Former Punjab deputy chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today said if chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh was sincere about protecting the rights of Punjab he should unequivocally declare “NO SYL – No Water to Haryana” immediately.In a statement here, the SAD president said this was of utmost importance as a wrong message had been sent out to Punjabis by the chief minister by welcoming the Supreme Court order which has given two months time to execute its decree to give Punjab’s waters to Haryana through the SYL canal. “By welcoming this move and stating that he is ready to start negotiations with Haryana on this issue, the chief minister has sent out a message that the waters of Punjab can be put on the negotiating table. Nothing can be more absurd than this. What will he negotiate? Does he want to sell out the interests of Punjab?”
The SAD president said the fact of the matter was that Punjab’s rights over its river waters were inalienable and could never become a matter of negotiation. “Capt Amarinder should understand this before even speaking on this issue. If he is still in doubt he should take note that no SYL exists on Punjab territory as of now. Sardar Parkash Singh Badal has returned the land acquired for the canal back to farmers. What will Amarinder negotiate with Haryana when the issue has already been settled on the ground?” Mr Badal asked.Stating that such shocking misstatements would do irreparable damage to the interests of Punjab, the former deputy CM advised Amarinder to make immediate amends. “Please make it clear to Haryana that the waters of Punjab are not negotiable. Don’t dilly-dally and use sweet talk on this issue. Be firm and decisive. The entire State and its people will be with you if you abide by the consensus created on this issue by Sardar Badal. However in case you dither and go to the negotiating table to barter away the interests of the State we will go the people and stop you from taking any such step. The Congress has a history of betraying and back stabbing Punjabis and even attacking their religious places. We will not allow you to write another page to this gory history. We will oppose you tooth and nail and will not allow a single drop of our water to go to Haryana at any cost”.