Punjab’s rivers are not just streams of water; they are the lifeline of our agriculture, economy, and culture. Yet, for decades, the people of Punjab have witnessed a systematic and deliberate conspiracy to rob the state of its rightful share of river waters. Time and again, successive Central governments, irrespective of their political colour, have devised cunning strategies to weaken Punjab’s claim and impose unjust allocations that violate the principles of riparian rights. Today, we are once again seeing fresh traps being laid—under new slogans, schemes, and commissions—but the ultimate goal remains the same: to divert Punjab’s waters while pacifying its leadership with hollow promises.
History bears testimony to how Punjab has been misled through deceit. The infamous water agreements of the past, such as the 1955, 1976, and 1981 accords, were forced upon Punjab without its consent, under political pressure, and in blatant violation of federal principles. These “agreements” facilitated the illegal transfer of Punjab’s river waters to non-riparian states, particularly Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi. The construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, a symbol of this injustice, continues to haunt the Punjabi psyche. Yet, instead of asserting our rightful ownership over our waters, Punjab’s leadership has too often fallen into the Centre’s trap of accepting toothless committees, fake reassurances, and diversionary policies designed only to delay and dilute the core issue.
Today, new gimmicks are being introduced under the garb of “national water sharing”, “interlinking of rivers”, and “inter-state cooperation”, which are nothing but new labels for the old agenda of snatching Punjab’s waters. Every few years, the Centre comes up with a new “tribunal” or “expert committee” to study water disputes, but these mechanisms have never delivered justice to Punjab. In reality, these are delay tactics meant to wear down Punjab’s resistance, while quietly continuing the illegal exploitation of our rivers. The recent attempts to bypass Punjab’s objections through backdoor negotiations and bureaucratic orders are a continuation of the same deceitful strategy.
It is high time Punjab’s leadership, across all political spectrums, recognizes these traps and unites to assert Punjab’s full and exclusive ownership over its river waters. The people of Punjab must reject any so-called “negotiation” or “compromise formula” that does not start from the basic principle of riparian rights, which clearly states that river waters belong first and foremost to the state where they originate. Any allocation of Punjab’s waters to non-riparian states is not just illegal—it is a direct attack on Punjab’s economic survival and cultural identity.
Punjab must not be distracted by temporary assurances or cosmetic schemes. The fight is not for a few extra cusecs of water or some financial compensation—it is a fight for dignity, justice, and constitutional rights. We must not allow the Centre to dictate the terms anymore. Instead, Punjab should demand the annulment of all past illegal agreements and insist that any discussion on water sharing must begin with the restoration of Punjab’s rightful control over its rivers.
The time for submission is over. Punjab must rise as one voice and tell the Centre clearly: no more gimmicks, no more betrayals. Punjab’s waters belong to Punjab, and that is non-negotiable.