Tensions Flare in Punjab-Haryana Water Dispute Amid Alleged Detention

In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing water-sharing dispute between Haryana and Punjab, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has accused Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains of detaining the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) Chairman, demanding legal action and treason charges. Bittu criticized the Punjab government's actions, asserting that they pose a threat to national security and violate judicial rulings.

The dispute took a contentious turn as AAP supporters and Bains allegedly locked BBMB Chairman Manoj Tripathi inside a guest house during an inspection at the Bhakra Nangal Dam. Minister Bains questioned the timing of Tripathi's visit, suggesting undue urgency on Haryana's part, and called for action against the chairman.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused the BBMB of releasing water to Haryana without state consent, framing the water politics as a BJP-led imposition against Punjab. Meanwhile, DIG Ropar Range warned of strict measures against any disruptions of law and order. This situation underlines a broader regional conflict over water resources.

(With inputs from agencies.)