Badal doubts whether Punchhi Commission will serve purpose

Patiala, May 3 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today alleged that the UPA government has been complicating issues concerning Centre-state relations by appointing another commission to review the issue.

Commenting on the appointment of the Justice M M Punchhi Commission on Centre-state relations, Mr Badal, while addressing a press conference here, said, such commissions were not result oriented. '' Commissions on such matters should be formed in consultation with the states'', he added.

The Chief Minister, who is also the President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), pointed out that nothing had come out of the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission on Centre-state relations.

Though Mr Badal did not outrightly reject the Punchhi Commission, he said commissions should study the fiscal and budgetary procedures of the Centre and state and then give recommendations. In this context he claimed that states should have more fiscal powers to execute developmental schemes, rather than running to the centre for getting a project passed.

Mr Badal spoke in tune with his party stand on fiscal autonomy for the states.

UNI