CHANDIGARH: In a major departure from Haryana’s known Stand on its territorial dispute with Punjab, the Haryana Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal, last week, indicated that the state may forego is claim on Abohar and Fazilka if Punjab made a suitable offer of territory in compensation. “Punjab has to give us Abohar and Fazilka if they want Chandigarh, If Punjab cannot give us Abohar and Fazilka, let them say what they can offer us in compensation. We will consider it,”
Bhajan Lal said.
“The Chief Minister clarified that the “compensation” for Abohar and Fazilka could only be in the form of some other territory, “or division of Chandigarh.” Without such compensation, Haryana would never accept transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, he asserted. ‘Bhajan Lal said the river waters dispute and the dispute on “Chandigarh were two different issues and could be tackled separately, But Haryana would insist on completion of the Satluj Yamuna Link canal, to obtain Haryana’s share of Ravi Beas waters, before settling the issue of Chandigarh.
The Chief Minister, who was talking to media persons after the swearing in ceremony of four ministers at Raj Bhawan, said Haryana was keen to settle it’s interstate disputes with Punjab through resolutions and by “give and take.”
“Punjab is Haryana’s elder brother. The elder brother should not do anything unfair to the younger brother,” he said, Bhajan Lal said he was confident that the Prime Minister, P. V. Narasimha Rao, would not allow any injustice to Haryana.
Reacting to the Congress MP, Shamsher Singh Surjewala’s statement that Haryana had no claim on Chandigarh and should hand it over to Punjab immediately, the Chief Minister claimed that either Surjewala was hand in glove with the Akalis, or he had lost his mental equilibrium.
Bhajan Lal recalled that the Shah Commission had awarded Chandigarh to Haryana. Later, when Sant Fatch Singh started a fast unto death, the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi awarded Chandigarh to Punjab and, in its lieu, gave Abohar and Fazilka to Haryana. While the Akalis had welcomed Indira Gandhi’s award, there were protests in Haryana and 10 persons were killed in police firing. ‘Therefore, Haryana had full right on Chandigarh and would never give up its claim unless it was given Abohar and Fazilka, Bhajan Lal said. However, if Punjab could not give Abohar and Fazilka, it should give other territory in compensation, the Chief Minister said, adding that Surjewala had made “most damaging” statement without any authorization; nor did he have any right to harm Haryana’s interests.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 30, 1994
