DW BUREAU / Sangrur

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said the state would oppose the decision of the Centre to deploy CISF at Bhakra Dam and not give a single penny as expenditure on it.

"The Centre should understand one thing: we neither have any drop of surplus water for other states nor any single penny to pay the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the unwarranted CISF," the Chief Minister told the media here.

The Chief Minister said that the state government will never pay this amount as it is a move aimed at stealing the water of the state by deploying the central forces on the Dam. He said that they need everything from Punjab in terms of food grains and others but on the other hand they are trying to snatch the waters of the state through this action. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that instead of giving any special package to Punjab for its immense contribution, the BJP is meting out step motherly treatment to the state.

The Chief Minister said that he will flag this issue before the Prime Minister in the meeting of the NITI Aayog slated to be held on Saturday. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the BJP is resorting to such tactics as they are against the state because people of Punjab have never voted for them. He said that it is surprising to note that though Punjab leads the country in contribution to the food pool besides giving maximum representation in the Indian Army but the BJP led centre has always ignored the state.

The Chief Minister said that the Modi government is suffering from anti-Punjab syndrome due to which they are hell bent on ruining the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that if the will of BJP led NDA government prevails then they will omit the name of Punjab from the national anthem also. He quipped that the Congress leaders in BJP should not remain mum over this issue and clear their stand on this high handedness of the saffron party.

The Chief Minister said that the BJP led government has no respect for the federal structure or the constitution adding that every constitutional body has been diluted. He said that the Governors are being used to stall the working of the democratically elected governments, which is a serious threat to the democracy. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that such repressive and autocratic moves of the saffron party will be opposed tooth and nail to ensure that the interests of the state are safeguarded by all means.

The Chief Minister said that Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), is a puppet in the hands of centre, leaves no stone unturned to harm the interests of the state and fresh order of MHA is a part of it. He said that 296 cops of the CISF will be deployed at the Bhakra Dam which will cost Rs 8.58 crore to the state. 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.

The Chief Minister said that this will not be allowed as it is a nefarious design of the BBMB and BJP to steal the waters of the state by deploying CISF. He said that the BJP leaders including self proclaimed savior of Water Captain Amarinder Singh, Sunil Jakhar, Manpreet Singh Badal, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu and others should make their stand clear on it. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is a clear attempt by the BJP and BBMB to dilute the stake of Punjab over the waters.

The Chief Minister said that credit limit has been decreased, RDF funds have been stalled and now this draconian move. He said that the deployment of CISF is an irrational and arbitrary move as it will put extra burden on the state exchequer. Lashing out at the Centre for withholding Punjab's funds, Bhagwant Singh Mann blamed the Central government for displaying bias and discrimination against non-BJP state governments.

The Chief Minister said that states like Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab have been compelled to knock the doors of the Supreme Court to obtain their rightful funds. Describing BBMB as a white elephant, he reiterated that it is totally useless and unacceptable in the present form adding that Punjab will never accept it now. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that BBMB had violated its own constitution by calling meetings in haste under the pressure of the BJP.

However, the Chief Minister said that the people of the state had risen against the high handedness of the BJP government and BBMB to snatch the waters of the state due to which the stealing of water was prevented.

He unequivocally said that in today's grim scenario when water level is receding fastly and water resources are being dried up so every water agreement should be reviewed after every 25 years. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the routine water as per quota of Haryana was started yesterday as per its allocation but not even a single drop of access water will be allowed.

(editor@dailyworld.in)