On day of Mann’s debate in Punjab, remembering 1982 debate on SYL between Sr Badal, Bir Devinder

Congress’s Darbara Singh was then the chief minister. The debate was held after Badal had moved a motion under Rule 77 on “the situation arising out of the agreement regarding the distribution of water of Ravi-Beas signed on 31st December, 1981,” for discussion.

After Haryana and Punjab became two separate states in 1966, Haryana had been claiming its ‘right’ over Ravi and Beas river waters via the SYL canal.

During the 1982 Vidhan Sabha debate, Badal had accused then CM Darbara Singh of signing the “death warrant” for Punjab, referring to repercussions that water sharing would have on farmers in the state.

“Many chief ministers came and went… The coming generations will say that they needed water for irrigation and farming but the government of Darbara Singh came and signed their death warrant and snatched their water from them. Here I am not talking as a leader of the Opposition but saying what my heart feels. Darbara Singh ji, you should immediately resign over this issue. Then I believe you will be revered not only across the country, but the world,” Badal had said. “By resigning you would prove that nothing matters to you more than the right of Punjab over its waters,” he had added.

“This canal won’t be allowed to be dug at any cost… this government can issue as many tenders and notifications they want…” Badal had said.

Badal had also said that Akali Dal would not refrain from “taking bullets on its chest” if the Congress government failed to work for the rights of Punjab. He said, “Such grave injustice has never been done to Punjab nor will it happen in the future. Hence, to protect the rights and welfare of Punjab, we urge you to work with all might… Otherwise, it will be your… bullets from rifles, and our chests to take them in.”

Bir Devinder, while targeting Badal, referred to what he described as a “love letter” written by then prime minister Morarji Desai to Badal when the latter was the CM in 1977, on the issue of transfer of control of overhead works in Punjab to the Bhakra Beas Management Board. Bir, while quoting Desai’s letter to Badal, said the former PM had urged Badal to “comply” with the provisions and enforce them.

While speaking earlier, Badal said he had told Desai that “injustice” was done to Punjab. “The surplus water touching Punjab and Haryana should be distributed in a 60:40 ratio. But after all calculations, it was found that Haryana was already getting more than the required share… Even if we consider that Haryana is our brother and we divide water 50:50, even then they are not entitled to more water as per the law and pool system… I had urged the same to former PM Morarji Desai also that a great injustice was being done to Punjab and after looking at all facts, he too had agreed and had reopened the case,” Badal had said.

Bir also referred to payment accepted by the Badal government for digging up the SYL Canal in Punjab. Later, Badal sent a return cheque to the Haryana government in 2016 when Akali Dal was in power. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, however, had refused to accept it.

Bir Devinder had also said in the debate that it was Haryana that had moved the court first. “They (Akali Dal) are claiming that they moved the court first. It is wrong. It is Haryana that first moved to the court demanding implementation of their water award. The Akali Dal government had even accepted the money to dig the canal. It is Darbara Singh who got the case reopened and presented Punjab’s case in a proper manner,” he added.

Badal further clarified that when then PM Morarji Desai had written to him to transfer the control of headworks in Punjab to Bhakra Beas Management, he had “shown enough guts and communicated to Desai that till the time he was Punjab’s CM, all headworks will remain with the state.” “But they (Congress) never dared to say a word when Indira Gandhi wrote and ordered them,” Badal had said.

“I once again urge Darbara Singh to resign as CM on this issue, if you contest the election again on this issue, Akali Dal won’t contest against you. We will call you Banda Bahadur for protecting the rights of Punjab,” Badal had said. “This canal won’t be dug at any cost. It is us, who without caring for our chairs or posts, took the fight to the Supreme Court to get justice for Punjab over its water rights. We can even sacrifice our lives for Punjab,” said Akali Dal’s late patriarch.

It was at Kapoori village in Patiala district where then PM Indira Gandhi had performed the ground-breaking ceremony of the SYL canal in April 1982, in the presence of the then Punjab CM Darbara Singh and Haryana CM Bhajan Lal, but the canal never became a reality and the dispute continues in the Supreme Court.