Punjab: Politics divides, tragedy unites. Weeks after a bitter war of words between leaders of Haryana and Punjab over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, ordinary people of the two states are showing solidarity as floods ravage large parts of Punjab. Thousands of people remain displaced and stranded in Punjab, but help is pouring in from across the border. From ordinary people to khap panchayats and NGOs, residents of Haryana have come forward to help their neighbours. A Bhiwani-based NGO has been providing food and water to families stranded in the floods for the past five days. Birendra Singh of Sirsa’s Dera Jagmalwali has personally visited flood-hit villages, distributing relief material and assuring shelter to affected families. “Arniwala Dera has made arrangements for food, accommodation and even animal care,” he declared. In Hisar, the Pagdi Sambhal Jatta Kisan Sangharsh Samiti motivated villagers of Kabarel to send 20 sacks of potatoes, 10 sacks of onions, 300 cartons of bottled water, 22 cartons of biscuits, 12 sacks of rice and other essentials in two pick-up vans to the affected districts.
The community spirit was also visible in Jind, where villagers of Morakhi collected wheat, flour, sugar, oil, clothes and medicines for flood victims of Patiala. Haat village in Safidon sent 110 sacks of wheat, while residents of Bhambheva, Pillukhera and nearby villages collected the material following public announcements. Villagers from Chhatar, Karsindhu, Ghogriyan, Gurthali and Khapad also joined in. The Naugama Khap in Jind passed a resolution to send foodgrains and essentials through its panchayats. “The first consignment has already been sent from Naugama khap and surrounding villages to Patiala and Mansa districts,” said khap leaders. This humanitarian initiative has been taken against the backdrop of decades-long political differences over water sharing. The Ravi-Beas water division under the 1985 Rajiv-Longowal agreement, which stipulated 17.17 million acre feet of water, was opposed by Haryana leaders, including Devi Lal, who launched the Nyay Yudh. The work on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal is still incomplete, leading to disputes between the two governments. “Despite occasional clashes during elections, people of the two states have maintained cordial relations,” said professor Sampat Singh. CB Sheoran, retired chief engineer of the Haryana irrigation department, said the issue was still bothering both sides. Now, with floodwaters rising, residents are setting aside political differences. Once again, humanity has triumphed over enmity.
