SAD condemns Congress govt for selling interests of Punjab and its right over Chandigarh by filing patently wrong affidavit
Chandigarh: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday condemned the Congress government for selling the interests of Punjab and its right over Chandigarh by filing a patently wrong affidavit in the Punjab and Haryana high court stating Chandigarh ceased to be part of the State.
Demanding the immediate withdrawal of the erroneous affidavit and action against all those responsible for filing it, former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said “this is a monumental blunder or a deliberate conspiracy on the part of the Congress government to forfeit the State’s right over Chandigarh. We demand an inquiry to get to the bottom of this. Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh should clarify whether the affidavit has his approval. If not he should order comprehensive action in the case and withdraw the affidavit immediately”.
Stating that the Congress government had cut its own hands through the affidavit, Mr Majtihia said “instead of making out a case and affirming that Chandigarh was an inalienable part of Punjab, the State government had given up its right over Chandigarh officially. This abject surrender is a betrayal which Punjabis will never tolerate. The SAD will work with Punjabis to defeat this nefarious conspiracy to sign away all rights to Chandigarh by the Congress government”.
Mr Majtihia said the Congress government should know that Chandigarh was not only “conceived” to be the capital of Punjab but “was” the capital of Punjab. He said it was shocking that the Congress government was eager to make out a case for even ceasing all privileges it enjoyed in Chandigarh. Also Read | In Diwali Bonanza, Punjab Govt announces 3% hike for Employees/Pensioners w.e.f November 1
He said as per Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 it was decided that Chandigarh will be administered by officers and employees (including teachers and doctors) drawn from Punjab and Haryana in 60:40 ratio respectively. He said instead of reiterating this and demanding that the Reorganization Act be implemented in letter and spirit, the Punjab government had given a carte blanche to the high court to consider it had no rights over Chandigarh in any manner whatsoever”.
Asserting that the SAD would not allow the Congress government to give up its rights over Chandigarh, Mr Majithia said in case the Punjab government does not withdraw the current affidavit immediately the SAD would also be constrained to take all recourses possible including going to the public to demand justice for Punjab. -PTC News
