Amidst reports of bringing Chandigarh under Article 240, politics heated up, but the Ministry of Home Affairs has attempted to halt the controversy with an official statement. The ministry clarified that the central government's consideration is solely to streamline the law-making process for Chandigarh. This proposal is in its nascent stage, and no conclusive decision has been reached.
The Ministry of Home Affairs also made it clear that this proposal will not affect Chandigarh's current administrative setup or alter the established relations between Punjab and Haryana. Emphasizing Chandigarh's interests, the ministry stated that any forward steps will be taken after discussions with all stakeholders. Moreover, it was highlighted that there is no intention to introduce any related bill in the upcoming winter session.
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Source: aajtak
The controversy intensified when the Parliament bulletin mentioned "The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2025." This bill proposed including Chandigarh under Article 240, granting the President the authority to directly formulate rules for Chandigarh. Various political parties expressed concern that this could shift administrative control from Punjab to an independent administrator.
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In Punjab, this proposal faced strong opposition. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann described it as "injustice" to Punjab, asserting that Chandigarh is an integral part of Punjab. Congress President Raja Warring warned that any attempt to "snatch" Chandigarh would have serious consequences.
Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Badal labeled it as an "attack" on Punjab's rights. AAP MP Vikramjit Singh Sahni called upon all Punjab MPs to meet with the Home Minister. Meanwhile, Delhi's former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also reacted strongly to the alleged proposal.
