With the SAD-BJP Government deciding to hold a special Assembly session on November 16, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday asked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to clearly state the agenda for the sitting.
Capt Amarinder demanded an assurance that any new legislation on the Satluj-Yamuna link (SYl) canal, passed during the special session, would be approved by the Governor and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre.
Reacting to Badal’s appeal to the Congress party to participate in the special session, he said, “Punjab Congress has always supported any Government move to save the water of the State, no decision can be taken on participation in the special session without clarity on the agenda and an assurance that any new legislation would be approved by the Governor and not made a mockery.”
Pointing out that the Punjab Governor was yet to give his approval on the de-acquisition bill passed during the previous session of the Assembly with the support of the Congress, Capt Amarinder said that Badal should clarify how he proposed to convince the BJP and the Governor to accept the same.
He also asked Akali Dal to resign from the assembly and call for early elections in the State. “let there be elections in the Punjab Assembly next month,” said Capt Amarinder, reiterating that his party would go all out to resolve the SYl issue in the State’s interest, once it is in power with a two-third majority.
He also demanded that the resignations of the Congress MlAs be accepted immediately and also suggested that the President’s rule was the only way out for free and fair polls in the State.
If Badal and his team want to prove their credibility, and convince the people of Punjab that they are sincere about protecting the State’s water, they should either come out with a clear agenda for the special Assembly session or quit and pave the way for free and fair elections in order to safeguard Punjab’s interest, said the PPCC president.