Congress & SAD-BJP only played politics on Punjab river waters, AAP

CHANDIGARH : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday accused both SAD-BJP alliance government in Punjab and Congress party for politicising the Punjab river waters issue for decades and doing nothing on the ground to block the construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal for carrying water to the neighbouring state Haryana. Raising the issue during the zero hour in the Parliament in the ongoing budget session, AAP Sangrur MP, Bhagwant Mann, said Punjab Congress Chief Captain Amarinder Singh who now claimed to be the saviour of river waters of the state was actually instrumental and integral part of the construction of SYL. ” On April 8, 1982, when the late prime minister Indira Gandhi came to lay the foundation stone of the SYL in Kapoori village in Patiala district Capt Amarinder who was congress’ Member Parliament from Patiala not only accompanied her but also was on the forefront to welcome her”, said Mann. Mann in the parliament presented the clipping of a leading english daily in which Capt Amarinder was shown as welcoming Indira Gandhi for laying the foundation stone of SYL
Mann said even when Punjab Vidhan Sabha jointly passed Punjab termination of agreement Act in 2004 to stop the construction of SYL, congress party led by prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, decided to oppose the move and sent the Act for the Presidential reference.
“As a result the matter went to the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court where it has been hanging for the last 12 years”. Mann said now the BJP government at the centre led by prime minister Narendra Modi has gone to the Supreme Court with an affidavit seeking early completion of the SYL.
Mann said it was equally disturbing to see Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) which is an alliance partner of the BJP raising no alarm or voice of concern against the BJP and continue to enjoy power in Punjab with its support. ” Congress, Akalis and BJP have all along played politics over the river waters of Punjab. But AAP will not allow even a single drop of water to go out of state where the farmers are already facing the worst agrarian crisis”, said Mann.