All this is done by the Nehru family in transgression of riparian States traditional, civic rights, the rights of riparian people to use the water as much as their requirements and giving orders what is left surplus by the riparian’s. These rights have been universally accepted in law and practice. The British accepted this civic right of the people in their dealings with irrigation affairs for more than 200 years in India. When the Gang canal was allowed by the British to be dug the ruler of the sandy State had accepted the rights of Punjab and Bahawalpur States and had to pay for water. Even Pepsu paid to Punjab for the part of the Sirhund canal serving the former. This civic right of the people was enshrined in the 1935 Government of India Act. This principal was also incorporated in the Indian Constitution in 1950.

As such under the Indian Constitution the river water is a “State subject” but Mr. Rajiv Gandhi insists unconstitutionally on the matter being treated a. part of the “Union List” or the “Concurrent List”. The Punjab Chief Minister did well to reiterate the correct constitutional position and asked the Prime Minister to let States enter into bilateral agreements, if any. But Mr, Gandhi arrogantly stated at the start of the conference that the water was “national asset” riparian rights of the States or no riparian rights.

The Centre wants the S.Y.L. canal to be dug irrespective of Haryanas constitutional rights to Punjab river water. That is why late Mrs., Gandhi compelled Mr. Darbara Singh to withdraw a case pending before the Supreme Court and in the words of Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, arrogantly went ahead with the December 31, 1981 agreement among the Congress (I) government of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The same thing is being repeated by Mr. Rajiv Gandhi who insists on completing the canal before a tribunal could deliver it judgment on sharing the rivers. The Prime Minister has the support of Hindu Press in this blatant violation of constitutional norms. It is a pity that not, many Hindus are coming forth to denounce the extra constitutional panth chosen by Mr. Gandhi to favors Hindu States at the cost of a Sikh majority State, When we refer to Hindus we also mean the B.J.P. Hindus, the CPI. Hindus, the C.P.M. Hindus and the Lok Dal Hindus.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 17, 1986