New Delhi, Oct 22 Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Thursday called for greater cooperation between the Centre and the states, stressing that national interest and public welfare must take precedence over political differences.
While political differences are natural in democracy, they should never prevent us from working together for larger public interest, he underlined.
Addressing the national conference on Co-operative Federalism and Law Reforms: National and State Perspectives here, he said the “spirit of Team India” required a culture of consultation, coordination and shared responsibility.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “Team India” underscores that national development requires collective effort, he observed.
The vice president asserted that it requires the active participation of every state.
The Indian Constitution, he noted, provides a framework within which diversity becomes the nation’s collective strength.
It establishes a federal structure that balances the strength of the Union with the constitutional responsibilities and legitimate autonomy of the states.
He said under PM Modi, the idea of cooperative and competitive federalism has received renewed emphasis.
The establishment of NITI Aayog in 2015 marked an important institutional shift towards partnership between the Centre and the states.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal was also present at the event organised by the Law Commission.
Radhakrishnan, also the Chair of the Rajya Sabha, felt that political differences were natural in a democracy but should never become an obstacle to collective efforts for the larger interest of the nation and its people.
India, he said, is much more than a geographical union of states. “India is a constitutional partnership of diverse languages, cultures, traditions, and aspirations,” he noted.
The country’s great strength lies in its unity in diversity, the vice president asserted.
“Our languages, traditions, cultures, institutions, and lived realities reflect the extraordinary diversity of our nation. Yet, the rule of law and our shared pursuit of justice unite us under a common constitutional vision,” he pointed out.
Addressing the gathering, Meghwal said unity in diversity is the biggest strength of India which is now recognised as the mother of democracy.
Public interest is foremost, he said, adding the aspirations of people are met when governments think and work together.
(PTI News)
