Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wave to the audience during the dedication ceremony of the modernised and expanded IISCO Steel Plant at Polo Ground in Asansol on Sunday. Photograph: Swapan Mahapatra/ PTI
Reaching out to the states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Centre and states should work together as 'Team India' to solve national problems like they have worked to resolve issues like the Indo-Bangla Land Boundary Agreement.
"If issues with foreign countries can be resolved through the spirit of 'Team India', solving domestic issues will be very easy," he said after inaugurating the modernised IISCO Steel Plant in Burnpur.
Observing that the bill to give effect to the Indo-Bangla accord was passed unanimously by parliament, Modi said all political parties and states like West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura worked "shoulder to shoulder with the Centre" to resolve this issue.
Vowing to work with the states to "take India forward," the prime minister said it has been a "misfortune" that in the past there have been tensions between states and the Centre.
"I too have been a chief minister for many years and I know that this attitude (of the Centre) towards states will not help anyone. Our Constitution has given us a federal structure. But unfortunately Centre-state relations have always come under stress," he said.
Asserting that PM and CMs would act as a team which would take India forward, he said, "Delhi alone will not rule India. Delhi will not be the only pillar on which the country will stand, but it will be supported by 30 pillars (of states)" and referred to the establishment of the Niti Aayog which has all states as partners.
The prime minister said his government's effort was to make Eastern India powerful, for which West Bengal needs to be strengthened first.
"West Bengal will lead India's 'Act East' policy to cooperate with the nations of Southeast Asia," Modi said in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.