IT SEEMS that the agenda for the 2017 polls in Punjab has been set by the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as well as the Congress. The Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) row was the common issue touched upon by both Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and former CM Captain Amarinder Singh at their respective Baisakhi Mela conferences held at Talwandi Sabo. At the same time, both parties also gave a call to “throw out” the rookie Aam Aadmi Party from the state. While Badal called SYL a “death warrant” for Punjab, 2017 on mind, Punjab parties trade barbs over SYL issue Amarinder said people should get ready to sit on dharnas with him in case the Supreme Court verdict will come “against the interests of Punjab”. [related-post] He said, “I will resign from Parliament and fight the Punjabis’ battle for saving their water on the roads.” Amarinder, who has been projected as the ‘water saviour’ of Punjab by his supporters, said: “I was the one who had got the bill against SYL passed within hours during my tenure as CM and now Badal is playing politics. If SC gives any verdict against the interests of Punjab, I am here to sit on dharnas for interests of Punjabis.” Badal again gave a call for the highest sacrifice to save Punjab waters. “The resolution that I had got passed in Vidhan Sabha, I repeat it on Guru’s land as well. I stick to my stand on the SYL issue. If anything happens against the interests of Punjab over the water-sharing issue, I will be ready for any sacrifice for the people of Punjab.” He added, “So get ready to be with me, we will not let even a drop of water go outside Punjab.” Badal also alleged that the Congress and AAP were “hell bent upon snatching the river waters of the state.” Meanwhile, Sukhbir asked people to take a vow for not letting AAP and Kejriwal to form government in Punjab, Amarinder said, “ Guide your youngsters not to let carried away and go behind the topiwalas , they are only to misguide Punjabis and work against the interests of Punjabis. Waheguru Kare Kejriwal should never be able to form a Government in Punjab and I am sure that Punjabis will make him run away.” Interestingly, BJP was a complete miss in SAD conference as not even a single leader had come at political conference like previous years. While SAD and Congress continued to prop SYL as the 2017 election issue, AAP said it cannot be cornered the issue. AAP state convenor Sucha Singh Chhotepur, at the party’s coneferene, said: “Now both SAD and Congress are blaming us over our stand on SYL issue. However, SYL has been given by both of them. Former PM] Indira Gandhi had started the work when Capt Amarinder was Congress MP. And interestingly, Parkash Singh Badal was the CM at the time. So how come AAP comes into the picture in this issue? They themselves are responsible for it and at the fag end of their tenure, it has been made an issue. This bid will have zero effect on the masses.”
