Cooperative Federalism- how do we revere it in the Indian Union?

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The centre-state relations seem to have touched a new low; Courtesy the events that took place with callous complacency at the level of the The Punjab Government. We need not go in detail thereof to bring home the fact.
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I remember reading while preparing in the past for the competitive examinations that Granville Austin described Indian Federalism as a "cooperative federalism" in his book "The Indian Constitution-Cornerstone of a Nation". 
A cornerstone is a stone built into the corner of the foundation of a building.
Our Prime minister Shri Narendra Modi too has stressed the need to honour and safeguard the concept of cooperative federalism on more occasions than one.
Notwithstanding the term "federal" is not to be found in our constitution for understandable reasons I,too, believe for valid reasons that the constituents of this Union must not do anything by their misdeeds that goes on to belittle the driving force of cooperative federalism.
           If the Indian Union is to progress and prosper peacefully as a nation it can remove this cornerstone only at the risk of its collapse which no one would like- both centre as well the states. 
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But the way the centre and states have served this concept of cooperative federalism by their conduct in the name of politics of militating and opportunistic nature only reveal that everything is not fine in the body politic of the Indian Nation.

                      Let us go for a reality check on the basis of some events that took place in the recent past.This will let us know where we stand on the path of cooperative federalism.

   1.The prime minister is viewed by some opposition ruled states more as a leader of the political party/alliance than the head of the Government of India. The political vendetta doesn't mind leaving even his security severely compromised. The recent security lapse that transpired during the visit of our prime minister tells volumes of this animosity and grudge rising to the personal level in between.
           Against the background hinted above the lapse appears to be more a choice than chance.
                                                           @The Punjab.

 2.The Governor of a state is seen as an agent of the centre rather than a constitutional head of a state.He is not even allowed to travel within the state that he heads. By whose name under the hand and seal the state government issues notification and circulars the same government and its bureaucracy pays scant regards; rather stealthily puts spanner in his visit under the tacit command of the political master of such bureaucracy.
                                                           @ West Bengal.

3.The Chief Secretary of a State chooses to skip the meeting chaired by the prime minister simply because the chief minister of that chief secretary out of her some self-understood compulsion had to leave the said meeting.
                                                         @ West Bengal.

4.Acts legislated by parliament are repealed upon being overpowered by the crowd at the crossroads. Sovereignty of people represented by parliament stood practically superseded by a new version of sovereignty conveniently called crowd sovereignty.
                                                        @Farm Acts now repealed under duress.

5.Under the garb of democratic protest and procession our national "Tricolour" at the red fort is disrespectfully thrown by hoodlums and goons and a flag of their choice is hurled at it on the very republic day and the opposition and many more nourishing grudges against the central government feel to have scored a point against the latter.
                                   @event that took place on 26 January 2021.

6.Separatism in the name of regional identity and regional politics.
                                   @ political parties of the south, north and north-east drawing sustenance from regionalism appear to do little towards strengthening cooperative federalism to say the least. 

7.Some states treat every move of the centre with suspicion and surmise. It is the trust deficit rather than mutual trust that forms a rationale behind formulation of policies by these states. 
                                    @ the imbroglio existing prior to undertaking by the centre of Covid Vaccination program,inter alia.

8.The people of the state were deprived of farm subsidies only because the latter was an outcome of the national policy framed by the ruling alliance at the centre opposed by the party in the state.
                                    @ West Bengal.

9.Seeing in article 356 and floor crossing/defection an opportunity to topple/replace the state government if ruled by the opposition. This political opportunism existing since decades has only weakened the spirit of cooperation between the centre and the states. 
                                   @ political course of events that took place in MP, Maharashtra etc.

10.In fact the ruling party and the opposition behave not as a competitor or contender but as mutual adversaries to the zenith of animosity. Difference of perception has been replaced by an urge to drive physically the leader we don't like out of the political landscape.

11. The discussions in the house becoming more a ribaldry,exchange of black humour and scuffle than a learning experience for the members within and common people outside the house what it happened to be in the past.

12.All said, nothing has done more harm to the body politic of cooperative federalism than use of CBI;which for all the opposition ruled states all the times is viewed to be a bete noire for decades.

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               This should be a matter of great concern for those who want to see India as a union of states rather than a conglomeration of states for perpetuation of their regional, sectarian or partisan interests.

           We have no Inter-state Council as of now.National Development Council(NDC)is no more.Practice of making people of petty persona or active politicians as governors has become too old to be changed.
 Funds are allocated on the basis of considerations other than actual need or requirements.
  
         All India Service personnel switch their allegiance as per their convenience with regard to whether they are posted in states or at the centre. 
The list is illustrative, not exhaustive.

             Will the constituents sit together to think about what they are doing in the name of democracy and constitution? 

Political Considerations must not sideline Constitutional Obligations.

                                  Let us Build Back Better.
R.R.Prabhakar.
08.01.2022.

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