The Akalis have decided to project the emotive Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue to win the support of the people in the run-up to the Punjab Assembly elections due early next year.
In the past few days, many panchayats of Punjab passed resolutions against sharing the water of the SYL canal. Following this, Akali MLAs or Assembly constituency in-charges have started submitting these resolutions to the President and the Prime Minister, through the district administration.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP combine government in Punjab is fighting strong anti-incumbency and after facing flak over the drug menace in the State, highlighted by Udta Punjab , the Akalis hope to bounce back by playing the SYL card.
Recently 889 resolutions against sharing SYL water were handed over by Akali leaders to the Jalandhar deputy commissioner. In Nawanshahr as well, 645 such resolutions were submitted to the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM). “Farmers are our first priority; we are ready for all sacrifices to safeguard Punjab’s rights. The State has no water to spare,” said a recent tweet from SAD’s official twitter handle.
The Punjab Congress, on its part, has questioned Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s sincerity in solving the SYL issue.
Congress president Capt. Amarinder Singh on Wednesday accused Mr. Badal of trying to politicise the issue to hide his government’s failures.
“Getting the resolutions passed in various panchayats across the State will hardly serve any purpose. This is a lame attempt by Mr. Badal to cover up his responsibility in weakening Punjab’s case in the Supreme Court”, he said.
He said Punjab must insist on setting up a fresh tribunal that will look into the actual availability of water right now, before a final decision is taken. “I am sure he [Mr. Badal] is planning to enact some political drama ahead of the elections”, said Capt. Amarinder.
The SYL issue came to the fore three months ago after the Haryana government filed a petition in the Supreme Court. It sought an early hearing on the presidential reference in the case, pending for the last 12 years. The Punjab Assembly passed a Bill on March 10 to return the 5,376 acres of land acquired for the canal to the owners.
The Bill, however, is still awaiting Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki’s assent.
