In Punjab, ruling AAP blames Oppn for ‘historical blunders' on river water sharing.
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Chandigarh: The Punjab govt in Monday's special Vidhan Sabha session accused successive Congress and BJP-SAD dispensations of compromising Punjab's water rights through historical "blunders" in river-sharing agreements. This came even as opposition parties supported the Aam Aadmi Party's resolution to reject Haryana's demand for additional water via the contentious Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.
Ministers and AAP MLAs took turns highlighting decisions made since Independence, including the construction of the SYL canal and clauses in the 1966 Reorganisation Act, which they claim burden Punjab unfairly while favouring non-riparian states such as Rajasthan. Water resources minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond cited former prime minister Indira Gandhi's 1982 inauguration of the SYL at Kapoori village as a turning point. "Congress leaders now pose as guardians of Punjab's rights, but they once bowed to the Centre's diktats," he said. "Punjab lost its capital and its river water under Congress rule."
Sond also pointed to the role of the Shiromani Akali Dal, noting that Parkash Singh Badal's erstwhile SAD govt had issued the initial notification for the canal in 1978. He added that former CM Capt Amarinder Singh had attended the Kapoori event as a Congress MP. AAP members, including minister Aman Arora, also criticised clauses 78 and 79 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, which they claim were never imposed on any other state. "Even before that, in 1950, the Centre unilaterally awarded water to Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir," Arora said. Finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema urged opposition parties to apologise to the people for "selling out Punjab's water." "Those who brought Punjab to this stage must accept accountability," he said.
AAP demands royalty, legal push
AAP MLAs demanded a comprehensive legal challenge to what they call discriminatory laws and decisions, including the Dam Safety Act and section 5 of the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004. Party MLA Gurpreet Singh Banawali said Punjab deserved a share of Yamuna water if Rajasthan, a non-riparian state, could access Satluj waters. "The Congress and the SAD failed repeatedly to defend Punjab's interests. They owe the people an apology," he said.
Minister Sond said Punjab should be paid for its water, much like states are compensated for mineral resources. "One cusec of water is worth more than ₹1 crore. If we were paid for our waters, Punjab wouldn't be in debt," he said.
Oppn pushback muted but pointed
Despite supporting the AAP govt's resolution, state's leader of opposition, Partap Singh Bajwa of the Congress, pushed back against the personal attacks. He said he would consider apologising if AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal also apologised for his previous comments in support of Haryana's water claims. "When we are ready to support the govt in its legal and political strategy, what is the need for political grandstanding?" Bajwa asked the govt.
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