CHANDIGARH, India: The transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and other areas to Haryana in lieu of Chandigarh has been postponed to July 15. The decision was taken after the discussion between the Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi and the Punjab Chief Minister, Surjit Singh Barnala at Delhi. According to the spokesman of the Punjab government, Mr. Gandhi agreed to give some time to the Punjab government for the submission before the Desai Commission set up “by the Central Government) at short notice, Also the State government wanted to make, some submission about the terms of the reference to the commission. Mr. Sunjt Singh said that his government would not insist on the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab at fixed date and another date might be fixed for simultaneous transfer of the territories under the Punjab accord. Earlier Punjab resisted the appointment of Justice Desai Commission for the identification of about 70,000 acres of Punjab land to be transferred to Haryana in lieu of Chandigarh. While Mr. Balwant Singh, briefing to the press about the Punjab Government’s stand, Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala ‘was meeting the Prime Minister in an effort to save the situation.
Meanwhile, accusing the Centre of giving the most tragic twist to the Rajiv-Longowal Accord, the Punjab Cabinet also rejected the appointment of the Desai Commission and repudiated reference made to it by the Union Government. A resolution adopted by the State.
Cabinet, the appointment of the Desai Commission was aimed at slicing away the large Punjabi speaking areas of the State in utter disregard and total violation of the letter and spirit of the Accord. The Cabinet took strong acceptation to the terms of reference to the Commission which it said had omitted the most important provision of the Accord that only Hindi-speaking areas were to be transferred in lieu of Chandigarh. It regretted that the Centre has dropped the reference to the terms of reference provided in the paragraph 7.2 of the memorandum of linguistic affinity and village as a unit while making a reference to the Desai Commission. Interestingly the Union Government has before the Cabinet met amended the Desai ‘Commission’s terms of reference making it abundantly clear that it might consider transferring 45,000 acres already identified by the Venketramia Commission. Stating that the Desai Commission would keep in view that the reference mentioned in paragraph 7.2 of the memorandum. Obviously, the Cabinet decided to ignore the change made by the Centre after prolonged discussion between Rajiv Gandhi and Susjit Singh. Barnala at New Delhi
Article extracted from this publication >> June 27, 1986
