A day after the uproar across Punjab over the Centre’s legislative proposal to bracket Chandigarh with the Union Territories (UTs) administered directly by Lieutenant Governors appointed by the President, the BJP-led NDA government on Sunday retracted its plan to bring the contentious Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill-2025 in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.As the storm raised by the listing of the Bill spread, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an official statement saying, “The Centre has no intention of introducing any Bill to this effect in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.”
The ministry, however, admitted considering a proposal on Chandigarh, noting that it was meant only to simplify the Centre’s law-making process for the UT and not to alter Chandigarh’s governance structure.
The Congress slammed the Centre for failing to “altogether withdraw its plans”. Punjab Congress chief and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring told The Tribune that the Centre’s intentions remained suspect as it had only deferred the plan and not junked it.
“What’s the guarantee the Bill won’t be brought in the subsequent sessions,” asked Warring, adding that Congress MPs from Punjab would vehemently oppose the move in the winter session scheduled from December 1 to 19.
The MHA, meanwhile, said, “The proposal is only to simplify the law-making process for Chandigarh and it is still under consideration with the Central government. No final decision has been taken on it.”