Punjab Government on Thursday said it will approach the President for requesting him against accepting the Supreme Court verdict declaring invalid the
Punjab Water Agreement Termination Act, 2004.
Cabinet meeting, that expressed unhappiness over SC verdict, decided to convene a special Vidhan Sabha session on November 16. Besides, it has also decided to organise a mega Punjabi sammelan — “a huge gathering of Punjabis” at Moga on December 8.
“It will be a huge gathering of Punjabis from all over under ‘Pani Bachao Punjab Bachao’ campaign to convey to the people of the country the feelings of all Punjabis,” said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal.
Besides, Sukhbir added, “The Cabinet would also approach the President to request him not to accept the Supreme Court’s verdict.”
The Cabinet reiterated that Punjab Government would not allow the construction of SYl at any cost nor a single brick would be allowed to be laid for its construction by any agency.
At the same time, the Cabinet also passed resolutions holding the Congress party responsible for the current situation. “It was the Congress party that started the SYl…Indira Gandhi came for digging…Capt Amarinder was also present at that time and welcomed the move…it was SAD that launched the Morcha the same day against the construction of the SYl…it was the result of that morcha that no river water went out of Punjab,” said Badal.
“Indira Gandhi forced the then Congress Chief Minister of Punjab Darbara Singh into signing an agreement to give away Punjab’s waters to Haryana forcing him to withdraw the Supreme Court case filed by the previous Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to protect Punjab river water interests. Gandhi had enacted this drama as there were elections to follow in Haryana that year,” said Sukhbir.
The Cabinet also held the present Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Capt Amarinder Singh responsible for inviting Indira Gandhi to start the digging of the canal at Kapuri in his own constituency, Patiala.
“It was he who offered her a silver spade to start the digging. It was against this digging that the SAD had launched a long peaceful democratic morcha for Punjab’s interests. It is as a result of that Morcha that no river waters went out of Punjab after that,” he added. later, the SAD also released pictures of advertisements issued by Capt Amarinder Singh welcoming Indira Gandhi for the move.
Water is foremost for us…there is no question of violation of SC…state’s industry, farmers, economy…all depends on water…We would not let Punjab’s water go out…We didn’t let it go out earlier and not in future,” he vowed.
Punjab BJP also called a special meeting of its Ministers, MlAs, all office bearers and former MlAs, ahead of the Cabinet meeting to discuss the next course of action.
“The verdict is unfortunate and unacceptable. It is anti-Punjab,” said Punjab BJP president and Union Minister Vijay Sampla. The party ministers also maintained that the verdict is untimely and against Punjab.
Meanwhile, the Akalis have reportedly started sending messages to their followers to get ready for morchas, which is likely to be led by the Chief Minister Badal. However, any such decision was not announced.