Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday claimed CM Parkash Singh Badal had acquired land for the construction of SYl in Punjab. “Today, I challenge you, Mr Badal to deny or dispute one single word of what I will be saying and quoting about your role in getting the foundation of the SYl laid down just to please your personal friend Devi lal,” Capt Amarinder dared Badal, adding, “you better look at yourself than level baseless charges on the Congress”.
The former CM, while interacting with reporters on the sidelines of the 14th session of his 'Halqe vich Captain' programme, also asked Badal to spell out as what he was going to do, in case the SC decided against Punjab on the SYl issue.
“Yes, we have decided to resign the same day in case SC decides against Punjab, you tell the people of Punjab what you are going to do,” he asked Badal, while daring him, “will you also like to resign along with usIJ”
Reacting to Badal's criticism of his announcement about resigning on the issue, Capt Amarinder said: “Badal is trying to lay the blame on the Congress party for laying the foundation stone of the SYl, while actually it was he as the Chief Minister who had acquired the land for the purpose in 1978 and also taken money from Haryana.”
Giving details, Amarinder said Badal had issued notification for land acquisition for the SYl on February 20, 1978, vide two notifications under Section-4 of the land Acquisition Act. With this, the process of land acquisition started, Capt Amarinder pointed out.
Subsequently, he added that Badal wrote to Haryana government demanding payment of Rs 3 crore more as he had already taken Rs 2 crore for the purpose. This was in follow up to an agreement between him and Devi lal, the then Haryana CM that it (Haryana) will pay Rs 5 crore to Punjab.