GG News Bureau
Chandigarh, 11th July: The Punjab Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution opposing the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the Bhakra-Nangal dam project, asserting that the state’s own police force is competent to ensure the security of the strategic installation. The move has triggered a political storm, reviving tensions between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the opposition Congress.
Introduced by Cabinet Minister Barinder Goyal, the resolution urged the Centre and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to roll back the decision to deploy CISF personnel and instead entrust dam security to Punjab Police. The resolution comes in response to the Union Home Ministry’s clearance for the CISF deployment, under which 296 positions have reportedly been sanctioned for the dam site in Nangal.
₹50 Crore Cost Commitment by Congress-Led Govt
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema told the House that it was the previous Congress government which, in 2021, gave consent for the CISF deployment and even agreed to bear 50% of the cost — approximately ₹50 crore. Cheema criticized this decision, calling it a financial burden on Punjab and a violation of the state’s policing rights.
“The CISF deployment is not only unnecessary but an additional expense on Punjab’s exchequer. The state police is capable of protecting its own critical infrastructure,” Cheema said.
Opposition Hits Back, Accuses AAP of Double Standards
Congress MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, launched a scathing attack on the government, accusing it of hypocrisy. Bajwa questioned why the state government trusted Punjab Police with the dam’s security but continued to rely on central forces for protecting the Vidhan Sabha building.
In a fiery exchange, Bajwa also countered Cheema’s allegations that the previous Congress regime had patronised gangsters. “I was not given a chance to respond to those baseless claims,” he said, leading to heated arguments and disruptions in the Assembly.
Water Disputes and Centre-State Jurisdiction in Focus
The resolution and ensuing debate come amid ongoing tensions between Punjab and Haryana over water sharing from the Nangal reservoir. The BBMB, which operates the Bhakra project, is a central body managing power and irrigation between Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh.
AAP legislators insisted that handing over dam security to the CISF was an encroachment on state jurisdiction and an avoidable financial commitment, especially given the costs of accommodation, transport, and equipment for the central force.
Law and Order Sparks Parallel Uproar
Earlier in the day, the Assembly also saw ruckus over the recent murder of businessman Sanjay Verma in Abohar. Congress demanded an immediate debate on the state’s deteriorating law and order, but Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan denied the request, citing procedural limitations of the special session.
In protest, Congress MLAs stormed the Well of the House, shouting slogans and demanding accountability. The Speaker later extended the special session by two days on the recommendation of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC).
