I urge PM Modi to take initiative for dialogue with Chief Ministers: Anand Sharma

Senior Congress chief Anand Sharma on Tuesday referred to as for unity between the Centre and States in combating the Covid pandemic, saying it’s time for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stroll the discuss on cooperative federalism.

His statements got here within the backdrop of some opposition-ruled States accusing the Centre of not lending a serving to hand in procuring vaccines from overseas, and within the bigger combat in opposition to the pandemic.

Mr Sharma mentioned the coronavirus has hit villages in an enormous approach within the second wave and the folks of nation are struggling and “feeling let down”.

It is just not solely a authorized and political obligation, but in addition the ethical duty of the federal government to defend the lives of all Indians, he mentioned.

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“The path of confrontation between center and states hurts India’s national interest. PM Modi has spoken of Cooperative Federalism. It is time to walk the talk.

“I urge the PM to take the initiative for a dialogue with the Chief Ministers to confront this problem. In a democracy variations in ideology will stay however these mustn’t turn into private. We should all stand united on this time of disaster,” he said in a series of tweets.

Sharma said democracy is about cooperation and dialogue and just as the prime minister has a mandate as the elected leader of the country, the chief ministers of states have a Constitutional mandate which must be recognised.

India is a federal country and the spirit of the Constitution must be respected, he said.

Hitting out at the Central government, he said India’s tragedy is that a continental size country of this vastness and diversity is sought to be “micromanaged” during the unprecedented crisis of a pandemic.

“Centralisation of authority and choices in a single or two workplaces led to disastrous mismanagement,” he alleged.

Commenting on the vaccination drive, he said it is in a shambles and people are suffering because of this.

“In a democracy, questions can be requested and people in authority made accountable. There isn’t any knowledge in denials and difficult scientists and epidemiologists,” he said.

Mr Sharma, a member of the group of 23 leaders who had demanded an organisational overhaul within the Congress, said it is unfair to pass the buck and blame States which were “left powerless as all choices made by Central authorities”.

He said that asking States to import vaccines directly is not bearing fruit. “In a worldwide disaster, how can the states be requested to import vaccines? Import-Exports, Customs and Trade coverage are central topics.” Talking about the various mutants of the virus, he said that in a country of 140 crore people, there will be mutations and variants as viruses do changes in countries big or small.

“Community transmission is a actuality because the raging fires in villages confirms our worst fears,” he said, and added only science can meet this challenge.

India is proud of its scientists and the capability of its institutions, he said.

“Acceptance alone will help in course-correction. Accelerated common vaccination, devolution, empowering the states and investing in public well being infrastructure alone can meet the problem,” he mentioned.