Modi, Mamata stress on cooperative federalism

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday pitched for greater federal spirit in the functioning of the government. 

“India will not change without a Team India. The Prime Minister and chief ministers are one team that will take India ahead. The nation is bigger than any party,” Modi said at a public meeting, following the inauguration of a modern steel plant at Burnpur. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was also present.

Expressing pride over the modern steel unit, the Prime Minister said it would not have been possible without the state government’s cooperation. “The Chief Minister said a very good thing,” he said, adding that, “The Centre and state... the more they work together, the more we will progress.”

The Prime Minister further said that the country’s federal structure had always generated tension. 

“The Centre thought it was special. I was a Chief Minister. I know. This attitude is not good.”

Meanwhile, Banerjee said, “When we work together, the country progresses. The federal and central structure will both remain.” She even reminisced about the Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) former association with Modi’s party. “In 1998, when the Trinamool Congress had supported the NDA government, we had got a Bengal package,” she said, adding that, “We had demanded modernisation of IISCO. Today it is done.”

The moderation in dialogue between the two leaders comes after a public sparring on Saturday.

Modi went around the huge factory and different departments of the plant. The Prime Minister dedicated the newly modernised plant, built at a cost of Rs 16,840 crore, to the nation. 

Local Member of Parliament and Union Minister of State for Urban Development Babul Supriyo was also present as the Prime Minister reviewed functioning at the IISCO plant.

The Chief Minister said the Centre and state will have to work hand-in-hand to improve the lives of teeming millions and enhance development, to which Modi agreed. 

Other dignitaries present on the occasion included West Bengal Governor Kesharinath Tripathi, Union Minister for Mines and Steel Narendra Singh Tomar, and Minister of State for Mines and Steel Vishnu Dev Sai.