Punjab ‘bullying’ institutions, courts in BBMB case: Centre
The Centre today invoked the story of Bhai Kanhaiya to refer to the need for adopting a humanitarian approach on sharing of water during the hearing of the ongoing Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) water dispute case.
Appearing before the Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel, Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain asserted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the dispute was not merely about water allocation, but about upholding the values of compassion and service to all.
Quoting the example of Bhai Kanhaiya, Jain submitted that he served water indiscriminately to wounded soldiers from both the Sikh and Mughal armies during the Battle of Anandpur Sahib, despite opposition.
Bhai Kanhaiya expressed his inability to discriminate between the wounded, following which Guru Gobind Singh, blessed Bhai Kanhaiya’s actions based on the spirit of universal compassion.
The Centre’s assertion as the proceedings neared conclusion this afternoon gains significance in the backdrop of the HC’s earlier remark during the initial hearings: “We are doing this to our enemy country. Let us not do this within our states.” The court had cautioned against adopting a hostile stance in inter-state disputes, underscoring the need for a cooperative spirit.
The Centre also accused Punjab of “bullying” all institutions, including the courts, and refusing to comply with directions, including those issued by the court. The assertions came as the Bench reserved its verdict in the matter.
Jain asserted that Punjab was deliberately misrepresenting facts to avoid compliance. He asserted that Punjab’s stand that the May 2 meeting was only about law and order and there was no decision on water release was “factually incorrect, legally unsustainable and completely misleading”. He said Punjab’s own officers were present at the meeting, but they did not come out with a contradiction.
Referring to the controversy over the release of additional water to Haryana, Jain said the decision to release 4,500 cusec of water to Haryana was taken during the meeting chaired by the Union Home Secretary.
He said a Press Information Bureau (PIB) note, issued at 6.43 pm on the same day, clearly recorded the decision, which was subsequently published in leading newspapers. “None of the Punjab officers who attended the meeting has, till date, either contradicted or denied the fact that such a decision was taken,” Jain told the court.
“The state (Punjab) does not want to comply with any direction, including those issued by the court,” he stated.
