CHANDIGARH: In a fiery outburst, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday condemned Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s remarks on the contentious Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue. Badal accused Mann of distorting Sikh history by invoking Bhai Kanhaiya’s legacy to justify sharing Punjab’s river waters with Haryana.
Posting on X, Badal labeled Mann’s comparison as ‘shameful and an insult to the faith.’ He drew a sharp distinction: ‘Offering water to the thirsty in battle, as Bhai Kanhaiya did, is an act of compassion blessed by Guru Gobind Singh. But surrendering Punjab’s lifeline—its river waters—is an entirely different matter. This is about our rightful share, not charity.’
Badal demanded an apology from Mann for twisting Sikh teachings. He recalled how the SAD government under Parkash Singh Badal had de-notified the canal and returned lands to farmers, claiming it resolved the SYL dispute permanently.
The row erupted after Mann’s meeting with Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini. Speaking to reporters, Mann referenced Bhai Kanhaiya, who provided water to enemy soldiers during war, saying, ‘Haryana is not our enemy but our brother. Guru’s teachings guide us.’
Badal likened Mann’s stance to former Congress CM Darbara Singh’s capitulation to Indira Gandhi. ‘SAD will never tolerate this betrayal of Punjab’s waters,’ he asserted.
As inter-state water disputes simmer, Badal’s attack underscores deepening political rifts in Punjab ahead of key electoral battles. The SYL canal, envisioned to carry water from Punjab’s rivers to Haryana, has long fueled tensions, with Punjab citing its own water scarcity.
