Punjab farmers oppose land for Haryana House, threaten to launch sit-in

Punjab farmers, under the banner of the Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal), today announced that they would soon launch a sit-in (morcha) in Chandigarh if the Centre handed over land in the city for a separate Vidhan Sabha for Haryana.

Political parties from Punjab, including BJP leaders, are already opposing the proposed allotment of land.

There is no final decision yet on the project as the Chandigarh Urban Planning Department has opposed it arguing that the Chandigarh Master Plan-2031 does not provide for any policy for exchange of land. In a communication to the Administration, the department has stated that the land in question is not suitable from the town planning point of view.

It stated that a drain was passing through the site which bifurcated it and would not be suitable for construction. Balbir Singh Rajewal, president of the union, which was among the main protesting farmer groups on the Delhi border against the now scrapped farm laws, said Chandigarh was part of Punjab and no transfer of land to Haryana could be allowed. He said the union would announce the protest plan after another meeting with members.

BJP leaders, including Punjab unit president Sunil Jakhar and former president Manoranjan Kalia, have also opposed the move even though the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre and the BJP led-Haryana Government support the allotment of land in Chandigarh for the Haryana Vidhan Sabha.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) submitted a memorandum to the Punjab Governor today opposing the proposed transfer of land. Party spokesman Gopal Singh Sidhu said the move played with the sentiments of Punjabis.

No land swap clause in Master Plan: UT

• The Chandigarh Urban Planning Department has questioned the swapping of land with the Haryana Govt
• It claims the Chandigarh Master Plan-2031 doesn’t provide for any policy to allow land swap
• It says a drain is passing via the proposed site, making it unsuitable for construction