Making a strong pitch for more power for the States, PMK founder S. Ramadoss on Friday said that ‘Centre’s pride is defined by autonomous States’ in the party’s manifesto presented here in Chennai.

The party’s manifesto is not released for formality. “This is a cry for getting back the rights that have been lost by Tamil Nadu and decentralisation of power,” said Dr. Ramadoss, presenting a 94-page manifesto.

Suggesting that India, which is a union of 29 States, should be more like United States of America, where the federal government has powers to decide on Foreign Policy, Armed Forces and so on.

Listing out the demands on a variety of subjects such as education, agriculture, State’s autonomy, governance, social justice and so on, Dr. Ramadoss said, “In 213 departments mentioned, Centre’s decision in 152 departments is final. So, a State has been changed into a decorated ‘corporation’. This centralisation of power has affected the people of Tamil Nadu to a great extent.”

While the slogan ‘Coalition in the Centre, self-rule in State’ has been made, Dr. Ramadoss said that there has not been any improvement regarding the same. “State’s don’t have much powers. A good example is Jallikattu. We have been organising Jallikattu. It is a small issue and it should have been decided by the State. Similarly, the State should decide on education,” he said.

Dr. Ramadoss also played down his meeting with Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam president Vijayakant on Thursday. He said he went to enquire about the DMDK chief’s health and there was no ‘politics’ in their meeting.