Haryana CM demands unconditional water share

The Haryana Cabinet on Monday strongly condemned Punjab's move to not release 4,500 cusecs of water to the state, with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini accusing the AAP-ruled neighbour of indulging in petty politics over the water-sharing issue.

Addressing a press conference after chairing a meeting of the state Cabinet here, Saini said it strongly condemned a resolution passed unanimously by the Punjab Assembly on Monday, which said “not even a single drop of water will be given from its share to Haryana”.

“The resolution is unconstitutional and against the country's federal structure. It also goes against the teachings of the Sikh gurus. Punjab government should honour the words of the gurus and release water unconditionally,” Saini said.

The Punjab government passed the resolution amid a stand-off with Haryana over the distribution of water from the Bhakra dam.

The resolution said that the 4,000 cusecs of water being given to Haryana for drinking purposes will continue as a humanitarian gesture, but not even a drop more will be given, notwithstanding the Bhakra Beas Management Board's (BBMB) recent decision to allocate an extra 4,500 cusecs to Haryana.

The row erupted after AAP-ruled Punjab refused to release more water to BJP-ruled Haryana, claiming the latter has "already used 103 per cent of its allocated share of water by March".

“I want to tell (Punjab Chief Minister) Bhagwant Mann and Congress leaders that while they talk about the Constitution, they don't respect it. Punjab should unconditionally release water to Haryana," Saini said.

“Punjab AAP's conspiracy won't work. People of Haryana and Punjab have ties on each side, but they are trying to create differences among people with their narrow political mindset,” Saini alleged.

"Tomorrow, they might pass a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha and claim that Himachal Pradesh is theirs. They can say anything. They may even pass a resolution claiming Pakistan is theirs.

“But I want to tell them that it is their responsibility to protect the federal structure. They are acting as if they don't accept the Constitution or the country's federal setup," the chief minister said.

On Chief Minister Mann, Saini said he should stop playing “petty politics” and focus on development that addresses the basic needs of the people of Punjab.

He also said that just as the people of Punjab have shown the door to Congress, they will do the same with AAP.