Punjab BJP’s Sharp Retort to CM’s Allegations at NITI Aayog Meeting
CHANDIGARH: A total of 2, 550 posts belonging to Punjab in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) have remained vacant for a long time, including several crucial and influential positions. The BJP has alleged that had the Punjab government filled these posts timely, the state’s stance in the board could have been asserted more strongly. While the Haryana government has filled all its posts and is actively safeguarding its interests, Punjab’s participation has weakened due to the state government’s negligence.
Countering Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s allegations at the NITI Aayog meeting, Punjab BJP’s media in-charge Vineet Joshi stated that the CM is now raising the BBMB issue merely to hide his own failures. He remarked that the CM did not remember the additional water being allocated to Haryana for three years but is now highlighting this issue during the election season to evade farmers’ anger.
The BJP leader claimed that farmers in the mandis were deeply distressed this time. Due to delays and chaos in crop procurement, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is sensing farmers’ resentment and is raising issues like BBMB to divert attention.
The BJP also questioned the resentment expressed over the deployment of CISF in BBMB. Joshi said if any state should object, it is Himachal Pradesh, which has over 200 police personnel deployed in BBMB. In contrast, Punjab has only 15 police personnel there, so there is no need to shed “crocodile tears” over this.
Taking a dig at CM Mann’s working style, Vineet Joshi quipped, “You may have become the Chief Minister, but you haven’t let the artist inside you die. You’re still acting, but this won’t benefit Punjab.”