Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday accused the AAP of playing "dirty politics" over the water sharing issue and said that this was the first time when the supply of drinking water had been halted. Talking to Reporters in Panchkula, Saini said that instead of doing politics of development, the AAP was indulging in "dirty politics". "Earlier too, I had told Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that he should do politics of development", Saini said.
Meanwhile, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) on Wednesday evening decided to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. The decision was taken in a five-hour-long meeting of the technical committee. The Punjab Government on Thursday (May 1) opposed this decision and ordered increased security at the Nangal dam, amid an escalating water-sharing dispute with Haryana.
The BBMB regulates water distribution from Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams. Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan are the partnering states that meet their requirement for different purposes, including irrigation, from Bhakra and Pong dams.
The fresh confrontation arose when Haryana sought 8,500 cusecs from the Bhakra dam during a meeting on April 23. Haryana is currently receiving 4,000 cusecs daily but has now requested 8,500 cusecs. Chief Minister Saini said he subsequently made a phone call to Chief Minister Mann, citing Haryana’s drinking water needs. On Tuesday, Mann, however, said that Punjab, already facing a water crisis, did not have a drop to spare. Mann further said that the neighbouring state has already utilised 103 per cent of its allocated share by March. Mann had accused the BJP of exerting pressure on the Punjab government through BBMB to meet Haryana's demand.
Saini further said, "We used to get nearly 9,000 cusecs of water from them in April, May and June each year. Of this quantity, Delhi gets 500 cusecs, Rajasthan 800 cusecs... We are left with less than 7,000 cusecs", he said. "If Punjab remains thirsty, we will cut our share of water and give it to the people of Punjab, that is our culture", he added.
"AAP should give up playing dirty politics. People of Delhi have shown them the door in the assembly polls. Mann sahab, do some work in Punjab's interest and according to what people expect of you," Saini said. "...So far, there has not been any dispute till today pertaining to drinking water. Never before was water cut like this. I said they are playing dirty politics in view of approaching polls. But people of Punjab, the farmers there also understand what they are doing, they are wise," he said.
"It's not like we are asking for water supply for irrigation purposes. We are for the supply of drinking water," he said. "Why are they creating differences? They should not play such politics. Punjab is my home, will we not go there? What kind of things are they doing?" Saini said.
Hitting out at former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Saini said that at the time of Delhi polls, he accused Haryana of "mixing poison in Yamuna". He alleged that Kejriwal was working behind the scenes on this issue. "They (AAP) are not able to digest the defeat they had to face in the Delhi polls. The poll loss has shocked Kejriwal," he said.
Saini further said, “The people of Punjab understand that the AAP is playing dirty politics. When will they engage in development politics? After Delhi, the AAP has started to realise that the people of Punjab are going to oust them. Mann Sahib should not engage in partisan politics.” Citing the example of Bhai Kanhaiya, Saini said, “Punjab is the land of saints, and its people used to offer water to everyone. We should take inspiration from them. This is about drinking water. Punjab is our elder brother; why create differences? If Punjab is thirsty, we will give water from our share. The AAP had accused Haryana of mixing poison in the Yamuna during the Delhi election campaign. This is low-level politics.”