The capital of erstwhile Punjab, which became part of Pakistan during partition, Lahore, was planned to be replaced by Chandigarh. However, Punjab and Haryana have held up claims on Chandigarh as their state capital; therefore, the city remains a bone of dispute between the two states. There was a commotion in December 2021 that Chandigarh should be given to Punjab. President Sukhbir Singh Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi that during his visit on January 5, Prime Minister should announce that Chandigarh and Punjabi speaking areas to be transferred to Punjab.
Amarinder Singh, former Chief Minister of Punjab, has demanded the same in the past. He says that since various grants had given Chandigarh to Punjab, though not implemented, Punjab has the historical right over the city.
How Chandigarh came into Existence
Earlier, Lahore was the capital of erstwhile Punjab which became part of Pakistan during the partition. Initially, Chandigarh was designed to replace Lahore. According to the official website of the Punjab administration, the area of the foothills of the Shivaliks as the site of new capital was approved by the Punjab Government in consultation with the Centre in March 1948. In 1952, the stone foundation of the city was asked.
Chandigarh continued to be the capital of Punjab from 1952-1966 till Haryana was carved out of Punjab. Chandigarh becomes a shared capital. In 1966 when Punjab was reorganized, Chandigarh was decided to be the capital of both Punjab and Although Haryana was declared Union territory and the Center controlled the city. The properties in Chandigarh were determined to be divided in the ratios of 60:40 in favor of Punjab.
What’s Punjab’s Claim?
Indira Gandhi, former Prime Minister, has announced earlier that Chandigarh would go to Punjab and Haryana would have its capital over a while. After three years of Haryana carved, this was announced. After very carefully examining the claims of the two-state status, it was decided that Chandigarh as a whole should go to Punjab. The question remained unanswered; Chandigarh was handed over to Punjab on January 26, 1986, under the Rajiv Longowal Agreement in 1985. But the case was withdrawn at the last moment by Rajiv Gandhi Government.
What’s Haryana’s Stance?
The center has considered several alternatives for resolving the matter, including dividing the city. The division cannot happen since Chandigarh is a planned city designed to serve as a single capital. According to the Government release, for setting up the new capital, the center had offered Rs 20 crore in grants and loans to Haryana. Until they shifted to the new capital, the center had asked them to use Chandigarh’s office and residential accommodation for only five years.
Manohar Lal Khattar, Prime Minister of Haryana, had called for creating a special body for the development of the city. The request was rejected, claiming the city “unmistakably belonged to Punjab,” Punjab CM said. A separate high court has been demanded by Haryana state. A resolution was passed in the Vidhan Sabha by Haryana Assembly for 20 rooms illegally occupied by Punjab in Vidhan Sabha Complex.
