Bhakra water allocation to Haryana an assault on Punjab’s rights: Rintu

Karamjit Singh Rintu, Aam Aadmi Party’s national joint secretary, spokesperson, and Chairman of the Amritsar Improvement Trust, has strongly condemned the decision of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. He said the move is nothing short of a betrayal to Punjab and its people.

Rintu emphasised that the BBMB’s decision is not only technically flawed but also legally untenable. He asserted that Haryana has already received more than its rightful share of water, and the move to provide additional supply, especially during the critical paddy cultivation season, amounts to a grave injustice to Punjab’s farmers.

He said while the capacity of the Bhakra main line canal is 10,000 cusecs, Haryana’s legal share is limited to 7,000 cusecs. Ignoring objections raised by engineers and acting under political pressure, the BBMB has made this decision through voting, raising serious questions about the board’s impartiality.

Launching an attack on the Central Government, Rintu alleged that this decision is part of a broader conspiracy to deprive Punjab of its rightful water share. Citing past instances such as the SYL canal dispute, the suppression of the farmers’ protest, and the withholding of panchayat grants, he accused the BJP-led Central Government of pursuing an anti-Punjab agenda that is no longer tolerable.

He said the Aam Aadmi Party has demanded an immediate reversal of the decision. He urged the Central Government to adopt a clear and just policy on Punjab’s water rights and insisted that any future decisions must be based on the consensus of technical committees. Rintu affirmed that they are prepared to go to any extent to safeguard Punjab’s rights over its water, as this is not just about a resource, it’s a matter of Punjab’s dignity, and they will not allow it to be looted.