Defeat compelled UPA to form Punchhi Commission: BJP

Varanasi, Apr 29 (UNI) Frustrated over power loss in many states, the Congress-led UPA government is trying to control those very states through the appointment of Justice Punchhi Commission to review various strands of centre-state relations, the BJP alleged today.

''Justice M M Punchhi Commission, which has been appointed by the Centre to review vital strands of centre-state relations, including prospects of directly sending central security forces to a state to deal with any communal riot or other conflict, is a blow to the Constitution,'' former BJP president Venkaiah Naidu told newspersons here.

''It will dismantle the federal character of our constitution by intervening at will with concerned state's power to deal with internal disturbances.'' ''When the constitutional provision of centre's intervention in state affairs under Article 355 and 356 already exists, then what is the need for forming any Commission to review the centre-state relations,'' the senior BJP leader observed.

Mr Naidu went on to claim that ''frustrated'' over the loss of power in key states like Punjab, Uttarakhand and Bihar, the UPA regime is now appointing commissions to reign supreme in the states, where its goverments were ousted from power by opposition, especially BJP.

''The Commission is only a disguise and the real purpose of the Congress is to get its anti-democratic standpoint implemented through recommendations of concerned commissions,'' he alleged.

''The appointment of Punchhi Commission is useless and in the longer run, it will not only be detrimental to harmonious centre-state relations, but will also be harmful for the Congress party which is behind the Commission's constitution.'' ''Be it the Sacchar Committee, Punchhi Commission or any other committee formed by the UPA regime, all of them will be scrapped once the BJP attains power at the centre,'' Mr Naidu asserted.

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