CM Mann: Move to deploy CISF at Nangal dam draconian, irrational and arbitrary
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Thursday said the BJP-led government at the Centre suffered from 'ant-Punjab syndrome' even as he condemned its move to deploy a contingent of 296 CISF personnel to secure the Nangal dam. Mann asked what the need was to deploy central forces when the Punjab Police was already providing security to the dam.
'The move is aimed at stealing the water of the state by deploying the central forces. It means we get our water looted and also pay for it. We will not allow this,' Mann said.
He said that he will raise the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Niti Aayog meeting scheduled for Saturday.
The Centre Wednesday sanctioned a contingent of 296 armed CISF personnel for providing security cover to the Nangal Dam, the move coming amid the standoff between Punjab and Haryana over sharing of water from the dam. In a communication to BBMB, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said quoted a security deposit of Rs 2,90,100 per head and asked the BBMB to transfer Rs 8,58,69,600 (for 296 personnel) to CISF headquarters.
'They say either the BBMB or Punjab will pay this money. What was the need for this when the Punjab Police was already providing security to the dam for free? Why should we give money?' Mann asked.
'I will strongly oppose this move. Centre should understand one thing: we neither have any drop of surplus water for other states nor any single penny to pay the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the unwarranted CISF. We will neither allow money to be given through the BBMB nor from the state exchequer of the Punjab government,' he said while addressing the media in Sangrur.
Mann also asked BJP leaders, including their state unit chief Sunil Jakhar, if the Centre's latest move came with their approval.
'If they do not respond, then it will be taken as they were part of this decision,' he said.
Lashing out at the BJP-led Centre for deploying CISF, Mann said it must withdraw this decision. 'The dam falls in Punjab's jurisdiction. If Punjab can protect the international border, why can't it protect the dam,' the chief minister asked.
He accused the BJP of taking revenge on Punjab as it couldn't make electoral gains in the border state in previous elections. 'Democracy will not work with 'badlakhori' (vengeance),' he said, and added, 'The Modi government is suffering from anti-Punjab syndrome due to which they are hell bent on ruining
the state'.
The Chief Minister said that the BJP led government has no respect for the federal structure or the constitution adding that every constitutional body has been diluted. He said that credit limit has been decreased, RDF funds have been stalled and now 'this draconian, irrational and arbitrary move will put extra burden on the state exchequer'. Lashing out at the Centre for withholding Punjab's funds, Mann blamed it for displaying bias and discrimination against non-BJP state governments.
Further questioning the move, Mann said, 'When any election takes place somewhere (in the country), then why is Punjab Police deployed there? Then they should give us money for that.' He said he would ask PM Narendra Modi if he does not consider Punjab Police capable (of providing security to the dam).
The Chief Minister said that states like Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab have been compelled to knock the doors of the Supreme Court to obtain their rightful funds.
Describing BBMB as a white elephant, he reiterated that it is totally useless and unacceptable in the present form adding that Punjab will never accept it now. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that BBMB had violated its own constitution by calling meetings in haste under the pressure of the BJP.
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