Ask for Royalty from Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana
- Memo to Capt. Amarinder Singh
Friday August 20th, 2004
A seminar was organised on August 20th 2004 at Ludhiana to discuss Punjab's river waters crisis. A document highlighting
the misdeeds of Punjab leadership vis-a-vis River Waters issue was released on the occasion. At the conclusion of seminar
it was decided to present a memorandum to the Punjab Govt. for taking measures to safeguard the states' only natural
resources i.e., River Waters.
Dal Khalsa wrote a letter to Punjab Chief Minister urging him to demand Royalty from non-riparian states like Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana for using the state's river waters. The memorandum sent to Captain Amrinder Singh through SDM, Ludhiana was signed by H S Dhami, Kanwar Pal Singh (both leaders of the Dal Khalsa), Karnail Singh Panjoli, Member SGPC, Advocate D.S. Gill, chairman IHRO and Dr Gurdarashan Singh Dhillon. Excerpts of the letter.
By passing 'The Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004', the Punjab assembly under your leadership has done a
commendable job. It was an act that needed a strong political will to do it. And you had exemplified that courage.
You are well aware how the successive Indian governments had robbed the state of its river waters since 1955. The Congress regimes under Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi played havoc with the state by giving the states river waters to non-riparian states (Read Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi) by force and design. All Congress regimes were unanimous in their policies vis-à-vis the Punjab was concerned: deprive the citizens of Punjab of their legitimate and fundamental rights. Section 78, 79, 80 of the Punjab's Reorganization Act, 1966 is the glaring example how the Union government arrogated the powers to itself with regard to Punjab's River Waters in gross violation of the spirit of the law and the Constitution. The Rajiv-Longowal accord was a sham. It was a time when the Sikh psyche was severely hurt after the demolition of the Akal Takht and assault on Darbar Sahib. By signing the accord, Harchand Singh Longowal betrayed the Sikhs and Rajiv Gandhi rubbed salt on the wounds of Sikhs. While dealing with the recent river waters crisis, you might have learned how rulers of Delhi deceived us on one or other pretext. Whenever the people of the state raised their voice against discrimination and repressive policies of the Congress regimes, they were dubbed as "mindless" and their concern as "imaginative".
Anyhow, we have no intention to dwell into the past. However, it was necessary to place the factual position before you as for the first time the state have got a leader who has reflected his resolve to protect the interests of the state at all cost.
We are convinced that no other chief minister could have dared to put the notorious goon Ajit Singh Phoola (so-called Nihang) behind bars for his past sins keeping in view the clout Phoola enjoys within the top brass of the police. You need an appreciation for discharging your role and responsibility in letter and spirit.
Coming back to the agenda, the water crisis is not over. The government, its opposition and citizens of the state have borne the brunt of criticism for protecting their own natural resources. All shades of political parties as well as mainstream media has tried to portray the Punjabis as "villains" of the peace and national integrity. Who cares for Punjabis! Ruining their self-respect is order of the day in Delhi. "Call the dog mad and shoot him" is what Delhi has been doing with Punjabis all these years. Media has always sided with Delhi against Punjab. What could be the outcome of parleys between the Cabinet, the President and the Supreme Court is yet to be ascertained. Sensing the anti-Punjab mindset that still prevails in Delhi's corridors one thing is clear the state is not going to get proper justice.
On the face of it, your efforts to stop the construction of Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) have yielded the results. The Act, 2004 had stalled the further flow of water to Haryana through SYL. However, while taking this daring step the Punjab should have also stopped the flow of waters to Rajasthan and Haryana. The apportionment of water should have been re-negotiated at own terms if the Punjab was to give its waters to non-riparian neighbour as mark of goodwill gesture. Section 5 should not have been a part of the Act. The Act should be amended to drop section 5 which protect the present flow of waters to Rajasthan and Haryana.
Till then, the Punjab government must ask the Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi governments to pay Royalty for using the waters of the Punjab Rivers. The state has no surplus water to share with other non-riparian neighbour at the cost of its own agriculture. Punjab is the owner of the waters of Satluj, Ravi and Beas. No force or legislation could deprive the state from its right of ownership. If the state is to give its River Waters to any non-riparian neighbour, then it has a right to ask for Royalty. You and your colleague legislators were well within their Constitutional Right when they passed the Act 2004, you would be within your rights the day you will ask for the Royalty. There are instances in the past when Punjab used to get Royalty from Rajasthan and Pepsu in lieu of water being supplied to these two states through Bikaner and Sirhind canal respectively.
We hope that you will continue with your efforts so as to take the issue to its logical conclusion. May Waheguru always keep you in Charhdi Kala. Punjab would be victorious against all odds by the grace of the Waheguru.
Dal Khalsa wrote a letter to Punjab Chief Minister urging him to demand Royalty from non-riparian states like Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana for using the state's river waters. The memorandum sent to Captain Amrinder Singh through SDM, Ludhiana was signed by H S Dhami, Kanwar Pal Singh (both leaders of the Dal Khalsa), Karnail Singh Panjoli, Member SGPC, Advocate D.S. Gill, chairman IHRO and Dr Gurdarashan Singh Dhillon. Excerpts of the letter.
By passing 'The Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004', the Punjab assembly under your leadership has done a
commendable job. It was an act that needed a strong political will to do it. And you had exemplified that courage. You are well aware how the successive Indian governments had robbed the state of its river waters since 1955. The Congress regimes under Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi played havoc with the state by giving the states river waters to non-riparian states (Read Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi) by force and design. All Congress regimes were unanimous in their policies vis-à-vis the Punjab was concerned: deprive the citizens of Punjab of their legitimate and fundamental rights. Section 78, 79, 80 of the Punjab's Reorganization Act, 1966 is the glaring example how the Union government arrogated the powers to itself with regard to Punjab's River Waters in gross violation of the spirit of the law and the Constitution. The Rajiv-Longowal accord was a sham. It was a time when the Sikh psyche was severely hurt after the demolition of the Akal Takht and assault on Darbar Sahib. By signing the accord, Harchand Singh Longowal betrayed the Sikhs and Rajiv Gandhi rubbed salt on the wounds of Sikhs. While dealing with the recent river waters crisis, you might have learned how rulers of Delhi deceived us on one or other pretext. Whenever the people of the state raised their voice against discrimination and repressive policies of the Congress regimes, they were dubbed as "mindless" and their concern as "imaginative".
Anyhow, we have no intention to dwell into the past. However, it was necessary to place the factual position before you as for the first time the state have got a leader who has reflected his resolve to protect the interests of the state at all cost.
We are convinced that no other chief minister could have dared to put the notorious goon Ajit Singh Phoola (so-called Nihang) behind bars for his past sins keeping in view the clout Phoola enjoys within the top brass of the police. You need an appreciation for discharging your role and responsibility in letter and spirit.
Coming back to the agenda, the water crisis is not over. The government, its opposition and citizens of the state have borne the brunt of criticism for protecting their own natural resources. All shades of political parties as well as mainstream media has tried to portray the Punjabis as "villains" of the peace and national integrity. Who cares for Punjabis! Ruining their self-respect is order of the day in Delhi. "Call the dog mad and shoot him" is what Delhi has been doing with Punjabis all these years. Media has always sided with Delhi against Punjab. What could be the outcome of parleys between the Cabinet, the President and the Supreme Court is yet to be ascertained. Sensing the anti-Punjab mindset that still prevails in Delhi's corridors one thing is clear the state is not going to get proper justice.
On the face of it, your efforts to stop the construction of Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) have yielded the results. The Act, 2004 had stalled the further flow of water to Haryana through SYL. However, while taking this daring step the Punjab should have also stopped the flow of waters to Rajasthan and Haryana. The apportionment of water should have been re-negotiated at own terms if the Punjab was to give its waters to non-riparian neighbour as mark of goodwill gesture. Section 5 should not have been a part of the Act. The Act should be amended to drop section 5 which protect the present flow of waters to Rajasthan and Haryana.
Till then, the Punjab government must ask the Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi governments to pay Royalty for using the waters of the Punjab Rivers. The state has no surplus water to share with other non-riparian neighbour at the cost of its own agriculture. Punjab is the owner of the waters of Satluj, Ravi and Beas. No force or legislation could deprive the state from its right of ownership. If the state is to give its River Waters to any non-riparian neighbour, then it has a right to ask for Royalty. You and your colleague legislators were well within their Constitutional Right when they passed the Act 2004, you would be within your rights the day you will ask for the Royalty. There are instances in the past when Punjab used to get Royalty from Rajasthan and Pepsu in lieu of water being supplied to these two states through Bikaner and Sirhind canal respectively.
We hope that you will continue with your efforts so as to take the issue to its logical conclusion. May Waheguru always keep you in Charhdi Kala. Punjab would be victorious against all odds by the grace of the Waheguru.