Chandigarh, March 28
Harpal Singh Cheema, Punjab’s Finance and Planning Minister, said that Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) central government was adopting dictatorial attitude and was continuously imposing its anti-Punjab decisions. And if they didn’t refrain from it then the Aam Aadmi Party and Punjab government will fight from road to Parliament. He said that the people of Punjab would never allow the central government’s plans to end Punjab’s participation in Chandigarh administration, Punjab University and Bhakra Beas Management Committee (BBMB) to succeed. Harpal Singh Cheema expressed these views while addressing reporters at the party headquarters here on Monday and AAP state general secretary Harchand Singh Burst was also present with him.
Harpal Singh Cheema alleged, “The traditional ruling parties led by Congress and BJP at the Center have always treated Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabiyat step motherly because Congressmen, Badals and BJP members of Punjab have always surrendered before the decisions of centre.” Since the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab under the leadership of Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Mann, Narendra Modi government at the Centre has intensified its attacks on the rights of Punjab. Modi Government has been implementing decisions for a long time to abolish Punjab’s share in Punjab University, BBMB and Chandigarh administration and now Union Home Minister Amit Shah has decided to remove Punjab Service Rules in Chandigarh administration and implement Central Service Rules. The verdict is one of coercion and dictatorship, which is a grand conspiracy against the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab.”
Cheema said that Modi government has neither talked to the Punjab government nor any such demand has been made by the employees regarding removal of service rules of Punjab from Chandigarh administration. It is implementing anti-Punjab rulings under a grand conspiracy as the BJP is now threatened by AAP in Gujarat and other states after Punjab. Modi government is repealing the agreements and rulings of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, which are against the rights of the state and the federal structure. He said that the BJP government was now apprehensive of the success of the Aam Aadmi Party which was exemplified by the last minute order issued by the Modi government to cancel the forthcoming Delhi Municipal Corporation elections.
Harpal Singh Cheema alleged that previous Congress and SAD-BJP governments of Punjab didn’t protect the rights and share of the state as during the Congress and SAD-BJP governments where Punjab officials and employees were removed from Chandigarh administration. Punjab’s stake in an institution like BBMB was reduced. Cheema said that Punjab government would take every step to uphold the rights of the state. Legal steps would be taken to maintain Punjab’s stake in Chandigarh and BBMB.
