AMRITSAR: Bharatiya Janata Party's Punjab State Spokesperson, Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala, has written a letter to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, urging him to review and amend all ordinances issued by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the 1975 Emergency, which he termed as violative of the basic spirit of the Indian Constitution and the federal structure. In particular, he raised serious concerns over the ordinance issued on 24 March 1976, under which Punjab’s river waters were unjustly and unconstitutionally redistributed.
Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala stated that this ordinance laid the foundation for one of Punjab’s most contentious issues — the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) — and was a major trigger for the turmoil and tragedy that engulfed Punjab in the 1980s. He emphasized that water rights fall under the State List, as clearly defined in the Seventh Schedule and Article 246 of the Indian Constitution. Despite this, the then Congress-led central government under Indira Gandhi misused Sections 78, 79, and 80 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act to usurp Punjab’s water rights.
He further pointed out that a Supreme Court bench led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul declared in its judgment on 14 December 2020 that the imposition of the Emergency was “unnecessary for the nation.” Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar has also recently issued a strong critique of the Emergency.
“No Indian can forget that during the Emergency, civil liberties were suspended, press freedom was stifled, Parliament and the judiciary were controlled, the federal framework was undermined, and human rights were grossly violated, ” Prof. Khiala said.
He added that today, 70% of Punjab’s irrigation needs are met through groundwater, leading to more than 80% of the state’s blocks being categorized as 'Dark Zones'. If the injustices surrounding the water distribution decisions are not corrected, Punjab could face an even more severe crisis in the future.
In conclusion, Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala paid tribute to all Indians who stood against the Emergency and fought to preserve democracy.
He said the time has come to correct historical wrongs. He urged that the unconstitutional ordinances issued during the Emergency be amended and Punjab’s rightful control over its river waters be restored in accordance with the core principles of the Constitution.