Notwithstanding Shiromani Akali Dal Punjab unit's stand that the state has no surplus water to spare for others, the party's lone MLA in Haryana Balkaur Singh today asserted that the neighbouring state should get its share of SYL water.
"I am of the view that we should get Sutlej Yamuna Link waters (SYL), people of Haryana need this water..," the Kalanwali MLA from Sirsa district said speaking on the sidelines of ongoing Haryana assembly session.
"I belong to Haryana first, my stand is clear and I will talk about my state. They (Akali govt in Punjab) are an elected government and whatever they are doing is for the people of Punjab. But what should be done for the people of Haryana, I am free to make that choice."
However, when asked that Punjab Assembly had passed a bill against construction of contentious SYL canal, he said, "it is their stand for their people."
When asked if BJP leadership in Haryana decides to meet the Prime Minister or central leaders on the SYL issue, he said, "wherever they require me to accompany to get our share of water, I am ready to go".
Attacking the ruling BJP in Haryana, Singh, whose party is in alliance with INLD in the State, questioned "when the Bill was passed by Punjab, it was after that the Haryana's BJP government thought to condemn it. The resolution in this regard was brought in our assembly after Punjab had passed the Bill".
"But why did the BJP not take any concrete step to scuttle Punjab's move. Out of 10 Lok Sabha MPs of Haryana, only INLD's Dushyant Chautala raised the issue in the Parliament. Where were others? What were the seven MPs of BJP from the State doing?
"If BJP wanted to stop this, it could have been stopped. They have double standards and they are pointing fingers at me in the Assembly. Yesterday, they told me that I could have prevailed upon the Akali government in Punjab and asked them to spare water for Haryana. I told them you leave the government, I will get the job done," he said.
Yesterday, Haryana's Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu had pointed fingers at Balkaur Singh, saying the SAD MLA in Haryana, had left the Assembly, minutes before the resolution against the Punjab Bill was moved, two days ago.
