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Chandigarh, Nov 23 (IANS) Punjab Finance Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday criticized the central government for its alleged attempt to ‘take away the rights of Punjab’.
However, the Center clarified that it has no plans to bring the draft law in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.
Cheema told the media that only Punjab “has a rightful claim to Chandigarh, a city built by displacing 24 villages in the state”.
He warned that any move to “take away” Chandigarh would be met with two-pronged resistance – a legal struggle by the state government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and a determined struggle from the streets to Parliament by the Aam Aadmi Party along with Punjab’s three crore people.
The Finance Minister criticized the BJP for “embodying the spirit of Hitler” and being determined to “destroy” the democratic and federal structure of the country.
“While the Punjab government and the people of the country are celebrating the 350th anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur for religious freedom and national unity, a conspiracy is still being hatched,” he said.
He cited a pattern of “anti-Punjab actions”, starting with three black farm laws intended to destroy the agricultural economy, followed by attempts to “compromise” Punjab’s interests through the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), an “obnoxious attempt” to seize the senate of Panjab University in Chandigarh that could directly impact the functioning of nearly 200 colleges, and now Chandigarh. To snatch is a “fraudulent move.”
Condemning the central government for “following the path of the Mughals to suppress the interests of Punjab”, Finance Minister Cheema particularly highlighted the plan to introduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill.
“This proposed bill aims to bring Chandigarh within the ambit of Article 240 of the Constitution, which will give the President the power to make rules and directly make laws for the Union Territory. The Finance Minister has termed this Act as a direct attack on the rights of Punjab.”
He expressed confidence that just as the brave people of Punjab “defeated” the “previous attempts” of the BJP-led government, this current attempt will also be given a befitting reply.
However, the Home Ministry, in a post on Twitter, said, “The proposal to simplify the process of making laws by the Central Government specifically for the Union Territory of Chandigarh is currently under consideration at the Central Government level. No final decision has been taken on this proposal.”
–IANS
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