Chandigarh (July 26, 2013): The Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda has once again asserted Haryana’s complete right over Chandigarh. CM Hooda reportedly said on July 25, 2013 that Haryana would “definitely get” Chandigarh.
According to media reports, while talking of reporters at Chandigarh, Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the area on which Chandigarh was built was earlier part of Ambala district, now in Haryana.
“Chandigarh belongs to Haryana, as earlier it was a part of Ambala. We will definitely get it,” Hooda reportedly said.
“I wonder on what basis they (Punjab) are staking a claim on Chandigarh, as initially Chandigarh was a part of Ambala. They are claiming Chandigarh on the basis of Chandigarh being the capital of the erstwhile Punjab. If that is the basis of their argument, then Lahore and Shimla too have been the capitals of Punjab. Why don’t they stake a claim on Lahore and Shimla also?” Hooda asked.
Earlier objecting to Punjab’s move to develop the area of Mullanpur near Chandigarh as a new city and its proposal to name it New Chandigarh, Hooda had said that Punjab should vacate Chandigarh.
Hooda’s recent statements have once again brought the controversial status of Chandigarh in focus.
It is notable that since the division of Punjab in November 1966, the Chandigarh is under direct control of Government of India and is listed as a union territory. It is the joint capital of states of Punjab and Haryana since November 1966.
In the recent past the people of Punjab launched many struggles to take back the Chandigarh, but the Government of India did not fulfil this demand.