Badal accuses centre of usurping states' power

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Sunday accused the central government of usurping the power of the states over the years, saying the authority of the state governments has been eroded by doing this.

In his address after hoisting the national flag on the 65th Republic Day in the industrial city of Ludhiana, Badal said the state governments could not take enough decisions even in fields like education, agriculture, health and others.

"State governments are unable to take decisions for the welfare of people as the centre has usurped the powers of states. There is an immediate need to give these powers back to the states so that they can act for the welfare of the people," Badal said.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal hoisted the national flag at Bathinda.

In Haryana, the state-level function was held in Gurgaon, adjoining New Delhi, where Governor Jagannath Pahadia hoisted the national flag.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda hoisted the national flag at Nuh, the district headquarters of the newly created district of Mewat in south Haryana.