Guru Gobind Singh Allowed Water Even To Enemies: Centre While Opposing Punjab Govt's Plea Against Allocation Of Extra Dam Water To Haryana

The Union, Haryana government and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) on Monday (May 26) opposed the Punjab Government's application to recall Court's May 06 order, which paved way for release of 'extra water' from Bhakra Nangal Dam to HaryanaChief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel reserved the matter after hearing the parties at length.The Additional Solicitor General for Union Satya Pal Jain quoting an incident from the life of Guru Gobind Singh said that the Sikh leader summoned one Bhai Kanhaiya to explain the complaint about his actions on the battlefield.Guru Gobind Singh said, "These brave Sikhs are saying that you go and feed water to the enemy and they recover to fight them again – Is this true?"Bhai Kanhaiya replied "Yes, Guru, what they say is true. But Maharaj, I saw no Mughal or Sikh on the battlefield. I only saw human beings..."The Guru was very pleased with the reply and he also gave Bhai Kanhaiya Ji medical Balm and said "From now on, You should also put this balm on the wounds of all who need it."ASG Jain, reiterating the stand of the Union, said that "two officers of the Punjab Government had attended the meeting on May 2 (where the Union Government had allegedly decided to allocate an extra share of water to Haryana), and till date, none have come forward to dispute this...Their point of view was recorded and they didn't dissent.""Punjab do not want to comply with the Court's directions that is why they have come to recall the order, Punjab submitted that they have been bullied institutionally, I say Punjab is bullying Haryana, Union..." he added.On the other hand, AG Haryana Pravindra Singh Chauhan submitted that BBMB is a statutory and expert body responsible for implementing the rules and allocating water to the parties.He further said that, "Punjab is saying that it has calculated the amount of water allocated to it. For them, it's a mathematical calculation. But can we truly calculate it? The answer is no. The share of water is an estimation, based on the depth of the Bhakra Nangal Dam."He added that, "Haryana was not asking for a share from Punjab's portion."During the period when Haryana faced an acute shortage of drinking water, it was only then that Haryana made the request.Refuting the submissions, Senior Advocate Gurminder Singh, along with Additional Advocate General Chanchal Singla, appearing for the Punjab Government, disputed the claim that the officers of the Punjab Government did not object during the meeting.He stated that, as per Article 166, the Union Government is required to record the conduct of business. However, it did not record the minutes of the meeting on the same day. For the meeting held on May 2, the minutes were recorded only on May 9.Senior advocate Singh further said that it has been submitted that the order of the meeting was conveyed over phone. "However no such order was passed stating so...No authentic record was produced before the Court...Farman-e-Shahi is not recognised by our Constitution," he added.Also read: Bhakra Nangal Dam | Decision To Allocate Extra Water To Haryana Not Taken By Competent Authority: Punjab Govt Tells High CourtWater Released From Bhakra Nangal Dam Is Lifeline Of Haryana Farmers: State Tells High Court Amid Dispute With Punjab Govt

Guru Gobind Singh Allowed Water Even To Enemies: Centre While Opposing Punjab Govt's Plea Against Allocation Of Extra Dam Water To Haryana

Aiman J. Chishti

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