Harsimrat seeks PM's intervention on Chandigarh's cadre issue

Union Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the issue of changes being made to the 60:40 ratio of drawing staff and officers for Chandigarh, from Punjab and Haryana respectively.

Urging the Prime Minister to put an end to the violations by successive governments of the commitments and decisions regarding the administrative staff of Chandigarh being drawn from Punjab and Haryana on a 60:40 ratio, pending its transfer to Punjab, Harsimrat on Wednesday handed over a letter to the Prime Minister on behalf of the SAD.

The letter specifically flagged the issue of merger of the post of the DSP (deputy superintendent of police) with the UT (union territory) cadre and requested the Prime Minister to get this undone, a SAD spokesman said here.

It also sought a review and revocation of all other acts in violation of decisions and assurances on the appointment of officers and officials in Chandigarh, the spokesman said.

"The PM expressed surprise over the merger with UT cadre of posts meant for Punjab and assured her that necessary steps in this regard would be expeditiously taken. Badal expressed satisfaction regarding the very positive and helpful response of the Prime Minister on this issue," the spokesman added.

SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal also expressed his strong resentment over the dilution of Punjab's rights in the UT of Chandigarh by successive Congress governments.

"There is no such thing as UT cadre in Chandigarh. This is an artificial and fabricated bureaucratic manipulation and it flies in the face of the fact that Chandigarh belongs to Punjab and is being administered on its behalf through the 60:40 formula, pending its transfer (to Punjab)," he said in a statement here.- IANS