The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have condemned the Centre's decision to re-designate the post of Chandigarh advisor as chief secretary. They argue that the move constitutes a direct assault on Punjab's legitimate claim over the Union Territory.
Punjab's ruling AAP strongly condemned the Centre's move, claiming it once again "exposes the anti-Punjab attitude" of the Central government.
Neel Garg, AAP leader, stated, "The appointment of a chief secretary is meant for a state. Chandigarh is not a state, nor does it have a chief minister. Then why was there a need for the appointment of a chief secretary?"
Garg asserted, "The people of Punjab will never tolerate this decision," adding that the Central government should reconsider and withdraw the decision. He emphasised that "historically, politically and socially, Chandigarh belongs to Punjab."
Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, called the move a "direct attack on Punjab's legitimate claim over the city."
Bajwa criticised this decision as a "deliberate attempt to weaken" Punjab’s position and marginalise the Punjabi community. He stated, "This move is an assault on Punjab's dignity and a violation of the principles of federalism."
SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal warned the Union government against re-designating the post of Chandigarh advisor as the chief secretary. He reiterated that Chandigarh's transfer to Punjab is a settled issue and criticised the Centre for diluting Punjab’s rights.
The Union Home Ministry has re-designated the Chandigarh advisor’s post as chief secretary, with the charge given to a senior IAS officer from the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre.
The Punjab governor holds the charge of the UT Chandigarh administrator, which serves as the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.
The Centre’s earlier move to propose the allocation of 10 acres of land in Chandigarh for Haryana to build an assembly had further weakened Punjab’s claim over the city.
Bajwa highlighted the Centre's creation of a separate cadre for Chandigarh, which diluted the 60:40 officer posting ratio between Punjab and Haryana.
Sukhbir Badal expressed concern that the Centre’s decision to abolish the advisor's post and replace it with the chief secretary title mirrors a broader effort to permanently convert Chandigarh into a Union Territory.
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