Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday vowed to thwart any attempt of the BJP led centre government to met out step motherly treatment with Punjab by snatching the waters of the state through the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
The Chief Minister, who reached here to protest against move of BBMB to release water, said that it is unfortunate that on one hand Punjab is bravely confronting the enemy on the international borders and on the other hand the BJP government at centre is playing dirty games to deprive state of its waters.
He said that Punjab is on high vigil as Punjab Police and the state is helping the Army to safeguard the 532 kilometer border along with Pakistan. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that on the other hand BJP is resorting to such tantrums which is highly unfortunate adding that this should be avoided in this hour of grave crisis.
The Chief Minister said that the Punjab government is committed to protect the border and even the waters of the state for which no stone will be left unturned by the Punjab government. He said that amidst escalation at the border when the drones are visible at the dams, the BJP is forcing us to stage protests at the highly sensitive zones amidst war.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that BJP is checking the patience of the state government and is forcing us to take severe action to save our precious waters.The Chief Minister also questioned the silence of the Kisan Unions over this issue adding that they have not even issued a single statement in this regard.
He said that they are merely running their shops by staging road and rail blockades on frivolous issues but are mum over this major issue concerning the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann quipped that the farmers are not here because AC equipped trolleys are not here and they have to protest under the sun, which they can no longer afford.
The Chief Minister said that the state government does not need the help of these Kisan Unions as it is self sufficient to safeguard the interests of Punjab and its people. He said that the BJP government through the BBMB officers is trying to rob the waters of the state, which is completely intolerable adding that this is a grave injustice and Punjab will vehemently fight against it.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this will not be allowed at any cost and the state government will foil all such attempts aimed at stealing the water of Punjab.The Chief Minister warned BJP and BBMB that any such attempt by them can create a major law and order problem in the state adding that both of them will be responsible for this major loss.
He categorically said that there is no order by the Punjab and Haryana High court to release the water from the state but BJP is illegally trying to snatch waters from Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Rajasthan government had sought more water from the quota of Punjab as the Military deployed at the Rajasthan border needed additional water.
The Chief Minister said that whenever the national interests are concerned Punjab never takes a backseat, so the water has been released to secure the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann clearly said that if any BBMB officer now tries to come here and discharge the water then they will be responsible for their safety as people of Punjab are up in arms against them.
He said that Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who hails from Haryana, is behind this entire mischief adding his plans will not be allowed to succeed.The Chief Minister said that Khattar and BJP are underestimating Punjab because if Punjabis can protect the borders of the state then they are capable enough to save it water also.
He said that Punjab has a glorious history of making supreme sacrifices to protect the 532 kilometres long border with Pakistan. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that today also Punjabis are at the forefront giving a befitting reply to the Pakistani Army and no stone will be left unturned for it.
The Chief Minister said that Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) was originally established to manage the waters of the Sutlej and Beas rivers. However, he said that for years, Punjab’s water has been diverted to other states through the BBMB adding that the BJP government has started using this board for its political interests.
Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated that BBMB must be reconstituted as it is totally useless and unacceptable in the present form. The Chief Minister said that it is ironic that employees of other states are being paid from the exchequer of state and they harm the interests of Punjab only.
He said that the state government will also seek an audit of the funds given to the BBMB in the last few years as the officers had used this hard earned money of taxpayers for their own interests. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that even the BBMB uses the money of the state to fight legal battles against Punjab, which is highly deplorable.
The Chief Minister said that it is unfortunate that the union government is repeatedly making efforts to give water of the state to Haryana. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he along with the Punjabis will sit at Nangal and vigilantly foil any move of the BJP to release water from the state.
He said that Punjab is committed to safeguard its share of waters and no one, however affluent it may be, will be allowed to take it away from us. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister reiterated that the state has no spare water to share with any other state adding that even a single drop of water will not be given to anyone.
He said that most of the blocks of the state are over exploited and the groundwater situation in the state is very grim. Likewise, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as most of the river resources of the state have dried up, so it requires more water to cater to its irrigation needs.On the occasion Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains and others were also present.