With the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal turning into a major political issue in Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday said Rajasthan was given a share in Punjab’s waters in an “unjustified and arbitrary manner”.
“Rajasthan was given Punjab’s waters in an unjustified and arbitrary manner and the then Central government never took Punjab into confidence while deciding this crucial issue,” Mr. Badal said addressing a gathering on the last leg of his three-day Sangat Darshan programme here.
He said as per the Riparian Rules, Punjab has exclusive rights over its waters and not even a drop will be shared with any other State.
The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had laid the foundation stone of the project and Amarinder Singh had welcomed this step amid great fanfare and gaiety, the Chief Minister said.
At that time too, the Akali Dal strongly raised its voice against this “apathetic attitude and discriminatory treatment” meted out to Punjab and now same sequence of events are happening once again, he said.
Attacking the Aam Aadmi Party for its stand on the issue, the Chief Minister said the real face of AAP has been exposed with the affidavit it filed in court.
He said the Delhi government in its affidavit had stated Punjab’s stand on the issue was unconstitutional and against the interests of the nation and that it may lead to disintegration of country.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal belonged to the State of Haryana and his affinity for the State was natural, Mr. Badal said.
Terming the river water as the “lifeline of the people” of the State, he said the issue of river water is not merely restricted to the farming community but is associated with the overall development and prosperity of the state.
He said if the State was robbed of its water, its fertile land will turn into desert and not only the farming community, the entire economy of the state would be in doldrums.
Describing agriculture as the backbone of state’s economy, Badal said farm labourers, commission agents, traders and even industrialists would be adversely affected. He appealed to the people to leave no stone unturned to safeguard the State’s legitimate right over its river waters.
The Chief Minister alleged the Congress-led governments never missed any opportunity to deny the people of Punjab their rightful share in the river waters and the incumbent Chief of state party unit Captain Amarinder Singh played a “pivotal role” in it. - PTI
