Northern Zonal Council Meeting Held in Surajkund Under Amit Shah’s Chairmanship; Haryana CM Urges Punjab to Uphold Gurus’ Traditions in Water Dispute

Chandigarh, November 17 — Union Home Minister and Chairman of the Northern Zonal Council Amit Shah chaired the 32nd meeting of the council on Monday at Surajkund in Faridabad. The meeting saw participation from Haryana Chief Minister and Council Vice-Chairman Nayab Singh Saini, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta, and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria. Senior ministers and top officials from all states and UTs of the northern region also attended the session.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini welcomed the dignitaries by presenting shawls and mementos to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other leaders upon their arrival.

During the meeting, CM Saini emphasized the importance of continuous cooperation among states to ensure national progress. He said that shared resources, collective knowledge, and adoption of best practices can truly strengthen the vision of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.” He added that Haryana has been making significant strides toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.

Saini Urges Punjab to Consider Gurus’ Legacy in Water-Sharing Dispute

Addressing one of the key agenda items, CM Saini said that every state must receive its rightful share of water. He pointed out that Haryana has consistently supplied Delhi with more water than its allocated share, while Punjab has not provided Haryana with its full share due to the non-completion of the SYL canal. He added that once Haryana receives its rightful share through SYL, Rajasthan too will receive its full share.

He reminded Punjab of its sacred heritage, saying the land of the Gurus has always stood for compassion and fairness. Citing Bhai Kanhaiya Ji—who served water even to injured enemy soldiers on the battlefield—Saini appealed to Punjab to keep this tradition in mind when addressing the water dispute.

He further emphasized that since water is a shared resource, maintaining its purity is everyone’s responsibility. Referring specifically to the Yamuna, he assured that Haryana is committed to keeping the river clean.

Proposal to Affiliate Haryana Colleges With Panjab University, Chandigarh

Saini said Haryana wishes to contribute to Panjab University, Chandigarh. If some Haryana colleges are affiliated with the university, both students and the institution will benefit.

He added that ensuring children’s safety is a collective obligation. With the implementation of the three new criminal laws in Haryana, cases under the POCSO Act are being resolved more efficiently.

Haryana Ensures Health Services Through Ayushman Bharat and Chirayu Scheme

The Chief Minister highlighted that the state has expanded healthcare coverage by integrating the Chirayu Yojana with Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY, calling it a true example of double-engine governance. He also said that banking services have now reached even the smallest villages in Haryana.

Government Fulfills 47 Promises in One Year

Saini said the state government has fulfilled 47 out of 217 promises made in its manifesto within the first year. He cited the launch of the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi App on September 25 and the transfer of ₹2,100 each to 5,22,162 eligible women on Haryana Day under the Lado Lakshmi Yojana. The number of applications has already crossed 8 lakh and is expected to reach 15 lakh soon.

Meeting Expected to Strengthen Cooperative Federalism

The Chief Minister said Haryana has submitted comprehensive comments on each agenda item. He expressed confidence that the meeting would help resolve inter-state and Centre-state issues while promoting cooperative federalism. He added that the 32nd meeting of the Northern Zonal Council will stand as a shining example of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.”