Senior leaders of the Punjab Congress including State Congress Chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, and former Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu met with Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Thursday.
During the meeting, the three leaders submitted a memorandum to the governor on two subjects—demanding the cancellation of the decision to allot land in Chandigarh for the Haryana Vidhan Sabha and addressing the matter of flooding in the state. In the memorandum, the Punjab Congress has raised concern over the recent allotment of 10 acres of prime land in Chandigarh to the state of Haryana. Parts of the memorandum read: “As the Governor of Punjab and the Constitutional head of the state, it is crucial to discuss the implications of this decision, both constitutionally and ethically. The present-day Punjab and Haryana that came into existence are a result of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966; whereby erstwhile Punjab was rather divided into two different states and land from Punjab villages only was taken to form and establish Chandigarh as we see it today. Haryana was declared just to be a tenant of Chandigarh for a few years till the time the newly made state does not make its own capital. But, rather now it seems like a back door entry via this decision of allotment of Punjab’s and to Haryana to make Haryana a permanent resident of Chandigarh rather than just being a tenant; as it had to be.”
The Congress further addressed Governor Purohit and said, “It is your moral duty to protect the interests of Punjab, and any decision that contradicts its rightful ownership of the land must be carefully reconsidered. The recent swap of 10 acres between Chandigarh and Panchkula for Haryana’s Vidhan Sabha raises concerns as there seems to be no compelling reason for such an exchange.
The decision that has been taken so hurriedly and hastily rather seems to have been taken as a result of malafide intention and agenda because, on the very face of it, the land which is currently being considered for Haryana’s new Vidhan Sabha is not more than a few yards away from its District of Panchkula. So if at all Haryana needs to rebuild their Vidhan Sabha, they must do it on their own land in Panchkula rather than making n endeavour to poach and encroach on the land that solely belongs to Punjab.”
Apart from this, Congress also raised concerns about the flood situation in Punjab. The Congress placed its second demand regarding the damages caused by the flood. In the second demand, the Congress leaders have asked the Governor to ask the Centre to release additional funds to compensate for the damage caused by the recent floods in Punjab. The effect of the flood has reached 18 districts and houses, roads and crops have been destroyed.
