Sukhbir Singh Badal – President, Akali Dal:

Punjab has an inalienable & exclusive right over its river waters as per the nationally & internationally accepted Riparian Principle.

CM Bhagwant Mann should have stressed this instead of awarding Haryana the status of an equal partner and initiating negotiations on the SYL canal.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has fallen into the trap laid by Haryana by initiating talks to check the availability of water.

This is done despite the fact that Haryana does not have any locus standi in the case being a non-riparian State.

Punjab chief minister, while presenting the state’s case (most shabbily), also did not take into consideration that if Punjab and Haryana availability is less it will result in a proportionate cut in everyone’s share but not stop the flow of water into Haryana.

Also, Punjab Advocate General’s claim in the CM’s presence that “if we have water we will consider construction of the SYL” is very damaging.

Punjab govt should immediately disassociate itself from this stand and censure the AG for making an anti-Punjab statement.

Bhagwant should have known how S Parkash Singh Badal had reacted as CM to the SC directive to Punjab to construct SYL canal.

He had categorically refused to build the canal & declared that he was willing to be hanged for defying orders against Punjab as river waters are our lifeline.

Bhagwant admitted that the land on which SYL canal stood had been de-notified & returned to the original tillers by PS Badal govt.

When he knew it, why did he give commitment that State would consider construction of SYL canal once the present River waters were measured anew?

It seems Bhagwant is under pressure of Arvind Kejriwal who is insisting that Punjab river waters be released to Haryana and Delhi.

I warn Bhagwant not to set Punjab on fire by going against the wishes of Punjabis who didn’t want the State to conduct any negotiations with Haryana.