Farmer organisations and khap panchayats have issued an ultimatum to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, demanding a T-joint from the Bhakra drinking water pipeline for Chanot village by July 14. The deadline was announced on Friday as the dharna by Chanot villagers entered its 56th day.
Protesters plan to raise demand at PM Modi's rally
After a three-hour meeting, the groups warned that if the demand is not met by July 14, members of khap panchayats, social organisations, and villagers from Chanot will converge in large numbers on July 17 in Jind, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a rally. They intend to raise their demand directly before the Prime Minister.
The meeting unanimously resolved that the protest would continue until Chanot village receives drinking water through a T-connection from the Bhakra pipeline. Hardeep Sharma, pradhan of the Rodhi khap who presided over the mahapanchayat, stated that the Chief Minister had been given time until July 14. He warned that if the demand remains unresolved, there will be no further talks with the Chief Minister, and the protesters will take up the matter only with the Prime Minister.
Allegations of government inaction
Representatives of farmer organisations and khap panchayats asserted that providing clean drinking water to every resident is the government's constitutional responsibility. They alleged that while some individuals claiming to represent the government facilitated the fitting of a T-joint on the pipelines on June 20, the connection was later closed, and villagers faced criminal cases.
The khap leaders maintained that while the Chief Minister has agreed to supply Yamuna water to Rajasthan through pipelines as per an earlier agreement, people within Haryana are still forced to protest for drinking water. This raises serious questions about the government's priorities, they said.
Protest to strengthen if demand not met
The khap representatives reiterated that if no positive step is taken by July 14, they will try to meet Prime Minister Modi on July 17 during his visit to Jind and press for a T-joint from the Bhakra pipeline for Chanot village. “We cannot be stopped from going ahead to attend the Jind rally. Whatever method we have to adopt, we will ensure that our voice reaches the Prime Minister,” they said unanimously, adding that they had resolved to strengthen the ongoing agitation.
The dharna began on May 16 with the demand to avail water to the waterworks in Chanot village from the Bhakra pipeline, which is being laid to fetch water for Hansi town from the Rajli head of Bhakra's Barwala branch canal. The administration has refused to accept the demand, stating that this pipeline is meant only for urban areas under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme.
