M.A. (POLITICAL SCIENCE) PART II PAPER-VII (OPTION-II) SEMESTER-IV (PUNJAB POLITICS) LESSON NO. 2.1 AUTHOR DR. J.S. BRAR THE DEMAND FOR STATE AUTONOMY The framers of the Indian constitution decided to have a federal setup in the country. But the Indian federal system is unique in many respects. While it has some features of the classical federal systems, there are a few others which are characteristic of peculiar Indian setting. Infact, the framers of the constitution considerably moderated the federal principle in order to make the centre sufficiently powerful so as to meet all types of contingencies. The large size of the country and abnormal situation arising out of partition weighted very heavily with the framers of the constitution. The British legacy of centralization provided additional justification for keeping the centre strong. Consequently, while distributing powers between the centre and the states, the framers of the constitution gave overriding powers to the centre in legislative , administrative and financial spheres. The autonomy provided to the states within their own sphere was of a limited nature and the centre could interfere in their sphere of jurisdiction on one pretext or the other. The Indian Federal system, with strong centralising tendencies, worked satisfactorily during the first two decades after independence. As the Congress was the ruling party both at the centre and the states. The powerful position of Jawaharlal Nehru as the Prime Minister of the country and the emergence of powerful chief minister in the states like Partap Singh kairon., G B Pant, Mohan Lal Sukhadia, etc. also helped in maintaining smooth relations between the centre and the states. However, the establishment of non-congress ministries in some states after 1967 completely changed the political situation. It led to the beginning of a new era of confrontation between the centre and the opposition ruled states. It was out of this conflict between the congress party and the opposition parties, which became ruling parties in some of the states that demand for state autonomy initially arose. The Bases of the Demand for State Autonomy : Serious concern for state autonomy lias been voiced by different political parties of both national and regional variety for different reasons. Some of the important bases of the demand for state autonomy are a under : 1. Socio-Cultural Basis : India is a country inhabited by people professing different religions and belonging to different ethnic, linguistic and cultural group. As such people inhabiting different regions believe that their separate religious social and cultural identities could be protected only if their respective regions are given considerable autonomy. The demand for state autonomy in states like Nagaland, Mizoam, Assam, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir has arisen out of such considerations. 63 M.A. (Political Science) Part II64 PAPER-VII (OPTION-II) The overriding powers of the Central government and its attempts to bring these regions in the national main stream are viewed by the local people as attempts to destroy their separate identities. 2. Economic Basis : The demand for state autonomy has also arised because of vast economic disparities among different regions of the country. Infact, the developmental process has not produced uniform economic growth in all parts of the country. There are some states which are sufficiently developed both industrially and agriculturally while a few others continue to be completely backward. There disparities in the level of development of different regions have produced tensions in the Indian federal system. The states which could not reap the benefits of economic development accuse the centre of deliberately ignoring them. Whenever attempts are made by the Central government to level down these economic disparities by earmarking special funds for the backward states, it is resented by the more developed states. As the developmental process in the states has gained momentum, all states demand extra funds from the centre to meet their expenses. But the centre is not in a position to cope with these ever increasing demands for more financial help . Sometimes the decisions of the Central government in granting financing financial assistance to the sates are taken on the basis of political consodeaions. The opposition ruled states often complain of step motherly treatment on the part of Central Government in giving financial help. The states have, therefore, started demanding restructuring of centre-state relations so as to get more financial resources. 3. Political Basis : The demand for state autonomy has also been voiced because of political considerations. A large number of Non-Hindi speaking s states are being ruled by the opposition parties. Strong regional parties have come into existence and started challenging the position of the central ruling party in different parts of the country. The Akali Dal in Punjab, the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir the D.M.K in Tamil Nadu the Telgu Desam in Andhra and the CPM in Tripua and West Bengal have succeeded in ousting the Congress form power. In order to consolidate their hold in their respective states and keep the Congress out of power permanently, the regional parties have joined hands in demanding more powers for the states. Some opposition parties which are otherwise national parties have also joined hands with the regional parties on this issue in the hope that they would be in a position to replace the Congress Party at the Centre with a coalition of all opposition parties. The growth of regional parties has strengthened regionalism in India. As these parties talk in a regional idiom, they are not in a position to have an overall national perspective on important issues. The demand for state autonomy, has thus come to M.A. (Political Science) Part II65 PAPER-VII (OPTION-II) be viewed as a struggle between haves and have nots. Undoubtedly, the existing system, with emphasis on centralisation of powers, suits the interests of the rich industrialist class in the country. But the rich peasantry which has emerged as the rulling elite at the state level is not prepared to tolerate the existing system and wants a redistribution of powers between the centre and the states. Main Features of the Demand for State Autonomy : The demand for state autonomy, being voiced by various regional political parties has the following important features. 1. Allocation of More Financial Resources to the States : Under the existing constitutional arrangements, the states do not have adequate financial resources and are totally dependent on central help. Deliberate attempts on the part of central government to under mine the resources of the states and the inability of the Financial Commission to raise the share of the state's national income has further worsened the situation. With the hardening of the economic situation during the seventies as a result of the conflict with Pakistan over Bangladesh, the successive droughts and the rocketing oil import bill, the states have further diminished. The increase in the salaries and clearness allowance of the state has further reduced the availability of resources for planned economic development of the states within their own sectors. Consequently, the states have become dependent on central loans and the resultant indebtness of the states has produced considerable stresses and strains in centre state relations. The supporters of the demand for greater financial autonomy to the state advance many arguments to prove their case. It has been pointed out that the federal system is basically a response to objective social realities which are always changing. As such, the centre state relations must tend to adjust to the prevailling circumstances. With the passage of time, the developmental responsibilities of the states have increased enormously without any corresponding increase in their resources. The cenralisation of resources cannot adequately meet the challenge of development particularly in view of the large size of the country. It is therefore necessary that the financial dependence of the states should be reduced to the minimum. It is being demanded that the financial resources of the states should be augmented by transferring some subjects from the union list. The quantum of hared resources should be increased by including customs, exports duty and corporation tax in the divisible pool. The scope of grants in aid should be enlarged. Among other things the discretion of the union executive. whether exercised through the Planning Commission or otherwise, should be reduced to the minimum. Apart from financial resources, the states also resent the control of the central M.A. (Political Science) Part II66 PAPER-VII (OPTION-II) government over heavy industry. As a result of the Seventh Amendment to the Indian constitution, no heavy industry can be set up anywhere in the country without obtaining a licence from the Central government. The Central government, however misuses this power and sometimes discriminate against those states which are being rule by opposition parties. It is therefore being demanded that the states should be liberated from the control of the Central government so far as setting up of heavy industry is concerned. 2. Demand for putting an end to the Discreditionary Powers of the Governor : The framers for the Indian constitution expected the role of a constitutional head in state politics. But since 1967 some of the governors have abandoned this role and tried to act in a partisan manner. They have misused their discretionary power to favour the ruling party at the centre. The Governor have misused their power of appointment and dismissal of the Chief Ministers summoning, proroguing and dissolving the Assemblies reserving a state bill for the consideration of the president and of recommending president's rule in a state. In fact, the Governors have adopted different approaches on different occasions while dealing with similar problems which fall in sphere of their discretionary power.