Explain why many leaders demanded a strong centre during the debates in Constituent Assembly? How were powers to legislature finally divided?
The issue of the relation between the center and states was highly debated in the meetings of the Constituent Assembly. Those who were in favour of the strong centre included Jawaharlal Nehru. In a letter addressed to the President of the Constituent Assembly, he had said, “As the partition has now become a reality, “a weak central government will be quite harmful to the country because a weak centre will not be able to establish peace, coordination and raise voice at the international level.” 2. Similarly, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had also stated that he wanted a strong and unified center. It should be much stronger than visualized in the Govt, of India Act of 1935. Referring to the massacre on the roads on account of the partition of the country, many members emphasised on the need for a strong centre so that violence may be curtailed. Replying to the demand for more powers to the state, Gopalaswami Ayyar had stated, “the Centre should be as strong as possible.”Bal Krishan Sharma, a member of the United Province, threw a lot of light on the need for a strong center. He stated that only a strong centre can make plans for the interest of the country, can provide requisite resources, can establish proper order and can save the country from foreign invasion. So as compared to states, the centre has been made strong in India. The states have been empowered to frame laws on subjects mentioned in the State list. All subjects of national importance have been kept in the Union list.
