SAD asks CM to call all parties to discuss modalities and agenda for Nov 1 debate

Mohali/Chandigarh: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) urged chief minister Bhagwant Mann to decide the modalities for the proposed November one debate as well as its agenda by holding a meeting with representatives of all parties today, even as it called for limiting the debate to the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue so Punjab could put up a united front to prevent the loot of its River waters.

Addressing a press conference here, senior SAD leaders Balwinder Singh Bhundur, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra and Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said “it is important to finalize the modalities of the debate as to which all parties will participate in it, where it will be hosted, who will steer it impartially and who will come out with a joint declaration on behalf of all participants”. The leaders said all major political parties including AAP, Congress, SAD, BSP, BJP, CPI and CPM should form part of the debate.

The leaders said the SAD had suggested that the debate be limited to discussing the SYL canal issue only so that a joint solution could be found to save the River waters of Punjab. “The SAD is not interested in a political slugfest which will achieve nothing. What is needed is devising a strategy to counter the illogical order of the Supreme Court which has deferred discussion on distribution of River waters and directed that the SYL canal be completed first. We need to come up with a solution to save Punjab in such a situation”, Mr Bhundur, Prof Chandumajra and Dr Cheema asserted.

The leaders made it clear that the SAD was ready for a debate on all issues concerning Punjab at a later date and told the chief minister it was not late even now to finalize the modalities of the debate on the SYL canal issue today. The leaders made it clear that if the chief minister did not respond to their proposal the SAD would seek democratic ways and means to protect the rights of Punjab on this most sensitive issue. They said the SAD would also approach like-minded parties as well as all sections of society in this quest.

The SAD meanwhile also described as “extremely unfortunate” the manner in which the chief minister was trying to divert attention from the debate by alluding that the SAD was afraid of participating in a debate with the ruling party.

“This is farthest from the truth. The SAD was not intimidated by the British or the hated Emergency. We have steadfastly protected the River waters of Punjab and if water is not flowing into the SYL canal it is because of the SAD which first launched the Kapoori Morcha and later denotified and returned the land on which the SYL stands back to farmers”, the senior leaders asserted.

The senior leaders also asserted that the chief minister should have called an all party meeting immediately after the Supreme Court verdict on the SYL canal. They said it was unfortunate that no joint resolution was introduced in the recent Vidhan Sabha session to project the sentiments of Punjabis on this issue before the world.

Mr Bhundur, Prof Chandumajra and Dr Cheema also asked the chief minister to tell Punjabis if AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal would participate in the debate “as he holds the remote control and is responsible for approving all government decisions in Punjab”.

They also pointed out that the AAP government in Punjab had still not clarified its position vis a vis the stand taken by its Rajya Sabha MP – Sandeep Pathak that Punjab waters should be given to Haryana through the SYL canal. Punjabis want to know if the chief minister will project the line taken by his MP or reiterate the Riparian Principal and declare that Punjab alone has an inalienable right over its River waters”, the leaders asserted.