Archive · 27 Jan 2026
Chandigarh Transfer Deferred, Punjab Celebrates Republic Day
On January 26, 1986, the plan to give Chandigarh to Punjab was delayed because the Mathew Commission couldn't find the right villages to give to Haryana.
There were some small violent incidents in Punjab.
The Prime Minister of Greece visited India and was the special guest for Republic Day.
The government also set up a special group to solve a water dispute between Punjab and Haryana.
This group had to give their answer in six months.
The Punjab government declared a school holiday on January 27 for Republic Day.
The Punjab Chief Minister said that Punjab should have its own capital, Chandigarh.
During the Republic Day celebrations, Punjab's float was about a famous Sikh leader who did great things.
The transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab was deferred due to the Mathew Commission's inability to identify Hindi-speaking villages for transfer to Haryana.
Scattered incidents of violence in Punjab included the looting of shopkeepers and the burning of a state-owned bus.
Prime Minister of Greece, A G Papandreou, arrived in New Delhi for a four-day official visit and was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade.
The Indian government constituted a tribunal headed by Justice V Balakrishna Eradi to resolve the water dispute between Punjab and Haryana.
The Punjab government declared a holiday for all schools on January 27 in observance of Republic Day, and the Chief Minister emphasized Punjab's claim to Chandigarh as its capital.
- Who
- Government of India, Mathew Commission, Punjab and Haryana, Prime Minister of Greece A G Papandreou, Justice V Balakrishna Eradi, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann
- What
- Deferral of Chandigarh transfer, scattered violence in Punjab, Republic Day chief guest arrival, tribunal formation for water dispute, Punjab declares school holiday, Republic Day celebrations
- When
- January 26, 1986
- Where
- Chandigarh, Punjab, New Delhi, Hoshiarpur, Kartavya Path
- Why
- Mathew Commission's inability to identify Hindi-speaking villages for transfer, ongoing disputes between Punjab and Haryana, Republic Day observance, Punjab's claim to Chandigarh as its capital
- Event Date
- January 26, 1986
- Commission Involved
- Mathew Commission
- Chief Guest
- Prime Minister of Greece, A G Papandreou
- Tribunal Head
- Justice V Balakrishna Eradi
- Tribunal Timeframe
- Six months to submit report
- School Holiday
- January 27, 1986
- Punjab CM
- Bhagwant Mann
- Punjab Tableau Theme
- 350th year of martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji
Sources
40 years ago January 26, 1986: Chandigarh transfer deferred
Chandigarh belongs to Punjab: CM Mann says state remains without its own capital despite making the greatest sacrifices for the country
Punjab Declares School Holiday On January 27 For Republic Day Observance
40 years ago January 27, 1986: Punjab-Haryana talks fail
