Beware! Change in city’s status will ruin its uniqueness
It has been observed that whenever jobs are advertised in newspapers, applicants from Punjab and Haryana are given preference due to the quota system. Residents of Chandigarh are not given enough opportunities. They are forced to opt for private jobs.
Kavita Mahajan
Khattar’s suggestion unrealistic
The Haryana Chief Minister’s suggestion for creating a statutory body for the homogenous development of Chandigarh and adjoining cities is unrealistic. By saying this, he is trying to build castles in the air. The status of Chandigarh as a UT has been retained after a thorough discussion by the Union government a number of times. Such an inflammatory suggestion by the Haryana CM is shocking and merely a hoax, which must be avoided in the larger public interest.
Renu Rajinder Pal Singh, Chandigarh
Won’t concede city to Haryana
Chandigarh, without any doubt, belongs to Punjab. It is the brainchild of Partap Singh Kairon. Rather, Haryana should respect Punjab as is its ancestor. Punjab can anytime start agitation to take back Delhi, Haryana, Himachal and other states. The Haryana Government should concentrate on their state rather than raking up the issue. People of Punjab will not concede the city to anybody.
Opinder Kaur Sekhon, Chandigarh
Only a political stunt
This question over the status of the city remains unsolved. It was meant to be the capital of the undivided Punjab. As of now, it belongs to residents of Chandigarh and they don’t want to go anywhere. Political parties raise this issue just to get votes.
Bharat Bhushan Sharma
Keep UT status intact
The suggestion by the Haryana CM to set up a joint planning board for the development of the tricity is totally misconceived. It is unequivocally a settled issue that Haryana has no claim over Chandigarh. Telling Punjab to make New Chandigarh its capital is absurd. Political leaders should refrain from making such statements. Chandigarh should remain a UT in accordance with wishes of city residents.
RPS Chopra, Mani Majra
Punjab denied its due
Post-independence, the bifurcation of states started on linguistic basis. The bifurcated states were given their own capitals. But in case of Punjab, Chandigarh, which was conceived and built as a capital of Punjab by dislodging 28 Punjab villages and acquiring their 114 sq km of land, has been denied to it. Rather, it was made a joint capital of both states. A politically mischievous and unjust treatment has been meted out to Punjab. In fitness of things, Chandigarh be awarded to Punjab as its rightful capital while Haryana should create its own capital at a place of their choice, ending the heart burning and counter claims.
SS Arora, Mohali
Revive post of Chief Commissioner
Presently, politicians of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh are interfering in the working of the UT Administration, adversely affecting the governance. If the post of the Chief Commissioner of Chandigarh is revived, it will take care of many ills prevailing in the working of all departments. The employees on deputation remain loyal to their state bosses, impacting the delivery of services.
KC Rana, Chandigarh
Create Greater Chandigarh
Chandigarh, the first-ever planned city of India, was made the capital of Punjab in 1952. Then, on November 1, 1966, Haryana was carved out of Punjab and Chandigarh was declared a union territory. Since then, it has been functioning as a joint capital of both states. Cities of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula should be merged into one and named Greater Chandigarh, a union territory. Let Punjab and Haryana have new capital cities in their states.
RK Kapoor, Chandigarh
Statutory body will be beneficial
A statutory body for the homogeneous development of Chandigarh Mohali and Panchkula will be beneficial. The common problems are law and order, water and electricity supply and cleanliness. But the main problem is that our politicians think of their vote bank only, ignoring the progress of the country.
Tarlok Singh, Mani Majra
Can’t compromise on city’s character
Chandigarh should not be part of either Punjab or Haryana. It should remain a union territory. City residents don’t want to lose their identity. The city will not be able maintain its unique character, if controlled by politicians. Their populist policies will ruin its planned development. Residents of Chandigarh should protect its uniqueness.
Priya Darsh Growar, Mohali
Khattar made a valid suggestion
Chandigarh was conceived and built as the capital of the undivided Indian Punjab. So, all three erstwhile constituent regions should have claim to it. But Himachal Pradesh got the prime city Shimla as its capital. So, Chandigarh should continue to be the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. They can build more of their offices in Mohali and Panchkula. The Haryana CM’s demand for a statutory body for the tricity is apt and reasonable.
Tejinder Singh Kalra, Mohali
For politicians, only votes matter
Maintaining the present status will be a good option as it has withstood the test of times. It is a different matter that politicians in Punjab and Haryana lay claim to the city. This is done to garner votes. The bad governance by the civic body and the UT Administration has indeed created a tight financial situation, resulting in an increase in tax burden on city residents. This can be avoided if the Centre releases adequate grant-in-aid to Chandigarh.
SC Luthra, Chandigarh
Maintain present status
It is better to keep Chandigarh as a union territory. Punjab and Haryana should create separate capitals. Merging the city with any of the states will spoil its beauty and infrastructure. That will not be accepted to city residents. The Centre will have to financially support both states in carving out their own capitals.
Vinod Shetty
No basis to claim
After having given the status of a union territory in 1966, when both Punjab and Haryana reconciled to the present set up and arrangements, the city has been managed well for the past 52 years. Now, claims and counter claims by chief ministers of both states have no basis.
Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula
Focus on infra development
Chandigarh should remain a UT as it would make things simple and better without state politics. Hence, the authorities must work towards ensuring basic infrastructure, services and resources in the city. People of Chandigarh should be able to lead a decent quality of life in a secure and amicable environment. There must be smart solutions to various existing problems like housing, transport, safety of women, crime, parking, health and education facilities.
RD Singh, Ambala Cantt
Haryana has no right over Chandigarh
Chandigarh belongs to Punjab without any doubt. Haryana has been carved out of Punjab. So, it has no right over it. Haryana is suggesting Punjab to make New Chandigarh its capital. Instead, it should make Panchkula as its capital. However, Chandigarh’s status as a UT is not likely to be changed in near future.
IPS Anand, Gurugram
No threat to UT status
I am confident that the status of Chandigarh as a union territory faces no threat and it is here to stay. After having been given the status of a union territory on the reorganisation of the erstwhile State of Punjab on November 1, 1966, there were two occasions when uncertainty stared at Chandigarh. The first was on the completion of five years as a UT in 1971 and the second in January 1986, but the threat died down. It has come a long way since then. During the past 50 years as a union territory, Chandigarh has developed an ethos of its own as a microcosm of India. The challenge that Chandigarh faces today is only the deficiency of funds commensurate with its growing needs. Being a generator of revenue for the Centre, it deserves allocation of ample funds to maintain its unique character as a planned city of Pt Nehru’s vision.
Pawan Kumar Bansal, former Union Minister
Don’t raise issue unnecessarily
I have been raising the demand for an interstate development council for the tricity for long. The council should have representatives from Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh and the Centre. It is a well-established fact that Chandigarh is a union territory for more than 50 years and it will remain UT in future too. Leaders of both states must understand this fact and should not raise the issue unnecessarily for their political compulsions. At the same time, they should not forget their responsibility of sharing the burden of Chandigarh, which has limited land and scope of expansion. In such a scenario, all three cities should work together to face challenges like water shortage, housing and transport.
Satya Pal Jain, former Chandigarh MP
Make joint efforts for tricity
There is no dispute over the status of Chandigarh a union territory and it will remain so. City residents too want to maintain the status. But at the same time, there is a need for joint efforts to develop the tricity region. Neighboring states and cities are putting extra pressure on the existing infrastructure of Chandigarh. In view of this, the neighboring states must contribute to the well-being of the city.
Pardeep Chhabra, Chandigarh Congress president
No question of changing status
There is no question of changing the status of Chandigarh. However, there is a strong need to put in place a system which takes care of needs of the tricity and its surrounding areas. A large number of people travel to the city daily for work and other purposes. So, all three cities – Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula – should work together to provide more facilities to area residents.
Harmohan Dhawan, former Union Minister
Need single platform to solve pressing issues
There is a need to have a common platform for the tricity on the pattern of the NCR for managing the the law and order, traffic and other problems. Some issues should be resolved jointly. I feel a the tricity coordination committee should be formed, which should meet at regular intervals. Residents of the city feel that the neutral character of Chandigarh as a union territory should be maintained and I respect their feelings.
Sanjay Tandon, Chandigarh BJP president
Give it to Punjab
The Chandigarh originally belongs to Punjab and should be given to Punjab. Chandigarh was developed after uprooting the Punjabi people, who have not been given their rights since then. In view of this, Chandigarh should be given to Punjab.
Hardeep Singh, Chandigarh SAD president
Need to improve coordination
With Chandigarh being a union territory, it is a win-win situation for all — Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana. The only thing we need to do is to improve the coordination and cooperation between the tricity administrations. Chandigarh as a union territory and joint capital of Punjab and Haryana is an ideal and workable solution.
VP Singh Badnore, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator
Chandigarh belongs to Punjab
Chandigarh, undoubtedly, was an integral part of Punjab. Being Punjab’s capital, no other can have any claim to it. Nobody can deny the parent state its territorial jurisdiction thereon. Nevertheless, subsequent to the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, the territorial dispute remains unresolved. During this period, a fine balance in sharing official positions and other resources of the UT between Punjab and Haryana had been achieved with an advantage of hard-earned peace in Punjab. Unfortunately, in the past a few years, it has been observed that there is a constant effort to disturb this fine balance. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has been inducting more officers of the UT cadre into the Chandigarh Administration without realising its implications. There has been reduction in departments allocated to officers of Punjab and Haryana.
Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab Chief Minister
Our claim intact, Punjab may have another capital
Haryana’s claim on Chandigarh remains intact and if Punjab has any problem, it should create its new capital. The need is to create a statutory authority for the homogeneous development of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali. I have already taken up this issue with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, impressing upon him that such an authority would facilitate the development of the tricity, ensure effective coordination and address issues regarding traffic congestion, healthcare and education. Needless to say, this endeavour would also require adequate financial support from the Union Government. The Punjab New Capital Periphery Control Act was enacted by Parliament in 1952 to ensure a healthy and planned development of Chandigarh and to regulate construction activities within 10 miles of it. Since then, both state governments have prepared controlled area plans.
Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana Chief Minister
COMMENT
End uncertainty over Chandigarh’s status
Nitin Jain
Does Chandigarh belong to Punjab or Haryana? This deeply emotive issue has dictated the political discourse in the region for decades. It is an open secret that the joint capital has deepened the fissures between the neighbouring states and the successive governments at the Centre have been of little help in resolving the issue.
The unsavoury controversy was raked up once again when the Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, recently demanded a statutory body for the homogeneous development of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula while his Punjab counterpart, Capt Amarinder Singh, categorically rejected this proposal, saying Chandigarh indisputably belonged to Punjab.
In 2016, the BJP-led Narendra Modi Government at the Centre did take a step forward with the appointment of Kerala’s retired bureaucrat and now Union Minister KJ Alphons as the first independent Administrator with a rank equivalent to that of Lieutenant Governor for Chandigarh. but the arrangement was put on hold indefinitely.
Despite the sharp political divide in Punjab politics, if there is consensus on one issue, it’s on the demand that Chandigarh should be given to Punjab and Haryana should build its new capital.
Not only the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, the political leadership has also been wanting that the Union Government should maintain its special status with continuation of grants already received from the Centre for the development and upkeep of the City Beautiful. What’s more, there’s also been talks of merging the Greater Mohali area in Punjab with Chandigarh to give it the status of a metropolitan city.
Going a step further, some leaders have sought retaining the Lok Sabha seat of Chandigarh and carving out new Vidhan Sabha constituencies out of Chandigarh after its transfer to Punjab. This way, they argue, the issues arising out of “dictatorship” of bureaucrats in the Union Territory will end and residents of Chandigarh will also come under the rule of an elected state government. This political discourse, as some contend, is out of touch with reality.
In the past, the then Union Home Minister
