Haryana CM's Amritsar Visit: A Plea for Water Sharing

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini recently visited Amritsar, combining religious devotion with political outreach. His trip included stops at important religious sites and a plea to Punjab regarding the long-standing Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute. 

Saini's first stop was the Golden Temple, where he paid respects at Harmandir Sahib. He sat with the general public, ate at the community kitchen, and even helped wash dishes for 15 minutes. This showed his commitment to equality and service. 

The Chief Minister then met with Baba Gurinder Singh, the leader of Radha Soami Satsang Beas. This was Saini's first meeting with the spiritual leader since becoming Chief Minister. He asked for advice on how to help Haryana and learned about the group's social work. Saini also visited the Ram Tirth Mandir, honoring it as the place where Bhagwan Valmiki lived and where Mata Sita taught her sons, Luv and Kush. This showed his respect for different religious traditions in the state. 

When talking to reporters, Saini brought up the SYL canal issue. He used family terms to describe the relationship between Haryana and Punjab, calling Punjab the "elder brother." He said, "Punjab-Haryana is one family, one household, and I appeal to our elder brother to share water with us." Saini stressed that an older sibling shouldn't disappoint the younger one. 

This friendly approach to the water dispute shows a gentler way of dealing with the problem between the two states. By talking about family ties and duties, Saini is trying to find a new way to solve the old issue.

Saini ended his Amritsar trip by saying he felt very peaceful in the city of Sikh Gurus. He called it a place where people should promise to follow the Gurus' teachings. This statement, along with his actions during the visit, shows a leader trying to mix spiritual values with practical politics. 

While Saini's trip was mainly religious, it clearly had political importance too. It's not yet clear if this mix of faith and diplomacy will help solve the ongoing water-sharing talks between Haryana and Punjab.