AAP begins indefinite 'morcha' over SYL issue

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today laid an "indefinite morcha" at Kapuri Village (origin of SYL canal) in conection with the Sutlej-Yamuna Link issue and vowed that the party was "set to go to any extent to save the interests of Punjab".
Speaking on the occasion, state convenor of AAP Gurpreet Singh Waraich alleged that Amarinder Singh "responsible for the accord of SYL canal" was now "shredding crocodile tears" over the issue in an attempt to get "political mileage".
"If Amarinder is serious on protecting the water of Punjab, he should resign from Congress, instead as an MP", he said, adding that Amarinder should force his "political boss" Rahul Gandhi to clear his stand on the issue.

"It is unfortunate that Rahul Gandhi has hailed the opinion of Supreme Court on SYL issue which went against Punjab and on the other hand his party MLAs have resigned from Punjab assembly," Waraich claimed, and questioned the "double standards" of Congress over the SYL issue.
On the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's comments that he would not allow to flow even a single drop of water in SYL Canal, Waraich said, "It is better Badal must clarify his stand on the role of BJP on the SYL issue as it took anti-Punjab stand in the Supreme Court," he said.

"If Badal, who claims to be champion of protecting the rights of Punjab, is serious this time, he should severe his political ties with BJP and instruct his daughter-in-law Harsimrat Kaur Badal to immediately resign from Modi's Cabinet," Waraich said.

In-charge of AAP's affairs in Punjab Sanjay Singh said time was "ripe" that entire nation should stand with Punjab which used to be known as "food bowl" of India.
"If peasantry of Punjab is ruined by robbing its rights on water, the entire nation will have to suffer with the scarcity of food grains," Singh said.
"Now state BJP Chief Vijay Sampla should explain, what is the stand of his party on SYL issue, whether Modi would ensure that there will be no injustice with Punjab or will he (Sampla) make Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar understand the actual availability of water in Punjab?" he said.

Supreme Court lawyer and AAP leader H S Phoolka said "Punjab is not bound to adhere the 'opinion' of the apex court to give presidential reference on the SYL issue".
"Let Badal use his political influence and make Modi understand with the impact of construction of SYL Canal," Phoolka said, adding it seems Badal has failed to present the Punjab's plea on the SYL issue both inside the Court and in "Delhi Darbar" as well.
Senior AAP leader Kanwar Sandhu said if voted to power, the AAP would construct a separate Canal for the irrigation of agriculture land in the districts of Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali and Patiala which are facing huge scarcity of water.