A war of words broke out between leaders of the AAP and the BJP after the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution seeking immediate transfer of Chandigarh to the state, with CM Bhagwant Mann accusing the Centre of trying to upset the balance in the administration of the Union Territory and other common assets.
Responding to this, Haryana Minister Anil Vij called the Punjab government a “bacha party” saying it lacks complete knowledge of issues.
“Chandigarh isn’t the only issue. Many other issues linked to it; SYL, Hindi speaking areas issues. They said nothing about it. Only a single decision can be taken, whenever it happens,” he told ANI.
The one-day special session was called days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement that central service rules will apply to employees of Chandigarh.
As per the new rule, the retirement age has been increased from 58 to 60 years while childcare leave has been increased from one year to two years.
Meanwhile, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar has said that Chandigarh will remain the joint capital of both states.
Calling the decision “condemnable”, Khattar said they should not have done this.
“Rajiv–Longowal Accord was signed 35-36 years ago, as per which it is the capital of both Haryana & Punjab. I had said yesterday too that there are several issues related to it,” he said.
He further said that if the AAP government in Punjab want to do something like this, they should first go to Supreme Court over resolving the SYL issue.
Punjab CM should also apologise to the people of Haryana: Khattar
“The Hindi-speaking areas were not given to Haryana, which delayed the rest of the issues. They should say that they are ready to give Hindi-speaking areas to Haryana,” he added.
The CM also asked AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal to either condemn the action or apologise to the people of Haryana.
Punjab CM should also apologise to the people of Haryana, said Khattar.
Lauding the Union government’s move to make central service rules applicable to employees of the union territory, he accused the Punjab government of misleading people over the issue.
“Chandigarh will remain the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. Both states have several issues to discuss other than Chandigarh,” Khattar told reporters here.
