News Reading Practice #46
(100 Day Challenge)
AMEND CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE AUTONOMY TO STATES: CM STALIN
N RAVIKUMAR | DC
CHENNAI, JAN. 21
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday declared that the Indian Constitution should be amended to provide autonomy to States. The Union government should provide sufficient powers to States while retaining the powers required to preserve the nation's integrity and unity, he said.
Speaking at the DMK youth wing conference at Salem, the DMK president said 'autonomy for the States and federal government at the Centre' would be the slogan of India after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He expressed optimism that the INDIA bloc would form the government at the Centre and it would focus on reshaping the Constitution to provide rights to the States.
"I am not seeking rights to States keeping the DMK government in mind. We are seeking rights to the States ruled by the Congress, Communist parties, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal also. We are demanding State autonomy to the States ruled by the BJP also", he said.
He said former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi formed the Rajamannar commission in 1969 to make recommendations on providing autonomy to the States. When the Commission gave its report in 1974, it was tabled in the Tamil Nadu Assembly for discussions. Karunanidhi gave the slogan of 'autonomy to the States, federalism at the Centre' and this slogan would reverberate throughout India after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Stalin said.
The welfare and prosperity of Tamil Nadu is in danger, Stalin warned. The DMK youth wing conference is named as the 'State rights retrieval conference' to block that danger. "The Tamil land named (as Tamil Nadu) is facing a great danger. The fascist BJP is trying to convert the Tamils into a people without any identity by destroying the Tamil language, culture and values", the DMK leader said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was once a Chief Minister but is now trying to abolish the powers of States after assuming power at the Centre, Stalin said. The Union government is enacting laws in subjects which come under the State's list of powers. The Union government is not seeking the suggestions of the State governments when it enacted new laws. The education and finance rights of States were snatched by the Union government through the NEET and GST, he said. The Union government is not providing funds even during the times of natural disaster.
"They (BJP leaders) think that it is enough if they quote Thirukkural, celebrate Pongal and construct a temple at Ayodhya to get votes from Tamil people. They have not understood Tamil Nadu. This is the land of Periyar, this is the land of Anna and this is the land of Kalaignar (Karunanidhi)", the DMK president said.
"Narendra Modi had become the Prime Minister twice and Tamil Nadu did not vote for him both the times. This time too, Tamil Nadu would not vote for him. This time, India will vote like Tamil Nadu", he declared with optimism.
The INDIA bloc government would not be a unitary or autocratic government, he assured, adding it would be a federal
government respecting the States. He asked the party cadre not to worry about the alliance or the candidates to be fielded in the Lok Sabha elections as such issues would be
taken care of by the party leadership. The hard work of the party cadre for the
next three months would decide the next five years of India, he said and
appealed to the cadre to make the INDIA bloc victorious.
DMK youth conference was held in Salem in Sunday. -Zakeer Hussain
CONSTITUTION: Constitution is the supreme law of India.
It defines the Government's fundamental political values, policies, processes,
powers, rights, and duties.
AUTONOMY: The right or condition of self-government, especially in a particular
sphere.
SUFFICIENT: Enough; adequate.
RETAINING: Keeping possession of.
INTEGRITY: The quality of being honest and having strong
moral principles.
UNITY: The state of being united or joined as a whole.
SLOGAN: A short and striking or memorable phrase used in
advertising.
EXPRESS: Convey in words.
OPTIMISM: Hopefulness and confidence about the future or
the successful outcome of something.
RESHAPE: To change the form or structure of something.
SEEK: Attempting to find or obtain.
COMMISSION: An instruction, command, or duty given to a
person or group of people.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Suggestions or proposals as to the best
course of action.
TABLED: Presented formally for discussion.
FEDERALISM: The federal principle or system of
government.
REVERBERATE: Be repeated several times as an echo.
WELFARE: The health, happiness, and prosperity;
well-being.
PROSPERITY: The state of being prosperous; wealth.
FASCIST: Relating to or characteristic of fascism, a
political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race
above the individual.
ABOLISH: Formally put an end to (a system, practice, or
institution).
ASSUMING: Taking on a specified quality or appearance.
ENACTING: Making (a bill or other proposal) law.
SUGGESTIONS: Proposals or ideas.
SNATCHED: Taken or grasped suddenly.
QUOTE: Repeat or copy out (a group of words from a text
or speech), typically with an indication that one is not the original author or
speaker.
UNITARY: Of, relating to, or forming a single or uniform
entity.
AUTOCRATIC: Relating to or characterized by autocracy, a
system of government by one person with absolute power.
CADRE: A small group of people specially trained for a
particular purpose or profession.
ALLIANCE: A union or association formed for mutual
benefit.
FIELDED: Put forward (a team, candidate, or nominee) for
an election or other contest.
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