Chandigarh, November 23
Dispelling all speculation surrounding the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill – seen by many as an attempt to permanently detach Chandigarh from Punjab’s administrative and political ambit – the Centre has categorically affirmed that the proposal in no way seeks to alter the governance framework of Chandigarh or disturb its traditional ties with Punjab and Haryana.
A post on X by PIB HMO reads, “The proposal to simplify the process of law-making exclusively by the Central Government for the Union Territory of Chandigarh is currently under consideration at the level of the Central Government. No final decision has been taken on this proposal. This proposal does not in any way involve altering the governance and administrative arrangements of Chandigarh or the traditional relations of Chandigarh with Punjab or Haryana. An appropriate decision will be taken only after adequate consultation with all stakeholders, keeping in mind the interests of Chandigarh. There is no need for concern on this matter. The Central Government has no intention of presenting any bill to this effect in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.”
It is worth noting that the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, slated to be introduced by the Central Government in the forthcoming Winter Session of Parliament, has in recent days snowballed into a major controversy. The development has triggered a political storm in Punjab, with Congress, SAD and AAP voicing strong and uncompromising reactions to the move.
Meanwhile, comparing the union government’s proposal to change the administrative structure of Chandigarh with its decision to downgrade a full-fledged state of Jammu & Kashmir to a union territory, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring rejected the union government’s clarification about the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to change the administrative structure of Chandigarh.
In a statement issued this evening, Warring said, “The union government’s clarification is vague as it says, will not bring the bill in the winter session. What is the guarantee that it will not bring it in the next session?” Further reacting to the central government’s clarification, Warring asked, what was the need to propose an amendment at the first instance. “If the BJP is really sincere about Punjab and Punjabis, it should initiate the measures to handover Chandigarh completely back to Punjab instead of taking contrary steps”, he challenged the BJP led central government.
The AAP government in Punjab has also sharply reacted with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann posting on X, “We strongly oppose in the strongest terms the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill being brought by the Central Government in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament. This amendment is against the interests of Punjab. We will not allow the conspiracy being hatched by the Central Government against Punjab to succeed in any way. Chandigarh, built by razing our Punjab’s villages, belongs solely to Punjab. We will not let our rights slip away just like that. For this, we will take whatever steps are necessary.”
Likewise, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal had issued a strongly worded statement, wherein he had said, “The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill sought to take the union territory of Chandigarh permanently out of Punjab’s administrative and political control. It seeks to end Punjab’s claim to Chandigarh as its capital city”. Today afternoon, on his official Facebook Page, Sukhbir posted, “To plan and formulate a strong and decisive response against the anti-Punjab Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which aims to demolish Punjab’s rightful claim over Chandigarh, I have called an emergency meeting of the Core Committee of the party at 2 PM on Monday at the Party Head Office in Chandigarh. I assure the people of Punjab that this anti-Punjab Bill and blatant attack on the federal structure will be fought on every front by Akali Dal and this move of the Centre will not be allowed to succeed. I reiterate: Punjab’s right over Chandigarh is non-negotiable.”
The Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, asserted, “The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill that the BJP government is bringing is essentially an attempt to capture Chandigarh. Ever since the BJP came to power, Punjab has consistently voted against PM Modi and the BJP–RSS ideology in the last 5–7 elections, and now this is their last attempt to seize control of Chandigarh.”
Meanwhile, responding to the developments, Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar dismissed the issue as mere confusion and conveyed his stance through a post on X. “Chandigarh is an integral part of Punjab and the Punjab BJP stands firmly with the interests of the state, whether it is the issue of Chandigarh or the waters of Punjab. Whatever confusion has arisen regarding Chandigarh will be resolved by discussing it with the government. As a Punjabi myself, I assure you that for us, Punjab always comes first”, Jakhar posted on X.
Punjab BJP Working President Ashwani Sharma however strongly accused the AAP government, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal of coming together purely for political gains and running false and misleading propaganda against the BJP.
Sharma said that the tweet issued by the Central Government has clearly stated that no bill related to Chandigarh is being brought in the Winter Session of the Lok Sabha. Therefore, the atmosphere of fear created by the AAP government and the opposition was nothing but a political drama.
Launching a sharp attack against AAP, Congress and Akali Dal, he said that these three parties have no real concern for Punjab; for the sake of coming to power they are building a false narrative against BJP.
