Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Enthused by its electoral victories in Haryana and Maharashtra, state BJP chief Kamal Sharma yesterday said the party wanted Chandigarh to be transferred to Punjab. It also wanted an amicable solution to the river waters dispute with the neighbouring state. He was talking to a group of mediapersons here.
“We are for transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab. But we want an amicable solution to the river waters dispute. There is no issue that can’t be resolved through talks,” Sharma said. Clearly indicating that the party will not play second fiddle to the Akalis ahead of the municipal elections, he said the BJP wielded greater influence than the SAD in category A and B cities while the Akalis had their vote bank in small towns. Sharma said the BJP supported the Rajiv-Longowal accord signed in 1985. Akali stalwarts Parkash Singh Badal and the late Gurcharan Singh Tohra had at first rejected the accord that called for sharing of river waters and the transfer of Hindi-speaking areas to Haryana, but later supported it.
It is for the first time that the BJP is in power in Punjab, Haryana and the Centre. Hence, the party’s stance on contentious issues is significant.
Sharma, who was flanked by Industries Minister Madan Mohan Mittal, Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi and adviser to the CM Tikshan Sud, seemed upbeat. To a query on seat-sharing for the municipal elections, he said: “ District-level leaders of the two parties are already discussing the issue. The party heads will meet later and take the final decision. Post-delimitation, the number of wards in each municipal body has increased. We have a greater presence in category A and B cities like Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Abohar and Fazilka. The Akalis have a presence in Bathinda and small towns.” On former MP Navjot Singh Sidhu’s outburst, he said it was Sidhu’s personal opinion. Sidhu had accused the SAD-led state government of looting the people of the state.
Orders rescinded
Ahead of the elections to the state’s municipal bodies, BJP Minister for Local Bodies Anil Joshi today announced the withdrawal of a notification regarding transfer of employees.
He said the decision was causing hardship to Class III and Class IV employees. He also said the order to deduct the salary of agitating employees for the strike period had been withdrawn after a meeting with a delegation of employees.
