Leaders of the Communist Party of India (CPI), speaking at its 25th Congress, have demanded that Chandigarh be given to Punjab. The controversy surrounding the Union Territory of Chandigarh, which is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, has been festering for decades.The party passed a resolution declaring that Chandigarh is the capital of Punjab and should be given to that State. CPI leaders pointed out that Chandigarh was built by displacing Punjabi villages to serve as the capital of Punjab, and therefore, the Punjabi people’s demand that Chandigarh be handed over is both rightful and just, a party statement said. The resolution also demanded that Punjabi be granted the status of the official language in Chandigarh.In another resolution, the party said that the federal structure of the country is under threat and that the economy of the states is suffering heavy damage. The 16th Finance Commission has further reduced the states’ share of revenue, while the cesses imposed by the Central government have risen to 23.4%, of which the states receive no share, said the statement.The party opposed the expansion of the power sector, terming it anti-people and anti-worker. The party expressed its support for the MGNREGA scheme as a major measure of social security and demanded a provision for 200 days of employment per year with a daily wage of ₹800. Published - September 25, 2025 12:30 am IST