Amidst the massive political upheaval in Punjab following Supreme Court’s ruling favouring Haryana on vexed Sutlej Yamuna link (SYl) canal issue, the political temperatures are also soaring in Haryana now.
The Opposition parties, Congress and INlD have demanded to immediately begin the work for SYl canal construction and also, warned the BJP led State Government of State-wide protests in case of delay while the ruling BJP is gearing up to convene an all party meeting or a special Assembly session to win over the Opposition to stand united with the Government on the controversial issue.
The SYl issue has come in handy for the Opposition in Haryana to take on the ruling BJP, which has an alliance with the ruling SAD in neighbouring Punjab. The SAD-BJP led Punjab Government has already announced not to “allow a single drop of water” to be taken from the State.
Upping the ante on SYl canal issue, the Congress and INlD on Monday convened their party meetings to chalk out a strategy to target the Manohar lal Government in the wake of Supreme Court’s verdict. The ruling BJP, has however, convened a party meeting on Tuesday to formulate party’s future course of action after Apex Court’s ruling on SYl issue.
With the SYl issue turning into a full-scale political war between the two neighbouring States, Haryana’s main opposition INlD has asked the Centre to immediately start work for SYl construction.
Giving an ultimatum to the Centre till February 23 to complete the work on SYl canal and bring water to Haryana, leader of opposition in Haryana Assembly and INlD’s senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala also warned to start a State-wide agitation in case the ruling Government fails to do so.
The INlD leader while talking to the mediapersons said that if the Centre fails to complete SYl work by February 23, the party will start a State-wide protest and I, along with my party workers and people of Haryana would start digging up of the SYl canal. The party will also meet President Pranab Mukherjee to demand imposition of President’s rule in Punjab, said Chautala.
Accusing the BJP Government of betraying the people of Haryana on SYl canal, he demanded convening of a special Assembly session to discuss the issue. The INlD during its party meeting also passed a condemnation resolution against BJP and Congress for failing to take a strong stand on SYl and befooling the people of Haryana.
On the other hand, Haryana Congress has announced ‘SYl Sadbhavna Yatra’ and one day protest at all districts in the State. The Congress will also hold a function to honour those who contributed in the fight for construction of SYl canal.
“The Congress had held ‘SYl Sadbhavna Yatra’ earlier this year and the yatra will begin again in the State,” said Ashok Tanwar, state party chief.
Blaming the BJP led Central Government as well as Haryana Government for befooling the people by putting the blame on Congress on SYl issue, Tanwar said that since the SC’s ruling has come in favour of Haryana, the ruling BJP should now ensure that the state gets its water share from Punjab.
While Tanwar held the meeting of faction-ridden Haryana Congress at Gurugram on Monday,
former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda has convened a separate meeting of sitting MlAs, former MlAs and MPs, senior party leaders on Tuesday to plan his strategy to corner the ruling BJP on SYl issue.
Meanwhile, Haryana Finance Minister, Capt. Abhimanyu, who is also BJP’s Punjab election co-incharge, was also targeted by both INlD and Congress with both parties demanding his resignation from Punjab’s poll responsibility.
Criticising Capt Abhimanyu for not taking a stand against ruling SAD in Punjab, Kiran Choudhry, Haryana Congress legislative party leader said that the Finance Minister should quit his Punjab poll duties in the interest of people of Haryana.
Choudhry also accused the BJP of playing politics on the issue and demanded that work on SYl canal should start soon.
Defending the Haryana Government, Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala said that the State Government is committed to bring state’s water share from Punjab.
A party meeting has been called on Tuesday to discuss the SYl issue. If required, a special assembly session or an all party meeting would be convened on the key SYl canal, said Barala.
Taking strong exception to the remarks of opposition, the BJP leader said that the parties should end politics on SYl canal.