Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Thursday said that Punjab waters were non-negotiable while asking the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh not to agree to any settlement with Haryana on the issue of SYl canal.
“Holding any negotiation on this issue is akin to walking into a trap. Capt Amarinder should learn from past mistakes including accompanying the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to inaugurate digging of the SYl canal. He should now simply declare ‘No SYl–No Water’ to Haryana immediately,” said Sukhbir.
Asking the Chief Minister to take this step without further ado, the SAD President said that the Punjab Government needed to send out a clear message to Punjabi farmers that no negotiations could be held to barter away their precious river waters. “Even approaching the negotiating table would tantamount to selling away the interests of the State,” he said while adding that even discussion could not be held on this issue with Haryana.
Sukhbir said that Punjab government must understand that the State’s rights over its river waters were inalienable. “Capt Amarinder has already made a mistake earlier by stating that he was ready to hold talks with Haryana on SYl issue. The Chief Minister should know that no SYl exists on Punjab territory,” he said.
He added that Parkash Singh Badal, former Chief Minister, returned the land acquired for the canal back to farmers, and in such a situation, when no canal exists on the ground, no negotiation could be held on this issue with Haryana.
“It would be best for Capt Amarinder to follow the line taken by Badal who had unequivocally declared that Punjab did not have a single drop of water to give to Haryana and reiterate that there was no need of the SYl canal and that it would not be allowed to be constructed,” he added.
Sukhbir said that as far as the SAD was concerned, no price was too high to safeguard the river waters of Punjab. “There cannot be any comprise on the inalienable rights of Punjab under the riparian principle. We will never allow this to happen and will oppose any such move tooth and nail”, he added.