As the 350th martyrdom anniversary commemorations of Guru Tegh Bahadur began at Anandpur Sahib on Sunday, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led central government, accusing it of systematically undermining Punjab’s rights and institutions.
Addressing a press conference at the Media Centre, Cheema alleged that the Union government was pursuing policies that threatened the federal structure and targeted Punjab’s autonomy. Drawing a historical parallel, he claimed the state was facing a crisis reminiscent of the Mughal era—an era marked by oppression, against which Guru Tegh Bahadur made the ultimate sacrifice.
On the issue of Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, Cheema said the state government strongly opposed the Centre’s move to introduce a Bill in Parliament to appoint a Lieutenant Governor for Chandigarh.
“This is an attempt to snatch Punjab’s capital. The Centre wants full administrative control of Chandigarh, sidelining Punjab’s rightful claim. This is a direct challenge to the people of Punjab, and we will resist it at every level,” he said.
Cheema said the AAP government would mobilise all political parties in Punjab to form a united front against what he termed the Centre’s “coercive takeover attempts”.