Srinagar, Aug 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday called for greater devolution of powers to states, saying issues such as education and health should be left to state governments and the Centre should focus on matters under its domain.
Speaking with reporters, according to the news agency Kashmir News Observer, he asked the Centre to leave the state issues to the state and focus on their own issues.
He said the weakening of states was not solely the result of policies pursued by the BJP, arguing that successive central governments had also contributed to the trend.
Referring to the previous Congress-led UPA government, he said they too have played a role in centralising powers. “It is not only the fault of BJP. Different central governments have played this role of weakening the states,” he said.
He said the resignation of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over NEET row is an example of the consequences of excessive centralisation.
On the BJP’s protest against the National Conference-led government in Jammu, he said the opposition party was expected to protest against the government—(KNO)
