Punjab: Amid the ongoing water-sharing dispute between Haryana and Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters and Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Thursday allegedly detained the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) Chairman Manoj Tripathi inside the BBMB guest house.
AAP supporters and Minister Bains had sat outside the BBMB guest house, where they allegedly locked the Chairman Manoj Tripathi inside while he was on an inspection visit to the Bhakra Nangal Dam.
Speaking to the reporters, Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains stated that they were compelled to lock the gates as they are already giving Haryana plenty of water on humanitarian grounds.
Bains questioned the BBMB chairman’s early morning visit to the dam and asked what emergency he and Haryana have for the water. He also demanded action against the BBMB chairman.
“We are compelled to lock the gates. It is a matter of our water. We all know the situation facing the country, and Punjab being the border state, we are fighting for the country. hundreds of our villages have been vacated, the whole state is on red alert. At a time like this, what emergency arose in Haryana that the BBMB Chairman comes early in the morning and asks that water be released into Haryana… We demand action against BBMB Chairman… All local leaders and people are sitting here on protest and we will continue till our CM does not arrive here and guides us on what to do next. On humanitarian grounds, we are already giving plenty of water to Haryana…” Bains said.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, BBMB Chairman Manoj Tripathi conveyed that the keys and the control of the dam are with the Chief Engineer of Bhakra Nangal Dam.
“… The keys and control of the dam is with Chief Engineer Bhakra,” he said.
Reacting to this matter, DIG Ropar Range, Harcharan Singh Bhullar, stated that strict action will be taken if anyone takes law and order into their hands.
“… The Chairman said he would head to Chandigarh for a meeting with the CM. If anyone takes law and order into their hands, we will take strict action… People locked the gates of the BBMB guest house…” he said.