Opposition seeks action against CM Mann on BBMB issue
Opposition parties today sought action against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for allegedly stopping the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) from releasing water to Haryana.
Earlier in the day, Mann rushed to Nangal Dam, where he backed the AAP-led protests against the BBMB’s attempt to release water to Haryana. Demonstrators briefly confined BBMB officials, preventing them from proceeding with the release.
As political tensions rise, Opposition leaders criticised Mann’s approach, arguing that serious legal measures — not dramatic protests — were needed to safeguard Punjab’s interests.
Ravneet Singh Bittu, Union Minister for Railways and Food Processing, today demanded that an FIR be registered against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Education Minister Harjot Bains for allegedly obstructing government officials and illegally detaining the BBMB Chairman at Nangal during his official visit to the place. Bittu further urged that sedition charges be filed against the two leaders for their actions.
Bittu criticised Mann and Bains for creating a scene and engaging in political theatrics at a time when the nation was facing security threats from Pakistan. He alleged that AAP workers, led by minister Bains, locked BBMB Chairman Manoj Tripathi and Secretary, BBMB, inside the circuit house before Mann arrived to support the protesters. The officials were later rescued by the police after the matter was brought to the attention of the central government. Bittu warned the Punjab Police against following any unlawful orders issued by the state government.
The minister further accused Mann of prioritising media attention over governance, stating that the issue of river water supply to Haryana was already under judicial review. He pointed out that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had explicitly directed the Punjab Government not to interfere in the BBMB’s daily operations.
Bittu also emphasised the security concerns surrounding the dam, noting that such vital infrastructure was vulnerable, given the current geopolitical situation on armed conflict between India and Pakistan. He argued that if any untoward incident were to occur, Punjab would be the most affected.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also weighed in on the controversy, calling for unity amid national security threats. Referring to Pakistan’s recent attack, Bajwa praised the Indian Armed Forces for avenging the losses and securing the country’s borders. However, he expressed disappointment that the Punjab Government was focusing on political stunts instead of taking meaningful action on water rights.
Meanwhile, Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia also lashed out at the AAP’s handling of the Nangal situation, condemning minister Harjot Bains for resorting to political drama. Majithia pointed out that while the AAP government had already agreed in court to release additional water to Haryana, its minister was engaging in meaningless theatrics. He accused the AAP leaders of surrendering Punjab’s water rights and failing to challenge the court directive in the Supreme Court.
An FIR should be registered against CM Bhagwant Mann and Edu Minister Harjot Bains for obstructing govt officials and illegally detaining BBMB Chairman at Nangal during his official visit to the place. Sedition charges should also be filed against the two leaders for their actions. Both created a scene and engaged in political theatrics at a time when the nation is facing security threats from Pakistan.” – Ravneet Singh Bittu, Union Minister for Railways and Food Processing
Delhi