09012025-CT-01.qxd 1/8/2025 11:57 PM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune MANSA DEVI COMPLEX GETS PIPED GAS SUPPLY SPEEDING SUV RUNS OVER CYCLIST IN PANCHKULA ACTOR SHREYAS TALPADE TO BE SEEN IN ATAL'S ROLE Launching the service in MDC, Mayor said it is expected to reduce gas expenses by over 25%. P2 Victim, identified as Vishal, was cycling to workplace around 6.30 am when he was struck by the car. P2 After becoming the voice of Allu Arjun in Pushpa 2, he will now be seen in Atal's role in movie Emergency. P4 » » WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 34, 56 and Ram Darbar Panchkula: Sector 5 Mohali: Sector 76 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com MAX 18°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 18.8°C | MIN 8.3°C SUNRISE FRIDAY 7.20 AM /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Redesignation of UT Adviser as Chief Secy stirs political storm Centre diluting Punjab, Hry rights over Chandigarh: Parties rights of the people of Punjab,” Sandhwan added. This development has sparked widespread concern among Punjab’s leaders and citizens, who see it as a deliberate attempt to erode the state’s authority. The Punjab Government has consistently maintained that Chandigarh is an integral part of the state and any decision regarding its administration should be taken in consultation with the state government. Tribune News Service Painting Workshop: 12day Miniatures Painting Camp by the North Zone Culture Centre, Kalagram, Sector 13, on till January 12, 9:30 am to 6 pm Law & Literature Talk: By Gautam Bhatia and Harish Mehla, January 9, 5 pm to 6 pm, Bahrisons Book Café, Sector 8-C, DM for free registration on +91 7814011911 Wool ‘n’ Silk Expo: Widest and finest range of traditional handlooms as well as dress material like raw silk, silk suit, sarees and more, Himachal Bhawan, Sector 28, on till January 14 MAINLY CLEAR SKY SUNSET THURSDAY 5.39 PM » THURSDAY | 9 JANUARY 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Chandigarh, January 8 The redesignation of UT Adviser’s post as Chief Secretary and increase in strength of IAS officers of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-GoaMizoram and Union Territory) cadre in the UT Administration have stirred a political storm. These changes are being looked as an attempt to dilute Punjab’s rights over Chandigarh, the joint capital of both Punjab and Haryana. Punjab claims that ever since the reorganisation of states in 1966, it was decided that the Punjab Government will have 60 per cent share in officer posts in the Chandigarh Administration, while Haryana will have 40 per cent share. However, over the past few years, the number of officers coming here on deputation from Punjab has come down. The Centre has increased the number of AGMUT cadre IAS officers in Chandigarh from nine to 11. However, on the nine positions held by IAS officers, two officers each from Punjab and Haryana, and five of the UT cadre are posted in Chandigarh. Also, there are RECONSIDER DECISION We urge the Central Government to reconsider this decision and respect the rights of the people of Punjab. ❝ ❞ Kultar Singh Sandhwan, PUNJAB SPEAKER four HCS officers and eight PCS officers posted on various positions in the city. With the scrapping of the Adviser’s post, it appeared that there would be no chance of revival of the post of Chief Commissioner in near Future and the Administrator will remain the head of the Administration, said Ajay Jagga, an advocate. Originally, the UT was headed by a Chief Commissioner, but due to terrorism in 1984, after the appointment of the UT Administrator, the post was redesignated as Adviser. Govt trampling Punjab’s right over UT: Speaker Condemning the decision of the Central Government to redesignate the post, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan termed it as the trampling of Punjab’s right over Chandigarh. The Speaker said the move was seen as a blatant disregard for the sensitive issue of Chandigarh’s status, which has been a long-standing point of contention between Punjab and the Union government. Sandhwan emphasised that the redesignation of the post was not only an administrative anomaly but also an attempt to undermine Punjab’s legitimate claims over Chandigarh. “We urge the Central Government to reconsider this decision and respect the c m y b A direct attack on state’s legitimate claim: Bajwa Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa has also denounced this decision of the Modi government, calling it a direct attack on Punjab’s legitimate claim over the city. Bajwa termed this move as a deliberate attempt to weaken the state’s position and marginalise the Punjabi community, which, he believes, is part of a broader agenda to undermine the state. Bajwa emphasised that this was not merely an administrative change but also a strategic move by the Centre to further dilute Punjab’s Continued on page 2 Barricades put up on the Sector 52-53 road on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY Commuters fume as roads remain closed for second day Tribune News Service Mohali, January 8 A day after the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha protest on the Mohali-Chandigarh border caused chaos, major roads connecting the two cities remained barricaded even today. Commuters once again faced the brunt, being forced to take detours to reach their destinations. Chandigarh Police barricaded the dividing road of Sector 51-52 for the entirety of the day. The Sector 52-53 road too remained inaccessible for the public from 12 pm to 1.30 pm as cops anticipated another attempt by protesters, who stay put at their tents at the YPS Chowk, to enter the city. As a result, the inner roads in Sector 52, Sector 53 remained choked with heavy traffic as buses, trucks and tractors jostled for space with cars and two-wheelers. Similarly, the road from Mohali to Chandigarh was also barricaded on the other side near YPS Chowk. Hassled commuters flayed the protesters and police alike for turning their daily commute into a nightmare. “Police booked around 30 protesters last year on February 8 but there was no further action. The same people are blocking the roads again. What is Chandigarh doing? Erecting barricades in the common man’s path using their own money,” lamented Rajeshwar Das, a Sector-52 resident. On Tuesday, a group of around 20 people, including women with kids in their arms, were seen walking on the choked road from Phase3B2 to Mansa Devi. They rued being unable to find the bus to Sector 43 amid the chaos. Continued on page 2