Punjab BJP Chief Seeks Meeting With Amit Shah Over Chandigarh Plan
Punjab BJP Chief Seeks Meeting With Amit Shah Over Chandigarh Plan
Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar plans to meet Amit Shah to press for withdrawal of Chandigarh's proposed move under Article 240, citing Punjab sentiments.
Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said he would meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to press for withdrawal of the Centre's proposal to bring Chandigarh under Article 240. He argued that Chandigarh's future cannot be decided ignoring Punjab's sentiments and that the issue is more than a mere geography.
"I have sought time from the Union home minister for a meeting," Jakhar told PTI, adding that he wants the decision regarding the bill to be withdrawn. "To facilitate the administrative requirements of Chandigarh, the sentiments of Punjab cannot be ignored. Chandigarh is just not a geographical piece. Sentiments of Punjab are attached to it. There should be no ambiguity about it," Jakhar was quoted as saying by PTI.
Jakhar also stressed in a post on X that Chandigarh is an integral part of Punjab and that Punjab always comes first. A Punjab BJP leader, RP Singh, accused the Opposition of opposing the bill without knowledge and challenged Bhagwant Mann, Badal, or any other Congress leader to come forward and debate the matter with him.
Centre officials have clarified that there is "no final decision yet" and that there is "no intention" of presenting the Chandigarh administration bill during Parliament's winter session. The row underscores the delicate balance of interests around Chandigarh’s status as the Union Territory capital and Punjab’s rights over administration and water.
Cover image source: ‘Sentiments of Punjab cannot be ignored’: State BJP chief on row over Centre's proposal for Chandigarh 🔗
