Will go ahead with fast-unto-death on SYL: Jakhar

JALANDHAR: Former leader of the Congress legislature party (CLP) and chief spokesperson Sunil Jakhar has said he still stands by his announcement of sitting on ‘fast unto death’ if CM Parkash Singh Badal failed to get an assurance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on safeguarding the interests of Punjab in the SYL Canal issue.

“My hunger strike will take place if the Supreme Court verdict is against Punjab,” Jakhar said at a press conference here on Monday. His response came a day after PCC chief Captain Amarinder Singh disapproved of Jakhar’s plan, saying “it was an Akali way” to deal with issues.

When pointed out that the PCC chief was averse to the idea, Jakhar said, “Being an elder brother, Captain must have junked the idea as he does not want to see my health deteriorating. Moreover, my decision of protest is my personal as the Malwa area to which I belong will be most affected due to an adverse SC order.”

Jakhar clarified that on Saturday he announced his decision regarding the fast in the presence of senior Congress leaders and nobody, including Capt Amarinder, objected to that.

He said it was not whitefly but ‘blueflies (Akalis)’ that were driving the cotton farmers to commit suicides. “The government should be booked for abetment to suicide. An FIR regarding the pesticide scam was registered in Mohali, but no inquiry has taken place in nine months. It is being deliberately delayed for the government knows that every lead will point to agricultural minister Tota Singh and the CM’s office,” said Jakhar.