Make Guv appointment & role well-defined, CMs urge PM Modi

Stressing on the increasing terror activities within the country in the recent past, the Prime Minister asked the states to focus on sharing intelligence.

“The internal security of the country cannot be strengthened until we focus on intelligence sharing, ensure greater coordination among agencies, and equip our police with modern approach and technology. While we have come a long way, we need to continuously increase our efficiency and capacity. We must constantly remain alert and updated,” he said.

Given that the meet has been convened after a gap of 10 years, the PM gave credit for this to Home Minister Rajnath Singh.The meeting, held to create a consensus among states over several key issues, turned out to be flip-flop as the non-BJP ruled states lashed out at the Centre for interfering into their internal matters.

Questioning the continuance of the Governor’s post under the existing federal democratic structure, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said: “If it is not possible to do away with it, then provisions relating to the appointment of Governor must be clearly defined and made transparent.”

Raking up the issue, Kumar demanded that Chief Minister of states should also be consulted and criteria laid down by Sarkaria Commission should be followed in Governor’s appointment.

Agreeing to this, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too hit out at the Centre, saying: “The CMs must be consulted before appointment or removal of Governor and the propensity to change Governor, whenever a new government is formed must be curbed by making constitutional provisions.” He also demanded that the Centre should waive off all debts of farmers across the country to reduce their sufferings.

Kejriwal demanded that medicines should be provided free of cost and tests should also be conducted free in all government hospitals across the country like it has been done by the Delhi government since February.

He also demanded that the Centre remove the No Detention Policy from the RTE Act, since it is harming the interests of thousands of students. Some other Chief Ministers also supported this demand.

Kejriwal also urged that the Bills pending with the Centre be immediately granted approval so that the people of Delhi could get benefit of the welfare schemes.

Expressing her concern over objectives of co-operative federalism, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said: “The co-operative federalism may degenerate into empty rhetoric if the states are not given adequate powers and fiscal resources.”

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav were not present in the meet.