Amarinder could’ve denotified SYL land in 2004: CM

SAYS PUNJAB MUST PREPARE FOR A SUSTAINED, PEACEFUL FIGHT OVER ISSUES HAVING BEARING ON FUTURE GENERATIONS

CHANDIGARH: Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday called upon the people of Punjab to prepare for a “sustained and peaceful fight” over critical issues having bearing on the future generations, emphasising that the state does not have a “drop of water to spare”.

“The need for de-notification of land acquisition would not have arisen if Capt Amarinder Singh had done it in 2004 as part of the Termination of Agreements Act. Why he did not do so and let down Punjab farmers?” questioned Badal, adding that his government was correcting the error committed by Amairnder.

He said this while concluding debate on the governor’s address when all Congress MLAs had already left. The CM said he was keeping his speech simple as the opposition which raised issues against the government did not stay to hear the reply.

He said there was no question of accepting any decision which deprives the state of its fundamental right under the riparian principle. “Punjab’s agonies were the result of discrimination by successive-Congress governments at the Centre and its meek surrender of our rights by the Congress state governments in the state,” Badal said.

Over their victory in the Khadur Sahib bypoll, the CM said their victory has already set the trend for the 2017 assembly polls.

“In January 1986, the Centre snatched Punjab’s right over Chandigarh at the eleventh hour despite a clearance by Parliament. The boundary commission to transfer the left- out Punjabispeaking areas was never set up. The state was also deprived of its due share in army recruitment on merit,” Badal claimed.

REMEMBERED 1984 ANTI-SIKH RIOTS

The CM said the 1984 antiSikh riots were the “worst kind of holocaust in a free country”. He demanded exemplary punishment to the perpetrators of these riots besides seeking immediate relief for the victims.

PRAISES MODI

Praising PM Narendra Modi, Badal said he has restored the federal structure in the country which the previous Congressled governments diluted. “The Centre has undertaken a historic initiative to empower states,” the CM said.