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Fearing backlash, Govt asks minister to return to Delhi; cancels Punjab event

The decisions came reportedly after Punjab BJP unit warned the central leadership that sharing of waters with other states was already an emotive issue in state where farmers have in the past led protests against lion's share of water going to Rajasthan via Gang canal.

Written by: Kanchan Vasdev, Raakhi Jagga

3 min readChandigarh, LudhianaUpdated: Dec 5, 2025 06:04 AM IST

Fearing backlash, Govt asks minister to return to Delhi; cancels Punjab event

The poster of centenary celebrations of Gang canal.

The Centre Thursday cancelled a function scheduled in Hussainiwala in Ferozepur on Friday to mark 100 years of Gang canal, which supplies water from Punjab to Rajasthan, and asked Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who had landed at Amritsar airport late in the evening, to return to Delhi.

The decisions came reportedly after Punjab BJP unit warned the central leadership that sharing of waters with other states was already an emotive issue in state where farmers have in the past led protests against lion’s share of water going to Rajasthan via Gang canal.

The Centre’s U-turn comes soon after it had to backtrack on at least two other controversial decisions pertaining to Punjab — dissolving the senate and syndicate of Panjab University, changing the administrative structure of Chandigarh.

Meghwal, Union minister of law and justice, was scheduled to participate in a function a 7 am at Hussainiwala Friday to mark 100 years of the canal, foundation stone of which was laid on December 5, 1925 at Ferozepur in Punjab. Meghwal will now participate in another function at Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, which will be attended by CM Bhajan Lal Sharma.

Former Punjab Congress minister Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, who joined BJP ahead of 2022 polls, was also supposed to attend the function along with Meghwal. Sodhi’s son, Anumit Singh Hira Sodhi told The Indian Express that the function was cancelled. “It was a puja ceremony. PM Narendra Modi has called him (Meghwal) back to Delhi. He is flying back late at night.”

Earlier in the day, condemning BJP, Punjab LoP Partap Singh Bajwa said that it was “insensitive and politically provocative” decision to celebrate the centenary of the Gang canal from Punjab’s soil.

He said that the canal was constructed by the British to appease Maharaja Ganga Singh of the erstwhile Bikaner princely state. “This colonial-era arrangement, made without the consent of Punjabis, left Punjab’s farmers to bear the long-term ecological and economic consequences. The Gang canal was never a gift to Punjab —it was a political favour granted by foreign rulers at Punjab’s expense,” he said, adding that for Punjabis, the canal evokes memories not of development, but of historic injustice.

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He added, “Instead of addressing urgent issues such as groundwater depletion, collapsing canal systems, the agrarian crisis, the BJP has chosen to celebrate an episode of colonial appeasement that drained Punjab’s resources. This is not commemoration — it is provocation. The BJP is rubbing salt on Punjab’s historical wounds.”

Meghwal had also shared a poster on X, “This is a tribute to the remarkable legacy of good governance, foresight, and public welfare—a heritage that enriched the land of the region and gave a new direction to life.”

However, Punjab farmers questioned both the timing and the location of the celebrations.

Kanchan Vasdev

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. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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