Badal: UPA treating states like municipal bodies

Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal today lashed out at UPA government for "treating states like municipal committees".

Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday lashed out at UPA government for "treating states like municipal committees".

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He made the observation during interaction with the media after signing a pact with Himachal government on building a ropeway between Anandpur Sahib and Naina Devi.

Commenting on the acceptance speech of new President Pranab Mukherjee in which he reportedly advocated a federal system, Badal claimed that all powers of the states have been vested in the union government. "Even the whole agricultural economy is in the control of Centre," he added.

He said state governments have been reduced to dignified municipal committees, alleging that the UPA government is doing injustice with Punjab and other non-Congress ruled states.

"It is very unfortunate that union ministers are concentrating on their respective states instead of taking care of the entire nation for development," he added.

On foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail, he said, "I am always against it. The big foreign companies come here to finish our small businessmen. I believe we should not discourage our own people."