SYL Canal Row Escalates After CM Mann’s Remarks; Akali Dal, Congress Slam Punjab Govt

January 29, 2026

Following a meeting between the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana regarding the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s statement sparked a political uproar. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) made it clear that it would not allow the SYL Canal to be built under any circumstances.

Meanwhile, the Congress party has also begun to corner the Punjab government on this issue. The Punjab Congress has alleged that the AAP government is preparing to give Punjab’s water to Haryana under the guise of Bhai Ghanayya’s teachings.

The SAD has taken a firm stand on this issue and made it clear that it will not allow the SYL canal to be built under any circumstances. Punjab doesn’t have its own water, so how can it provide water to anyone else?

Opposition became aggressive due to this statement of CM Mann.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said in a joint press conference, “We are the heirs of Bhai Ghanayya Ji. He even gave water to our enemies. Haryana is not our enemy, it is our brother.” This statement has raised questions about the government’s intentions, prompting the opposition to question the government’s intentions.

Akali Dal Says SYL Canal Will Not Be Allowed

Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal strongly objected to the Chief Minister’s statement. He categorically stated that the SYL Canal is against the interests of Punjab and that the Akali Dal will not allow its construction under any circumstances. Sukhbir Badal said that Punjab is already facing a severe water crisis. The state does not have enough water for agriculture, drinking water, and industry. Therefore, any attempt to transfer water to Haryana would be a betrayal of Punjab’s farmers.

Akali Dal claims, fought from the streets to the Supreme Court

Akali Dal leaders stated that the Akali Dal has led the strongest and most consistent struggle against the SYL project. They stated that whether it was protests, introducing legislation in the Assembly, or representing Punjab in the Supreme Court, the Akali Dal has always stood by Punjab’s water cause.

How did the Akali Dal get back SYL land?

In 2016, the Akali Dal government passed a bill in the Assembly to return the SYL canal land. Prakash Singh Badal, the then Chief Minister of the Akali Dal government, made it clear that the land would be returned so that the idea of ​​rebuilding it would be impossible.

Congress Accuses AAP of Softening Stand

The Congress party has also criticized the Aam Aadmi Party government. On its social media account, it wrote that the water dispute is being emotionally charged by citing great Sikh figures like Bhai Ghanaiya. The Congress alleges that the AAP government is under pressure from the central government and Haryana and is using soft language to sway its position.

Other Sikh Bodies Also Raise Objections

Punarsurjit Akali Dal President and former Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said that the Punjab Chief Minister should make it clear that they do not have water. He said that Punjab should stipulate that they will receive water only after their share is fulfilled, and they will have to pay royalties for it.

Why the SYL Issue Has Resurfaced

The SYL canal dispute is pending in the Supreme Court, and the court has directed both governments to resolve the issue through negotiations. Following the court’s order, the central government has also shown active support.

This is why the two Chief Ministers met to discuss how to move forward. As the series of meetings began, the opposition felt that the issue would remain unresolved without providing water to Haryana. The opposition also wanted Punjab’s water not to be transferred to Haryana.

SYL Dispute: A Long-Standing Conflict

The Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute has been a major source of conflict between Punjab and Haryana for the past seven decades. It began in 1955 , when the first agreement was signed to share the waters of the Ravi-Beas rivers. Haryana did not exist at that time.