Bhartiya Kisan Union loader Agnes Singh Lakhowal deserves full credit for his initiative on the Punjab river water issue, He _fisted representatives of political parties to a conclave at Mukatsar early this week to discuss the matter. All main Akali faction loaders tike Gureharan Singh Tohra, Prakash Singh Baniwal, Bhai Manjit Singh, etc. responded, The Congress(t), the CP.(M), the CP. and the BJP turned a blind eye to the meeting but dissident Congress(I) M.P., Jagmeet Singh Bran, was present. Almost all speakers were unanimous on the fact that the water of all three rivers the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi belonged 10 Punjab as right and that the neighboring states Haryana and Rajasthan « have no right to share any water of those rivers. Therefore, the question is not merely of stopping the construction of the proposed Sutlej} Yamuna link canal in Punjab. The Key issue pensions to the stoppage of the current supply to Rajasthan and Haryana through the Rajasthan canal and the Bhakri mainline canal, respectively, Both Jagmeet Singh Brar and Lakhowal ascertained the views of the participants as to whether this supply should be stopped! And the public enthuses {icily supported the move. Lakhowal on behalf of the conference gave Rajasthan and Haryana one year to make alternative arrangements, at the end of the year, Punjab would put oils own use the entire water of its rivers. The conference clearly stilted the proposed canal to carry additional water to Haryana would not be allowed to be built. If necessary, a joint movement would be launched to force the government to slop work on the proposed canal. Among major decisions of the conference is the annulment of all post 1947 agreements on the water issue. Under the 1956 so called agreement, water of Punjab Rivers was allowed to flow to Rajasthan and the Rajasthan canal was built for that purpose. Similarly, through the Bhakra mainline canal water was released for Haryana. More water is proposed to be taken to Haryana through the S. Y.L. canal. Interestingly, the present Punjab chief Minister had written to the central government a [we months ago pleading for abrogating all post1967 arrangements on the Punjab Water issue. In other words, at least on paper there is no great venation in the stand of the major opposition groups assembled at Mukisar and the Punjab government led by the Congress (I), but the trouble is that political leaders say one thing and practice another. That is trie not only of the Congress (I) leaders but also of non-Congress leaders. The Mukatsar conclave will put down as a historic event if all Participant political parties henceforth take a joint stand on this Key issue. In this connection, we would like to suggest that Lakhowal should push ahead with his initiative to persuade Akali groups to have the decisions of the conclave also put by the ‘excusive committees of the groups so that there is uniformity and commitment, at political organizational level. A mention was made of the need to launch a popular agitation to force the government to stop work on the S. YL. Canal, Agitations are easy to launch but difficult to sustain without adequate prior preparation. Badal suggested the enrolment of million voluntects to munh the morcha. Pending that, the political parties should show commitment to the issues, it should not tum out to be mere thionic aimed at addressing the gallery. The organizers must formulate a specific set of political stand, have it Okayed by all the participants and distrusted not only in India but throughout the world. ‘The above suggestions are aimed at making the decisions. Of the conclave meaningful and practical, Political leaders in Punjab are in the habit of making use of all available for a to deliver impressive speeches only to be forgotten until the next such Occasion. Prakash Singh Badal denied his government accepted any money in 197780 for the construction of the SY.L. Canal but refrained from clarifying as to why, in his briefing to the government’s advocacy, he wanted the supply of water to Rajasthan not to be made a bone of contention in the Supreme Court. A still bigger, criminal act of the Akali leaders was the signing of the Rajiy Longowal accord or supping touting the guise of party discipline. That accord provided for continuing work on the S.Y_L. canal, In fact, more than 809% of the work on the canal was done when the Akalis ruled Punjab, Nothing exposes the illogical and bankrupt politics of Akalis more than their of repeated grouse against the Indian government that it had not implemented “even the Rajiv Longowal accord.” Do they want this atrocious anti Punjab accord to be implemented and the S.Y.L. completed? Therefore, if the Akalis want their credibility to be reestablished, they music distance themselves from and denounce in no uncertain terms the Rajiy Longowal accord, Otherwise, the people will be justified in concluding that they. Have been tricked once again at the hands of Akali leaders, for. Did not the same very Akall leaders declare at Anandpur Sahib that their goal was “Khalistan” but in subsequent months spoke in altogether different tones? In any case, Ajmer Singh Lakhowal and his friends should pursue the matter and make Akali leaders realize their responsibility towards the people of Punjab, frame a uniform, unified policy document, and distribute it in the world preparatory to a historic mass struggle on the issue. Happily, the public at large has now greater understanding of the problem, they could no: Longer be tricked by anyone.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 9, 1994
