Renaming Chandigarh Advisor as Chief Secy sees all political parties sans BJP in Punjab on the same page

Calling the MHA’s move “an attempt to weaken Punjab’s claim over Chandigarh,” the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said the decision once again exposed “the anti-Punjab attitude of the Centre.”

Addressing the media at the party headquarters here on Wednesday, senior party spokesperson Neel Garg said, “The Chief Secretary’s post is for states, and Chandigarh is neither a state nor does it have a chief minister. Then why is there a need to appoint a Chief Secretary? The people of Punjab will not tolerate this. The Centre should reconsider and withdraw the decision.”

Garg said, “Chandigarh belongs to Punjab. It was clearly stated during the division of Punjab and Haryana in 1966 that until Haryana set up its capital, Chandigarh would be a Union Territory, and thereafter it would be handed over to Punjab. In 1970, Rs 10 crore was given to Haryana to establish its capital. Several states in India have been divided, and they all established their respective capitals, but Punjab continues to face discrimination.”

“Historically, politically, and socially, Chandigarh belongs to Punjab. Chandigarh was built by uprooting 27 villages in Punjab. Therefore, the central government should not make any major decisions without consulting the Punjab government,” Garg added.

The AAP spokesperson recalled that a few months ago, the Centre had proposed to allocate 10 acres in Chandigarh to Haryana to build an Assembly, “further weakening Punjab’s claim over Chandigarh. However, when the people of Punjab and the AAP strongly opposed it, the proposal was shelved temporarily.”

AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang also criticised the Centre, stating that the BJP government tried to “rob Punjab of its rights” by renaming the post of Advisor to the Chief Secretary. “They should have at least consulted Punjab before doing this. What they have done is autocracy. This notification should be withdrawn. The Centre cannot decide on Chandigarh without consulting Punjab.”

The Punjab Congress and the SAD also condemned the Centre, with PPCC president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring posting on X: “We @INCPunjab strongly oppose the Central Government’s decision to re-designate the Chandigarh Administrator’s Advisor as Chief Secretary. This move is a clear attempt to undermine Punjab’s rightful claim over Chandigarh and raises serious concerns about the officer’s affiliation with the Punjab cadre. Taking such a decision without consulting Punjab is unacceptable and reflects a disregard for the state’s interests. This deliberate action appears to weaken Punjab’s authority.”

Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Partap Singh Bajwa said, “It’s not merely an administrative change, but a strategic move by the Centre to further dilute Punjab’s rights. The Centre’s decision is in line with Delhi and signals a broader effort to permanently convert Chandigarh into a Union Territory. This move is an assault on Punjab’s dignity and a violation of the principles of federalism.”

Criticising the Centre’s decision, former deputy chief minister and SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “I strongly condemn the decision. This is another discriminatory step by the GOI to further dilute Punjab’s rightful claim to Chandigarh. I urge the Centre not to bleed the nation’s strong arm and granary as this can have very serious long-term consequences. The transfer of Chandigarh and Punjabi-speaking areas to Punjab, along with granting our riparian rights over river waters, etc., are the only unfinished items on the agenda of the 1966 reorganisation of Punjab. I also caution the people of Punjab against the collusion of Punjab CM @BhagwantMann with the Centre on anti-Punjab decisions.”

Badal alleged that the decision was taken in active collusion with the AAP government in Punjab and its Chief Minister. “Mann had formally acknowledged Haryana’s right over Chandigarh by agreeing to set up the Haryana Legislative Assembly here. He held the same anti-Punjab stance on Panjab University and the PGI,” Badal alleged.

The Akali leader said the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab is “a settled issue executed by two Prime Ministers of the country, endorsed by the Union Cabinet, as well as by both Houses of Parliament following the Memorandum of Settlement on Punjab in July 1985.”

“Even the issue of the Hindi-speaking areas to be transferred to Haryana instead of Chandigarh stands settled beyond any possible dispute or doubt. Two separate commissions set up by the Union government had categorically ruled in favour of Punjab, stating there was no Hindi-speaking area in the state that could be transferred to Haryana,” Badal said.

“So, the only unfinished agenda of the 1966 reorganisation of Punjab was to restore to us our constitutional rights over the river waters as a riparian state. The transfer of Chandigarh and other Punjabi-speaking areas to Punjab, which were left out of the state, and the restoration of the state’s control over institutions and authorities like the BBMB, educational and cultural institutions, etc., are also part of our demands. Punjab demands nothing more than its due rights as guaranteed under the Constitution of India,” he added.

(With ENS, Ludhiana)