Political controversy erupted in Punjab after the Union government issued a notification abolishing the post of the Adviser to the Union Territory Chandigarh Administrator, a joint of Punjab and Haryana.
According to gazette notification issued on January 3 by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension, the post of Adviser to the U.T. Administrator has been abolished and replaced it with the post of Chief Secretary in Chandigarh.
Political parties, including the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), on Wednesday criticised the Centre, demanding the immediate rollback of the decision.
Terming the move as an assault on Punjab’s rightful claim over Chandigarh, Senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa said, “I strongly condemn the Modi government’s blatant and autocratic move to re-designate the Chandigarh Administrator’s Adviser as Chief Secretary. This deliberate assault on Punjab’s rightful claim over Chandigarh exposes Modi’s agenda to weaken Punjab and marginalise Punjabis. By bypassing Punjab in this critical decision, the BJP is once again showcasing its utter disregard for federalism and its dictatorial mindset. This is not just an administrative change—it’s an attack on Punjab’s dignity and rights.”
Senior Akali leader Sukhbir Singh Badal today warned the Union government against going ahead with the decision to re-designate the post of “Adviser to Punjab Governor-cum-U.T. Administrator” as “Chief Secretary, U.T. Chandigarh”
Alleging that “the decision has come with the active collusion of the AAP government in Punjab”, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab is a settled issue, committed by two Prime Ministers of the country and endorsed by the Union Cabinet as well as by both the Houses of Parliament following the Memorandum of Settlement on Punjab in July 1985.
Senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said Chandigarh belongs to Punjab and demanded that government of India must roll back its decision without any delay.
The AAP unit of Punjab also opposed the Union government’s decision, saying the decision once again exposes the anti-Punjab attitude of the central government.
“It is an attempt to weaken Punjab’s claim over Chandigarh. The appointment of a Chief Secretary is meant for a State. Chandigarh is not a State, nor does it have a Chief Minister. Then why was there a need for the appointment of a Chief Secretary? He said that the people of Punjab will never tolerate this decision. The central government should reconsider and withdraw the decision,” said party spokesperson Neel Garg at a press conference here.
Published – January 09, 2025 03:17 am IST
