Claiming that the Centre has been usurping the states' rights in the name of federalism and reducing them to the status of "beggars", Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi today demanded review of "the entire gamut of the Centre-state ties" and sought "internal autonomy" for the states.
"The diversities that India is proud of, can blossom only under the democratic conditions of federal structure based on principles of freedom, equality and fraternity. For such a democratic climate, the only bulwark can be an internal autonomy for the states," the Patiala MP, suspended from his party AAP, told a news conference here.
Gandhi, who has floated a political outfit, 'Punjab Manch' after his suspension from the AAP, said the Centre should take immediate steps to review and renegotiate the whole gamut of Centre-state relations so that India becomes "truly federal through internal autonomy to the states and states become capable enough to carry out the social welfare of its people as mandated by the Constitution."
The suspended AAP leader said 'Punjab Manch' firmly believes that Punjab has been a victim of "unconstitutional and coercive agreements on its natural resources, especially its waters and hydroelectric resources, since Independence."
Referring to Punjab, Gnadhi said, "We want our control on our natural resources, on our water, on Chandigarh, on Punjabi speaking areas, on power projects etc."
He, however, added, "Khaira is fighting for democracy within the party, his fight is against the high command culture. I respect his cause, but at the same time if he limits himself to this democracy aspect, it is less likely that we are going to be on the same page, but if he talks issues and things that our Manch is raising, we may have a common ground."
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