Haryana’s Energy, Transport and Labour Minister, Sh. Anil Vij, launched a verbal attack today on Punjab Chief Minister Sh. Bhagwant Singh Mann, stating that, “These people (referring to CM Mann and the AAP Party) are working against Punjab’s culture, which has always been about organizing chhabils and offering water to people. Instead, they are trying to deprive us (Haryana) of our rightful share.”
He also said that “In 1971, the soldiers won the war on the battlefield, but Indira Gandhi lost it at the negotiation table.” Sh.Vij said that “evidence of war cannot be disclosed.” Sh. Vij was responding to media questions in Chandigarh regarding Punjab’s refusal to release water.
“This water does not belong to any one state, it belongs to the entire country” : Anil Vij
Pointing a finger at Punjab, he said that “This water is not generated by Punjab. The water is coming from Himachal Pradesh, not Punjab. This water does not belong to any single state, it is a national resource, and we (Haryana) also have a right to it. We are only asking for our rightful share of 8,500 cusecs.”
Sh. Vij’s Question: Why does not the AAP government in Punjab listen to anyone?
Criticizing the Punjab government, Sh. Vij said that “You (the AAP government) do not listen to anyone. In a previous meeting of secretaries, it was agreed that more water should be given to Haryana, yet that decision was ignored. You do not respect the Honourable Court, independent institutions, the CBI, the ED so who do you respect? Just yourselves?”
“They are trying to create chaos even as there is a war and tension with Pakistan” : Anil Vij
When asked about the deployment of AAP party workers to guard water distribution points (previously done by police), Sh.Vij said that “They are trying to stir up unrest at a time when there’s a war-like situation and tension with Pakistan.
No one knows what may happen tomorrow. While you have (AAP’s Punjab government) created internal conflict here, it feels like just as we have blocked water to Pakistan and the Indus river, Punjab has now blocked Haryana’s water and that’s not right.”
“Why did not they stop water when AAP was in power in Delhi?” : Anil Vij
Responding to the accusation of water theft, Sh.Vij dismissed the statement as “low-level” and emphasized that the matter is before the Honourable Court and should not be commented on publicly. “Although I should not be speaking either, I am compelled to respond because of the statements made by Punjab.”
In response to questions about growing BJP support in Punjab, he countered with, “Why did not you stop the water when AAP was in power in Delhi? Now that AAP has lost in Delhi, you want to take revenge on us (Haryana)?”
“They are provoking at a time when the entire country stands united” : Anil Vij
When asked if the Punjab government is inciting farmers on the water issue, Sh.Vij responded that “This is provocation at a time when the entire country is united, and all political parties are standing together. When two border states are involved, do you (Punjab CM Sh. Bhagwant Singh Mann) really want to shift focus from national issues to a water dispute?”
“The instrument of accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh included PoK, and it was given to us” : Anil Vij
In response to a question regarding the ceasefire with Pakistan and the perception that it was Indira Gandhi who released Pakistani soldiers and negotiated from a position of weakness, Sh. Vij said that “Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ruined the country by first imposing an emergency, and then in the 1971 war, even though we had 93,000 prisoners of war and around 13,000 acres of land captured by our army, we failed to enforce any conditions.
We could have asked for PoK, which is rightfully ours. Soldiers won the war on the battlefield, but Indira Gandhi lost it at the negotiation table. The accession document signed by Maharaja Hari Singh included PoK, and it was given to us.” In response to the opposition’s demand for a special session, he concluded by reiterating that “proof of war cannot be provided.”
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