Opposition MPs, retired bureaucrats write to PM over attacks on federalism

New Delhi, Feb 10 (UNI) Members of Parliament from 10 opposition parties and some former civil servants on Thursday sent a joint memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, complaining about the “consistent attacks” on the federal polity through the Centre’s proposed changes in All India Service Cadre rules and ‘unbecoming conduct’ of Governors in four non-BJP ruled states. “We have come together in unison to articulate our consensus and demand that the alarming and relentless depredations of the Union

on areas that are squarely in the domain of states be stopped immediately. “Matters that definitely require federal consultations must be discussed with the states, instead of issuing unilateral orders,” said the memorandum, signed by 21 MPs belonging to both the Houses and 38 former bureaucrats. Referring to the Centre’s proposed changes in All India Service Cadre rules, the memorandum said “These amendments are designed to subjugate states and we collectively oppose the Centre’s move to arrogate unto itself total control over the IAS through Central postings and transfers. “We caution the Centre against any unilateral move and make it clear that the states shall not agree to this unconstitutional usurpation of powers, even if it is pushed through, despite valid opposition from CMs and states,” the signatories said. Several Chief Ministers have already written to the Prime Minister, opposing the amendments. Moving to the issue of what the memorandum called ‘relentless interference by Governors in the functioning of elected governments in Opposition-ruled states,’ the signatories said, “Their (Governors’) constant needling is a gross misuse of their limited constitutional powers under Article 167, without taking into cognizance other limiting Articles like 163 and 169. “The unbecoming conduct of the Governors of West Bengal, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu constitute a direct attack on the federal structure of our Constitution,” the hard-hitting memorandum alleged. Referring to West Bengal, the signatories said “The Governor resorts to social media several times a day to demean and criticize the legally elected government and to heckle the CM, ministers and senior civil servants. “This reveals his poor taste and is tantamount to sabotaging the state government in the exercise of their legitimate powers and hounding officials in public for carrying out their duties,” they said. The memorandum also alleged that Governors were constantly holding back their assent to Bills that have been duly approved by the State Assemblies or withholding critical appointments and “some resort to other deliberate acts to undercut state governments”. “We condemn this reprehensible conduct of these Governors appointed by the Centre as undemocratic and anti-federal,” the memorandum said. The signatories underlined the necessity to ensure proper federal functioning and said the joint statement was being issued “to express our collective solidarity – against the consistent attacks on our federal polity. The Centre’s constant encroachments in the state’s areas must halt”. The 21 MPs, who signed the memorandum, include Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD), Jairam Ramesh (Congress), K Keshava Rao (TRS), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena), Jawhar Sircar (AITC), Binoy Viswam (CPI), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Abdul Wahab (IUML) and Sukhram Singh Yadav (SP). The 38 former civil servants included Wajahat Habibullah, K P Fabian, Amitabha Pande, M G Devasahayam, Surendra Nath and Aftab Seth.