Haryana Assembly Speaker talks tough on state share in Assembly building
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 26
Reacting sharply to Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana KP Singh’s refusal to give Haryana its share in the Vidhan Sabha building, Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta said the state has been seeking its right and not alms from the neighbouring state.
‘Space crunch hits work’
Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta said due to paucity of space, both employees and MLAs were not able to dispense their Vidhan Sabha duties “properly”. He said that was especially the case during the Haryana Assembly sessions when ministers couldn’t call emergency meetings in the building.
“I have read media reports about the denial of our right (in the Vidhan Sabha building). We will seek the opinion of the Advocate-General Haryana. I will also complain to Chandigarh Administrator VP Singh Badnore. It is the UT Administration that is taking care of the Vidhan Sabha building,” Gupta said.
Follow agreement of 1966
On the controversy, said” It is sad that Punjab politicians mistreat Haryana. The agreement of 1966 should be fully followed.”.
He said after he wrote to his Punjab counterpart last year over Haryana’s due share, secretaries of both Punjab and Haryana assemblies were to meet, but that did not materialise. “I even spoke to Rana KP Singh to urgently resolve the issue, but in vain,” said Gupta. Punjab is Congress ruled, while Haryana has a BJP government.
Haryana was carved out of Punjab on November 1, 1966. According to Gupta, on October 17, 1966, under then Chief Engineer, Capitol Project, Chandigarh, the Vidhan Sabah building (66,430 sq ft) was divided into three parts. An area of 30,890 sq ft (46.5%) was allotted to Punjab Vidhan Sabha, 10,910 sq ft to Punjab Vidhan Parishad Secretariat (16.4%) and 24,630 sq ft (37.1%) to Haryana Vidhan Sabha Secretariat.
Punjab got its 62.9% share, but Haryana is yet to get its full share of 37.1%. As per Gupta, 20 rooms out of Haryana’s share were still with Punjab. Giving details, he said two rooms in the basement (towards the north-east direction), four rooms on the ground floor in the south-west direction and 14 rooms on the first floor (in north-west direction) were part of the state’s share but with Punjab.
Gupta has also been spearheading efforts to restore Haryana’s share in Panjab University. Haryana is also embroiled in a legal battle with Punjab over the Sutlej-Yamuna-Link (SYL) canal.
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