Badal slams Cong, AAP on SYL canal issue

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today alleged that the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were hatching a conspiracy to turn the state into "desert" by snatching its river waters.
Addressing gatherings during 'Sangat Darshan' programme in various wards of Sri Muktsar Sahib assembly segment here today, the Chief Minister said "Congress and AAP were inimical to the development of the state due to which they were now constantly weaving plans to deprive the Punjabis of their river waters".
Cautioning the people to not fell prey to "malicious propaganda" of AAP and Congress, he alleged that both these parties were hell bent upon ruining the state.

The 88-year-old five-time CM said, "all of us will have to struggle relentlessly to ensure that not even a single drop of water is taken away from us".
Coming down heavily on the Congress party, the Chief Minister said that "this party had signed various agreements to deprive the state of its river water."
He claimed Haryana, Rajasthan and others were "illegally" given water from Punjab's share by the Congress.

"(Punjab Congress chief) Capt Amarinder Singh had enthusiastically welcomed the then Prime minister Indira Gandhi to perform ground breaking ceremony of Satluj Yamuna Link canal, which aims at giving Punjab's water to Haryana," he said.

"No Punjabi can ever forgive Congress for depriving state of its Capital, Punjabi speaking areas," he said, adding even Aam Aadmi Party was suffering from the "same anti-Punjab syndrome as Congress".
Terming the fresh affidavit by Delhi government in Supreme Court on SYL issue as a "political stunt", he said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's "anti-Punjab mindset has already been exposed in its earlier affidavit which had termed Punjab's stand on the issue as unconstitutional and anti-national".
Badal said as Arvind Kejriwal hailed from Haryana "so he was naturally inclined towards safeguarding the interests of his parent state and nothing good for Punjab can be expected from him".

He alleged Kejriwal has no affection with Punjab or its people and his sole intention was to "vest political power in the state".
Referring to another query regarding "wrong portrayal" of the martyr Bhagat Singh in some books, the Chief Minister termed it as most "unfortunate and miserable."
On the wheat procurement issue, the Chief Minister said it was going on in a "smooth and hassle free manner".