Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday termed the announcement of his predecessor and State Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh regarding resignation in case of any adverse judgment on Satluj Yamuna link (SYl) canal as “a political gimmick”.
Badal, rather, questioned Capt Amarinder as to why he had not resigned when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had laid the foundation of SYl canal to rob the State’s waters.
“The people who are the perpetrators of this grave conspiracy against Punjab and its people are now trying to attain status of martyr by merely shedding an ounce of blood,” said Badal while addressing the public gathering during his Sangat Darshan in Bhadaur assembly segment.
He reminded Capt Amarinder that at the time when the former Chief Minister along with other top leaders of Congress were welcoming Indira Gandhi for laying foundation stone of SYl in 1980s, the entire Akali leadership was courting arrest for safeguarding interests of State.
“Captain can’t just run away from the onus of being hand in glove in a conspiracy to deprive the State of its people,” he added.
Assailing the State Congress chief for misleading the people on SYl canal issue, Badal said the people of State would never forgive him and his party for this grave injustice with State.
Badal dared Capt Amarinder that rather than misleading the people he must tell them that it was Congress, which was now headed by him, which had planned, executed and dug this canal. “Every Congressman from the State was a part and parcel to this conspiracy and Amarinder was not an exception to it,” he added.
The Chief Minister said as few months were left for the State Assembly elections, Captain had announced this “resignation drama” but this would not wash away the sins of his party.
He said the people of State must rest assured as SAD would make every sacrifice to protect the waters of State. “We had, we are and we will not allow any single drop of water to go to any other State,” he said.
Badal said even the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was following the Congress’ footprints by adopting anti-Punjab stance.
He said as party’s convener Arvind Kejriwal hailed from Haryana, he was naturally inclined towards safeguarding the interests of his State. “Kejriwal has no affection with Punjab or its people and his sole intention is to wrest political power in the state to benefit his native state Haryana,” he added.