'Nation's image hit by Centre's failure on diplomatic front'

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said the image of the country has taken a hit because of the alleged failure of Centre's on diplomatic front.
"Union government has failed to check internal as well as external aggression due to which threat is looming large on the sovereignty of the nation," Badal said here.
"Due to the failure of UPA government on diplomatic front, the image of country has suffered across the globe," he alleged.
Badal further alleged that the death of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh in Pakistan was one of the examples of Centre's failure on diplomatic front.

Expressing deep shock and anguish over the death of Sarabjit, the Chief Minister said the state government was committed to make all out efforts for lending a helping hand to the family of the 'national martyr'.
He said the state government had always stood by the family of such "heroes" who sacrificed their life for the nation, adding that in future also they would continue to help families of those innocent persons who have been languishing in the foreign jails.
Replying to another query, Badal said the Centre forced the state government to levy property tax in the cities in order to avail grants for the urban development.

He said that the Centre was not issuing grants to the states for development of the cities without implementing "such riders" due to which they have been forced to impose the tax.