Punjab’s objection to assembly land in Chandigarh finds echo in Haryana House

Punjab’s resistance to Haryana government’s plan to build an additional assembly complex in Chandigarh echoed in the state assembly on Tuesday even as speaker Harvinder Kalyan cautioned against treating the issue lightly and advised that this matter requires a united approach. During the last sitting of the assembly’s winter session on Tuesday, Congress leader Ashok Arora raised the issue describing statements by Punjab leaders against Haryana’s move to set up an additional Vidhan Sabha complex as “unfortunate.” Arora criticised Punjab for opposing the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal construction and depriving Haryana of its water share. “We should be united on this issue,” Saini said, while also taking exception to the remarks of Punjab’s leaders on the SYL water dispute and Haryana’s demand for land for the additional assembly complex. Genesis of latest tussle Last week, Saini had urged Punjab’s leaders to “avoid petty politics” over Haryana’s move to construct an additional Vidhan Sabha complex in Chandigarh. Haryana has clarified that the construction of the additional Vidhan Sabha doesn’t mean that the state will leave its claim of rightful share in the existing Vidhan Sabha building, which also houses the Punjab assembly.