Aam Aadmi Party national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday accused the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress of “befooling” the people of Punjab on the issue of Sutlej Yamuna link (SYl) canal.
“Only AAP can protect the waters of Punjab,” he said, for the first time after the Supreme Court’s ruling on the issue.
Both the Congress and the SAD are responsible for constructing SYl and are now shedding crocodile tears to misguide the people of State, said Kejriwal.
“Parkash Singh Badal, being Chief Minister of Punjab in 1978 acquired land for SYl and now in 2016, is trying to act as the saviour of Punjab waters by passing resolution regarding it. He must clarify if he was wrong in 1978 or now in 2016,” he said.
Kejriwal said that the then Prime Minister Indra Gandhi signed agreement regarding SYl and initiated construction work along with Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh. Even Punjab Congress welcomed the move at that time, he added.
AAP leader accused Badal and Capt Amarinder of allegedly being hand-in-glove to get power and misguiding the Punjab people by submitting resignations.
“Badal and Amarinder are trying to get political mileage on SYl issue. SAD-BJP are alliance partners in Punjab and the same alliance is in power at Centre and in Haryana but their leaders give different statements on SYl issue while in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab,” he said.
AAP leader added that Punjab does not have extra water and question of giving it to any other state does not arise.