(Courtesy: Tribune News Service, by P.P.S. Gill) CHANDIGARH: Of the several issues pending with the Center, the one which most disturbs Chief Minister Beant Singh is the manner in which “governance” of Chandigarh as a union territory to being done.
Whether it is the appointment of IAS, IPS and other officers in top positions in the administration, violation of the master plan, manner of legalization of jhuggi jhompri dwellers, proliferation of UT. cadre employees, control of educational institutions and Punjab’ s share of quota for nomination in Chandigarh colleges etc, the Chief Minister has repeatedly asked the Center to act but to no avail. Now, sources say, Mr Beant Singh has requested the Prime Minister to convene a joining of the two Chief Ministers (Punjab and Haryana) under his chairmanship to sort out the issue of governing Chandigarh.
Despite the tum about from turmoil to tranquility in Punjab, the Center does not seem to have acknowledged the change. This is the impression one gathers the way the Center treats Punjab. Of late, Punjabis have begun to feel alienated from the Center, which has remained indifferent and insensitive to the aspirations of the people of Punjab, who has emotional attachment’ with the city.
Mr Beant Singh maintains that Chandigarh was carved out as a union territory purely on a “temporary” basis because the city was to be transferred to Punjab sooner or later. The “independent” administrative structure would then pose problems at the time of transfer. Even now both Punjab and Haryana face difficulties in coordinating with the U.T. administration. Chandigarh, it has been pointed out to the Prime Minister and other ministers concerned (Home and Human Resources Development), was to be governed jointly by Punjab and Haryana in a 60:40 ratio. Most of the posts were to be filled by taking officers on deputation from the two states. However, of late, the U.T. cadre IAS and IPS officers have been posted without the consent and concurrence of the two states.
Punjab is also upset at the manner in which a municipal corporation is sought to be formed in Chandigarh. It has also objected to legalization of jhuggi jhompris and violations of the master plan.
Though, Punjab University is named after the state, yet it has no control over it or its affiliated colleges. The state has no nomination quota for the Punjab Engineering College or the college of Architecture, to name only two institutions, All letters to the Human Resource Development Minister, Mr Arjun Singh, have gone unanswered.
The recent case of appointment of a Punjab IAS cadre officer as managing director of CITCO is the latest example of how the Center has given a rebuff to Punjab with the ministry concerned suggesting why not post a U.T. cadre officer This “encadrement” of U.T. posts was a disturbing development, Mr Beant Singh has pointed out to the Prime Minister.
The Center has not accepted Punjab’s suggestion 10 have a Punjab IAS cadre officer as Adviser, though the Punjab Governor is the administrator of the union territory. The “aberrations” that have come up over the years pose new challenges and dangers to the two states. Does it all mean that despite what Punjab has achieved in the past two years Mr Beant Singh has little or no political clout at the Center? How come Haryana gets a better hearing than Punjab at the Center? Of course political rumblings in Punjab are too loud to be ignored. Whether these emanate from members of Parliament belonging to Punjab, who speak in different voices at Rashtrapati Bhavan or Mr Jagmeet Singh Braralone who stands “expelled” from the party insofar as Mr Beant Singh is concerned. Has the AlCC disciplinary committee also recommended the same punishment to Mr Brar? Both Dr Bal Ram Jakhar and Mr Beant Singh hold different and divergent views. Even within the Council of ministers, the functioning is not very smooth. Charges of corruption and inefficiency are heard louder than before, yet Mr Beant Singh continues to “fight” the Center. Is he loosing political ground to opponents within and outside, like the Akalis, who are already gunning for Mr Beant Singh? The Prime Minister is expected to visit Punjab next month, says Mr Beant Singh Can Punjab expect anything in return from Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao, who had promised a socio: economic package, which has not been given yet.
Political exigencies prevent the Chief Minister from openly adopting a confrontationist posture,” The revival of the Punjab Vidhan Parishad is still pending with the Center, though, the Vidhan Sabha had passed a resolution long time back.
There are reports of police excesses and violations of human rights. Peace also is fragile, thoughydiscemible. Only a strong political support can get Punjab its “rights” and not its mere demands as, the Center looks at them.
Narrow bureaucratic considerations like cadre proliferation needed to be avoided and political will allowed to work in the larger interest of Punjab.
The basic issues which led to years of terror, turmoil and terror: ism remain un tackled and un touched. Symptomatic treatment alone was not enough. The core of the problem should be understood in its proper perspective and permanent, lasting solution to Punjab’s pending issues found. The holding of elections to institutions like the Vidhan Sabha, municipalities. Panchayats and now panchayat samitis, and zila parishad is not enough. Key areas would have to be handled, Chandigarh’s governance is just a test case. How serious and sincere is the Center towards Punjab?
Article extracted from this publication >> December 2, 1994
