Where is Saraswati, Opposition asks govt
CHANDIGARH: The Opposition on Tuesday took a dig at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the whereabouts of the Saraswati river for the revival of which the Manohar Lal Khattar government has been making desperate attempts ever since it took over in the state.
The assembly witnessed spirited exchanges over the issue between the BJP on the one hand and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Congress on the other. The opposition seized the opportunity as soon as BJP MLA Pawan Saini mentioned about the Saraswati river.
Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkal quipped, “Saraswati kahan hai? Iske pani ke kab darshan honge? (Where is Saraswati? When will we see its water flowing?).”
Later when agriculture minister OP Dhankar tried to defend the government on the issue, leader of Opposition Abhay Chautala said the BJP was trying to create a new ‘misunderstanding’ in the society in the name of a river. “Please tell us which is the true Saraswati — the one that flows at Triveni (in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh) or the one which you say originates from Adi Badri (Yamunanagar) and passes via Rajasthan and Gujarat to Pakistan,’’ he asked.
Geeta Bhukkal also complained to speaker Kanwar Pal that BJP’s Mahipal Dhanda was repeatedly interrupting the other members. Reacting to it, speaker said that Dhanda was probably learning it from some senior MLAs. Dhanda is a firsttime MLA and the speaker’s remarks were probably aimed at Congress MLA Raghuvir Kadian, who was also making repeated interruptions.
However, referring to the “research” carried out by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Dhankar said, “It is because of the faith people have that even Ganga is referred by many names like Ram Ganga, Rishi Ganga, Baan Ganga, HanumanGanga.”
“It is all symbolic. Just the way INLD MLAs recently dug up SYL Canal. Instead of (digging it in) Punjab, they dug up the Canal on the national highway itself,’’ hesaid.
When parliamentary affairs minister Rambilas Sharma said that Saraswati river flowed back to Triveni after traversing different states up to Gujarat, Abhay responded,
“Toh Saraswati ghoom ke vaapas agayee? Kamal hai Sharmaji, aapko baat ghumani bahut achhi aati hai (So Saraswati is returning to Allahabad? Mr Sharma, you know well how to twist an issues).”
Inviting all MLAs to visit Saraswati, he said, “Aap sabko Saraswati ke darshan bhi karvayenge aur koi snan karna chahega to snan bhi hum karva denge. (You all are invited to see Saraswati and if you desire, you can even bathe in it).”
› Please tell us which is the true Saraswati, the one that flows at Triveni (in Allahabad, UP) or the one which you say originates from Adi Badri. ABHAY CHAUTALA, INLD MLA