NEW DELHI: Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal has said that Chandigarh will not be handed over to Punjab till it surrenders the. Abohar and Fazilka areas to Haryana. Talking to newspersons here on Oct.30, the Chief Minister said his contention was based on the Shah Commission’s recommendations and the Indira Gandhi Award on Chandigarh. Besides, he said the people of Haryana had made sacrifices to retain their stake in Chandigarh in the early 1970s, How could then they forgo their claim over the city without getting anything worthwhile in return. Referring to the Sutlej Yamuna link canal, Bhajan Lal said its completion had been delayed because the Punjab Government had been pleading with the Center that its construction would disturb the hard-earned peace in the State. he hoped the canal would be completed soon.
The Chief Minister ruled out the possibility of the creation of “Maha Punjab” by merging Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. He also dismissed the dissidents’ reported statement that the recent accord on Yamuna River had bartered away the legitimate share of Haryana.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 4, 1994
