"We need competitive-cooperative federalism": PM Modi on allegations of 'insufficient support' to state govts

New Delhi [India], April 15 : Stating that the regional aspirations should be given the maximum attention, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he would never want a state to face obstacles in its path to progress, and will instead look forward to help the state achieve its target.
He also stressed that, along with cooperation, healthy competition should also exist between the states to take the country forward.
In an exclusive interview to ANI, PM Modi said, "Regional aspirations should be given the maximum attention. This is the philosophy of my party. If you reject the regional aspirations, you can't fulfil the dream of 'Viksit Bharat'."
"Secondly, I have been the Chief Minister in Gujarat for a long time. And I am fortunate that I am the first Prime Minister in the country who has such a great experience of being the Chief Minister of the state," he added.
He further said that being a Chief Minister of a state for so long, he can very well understand the expectations a state has with the Centre and the roadblocks it faces. He added that he will never want a state to face roadblocks and is ready to assist in moving ahead.
"As a Chief Minister, what are the expectations from the Centre? What are the problems faced with the Centre? I have endured it well and I have understood it too. And that is why I will never want that if a state that has the excitement to progress has to face any obstacle. Instead, if I can remove that obstacle and I can help them in that, I am ready to do that too. Because I have to build the country," PM Modi said.
"Secondly, when I was in Gujarat, even then I had a mantra. The government here (Centre) was of UPA. Even then I had a mantra, for the development of India, Gujarat should be developed. I will develop Gujarat. Why? Because I want to develop my country. There should be an environment in our country," he further added.
PM Modi recalled the cooperation between the Centre and the States during the Covid pandemic. He also acknowledged that along with Central government, the states also played a major role in India's success in the fight against the pandemic.
"If we look at Corona. I held so many meetings with the Chief Ministers, around 20-25 times, and we used to make joint decisions on everything. We moved together so we were able to win the war against Corona. And I say this publicly, that in India's success in the fight against Corona, the contribution of states is no less. I recognize this," the Prime Minister said.
He further stressed that for taking the country forward, it is important that a cooperative-competitive federalism exists.
"That is why I have always said that we have to take the country forward. then we need competitive, cooperative federalism. We should have a competition, a healthy competition for development," he added.
Prime Minister Modi also spoke about the idea of aspirational districts and said that all states are working together which is resulting in good results.
"We imagined an aspirational district. In every state, we said that we need to bring the district to the parameter of the state. The Central government made the plan. All the states are working together in our aspirational district and aspirational blocks. And we are seeing very good results," he said.
Under, the Aspirational Districts programme, 112 underdeveloped districts were identified by the NITI Aayog. The programme aims to improve governance at the block level in order to enhance the quality of life of citizens.
Aspirational Blocks Programme focuses on improving governance to enhance the quality of life of citizens in the most difficult and relatively underdeveloped blocks of India. It is being implemented in 500 Aspirational Blocks across 329 districts in the country.
Giving the example of G20 Summit in India, last year, the Prime Minister said that he organised the event in all the states so that every state gets a global platform
"In G20. I could have hosted G20 in Delhi. I didn't do that. I did a G20 summit in every state of India. So that in every state, G20 gets the most opportunities. People should get the opportunity to see that state. The state should get a global platform for its exposure. Why? Because for me every corner of my country is my country," PM Modi further said.