Chandigarh, July 15 (UNI) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday requested Governor Banwarilal Purohit to direct Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to withdraw his statement on surrendering the state’s rights over Chandigarh, be- sides apprising the Union Home Minister that Punjabis will not tolerate the transfer of even one inch of land in Chandigarh to Haryana. A delegation of the party led by SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal submitted a memorandum in this regard to the Governor here.
Asking the Governor to direct the Chief Minister to protect the interests of Punjab, the delegation apprised the former that Mann had not protested against the steady erosion of Punjab’s rights in Chandigarh, including the creation of the UT cadre, implementation of Central pay scales and dilution of the status of Punjabi language, besides other crucial issues like removal of Pun- jab’s representative in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
Asserting that Chandigarh was an inalienable part of Punjab, Badal apprised the Governor that this was ratified during the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966 and later by way of the Rajiv-Longowal accord which had been ratified by both Houses of Parliament as well as the Haryana Assembly. He said accordingly the Governor should appraise the Center of the situation and recommend the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab.
The delegation also briefed the Governor that the uncertainty created by the action of the Punjab government and the Union Home Minister could vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of the state. “We appeal to you to take appropriate steps to ensure Punjabis that Chandigarh belongs to them and will not be taken away from them under any circumstances,” the delegation, which also comprised Prem Singh Chandumajra, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, and Daljit Singh Cheema, told the Governor. The SAD also requested that all decisions taken by the Chandigarh administration from time to time were against the letter and spirit of Pun- jab Re-Organisation Act, including dilution of Punjabi language status, and violation of the 60:40 ratio.
