Punjab has inalienable right over Chandigarh: Akali Dal

Asserting that Punjab has an inalienable right over Chandigarh, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday appealed to all political parties as well as the public to extend support to protect the rights of the state.

Amid row over the proposed Chandigarh Bill, which was followed by a ‘clarification’ by the Centre, the SAD convened an emergency meeting of its core committee.

Party president Sukhbir Singh Badal presided over the emergency meeting convened at SAD headquarters in Chandigarh on Monday.

Sukhbir said the Centre’s recent move to end Punjab’s right over Chandigarh by making it a regular Union Territory, coupled with earlier attempts to disrupt the democratic set up in the Panjab Univeristy and dilute Punjab’s control over the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), was an unjustified decision, which aimed to make Punjab powerless.

The core committee also urged the Centre and the state government to stop interference in the religious affairs of Sikhism to usurp the control of Sikh institutions and shrines, including the sacred Takhts at Sri Hazur Sahib and Sri Patna Sahib. The core committee termed the CM’s offensive remarks against the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht as ‘religious intolerance’. A resolution passed at a special meeting of the core committee read, “Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib made the supreme and unparalleled sacrifice to stop government interference and repression against religious beliefs and practices.”

Meanwhile, the core committee appreciated SAD’s performance in the Tarn Taran bypoll.