New Delhi: Amid criticism from opposition parties over the Union government’s move to introduce a constitutional amendment that will bring Chandigarh under the direct control of the President, the union ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Sunday (November 23) said that “no final decision” has been taken on the proposal yet.“The proposal only to simplify the Central Government’s law-making process for the Union Territory of Chandigarh is still under consideration with the Central Government. No final decision has been taken on this proposal,” the MHA said in a statement on X.“The proposal in no way seeks to alter Chandigarh’s governance or administrative structure, nor does it aim to change the traditional arrangements between Chandigarh and the States of Punjab or Haryana. A suitable decision will be taken only after adequate consultations with all stakeholders, keeping in mind the interests of Chandigarh. There is no need for any concern on this matter. The Central Government has no intention of introducing any Bill to this effect in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.”While the MHA said that the central government had no intention of introducing any bill to this effect in the upcoming winter session, a parliamentary bulletin dated November 21 had listed The Constitution (131 Amendment) Bill 2025 among ten bills that would be brought in the winter session.The description on the parliamentary bulletin said that the constitutional amendment would include the “the Union Territory of Chandigarh in Article 240 of the Constitution of India, in alignment with other Union Territories without legislatures – namely, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Puducherry (when its Legislative Assembly is dissolved or suspended).”The Union government’s move to bring the constitutional amendment to change the character of Chandigarh’s administration was heavily criticised by opposition parties including the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as an “open attack on Punjab’s rights.”“We strongly oppose in the strongest terms the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill being brought by the Central Government in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament,” said Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann.“This amendment is against the interests of Punjab. We will not allow the conspiracy being hatched by the Central Government against Punjab to succeed in any way. Chandigarh, built by razing our Punjab’s villages, belongs solely to Punjab. We will not let our right slip away just like that. For this, we will take whatever steps are necessary.”Punjab’s Leader of the Opposition and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said that Chandigarh was created in 1966 as Punjab’s capital, with the Punjab Governor serving as its Administrator for decades.“Now the Centre’s 131st Amendment move to pull Chandigarh under Article 240 is nothing short of snatching the city away from Punjab — an open attack on history, federalism, and Punjab’s rights,” he said.SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal called for an “emergency meeting” of the core committee of the party on Monday, November 24, to “plan and formulate a strong and decisive response against” the proposed bill. “I reiterate: Punjab’s right over Chandigarh is non-negotiable,” he wrote on X.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab on the other hand said that Chandigarh is an “integral part of Punjab” and sought to reassure that any “confusion” that has arisen will be resolved through discussions with the government.“Chandigarh is an integral part of Punjab, and the Punjab BJP stands firmly with the interests of the state whether it is the issue of Chandigarh or the waters of Punjab. Whatever confusion has arisen regarding Chandigarh will be resolved by discussing it with the government. As a Punjabi myself, I assure you that for us, Punjab always comes first,” said Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar.