SAD chief Badal seeks PM Modi's intervention in Punjab-Haryana water row
CHANDIGARH: SAD chief
Sukhbir Singh Badal
on Sunday termed Haryana's demand for an increased share of Nangal dam water a "brazen loot" of Punjab's resources and sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in the dispute. In a letter to the prime minister,
Shiromani Akali Dal
president Badal said his party will not remain a mute witness to any "discrimination" against Punjab on this or any other issue.
"We will exercise our democratic right to peacefully ensure that no injustice is done to the state," he said.
A fresh row between both states erupted a few days back when the Punjab government refused to release more water to Haryana, claiming that it had "already used 103 per cent of the allocated water by March".
The Punjab government strongly objected to the decision of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to give more water to Haryana.
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Transform your future with affordable online programs
Degree Online | Search Ads
Learn More
Undo
The matter escalated with the AAP government refusing to allow more water into its neighbouring state and the BJP government's statements that it will safeguard Haryana's "rightful share of water".
In his letter, Badal said Haryana has already used up more than the full share of rivers which too had been "unfairly" allocated to it as it has no right on those waters.
"Instead of being grateful to Punjab, it brazenly demands even more water," he said.
Badal wrote, "A fresh controversy has been created by the increasing and utterly irrational demands on Punjab's River waters by the non-Riparian state, Haryana.
"Actually, it is wrong to call it a river water dispute as it is pure loot of our natural resource. Already, Rajasthan and Haryana have been made illegal beneficiaries of Punjab's only natural resource -- the river waters -- violating the Riparian principle, the only principle applied in national and international issues on river water allocation. Neither Haryana nor Rajasthan is a Riparian state."
He said that the SAD has consistently opposed this discrimination as he was pointing towards the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal issue.
"I want to caution the country that the same reasons can lead to the same tragedy. Removing these reasons and preventing the recurrence of that tragedy must be regarded as a national priority. We seek no favours, only justice," wrote Badal.
"I request your kind intervention to prevent any such injustice and to take appropriate steps to undo discrimination already done in other areas against our patriotic border state," he said.
Haryana had demanded 8,500 cusecs of water while Punjab is already giving 4,000 cusecs on humanitarian grounds for drinking purposes.
Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan chaired a high-level meeting on Friday in Delhi and advised to carry out the BBMB's decision to release 4,500 cusecs of extra water from Bhakra dam to Haryana for the next eight days to meet the state's urgent water requirements.
It was also agreed that during the filling period of the dams, the BBMB will provide this excess water to Punjab to fulfil any additional requirements of the state.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
Will file criminal complaint against breakaway faction for misusing party name: Badal-led SAD
The Akal Takht-appointed committee held the delegate session of the breakaway group of the SAD at Gurdwara Burj Akali Phoola Singh in Amritsar on Monday. The party's statement came a day after former Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh was unanimously elected as the president of the SAD's breakaway faction in a meeting of the delegate session held in Amritsar. Chandigarh, Aug 12 (PTI) Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal Tuesday warned that it would file a criminal complaint against leaders of the breakaway faction for trying to misappropriate the name of the party, saying the SAD is a registered and recognized party under the Election Commission's 1996 notification. The rebel Akali leaders called their faction as the 'real' SAD and dubbed the Badal-led outfit as the 'Bhagora dal', which defied the Akal Takht's directive of reviving the SAD on December 2, 2024. When asked about the name of the faction, Giani Harpreet Singh had said that it would be the Shiromani Akali Dal. He had also said that they would claim the SAD election symbol and the party office. Speaking to the media here on Tuesday, Badal-led SAD's senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema called the breakaway faction 'Vakhra Chulha' party and asked them not to try to 'deceive' Punjabis by making false claims. 'At present 100 per cent delegates of the Shiromani Akali Dal are with the party,' he said. Stating that all delegates of the SAD were elected after a due election following the end of the term of the previous working committee, Cheema said the members of the 'Vakhra Chulha' had not participated in the membership drive. He went on to say that all members of the SAD had taken membership of the party after submitting a membership fee of Rs 10 which was applicable for five years. 'The separate group did not conduct a membership drive as per the constitution of the party which stipulates that every member has to pay a fee of Rs 10. Therefore, they have no right to call their party meeting a delegate session of the SAD and can be proceeded against for indulging in cheating and forgery,' he said. He also termed the move as 'illegal, unconstitutional and immoral' and said the SAD was consulting legal experts in order to file a formal criminal complaint in this regard. Daljit Cheema also took on Giani Harpreet Singh for 'violating' the 'hukamnama' of the Akal Takht Sahib issued on December 2, 2024, stating the separate group should close its 'shop' and merge with the SAD in 'Panthic' interest. Cheema said instead of doing this, Giani Harpreet Singh had gone ahead to 'open a new shop'. 'It is extremely unfortunate and unbecoming that a person who has served as the Jathedar of the apex Sikh institution did not follow the directives written by himself,' he said. The SAD leader also urged the media to act responsibly and accord due respect to democratic institutions. Asserting that it was blatantly wrong to refer to Giani Harpreet Singh as the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Cheema said this had sent confusing signals in the public. On the withdrawal of the land pooling policy by the AAP government after mounting pressure from farmer bodies and opposition parties, the SAD thanked people for giving enormous support to the SAD's grassroot-level agitation to defeat AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal's 'conspiracy' to acquire 65,000 acres of fertile land. It announced that the party would offer thanksgiving at the Akal Takht on August 31 under the leadership of Sukhbir Singh Badal. PTI CHS KVK KVK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
United News of India
3 hours ago
- United News of India
Abhishek Banerjee demands dissolution of Parliament, Nationwide voter list revision
Kolkata, Aug 12 (UNI) Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee today launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged widespread irregularities in voter lists, demanding the dissolution of Parliament and fresh elections. He accused the ECI of selectively ordering Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls only in non-BJP-ruled states, calling it politically motivated. 'The current Parliament must be dissolved and fresh polls held under a new SIR because the legitimacy of the voter lists used in the 2024 elections is in question,' Banerjee told reporters at Kolkata airport before leaving for New Delhi. 'How can the same Union government function if the current voter lists lack transparency? The Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, and 240 BJP MPs were elected in 2024 using the same lists,' he said, questioning the integrity of the electoral process. Banerjee alleged the BJP came to power using a 'tampered' voter list. 'We are ready to resign from Parliament if the ECI carries out the SIR nationwide and dissolves all governments for a fresh revision of electoral rolls. If the voter list lacks transparency, the Union government must step down,' the Diamond Harbour MP said. He claimed the selective SIR process was 'proof of political malice.' 'Selective implementation of SIR only in non-BJP-ruled states proves the BJP's intent. They came to power on the strength of this very list in the last election. To now, question its integrity is to admit their own mandate stands on shaky, illegitimate ground,' he said, adding that the Opposition has presented evidence of irregularities. Banerjee, who is second-in-command in the TMC after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, reiterated his willingness to quit. 'I am ready to resign as MP. This Lok Sabha must be dissolved before SIR is carried out to ensure transparent voter lists across the country. The BJP is in power because of the 2024 polls conducted on this voter list. Let there be fresh elections — I will resign if needed, and all Trinamool MPs and other Opposition representatives will step down,' he said. He also questioned the ECI's impartiality. 'You cannot be selective. Are voter lists in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh correct, but those in Bengal and Bihar wrong? The BJP knows it will lose if elections are held fairly in Bihar. Conduct SIR if you want,dissolve the Lok Sabha first, then carry it out across the country,' Banerjee asserted. 'In one EPIC number, there are multiple voters. This is ECI's data. Why should the BJP defend the ECI?' Banerjee asked, challenging the ruling party to respond. He alleged that BJP's silence and the crackdown on protesting opposition MPs in Delhi reflects the signs of a coverup His comments came after INDIA bloc MPS including several TMC representatives, were detained by police during protest against alleged "vote theft". UNI PC AAB 1347
The Print
5 hours ago
- The Print
Wave the yellow card on BJP leaders calling Trump names. It's sub-juvenile behaviour
Dadagiri, unworthy, big boss — BJP ministers and leaders calling Trump names is sub-juvenile. Keenness to please their angry support base is no excuse. BJP's politics cannot be running ahead of Modi government's measured diplomacy. Somebody needs to blow the whistle and wave the yellow card, if not yet the red. Sikh religious politics is undergoing a fresh churn. It's dangerous for Punjab and India The latest split underlines the existential crisis for Shiromani Akali Dal, India's oldest regional party. This fresh churn in Sikh religious politics was already stirred by radicals like Amritpal. Punjab's voters will ultimately decide which Akali Dal is real, but instability in Sikh politics is dangerous for Punjab and India.
