Mann slams move to offer Central govt benefits to Chandigarh staff

In a sharp response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement to apply Central government benefits to Chandigarh administration employees, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said that the move stems from the BJP’s insecurity about the AAP government in Punjab and that his government will strongly fight for its “rightful claim” over the Union Territory.

Mann said the Centre’s decision as well as move of bringing officers from other states and services into the Chandigarh administration were in violation of the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966.

“Central Govt has been stepwise imposing officers and personnel from other states and services in the Chandigarh administration. This goes against the letter and spirit of Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966. Punjab will fight strongly for its rightful claim over Chandigarh,” Mann said in a tweet.

AAP’s ‘rising footprint’

After Shah’s announcement in Chandigarh on Sunday, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had taken a dig at the BJP, saying it is scared of the AAPs “rising footprint”.

Taking to Twitter soon after the home minister’s statement, Sisodia said Shah did not take away Chandigarh’s powers when the Congress was ruling Punjab, but he did so soon after the AAP formed its government.

The Union Territory employees are currently working under the Punjab service rules. According to Shah, the move will benefit them in a “big way”, their retirement age will increase from 58 to 60 years, and women employees will get childcare leave of two years instead of the current one year.

However, his announcement had evoked a sharp reaction from some rivals of the BJP, with many leaders saying this was “another big blow to the rights of Punjab” after changes in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) rules.

“MOH’s (Ministry of Home Affairs) decision to impose central government rules on employees of Chandigarh is in violation of the spirit of the Punjab Reorg (Reorganisation) Act and must be reconsidered,” tweeted senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema on Saturday.
Congress leaders, including Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, too condemned the decision.

The change in appointment rules for top officers to the BBMB had raked up a storm with many political parties in Punjab and Haryana criticising the Centre.

The BBMB, which is a statutory body under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, and manages the water resources of Sutlej and Beas, has a whole-time chairman and two members for irrigation and power.

Political leaders have claimed that according to the BBMB Rules, 1974, the member (power) in BBMB must be from Punjab and the member (irrigation) from Haryana, but the requirement has been removed in the amended rules.

(With inputs from agencies)