SYL row: All Punjab Congress MLAs may resign from assembly, says Amarinder

KARTARPUR (JALANDHAR): Upping the ante further on the issue of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, Punjab Congress chief and deputy leader of the Opposition in Parliament captain Amarinder Singh has announced that in case the Supreme Court gives a decision against Punjab, all party MLAs would resign from the state assembly and he would also resign from Parliament.Jalandhar MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh, who flanked Amarinder during this announcement, also announced to resign in case of such decision.
“After submitting our resignation, the Congress party will go to the people and seek their support and as for votes and after we form the government in 2017, we will initiate legal and constitutional measures to safeguard our waters like we did in 2004 when we enacted Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004," he said, adding that “any adversity will be happening to Punjab only due to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s failure to act on time and squandered constitutional, legal and political opportunities to safeguard interests of Punjab.
Amarinder made this announcement while addressing a press conference here on Sunday after holding Halqe Vich Captain programme and a dharna against atrocities against Dalits during NDA rule.
This statement by the Punjab Congress chief comes when ruling Shiromani Akali Dal has been trying to mobilize the panchayats on the issue and they were made to pass and submit resolutions en masse to deputy commissioners for sending these to the President and the Prime Minster and Punjab government has launched a publicity campaign projecting CM Badal as saviour of Punjab waters.
“While we respect the Supreme Court, we are also duty bound towards Punjab. Hence we will find legislative and constitutional ways and means to safeguard our water," he said, adding, “In case the decision goes against Punjab and SC orders construction of SYL canal not only will over ten lakh acres of Malwa region go dry, people will not have even drinking water.
“Either Badal’s intentions are dishonest or these lack clarity due to which he has been to vacillating and wasting crucial time in getting the Governor’s assent to the unanimous resolution of the Vidhan Sabha on SYL, thus providing enough time to Haryana to move the SC," he argued to buttress his claim that Punjab government did not act in time on the issue.
Meanwhile, when journalists asked Jalandhar MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh if he would also resign, he responded in affirmative.
Amarinder said that Badal could resort to any mischief which could imperil the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
“it was the Congress government in 2004 which enacted the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act that saved its waters and now when the responsibility was with Badal, he failed to rise to the occasion," he said while claiming that under Badal’s government Punjab’s case appeared to be the weakest ever and even Punjab government expected a loss in SC.
He also claimed that it was Badal who accepted Rs 2 crore in 1978 from his Haryana counterpart Devi Lal, with whom he proudly claimed to have ‘brotherly’ relations, right up to now.