Punjab Assembly passes resolution seeking transfer of Chandigarh to state

 The Punjab Assembly on Friday passed a resolution seeking immediate transfer of Chandigarh to the state, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accusing the Centre of trying to upset the balance in the administration of the Union Territory and other common assets.
     The resolution, which was moved by Mann, was passed by the House in the absence of the two BJP legislators, who had earlier staged a walkout.
    Except the BJP, members of all political parties including the AAP, Congress, SAD and the lone BSP legislator came out in support of the resolution and dubbed the Centre's move as “dictatorial and autocratic.”

    The one-day special session comes amid a political row sparked by Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement that central service rules will apply to the employees of Chandigarh.
     Under the rules, retirement age of Chandigarh employees will increase from 58 to 60 years and women employees will get childcare leave of two years instead of the current one year.The Centre has notified the rules.    
     Chandigarh is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.
     Mann said in the coming days, they will seek time from the president, the prime minister and the Union home minister over this issue and assured the House that Punjab's side will be strongly put up before them.He urged all parties to come together to protect the interests of Punjab.
     Alluding to the similar positions taken by previous state governments on Chandigarh, he said the House has in the past too passed a number of resolutions urging the Central government to transfer Chandigarh to Punjab.
     “I want to give a guarantee to the people of Punjab that we will strongly fight and protect state's rights, be it in the Vidhan Sabha or Parliament or on any other platform,” said Mann.
     The Speaker named Independent MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh for repeatedly interrupting the CM in the House.
     Earlier moving the resolution, Mann asked the Centre to honour the principles of federalism enshrined in the Constitution and not to take any steps which may disturb the balance of the administration of Chandigarh and that of other common assets.