Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the employees of the Chandigarh Union Territory Administration will get the same benefits as the employees of the Central Government. After this decision of the Center, there has been a political upheaval in Punjab. Along with the ruling party Aam Aadmi Party, Akali Dal and Congress have also appeared against this decision of the Center. All political parties have together alleged that after this decision, Punjab’s claim on the capital Chandigarh will be weakened and it is against the federal structure. At the same time, the Aam Aadmi Party alleged that the BJP has taken this decision in panic after a big victory in the state.
Employees will have big benefits: Home Minister Amit Shah had announced on Sunday that now the employees of the Union Territory of Chandigarh will also be given the benefits of facilities like central employees, with this decision, he said that after this decision, the retirement age of the employees will increase and women will get more child. Care leave will be allowed.
Shah further elaborated that now from April 1, the retirement age of employees of Chandigarh Administration will be increased from 58 to 60 and women will get leave of up to two years instead of one year to take care of children.
Opposition to the decision: All the parties of Punjab have opposed this decision of the central government in one voice. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia from Aam Aadmi Party tweeted that from 2017 to 2022, when Congress was in power, Amit Shah did not take away the powers of Chandigarh. As soon as AAP came to power in Punjab, Amit Shah snatched away all the powers of Chandigarh. Further attacking the BJP, he said that BJP is afraid of AAP’s growth.
On the other hand, Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira criticized this decision of the Center and said that we strongly condemn the dictatorial decision of the BJP to usurp the rights of Punjab over the control of Chandigarh. This (Chandigarh) belongs to Punjab and this unilateral decision is not only a direct attack on federalism but also an attack on the part of Punjab which controls 60 per cent of the Union Territory.