The Fact News Service
Chandigarh, July 12
Slamming the Congress and BJP for their divisive policies in the last few decades, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday said that the country can witness unprecedented progress in every sphere if both these parties spare the nation.
Participating in the debate on the floor of Punjab Vidhan Sabha on the resolution to oppose deployment of CISF on dams, the Chief Minister said that these political parties had divided the people on sectarian, regional, lingual, communal and other lines due to which states have been at loggerhead with each other. He said that the sole motive of these people have been to vest political power through such misdeeds, which has done irreparable damage to the country and the states. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the country can scale new heights in any field provided these parties spare the country and its people from their nefarious designs.
Citing an example of treacherous motives of these parties, the Chief Minister said that if Modi can end the war between Ukraine and Russia, as propagated by their media, then what stops him from ensuring a truce between Punjab and Haryana. He said that both these states are like brothers and contribute more than 70% in the national food pool but over the years both these parties who had assumed the power in Punjab and Haryana ensured that cockfight prevails between them so that they can enjoy fruits of power. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these forces are always keen to ensure that both the states fight with each other on the issues like water despite the fact that both the states have several things in common.
The Chief Minister said that PM Modi is keen to become world leader but is least bothered about the affairs of the state due to which the fundamental issues of the citizens have been ignored. He said that sorry state of affairs persists in the country as film made before the Pahalgam attack cannot be realized in India but the PM can go to Pakistan anytime to have Biryani by landing there. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that while the PM finds time to tour foreign countries, he fails to address the concerns of 140 crore Indians adding that Modi celebrates foreign honors from countries with populations as small as 10,000 while neglecting the nation’s pressing issues.
Reiterating that Punjab has no spare water to share with any other state, the Chief Minister said that water is an emotive issue for the state and its people adding that the state government is committed to saving every precious drop of water. He said that the entire saga of the waters of the state starts from 1955 but unfortunately no review of the water has taken place, which ideally should have taken place after every 25 years. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the recent decision by the Government of India to suspend the Indus Water Treaty opens up the possibility of greater utilization of water from the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ujh, Kashmir river) within Indian territory.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that this can ensure additional 23 MAF water for Punjab, which will be instrumental for catering to the water needs of the state and its farmers. He said that waters of the western rivers should be allocated to Punjab on a priority basis and new storage dams upstream of existing Bhakra and Pong Dams in Himachal Pradesh should be constructed. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this will significantly enhance the storage and regulation of western river waters adding that it is the need of the hour so that Punjab, which has over exploited its only available natural resources in terms of water and fertile land for making country self reliant in food production, is duly compensated.
The Chief Minister said that Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is a white elephant, which needs to be reconstituted. He said that Punjab has 60% share in BBMB but it is always working against the interests of the state adding that even the board files a case against the state government for which funds are taken from Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is unwarranted and undesirable adding that it will not be tolerated at any cost because no one can be allowed to jeopardize the interests of the state.
Vehemently opposing the move of the Union government to deploy the CISF at the dams of the state, the Chief Minister said that the state government is duty bound to ensure that this will never become a reality. He said that as per the decision of the Union government cops of the CISF will be deployed at the Bhakra Dam which will cost around Rs 9 crore to the state, without serving any purpose. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that why should we pay this money to the BBMB when Punjab Police is already ensuring safety of the dam free of cost adding that if we can safeguard the borders we can protect the dams too.
The Chief Minister categorically said that Punjab being a border state, the state fights the nation’s war to combat terrorism and drugs but unfortunately we are asked to pay a hefty fee for it by sending such forces on rent. Citing an example, he said that after the terrorist attack had taken place in Dinanagar (Pathankot), the Government of India had demanded Rs 7.5 crore from the state for sending para military forces during the attack. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is unfortunate and illogical as the state whose maximum sons are martyred while serving the country in the Armed forces has to pay these fees.
The Chief Minister assailed the Union government for targeting the Punjab and Punjabis and questioning their nationality despite the fact that Punjab has a maximum role in protecting the borders and making the country self reliant in food production. He said that either we are termed as ‘Gaddaar’ or ‘Sardar’ which is highly derogatory and unacceptable adding that no one has the right to question the nationalism and patriotism of Punjabis. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that we don’t need any certificate of these forces for our love for the country as it is clearly visible from our immense contribution.
The Chief Minister said that it is unfortunate that the rights of the state are being blatantly ignored and the central agencies are being misused for arm twisting the opposition ruled state especially Punjab. He unequivocally said that they are not afraid of the misuse of CBI and ED by the Union government and will continue to serve the people without any fear. Bhagwant Mann said that the misuse of central agencies to muzzle the voice of democracy will never be tolerated by the Punjabis.
The Chief Minister slammed the opposition parties of Punjab by asserting that they are non-serious over the issue of river waters as they are the main culprits behind robbing of our waters. He said that those who had eulogized them as ‘savior of water’ had done irreparable damage to the state adding that the act passed by them in the state is still under legal scrutiny. Likewise, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that those who have gold plated taps or where the canals ended in their fields during their heydays of power don’t know the value of water due to which the state had suffered.
The Chief Minister said that these people had only misled the people on the grave and emotive issue in the last more than six decades and have hobnobbed with the anti-Punjab forces to divest the state of its waters. He said that people know it well that who had asked for the survey of the SYL or were party to the ground breaking ceremony of canal with silver spades. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as compared to this his government has safeguarded the interests of Punjab by not giving even a single drop of water to other states.
Taking the leader of opposition to cudgels, the Chief Minister questioned his scant knowledge of Punjabi language and said that probably the senior Congress leader’s convent school had not taught him this. He said that the Congress leaders only want a lame excuse to run from the proceedings of the house so as to avoid being exposed in front of people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the leader of opposition is desperate to occupy the chair of CM for which he is indulging in various tantrums.
The Chief Minister quipped that this house belongs to 3.5 crore people of the Punjab and only the person elected by them has a privilege of serving them and living in this house. He said that as a matter of fact people do not elect such power hungry leaders with dubious character, who have never bothered about the people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that they are here in politics just because of the dismissal performance of these traditional political parties.
The Chief Minister reminded that the Congress party had not won even a single seat in the three assembly elections of the national capital, which speaks volumes of public disenchantment with them. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders don’t have any credibility due to which people have grave dislike for them. He reminded Congress leaders that the social bonding in the state is so strong that any seed could grow on the fertile land of Punjab but the seed of hatred will never germinate here at any cost adding that Punjab is a sacred land of great Gurus, saints and seers who have shown us the path of mutual love and tolerance.
