Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday demanded the setting up of a new Constituent Assembly to frame a fresh Constitution for the country along genuinely federal lines.
Speaking on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Badal lamented that the states had been now gradually reduced to the status of beggars as the meagre powers given to states were progressively eroded by the Centre.
Mr Badal said that the Constitution was not in tune with the requirements of the changing times and as a result, the country was not able to fully utilise its potential for development and prosperity. He, however, said that states were the best qualified to understand and address the problems of the people in an effective manner. “The Shiromani Akali Dal was the first to raise this demand because it is in the interest of the country to grant autonomy to the states,” he said. Pleading for recasting of formula for devolution of funds to the state, Mr Badal said that “strong states mean a strong nation”.