SAD to hold conference with likeminded parties to strengthen the federal structure.trying to get in touch with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar

(Prof Chandumajra says meeting to be held after January 15 with main focus on erosion of federalism, its impact on farmers and financial well being of States)

(Former CM Parkash Singh Badal will address the conference)

Chandigarh, January 7 – The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has decided to create a joint strategy along with likeminded parties on ways and means to strengthen the federal structure of the country which is being eroded under the NDA government.

The parties will hold a conference in Delhi after January 15 whose main focus will be on erosion of federalism and its impact on farmers as well as financial well being of States.

Disclosing this in a statement here, senior SAD leader Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra said a three member party committee had been formed by party President Sukhbir Singh Badal to reach out to likeminded parties who were perturbed by the rise of a unitary system in the country. “We have reached out to the Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena, INLD, DMK and the Samajwadi Party. We are also trying to get in touch with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. The purpose is to hold a conference and work jointly for strengthening the federal structure as visualized by our constitution makers”.

Prof Chandumajra said leaders of regional parties had agreed to be part of the meeting which would be addressed by five time chief minister and SAD Patron Parkash Singh Badal. “Earlier the meeting was fixed for January seven but had to be postponed due to a slight indisposition of Mr Badal”.

The SAD leader said the three Agricultural Acts, which had even been forced through parliament, were a direct interference of the centre in the powers of the States. He said even though Agriculture was a State subject the centre went ahead to legislate on this issue. “We are clear that these laws can’t be legislated by parliament. They also override State laws and market committees and will only help corporate besides weakening the finances of the States”.

Asserting that States should not be put at the mercy of the centre, Prof Chandumajra said this trend was increasing as was seen earlier in West Bengal where the Governor was interfering in the functioning of an elected government and even in Punjab recently when its Governor summoned senior government officials bypassing the State government. “The SAD is against this trend and will do its utmost to unite likeminded parties to form a bulwark against the increasing centralization of powers in the hands of the Union government”, he added.