Centre shouldn't take state powers, says MK Stalin

CHENNAI: Strongly opposing the move by the Central government to give the powers of identifying communities for the BC list to the President, Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin on Saturday said it would take away the powers of the state govt and similar commissions in the state. In a statement here, Stalin said the amendment introduced in the Rajya Sabha to provide constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes had been rightly sent to the select committee as it empowers the commission with the powers to add or delete the backward communities in the list.

The commission was set up as per the SC verdict on 14 August 1993 on Mandal Commission, he said. The SC judgment had clearly stated that state governments should identify the backward classes and the centre's move had the ulterior motive of taking the powers of the state to identify the backward communities. He also charged that the BJP government at the centre was degrading the state governments to the level of municipalities causing concern among those who have trust in federalism.  “What will happen to the existing backward communities list if the centre is going to prepare a new list?" he asked and said the move would deprive TN youth from getting central government jobs and admission to central govt educational institutions.