Pinarayi Vijayan hints at a federal front

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said the country needs a government which does not usurp the powers of states and adheres to federal principles.

Responding to his meeting with Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, Pinarayi said the meet was politically significant. “The current political situation in the country was discussed in the backdrop of the Lok Sabha elections,” he said and added that the Telangana chief minister was of the view that the two fronts led by BJP and the Congress were not going to get a clear majority.

In such a situation the regional parties would play a crucial role in the formation of government at the Centre.

“Our country's experience shows that the states are always discriminated against by the Centre. The decisions taken are not in tune with the federal principles. They don’t adhere to such principles,” he added.

“We are of the view that the Centre should not take decisions which are detrimental to the interests of the states. These issues were discussed in detail during the meeting with Rao. I feel the views and suggestions expres-sed by the Telangana chief minister are good,” he said.

Pinarayi said the reg-ional parties would take a firm stand to protect the interests of the state. “All states have faced problems. When the Centre does not adhere to federal principles it affects all states and its a general issue concerning everyone. We hope when the new government comes to power, it will take a position to look after the interests of the states,” the chief minister said.

When asked whether the third front parties were heading for a non Congress- non BJP government at the Centre, the chief minister said these issues would be discussed after May 23. There was no discussion with Mr Rao on the probable prime ministerial candidates, he said while responding to a question.

To hold talks with Dutch

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will hold talks with Netherlands government on development of Kuttanad and flood mitigation projects during his European tour.

The Chief Minister is scheduled to leave for four-nation tour on May 8.

He will speak at the fourth World Reconstruc-tion Conference (WRC) to be held in Geneva on May 13 and 14. The state delegation will comprise chief secretary Tom Jose, Dr Venu V., principal secretary disaster management, Sekhar Kuriakose, member secretary KSDMA. The Chief Minister said there are many issues to be discussed with the Dutch.

Netherlands which has one third of its area below sea level, has rich experience and expertise in water management, flood mitigation and sophisticated flood control systems. Many countries including developed nations have in the past sought expertise to manage floods and other calamities.

Experts say technical inputs and advise from the Netherlands on the post flood rebuilding and reconstruction work to be undertaken in different parts of the state specially Kuttanad would be crucial.