New Delhi: The CPI(M) today accused the BJP-led NDA dispensation of moving towards “unitary form of Government” by eroding special category status given to northeastern states in violation with the country's federal structure.
The party's statement comes in the wake of reports of Chief Ministers of northeastern states recently expressing fears that the Centre would discontinue the region's special category status which assures them of financial support from Central Government.
The support, which is to the tune of 10 per cent of total Union budgetary allocation, is extended to states with economic and infrastructure deficiencies.
“Modi Government is moving towards a unitary form of government that is completely violative of the federal structure in our Constitutional scheme of things. A case in point is the erosion of the special category status that has traditionally been granted for all the North Eastern states,” CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.
Yechury further accused the Centre of making “unilateral” appointment of “known” political workers as Governor of states including Tripura - where the communist outfit is in power. He expressed concerns about alleged pro-Hindutva comments made by Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy.
“The recently appointed Governor of the Left-ruled state of Tripura has publicly spoken of his support to the hardcore Hindutva agenda being pursued by this Modi government. Such comments do not behove persons occupying such constitutional positions,” he said.
The Left outfit said the on-going feud between the Centre and the AAP-led Delhi Government over appointment of chief secretary for the state was another affront to relations between the Centre and the state.
“This should not happen in Tripura. But the kind of statements the Governor there had made, it leads to doubts. Our concern is not that they (BJP) are our opponents...but violation of base of Constitution,” the Rajya Sabha MP said. The party termed the developments as “anti-democratic acts” of the Central government and called upon opposition parties to protest against the further erosion of the states' rights.
Meanwhile, commenting over Congress leader A K Antony's reported remark of rampant corrupt practices in Kerala - where his party is leading the Government, Yechury said the statement coming from a senior leader was “serious”.
“A K Antony is a very senior leader. He was a Chief Minister (of Kerala) when I was a student. If someone of his stature says something against his party's Government, then sure people will take it seriously,” Yechury said.
On another query relating to Jammu and Kashmir, Yechury said the CPI(M) sticks to its stand that article 370 should not be abolished.
Yechury informed the party Politburo discussed division of responsibilities and organisational set up at the Party Centre during its two-day meeting which concluded today. He added the Politburo also had preliminary discussion on organising party's plenum.
“This (meeting details) will be placed before the Central Committee which will be meeting on June 6-7, 2015, for discussion and its approval.
“The details will be finalised during the meeting of the next Central Committee,” he added.
