CM Mann Invokes Bhai Kanhaiya in SYL Talks with Haryana

Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and his Haryana counterpart Nayab Singh Saini met in Chandigarh on 27 Jan to discuss the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue. In May 2025, the Supreme Court of India had directed the two states to cooperate for an amicable solution to the over four decades long dispute. Earlier, CM Mann used to respond on the SYL saying ‘Panjab does not have water to spare’ and the ‘project should be called Yamuna-Satluj link so Panjab gets water’. However, in a Panjab Legislative Assembly session conducted on 5 May 2025, the state government weakened its stance on Panjab’s riparian status on its rivers by calling for a new agreement to be drafted. After India placed the Indus Water Treaty, 1960 in abeyance last year, Mann began suggesting that Panjab should harness Chenab river’s water and would then have surplus to give to Haryana. This time, Mann invoked Sikh history to convey Panjab’s support to Haryana. He said, 'We are the descendants of Bhai Kanahaiya who gave water even to enemies in the war. Haryana is not our enemy; it is our brother.' The reference was to Bhai Kanahiya, who was a disciple of tenth Sikh Sovereign Guru Gobind Singh, and carried a mashk (leather pouch filled with water) in the battle of Anandpur Sahib in 1705, serving water to the wounded on both sides. Responding to the CM’s comment, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal posted on X, 'Bhagwant Mann's twisted reference to Bhai Khanaiya to justify handing over Punjab's river waters to other states, esp Haryana, is outrageous and sacrilegious. Dasam Patshah (Tenth Sovereign) blessed acts of compassion and charity but also taught us to fight for our just rights. It is one thing to offer water to the dying as an act of charity and compassion and quite another to surrender Punjab's lifeline, the river waters.’ Panjab Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said, 'Quoting Bhai Kanhaiya to whitewash the dilution of Punjab’s riparian rights is not compassion, it is a political betrayal.' Both the CMs of Panjab and Haryana have agreed to keep the talks going and decided to work towards a solution (earlier coverage).