Terming that grave injustice was done by Congress with the state during successive water sharing agreements, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today said that Haryana, Rajasthan or any other state has no right on river waters of Punjab.Addressing the public gatherings during Sangat Darshan in Lambi assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said that the successive Congress governments in the centre and state completely ignored the universally accepted Riparian principle while signing these agreements due to which Punjab was denied of its legitimate right in river waters. He said that if Punjab had not been sharing existing water with Rajasthan, Haryana and other states then there would hardly have been any problem of depleting ground water in the state. Mr. Badal reminded the people that in absence of adequate canal water they had no other option then pumping out water through tube wells thereby putting ground water situation in state in alarming state.
Reiterating the firm commitment of state to protect waters of the state, the Chief Minister once again avowed to make every sacrifice to protect the river waters of the state. He categorically said that Punjab doesn’t have a single drop of spare water for anybody. Mr. Badal said that Akali Dal had been continuously opposing the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal 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. 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. “Every Punjabi must be ready 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 meddling in 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.
Later on interacting with the media persons in village Raniwala, the Chief Minister said that the Union Government must give relaxation to the jewelers, who were agitating since imposition of duty on them. He said that the jewelers were under tremendous pressure and their demand needs to be considered sympathetically. Mr. Badal said that he had already written letter to the Government of India for reconsidering this issue. On the announcement of state Congress Chief Captain Amarinder Singh to contest SGPC elections in the state, the Chief Minister said that nobody has debarred them to do so. He said that it was democracy and everyone was free to test waters in any elections. However, Mr. Badal reminded Captain that Congress was defeated badly whenever they had tried their luck in SGPC polls.
Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that the Union government must ensure remunerative prices of harvest of the farmers. Asked to comment on statements of Dr. Navjot Kur Sidhu, Mr. Badal said that she was like her daughter. Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Chairman Punjab Agro Jathedar Dyal Singh Kolianwali, Chairman PUNCOFED Mr Kulwinder Singh Bhai Ka kera, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr KJS Cheema, Secretary Water Supply Mr. Ajoy Kumar Sharma, Joint Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr Kumar Amit, Member Punjab State women Commission Bibi Veer Pal Kaur Tarmala and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Sumit Jaranghal.