At SYL seminar by Pargat, leaders from Cong, BJP, SAD turn up; AAP stays away

Times News NetworkChandigarh: Leaders from across the political spectrum of Punjab, except leaders of incumbent AAP, converged on a Panjab University auditorium here on Friday to attend a first-kind-of-its-kind seminar for discussing the issue of river waters, which has taken the centre stage in view of Supreme Court’s latest directions on the Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.Organised by Congress MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment seat Pargat Singh, the seminar was attended by Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar, Shiromani Akali Dal leaders Bikram Singh Majithia and Daljit Singh Cheema, SAD (Amritsar) MP Simarnjit Singh Mann, and a number of Congress MPs and MLAs. AAP leaders stayed away from the seminar, titled ‘Punjab Waters: Unmasking the Crisis’. The common refrain of experts and political leaders was that the question of river waters was of life and death for Punjab, as the state heading towards becoming a barren land and all parties needed to have such serious discussions to handle the issue unitedly. Digs were also taken at the approach of Punjab chief minister Bhagwnat Mann to prefer a debate through a challenge, rather than having a serious discussion on the crucial issue. They said everybody knew what happened in the past. Underlining different and complex layers of the issue, experts argued that at every level, Punjab was discriminated against and different decisions and agreements were not according to the Constitution and principals of natural justice. Experts and political leaders cutting across party line called for a united stand to fight “this battle”, crucial to the future of Punjab.Experts — veteran journalist Sukhdev Singh, former IAS officer Gurtej Singh, former MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi, Dr Pyara Lal Garg, advocate Rajwinder Singh Bains and Gurpreet Singh Johl Mandiani — said neither international nor Indian precedents were followed while deciding river water issue of Punjab. They said as things were done in violation of the Constitution, these were forced through agreements of awards. They said when already a major chunk of river water from Punjab was being taken to Rajasthan, Punjab was short of water for its own irrigation and the moment water would flow in SYL canal, fields of around half-a-dozen districts of Punjab would turn dry. Later, Jakhar said it was for the first time that political leaders would have understood the finer nuances of the dispute. He called for more such events. He said first and foremost, he was a Punjabi and he would fight for Punjab at all costs.Former CM Charanjit Singh Channi admitted to Congress and SAD making mistakes in the past, but said the two had also joined hands in the interest of Punjab.SAD (Amritsar) MP Simranjit Singh Mann also spoke on the occasion. Former Union minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia and former MP Jagmeet Singh Brar also later spoke at the event. Congress MPs Amar Singh and Mohammad Sadiq, MLAs Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhwinder Singh Kotli and Sandeep Jakhar also attended the seminar along with others.