CWC-O WANTS EARLY DECISION ON CHANDIGARH

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI, January 3—The Organisation Congress Working Committee meeting under the Presidentship of Mr. Nijalingappa, today assailed the Union Government for delaying its decision on the Chandigarh issue. The Committee briefly considered the Chandigarh issue and urged the Central Government to speedily settle the problem. The Congress President, Mr. S. Nijalingappa, made a special appeal to Sant Fateh Singh, the Akali leader, requesting him not to carry out his threat of fast and self-immolation. Mr. Nijalingappa said the life of Sant Fateh Singh was precious and added that the country needed his services. He should not undertake such a step. The Committee adopted a resolution viewing with concern the “continued delay in the settlement of the Chandigarh issue and the difficult situation it has created in Punjab and Haryana”. The Committee, however, did not go into the merit of the claims of Punjab and Haryana to Chandigarh nor did it give any indication on the lines of a possible solution. The following is the text of the Organisation CWC’s resolution on Chandigarh:-- “The Congress Working Committee views with concern the continuing delay in the settlement of the Chandigarh issue and the difficult situation it has created in Haryana and Punjab. The CWC urges the Central Government to take a speedy decision on the issue.” The Working Committee of the ruling Congress is unlikely to consider the Chandigarh issue. But its views will be conveyed to the Government through its President, Mr. Jagjivan Ram, who is also a member of the internal Affairs Committee of the Union Cabinet. The internal Affairs Committee will first decide the future of Chandigarh. It will then be ratified by the Cabinet.