To take Congress and SAD-BJP combine head-on on the contentious issue of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today laid an indefinite “Morcha” at Kapuri Village (Origin of SYL Canal) and vowed that the party is all set to go to any extent to save the interests of Punjab.Prominent leaders of AAP who addressed the “Morcha” include Gurpreet Singh Waraich, Sanjay Singh, Jarnail Singh, HS Phoolka, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Kanwar Sandhu, Jagmeet Brar, Prof Baljinder Kaur, Harjot Bains, Aman Arora, Jasvir Jassi Sekhon, Brig. Raj Kumar, Captain GS Kang, Gulshan Chhabra, Boota Singh Ashant, Baldev Singh Azad, Yamini Gomar, Karanveer Tiwana AhbaabGrewal, Anu Randhawa, Sajjan Sigh Cheema, Harjot Kaur, Jagtar Singh Rajla, Jagtar Singh Sanghera, Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Dev Mann, Santokh Salana, Harchand Singh Barsat and Prof. Balwant Singh.State Convener of AAP, Gurpreet Singh Waraich said Captain Amarinder Singh of Congress, one of the main political parties, responsible for the accord of SYL Canal, is now shredding crocodile tears on the issue in an attempt to get political mileage.“If Captain Amarinder is serious on protecting the water of Punjab, he should resign from Congress, instead of as an MP”, Waraich said adding that Captain should force his “Political Boss” Rahul Gandhi to clear his stand on the issue.“It is unfortunate that Rahul Gandhi has hailed the opinion of Supreme Court on SYL issue, which went against Punjab and on the other hand his party MLAs have resigned from Punjab assembly” Waraich said while quipping: Is it not the ‘Double Standard” of Congress on the SYL issue?
On the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s comments that he would not allow to flow even a single drop of water in SYL Canal, Waraich said “ It is better Badal must clarify his stand on the role of BJP on the SYL issue, as it took anti-Punjab stand in the Supreme Court”.“If Badal, who claims to be champion of protecting the rights of Punjab, is serious this time, he should severe his political ties with BJP and instruct his daughter-in-law Harsimrat Kaur Badal to immediately resign from the Modi’s Cabinet”, Waraich said.In-Charge of AAP’s affairs in Punjab, Sanjay Singh said that time is ripe that entire nation should stand by with Punjab, which used to be known as “Food Bowl” of Punjab. “If peasantry of Punjab is ruined by robbing its rights on water, entire nation will have to suffer with the scarcity of food grain”, Singh added.“Now State BJP Chief Vijay Sampla should explain, what is the stand of his party on SYL issue, whether Modi ji would ensure that there will be no injustice with Punjab or will he (Sampla) make Haryana CM ML Khattar understand the actual availability of water in Punjab?”, Quipped Sanjay Singh.
Renowned Supreme Court Lawyer and AAP leader, HS Phoolka said “Punjab is not bound to adhere the ‘opinion’ of the Apex Court to give presidential reference on the SYL issue and if Punjab is forced to give water to any other state, it would flow on the dead bodies of farmers and AAP leaders.“Let CM Badal use his political influence and make Modi understand with the impact of construction of SYL Canal”, Phoolka said that it seems Badal has failed to present the Punjab’s plea on the SYL issue both inside the Court and in Delhi Darbar as well.Senior AAP leader Kanwar Sandhu said if voted to power, AAP would construct a separate Canal for the irrigation of agriculture land in the districts of Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali and Patiala, which is facing huge scarcity of water.AAP’s Spokesman Sukhpal Khaira claimed that AAP is the only political party, which has taken a clear and strong stand on the SYL issue, but other political parties were merely playing politics on the contentious issue.Co In-charge of AAP’s affairs in Punjab and Delhi MLA claimed that once against Central Government has betrayed Punjab by taking anti-Punjab stand in the court.