The debate between Punjab and Haryana on the status of joint capital Chandigarh has become shriller with Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday asserting that “Chandigarh belongs to Haryana as earlier it was a part of Ambala, and we will definitely get it.”
Hooda was talking to reporters here on the sidelines of a function and was asked to comment on the claim made by Punjab on Chandigarh.
Hooda said “I wonder on what basis they (Punjab) are staking claim to Chandigarh, as initially, Chandigarh was a part of Ambala. They are claiming Chandigarh on the basis of Chandigarh being the capital of erstwhile Punjab. If that is the basis of their argument, then lahore and Shimla too have been the capitals of Punjab. Why don’t they stake claim to lahore and Shimla also,” the Chief Minister asked, adding that Chandigarh was the capital of both the states.
Hooda said he had no objection to Punjab Government’s decision to develop Mullanpur as “we have also developed Panchkula and are also developing Kalka and Pinjore. However, Chandigarh is a brand name and one should not copy it. It is completely unethical,” Hooda added on the decision of the Punjab government to rename the area as ‘New Chandigarh’.