SYL issue: Punjab govt vows not to share water, to appeal to

Vowing that it won't allow water from Punjab to go outside, the state government today decided to appeal to the President not to accept the opinion of Supreme Court on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue.
The Cabinet also decided to hold an emergency session of the Punjab assembly on November 16 to discuss the SYL issue besides a 'maha sammelan' at Moga next month.
The Punjab Cabinet held a meeting here this evening under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal this evening to discuss the issue pertaining to SYL.
In a huge setback to the Akali Dal government in poll- bound Punjab, the Supreme Court earlier in the day thwarted its attempt to wriggle out of the SYL canal water sharing agreement, saying it cannot "unilaterally" terminate it or legislate to "nullify" the verdict of the highest court.

"We will not allow water from Punjab to go outside," Badal told reporters after the meeting.
He further said the state did not have a single drop of water to share with the neighbouring state.

"Punjab does not have single drop of water to spare. Water is a lifeline for every citizen of Punjab especially farmers and trade and industry. Nobody can take away the rights of our citizens," Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was also present, said.
Sukhbir while holding Congress responsible for the digging of SYL canal said, "The cabinet has decided to soon call on President requesting him not to accept the advice of the Supreme Court."

He said a huge 'sammellan' will be held on December 8 on the SYL issue in order to convey the feelings of Punjabis to the countrymen.
Asked about the legal advise to be taken in the wake of Supreme Court's latest opinion, he said the advocate general would advise the state government on this issue and all required steps would be taken to safeguard the interests of the state as it does not have a drop of water to spare.
The chief minister said the interests of the state's farmers have to be protected as also the interests of the countrymen as Punjab is the main producer of food grains for the nation.

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When asked whether SAD will resort to protest, Badal said they will not take to streets as of now.
"SC has given its advice on the matter. It is not a verdict. Punjab cabinet will meet the President and will request him not to accept it," he said.
"For us water is important. Whatever may the reason, we will not allow the water to go outside the state in any situation," Badal asserted.
Earlier, also we did not allow the same, he said.
To a question on his resignation as demanded by the Opposition, Badal accused these parties including Congress of misguiding the people on the SYL issue.

"They want me to resign so that there will be Governor's rule and it will be easy for digging of canal," he said.
"Irrespective of anything, Cabinet has taken decision that no water will be taken out of Punjab we will not allow water or construction by anybody or any agency," Sukhbir also asserted.
Asked whether BJP is on same page with ruling Akalis on SYL issue, BJP MLA and cabinet minister Madan Mohan Mittal said that the BJP was with SAD on this issue.
"There is a rule in our party that if there was any clash of interest between two states then party in both states can adopt their respective stand," said Mittal.

According to Badal, only SAD and BJP can save water.
He also termed the resignations by Congress leaders as drama.
"We are not enemies of anyone. Haryana is our brother. But our question is that water is lifeline and it is our first duty to save water," he said.
The Cabinet also held present PPCC Chief Amarinder Singh responsible for inviting Indira Gandhi to start the digging of the canal at Kapuri in his own constituency Patiala.
"It was he who offered her a silver spade to start the digging. It was against this digging that the SAD had launched a long peaceful democratic morcha for Punjab's interests. It is as a result of that Morcha that no river waters went out of Punjab after that," Badal said.