Amid the Punjab-Haryana water dispute, Minister of State Tarunpreet Singh Sond on Thursday said that Punjab has provided excess water to Haryana even though it has overdrawn. He opposed transferring excess water and insisted it should stay with Punjab for paddy cultivation.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has called an all-party meeting on May 2 at 10 am at Punjab Bhawan amid escalating concerns over the state's water rights. The meeting will discuss the issue of Punjab's water being taken away by the central government.
"How can BBMB dictate terms to Punjab like this? What kind of rule is this? Punjab holds 60% of the share in BBMB, and Punjab is the one that makes the final decision. Rajasthan, Delhi, and Haryana express their wishes first, and then Punjab makes the decision," the Punjab CM emphasised.
Haryana BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli on Thursday accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo of politicising the drinking water issue and instigating Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to deny more water to Haryana to avenge AAP's defeat in the Delhi elections.
"BJP has once again betrayed the farmers of Punjab - the decision to take away 8500 cusecs of water from Punjab through BBMB is a robbery of the rights of the people of Punjab! This is the same water which belongs to the farms of Punjab and the farmers of Punjab," Sisodia wrote in a post
Delhi minister Parvesh Sahib Singh has levelled serious accusations against the Punjab government, alleging that it is deliberately blocking water supply to both Haryana and Delhi in a politically motivated move.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had earlier termed the statement made by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann regarding water distribution as shocking.
Congress MP Randeep Surjewala on Wednesday accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab of pushing Haryana into a severe water crisis.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday affirmed that the state government is dedicated to spreading the teachings of the Sikh Gurus and preserving the rich legacy of the Sikh community.
Vanshika, a 21-year-old student from Dera Bassi studying in Canada, was found dead on a beach near Ottawa. Her father, speaking to ANI, raised suspicions of murder as the High Commission of India confirmed an investigation is underway.