Alleging that the recent affidavit submitted by Delhi Government in Supreme Court on the Satluj Yamuna Canal (SYl) canal issue has exposed the anti-Punjab stance of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday said that both AAP and Congress were conniving with each other to deprive the Punjabis of water.
Addressing the gathering during Sangat Darshan program of Nawanshahar assembly segment here, the CM said that it was on record that the Congress and AAP were both the enemies of the state, who have joined hands to snatch the water of State by constructing SYl in the state thereby robbing the state of its legitimate share of river water.
Apprising the people about the affidavit submitted by AAP Government in Delhi, Badal said the Delhi Government has termed the stand taken by Punjab as unconstitutional and anti-national adding that even Kejriwal led Government has threatened Punjabis of dire consequences due to its firm stand of not allowing the construction of SYl canal.
“This is grave insult to brave and hard working Punjabis, who are just seeking their legitimate right on waters” he added.
Taking on the Congress, the Chief Minister said that the Punjabis could never forgive the Congress party for its sins against Punjab. Badal said that Congress has irrelevantly meddled in the social, political, economic and even religious affairs of the state.
He bemoaned that the Congress Governments at the centre had deliberately denied the state of Punjabi speaking areas, its capital Chandigarh and even its legitimate share in river waters.
“How can any true Punjabi forget and forgive Operation Blue Star and the killing of innocents in 1984 anti-Sikh carnage” questioned Badal.
The CM also announced to complete the ongoing work of rejuvenation of Bist Doab canal and Kandi Canal, the two major arteries of irrigation in the region, by coming June so as to provide a ‘robust irrigation mechanism’ to the people of Doaba region.
Badal said the Shiromani Akali Dal would never allow the anti-Punjab forces to become successful in their nefarious designs.
He reiterated that the SAD would not allow SYl to become a reality. “We are ready to sacrifice even our Government for safeguarding the legitimate share of river waters” he added.
later on Interacting with the media persons, the CM said that the state government would seek the intervention of Union government to impress upon the Australian Government to revoke its decision of not granting visa to students of the State.
He said that though the State Government could not directly do anything tangible on the matter but all out efforts would be made to raise this matter through the Government of India.
“Punjab is frontrunner state in field of education and denial of visa to its students is sheer injustice with us which cannot be tolerated at any cost”, added Badal.