Cong running away from its stand on SYL: Sukhbir

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal today accused Congress of running away from taking steps to safeguard the river waters of Punjab but said but the SAD will not "flinch from its duty" and will come out with "appropriate measures" to resolve the issue in its entirety.
In a statement here, Badal, who is also Deputy Chief Minister of the state said the party core committee as well as the state cabinet, both of which were meeting shortly, would deliberate upon the steps needed to firm up the party as well as the SAD-BJP government's decision not to allow even a drop of water to go to Haryana.

"We are ready to take any step necessary to stand up to this commitment", he added.
The SAD president said it was unfortunate that a "frustrated" Punjab Congress president - Amarinder Singh, was "stooping so low" as to ask for the resignation of the SAD- BJP government.
"You resigned from the Parliament because you had to contest the next assembly elections from Patiala. Your MLAs resigned as the party high command did not want them to be part of the proceedings of the November 16 sitting of the Punjab assembly. All this is understandable. But why are you asking for the resignation of Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal?

Surely it is because you are frustrated at the turn of events and the fact that Punjabis are increasingly seeing you as the villain of the piece who was facilitated the start of work on the SYL canal," he alleged.

Asking Amarinder not to act like a "sore loser", the SAD president said he could understand his "frustration".
"Your hands are tied by the Congress high command which has never supported Punjab's right over its own waters", he said.
He said even now Amarinder could redeem himself by supporting the steps being taken by Badal Sahab to save the waters of Punjab.

"But this is unlikely. You are resorting to cheap publicity stunts to befool Punjabis instead of directing your MLAs to debate the issue in the assembly. This will only alienate you and your party further from the people", he alleged.