Aye, aye president

Amninder pal

Excessive centralisation of powers in the hands of Central government has reduced states to powerless entities,  literally without resources at their command. Under the circumstances, the chief ministers are forced to rush to the Centre and the Prime Minister on every petty issue. 

This was stated by Bhanu Dhamija, author of book Why India Needs Presidential System. He was here to attend the pre-launch ceremony of Hindi translation of his book. Dhamija, who is proponent of Presidential system of governance, says it was the result of constitutional arrangement in parliamentary system, whereby Union government enjoys massive powers, that the country has seen some authoritarian Prime Ministers calling all shots without consulting Parliament or even the council of ministers.

“We have been made to believe Parliament is supreme and it frames the law. But the reality, the collective responsibility of the Cabinet is largely dependent on the circumstances. The style of functioning of Indira Gandhi and even the present PM Narendra Modi has shown that the PM is all powerful and the Cabinet has to toe his line. In an absolute majority government the final word is almost always of the PM,” says Dhamija.

While highlighting the shortcomings of parliamentary system, Dhamija said: “The American system has so many checks and balances that it is just not possible that a president becomes all powerful.”

“In the 200 years’ history of America, there has not been a single instance, when a President has even contemplated of becoming a dictator. On the other hand, in India, Indira Gandhi imposed internal emergency. Narendra Modi announced demonetisation without consulting his Cabinet. This defies the rule by majority or the supremacy of Parliament,” he said.