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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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   

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 P Chidambaram and the then Punjab Governor and former Union Home Minister Shivraj Vishwanath Patil had also called for a consensus between Punjab and Haryana after former Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal had raised the demand of Chandigarh’s transfer to Punjab at the 26th meeting of the Northern Zonal Council, chaired by Chidambaram in Chandigarh, on July 13, 2012.

It is high time the Chandigarh issue was resolved once and for all and the Centre ended the uncertainty over the status and future of the City Beautiful.