Congress Leaders in Punjab Accuse BJP-Led Centre of Systematic Erosion of State's Federal Autonomy
Chandigarh: The Leader of Opposition in Punjab, Partap Singh Bajwa, has launched a scathing attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government, accusing it of deliberately and systematically undermining Punjab's constitutional rights and federal autonomy. Bajwa specifically pointed to the direction of Union Home Minister Amit Shah as being central to this alleged campaign.
BBMB Membership Changes Spark Major Controversy
Bajwa highlighted the recent decision to open membership of the Bhakra Beas Management Board to non-stakeholder states as a particularly egregious example of this pattern. "This is part of a larger and deliberate design to dilute Punjab's control over its own resources and institutions," Bajwa asserted. He emphasized that the BBMB is directly linked to Punjab's river waters, which form the fundamental backbone of the state's agrarian economy. "Any attempt to alter its composition amounts to direct interference in Punjab's water rights," he declared.
A Pattern of Alleged Interference and Encroachment
The Congress leader alleged that this move is not isolated but rather part of a consistent series of actions by the Centre aimed at weakening Punjab's position. He detailed several specific instances:
- Appointing BBMB chairmen from outside the traditional stakeholder states
- Repeated interference in autonomous institutions like Panjab University
- Increasing central control over the administration of Chandigarh
- Allowing Haryana to push for a separate assembly building in Chandigarh
- Maintaining continued pressure on contentious issues like the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal
"The BJP, having failed to gain political ground in Punjab through democratic means, is now attempting to control the state administratively and indirectly," Bajwa charged. "This amounts to ruling Punjab by proxy and poses a serious threat to the federal structure of our country, fundamentally undermining the spirit of cooperative federalism."
Criticism of AAP-Led State Government's Inaction
Bajwa also directed sharp criticism toward the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government for what he termed "complete inaction" in the face of these challenges. "At a time when Punjab desperately needs a strong and unequivocal response to protect its interests, the state government has chosen silence," he lamented. "This passive approach has only emboldened the Centre to continue its encroachment." The opposition leader urged the Punjab government to immediately approach the Supreme Court and legally challenge these decisions.
Congress Voices Unite in Condemnation
Other senior Congress figures echoed Bajwa's concerns. Congress MP from Gurdaspur and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa accused the central government of "weakening Punjab's traditional role" and described the actions as "an attack on federal rights." Randhawa similarly criticized the AAP-led state government for "failing to protect Punjab's interests" and called on the Centre to "immediately reconsider the decision and ensure full protection of Punjab's interests."
Senior Congress MLA Pargat Singh added his voice to the chorus of concern, stating, "Any move aimed at diluting Punjab's traditional stake in the BBMB is deeply troubling and must be subjected to immediate review through a transparent and consultative process." He asserted that the BBMB is not merely an administrative body but a vital institution intrinsically linked to Punjab's agricultural economy, irrigation requirements, and its significant contribution to national food security. "Unilateral alterations in its structure could disturb the delicate equilibrium of cooperative federal governance," Singh warned.
The allegations from Punjab's principal opposition party paint a picture of escalating tension between the state and the Centre over issues of resource control, institutional autonomy, and the interpretation of federal principles within the Indian constitutional framework.
