Chandigarh, April 5
The Haryana Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution seeking completion of the SYL canal and the transfer of Hindi-speaking areas from Punjab, while denouncing the neighbouring state for staking claim over Chandigarh.
The Haryana government had summoned the one-day assembly session just days after the Punjab House passed a resolution seeking the immediate transfer of the union territory of Chandigarh to the Aam Aadmi Party-run state.
“This House notes with concern the resolution passed in the Legislative Assembly of Punjab on 1 April, 2022 recommending that the matter for transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab be taken up with the Central government,” the Haryana resolution said.
“This is not acceptable to the people of Haryana,” it said, adding that Haryana continued to retain its right to the joint capital of the two states.
It urged the Centre not to take “any steps that would disturb the existing balance and to maintain harmony till all the issues emanating from the reorganisation of Punjab are settled”.
The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, was adopted unanimously after a three-hour debate.
It was backed across parties, including the ruling BJP’s coalition partner Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), the Congress, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and independent MLAs as they dubbed the Punjab move “unconstitutional”.
Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda slammed the Punjab resolution for being “only a political gimmick”.
“Punjab’s role as an elder brother is acceptable, but if it tries to play the role of a big brother, that is not acceptable to us,” the Congress leader said during the discussion.
Punjab has made similar moves in the past as well, seeking control over Chandigarh. And Haryana has harped on Punjab’s reluctance to share the waters of Ravi and Beas through the long-delayed Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal project.
The tit-for-tat resolutions follow a recent row after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the central service rules would now apply to the employees of the union territory of Chandigarh.
The new AAP government in Punjab saw this as an attempt by the BJP-led Centre to diminish the state’s say in the UT, even though the new ruled gave additional benefits to the employees in Chandigarh.
But like Punjab, the Haryana resolution has raised objections over the recent amendment by the Central government of rules for the appointment of members of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
It said the right of Haryana to share waters of Ravi and Beas rivers by the construction of the SYL canal is “historically, legally, judicially and constitutionally established over time”.
“Several agreements, accords, tribunal’s findings and judgements of highest judiciary of the nation have all singularly upheld the claim of Haryana to the waters and directed completion of the SYL canal,” the resolution said.
“In defiance and contrary to these directions and agreements, legislations were enacted by Punjab to deny the rightful claims of the state of Haryana,” it said.
The resolution also urged the Centre to ensure that the proportion of Haryana government officials serving in Chandigarh UT continued as envisaged during the reorganisation of Punjab. This is supposed to be 60:40 in favour of Punjab.
The resolution raised again the issue of transfer of Punjab’s Hindi-speaking areas to Haryana.
“The Indira Gandhi agreement, the Rajiv-Longowal accord and the Venkatramiah commission have accepted the claim of Haryana to Hindi speaking areas that fall within the territory of state of Punjab,” it said.
Opposition Congress leaders said their party will support the state government if it decides to meet the President, prime minister and Haryana governor over the issue. “We will unitedly fight for protecting Haryana’s rights,” Hooda said.
But the party has taken contradictory stands in Punjab and Haryana. In the Punjab House just days earlier, Congress MLAs backed the immediate transfer of Chandigarh to that state.
Hooda said the Chandigarh administrator’s post, now held by the Punjab Governor should also be given to Haryana by rotation. Or there should be an independent administrator, he suggested.
Congress leader Raghuvir Singh Kadian said it is time for Haryana to fight a “do-or-die” battle for its rights.
CM Khattar said there was no scope now for sitting together with Punjab for resolving the SYL issue.
Responding to members who said there was no bar by the Supreme Court on the construction of the SYL canal, Khattar said an order on the execution of the apex court’s verdict was needed.
Punjab enacted legislation in 2004 terminating pacts related to sharing of river waters with Haryana and other states. But in 2016, the Supreme Court held the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act unconstitutional.
INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala said the BJP-led Haryana government had not made enough efforts on the SYL canal issue.
Haryana’s Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said Chandigarh was, is and will remain the capital of the state.
Home Minister Anil Vij claimed that the Punjab government had moved the resolution on Chandigarh only to divert its people’s attention. “Punjab’s AAP government knows full well that the tall promises they made before the polls can never be fulfilled,” he said. PTI
14:35 05 Apr
CM urges the House to pass the resolution unanimously. The House passes the resolution unanimously.
14:05 05 Apr
This discussion has been on for three hours and there have been 25 speakers. I congratulate those who supported this, says CM Manohar Lal Khattar.
13:14 05 Apr
Kuldeep Bishnoi condemns that big families in power for long mentioned by Balraj Kundu have done nothing.
Bishnoi says that Bhajan Lal laid foundation of SYL and till 1986, this constitution took off well but after terrorism, it was suspended.
He says that Bhajan Lal did a lot but after 36 years, what he began well is incomplete, a weakness.
He aso extended his support to Vij. He wants the Centre to bear the cost of new capial.
He says that Bhajan Lal resigned to ensure that Chandigarh did not go to
Punjab.
He calls Punjab CM a comedian who nobody takes seriously.
13:03 05 Apr
Kiran Choudhary says that it is unfortunate that the new govt in Punjab, instead of meeting commitments, is doing political posturing.
She says that there are so many issues of unemployment and poverty but the govt wants to do nothing.
She says that Haryana has always been given a step-motherly treatment from Punjab.
SYL is lifeline for South Haryana as there is no water in the fields but only tears in the eyes of the farmers, says Choudhary.
She seeks to ask Centre to deploy para-military forces to get the canal dug or to take action under constitutional provisions.
She says that Chandigarh is our right. Even 10 resolutions will not give Chandigarh to Punjab.
12:54 05 Apr
Abhay Chautala supported Vij but didn't approve of his finishing the matter.
He says that the CM made no attempts to take up the matter with PM and inform the House about the assurance given. He says that only attempts made were to delay it.
He accuses CM of not reacting to BBMB. Says had the CM been more serious for the state, he would have reacted immediately.
He also accuses Hooda and the BJP of not making any efforts in their tenure.
Chautala asks to keep pushing SYL.
12:42 05 Apr
Anil Vij says that the Resolution is a political mischievous resolution as the govt is aware of the promises it made that can't be fulfilled.
He says that Punjab is soon going to be like Sri Lanka.
He says that in both Punjab and Haryana division, all Commissions did not do justice to Haryana.
He says that despite fighting long battles, no progress has been made.
Haryana hasn't been able to get SYL water.
Haryana's economic growth is way more than that of Punjab, says Vij.
He seeks to ask for financial help from the Centre and not budge till demands of money for a new capital, SYL and hindi speaking areas--are resolved.
12:33 05 Apr
Raghuvir Kadian says Supreme Court should take cognizance and ask why SYL order has not been implemented.
He says that Haryana supported Punjab through farmers' agitation.
12:16 05 Apr
Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala seeks to discuss Shah Commission in Haryana Resolution.
Chandigarh is Haryana's capital and will stay that way, says Chautala.
He also demands Kharar and Mohali to be given to Haryana.
He wants 50 per cent share in High Court and 60:40 share in Panjab University.
12:05 05 Apr
Chandigarh should have been given to Haryana: Bhupinder Hooda
Punjab is our elder brother. We cannot accept it as big brother: Hooda
Punjab resolution disturbs brotherhood between two states: Hooda
Hooda raises issue of amended BBMB rules.
“We have to be united on it,” he says, adding that Chandigarh administrator is always from Punjab, and should be by rotation.
11:47 05 Apr
Khattar has demanded that Chandigarh should have Haryana officers in prescribed percentage.
11:46 05 Apr
The recent amendment in the rules of BBMB by the Central govt for appointment of whole-time members goes against the spirit of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, says Khattar.
11:43 05 Apr
The Indira Gandhi Agreement, the Rajiv Longowal Accord and the Venkatramaiah Commission have accepted the claim of Haryana to Hindi speaking areas that fall in Punjab, says Khattar
11:40 05 Apr
CM Khattar has mentioned the amended rules in BBMB in its resolution.
He added that the House had earlier passed the Resolution demanding a separate High Court for Haryana.
Haryana Assembly has passed the Resolution on SYL at least seven times.
11:35 05 Apr
House has been adjourned for 15 minutes to provide copies of Resolution to all members before discussion begins
11:34 05 Apr
Speaker has urged Centre to not take any steps that disturb the balance and harmony.
He has also urged the Centre to take steps on the constitution of SYL.
He presses Punjab to take back its Resolution.
11:29 05 Apr
Speaker says it is not acceptable to people of Haryana that Punjab has staked its claim over Chandigarh
11:26 05 Apr
Speaker Gyan Chand Gupta says Haryana's right on water reiterated several times
Work on handing over of Hindi-speaking areas still incomplete, says the Speaker
11:18 05 Apr
CM says Haryana carved in keeping with Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966
11:17 05 Apr
11:13 05 Apr
House begins with obituary references
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