Tempers flare as AAP-BJP spar over BBMB order

Tensions ran high in Ludhiana today as senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, ministers and MLAs led a fiery protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of “looting” Punjab’s water through the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). Around 200 AAP workers gathered outside the BJP office in Dugri, demanding answers and action.

The police had to use force to stop them from entering the premises. The AAP leaders under the leadership of Punjab Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian raised slogans against the BJP for snatching water from Punjabis and giving it to Haryana.

Prominent AAP figures leaders, including MLAs Ashok Parashar Pappi, Madan Lal Bagga, Kulwant Singh Sidhu, Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal, Jiwan Singh Sangowal and Markfed Chairman Amandeep Singh Mohi staged a protest in Ludhiana against the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) blatant betrayal of Punjab. The situation turned chaotic as police, including women personnel, had to physically restrain the agitated protesters. The AAP leaders raised slogans outside the BJP office in Dugri while the BJP leaders shouted slogans from inside their office.

Anil Sarin, senior leader and BJP spokesperson, Punjab, said the state government had failed to watch the interests of Punjab and Punjabis. He said during the inter-state meeting on the issue, Mann should have opposed the move, saying of the total 150 zones in Punjab, 115 have low-water levels. “Why did he not utter a word when Haryana wanted to have water from Punjab? Now, when orders have come, the failed AAP government wants to politicise the issue to get cheap publicity,” said Sarin.

While speaking on the occasion, Hardeep Singh Mundian said the Centre and the BJP governments of Delhi and Haryana have conspired against Punjab to snatch Punjab’s precious water resource. He said the BJP will not be allowed to succeed in its cowardly plans and for this, whatever measures the government has to take will be undertaken. He also challenged the Punjab BJP leaders to clarify their stand and questioned their silence on this matter.

Mundian said the Central government and the neighbouring state of Haryana have already tried to rob Punjab’s rights. The Centre has damaged Punjab’s industrial sector by giving concessions to neighbouring states. Now, they have tried to rob the rights of the riparian state and such nefarious designs will not be allowed to succeed.

The protesters said the BJP has stabbed Punjab in the back and this is not just a theft, it’s an attack on Punjab’s lifeline. The AAP government will take all possible measures to stop this, they emphasised.

Mundian highlighted that the BBMB’s directive risks disrupting Punjab’s irrigation systems, severely impacting agriculture and potentially leading to an energy crisis due to effects on power generation. “This outrageous decision will cripple Punjab and leave millions of farmers in distress,” Mundian stated.

Later in the protest, they burnt an effigy of Union Minister of State for Railways & Food Processing Ravneet Singh Bittu.

Ludhiana