India, May 10 -- Punjab's water cut to Haryana has sparked a political storm amid BJP's rising influence and farmer unrest.

CHANDIGARH: The intensifying water dispute between Punjab and Haryana is widely seen as a strategic move by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to curb the rising influence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini, who has been actively working to strengthen the BJP's outreach among farmers in the border state. Facing severe criticism from the farming community, the Bhagwant Mann government on April 29 abruptly slashed the water supply from Bhakra Dam to Haryana-from 9,500 cusecs to 4,000 cusecs- invoking Punjab's river rights. However, political observers see the move as a bulwark to counter the BJP's growing inroads ...