June 18, 2018
Follow cooperative federalism: Didi to PM
Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Centre of not following the spirit of “cooperative federalism” and “interfering” in the matters of states.
Speaking at the meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog in New Delhi, Mamata Banerjee said states should be setting the agenda rather than the Centre drawing it up, since states had to do the implementation.
She told reporters later: “Why does the Centre set the agenda for the meeting, state is the implementing authority. Different states have different issues, they know the problems of implementation. The Centre should prepare the agenda in consultation with states.”
She added: “Cooperative federalism should be followed. Don’t interfere in issues of states unnecessarily.”
On the issue of 15th Finance Commission, she said: “It has come to our notice that the Finance Commission will only help backward states, but not those who have controlled population and become stable, we have protested against it. Why should performing States be penalised for doing good work?”
