PHAGWARA: Senior BJP leaders like Former IAS officer S.R. Ladhar and Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal have asserted that Chandigarh was developed as the capital of Punjab, and the state’s rightful claim to the city cannot be compromised under any circumstances.
In a press release issued here today, Grewal and Ladhar addressed the controversy surrounding the allocation of 10 acres of land in Chandigarh for the construction of a new Haryana Vidhan Sabha building.
They pointed out that the issue has gained significant attention in the media after Punjab Governor Banwari lal Purohit stated that no final decision had been made on the matter.
He emphasized that the arrangement required Haryana to transfer 12 acres of land to Chandigarh Administration in return. However, it has now emerged that the proposed land cannot be used for construction due to restrictions from the Environment Department.
“If Haryana cannot utilize the 12 acres for construction, why not build its Vidhan Sabha on that land itself? Moreover, if a new building is constructed for Haryana, what will happen to the old assembly building? Does it not belong to Punjab?” questioned BJP Leaders.
The BJP leaders also criticized Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging poor decision-making during a meeting with the then Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and the Governor. “Did Mann not realize the implications of agreeing to such a proposal? Why did he request an additional 10 acres of land for Haryana?” They asked.
They accused the Punjab government of failing to protect the state’s interests and misleading people with empty rhetoric. “The people of Punjab are regretting their decision to entrust power to inexperienced leaders. As the saying goes, ‘It’s too late to regret once the damage is done, ’” they remarked.
The issue of Chandigarh’s ownership and its status as Punjab’s capital remains a contentious matter, with political leaders divided on the way forward.