Punjab won't share a drop of water, says Deputy CM Sukhbir

CM Prakash Singh Badal had earlier said neither Punjab, nor its people will accept any verdict against state's interest regarding river waters

Commenting upon Haryana Assembly's unanimous resolution condemning Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal for his recent remarks on the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday asserted that irrespective of any resolution, Punjab will not spare "even a drop" of its water for any other state.

Sukhbir, who is also the president of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab, said his party stood committed "to save the state's waters and safeguard the interests of its people".

"Even if Haryana adopts any kind of a resolution, we will not allow a drop of our water to flow into other states," he said, endorsing his father's stand on the issue.

"Punjab's economy is agri-based and it cannot afford to compromise on its waters which constitute the lifeline of agriculture," the deputy chief minister told reporters.

He brushed aside the suggestion that a stiff Akali stance on the issue could affect its alliance with the BJP as Haryana was ruled by the saffron party.

"Our alliance with the BJP is rock solid. We will contest and win the upcoming Punjab polls together and form the government for a record third consecutive time," Sukhbir said.

He claimed that the SAD-BJP alliance will "sweep" the Punjab polls, while the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party will "lick the dust at the hustings".

Addressing the gathering at a free eye and cancer check up camp organised by a UK-based non-resident Indian (NRI), Sukhbir lauded the contribution of NRIs, especially those who hailed from Doaba, in developing their native villages.

The Haryana Assembly had on Friday unanimously passed a resolution, condemning Prakash Singh Badal's recent statement that neither Punjab, nor its people will accept any verdict against the interest of the state regarding river waters and were ever ready to make any sacrifice to safeguard their legitimate share.