In a powerful address that resonated through the state assembly, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann delivered an unequivocal message to the Centre on Monday: Punjab will fiercely protect its legitimate rights concerning Chandigarh, Panjab University, and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
A Stern Warning to the Centre
Speaking during a special session of the Vidhan Sabha in Anandpur Sahib, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticized what he described as the central government's attempts to test Punjab's temperament by repeatedly raising these sensitive subjects. The Aam Aadmi Party leader asserted that anyone believing Punjab would surrender its rights passively was making a grave miscalculation.
"Someone has to be highly mistaken to imagine that Punjab will let go of its rights with closed eyes," Mann declared emphatically. "Be it Panjab University, Chandigarh, or the state's river waters, or any matter of education. Punjab knows how to get its rights."
Punjab's History of Resistance and Resilience
The Chief Minister drew upon Punjab's historical legacy to underscore his point, reminding the assembly that the state had played a pivotal role in India's freedom struggle and continues to contribute significantly to national security.
"The state fought for the country's freedom, and youth continue to lay down their lives at the border to protect this freedom," Mann stated, highlighting the sacrifices made by Punjabis.
He further emphasized Punjab's unifying character in times of external pressure, issuing a clear warning: "If someone attacks Punjab from outside, Punjab unites in the face of adversity. 'Ye mat samajhna ke hum jhuk jayenge...' (Don't think that we will bend). If someone tries to arm-twist, Punjab has a tendency to bounce back."
Questioning the Centre's Intentions and Actions
Later, when questioned about the Centre reportedly retracting a Parliament bulletin that had listed a bill to bring Chandigarh on par with other Union Territories, Mann expressed skepticism about the explanation offered. He dismissed claims that it was an unofficial statement, leveraging his own parliamentary experience.
"They have this habit of retracting later, saying that it was not an official statement. Was it leaked by a peon?" Mann questioned rhetorically. "There is a proper agenda of Parliament, and this issue was there and was slated to go to the business advisory committee. These things are worked out a fortnight in advance. I was an MP twice."
The Chief Minister concluded with a firm admonition, urging the central government to cease its provocations. "They should not make attempts to check our temperament on issues like Panjab University, BBMB, and Chandigarh. It is Punjab's pressure," he asserted, also referencing the earlier rejection of Punjab's Republic Day tableau as another example of such actions, which he claimed often lead to subsequent apologies from the Centre.
