Chandigarh-Punjab Power and Public Works Minister Mr. Harbhajan Singh ETO has strongly opposed the decision to allocate land in Chandigarh to Haryana for the construction of a Vidhan Sabha building. He has declared this move a conspiracy aimed at creating tension between the two states, and has appealed to the Union Government to respect Punjab's historical and legal claims on Chandigarh, urging an immediate halt to any actions that would alter its status.
In a press communique issued today, Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO emphasized that Chandigarh, as the capital of Punjab, holds a special place in the hearts of its people. He warned that any step to allot land in Chandigarh to Haryana would deeply hurt the sentiments of Punjabis.
Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the BJP-led Union Government, having previously bowed to the union shown by farmers from both Punjab and Haryana, might be using this decision to create conflict between the two states. He also pointed out that the BJP led Union Government's delay in lifting rice from the state had caused significant difficulties for Punjab's farmers during paddy procurement. He argued that this decision, along with the central government's actions of withholding development funds and ignoring the state's interests, reflects a concerning attitude towards Punjab.
Reaffirming the Punjab government's stance, Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO stated that the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann, stands firmly by the state's claim on Chandigarh and is committed to protecting its interests. "We will not tolerate any attempts to sow discord or fuel hatred between the people of Punjab and Haryana. Such divisive efforts will be met with firm resistance, and we will work tirelessly to preserve the harmony and unity between our two states", he added.