Who made this statement: “Because of circumstances that have now come into being that it is federal or unitary, welfare states from being Police States have become, where it is for the economic well-being of the country, the States and the ultimate responsibility has become the paramount duty of the Centre”?

This statement was made during the Constituent Assembly debates to justify the centralizing tendency of the Indian Constitution. Krishnamachari was highlighting how the shift from a "Police State" (focused mainly on law and order) to a "Welfare State" (focused on social and economic development) necessitated a strong Central government to ensure the uniform well-being of the entire country. Context of the Statement At the time of drafting, there was significant debate regarding the distribution of powers between the Union and the States. Many members felt the Constitution was "too unitary."Krishnamachari argued that in a modern welfare state, the Centre must have the "ultimate responsibility" because economic planning and social upliftment require a coordinated national effort that individual states might not be able to manage alone. Key Figures in the Centralization Debate The Indian Constitution is often described as "Quasi-federal" (by K.C. Wheare) or "Federal with a unitary bias." Here is how different leaders viewed this balance: Leader Perspective on Federalism B. R. Ambedkar Described the Union as "indestructible" and preferred the term "Union of States" over "Federation of States. "Jawaharlal Nehru Advocated for a strong Centre to maintain national unity and implement large-scale industrial planning. T.T. Krishnamachari Emphasized that the paramount duty of the Centre is the economic well-being of the whole country. Understanding the Shift: Police State vs. Welfare State Police State: Primarily concerned with external defense and internal maintenance of law and order. Welfare State: Takes an active role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens (Directive Principles of State Policy).