THIS day, exactly 10 years ago, Narendra Modi, as Gujarat Chief Minister, moved a resolution at the BJP's national executive in Lucknow. Titled “UPA – a Grave Threat to our Federalism”, it accused the Congress-led Centre of usurping law-making powers of the states, misusing investigative agencies, exploiting statutory and constitutional bodies to undercut states and getting Governors to work as political agents.
“Non-Congress ruled states are making their voice of disapproval heard from all over the country,” said the resolution. “But their cry is only falling on deaf ears.”
Cut to today, the shoe's on the other foot.
Over the last one month, especially after the May 2 election results, several state governments are echoing the spirit of that resolution, accusing the Modi government of hardening Centre-state battlelines on a sweeping range of issues: political upmanship to health, Bengal to Lakshadweep, CBI to vaccines. And, in the process, forging a unity and a pushback that, they say, will play out in Parliament when it meets.
Prominent in the cross-hairs is West Bengal.
(some things should be ignored). Otherwise, this is a slippery slope.”
Four days after Mamata Banerjee returned to power, Central teams landed days after the verdict to probe post-poll political violence (May 6); CISF security cover was given to all 77 new BJP MLAs (May 10); CBI arrested two ministers and two other Trinamool leaders in the Narada case (May 17);…
