Accusing the Akalis of indulging in “shameless politicization” of the Satluj-Yamuna link (SYl) canal issue, Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday asked the Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and other SAD MPs to resign to prove their sincerity to the people of the State on the issue.
“Why hasn’t Harsimrat resigned from the Parliament and the Union CabinetIJ Why are other Akali MPs not willing to give up their membershipIJ” asked Capt Amarinder.
like her husband, brother and father-in-law, who are all trying to save their positions in Punjab Government by hook or by crook, Harsimrat is only interested in keeping her Parliament membership secure, said Capt Amarinder, accusing the Badals of selling off the interests of Punjab in order to safeguard their vested political and personal interests.
Asserting that the Congress would protect the water of Punjab at all costs, even if it meant supporting any Akali initiative on the same, Capt Amarinder made it clear that his resignation over the SYl issue was effective from November 11, the day he had announced the same.
“The lok Sabha Speaker wanted my resignation in a prescribed format, which I have signed and will personally hand over,” said Capt Amarinder, adding that the effectiveness of his resignation had not, however, been impacted.
At the same time, Capt Amarinder denied engaging in any politics on the SYl issue, saying that it was “our right and duty to fight for Punjab waters”.
Pointing out that Haryana was not a riparian state and had no right to the Sutlej water, he reiterated that Punjab simply did not have surplus water to spare for other states when its own water demand was far from being met. “The people of Punjab cannot be denied their rightful due and we will not allow that to happen, come what may,” said Capt Amarinder.
The State party chief said that the Punjab Congress was committed to protecting the state’s interests on the SYl issue, and was even ready to support the SAD or that, if need be. “This is not a matter for playing politics. The lives of the people of Punjab are at stake and it is our responsibility to save them from inevitable doom that will result from the implementation of the Supreme Court verdict in the SYl case,” he added.