Capt asserts Chandigarh belongs to Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday made it amply clear that his State would not give up its resources to the neighbouring Haryana, including the capital city of Chandigarh, its water, among others.

Categorically rejecting his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar’s suggestion to set up a Tricity Planning Board for Chandigarh and its adjoining cities of Panchkula and Mohali, Capt Amarinder said that Chandigarh “indisputably” belonged to Punjab.

Taking a strong stand on the issue, which even Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore also endorsed by saying that coordination on the Tricity development related issues was already being done, Capt Amarinder said that there was no question of agreeing to Khattar’s proposal.

Even as the Governor pointed out that as a land-locked region, Chandigarh did not have any scope for expansion, Capt Amarinder asserted that Punjab, being the only state without a capital, had a “historical right over Chandigarh”.

“Various accords in the past had given Chandigarh to Punjab but they were, unfortunately, not implemented,” said Capt Amarinder who was sharing a stage with Badnore, Khattar, and the Institute for Development and Communication chairman Pramod Kumar at an event.

Asserting that Punjab needed a capital, Capt Amarinder pointed out that it was possibly the only state in the world without its own capital. “Haryana being a new State, it should be assisted to set up its own capital, and Chandigarh, being the capital of Punjab, should be given to Punjab,” he added.

Both Capt Amarinder and Badnore also rejected the suggestion of an NCR-type Greater Chandigarh Metropolitan Region, treating the entire Tricity as the capital of Punjab and Haryana.

Badnore said that while there was already coordination between the two states and the UT on certain issues, the same could be enhanced by strengthening his Advisory Council with more people drawn from Mohali and Panchkula.

The Chief Minister asserted that territorial and water issues between Punjab and Haryana would have to be addressed before other matters could be taken up. “Water is critical for Punjab, whose ground water levels are fast depleting,” he said, adding that Haryana had more water despite having only 40 percent of the total land of the two states.

Capt Amarinder pointed that Punjab was divided by the Akalis for their political gains, and the division had wreaked untold devastation on Punjab, which was suffering from many problems, including water and drugs, due to this.

Rejecting a suggestion of making Panjab University a central university, and Khattar’s offer to contribute to its running, Capt Amarinder quipped, “What would Punjab be left with”.

At the same time, he made it clear that the state, which had already suffered in the previous allocation of resources between the two states, would not give up any more of its resources to Haryana.

The Chief Minister raised the issue of Chandigarh UT (Union Territory) raising its own cadre, thus eroding Punjab’s 60 percent share in administration.

Responding to his concern, the Governor Badnore offered to order an audit of the employees in Chandigarh to ensure that the 60:40 ratio between Punjab and Haryana is maintained.

Advocating more cooperation between the two states in areas of mutual interest, the Governor mooted the establishment of an India International Centre like setup in Chandigarh saying that he would seek contribution from both Haryana and Punjab for it.