Chandigarh.   A fierce battle has erupted between Punjab and Haryana for 10 acres of land. For the past three days, there has been a war of words between the leaders of both states on this issue. Punjab is saying that it will not give even an inch of land to Haryana in Chandigarh. At the same time, the central government has given a no-objection certificate, giving a decision in favor of Haryana.

The Haryana government had asked for land to build its own Vidhan Sabha building in Chandigarh. The central government accepted Haryana's demand and agreed to give it 10 acres of land in Chandigarh. Haryana had told the center that it would give it land in Panchkula in return. Now Punjab has protested against this. The Punjab government has taken a vocal stand and met the governor. In such a situation, now both the states have come face to face on this issue.

Punjab ministers met the Governor.

On Friday, a delegation led by Harpal Singh Cheema, a cabinet minister in the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, met Punjab Governor Lalchand Kataria and submitted a memorandum regarding Punjab's rights over Chandigarh. After the meeting, Harpal Singh Cheema said in a statement that Punjab's right over Chandigarh is clear and Haryana's demand for land in Chandigarh for its assembly is wrong. He said, "If Haryana wants to build its assembly, it can build it in Panchkula adjacent to Chandigarh. Such decisions can be a threat to the beauty and ecosystem of Chandigarh."

Former Haryana CM Bhupendra Singh Hooda said on this issue that we have three demands from Punjab. Haryana's share of water, Hindi-speaking areas of Punjab should be given to Haryana and the existing assembly building should be expanded. Why is the central government giving 12 acres of land to Haryana? 40% of our land is in Chandigarh. Punjab is sitting on our share in Chandigarh. However, Hooda is not insisting on building a new building, but on expanding the old building.

Vij targeted Haryana

In this controversy, Haryana minister Anil Vij again countered Punjab's claim on Chandigarh and said, "They (Punjab) have a misunderstanding, they do not know the history of Punjab and Haryana. Chandigarh can belong to Punjab only when the Hindi-speaking area is transferred to Haryana and the SYL water is received, otherwise till then Chandigarh is as much ours as it is theirs."

Approval was received from Shah.

It is worth noting that in the meeting of NZC in Jaipur in July 2022, Home Minister Amit Shah gave the green signal to the proposal to give land in Chandigarh for the new assembly building in Haryana. 10 acres of land will be given near the road going from Chandigarh Railway Station to IT Park for the new assembly. However, now this matter has also been sent to the Ministry of Environment.