In a recent lecture at Chanakya National Law University, Justice B.V. Nagarathna of the Supreme Court of India asserted that the Central government must not regard States as subordinates. She emphasized that political differences should not result in discrimination against citizens based on the ruling party in a State. Justice Nagarathna highlighted the need for a cooperative federalism approach, where the Centre acts as a mentor rather than an instigator of conflict. She argued that disputes between the Centre and States should ideally be resolved through dialogue and mediation instead of litigation, as frequent court cases reflect a weakening of cooperative federalism. The Justice pointed out that issues like border disputes and water-sharing are complex and should not be simplified to adversarial legal battles. Her remarks underscore the importance of equitable treatment in governance and development programs for all citizens, regardless of their political affiliations.