Harya assembly condemns Badal's statement on water sharing

Chandigarh, Nov 4: The Harya assembly on Friday condemned Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s statement that if the Supreme Court verdict on river water sharing went against Punjab, then his (Badal’s) government and Punjabis will not accept it.

At a special session called to mark the golden jubilee of the creation of Harya, the assembly unimously passed a resolution condemning Badal and his statement. Badal, during a speech in Amritsar on Tuesday to mark the 50th anniversary of the Punjabi Suba, had categorically stated that he and his government would not accept the verdict of even the apex court if it went against the interests of Punjab. Harya has a Bharatiya Jata Party (BJP) government headed by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar since October 2014. Punjab has a Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance government since 2007. Both states have been locked in a bitter battle over sharing of river waters, especially through the controversial Sutlej-Yamu Link (SYL) Cal.

The Punjab assembly, in 2004, had abrogated the water agreement with Harya by passing a bill in the Punjab assembly.

The Congress was in power in Punjab at that time. The bill went to the President for assent and was referred to the Supreme Court after Harya objected to it. (IANS)