During a debate in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on a resolution opposing the deployment of CISF at dams, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann sharply criticized both the Congress and BJP for their divisive politics over the decades. He said that these parties have fueled division among people based on religion, region, language, and community just to grab power, which has caused long-term harm to the states and the nation. According to him, if India were free from the influence of these two parties, the country could achieve unprecedented growth across all sectors.
CM Bhagwant Mann mocked claims made in the media that PM Modi could end the Russia-Ukraine war, asking why he couldn’t broker peace between Punjab and Haryana. Both states, he said, are like brothers who together contribute over 70% to the national food pool. Yet, past governments from both BJP and Congress have intentionally kept them at odds for political gain, particularly over water disputes.
He further accused PM Modi of prioritizing foreign recognition over addressing India’s core issues. Citing the example of a past terrorist attack, CM Bhagwant Mann criticized the Centre for demanding ₹7.5 crore from Punjab for deploying paramilitary forces. He questioned why a border state like Punjab, which contributes the most soldiers to the armed forces, should have to pay for national security.
On the issue of water, CM Bhagwant Mann reiterated that Punjab has no surplus water to share. He argued that water is a highly sensitive issue for the state and criticized the fact that there has been no reassessment of river water allocations since 1955. With the recent suspension of the Indus Water Treaty by the Government of India, he emphasized that Punjab should get priority access to the waters of western rivers and proposed building new storage dams in Himachal Pradesh to address the state’s water needs.
He strongly opposed the central government’s plan to deploy CISF at Bhakra Dam, saying Punjab Police is already effectively handling security without any cost. The new plan would burden the state with a ₹9 crore annual expense, which he called unnecessary and unjustified.
CM Bhagwant Mann also slammed the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), calling it a “white elephant” that consistently acts against Punjab’s interests. Despite the state having a 60% share in BBMB, the board even uses Punjab’s own funds to file cases against it.
He accused central agencies like the CBI and ED of being misused to intimidate opposition-ruled states like Punjab and vowed to resist these tactics. He added that Punjab’s rights are being systematically ignored by the Centre.
Criticizing local opposition parties, CM Bhagwant Mann said they had historically betrayed Punjab’s water interests. Those who were once praised as “water saviors,” he claimed, were actually responsible for legal and political decisions that hurt Punjab. He accused them of collaborating with anti-Punjab forces and misleading people on the SYL canal issue.
Taking a dig at the Leader of the Opposition, Mann mocked his limited knowledge of Punjabi and said the Congress leader is using petty excuses to avoid debate and scrutiny. He claimed such leaders are driven solely by ambition, not public interest, and that they are in politics only because of voter disappointment with traditional parties.
CM Bhagwant Mann ended by saying that Punjab belongs to its 3.5 crore citizens, and only leaders chosen by them have the moral right to represent and serve them. He reminded Congress that it failed to win even a single seat in three consecutive Delhi Assembly elections and argued that its leaders no longer hold any credibility. Mann concluded that Punjab is a land of saints and sages where hatred will never take root, no matter how hard divisive forces try.