Disputed City Award

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32210, 31 January 1970, Page 11

Disputed City Award

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW DELHI, Jan. 30. The disputed city of Chandigarh, which is claimed by both the Punjab and Haryana states and is the centre of two death threats, is to be awarded to Punjab, the Indian Government announced last night.

The Cabinet’s decision came only three days before the deadline set by the Sikh leader, Sant Fateh Singh, who had threatened to bum himself to death on Sunday if Chandigarh went to Haryana. Mr K. K. Toofan, the leader of the tiny Haryana Forward Block Party, had also threatened self-immolation on Sunday if Punjab was awarded the city. Chandigarh, a model city designed by the French architect, Le Corbusier, in the 19505, is at present capital of both northern states.

An official Government statement says that Haryana will receive 200 million rupees (about SNZ23.Bm) as compensation, to build a new capital, and that its Government will continue to have office and residential accommodation in. Chandigarh for up to five years. The Prime Minister (Mrs Indira Gandhi) appealed in a letter to Sant Fateh Singh last night to call off his suicide threat, but the 60-year-pld Sikh, who is already on a fast in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, told reporters that he would continue his hunger protest until the Punjab All Parties Action Committee on Chandigarh had decided its reaction to the deaL The committee is ’due to meet today. Mr Toofan, who has been fasting in front of Mrs Gandhi’s residence in New Delhi, says that he will have to meet other party leaders before deciding further action.

In Amritsar last night about 2000 Punjabi demonstrators gathered, shouting:

“We will not accept a barter deal.” Demonstrators also took to the streets in two Haryana towns, Ambala and Hissar. In Ambala, students set fire to a post office and stoned a train, a bus, and a bank. The two states have been in dispute since the Hindispeaking areas of the old Punjab were cut off to form Haryana three years ago. Last night’s Government statement said that in addition to the compensation, Haryana would be awarded the Hindi-speaking part of the rich cotton - growing Fazilka area, which at present belongs to Punjab. A corridor of territory will be carved through Punjab to link this region with Haryana. Many Punjabis are reported to be angry at this part of the settlement A commission will be appointed to settle other border claims, and while Haryana still has offices in Chandigarh, the city will remain a union territoiy administered by the Central Government in New Delhi.