Accusing Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for attempting to disturb Punjab’s peace by playing politics on the serious issue of Sutlej-Yamuna link (SYl) Canal, Congress’ chief spokesperson and senior leader Sunil Jakhar on Thursday issued one-week ultimate to Badal to get positive assurance from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of Punjab or he would sit on fast-unto-death to save Punjab’s water.
“I give one week ultimatum to Chief Minister Badal…either he should get positive assurance in the interests of Punjab from Prime Minister on the issue of SYl, or SAD should withdraw its minister from the Union Government or throw out BJP from the ruling alliance in state,” said Jakhar.
He added that if Chief Minister fails to do any of these, he would sit on fast unto death, date of which would be announced on July 14, on expiry of the ultimatum.
Badal must get an assurance from the Prime Minister Modi that he would not implement the ‘opinion’ of the Supreme Court on SYl issue, if it comes against the interests of Punjab and if PM fails to give such an assurance to Badal, SAD should opt out from NDA and snap ties with the BJP in the State Government, said Jakhar. He said: “Chief Minister is trying to create smoke screen to cover his nefarious designs to disturb the hard earned peace of Punjab on the SYl issue…he is not doing anything on SYl issue, which he is expected to do as Chief Minister.”
If Badal was serious on SYl issue, he should have raised the issue with the Union Water Minister Uma Bharti when he met a couple of days ago or would have talked to the Prime Minister Modi, when he visited Punjab recently, Jakhar said.
Instead of adopting deserving steps, Badal could be listened in the advertisements on Radio or TV channel, where he appealed to all Punjabis to be ready for sacrifice on SYl issue, in a way to motivate people for disturbing the peace of Punjab. “CM is doing the same thing, which Pakistan’s ISI wanted to do — disturbing peace of Punjab,” alleged Jakhar.
“Badal Sahib, Sikh Gurus never appealed People to give sacrifice, rather they themselves sacrificed their lives to save people,” said Jakhar while referring to Badal, who claims to be champion of Sikhism.
Terming Badal as “the weakest CM” of Punjab, Jakhar said that if there would have a strong Chief Minister in the State, BJP could not dare to touch SYl issue again.