Several MPs, retired IAS officers wrote to PM Modi, opposing the proposed changes in IAS cadre rules (File)
New Delhi:
MPs from several opposition parties and some retired bureaucrats on Thursday sent a joint memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the role of governors in non-BJP ruled states and the “attack on federalism” over changes in IAS rules.
The MPs highlighted the Centre’s proposal to change the All India Service cadre rules and alleged interference by governors in opposition-ruled states.
The central government’s actions are against democracy and federal rule, he alleged, “they are completely unconstitutional” and may create unwanted distress.
“These amendments are designed to subjugate the states and we collectively oppose the Centre’s move to exercise complete control over the IAS through central postings and transfers,” the joint memorandum said.
The MPs and former civil servants said, “We caution the Center against any unilateral move and make it clear that the states will not agree to usurpation of this unconstitutional powers, notwithstanding legitimate opposition from the CMs and the states.” be pushed.”
Some states, especially those ruled by non-BJP parties, have been strongly opposed to the changes in the IAS rules and several chief ministers have already written to the prime minister.
The second issue highlighted by the MPs pertains to “relentless interference by governors in the functioning of elected governments in opposition-ruled states”.
“Without taking cognizance of other limited articles like 163 and 169, their continued need is gross abuse of their limited constitutional powers under Art 167. The indecent conduct of the Governors of West Bengal, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu is a direct attack on our Constitution. of federal structure,” he alleged in the memorandum.
He said that they have come together to express their concurrence and demand that the dangerous and “relentless loot” of the Union on the territories falling under the jurisdiction of the states should be stopped immediately.
He said that matters which definitely require federal consultation should be discussed with the states instead of issuing unilateral orders.
In the past, MPs, political parties, retired officials, civil society and honest media persons have separately expressed these demands and submitted their memorandums.
“We have, in our own way, underscored the need to ensure proper federal functioning, but we are now issuing this joint statement to express our collective solidarity – against continued attacks on our federal politics. halt to the continued encroachment of…,” the memorandum said.
The MPs and former bureaucrats also alleged that in West Bengal, the governor takes to social media several times a day to demean and criticize the legally elected government and the chief minister, ministers and senior civil servants ” panic”.
“It reveals their bad taste and tantamounts to publicly harassing the officials of the State Government in the exercise of their legitimate powers and in the discharge of their duties.
“Governors continually withhold their assent on bills that have been duly approved by state legislatures or withhold important appointments and resort to other willful acts to undermine some state governments,” he said. .
“We condemn this reprehensible conduct of these governors appointed by the Center as undemocratic and anti-federal,” the memorandum said.
The 21 MPs who signed the memorandum are Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD), Jairam Ramesh (Congress), K Keshav Rao (TRS), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena), Jawahar Sarkar (AITC), Binoy Viswam. . (CPI), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Abdul Wahab (IUML), Sukhram Singh Yadav (SP), Sukhendu Shekhar Ray (AITC), Anil Desai (Shiv Sena), Ami Yagnik Congress).
Apart from this, Naranbhai J Rathwa (Congress), Kumar Ketkar (Congress), TKS Elangovan (DMK), Dola Sen (AITC), Kanimozhi NVN Somu (DMK), M Mohammad Abdullah (DMK), Mausam Noor (AITC) and Abir Ranjan Biswas (AITC) also signed the memorandum to the Prime Minister.
The 38 former civil servants who signed the memorandum include Wajahat Habibullah, KP Fabian, Amitabh Pandey, MG Devasahyam, Surendra Nath, Aftab Seth, Gautam Mukhopadhyay, VP Raja, FTR Kolaso, Maxwell Perera and others.
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