STATES’ POWERS BEING ERODED IN MATTERS OF FINANCE & APPOINTMENT OF DGP/JUDGES, SAYS CAPT AMARINDER

 ACCUSES PAKISTAN OF PUSHING DRUGS INTO PUNJAB TO DEMOLISH YOUTH & STARVE ARMY OF MANPOWER

CAN’T JUST CATCH ANYONE & PUT THEM BEHIND BARS, SAYS PUNJAB CM ON CHARGES OF GOING SOFT ON BADALS

The Voice of Canada News | Photo By T S Bedi

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday expressed concern over the certain erosion of the State’s powers, leading to a weakening of the Centre-State relations in the federal structure.

Participating in a discussion at the HT Summit 2018, the Chief Minister made it clear that he had no problems working with the Centre, from whom it had been receiving full cooperation but added that the state was facing some issues, particularly in matters of finance and key appointments.

Captain Amarinder Singh was joined by Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the discussion, steered by Anand Narasimhan.

Setting the tone for the discussion, Captain Amarinder Singh said control had been taken away from the states and he did not have the power even to appoint his own DGP but had to send a list of names to UPSC. “Do they know better than us,” he asked, adding that his government was challenging the issue of DGP appointment in the Supreme Court.

The Maharashtra CM said his government would back Punjab on the plea as he fully agreed with Captain Amarinder Singh that states should have the freedom to appoint their own DGPs. The states were not consulted in the matter of appointment of judges, Captain Amarinder Singh further said, adding that while earlier the state used to send its recommendations now it was being only given the names.