Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Justifiable anger

Sir, — The anger of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa, against the Union Government for not sending an invitation to her to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, must be considered with respect and sobriety. The explanation given by the Union Home Ministry that Governors and Chief Ministers are only invited if a request is received from them for the invitation is insulting. The State legislators are the voters in the election of the President and naturally the Chief Minister of the State is the kingpin from whom the votes are sought as indeed they were sought objectively by the BJP Government from her as well as from other Chief Ministers.

In a federal set-up, Chief Mnisters enjoy the same high constitutional position as the Prime Minister. States are not in any way inferior to the Centre. Both are bound by the constitutional limitations and work within the contours of the Constitution. State Governments are as sovereign within their respective sphere as the Central Government. They are not a limb of the Central Government.

Rajindar Sachar,
New Delhi

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