In a significant development during the hearing of the ongoing Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) water-sharing dispute, the Centre on Monday invoked the historic figure of Bhai Ghanaiya to stress the importance of compassion and cooperation in inter-state matters, even as it accused the Punjab government of defying institutional authority and court directives.
Appearing before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Satya Pal Jain urged the bench — comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel — to consider not just the legalities but also the humanitarian implications of the dispute over water sharing between Punjab and Haryana.
Jain drew a parallel to the legendary selflessness of Bhai Ghanaiya, who, during the Battle of Anandpur Sahib, offered water to wounded soldiers regardless of whether they were from the Sikh or Mughal army. Despite criticism, Bhai Ghanaiya refused to discriminate, stating he saw no enemy among the injured.
Guru Gobind Singh later praised his actions and asked him to apply balm in addition to serving water to the injured indicating the principle of selfless service beyond sectarian divides.
As the hearing progressed, the Centre also took a sharp stand against the Punjab government, accusing it of “bullying” institutions, including the courts, and deliberately refusing to comply with lawful directions — including those issued by the judiciary. The assertions came as the bench reserved its verdict in the matter.
ASG Jain asserted that Punjab had misrepresented facts to avoid implementing decisions taken at a May 2 high-level meeting, chaired by the Union Home Secretary, regarding the release of additional water to Haryana. While Punjab has maintained that the meeting focused solely on law and order and no decision on water release was made, Jain said this claim was “factually incorrect, legally unsustainable, and completely misleading.”
Referring to the controversy over the release of additional water to Haryana, Jain submitted that the decision to release 4,500 cusecs of water to Haryana was taken during the meeting chaired by the Union Home Secretary.
He maintained that a Press Information Bureau (PIB) note, issued at 6.43 pm on the same day, clearly recorded the decision, which was subsequently published in leading newspapers. “None of the Punjab officers who attended the meeting has, till date, either contradicted or denied the fact that such a decision was taken,” Jain told the court.
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