Chandigarh, July 15, 2022 (Yes Punjab News)
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today requested Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit to direct the Punjab chief minister to withdraw his statement surrendering the rights of Punjab over Chandigarh besides apprising the union home minister that Punjabis will not tolerate transfer of even one inch of land in Chandigarh to Haryana.
A senior delegation of the party led by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal submitted a memorandum in this regard to the Governor here.
Asking the Governor to direct the Punjab chief minister to protect the interests of Punjab, the delegation apprised the former that Mr Bhagwant Mann had not protested against the steady erosion of Punjab’s rights in Chandigarh including creation of the UT cadre, implementation of central pay scales and dilution of the status of Punjabi language besides other important issues like removal of Punjab’s representative in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
Asserting that Chandigarh was an inalienable part of Punjab, Mr Sukhbir Badal apprised the Governor that this was ratified during the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966 and later by way of the Rajiv-Longowal accord which had been ratified by both houses of parliament as well as the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. He said accordingly the Governor should apprise the centre of the situation and recommend transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab.
The delegation also briefed the Governor that the uncertainty created by the action of the Punjab Government and the Union Home Minister could vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of the state. “We appeal to you to take appropriate steps to ensure Punjabis that Chandigarh belongs to them and will not be taken away from them under any circumstances”, the delegation comprising Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Dr Daljit Singh Cheema told the Governor.
The SAD also requested that all decisions taken by the UT administration from time to time which were against the letter and spirit of Punjab Re-Organisation Act 1966 including dilution of Punjabi language status, violation of 60:40 ratio, implementation of central scales and creation of separate UT cadre should be reviewed.
The delegation also briefed the Governor that the Punjab chief minister was surrendering the rights of the State due to pressure from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convener Arvind Kejriwal who wanted to take a pro-Haryana stand vis a vis Punjab to reap benefits in the next Haryana assembly election.
The delegation also requested the Governor to direct the Punjab government to order a CBI inquiry into the withdrawal of security to noted singer Sidhu Moosewala despite grave warnings of the threat to his life as well as publicizing the withdrawal on social media by the chief minister.
It said recent revelations by the Delhi Police have disclosed that the murder master mind Goldy Brar had directed the shooters to attack Moosewala on the very next day of withdrawal of the security cover. It said it was important to get the issue probed by the CBI as Punjab Police did not want to solve this lapse as the chief minister, senior police officers and social media team of AAP would be held culpable in case of a free and fair inquiry.
The SAD also apprised the Governor that AAP leader Raghav Chadha had been appointed Chairman of the State Advisory Committee unconstitutionally. It said the State had violated the Legislative (Prevention of disqualification Act 1959) which debarred any MLA/MP from holding any office of profit. It demanded the appointment be scrapped immediately.
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