The tussle between the Punjab and Haryana government over Chandigarh seems to be increasing. The Haryana government had expressed its right over Chandigarh by passing a resolution. Earlier, a resolution was passed on Chandigarh by convening a special session in the Punjab Legislative Assembly. Like in Punjab, the opposition in Haryana also appeared to stand with the government and supported the proposal.
Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar has expressed concern over the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government’s sudden move to stake claim on the joint capital. He has said that before moving such a proposal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should have taken all the parties into confidence in the matter. He said that the resolution passed in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha regarding Chandigarh is not acceptable. CM Khattar has appealed to the Central Government that no such step should be taken regarding Chandigarh which will disturb the balance. CM Manohar Lal Khattar also raised the issue of construction of Sutlej-Yamuna link canal.
Punjab has already claimed about Chandigarh
This is not the first time that Punjab has staked claim on Chandigarh. Such resolutions have been passed in the Punjab Assembly at least seven times in the past, most of them during the Akali Dal-led government. The latest move by the Home Ministry to announce Central Service Rules for the employees of the Union Territory has once again fueled Punjab’s displeasure over the declining share in the UT administration.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann moved a resolution in the Assembly soon after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced and said that the Central Service Rules would be applicable to Chandigarh employees, urging the Center to shift Chandigarh to Punjab. After the passage of this resolution in the Punjab Assembly, there has been a sharp reaction from the Haryana government.