Asserting that Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) would never become a reality, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today avowed to make every sacrifice to protect the river waters of the state.Addressing a massive gathering during a function to mark death anniversary of veteran Akali leader Jathedar Jasdev Singh Sandhu here today, the Chief Minister categorically stated that Punjab doesn’t have a single drop of spare water for anybody adding that SYL agreement was a grave injustice done by the successive Congress governments with the state. He said that Akali Dal was opposed to this agreement, which robbed the water of state, from day one adding that now also they were firm to their stand to not allow the construction of this canal at any cost. “Ironically Captain Amarinder Singh and other Congress leaders who hailed the then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi for breaking the earth for this project in 1980s are now resorting to tactics like ground filling at same site just to mislead the people. But the wise Punjabis now that they are the real culprits who ignored the interests of the state and its people for appeasing their high command” added Mr. Badal.
The Chief Minister further said that water was basic ingredient of life and any such move to share the river waters of the state would be disastrous as it would ruin Punjab. He said that while doing the agreement of the SYL canal the then Congress government at the centre completely overlooked the universally accepted Riparian Principle on river water sharing. “Not only me but every Punjabi was duty bound to oppose this move and all of us should pledge to protect the waters of the state at any cost” added Mr. Badal.Training his guns against the Congress, the Chief Minister said that the successive Congress governments at the centre have meted out step motherly treatment with the Punjab by denying it of Punjabi speaking areas, legitimate share in river waters and even its capital. He said that the Congress has inflicted a deep wound on Sikh psyche by irrelevantly meddlingin their social, political, economic and even religious matters. Mr. Badal said that no Punjabi could ever forgive Congress for its dubious role in executing anti Sikh riots and attacking Sri Darbar Sahib in 1984.Squarely blaming the Congress party for the plight of farmers in the country, the Chief Minister said that the long spell of Congress party's misrule had broken the back bone of the farmers. He said that the anti - farmer stance of the Congress and its regressive policies ruined the farmers of the country, who were now reeling under mounting debt. Likewise, Mr. Badal said that the ever escalating costs of farm inputs coupled with non-remunerative MSP of the crops have rendered agriculture as non profitable venture.
Listing the major initiatives taken by the state government to protect the interests of the farmers and other sections of the society, the Chief Minister said that the state government has started first of its kind scheme to provide interests free crop loans worth Rs 50000 to the farmers. He said that during the last more than nine years the state government has provided free power to farmers worth Rs 28000 crore otherwise their problems would have accentuated manifolds on account of tube well bills. Likewise, the Chief Minister said that the alliance government has decided to double the pensions given to people under the social security schemes adding that in another historic decision it has been decided that all the farmers would be provided a health insurance cover of Rs.50,000 and an insurance of Rs.5 lac in case of accidental death or incapacitation of head of family.
Earlier paying homage to the Akali stalwart and former Minister late Jathedar Jasdev Singh Sandhu, the Chief Minister said he was the multi faceted personality and played a pro active role in the spread of education in every nook and corner of the state. He said that Jathedar Jasdev Singh Sandhu was an ‘encyclopedia of Sikhism and Akali Politics’ as he had a green memory and even remembered the events which happened almost 20 to 50 years before. Mr Badal also lauded the contribution of Sandhu family especially his son Senior Akali leader Tejinder Pal Singh and daughter-in-law Anoopinder Kaur in serving the people of the state with full dedication and commitment.Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra, Lok Sabha MP Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, MLAs Mrs. Virender Kaur Loomba and Mrs. Harpreet Kaur Mukmailpur, former President SGPC Jathedar Kirpal Singh Badungar, former Minister Mr. Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur, Chairman District Planning Committee Mr. Mohinder Singh Lalwa, Chairman of Zila Parishad Jaspal Singh Kalyan Deputy Commissioner Mr. Rambeer Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Gurmeet Singh Chauhan.