Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday said that the Congress MlAs must attend the Special Session of State Assembly for chalking out a concrete strategy to protect waters of the State.
He asserted that the Sutlej Yamuna link (SYl) canal is not a political issue but a matter involving the lifeline of Punjab.
The Punjab Government has convened a Special Session on November 16 following the Supreme Court verdict on the water issues. After the verdict, all 42 Congress MlAs have tendered their resignations from the State Assembly.
Badal, interacting with mediapersons on the sidelines of a function to mark 20th death anniversary of Subedar Bapu Kartar Singh, father of Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, at Rakhra, said that in larger interests of the State, the Congress MlAs must ensure their presence in the Special Session.
“It is the need of the hour so that the message is conveyed to the entire country that whole Punjab is united on this emotive issue,” he said.
Badal said that this was fight of every Punjabi and a united House must resolve to protect the waters of State at any cost. Chief Minister said that neither NDA Government nor Prime Minister Narendra Modi has any role in this matter as the ball is now in the court of the President, to whom the apex court has given advice on the SYl issue.
“We would soon meet the President and apprise him about the depleting water level in the State,” said Badal. He said that we are duty-bound to protect waters of State and every option will be explored to save it.
Reacting to the protests by Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, Badal said that both these parties are indulging in political gimmickry on this issue for their vested political interests.
He said that the Congress was the perpetrator of this sin against the State and its people.
“The AAP Government in Delhi had submitted affidavit against the State in the Supreme Court on this issue….But now both of them are trying to mislead people through such tantrums,” he added.
Badal assailed the Opposition parties for allegedly misleading the people on this sensitive issue.
He said that not even a single inch of land for this canal was acquired during his regime, adding that this canal was a conspiracy against the State which was planned and executed by the Congress party.
Urging the people of Punjab and Haryana to exercise restraint, Badal said that there was no animosity between the common people on this issue. He urged the people not to get panic by the rumours and tension over this matter.