Haryana counters Punjab’s claim, flags its stakes over Chandigarh
Countering the resolution recently passed by Punjab Vidhan Sabha demanding the transfer of Chandigarh to it, the Haryana assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution flagging its stakes over Chandigarh — a joint capital of the two states as well as a union territory since 1966.
Moving the resolution in the specially called one-day session, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said Haryana came into existence as per the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 which also provided for several measures to give effect to the Reorganisation of Punjab into Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and union territory Chandigarh.
Highlighting the right of Haryana to share waters of the Ravi and Beas rivers by the construction of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, Khattar said the House had unanimously on seven occasions passed resolutions urging the early completion of the SYL canal, Punjab, contrary to several agreements, accords, Tribunal’s findings and judgments of the highest judiciary had enacted legislation to deny the claims of Haryana in the past. The transfer of Hindi speaking villages from Punjab to Haryana had also not been completed either, he said and added the state also noted the recent amendment in the rules of the Bhakra Beas Management Board by the Centre for appointment of whole-time members was against the spirit of the Act, which treats the river projects as common assets of Punjab and Haryana.
HARYANA DID NOT GET JUSTICE: VIJ
Speaking on the resolution, home, and health minister Anil Vij said that Haryana remained firm in its stand on Chandigarh till it did not get SYL canal water, Hindi speaking areas, and financial assistance for building a new capital. Whatever commissions were made, whether it was Shah Commission, or Eradi tribunal, whether it was Rajiv-Loganwal award or whether it was Indira Gandhi award, Haryana never got justice.
JUMLA OF AAP GOVT: HOODA
The Congress legislature party leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is also the leader of the Opposition questioned the AAP’s intention to pass such a resolution and termed it as a “political Jumla” as it held no meaning. “Punjab should not disrupt communal harmony between the two states by taking such undemocratic steps,” he said.