Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today introduced a resolution in the assembly, accusing the central government of trying to disturb the balance in the administration of the union territory. Simultaneously, there was a demand to transfer Chandigarh to Punjab immediately.
Two weeks after taking over as the Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann has taken a big step to take control of Chandigarh. Let us tell you that apart from being a union territory, Chandigarh is the capital of both Punjab and neighboring Haryana.
The Central Government is making changes in the service rules for the employees of Chandigarh Administration. With this, the employees of Chandigarh Administration are also getting benefits like the officers of the Central Government.
Bhagwant Mann, in his resolution passed by the Vidhan Sabha, said that Punjab was reorganized into the state of Haryana under the Punjab Reorganization Act 1966. The Union Territory of Chandigarh and parts of Punjab were given to the then Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh. He said, “Since then a balance was noted in the administration of common assets like Bhakra Beas Management Board by giving management posts in certain proportion to the nominees of the states of Punjab and Haryana. trying to spoil it.”
The Chief Minister informed, “Chandigarh administration has always been managed by the officers of Punjab and Haryana in the ratio of 60:40. However, recently the Central Government has deployed outside officers in Chandigarh and Central Civil Services for the employees of Chandigarh Administration. Service rules have been introduced, which is completely against the agreements made in the past.
The fresh clashes started after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement last week. In this, he had said that the employees of Chandigarh Administration will get the same benefits as their counterparts working in the Central Government. Opposition parties in the state alleged that this would weaken Punjab’s claim on Chandigarh.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party, which came to power in Punjab in the recent elections, claimed that it was a panic reaction of the BJP after the election results. Congress and Akali Dal also opposed the move.
Bhagwant had earlier said, “The Punjab government will fight vigorously for its rightful claim on Chandigarh.” At the same time, Amit Shah had said, “The retirement age of employees in Chandigarh will be increased from 58 to 60 years and women employees. will get child care leave of two years from the present one year.” He had said that these benefits were a long pending demand of the employees of Chandigarh Administration. The new service rules were notified on Tuesday and will replace the old set of rules from tomorrow.