Tit to it: Haryana Assembly condemns Punjab’s move on Chandigarh, passes resolution on SYL
Highlight
- The Haryana Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution demanding completion of the SYL canal.
- It also condemned Punjab for claiming Chandigarh.
- Punjab House had passed a resolution demanding immediate transfer of the Union Territory to an AAP-ruled state.
The Haryana Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution demanding the completion of the SYL Canal and shifting of Hindi-speaking areas from Punjab, while the neighboring state condemned it for claiming Chandigarh. Days after Punjab House passed a resolution demanding immediate transfer of the Union Territory of Chandigarh to the Aam Aadmi Party-run state, the Haryana government had called a one-day session of the Assembly.
Haryana’s resolution said, “This House notes with concern the resolution passed in the Legislative Assembly of Punjab on 1st April, 2022, recommending that the matter of transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab be taken up with the Central Government.” Go.”
“This is not acceptable to the people of Haryana,” it said, adding that Haryana retained its right over the joint capital of the two states. The resolution moved by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was passed unanimously after three hours of debate. It had the support of all party lines in Haryana. Participating in the discussion, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda rejected the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly.
The Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly said, “Punjab resolution has no meaning, it is only a political gimmick.” The Congress leader said, “Punjab’s role as an elder brother is acceptable, but if it tries to play the role of elder brother, it is not acceptable to us.”
The resolution urged the Center not to take any step that disturbs the “existing balance” until all issues between the two states are resolved. Punjab has taken similar steps in the past, establishing complete control over Chandigarh. And Haryana has hit out at Punjab’s reluctance to share the river’s water through the long-pending Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal project.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Central Service Rules will now be applicable to the employees of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The new AAP government saw this as an attempt to reduce the state’s influence from the BJP-led Center in the Union Territory.
But like Punjab, Haryana’s proposal has raised objections to a recent amendment made by the central government on the appointment of members of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). It said the amendment went against the spirit of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, which treats river projects as a common property of the successor states of Punjab and Haryana.
“In these circumstances, this House resolved to urge the Central Government not to take any step disturbing the present balance and to maintain goodwill till all issues arising out of the reorganization of Punjab are resolved.”
The resolution urged the central government to take measures for the construction of the SYL canal in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court. It said Haryana’s right to share the waters of the Ravi and Beas rivers by the construction of the SYL canal is “historically, legally, judicially and constitutionally established over time”.
“Several agreements, agreements, findings of tribunals and decisions of the highest judiciary of the country have upheld Haryana’s claim on the water and directed the completion of the SYL Canal,” the resolution said. “In contravention of these directions and agreements, laws have been enacted by Punjab to deny the rightful claims of the State of Haryana,” the statement said.
The resolution urged the Center to ensure that the proportion of Haryana Government officers working in Chandigarh UT continues as envisaged during the reorganization of Punjab. It is assumed to be 60:40 for Punjab and Haryana. The issue of transfer of Hindi speaking areas of Punjab to Haryana was again raised in the resolution.
“Indira Gandhi Accord, Rajiv-Longowal Accord and Venkataramaiah Commission have accepted the claim of Hindi speaking areas of Haryana which come under the territory of Punjab state,” it said. Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said that Chandigarh was, is and will remain the capital of the state.
Opposition Congress leaders said their party will support the state government if it decides to meet the President, Prime Minister and Haryana Governor on the issue. “We will fight unitedly to protect the rights of Haryana,” Hooda said. But the party has taken a contradictory stand in Punjab and Haryana. A few days back, Congress MLAs at Punjab House had supported the immediate shifting of Chandigarh to that state.
AAP, which hopes to establish its presence in Haryana in the next assembly elections as well, may face the same paradox in future.
Congress leader Raghuveer Singh Kadian said that the time has come for Haryana to fight a do or die battle for its rights. Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said Punjab’s proposal is a ‘political resolution’.
“The AAP government of Punjab knows very well that the lofty promises they made before the elections can never be fulfilled,” he said. People’s attention Indian National Lok Dal leader Abhay Singh Chautala said that the BJP-led Haryana government did not make enough efforts on the SYL canal issue.
Read also: Haryana calls a special session of the Assembly days after Punjab’s move demanding transfer of Chandigarh