This interview with Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren is important for many reasons. First, it highlights the NaMo regime's gross neglect of States' abilities and capacities and utter insensitivity to problems, esp of poorer partners in the Indian Federation.
thehindu.com/news/national/…
thehindu.com/news/national/…
Second, Soren points to the egregious negligence of the Centre, in transporting workers over a staggered time frame over a more than 60-day period. This has heavily burdened the poorest states like Jharkhand. He asks why Modi Govt could not have organised this earlier.
Third, the dumping of the migrant worker problem suddenly - without consultation, warning, preparation or support from the Centre - not only strains States’ capacities but aggravate the health situation in poor states like Jharkhand.
Fourth, the Hemant Soren interview highlights the callous treatment meted out to thee states in this hour of a national emergency. One cannot recall state governments and their chief ministers being systematically treated almost like vassals by a Central Govt.
Soren points out graciously and without rancour: “Only the Centre can give a proper reply to this question. But, we never lost an opportunity to put forth our viewpoint.” One surely has to ask: Are we in a federal republic or in a despot’s realm?
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