Panchkula (Haryana) [India], May 8 : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini criticised Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for politicising the Punjab-Haryana water dispute, emphasising that the issue pertains to drinking water and should not be used for political gains.
"There are many other topics related to politics. If Bhagwant Mann wants to do politics, then he should do so on those other topics. This is a question of drinking water... If he is doing politics on this, then it is unfortunate ...," he said.
Saini further urged Mann to respect the High Court's decision, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of disregarding constitutional institutions by sidelining the court's ruling.
"The decision of HC will be accepted and respected, but this decision, reflect that AAP does not believe and neither respect the constitution, does not believe in constitutional institutions, they have side cornered the decision of HC, I want to request Bhagwant Mann to respect the decision of HC," he said.
On Tuesday, following the Punjab and Haryana High Court's hearing over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal dispute, Additional Solicitor General of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Satya Pal Jain, said that Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) decision should be implemented.
"BBMB is an institution that controls the flow of water. It decides the share of the water...We believe that BBMB's decision should be implemented. There is no point in deploying police there. The Punjab government should remove the deployment of police and let the BBMB do its work," Satya Pal Jain told ANI.
Earlier today, Punjab CM held press conference in which he said that, "Today, the BBMB chairman, adopting an irresponsible attitude, bypassed Punjab and reached Nangal Dam to give water to Haryana. But due to the protest by the revolutionary people of Punjab, he had to return. We will protect every drop of Punjab's water."
Punjab CM announced that Punjab is providing 4,000 cusecs of water to Haryana on humanitarian grounds. He criticized the BJP for holding "unconstitutional" BBMB meetings and accused them of making anti-Punjab decisions to "rob" Punjab's water.
"We are giving 4000 cusecs of water to Haryana on a humanitarian basis. But instead of giving thanks, decisions are being taken by unconstitutionally holding BBMB meetings. We will not tolerate coercion of any kind. On one side, there is an atmosphere of war in the country, on the other side BJP is trying to rob the waters of Punjab by taking anti-Punjab decisions. We also know how to protect borders and also know how to protect our water," he said.