SYL row: Haryana BJP MLAs meet Pb Governor

A delegation of Haryana BJP leaders today met Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore and urged him not to accept any "unconstitutional" step that may be taken by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on river water sharing issue.
The delegation which met the Governor was led by Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala.
BJP MLAs urged the Governor that Punjab should be stopped from doing anything "unconstitutional" on Sutlej Yamuna link (SYL) issue.
They said that Punjab could create "obstacles" in the construction of SYL canal.
Punjab Assembly today unanimously passed two resolutions on SYL issue, directing the state government not to "hand over land to any agency", "allow anyone to work" for the construction of SYL canal and also taking up the matter with the Centre and neighbouring states for levying "cost and royalty" on the release of water.

The latest move of the House came a day after Punjab cabinet announced to denotify the land acquired for the SYL project and return it to the "original owners" at no cost.

A special session was convened today on the issue of SYL after the Supreme Court judgment on November 10 had held the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004, passed by Punjab to terminate water sharing pacts with neighbouring states as "unconstitutional".
An all party meeting of Haryana has also been convened on November 17 wherein deliberations to be held on river water sharing issue.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Aam Aadmi party led by senior Leader H S Phoolka today also met Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore here in connection with river water issue.

They also submitted a memorandum to the Governor in this regard.
In the memorandum, AAP said as per settled Riparian Law, Punjab has exclusive right over its river water. The livelihood of a majority of Punjabis rests on agriculture and thus on river water. Denial of river water to Punjab is like stripping Punjab of its natural wealth, they said.
They demanded that it should be ensured that right of Punjab over its waters is protected.
AAP leaders further said, "It cannot be lost sight of that the reference in the the Supreme Court on SYL matter has come at a very crucial time in Punjab. Any hasty decision at this juncture would not only muddle the emotive issue but push the region into a vortex of violence, which had gripped the state in the 1980s and 1990s."

It is evident that certain political parties, especially the ruling party in power, the Akali Dal, are trying to "misuse" the issue for their vested interests, they alleged.
Violence at such a time will be used as a weapon to either postpone the elections, which are barely in 3 months, they said.