The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), on Saturday, said that Haryana government’s application for the allotment of land in Chandigarh by way of land swap for creation of a separate assembly was in violation of Article 3 of the Constitution.
A SAD delegation led by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal impressed on Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit that only Parliament was empowered to make laws relating to alteration of existing states and their borders. It said Haryana should accordingly be told to establish a new assembly if it so wished within the boundaries of Haryana.
Badal, who was accompanied by Balwinder Singh Bhundur, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra and Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, said Punjab had an inalienable right over Chandigarh which had been reiterated by Central governments repeatedly and also ratified by parliament by way of the Rajiv Longowal accord.
“Haryana’s move to apply for ten acres of land in the Union Territory of Chandigarh by way of a land swap is aimed at diluting Punjab’s right over Chandigarh,” he said, adding that the move was also counter-productive to maintenance of peace in the state.
“Punjabis are sentimentally attached to Chandigarh and will not allow any land to be given to Haryana in the state,” the SAD chief said.
Badal said that since the SAD represented the regional aspirations of Punjabis it would oppose the land swap deal moved by Haryana to the very last. He also apprised the Governor to recommend transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab keeping in view the sentiments of Punjabis as well as ending the injustice done to Punjab which has been denied its own capital since 55 years.
The Akali delegation also briefed the Governor about the collapse of law and order in the state and urged him to dismiss Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who holds home portfolio, immediately. The delegation said besides sensational murders like that of Sidhu Moosewala, Punjab was in the grip of killings, extortions and ‘goonda raj.’
“The drug menace is leading to drug overdose deaths daily. All this has led to the flight of capital from the state even as the common man is in a state of panic and fear,” the SAD leader.
The delegation said instead of addressing the issue, the CM and his cabinet had left Punjabis to their fate by campaigning in Gujarat for the last two months. “Peoples grievances are not being addressed which is exacerbating the situation,” the delegation members added.