Miffed over Centre’s ‘imperialist dictatorship’, KCR to boycott NITI Aayog Council meet

The recent actions of the Modi government are the reason for the “systematic erosion” of India’s federal structure and the throttling of the State-Centre relationship, KCR said.

Centre ignoring NITI Aayog’s recommendations

Pointing out that the NITI Aayog had recommended that states be given autonomy to draft and modify their policies, KCR contended that the Centre has turned a “Nelson’s eye” to the think-tank’s suggestion.

“The basis of this recommendation was the unanimous belief that not all the schemes contemplated, designed, and finalised by the mandarins of Delhi, serve their intended purpose considering the vast diversity and different needs of states,” KCR said. And stronger states make the country stronger, he added.

Rao alleged that under Modi government, India has been facing unprecedented failures.

“Unemployment is at a record high today. Inflation is at an all-time high. India’s image is taking a beating at international forums, but BJP leaders are busy threatening people with bulldozers and encounters,” Rao charged.

No funds for Telangana

In line with his constant accusation against the Modi government, KCR alleged that the Centre did not release a penny to Telangana even after NITI Aayog in 2016 proposed grants — ₹5,000 crore for Mission Kakatiya and ₹19,205 crore for Mission Bhagiratha — for the state’s development schemes.

“The Telangana government has completed both the schemes on its own, ensuring supply of potable water to every household under Mission Bhagiratha project.

“It repaired and restored all the minor irrigation tanks in the state under Mission Kakatiya, which greatly benefited people as ground water levels increased dramatically, boosting the agriculture sector and reviving the rural economy. These examples are sufficient to say that the institution of NITI Aayog is rendered useless,” KCR said.

The TRS president also accused Modi government of taking credit for the Mission Bhagiratha project as it’s flagship scheme — Jal Jeevan Mission.

‘Federal structure breaking down under Modi’

KCR hit out the central government for working against the spirit of cooperative federalism — a vital ingredient of Indian Constitution — which means flexible relationships between Centre and state governments.

The TRS president also lashed out at central government for passing unilateral legislations without consulting state governments in critical areas of agriculture and electricity. He referred to last year’s farm laws, which the Centre had to repeal in the face of a sustained agitation by farmers.

According to the chief minister, the county is suffering from high inflation, increasing unemployment and the falling value of the rupee due to the Centre’s monopoly in decision-making.

“The propensity of Union government to levy cess as an indirect tax is depriving states of their legitimate share in tax revenues. The action of the central government in changing the All-India Services (AIS) rules is to the disadvantage of states. The inability of the Centre in resolving inter-state water disputes… these are some glaring instances of the Centre working against the spirit of cooperative federalism,” KCR said, while observing that India could only develop if the states develop.

He also accused BJP-led Centre of not taking any action against deteriorating communal harmony and social fabric of the nation while pointing out the international criticism India faced due to BJP worker Nupur Sharma’s remark on the Prophet.

“The irresponsible utterances of some leaders in high positions on use of bulldozers, encounter killings, 80:20 ratios and references with religious undertones are disrupting communal harmony,” KCR noted.