Chandigarh, April 1
The Punjab Assembly on Friday passed a resolution seeking immediate transfer of Chandigarh to the state, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accusing the Centre of trying to upset the balance in the administration of the Union Territory and other common assets.
The resolution was moved by Mann in the absence of the two BJP legislators, who earlier staged a walkout from the House.
Except the BJP, members of all political parties, including the AAP, Congress, SAD and the lone BSP legislator came out in support of the resolution and dubbed the Centre's move as “dictatorial and autocratic”.
The one-day special session comes amid a political row sparked by Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement that central service rules will apply to the employees of Chandigarh.
Under the rules, retirement age of Chandigarh employees will increase from 58 to 60 and women employees will get childcare leave of two years instead of the current one year. The Centre has notified the rules. Chandigarh is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.
Mann said that in the coming days, they would seek time from the President, the prime minister and the Union home minister over this issue and assured the House that Punjab's side will be strongly put up before them.
आज केंद्र की दमनकारी नीतियों के विरुद्ध पंजाब विधान सभा में प्रस्ताव पारित किया गया। चंडीगढ़ पर पंजाब के हक़ के लिए हर स्तर पर आवाज़ उठाई जाएगी। देश के लिए गोली खाने के लिए सबसे पहले अपना सीना आगे करने वाले शूरवीरों की धरती पंजाब के साथ अन्याय बर्दाश्त नहीं किया जाएगा।
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) April 1, 2022
He also urged all parties to come together to protect the interests of Punjab. PTI
Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed the resolution asking for Chandigarh to be given to Punjab. Since the BJP MLAs had walked out of the House before voting, all other MLAs unanimously passed the resolution.
Bhagwant Mann said he would seek time from President of India, Prime Minister and Home Minister to take up the issue.
MLAs from the Congress, SAD and the lone BSP candidate supported the resolution and asked Mann to take an all-party delegation to meet Central government leaders on this issue.
Rana Inder made his debut in the House on Friday.
He is escorted out by ward and watch staff.
Amidst pandemonium in the House, where independent MLA Rana Inder Singh disrupted the CM’s speech, Speaker Kultar Sandhwan names him and orders him to leave the House.
Two BJP MLAs walk out of the House.
The other MLA who walked out with Sharma is Jangi Lal.
BJP opposes the official resolution.
Ashwani Sharma, amidst a chorus of MLAs shaming him for the stand, said that central service rules were in force in Punjab from 1966-85 and Pay Commission of Centre was also in force here.
Bhagwant Mann moved the official resolution asking for Chandigarh to be given to Punjab.
The House pays tribute to former MLA Ajit Singh Shant, who passed away recently.
Ganieve Kaur Majithia is absent.
She is the only MLA who has not taken oath so far.
A special 1-day Punjab Vidhan Sabha session begins with the oath-taking ceremony of MLAs.
Rana Inder Singh, who contested as an independent candidate and won and his father, Congress MLA Rana Gurjit Singh take their oath.
While everyone in the government is tightlipped about the Bills to be brought in, sources say the government may table the amendment to the Punjab Rural Development Act, 1987, that would bind the use of rural development fund only for upgrade/building of rural infrastructure
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