Punjab CM leads BBMB protests; Haryana collects AAPs that undermine the Constitution

Amid the ongoing water sharing dispute between Punjab and Haryana led by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, AAM AADMI Party (AAP) workers held a “sit-in” protest at the Bhakra Beas Management Committee (BBMB) of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) in Nangal on Thursday. The protests highlighted growing tensions on water rights, and even Haryana accused the AAP government of undermining constitutional institutions and did not respect the rule of law.

Punjab CM Mann claimed during the protest that the Balatia Janata Party (BJP) government is using the BBMB to serve its own political interests. According to Mann, the BBMB was originally established to manage the waters of Sutlej and Beas Rivers and has been transferring Punjab water to other states for years. He further accused the BBMB chairman of trying to illegally transfer Punjab water. “In recent days, the BJP has been trying to deprive Punjab of legal water through its Haryana government, the central government and the BBMB,” Mr Mann said.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini responded by criticizing the AAP government for disrespectfulness of the Constitution and the country’s constitutional institutions. He noted that Punjab ignored the decisions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the issue of moisture, which he called “unfortunate”.

Ravneet Singh Bittu, Minister of Railways and Food Processing Union, also weighed the matter and called on police programmes to register AAP leaders as they hindered government officials from performing their duties. He accused Man of playing “dirty politics” when the country faces external threats.

The BBMB manages the water allocated from Bakra, Table Tennis and Ranjit Sagar Dam, located in the heart of the water-sharing arrangement between Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The water from these dams is used for a variety of purposes, including irrigation. The decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Courts recently restricted the Punjab government from interfering in the daily operations of the BBMB, a decision that sparked further controversy.

Earlier this month, the BBMB decided to release an additional 4,500 cusecs of water from the Bhakra Nangal Dam to meet the urgent water demand in Haryana and parts of Rajasthan, a move urged Punjab to urge Punjab to comply.