Punjab’s water cut to Haryana has sparked a political storm amid BJP’s rising influence and farmer unrest.
CHANDIGARH: The intensifying water dispute between Punjab and Haryana is widely seen as a strategic move by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to curb the rising influence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini, who has been actively working to strengthen the BJP’s outreach among farmers in the border state. Facing severe criticism from the farming community, the Bhagwant Mann government on April 29 abruptly slashed the water supply from Bhakra Dam to Haryana—from 9,500 cusecs to 4,000 cusecs— invoking Punjab’s river rights. However, political observers see the move as a bulwark to counter the BJP’s growing inroads into Punjab, especially its targeted outreach to the agrarian community. The decision came amid a series of high-profile visits and announcements by Saini, who has been wooing Punjab’s farmers with promises of a guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all 24 crops—mirroring Haryana’s model. Mann cited overutilization and Punjab’s own paddy season needs. “We are not bound to quench Haryana’s political thirst,” Mann said in a video message, adding that Punjab had already used 103% of its share. “Not a drop more,” he declared. Saini, emerging as the BJP’s OBC face in the north, has made seven visits to Punjab since January, holding rallies and energising the BJP cadre in places like Zirakpur. He spoke of his meetings with Punjab farmers and promised to implement a guaranteed MSP for all crops if the BJP forms the government in Punjab in 2027. “Punjab’s farmers deserve the same dignity and stability as Haryana’s under BJP rule,” he said at a rally in Zirakpur. Saini’s outreach is seen as a direct challenge to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, which is still grappling with farmer unrest, internal dissent, and a bruising defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections. Political analysts view Saini’s campaign as the BJP’s boldest attempt yet to tap into Punjab’s agrarian vote bank, especially after parting ways with its longtime ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal. Meanwhile, the Mann government has drawn criticism from the farmers for cracking down on protesters along the Punjab-Haryana borders. The year-long protest demanding legal guarantee for MSP culminated in large-scale sit-ins and dharnas, only to be met with police action, including baton charges, arrests, and the dismantling of temporary sheds. This has severely damaged the state government’s standing with the farming community. In a further blow, farmer unions have asked the Centre to exclude Punjab’s officials from any future MSP talks, leading to the suspension of a crucial May 4 meeting. “This government cracked down on our peaceful protests and delivered nothing,” said a spokesperson from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.