Punjab Assembly passes resolution seeking Chandigarh's immediate transfer to Punjab

The resolution was passed during the one-day special session of the Assembly, called amid outrage over the implementation of central services rules in Chandigarh, in the absence of the two BJP legislators, who had earlier staged a walkout.

The Punjab Assembly today passed a resolution seeking the immediate transfer of Chandigarh to the state. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who presented a resolution against the implementation of central service rules in Chandigarh, accused the Centre of trying to upset the balance in the administration of the Union Territory and other common assets.

The resolution was passed during the one-day special session of the Assembly, called amid outrage over Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement that central service rules would apply to the employees of Chandigarh administration, in the absence of the two BJP legislators, who had earlier staged a walkout.

The members of all other political parties, including the Congress, the Shrimani Akali Dal and the BSP, which has one MLA in the Assembly, threw their support behind the resolution and called the Centre's recent move “dictatorial and autocratic”.

In the coming days, the Punjab government will seek time from President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the issue and assured the House that Punjab's side will be presented strongly before them, Bhagwant Mann said, reported news agency PTI. He urged all parties to come together in protecting the interests of Punjab.

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Bhagwant Mann also said that the House has, in the past too, passed a number of resolutions urging the central government to transfer Chandigarh to Punjab.

“I want to give a guarantee to the people of Punjab that we will strongly fight and protect the state's rights, be it in the Vidhan Sabha or Parliament or on any other platform,” Mann asserted.