However, in poll bound Punjab this move has kicked up a political storm. Congress and AAP have upped the ante against the SAD-BJP government and sought the resignations of not just Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal but even union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
The Punjab Congress dubbed it an unjust move aimed at ‘snatching’ Chandigarh away from Punjab. Seeking a clarification on the issue from the Punjab CM , Punjab’s Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh said, “It is an attempt to deliberately weaken Punjab’s claim over Chandigarh. The CM should either make the central government rescind the move or he should withdraw his daughter in law Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the council of ministers.”
The Congress party’s Punjab unit has declared that they would hold state-wide protests till the move was reversed. They would even consider moving court in this regard.
Going a step further AAP has sought resignation of CM Prakash Singh Badal. AAP’s Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann stated, “Akali Dal has been writing in its manifesto that they’ll get Chandigarh for Punjab. On this very emotional issue, they have been winning elections in the past. Now it is the Akali-BJP ruled governments in both the state as well as Centre that have taken this decision. After getting an LG for the city, Badals have sacrificed Chandigarh for their political gains. We seek resignations of Punjab CM as well as his daughter-in-law.”
Aware about the consequences of this move on upcoming polls, Akalis too quickly cleared the air saying that they took won’t let this happen. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, spokesperson, SAD, claimed, “We will take up this matter with the central government so that status quo is maintained as far the post of independent administrator of Chandigarh is concerned.”
As per sources the Badals have written to the Centre seeking to stall this move. It was in 1984, the practice of Punjab governor holding additional charge of Chandigarh administrator was put into the practice keeping security issues in mind. But the appointment of the 63-year-old former bureaucrat and BJP executive committee member Alphons ended Chandigarh’s unique character.