Chandigarh is not just a piece of land; it is an issue tied to the emotions of three crore Punjabis - Neel Garg

Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu):

Amid the decision to establish Haryana’s legislative assembly complex in Chandigarh, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has intensified its protest, asserting that for the people of Punjab, Chandigarh is not just a piece of land but a matter tied to the emotions of three crore Punjabis.

AAP spokesperson Neel Garg said that the central BJP government is conspiring against Punjab. He said that Chandigarh belongs to Punjab in every sense, as it was built by displacing 22 villages from Kharar, and is politically, socially, economically, and culturally linked to Punjab. He accused the BJP government of deliberately creating a dispute by making this decision. The people of Punjab will never tolerate this.

Garg further pointed out that when Haryana was carved out of Punjab as a separate state, there was a promise that Chandigarh would eventually be handed over to Punjab after Haryana developed its own capital. Until then, Chandigarh would remain a Union Territory. He urged the central government to honor this promise and return Chandigarh to Punjab.

He questioned why, if the Haryana government is providing 12 acres of land in Panchkula for the legislative assembly, the assembly couldn't be built there instead. He called the decision completely wrong and stated that AAP would fight this decision alongside the people of Punjab on all fronts.

Neel Garg also appealed to all opposition parties in Punjab to unite on this issue, saying that this is not a matter for one party or individual but for all three crore Punjabis. He urged everyone to raise their voices together against the central government and ensure Chandigarh’s rightful place with Punjab.

He also warned the central government not to toy with the emotions of Punjabis and demanded that this decision be revoked immediately, with Chandigarh being handed over to Punjab as per the previous commitment. Garg appreciated Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar for speaking out against this decision, saying that he had shown the BJP's central leadership the mirror, and they should seriously listen to Jakhar.