a call. The situation now prevailing in the country is vastly different from that of 1947 when the country attained independence.

We made our Constitution 70 years ago. Now there is an increase in population, more awareness and more opportunities. People are demanding more and more. If we want our country to progress and move forward, we should leave the reservations issue to the respective states. Decisions should be taken accordingly or else there will be clashes and movements.

With reference to relations with the Centre, a couple of things on the concept of cooperative federalism may be mentioned. India is the world’s largest democracy with a federal structure and is supposed to accommodate numerous facets of country’s political system with great flexibility within the broad framework of cooperative federalism.

Whether this is happening in its letter and spirit is a debatable issue. While participating in the World Economic Meet in China two years ago, the CM strongly defended the federal structure of India. He said that in India states had a major role to play and realising this aspect, the Government of India delegated more powers and funds to the States.

In place of the earlier Planning Commission an organisation called NITI Aayog consisting of all the Chief Ministers of all the states with Prime Minister as its Chairman had come into existence referred as Team India. With Prime Minister as Chairman and CMs as members, all states together need to plan the development of country and the states’ development as well. In a federal structure like India’s, states shall have a major role to play.

However, in November last year while participating in a discussion on minorities’ welfare in the Legislative Assembly, the CM reiterated that it was time the Centre reviewed its stand on accommodating States’ requirements. For taking forward the country in an integrated manner, the Government of India must transfer to the States several of the schemes and subjects that are under its hold.

Peoples’ desires, ambitions and demands are on the increase and, therefore, more decentralisation is the need of the hour. Keeping in view the social backwardness, the percentage of reservations in the State to minorities, STs and SCs must be enhanced. The Union government should either accept this decision and include it in the 9th Schedule or reject it so that the doors of the Supreme Court could be knocked. In the Assembly, the CM hinted at agitation in the Parliament by TRS MPs to secure their demand.

The KCR government is committed to cooperative fiscal federalism. States have matured enough, and they are able to set their own priorities and fulfil the aspirations of people better. The CM is of the firm conviction that strong States make a strong nation and that the development of the nation lies in the States.

It is a welcome change in the stance of the Union government to replace a Centre-to-State one-way flow of policy by a genuine and continuing partnership with the States. Telangana has also supported the replacement of Planning Commission by NITI Aayog with a mandate to promote cooperative federalism and to evolve a shared vision of national development priorities with the active involvement of States.

While the States are now relatively free to set their priorities, their active involvement in the formulation of national policies is yet to take concrete shape. There are also few incidents where the NITI Aayog has acted more as an agent of the Centre. However, over a time this institution may emerge as a major agent in promoting and sustaining cooperative federalism in the country.

The Telangana government engagement with the Union government is issue-based without any ideological trappings. Telangana was the first State to have extended support to Centre's demonetisation move and the introduction of GST keeping in view the long-term benefits of these measures for the nation. No doubt, there are a few differences with the Centre, which are not uncommon in a country of the size of India with large diversities.

These differences relate to provision of reservations to Muslims in educational institutions and public employment and enhancement of reservations to SCs and STs. Then there are other issues regarding fulfilment of assurance of support in accordance with the provisions of the AP Reorganization Act, 2014.

Leveraging on transition
For nearly six decades, Telangana remained neglected despite its significant share in revenue collections and potential. Telangana is in the process of a major transition from a shackled economy to that of an economy which is being nurtured back to fulfil the long-pending and just needs of its people. Therefore, the growth prospects of Telangana cannot be defined by its past, nor can they be defined by the present.

Because of the numerous initiatives taken by the government, the growth prospects are very bright going by the performance of the State economy and the expansion of the growth possibilities. The reorganisation of the districts will create new growth centers around the new districts, which will further contribute to the growth momentum of economy.

By: Jwala Narasimha Rao
(Writer is CPRO to Telangana CM)