Floods ignite Sikh anger as Punjab accuses Delhi of weaponizing water
Muted resentment turns into open rebellion against New Delhi
Chandigarh: In Indian Punjab, the devastating floods that submerged over 1,300 villages and ruined 3.75 lakh acres of fertile land have triggered unprecedented outrage across the Sikh population, who accuse the Modi-led BJP government of turning water into a weapon against the Sikh-majority state.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Sikh farmers’ unions, including the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, have demanded a judicial probe, alleging that the Bhakra Beas Management Board deliberately released dam waters in a manner that devastated Punjab, while BJP-ruled Haryana and Rajasthan were kept safe.
“This is not a natural calamity but human negligence and political conspiracy,” farmers charged, as thousands of families lost homes, crops, and livestock. Social media is ablaze with accusations that Delhi “engineered” the floods to weaken Punjab, with many recalling past Indian threats of weaponizing water against Sikhs.
Analysts say the Punjab government led by Bhagwant Mann is seen as powerless and a puppet of the central government, further fueling resentment.
In this atmosphere of betrayal, Sikh youth leader Amritpal Singh is emerging as a bold new symbol of resistance and hope, representing a generation that views Punjab’s survival and dignity as incompatible with Delhi’s exploitative policies. What was once a hushed grievance has now turned into an open challenge: “Water has become a weapon—and Punjab is the battlefield.”
