ANANDPUR SAHIB: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is persistent on stopping construction of the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal saying it would not be “allowed at any cost and under any circumstance.” He even asked people to be prepared for a tough battle to safeguard river waters of the state. Addressing a gathering to mark the commemoration of the historic 'Hola Mohalla', Badal said it was high time to make 'supreme sacrifices' rather than allowing the construction of SYL canal as it would divest people of Punjab of their legitimate rights over river waters in “blatant violation” of the nationally and internationally accepted riparian principle.
Badal declared that decisions aimed at “robbing” the state and its people of their “rights” would never be accepted by him and the SAD-BJP alliance. Recalling the party's long ordeal of waging a relentless battle to protect the interests of the state, the CM attacked the Congress for “depriving the state of genuine rights” especially, related to river waters during their successive governments at the Centre. Talking about the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act 2004, Badal said all the agreements which were terminated through this Act, were done by Congress governments. “Thus the Act was a mere admission of guilt by the Congress government headed by Captain Amarinder Singh. This Termination Act terminated nothing but the agreements signed by the Congress governments alone themselves.”
