In rare display of bipartisan unity, Punjab MLAs cutting across party lines unite in slamming Centre, seeking repeal of Act

Chandigarh: In a rare display of bipartisan unity, members of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha across political parties voiced strong support for a resolution to safeguard the state's water resources, while sharply criticising the Centre for alleged historical injustices.BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma extended full backing from the Punjab unit of his party to the resolution, questioning why Haryana had received water in excess of its due share over the past three years."We may call it the magnanimity of Punjabis or whatever, but we should have held a discussion on that as well," he said. "This is not a fight against Haryana. We are fighting to safeguard our rights."Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira escalated the tone of criticism, blaming what he termed a "deep state" for systemic discrimination against Punjab. He linked recent national events — including unrest in Manipur, issues in Jammu & Kashmir UT, and political developments in southern states — to covert central interference. He also accused the "deep state" of orchestrating the premature end of the farmers' agitation.Khaira condemned the removal of Punjab's permanent power representative from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and urged the state govt to move the high court or Supreme Court. He, along with Congress colleague Pargat Singh, called the Dam Safety Act an "erroneous" piece of legislation designed to centralise control, at the cost of Punjab's autonomy.Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali laid blame at the feet of past Congress-led govts, both at the state and Centre, for allowing "excesses" and enabling "discrimination against Punjab." He too called for the repeal of the Dam Safety Act. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema of the Aam Aadmi Party demanded accountability from the opposition — Congress particularly — for what he described as "historical blunders" in managing Punjab's water interests. He urged opposition leaders to apologise to the people and called on the Punjab and Haryana high court to take cognisance of the crisis.Echoing the sense of urgency, education minister Harjot Singh Bains highlighted the water crisis in his Anandpur Sahib constituency, where dozens of villages have inadequate access to both drinking and irrigation water — despite being close to the Bhakra Main Line and Nangal Dam. "With no coal, gold, or oil, groundwater is Punjab's only natural resource. And it's vanishing," he said, citing data that 90% of the state's groundwater blocks are over-exploited and now classified as dark zones.Bains warned against releasing excess water from the Bhakra Dam, asserting that the region's agrarian economy was already at risk due to groundwater depletion.