New Delhi: Amidst the controversy over the Punjab legislation to terminate the water accords with neighbouring States, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (July 14, 2004) promised to protect the "rights" of affected States.

The assurance was given to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje when she called on the Prime Minister to apprise him of the water problems being faced by her State.

"Singh gave a patient hearing and promised to protect the rights of the States," the Chief Minister told reporters after the 30-minute meeting.

Raje said that the Rajasthan Government had decided to take all "constitutional and legal action" to protect the State's interests following annulling of all inter-State agreements by Punjab on sharing of river water.

She said that her meeting with the Prime Minister was part of the exercise undertaken by Singh to talk to the Chief Ministers of various States affected by the Punjab Bill. The Prime Minister has already talked to Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana.

Raje later met MPs from Rajasthan and discussed the issue with them. During her meeting with the Prime Minister, Raje was accompanied by the State's Irrigation Minister Sanwar Lal Jat and the State's Prinipal Secretary Water Resources D C Samant.