New Delhi, August 17 :
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called for greater devolution of powers to the states, urging the Centre to leave subjects such as education and health largely to state governments and concentrate on matters falling within its own constitutional domain.
Abdullah said the weakening of states was not solely the result of policies pursued by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but was a consequence of decisions and policies followed by successive Central governments over the years.
He advocated a stronger federal structure in which states are given greater authority to take decisions on matters that directly affect their people.
The Chief Minister stressed that education and healthcare are areas where state governments should have adequate powers and flexibility to formulate policies according to local requirements.
He also underlined the need for a clearer division of responsibilities between the Centre and the states, saying the Union government should focus on subjects that constitutionally fall within its domain while allowing states greater space to govern effectively.
Abdullah’s remarks come amid a broader debate over Centre-State relations, federalism and the devolution of powers, with several political parties and regional governments seeking greater autonomy in areas concerning governance and development.
The Chief Minister also made it clear that the issue should not be viewed merely through a partisan lens, pointing out that the centralisation of powers has taken place under governments led by different political parties.
He said strengthening the federal structure would help improve governance, make administration more responsive and enable states to address issues according to their specific social and economic needs.
The remarks are likely to add momentum to the ongoing discussion on greater decentralisation and strengthening the constitutional balance between the Union and state governments.(KNC)