As the politics over Satluj-Yamuna link (SYl) hots up, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Punjab Cabinet would soon hold their meetings to deliberate upon the future steps required to resolve the issue.
“The Party’s core committee as well as the State Cabinet, both of which are meeting shortly, would deliberate upon the steps needed to firm up the Party as well as the SAD-BJP Government’s decision not to allow even a drop of water to go to Haryana,” said SAD president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on Monday. “We are ready to take any step necessary to stand up to this commitment,” he added.
SAD president said that the Congress had run away from taking steps to safeguard the river waters of Punjab. “But, the SAD would not flinch from its duty and would come out with appropriate measures to resolve the issue in its entirety,” he said.
He said that it was unfortunate that a “frustrated Punjab Congress president” Amarinder Singh, was stooping so low as to ask for the resignation of the SAD-BJP Government.
“You resigned from Parliament because you had to contest the next Assembly elections from Patiala. Your MlAs resigned as the Party high command did not want them to be part of the proceedings of November 16 sitting of the Punjab Assembly. All this is understandable. But why are you asking for the resignation of Chief Minister Parkash Singh BadalIJ Surely, it is because you are frustrated at the turn of events and the fact that Punjabis are increasingly seeing you as the villain of the peace who facilitated the start of work on the SYl canalIJ” said Sukhbir.
Asking Capt Amarinder not to act like a sore loser, the SAD president said that he could understand his frustration. “Your hands are tied by the Congress high command which has never supported Punjab’s right over its own waters,” he said.
Sukhbir , said that, however, “even now, Amarinder could redeem himself by supporting the steps being taken by Badal Sahab to save the waters of Punjab. But this is unlikely. You are resorting to cheap publicity stunts to befool Punjabis instead of directing your MlAs to debate the issue in the assembly. This will only alienate you and your party further from the people”.