Faridabad, November 17 – Punjab’s chief minister, Bhagwant Mann, told Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the state still wants control of Chandigarh, the Panjab University campus and the river waters that run through Punjab. He also urged the central government to strengthen real federalism in India.
During the 32nd meeting of the Northern Zonal Council, Mann said the Constitution clearly splits power between the Union and the states. He warned that “centralisation has crept in over the last 75 years” and that state governments are best placed to solve local problems.
### A long‑standing claim on Chandigarh
Mann reminded everyone that the 1970 Indira Gandhi Agreement guarantees that Chandigarh would become part of Punjab. “The agreement says the entire capital area should go to Punjab,” he said. He added that the 1985 Rajiv‑Longowal Accord also reaffirmed this promise. “But Chandigarh has never been transferred to Punjab,” Mann said, stressing that the bandh of that promise has hurt the pride of Punjabis.
### Staffing disputes in Chandigarh
The chief minister argued that Punjab should keep its 60‑40 share of service people in Chandigarh’s administration. He said that many key posts in departments such as Excise, Education, Finance and Health are now given to cadres from the Union Territory (DANICS) instead of state cadres. “This reduces Punjab’s influence over the city’s governance,” he said.
Mann also raised concerns about Punjab officers being posted as general managers of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). He said Punjab contributes more than any other state to the national pool, so the trend of posting Punjab IAS officers to the FCI should stay unchanged.
### Water issues under the Indus treaty
With the recent suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, Mann said it was a good chance to resolve Punjab’s water needs. He highlighted the potential to link the Chenab river with the Ravi and Beas rivers—has already been dammed in Punjab—to generate power and irrigate downstream areas, ending Punjab’s water shortfall in border districts.
### Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) complaints
Mann opposed a proposal to add a full‑time member from Rajasthan to the BBMB, which was set up under the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966 and includes only Punjab and Haryana. “Rajasthan and Himachal already sit on the board ex officio; adding another full‑time post will just cost Punjab more money without any benefit,” he said. He urged the federal government to keep the current arrangement of one member each from Punjab and Haryana.
The Chief Minister closed by saying that Punjab had already provided a list for BBMB members and that the federal government should honour that plan.
— vg/uk
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