Centre-state relations at all time low, says Rawat

New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) The centre-state relations are at an all-time low and the much-hyped cooperative federalism was turning out to be hollow talk, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat said here on Monday.

He was speaking at session of the Budget Aaj Tak programme organized by the India Today group here.

The session "Rajyon Ka Raaj" (governance by states) also had Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and union Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan.

Both Rawat, of the Congress and Sisodia, of the Aam Aadmi Party, said that the states with non-Bharatiya Janata Party governments were neither getting their dues not the support which they expect from the central government.

"The centre-state relations are going through a rough patch, the relations are strained. We are not getting our dues," Rawat said.

"Let alone cooperation, it is murder of federalism," Sisodia said.

Rawat said that the central government's much-hyped decision to increase states' share in the central revenues by 10 percent (from 32 percent to 42 percent) was a hogwash.

"The decision to increase states share by 10 percent is rather a hoax. Uttarakhand for one, has lost Rs.1,600 crore after the implementation of this scheme as the centre has cut down money on other schemes. We got an extra Rs.1,200 crore under the new scheme but lost Rs.2,800 crore as the centre cut down allocation on several development schemes," he said.

"For a small state like ours, this is a huge sum," he added.

Balyan defended the central government's position by saying that by giving more money in hand to the states, the central government was urging them to set up their own schemes.

"The amount is the same, now it is up to you how you utilize it," he added.

Responding to a question by the moderator if the politics was superseding institutions, Sisodia said that it was indeed the case.

"As far as Delhi is concerned, there is little cooperative federalism. When we want to do something or take a decision, they (central government) say you have no power to do it because Delhi is not a full state. But when we ask for funds, they say you are the government, arrange for your own funds," he said.

Balyan however accused Delhi's state government of not fulfilling its promises.