The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann take a “firm stand on all important issues concerning Punjab” at the North Zone Council meeting that will be held in Amritsar today, including the State’s inalienable right over Chandigarh.
In a statement in Chandigarh, senior SAD leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said since the Union Home Minister Amit Shah would be chairing the meeting, it was of “utmost importance” to clarify that Chandigarh belonged to Punjab and that no land could be allotted in the union territory for constructing a separate Vidhan Sabha by Haryana.
“The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) inability to take up this issue forcefully with the centre has led to fast-tracking of this project which should be stopped in its tracks immediately”, Dr Cheema asserted.
The SAD leader also asserted that the Chief Minister should also declare that the character of Panjab University could not be changed and that there was “no question” of affiliating any Haryana college with the University. “It should be made clear that Haryana does not have any stake in Panjab University after voluntarily disaffiliating its colleges from the institution in 1978”.
In addition, Dr Cheema said CM Mann was also “duty-bound” to clarify the principled stand of Punjab on Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, as well as the sharing of river waters with neighbouring states. “Neither does Punjab have land for construction of the canal as it was transferred back to farmers nor does it have any excess water with large swathes of the State turning into red zones”. He said the Chief Minister should also ask the Central government to revert to the previous guidelines for the appointment of the Chairman and Members of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). The SAD leader also hoped that the presence of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal would not “become a hindrance” in defending Punjab’s case on important issues concerning the state.