Pitching for cooperative federalism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said Team India will be complete if the Chief Ministers of States worked together with the Prime Minister and his Cabinet.

Replying to the discussions on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, Modi said the much talked about Gujarat model is an attempt to learn and implement successful initiatives by other States.

Reaching out to his Opposition parties — particularly regional outfits — he said the Centre will not try to impede the growth process of States.

He congratulated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her development work in the State. “My sister Mamata Banerjee is working really hard to undo the damage done in the past 35 years in West Bengal,” Modi said in the Lok Sabha.

Later addressing the Rajya Sabha, he said as the Gujarat Chief Minister he tried to learn from the good works done by the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati.

He said Kudumbasree project, an initiative by the Left Government in Kerala, was implemented in Gujarat.

Healthy competition

“Whichever party is in power in any State, we will work on the basis of cooperative federalism,” he said and added that his Government does not believe in a big brotherly attitude towards the States. “We will develop a mechanism to formalise the concept of cooperative federalism,” he said.

Modi said the Centre will encourage healthy competition among States. “I want to hear Bihar claiming that we have covered Gujarat in development. I want to hear Tamil Nadu stating that we are ahead of other States,” the Prime Minister said.

He said the country will not be developed unless the States are developed. He said earlier environmental issues were flagged by the Centre to impede the growth process of the States.

He said tailor-made solutions for States will have to be stopped and the Centre must encourage discussions with States for adequately addressing their concerns. Modi’s speak, however, failed to impress the Opposition benches.

“The reply of the Prime Minister could have had far more content, a plan and road map of delivery of promises that President has made,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

CPI (M) MP KN Balagopal said the President’s address itself was against the idea of cooperative federalism.

“Modi Government is trying to impose controversial ideas such as river linking on the States. Where was the discussion with States on the issue? His words will have to match with his actions,” Balagopal said.

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