All financial powers with centre: J&K FM Haseeb Drabu

SRINAGAR: The Chief Economic Advisor of government of India Arvind Subramanian said that India is a ‘big mess’ in terms of decision making. The CEA referred to India as cooperative competitive federation with ‘frustratingly vibrant democracy.’

Subramanium was deliberating on India’s latest economic survey at Kashmir University along with the J&K FM Haseeb Drabu. “Our economic policies depend on different states. And then there are a lot of institutions that can intervene at different levels. India is a mess in terms of decision making,” said Subramanium, while explaining the importance of incremental but bold economic reforms for India.

Haseeb Drabu referred to India as ‘economically coercive federation’ where all powers rest with the centre.

Drabu compared position of J&K and northeastern states with twelfth man of a cricket team— with no say in the match—in the larger economic policy making structure of the country. While referring to Goods and Service Tax, which is a bone of contention between centre and J&K government, Drabu said ‘government of India is hardly cooperative on many economic issues.'