Chandigarh, May 1, 2025: The political battle over water distribution between Punjab and Haryana has intensified, with AAP Punjab President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora sharply criticizing the BJP-led Central Government for allegedly reallocating Punjab’s share of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) water to Haryana. Arora condemned the move as a betrayal, asserting that the AAP government and the people of Punjab “will go to any extent” to safeguard their water rights.
In a video posted on his official X account, Arora said, “Our water is dearer to us than our blood,” vowing that Punjab would resist any attempt to divert its water unjustly.
Backing Arora’s stance, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains defended Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s refusal to release additional water to Haryana. Bains argued that Punjab is facing a severe water crisis with most agricultural blocks in the “dark zone” and that Haryana has already used its allotted share.
On the other hand, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini expressed shock at Mann’s statements. Saini claimed that the BBMB Technical Committee had already decided on April 23 to release water to Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan. He alleged that Punjab officials had refused to act on the decision and even stopped responding to Haryana officials, despite Mann’s verbal assurance during a phone conversation on April 26.
In a letter addressed to Mann, Saini criticized the Punjab government for allegedly misleading the public and politicizing the issue. He emphasized that the dispute was about drinking water, not the SYL (Sutlej-Yamuna Link) canal, and claimed Haryana had received only 60% of its water demand in the past week.
Saini added, “If the BBMB meets Haryana’s demand, it would be just 0.0001% of the Bhakra Dam’s reservoir. It’s crucial to release water before the monsoon so the dam can store rainwater. Otherwise, excess water could flow into Pakistan via Hari-ke-Pattan — a loss for both Punjab and the nation.”
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu also criticized Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of using the water issue for political gain. “When the nation stands united against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, the Punjab CM is dividing states over water,” Bittu posted on X.
As tensions rise, the water dispute continues to deepen the political divide between Punjab’s AAP-led government and the BJP-led Centre, with implications for regional cooperation and agricultural sustainability.