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Water-sharing issue with Punjab top priority: Hooda

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Press Trust of India Chandigarh
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said the state will fight to the last to secure every drop of its share of water.

"Water is our first and topmost priority and we will fight to the last to get every drop of our share," Hooda said on the water-sharing issue with Punjab.

The Chief Minister, who was speaking at Rohtak, said "We are engaged in the task of getting our share and shall accomplish it. The territorial issue could be taken up later but let us first resolve the water issue," a government release said here.

Regarding Punjab government's proposal to develop Mullanpur (Punjab) adjacent to Chandigarh as "New Chandigarh", Hooda described Chandigarh as a "brand name" and said there was no need to copy its name.
 

"It is unethical to do so. If Punjab wants to develop Mullanpur as New Chandigarh, it should first vacate Chandigarh and not claim any right on it by handing it over to Haryana. Then, Haryana would not mind its re-naming Mullanpur as New Chandigarh," the Chief Minister said citing the example of Delhi and saying, when the British shifted from Delhi, they re-named it New Delhi and vacated Old Delhi.

"Punjab should follow the same," he added.

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First Published: Jul 21 2013 | 8:40 PM IST

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