Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal's comment on Chandigarh transfer too late, says Amarinder Singh

CHANDIGARH: Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Amarinder Singh today took a dig at Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for "belatedly waking up" to the demand of the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab.

"This was only because he feared threat to the survival of his government as BJP might withdraw its support given the treatment he (Badal) was meted out at the Haryana government swearing-in ceremony," he said in a statement here.

"Knowing Badal so well I am sure that he will soon start saying 'panth (Sikh community) in danger' the moment he realises that Chandigarh ploy was not working," he said.

He claimed Badal can go to any extent to exploit the sentiments of people if he feels threat to his government.

"Badal has woken up after 48 years seeking transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab," Amarinder said.

The Congress Deputy Leader said Badal had neither any credibility nor any credentials to raise issues related to Punjab's interest, including safe-guarding Punjab's river waters and construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, as he had "always compromised on the interests of the state to serve his personal ends".

Asserting that the Congress stand on the issue was "clear and unambiguous" as it was the Congress which had built Chandigarh as Punjab's capital city, Amarinder asked the BJP to clarify its stand on Chandigarh vis-a-vis Punjab as leaders of the party were raising different voices.

Yesterday at Amritsar, Badal had said Shiromani Akali Dal will raise with the Centre issues pertaining to transfer of Chandigarh and Punjabi-speaking areas to Punjab.