Terming that the recent affidavit submitted by Delhi government in Supreme Court on the Satluj Yamuna Canal (SYL) canal issue has exposed the anti-Punjab stance of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that both AAP and Congress were conniving with each other to deprive the Punjabis of every single drop of water. Addressing the gathering during Sangat Darshan program of Nawanshahar assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said that it was on record that the Congress and AAP were both the enemies of the state, who have joined hands to snatch the water of state by constructing SYL in the state thereby robbing the state of its legitimate share of river water. Apprising the people about the affidavit submitted by AAP government in Delhi, Mr. Badal said that the Delhi government has termed the stand taken by Punjab as unconstitutional and anti-national adding that even Kejriwal led government has threatened Punjabis of dire consequences due to its firm stand of not allowing the construction of Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. "This is grave insult to brave and hard working Punjabis, who are just seeking their legitimate right on waters" he added.
The Chief Minister said that it was a fact that as per universally accepted Riparian principle of water sharing Punjab was the only rightful owner of river waters of the state. However, he said that the Congress has divested the state of its rights by giving water to Rajasthan, Haryana and other states. Mr. Badal said that it was ironical state Congress Chief Capt. Amarinder Singh who was now shedding crocodile tears on this issue had enthusiastically welcomed the then Prime minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi to lay foundation stone of SYL.
Taking the Congress party to cudgels, the Chief Minister said that the Punjabis could never forgive the Congress party for its sins against Punjab. Mr. Badal said that Congress has irrelevantly meddled in the social, political, economic and even religious affairs of the state. He further bemoaned that the Congress governments at the centre had deliberately denied the state of Punjabi speaking areas, its capital Chandigarh and even its legitimate share in river waters. “How can any true Punjabi forget and forgive Operation Blue Star and the killing of innocents in 1984 anti-Sikh carnage” questioned Mr. Badal.Listing the major initiatives taken by the state government, the Chief Minister said that due to concerted efforts of alliance government, Punjab was the today only power surplus state in the country. He further said that the alliance government has decided to double the pensions given to people under the social security schemes besides hiking the honorarium of the Nambardars. Mr. Badal 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 further said 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.
The Chief Minister also announced to complete the ongoing work of rejuvenation of Bist Doab canal and Kandi Canal, the two major arteries of irrigation in the region, by coming June so as to provide a ‘robust irrigation mechanism’ to the people of Doaba region.The Chief Minister said that the Shiromani Akali Dal would never allow the anti-Punjab forces to become successful in their nefarious designs. He reiterated that the SAD would not allow SYL to become a reality. "We are ready to sacrifice even our government for safeguarding the legitimate share of river waters" he added.Later on Interacting with the media persons, the Chief Minister said that the state government would seek the intervention of Union government to impress upon the Australian government to revoke its decision of not granting visa to students of the state. He said that though the state government could not directly do anything tangible on the matter but all out efforts would be made to raise this matter through the Government of India. “Punjab is frontrunner state in field of education and denial of visa to its students is sheer injustice with us which cannot be tolerated at any cost”, added Mr. Badal.
Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that the state government has already sanctioned funds worth Rs 1.56 crore as compensation to pea cultivators of the region and it would be disbursed to them at the earliest. Squarely blaming Delhi Chief Minister Mr. Arvind Kejriwal for demolishing ‘piau’ outside Gurdwara Sis Ganjh Sahib in Delhi, the Chief Minister said that it has hurt the sentiments of every Sikh across the globe. He said that the Sikhs would never forgive the AAP leadership for this grave sin against the community.The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chairman MARKFED Mr. Jarnail Singh Wahid, Joint Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Kumar Amit, Deputy Inspector General of Police Mr. SK Kalia, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Vipul Ujjwal, Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Snehdeep Sharma, SAD District President Jathedar Ram Singh Dhudhala and SGPC Member Jathedar Gurbax Singh Khalsa.