Punjab to call special assembly session on SYL verdict

Facing setback after the Supreme Court's judgment which declared unconstitutional Punjab's 2004 law scrapping all water-sharing agreements, the state's Akali Dal on Thursday announced that a special session of the state assembly would be called on November 16.

It has decided to launch a statewide agitation from December 8 and to call on President Pranab Mukerjee to request him not to accept the Supreme Court's advice on the SYL, a senior party leader told IANS.

"The party has decided to launch 'Pani Bachao, Punjab Bachao' (Save water, save Punjab) agitation on December 8 from Moga," he said.

He said a massive public rally has already been planned at Moga on that day to mark the birthday of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Meanwhile, the cabinet at its emergency meeting here decided to convene the special session to discuss situation arising after the apex court verdict on the Sutlej-Yamuna water.

Refusing to resign like state Congress legislators and Member of Parliament Amarinder Singh resigned after the apex court's decision, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal termed the resignation as a political stunt.

"We are exploring legal options," he told reporters in Chandigarh.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said they would not let anyone to take away even a single drop of water from Punjab.

He said the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue has been a sole creation of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

"The SYL issue has been a sole creation of Indira Gandhi. At the time when the construction of the SYL canal started, Capt Amarinder Singh (Congress state chief) had welcomed it," he said, as per an official statement.

"Why should we run away? This entire resignation drama has been created by the Congress party," he added.

--IANS

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