Badal for delegation of fiscal powers to states

Chandigarh, Aug 8 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today claimed that concentration of fiscal powers with the Centre have had a negative impact on the growth and development of the state.

Mr Badal, while talking to mediapersons, alleged that states lile Punjab had failed to progress further due to the ''negative attitude'' of the Union government.

Referring to distribution of funds on the basis of taxes collected by states, the Chief Minister pointed out that ''the criterion of connectivity was a wrong concept and against the interests of progressive states''. Noting that Punjab achieved connectivity to all villages long time back, he said it was ironic that a state that achieved its goal received less funds from the Centre.

'' The funding should be proportionate to the tax collection'', he suggested.

Referring to employment opportunities in defence services, Mr Badal said it was one of the most sought after sector of employment among the people of the state. However, with the introduction of the quota system, the Centre took away this opportunity from the people of the state, he claimed.

He pointed out that in the agricultural field also, the states had no powers to decide either on the input costs or the output costs for the benefit of their farmers. ''Farmers in each state have their own problems and the states are the best judges of these, not the Centre,'' he added.

Taking a dig at the industrial policies of the UPA government, he said that even for setting up a ''small project'' the states have to take ''permission from Delhi''.

''If a project flops, then the states have to worry as the Centre takes no responsibility,'' he added.

''The states have been reduced to mere beggars and are dependent on the Centre,'' he alleged.

UNI