Page:White Paper on Indian States (1950).pdf/115

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has come from above rather than from below and unless the transplanted growth takes a healthy root in the soil, there would be a danger of collapse and chaos. I should like those over-enthusiasts who feel that the problem of the States has been solved or who are impatient of further advance calmly to reflect on this true picture that I have given here of the problem as it exists. It will be folly to ignore realities; facts take their revenge if they are not faced squarely and well."

211. The question of evolving suitable arrangements for the governance of the Unions which would ensure that new Unions make up quickly the leeway of ages and become within a short period full-fledged constituent units of the Indian Union has, therefore, been one to which the Government of India have given their most anxious consideration. Clearly, such administrative organisations and political institutions as are to be found in the Unions cannot be expected to shoulder these great responsibilities. The inspiration and urge for the expeditious completion of the processes of integration and democratisation come from the people of India as a whole, and the Central Government, as the instrument of the will of the people of India, cannot escape the obligation to ensure that these processes are completed with the utmost possible speed and efficiency. Indeed, the Central Government are responsible to the elected representatives of the people for the discharge of this vital obligation. The interests of the whole country are so intimately bound up with the consolidation of the territories integrated in the Unions that any other conception of responsibility may prove most prejudicial not only to the administrative integration of the Unions but also to the growth of healthy democratic institutions in them.

Provision in Covenants Regarding General Control of the Government of India

212. It was in this context that in the Convenant forming the present Rajasthan State, a new article (Article XIX) was added which provided that till the constitution framed by the Constituent Assembly of the Union came into operation, the Rajpramukh and the Council of Ministers would, in the exercise of the functions vesting in them under the provisions of the Covenant, be under the general control of, and comply with such instructions as may from time to time be given by, the Government of India. This provision was made with the concurrence of prominent popular leaders of Rajasthan. Similar provision was made in the Covenants forming Travancore-Cochin Union and by a Supplementary Covenant in the case of Madhya Bharat. It had been decided to amend the other