Amarinder Singh to resign as MP in protest of SC verdict in SYL row

Following the Supreme Court verdict in the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal row wherein it declared the legislation passed by the Punjab Government as 'null and void', Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Captain Amarinder Singh has decided t0 resign as MP in protest of the apex court ruling.

In a big setback for Prakash Singh Badal-led Punjab Government, the apex court earlier in the day quashed its legislation involving water issue with neighboring state Haryana.

The top court termed the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act, 2004, as invalid.

The controversy is on sharing of waters by states, including Punjab and Haryana.

The five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court answered in negative on all the questions of president reference if Punjab can enact the law over Sutlej Yamuna link canal.

The Centre will now take over the canal and continue building it.

Meanwhile, all Punjab Congress MLAs have sent their resignations to Captain Amarinder Singh in protest of the apex court verdict.

"It is a very unfortunate decision for Punjab. In this issue, the Centre as well as the Punjab Government has failed to put up the side of Punjab," said Bharat Bhushan deputy CLP leader, Punjab Assembly.

"Punjab Congress MLAs have sent resignations to Amarinder Singh. We will submit to speaker in personal capacity tomorrow," he added.

Other Congress leader Ravneet Singh Bittu told ANI, "Punjab can't afford to give even a drop of water. The decision taken is against Punjab and in favour of Haryana."

Earlier, a constitution bench of the apex court had reserved the verdict on May 12 after the Centre had maintained its earlier stand that the states concerned should settle their disputes themselves.

The Centre had said that it was having a neutral stand in the matter in which the court has recorded the stand of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir.