Grave injustice done: Badal writes to Prez

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 11

A day after the Supreme Court verdict, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today drafted a Bill aimed at setting set aside all water-sharing pacts and sought an audience with the President. The party is trying to get an appointment before the special session of the Vidhan Sabha on November 16.

Meanwhile, the SAD has decided not to launch a stir right away. A meeting chaired by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal in Ludhiana late in the evening decided not to take the SYL issue to the people as of now.

In his letter to the President, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal wrote: “The issue of Punjab’s legitimate and constitutional right over its riverwaters is a question of life and death for each and every Punjabi today and for all times to come. It is neither a political nor a mere issue but one that is deeply human, even though in purely legal terms, the people of Punjab demand nothing that is not constitutionally theirs.”

The letter goes on to say though the Punjab Government respected the honorable court, it respected the Constitution even more, “which clearly forbids the Government of India from arrogating to itself the right to adjudicate on distribution of riverwaters among states. Grave injustice has been done to Punjab by the Government of India… “

The Akali MPs have been asked to raise the issue in Parliament during the winter session. Party spokesperson PS Chandumajra said the SAD would move an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to initiate a debate on whether the judiciary was above the Constitution. He said the move to return farmers their land acquired for the SYL canal would be initiated soon.

Even as the Deputy CM accused the Congress of “running away by resigning at this time of crisis”, a senior Akali leader said being in majority, the government did not need the Opposition to either pass a Bill or a resolution during the November 16 House session.

With the Congress and AAP raising the pitch and fearing a law and order situation, the government has requested for additional security. “At least 10 companies of central forces were requisitioned till November 12. We have now asked the Centre to extend their stay till November 19,” said an officer.