Assembly in session: House adopts resolution against CISF deployment at BBMB dams

The Punjab Assembly on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution against the Centre’s decision to deploy the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at dams operated by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

The resolution was moved by Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal.

The development has come over a month after the Centre decided to deploy the central force at the Bhakra dam project amid a tussle between Punjab and Haryana over the sharing of river waters.

The Treasury Benches slammed the Opposition parties for “having failed to protect” the state’s rights over river waters when in power.

The resolution read that Punjab Police personnel were “absolutely fit and aptly geared up for security of the installations”.

Earlier in the day, the Congress legislators staged a walkout as their demand for a discussion on gangster activities wasn’t accepted.

Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa raised the recent killing of Abohar businessman Sanjay Verma.

Things heated up after Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan announced that there would be no Question Hour or Zero Hour as this was a special session. Congress leaders entered the well of the House and raised slogans against the government.

Later, AAP legislators, including CM Bhagwant Mann, took turns to slam the Congress, SAD and the BJP for “having consciously ignored the rights of Punjab over its waters” when in power in the state.

Mann said, “Punjab and Haryana are brothers and contribute more than 70 per cent to the national foodgrain pool. Over the years, the parties that assumed power in Punjab and Haryana ensured that the fight over the issue prevailed so that they could enjoy fruits of power.”He said water-sharing agreements needed to be reviewed every 25 years.

Punjab