Explained: Why Punjab has staked claim on Chandigarh

The capital was officially moved from Shimla to Chandigarh on September 21, 1953. President Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the new capital on October 7, 1953. Until Haryana was born, Chandigarh remained the capital of Punjab.

When was Punjab reorganised, and Chandigarh became a Union Territory?

The Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966 carved out the new state of Haryana from undivided Punjab, created the new Union Territory of Chandigarh under the direct control of the Centre, and transferred the hill territories of Punjab to Himachal Pradesh.

Chandigarh, identified as the capital of Punjab in The Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act, 1952, became the common capital of both Punjab and Haryana, and properties were divided between the states in the ratio 60:40. The States Reorganisation Act, 1966, did not make changes in the arrangement arrived at in 1952.

The front page of The Indian Express dated January 30, 1970, reporting the central government’s decision to give Chandigarh to Punjab. The city was to remain a Union Territory for a period “not exceeding five years”.

What about a separate capital for Haryana?

During the reorganisation of Punjab, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had announced that Haryana would get its own capital. And on January 29, 1970, the Centre announced that “the capital project area of Chandigarh should, as a whole, go to Punjab”.

Indira’s government took this decision after Fateh Singh, leader of the Punjabi Suba movement, threatened self-immolation if Chandigarh was not transferred to Punjab. The Centre had considered dividing Chandigarh into two parts, but ultimately decided against it. Haryana was told to use the office and residential accommodation in Chandigarh for five years until it built its own capital. The Centre offered a Rs 10 crore grant to Haryana and a loan of equal amount to build the new capital.

“The government explained why it had decided against dividing the city (Chandigarh), of which a communique said its ‘layout, architecture and beauty have evoked wide admiration and the city has acquired an international reputation’,” The Indian Express reported in its edition of January 30, 1970. “How long the city will remain a Union Territory will depend on how soon Haryana will be able to build a capital of its own,” the paper said.

What claims on Chandigarh were made subsequently?

In August 1982, the Akali Dal, having expressed dissatisfaction over the Punjab Reorganisation Act, launched the Dharam Yudh Morcha along with Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale with the object of realising the goals of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution of 1973. Among the issues in contention were the inclusion of Punjabi speaking areas in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, and the fact that Chandigarh had not been given to Punjab, and instead made a UT.

On July 24, 1985, the Rajiv-Longowal Accord was signed between then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Akali leader Harchand Singh Longowal. Among other things, the Centre agreed to give Chandigarh to Punjab, and January 26, 1986 was fixed as the date for the actual transfer. However, less than a month after the signing of the accord, Longowal was assassinated by militants.

What has been the mood in the Punjab Assembly over the years?

Friday’s resolution in the Punjab Assembly staking claim to Chandigarh was the seventh of its kind.

The first resolution was brought on May 18, 1967 by Acharya Prithvi Singh Azad, and the second by Chaudhary Balbir Singh on January 19, 1970, both during Gurnam Singh’s government.

Sukhdev Singh Dhillon brought a resolution on September 7, 1978 when Parkash Singh Badal was Chief Minister, and Baldev Singh Mann brought a similar resolution on October 31, 1985 during Surjit Singh Barnala’s government. Another resolution, also during Barnala’s government, was brought by Om Parkash Gupta on March 6, 1986.

On December 23, 2014, Gurdev Singh Jhoondan brought a resolution during Badal’s government. The seventh resolution was brought by the government of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday.

What is the AAP government’s argument on claiming Chandigarh as Punjab’s capital?

AAP MLA Aman Arora has argued that whenever a new state has been carved out of a parent state in the country, the capital city has stayed with the parent state.

When Maharashtra was reorganised and Gujarat was born on January 1, 1960, Maharashtra retained Mumbai as its capital. When Uttarakhand was carved out of UP on November 9, 2000, Lucknow remained the capital of UP. When Chhattisgarh was created on November 1, 2000, Bhopal remained the capital of Madhya Pradesh. When Jharkhand was created on November 15, 2000, Patna remained the capital of Bihar.

In the case of Telangana, which was created in 2014, the reorganisation period is 10 years, until 2024. But in Punjab, the reorganisation period continues even after five decades, it is argued.

What has Haryana said on the question of Chandigarh?

In 2018, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar suggested that a special body should be set up for the development of Chandigarh. But the idea was rejected by then Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who said Chandigarh indisputably belonged to Punjab.

Haryana has been demanding a separate High Court, and has passed a resolution in the Assembly demanding 20 rooms in the Vidhan Sabha complex that have been in Punjab’s possession.

On Friday, Khattar said in Gurgaon: “The Punjab government’s one-sided resolution has no meaning. …This is not only a subject of Punjab, it is a subject of Haryana and even…Himachal Pradesh… Chandigarh is the capital of Punjab and Haryana…aur dono ki hi rahegi (and it will remain the capital of both).”

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