CHANDIGARH: Amid huge uproar, the municipal corporation (MC) general house gave a nod for complete Union Territory (UT) status to Chandigarh with its own Vidhan Sabha, so that there was no interference from Punjab and Haryana. The house resolved that assembly should be constituted in Chandigarh to enable people to decide about the policies and future and the Centre should intervene and direct Haryana and Punjab governments to develop their own independent capitals.
Political parties urged the Centre to grant complete independence to Chandigarh. The councillors asked the city MP to move a private bill in this regard in Parliament.
While the BJP and the Congress raised the pitch for UT status for Chandigarh, the Aam Aadmi Party did not discuss the issue initially. Soon after the house proceedings began, AAP councillors went to the well and talked about hiked water charges, saying it was more important than any other issue. Seeing AAP diverting the issue, BJP councillors also came to the well and sloganeering from both the sides started. Later, all BJP councillors unanimously asked for absolute UT status for Chandigarh and the Congress joined them. They all asked the Centre to intervene. The Congress said the city MP must raise the issue in Parliament to pave the way for an assembly in Chandigarh. After that, all Congress councillors walked out.
In a dilemma, the AAP councillors also finally said that Chandigarh should remain a UT and let the Centre take a decision. After this, all AAP councillors also walked out.
