Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday condemned Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement to implement the Union Service Rules for Union Territory employees in Chandigarh and claimed that it went against the Punjab Reconstruction Act. Shah’s announcement has provoked strong reactions from some BJP rivals, with many leaders saying the change in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) rules was “another big push for Punjab’s rights”.
“The central government is gradually putting pressure on other state and service officials and workers in the Chandigarh administration. This goes against the letter and spirit of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966. Punjab will fight hard for its just demands on Chandigarh, “Mann said in a tweet. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Monday said the AAP would oppose the Centre’s decision and fight. The issue is” from the streets to Parliament “. The anti-decision is being taken, as he also referred to the BBMB issue and said that it was now trying to usurp the rights of Punjab over Chandigarh.
“The central government is deliberately taking steps to snatch Punjab’s claim on Chandigarh,” he told reporters here. Cheema said since the AAP formed the government in Punjab, the BJP-led government at the Center has been feeling intimidated by a number of “partisans”. The “people” decision is being taken by a standard led government.
The finance minister said the Center had taken a unilateral decision on union territory employees and “stakeholders have not consulted Punjab … it goes against the letter and spirit of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966”. “We oppose this decision. We will protect Punjab. It is in our interest and we will force the Center to bring it back,” he said. This decision will not benefit the employees of the Chandigarh Union Territory, he further demanded, and demanded, “Rather, their salaries will be reduced.” After Shah’s announcement here on Sunday, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia took a decision. Striking the BJP, he said it was scared to see the “emerging footprints” of the AAP. Taking to Twitter shortly after the home minister’s remarks, Sisodia said Shah did not seize power in Chandigarh when the Congress was ruling Punjab, but only after the AAP formed its government.
Union Territory workers are currently working under the Punjab Service Rules. According to Shah, the move would benefit them “in a big way”, increase their retirement age from 58 to 60, and give female employees two years of childcare leave instead of the current one. Shiromani Akali Dal chief and former chief minister Prakash Singh Badal also opposed the Centre’s announcement, saying “the Center wants to take away Punjab’s rights over Chandigarh,” Badal said.
Veteran SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema tweeted on Saturday, “The MoH’s (Home Ministry’s) decision to impose central government rules on Chandigarh employees violates the spirit of the Punjab Reorganization (Reorganization) Act and should be reconsidered.” Leaders including Congress leaders Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Amarinder Singh Raja Waring also condemned the decision. Earlier, many political parties in Punjab and Haryana took the Center by storm over the change in the rules for appointing top officials to the BBMB. The BBMB, which is a statutory body under the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966 and manages the water resources of Sutlej and Beas, has a full-time chairman and two members for irrigation and power. (Power) must be from Punjab and Member (Irrigation) must be from Haryana, but the requirement has been removed in the amended rules.
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