Calling the proposed amendment a “direct assault on Punjab’s identity and constitutional rights,” Kejriwal criticized the BJP-led government for what he called a mindset bent on weakening Punjab’s influence.
Image Source: AAP
On a Sunday that saw political tempers flare, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal struck a defiant note against the Centre’s proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill. Sharing his concerns on X, Kejriwal described the move as an “attempt to strip Punjab of its rights over Chandigarh.” He warned that it threatened not just the state but the very federal structure of India.
Calling the proposed amendment a “direct assault on Punjab’s identity and constitutional rights,” Kejriwal criticized the BJP-led government for what he called a mindset bent on weakening Punjab’s influence.
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BJP की केंद्र सरकार द्वारा संविधान संशोधन के माध्यम से चंडीगढ़ पर पंजाब के अधिकार को खत्म करने की कोशिश किसी साधारण कदम का हिस्सा नहीं, बल्कि पंजाब की पहचान और संवैधानिक अधिकारों पर सीधा हमला है। फेडरल स्ट्रक्चर की धज्जियाँ उड़ाकर पंजाबियों के हक़ छीनने की यह मानसिकता बेहद खतरनाक… https://t.co/Ed9Q3KNGYi
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— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 23, 2025
“The Punjab that has always sacrificed for the country’s security, grain, water, and humanity is today being deprived of its rightful share. This is not just an administrative step. It is a wound to the soul of Punjab,” he wrote.
Chandigarh, a Union Territory shared between Punjab and Haryana, has long been a symbol of shared heritage and political significance. Kejriwal emphasised that the city would remain an integral part of Punjab.
“History shows Punjabis have never bowed before dictatorship. Chandigarh belongs to Punjab and will remain Punjab’s,” he stated.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, scheduled for discussion in the upcoming Winter Session, proposes bringing Chandigarh under Article 240 of the Constitution. Currently Article 240 allows the President to make regulations for Union Territories without legislatures like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and Puducherry. In Puducherry’s case, these powers are limited to periods when the legislative assembly is dissolved or suspended.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also voiced his opposition on Saturday. In a post on X, he said the amendment “goes against Punjab’s interests”. He also pledged that the state would not allow any move that undermines its rights. “We strongly oppose the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill being brought by the Central Government. Chandigarh, built by razing Punjab’s villages, belongs solely to Punjab. We will not let our rights slip away without a fight,” Mann asserted.
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