Centre not consulting States on Concurrent list subjects: Pinarayi

At meeting with MPs, Kerala CM says Centre is undermining federalism

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday faulted the BJP-led Union government for muscling legislation on Concurrent list subjects through the Parliament on the sheer weight of numbers and without an informed debate or consultation with States. Mr. Vijayan was chairing a meeting of MPs ahead of the monsoon session of the Parliament. The Centre’s capricious actions undermined federalism and threatened to relegate States to a subaltern position. The Lakshadweep administration’s move to sever Kerala’s historical, linguistic and cultural links with the archipelago was ominous, he said. Mr. Vijayan said the Centre had passed laws liberalising the farm sector without any thought for the welfare of marginal farmers. The ill-advised move had ignited massive farmer protests. It had brought the Centre into direct conflict with the States.