Bhagwant Mann picks up another fight with Centre, demands “immediate transfer” of Chandigarh to Punjab

“Immediately transfer Chandigarh to Punjab”: Bhagwant Mann’s resolution in Punjab Assembly

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today moved a resolution in the state Assembly, seeking the immediate transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, accusing the Centre of trying to “upset the balance” in administering the Union Territory.

Soon after coming to power, the AAP-led Punjab Assembly revived the decades-old demand, the Punjab legislative Assembly on Friday passed a resolution to transfer Chandigarh to Punjab state.

In his notice for the resolution, Mann has said that under the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966, the state of Punjab was reorganized into the state of Haryana, the Union Territory of Chandigarh, and some parts of Punjab were given to the then Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh.

“Since then, a balance was mentioned in the administration of common assets like Bhakra Beas Management Board by way of giving management positions in some proportion to the nominees of State of Punjab and State of Haryana. Through many of its recent actions, the Central government is trying to upset this balance,” he said in the notice.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the Centre has advertised the posts of members of the Bhakra Beas Management Board, which were traditionally filled by officers from Punjab and Haryana, to officers of all states and the Central government.

“Similarly, Chandigarh administration has always been managed by the officers of Punjab and Haryana in the ratio of 60:40. However, recently Central government has posted outside officers to Chandigarh and has introduced Central Civil Service Rules for the employees of Chandigarh Administration, which goes completely against the understanding in the past,” he said in the notice.

The resolution requested the Central government to honour the principles of federalism enshrined in the Constitution and not to take any steps which may disturb the balance in the administration of Chandigarh and that of other common assets like the BBMB (Bhakra Beas Management Board).

Similarly, the Chandigarh administration has always been managed by the officers of Punjab and Haryana in a ratio of 60:40.

“However, recently the Central government has posted outside officers to Chandigarh and has introduced Central Civil Service Rules for the employees of the Chandigarh administration, which goes completely against the understanding in the past,” said the Chief Minister.

“Chandigarh city was created as the capital of Punjab. In all past precedents, whenever a state has been divided, the capital remains with the parent state.

“Punjab, therefore, has been laying its claim for the complete transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab. In the past, this House has passed a number of resolutions urging the Central government to transfer Chandigarh to Punjab.

“For maintaining harmony and taking the sentiments of people into account, this House once again recommends to the state government to raise the matter with the Central government to immediately transfer Chandigarh to Punjab,” he added.

At the time of the reorganization of Punjab in 1966, Chandigarh assumed the unique distinction of being the capital of both Punjab and Haryana, even as it was declared a Union Territory and was placed under the direct control of the Centre.

[With Inputs from IANS]

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