Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini strongly criticized his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday, accusing him of distorting facts regarding the ongoing water-sharing dispute between the two states. This came shortly after Mann rejected Haryana’s request for additional water, stating that the BJP was trying to pressure the Punjab government through the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). Mann also claimed that Haryana had already consumed its allotted water share by March. Responding to these allegations, Saini referred to a letter he had written to Mann on April 27 and expressed disappointment that Mann chose to release a video instead of responding formally. According to Saini, the video misrepresented the situation and aimed to mislead the public by ignoring key facts.

Saini further explained that on April 26, during a phone call with Mann, he had highlighted that Punjab officials were hesitating to act on a decision taken by BBMB’s Technical Committee on April 23. The decision had mandated the release of water to Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan. Saini claimed that Mann had assured him the matter would be resolved by the next morning, April 27. However, when no action was taken, Saini said he followed up with a written communication.

In his letter, Saini urged Mann to ensure the immediate release of water to Haryana in accordance with the BBMB committee’s decision. The Haryana Chief Minister reiterated the importance of fair distribution and timely execution of water release agreements to avoid further escalation of the issue between the neighboring states. The row continues to fuel political tensions, with both sides holding firm to their positions amid growing concerns over water availability in the region.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.