Accusing Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of politicizing the Satluj-Yamuna link canal issue, the Congress on Thursday said that instead of performing his constitutional duties Badal had been trying to instigate people for violence on the issue of SYl.
Punjab Congress Vice President Sunil Jakhar, addressing a Press conference in Chandigarh said that the water issue was a very sensitive matter, and the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal leaders seemed to be bent upon provoking people for violence, if the Supreme Court order went against the interest of the state, as was expected.
Accompanying senior congress leader lal Singh, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Balbir Singh Sidhu etc.
Jakhar said that the inciting posters pasted through out the state, indicate that the present regime wanted to bring back those black days of terror in the state.
Expressing apprehension of a silent deal between the Punjab’s SAD government and NDA government at centre, Jakhar said, “While CM Badal has been making repeated appeals to the people to be ready for utmost sacrifice on the issue of water he himself has not met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought his intervention.”
He claimed that CM Badal had met twice to PM Modi after that, but he did not take up the issue with PM. Apprehending a secret deal between both the ruling parties in the state and at centre, Jakhar said that the ruling party was trying to whip up people’s emotion on this sensitive issue, just to attain political mileage in the coming elections.
He said that centre government had cleared its intent on the issue when the Governor did not give his ascent to Punjab Satluj-Yamuna link Canal land (Transfer of Property Rights) Bill, 2016.
Charging ruling SAD of adopting double standards on the issue of water, he said while CM Badal made statements of repealing Section 5 of Termination of Water Treaty’s Act, the government had allowed to open the water channel between Ballewala and Hussainiwala, to give water to Rajasthan. The channel had been lying defunct for 45 years, Jakhar claimed.
Confirming his resolve of sitting on fast unto death, Jakhar appealed that CM Badal should appeal the leaders of his party and their alliance partners, to participate in fast, if their intent of sacrifice was true.