President's speech 'lacklustre': BJP

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BJP on Monday described as 'lacklustre' President Pratibha Patil's speech to the Joint Sitting of Parliament, saying it had neither any new direction nor had any mention about the challenges to federalism.

"The speech is lackluster because there is no new direction. It is prepared by the government. It is just a list of what has been done which is not enough. It does not say anything about the challenge to the federalism and the government's attitude towards the states," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters outside Parliament.

He contended that the central government was usurping the powers from the states through various laws without consulting them.

Javadekar said that while the President has supported the National Counter Terrorism Centre, she has failed to mention the state's opposition to such steps.

"This is totally an uninspiring speech. Whether it is on the issue of NCTC, RPF, communal violance bill or several bills of the HRD ministry, the states have not been taken into confidence. This is an attack on federal structure and no mention of this is there in the President's speech," he said.