Cong flays Har govt's 'double standards' on inter-state issues

Congress legislative party leader Kiran Chaudhary today accused the Haryana government of adopting "double standards" over sensitive issues like inter-state water agreement and the joint capital of Chandigarh.
The Congress leader asked Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to explain his stand on Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki's address in the Punjab Assembly yesterday, seeking transfer of Chandigarh and Punjabi speaking areas to Punjab and due share of the state in inter-state waters under the riparian principle.
"Through the Governor's address in the Budget session of Haryana Assembly on Monday, BJP Government had said that it is committed to ensure Haryana gets its due share of water from all inter-state river agreements and also that it is taking steps for expeditious completion of Satluj Yamuna Link Canal and linking of BML-Hansi Branch-Butana Branch Multipurpose link channel.

"However, the Governor's address made no mention of the land disputes with the neighboring state," she said.
She also pointed out Solanki's statement that the Centre and the Parliament recognised Punjab's demands of having Chandigarh as its exclusive capital.
Choudhary flayed the "duality of approach of the BJP" which is in power in Haryana and is a partner in the ruling coalition in Punjab.

"The BJP is having double standards on the issue of transfer of Chandigarh and Punjabi-speaking areas, and share in the inter-state rivers.
"Given the demand of Punjab Government echoed by the Governor, Khattar must clarify the stand of his government on these vital inter-state issues," she said.

The Punjab Government's stand voiced by the Governor in the Assembly is bound to stir up the people of Haryana, Chaudhary said demanding the Haryana CM to come clean on this issue.