Hooda seeks special House session on water row with Punjab

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has demanded a special session of the state Assembly to address the ongoing water-sharing dispute with Punjab. Speaking at a press conference in Rohtak, the Congress leader condemned Punjab’s alleged stoppage of Haryana’s water, calling it “unconstitutional, immoral, and inhuman.”

“The Punjab Government has no right to stop Haryana’s water. Doing so is an attack on the federal structure. Haryana is not begging but demanding its rightful share, as per a formal agreement,” Hooda said.

He criticised the BJP-led state government for its failure to secure Haryana’s share of water. “Pressure must be mounted on the Punjab Government to avert a water crisis. But the BJP government has completely failed on this front,” he added.

Hooda accused the BJP of neglecting repeated warnings about the issue. “We raised this matter in the Assembly, but the BJP remained asleep. Today, Punjab officials hold all key posts in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), while Haryana’s representation has vanished,” he claimed.

He recalled that during the Congress regime, Haryana had due representation in the BBMB, with members from the Irrigation Department and other officials safeguarding the state’s interests.

“The Superintendent Engineer in the Board should be from Haryana, but the appointment has not been made under the BJP government. Without representation, who will defend our rights?” he asked.

On broader political issues, Hooda backed the demand for a caste-based Census, terming it essential for social justice. “The BJP finally had to accept Rahul Gandhi’s demand. It’s a victory for his struggle,” he said.

He also extended full support to the government on action against terrorism, urging a probe into the Pahalgam attack’s security lapses.

Haryana Tribune