Don't give SYL political colour: Haryana to neighbour

CHANDIGARH: Amid the tough posturing by Punjab leaders, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has urged political parties in the neighbouring state to respect the decision of Supreme Court on the Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and not politicize it to benefit in the forthcoming assembly elections.
Khattar hoped that the SC order would be implemented amicably . On being asked to comment on the statement by his counterpart in Punjab CM Prakash Singh Badal that he would not give even a single drop of water and was ready to make any sacrifice, Khattar said such acts have no space in a federal system.“Ours being a federal system, the decision of the Supreme Court should be accepted by rising above politics,“ he added.
On reports of resignation by the Congress leaders in Punjab, Khattar said that as the assembly elections are approaching there, the parties are trying to give the issue a political colour but it should not be done.He said that the decision of the Supreme Court would not af fect the interest of Punjab.
In reply to a question, the CM said that this was not a question of dealings between two BJP governments but it is a matter of distribution of water between the states. He said that Punjab and Rajasthan were already getting their share of water from the Ravi and Beas, but Haryana was deprived of its legitimate share.
On question of any possibility of tensions erupting, he said that neither there was any such situation at present nor would disruption of peace in the state be allowed. He said that as the next step, the Presi dent would nullify the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004, passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the SC had clearly ordered the Centre to ensure construction of SYL Canal through Punjab and give Haryana its due share 3.85 million acre feet of water. “This is PM's litmus test to do justice and honour his constitutional responsibility .Ball lies in the court of PM Narendra Modi. All the three governments -at the Centre, in Punjab and in Haryana -are run by BJP ,“ said Surjewala.