CHANDIGARH, November 23 — Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Ravneet Singh Bittu on Sunday dismissed the controversy over the Centre’s Chandigarh proposal as politically driven, insisting that Punjab’s rights over the Union Territory remain untouched. His comments came shortly after the Centre clarified that no amendment bill concerning Chandigarh will be introduced in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.
Bittu described the uproar triggered by reports surrounding Article 240 and the now withdrawn Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill as “deliberate rumour mongering.” He told reporters that the suggestion the Centre planned to alter Punjab’s historic administrative link with Chandigarh was “baseless, emotional manipulation” by Opposition parties.
“Chandigarh is dearer than life to Punjabis,” Bittu said, stressing that the government was not pursuing any change that would weaken Punjab’s position. “As a Punjabi and as a minister, I say with full responsibility — nothing of the sort has happened, nothing is coming, and nothing will ever happen.”
Earlier in the day, the Union Home Ministry stated that the proposal under review only seeks to simplify lawmaking procedures applicable to the Union Territory. It asserted that no final decision had been taken, and said any future step would follow “adequate consultation with all stakeholders.”
Bittu rejected speculation about the appointment of a Lieutenant Governor in Chandigarh or restructuring of the UT’s governance model. “Punjab’s Governor is Chandigarh’s Administrator,” he said. “This talk of an L-G, Delhi-model governance — these are lies. I categorically reject them.”
He argued that recent measures aligning Chandigarh government employees with Central service norms had benefited thousands, particularly in terms of promotions and retirement age. He accused the Congress of “creating the very problems it now pretends to oppose.”
Calling for restraint during the period of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom commemorations, the minister said the BJP-led government “will only strengthen Punjab’s rights, never dilute them.”
