From the status of Chandigarh to sharing of the Ravi- Beas waters, Haryana and Punjab have always been at loggerheads over water and territorial disputes but these issues, mostly swept under the carpet, suddenly crop up during the election season, especially in Haryana. In line with the trend, this poll season is no exception.
From Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) chief Kuldeep Bishnoi to the state’s BJP unit, all have pledged to bring Haryana’s share of water from Punjab to end the scarcity, especially in southern Haryana that depends heavily on rainwater.
The last attempt to solve these disputes was made post Operation Bluestar in July 1985, after Punjab had been through its most turbulent period brought on by terrorism due to these disputes. As per the then accord, Chandigarh was to go to Punjab while the Hindi-speaking areas in the Abohar- Fazilka belt would go to Haryana. A tribunal was constituted to settle claims on the Ravi- Beas waters which were to flow to Haryana through the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.
The Eradi Commission, which handed an interim report in 1987, submitted its recommendations suggesting that Punjab get 5 million acre-feet (MAF) of water and Haryana get 3.83 MAF. The river water dispute then moved to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favour of Haryana by urging the Centre to complete the canal but the instructions have been caught in legal wrangling.
The state Congress is now promising to bring the waters.”We are committed to bringing our share of SYL waters to the state. It’s time that the Central government cooperates with the state and gets the river completed as per the directions of the Supreme Court,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala told The Indian Express. He contested the suggestion that these issues crop up only during elections. “It is true that certain other topical issues take over but these are emotional issues of 2.5 crore Haryanvis.
We have passed a resolution in the House and hope that the central government will come forward to complete the remaining portion of the canal as per Supreme Court orders,” Surjewala said, adding that Punjab tries to bully the government on the issue of Chandigarh. The Opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), however, strongly contests the Congress observation. “It was a Congress government in Punjab that brought the Termination of River Waters Act which hampered the construction of the canal. The party only wants to take political advantage by raising these issues otherwise it is the Congress that has deprived the people of the state of their claim on river waters and Chandigarh. It is only the INLD that would get these issues solved,” said senior INLD member Ram Pal Majra.
State Congress president Ashok Tanwar counters citing the INLD’s proximity to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Tanwar said that apart from the SYL waters, the Badals have also opposed the state on the issues of Chandigarh and a separate gurdwara management Committee. “The INLD has also sided with the Badals on these issues. I am surprised that the INLD wants people
of the state to vote for it when the party has been working for the interests of Punjab by joining hands with the Akali Dal,” Tanwar said.
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The Haryana BJP, however, has high hopes because of its government at the Centre. It was Anil Vij, leader of the BJP Legislature Party, who urged the ruling Congress government to take a delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “People of the state are emotionally attached with the issues.
These are rightful claims which are denied to us by the Punjab government. It is better if these are solved as early as possible,” said Vij. Across the border in Punjab, the state’s leaders operate in a similar shrill voice stating that not a drop of water will be released to Haryana. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal ironically faces flak here as well due to his ties with the INLD. This despite the SAD-BJP government having made its stand clear by contesting Haryana’s contentions in the Supreme Court. “Badals have sacrificed the interests of Punjab for their own. Forget about claiming Chandigarh, Badal has never even raised this issue. He would never doso as his property worth crores is in Chandigarh and he would not like it to be a part of Punjab. Moreover, he doesn’t want to annoy people in Haryana also as he has his liaisons with INLD’s Chautalas,” state Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa alleged.
The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), however, states that it will only accept a democratic solution to the problems but has made it clear on which side of the divide it is on. When the Haryana Vidhan Sabha passed a resolution to take a delegation to the Prime Minister, the Akali Dal too passed a resolution at its core committee meeting reiterating its stand that Punjab won’t share even a single drop of water and that the state has the lawful right on the SYL waters.
SAD general secretary and advisor to the CM, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, reiterated his party’s commitment to a democratic solution.”We cannot say that we want Chandigarh as our individual capital. When the new government took over, the Chief Minister reiterated this demand in his first ever memorandum to the Prime Minister. How can anybody say CM has never taken up these issues?” Grewal asked.
Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India.
Professional Background
Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state.
Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions.
Special Projects:
Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship.
Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government:
1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs
"Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA.
"Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor.
"Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas.
2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls
"Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections.
"AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections.
"Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership.
3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy
"Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government.
"Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP.
4. Welfare & Economy
"Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program.
"Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025).
Signature Beat
Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens.
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