Badal advocates federalism for the country

Amritsar, July 18 (UNI) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has said the pace of development in India could only be accelerated if the country adopts the federal system of governance.

''We strongly believe that decentralisation of powers from the centre to the states would ensure all round development of the country,'' SAD president and former chief minister Prakash Singh Badal said after chairing a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party here yesterday.

The Anandpur Sahib resolution of 1973 discussed in detail the federal system of governance and later even the Sarkari Commission on Centre-State relations mentioned this resolution, Mr Badal said while addressing mediapersons. The DMK in Tamil Nadu has also favoured giving more powers to the state, he added.

''Under the present system, states depend on the Centre for clearance of developmental projects'', he said. A state government is better suited for the appraisal of the developmental needs of a particular area, he added.

SAD secretary general and MP, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa who was also present pointed out that the Constitutional Review Committee had also taken up the issue of federalism. ''Lets wait for the Committee's report'', Mr Dhindsa, a former Union minister said.

Referring to the agenda of the PAC meeting, Mr Badal said that the strategy of the party for the assembly polls due early next year was discussed. With the SAD-BJP alliance firmly in the saddle, the party would also seek alliances with ''like-minded parties'', he added.

When asked about the possibility of an alliance with Uma Bharti's Bharatiya Jan Shakti party, Mr Badal quipped ''our aim is to defeat the Congress, for which we are open to alliances or seat adjustments.'' The Bharatiya Jan Shakti which has decided to contest about 20-odd seats in the assembly polls, had recently indicated that it was open to an alliance with the SAD.

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