He further stated,“ I believe that in order to maintain its strong ties with Punjab, the Centre should reconsider its decision to allot land for a separate assembly (to Haryana). I appeal to the Prime Minister to personally intervene and cancel this decision.’’He said it is an issue on which all parties of Punjab are unanimous but due to the misunderstanding of chief minister Bhagwant Mann of the Aam Aadmi Party, the claim of Punjab has been weakened. “In Jaipur, when in the meeting of the North Zonal Council, Haryana asked for this land for its Vidhan Sabha before Union home minister Amit Shah, instead of opposing it, the chief minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, gave his stamp of approval to the demand of Haryana by asking for land for the legislative assembly of Punjab as well,” said Jakhar.Leader of Opposition in Punjab assembly and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa called the decision an affront to Punjab’s rights, describing it as a serious encroachment on the state’s historical claims over Chandigarh. He added that this move as an attack on Punjab’s autonomy, arguing that Chandigarh, developed on Punjab’s land, had always been integral to the state’s identity.“The Union Government has continually trampled upon Punjab’s autonomy. Any move to develop a separate legislative space for Haryana in Chandigarh undermined Punjab’s long-standing connection to the Union territory. We will not tolerate this decision,’’ he said.The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also opposed the decision and questioned, if Haryana is offering 12 acres of land in Panchkula to the Chandigarh administration, why is the assembly not being built there instead?AAP MLA and former minister Anmol Gagan Maan said that in 1966, when Haryana was carved out of Punjab, it was promised that Chandigarh would be handed over to Punjab after some time. Until Haryana built its own capital, Chandigarh would remain a Union Territory. However, 58 years have passed, and Chandigarh has not been handed over to Punjab.She stated that Chandigarh belongs entirely to Punjab, as it was built on the lands of 22 villages of Punjab. The decision to build a legislative assembly for Haryana in Chandigarh is completely wrong. We will not tolerate it. This decision is entirely against Punjab.Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also opposed the allotment of land to Haryana in Chandigarh to build a separate Vidhan Sabha. Senior party leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said that the union government’s decision in this regard was illegal, unconstitutional and a grave violation of the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966.“The SAD will not allow any such evil design to succeed at any cost”, he added.Cheema reiterated that Chandigarh belonged to Punjab and should be transferred to Punjab. “Haryana should build its own capital inside Haryana”. He said the central government’s decision would be remembered as another betrayal with the people of Punjab. “By taking such decisions the Union Government led by BJP wants to convey a message that Punjab will never be given its capital,’’ he asserted.He said the SAD appealed to all parties of Punjab to clear their stand on the issue and urged them to join hands to save the capital of Punjab.At present both Punjab and Haryana share the secretariat building where the offices of both chief ministers, ministers and other senior bureaucrats are situated and also the assembly building in the Capitol Complex in the 60:40 ratio (60 per cent with Punjab and 40 per cent with Haryana).
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