Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh was, is and will remain Punjab’s Capital: CM Mann
Babushahi Bureau
Hoshiarpur (Punjab), January 26, 2026: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday asserted that Chandigarh is an integral part of Punjab and vowed that the state will continue its legal and constitutional fight every day to reclaim its rightful capital, which he said Punjab has been unlawfully deprived of since Independence.
Unfurling the national Tricolour at the Republic Day celebrations in Hoshiarpur, the Chief Minister said that despite Punjab’s unmatched contribution to the nation—both in the freedom struggle and in nation-building—the state has been denied its own capital and a separate High Court for decades.
“Since Independence, Punjab has been unjustly deprived of its capital. To make matters worse, conspiracies are hatched daily to snatch Chandigarh, Panjab University and Punjab’s water rights. Let me make it very clear—Chandigarh was, is and will always remain Punjab’s capital,” CM Mann said, adding that such designs would never be allowed to succeed.
Expressing anguish over the absence of a separate High Court for Punjab, the Chief Minister said it was unfortunate that even the smallest states in the country have their own High Courts, while Punjab continues to suffer due to pendency of cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Reiterating Punjab’s resolve, CM Mann said the state has been forced to fight legal, legislative and administrative battles to protect its constitutional rights. “Punjab has to fight every day to get its rights from the Centre, but Punjabis have never bowed down and never will,” he asserted.
Linking governance with heritage and faith, the Chief Minister recalled the historic commemoration of the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji and said that Sri Amritsar Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo have been declared holy cities.
He also announced that the 650th Parkash Parv of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji will be celebrated on a grand scale with state-level programmes from February 1, 2026, to February 20, 2027.
Highlighting governance milestones, CM Mann said the Punjab government’s crackdown on drugs, gangsters and narco-drones under Yudh Nashean Virudh and Gangsteraan Te Vaar has helped restore law and order.
He cited free healthcare up to ₹10 lakh for all families, over 63,000 government jobs provided transparently, major investments worth ₹1.5 lakh crore generating 5.2 lakh jobs, and a significant reduction in road accident deaths due to the Sadak Surakhiya Force.
The Chief Minister also criticised changes to the MGNREGA scheme, warning that they would severely impact Scheduled Caste workers, women and landless families in Punjab. He said the state government is contesting the issue through legislation and courts.