Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday said that with an eye on the coming Punjab Assembly polls, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) were playing with the sentiments of people and fooling them on the water-sharing issue of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.
Talking to The Hindu , Mr. Hooda said: “They [the SAD and the INLD] are hand in glove. ‘Chautalas’ have always been protecting interests of ‘Badals’ rather than protecting Haryana’s interests on the SYL issue.” The INLD’s announcement to start the digging of SYL canal on February 23 was just another ‘political stunt’. “If the INLD was interested in resolving the SYL issue, they should cooperate with the Congress in the best interests of Haryana,” he said.
Court verdict
Mr. Hooda said the Supreme Court’s verdict of invalidating the 2004 law passed by Punjab to terminate the SYL canal water-sharing agreement with neighbouring States was a decision in Haryana’s favour. It was now the responsibility of the Central government to ensure that Haryana got its share of water.
Mr. Hooda said he was willing to campaign for his party in the Punjab Assembly polls, but not until an assurance was given by Capt. Amarinder Singh on giving its share of water to Haryana through the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal.
Demands assurance
“It is clear that once the Congress wins the Punjab Assembly elections, Amarinder would be the Chief Minister. But I will campaign in Punjab only when I get the assurance from him on the SYL water issue,” he said. “I am a true soldier of my party but it is my moral duty to stand for the people of my State on SYL,” he said.
With the pro-Jat reservation outfit all set to renew the next round of agitation from January 29 under the All India Jat Arakshan Smiti, Mr. Hooda said: “Everyone has a right to peaceful protest.”
Mr. Hooda hit out at the BJP government in Haryana, saying, “It was the BJP-led government’s slackness that was responsible for last year’s Jat stir. They [the BJP] tried to divide the society but people have understood their game and are united against the BJP now,” he said.
The Congress leader said the BJP government had failed to keep its promises made during the polls.
