Southern states doing better job because they're more decentralised: Rahul Gandhi

Southern states doing better job because they're more decentralised: Rahul Gandhi

And northern states, on the other hand, are taking power away from panchayats and grassroots organisations, Rahul Gandhi said in a recent conversation with former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan.

ndia's southern states are faring better because they're more decentralised, while northern states are "taking away power" from panchayats and grassroots organisations, Rahul Gandhi feels.

The former Congress president's comments came during a recent conversation he had with ex-RBI governor Raghuram Rajan; the interview was broadcast Friday morning by the Congress party.

"The closer decisions are taken to people, the more ability they have to keep a check on those decisions," Raghuram Rajan said in response to Rahul Gandhi's remarks.

Asked by Gandhi what was causing "massive centralisation" at a global level, Rajan said, "There is a sense that if markets globalise, market participants -- firms, for example -- want to see the same rules everywhere."

"They want to see the same coordinating structure everywhere; they want to see the same government everywhere. Because that then gives them confidence. That attempt at uniformity takes away power from the local or national governments," he said.

"Of course, in addition, there is the bureaucratic temptation to centralise," he said.

The conversation between Rahul Gandhi and Raghuram Rajan touched on issues such as the reopening of India's coronavirus lockdown, testing and economic relief for the poor.