Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today sounded caution on the SYL issue citing the riots in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over Kauveri dispute. He reiterated that the SC judges must take into consideration the existing ground realities before pronouncing their judgment as a lot had changed on the ground. At the same time, he announced, come what may, he will not allow an extra drop of water to flow out of Punjab as it could render at least ten lakh acres of land in the Malwa region barren. Addressing a massive political conference, that was the largest among all the conferences held by different political parties here today, Capt Amarinder blamed the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for the SYL mess, saying his role dated back to 1978 when he was the Chief Minister and wanted to please his friend and the then Haryana Chief Minister Devi Lal. Lashing out at the Badals and Majithia, he said, the moment elections are announced and the code of conduct comes into force, the Badals will need to run for cover. "People will not let them enter their villages", he said, while adding that was the reason they were seeking extra security for themselves from the centre.
He said, the Badals had destroyed Punjab beyond redemption. "They destroyed the economy, agriculture and the youth by pushing them into drugs and grabbed every profit making business", he said, adding, while the Badals got richer and richer by billions of rupees, Punjab got proportionately bankrupt. Capt Amarinder cautioned people against the divisive mechanisations of Mr Badal, saying he was a master in polarising people. He said, the desecration of Guru Granth Sahab in Bebal Kalan, followed by similar desecration of Quran and Geeta and attack on Sant Dhadrianwale and later on an RSS leader in Jalandhar was all aimed at creating fear and polarising people. He said, Mr Badal had done it earlier and he was doing it again. Reminding people of the promises he made under oath at Bathinda in December last, he said, he will finish the scourge of drugs within four weeks and cancel all the FIRs. He said everyone in Punjab knew as who was responsible for the drugs and it will not take him more than four weeks to put them behind the bars.About the false FIRs against the Congress workers, he said, not only will these be cancelled, those responsible for registering these, whether the Akali Jathedars or the police officials will also be held accountable.Later replying to a question, during press conference, about Aam Aadmi Party Convener Gurpreet Ghuggi comparing Arvind Kejriwal with the Tenth Guru and saying the Panj Pyaras were also outsiders, Capt Amarinder said, he deserved to be thrashed for this blasphemy. He said, AAP leaders were behaving in a senseless manner and they had no respect for public sentiments and sensitivities. He reiterated his firm stand that Punjab will be for Punjabis only. "It is the question of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat which no outsider can understand and no outsider will be allowed to meddle in", he asserted, while announcing that he will contest against Kejriwal if and wherever he decides to fight from, in Punjab. "But I think he has already run away", he remarked.
Replying to a question on Haryana's objection against using 'Mohali' name with the International airport near Chandigarh, the PCC president said, the airport must be named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh as had already been agreed upon by both the states. He said the union civil aviation ministry should clarify the matter.Speaking on the occasion, the AICC in charge for Punjab Ms Asha Kumari slammed the Akalis for destroying Punjab. She said, only the Congress party under the leadership of Capt Amarinder can redeem Punjab from the mess the Akalis have put it in. PCC Chief Spokesperson and Vice President Sunil Jakhar referred to the corruption resorted to by the Akalis. He also displayed the motorcycle whose registration number the Akali government had shown to be that of a truck in which paddy was claimed to have been transported to the godowns. Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included CLP leader Charanjit Singh Channi, former Chief Minister Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Manpreet Singh Badal, Jassi Khangura also spoke on the occasion. Prominent among those present included Chairperson of the Campaign Committee Ms Ambika Soni, Secretary AICC Harish Chaudhry, Laal Singh and others. The conference was organised by the Dakha halqa in charge Jassi Khangura.