BJP MLA demands President's Rule in Punjab

Ambala, March 17: A BJP MLA in Haryana on Thursday, March 17 demanded that President's Rule be imposed in Punajb, saying its Assembly passed a bill providing for returning the land acquired for the construction of SYL canal to the original landowners even as a presidential reference in this regard is pending in the Supreme Court.

Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel claimed that around 150 JCBs have been deployed for filling up the canal in Ropar and Patiala districts which shows that law and order situation has "collapsed" there.

He also demanded that Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal tender his resignation on moral grounds "as he has been working in an illegal and arrogant manner for political benefits and damaging the interests of other states".

Goel said Badal would be held responsible if the people of Haryana reacted "harshly" to the situation. "If Haryana retaliated, the people of Punjab would not be able to reach Delhi. Badal should know that he has to cross through Haryana while going to Delhi," he said.

BJP is part of ruling coalition in Punjab and the ruling party in neighbouring Haryana. The two states are locking horns over the issue of the completion of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal which is meant to carry water from Punjab's rivers to Haryana.

On Monday, in an attempt to prevent its neighbouring states from getting a share in river waters flowing through Punjab, the state assembly had passed a bill against the construction of the canal.

The Bill also provides for returning free of cost 3,928 acres acquired for its construction to the original landowners. Goel also criticized Arvind Kejriwal, saying that before supporting Punjab, he should take care of Delhi which could face a severe crisis if Haryana stopped water supply to it.

PTI