SYL Row: Legal Team Constituted to Advice Punjab on SC Ruling
The SC said the state’s decision to junk an agreement on sharing of river waters with other states was illegal.
- The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Punjab does not have any right to unilaterally terminate water-sharing agreements with neighbouring states
- It said the Termination of Agreements Act 2004 stands null and void
- The verdict has already led to a political slugfest after all Congress MLAs in the Punjab Assembly resign
A day after Supreme Court held as "unconstitutional" the 2004 law passed by Punjab to terminate the SYL canal water sharing agreement, the Punjab said that a three-member legal team will critically examine the ruling and advice the government on this matter.
"A legal team will study the judgement and examine it critically and then give some recommendations and advice to the state government," Punjab Advocate General Ashok Aggarwal said.
The team comprises Additional Advocate Generals--Kamal Sehgal, Vinod Bhardwaj and Rajat Khanna.
Punjab Congress to Meet President
Amarinder Singh said the party's state unit leaders, including MPs, will meet President Pranab Mukherjee in connection with the SYL issue.
Amarinder, Cong MLAs ‘Trying To Be Martyrs’
Terming the resignation of Amarinder Singh as a “drama to mislead the people”, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday said if the Punjab Congress president were “sincere and honest” he would have announced not to contest Assembly polls.
The Chief Minister accused the Punjab Congress leadership of “playing to the gallery” over the issue and said Amarinder and his colleagues were “trying to become martyrs” by tendering resignations just before Assembly polls.
42 Congress MLAs Resign
All Opposition Congress MLAs on Friday submitted their resignation to the Punjab Assembly Secretary to protest the Supreme Court's ruling favouring Haryana on the SYL issue.
The 42 MLAs, including leader of opposition Charanjit Singh Channi, Sunil Jakhar, Sukhjinder Randhawa and Balbir Singh Sidhu, went to the assembly and submitted their resignations to assembly secretary Shashi Lakhanpal Mishra as speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal was not present.
Senior Congress leaders, including Amarinder Singh, Partap Singh Bajwa and Ambika Soni accompanied the MLAs.
The State Congress has also demanded setting up of another tribunal to assess the amount of water the state presently has access to.
Haryana Halts Bus Services To Punjab, Jammu
Passengers have been stranded after Haryana Roadways decided to stop all buses services from Haryana’s Jind district to Punjab and Jammu for security reasons.
Amarinder’s Fresh Attack On CM Badal
Amarinder Singh launched a fresh attack on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, alleging that Badal has “failed to protect the interest” of the people.
“Why is Badal not protecting Punjab's interests? Is it because he has made a lot of money and doesn't care what happens in his area,” he asked.
Punjab Congress chief also announced that his party will take out a rally on the issue on Sunday.
‘Will Not Allow SYL to be Built at Any Cost’: Punjab Govt
In a press conference, Punjab government passed the resolution, to not give any water to Haryana.
The government also announced a gathering “Pani Bachao, Punjab bachao” to discuss the issue among the citizens of the state.
BSP supremo Mayawati condemned the Congress MLAs’ decision to submit their resignations.
Badal, Amarinder Singh Engage in War of Words
Immediately reacting to Badal’s statement calling his resignation a “drama”, Amarinder Singh said:
Responding to Amarinder Singh’s resignation, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday said that “his resignation is only a drama.”
Haryana CM Welcomes Verdict
Haryana Chief Minister, ML Khattar said that he welcomes the late decision which is in favour of the state.
Capt Amarinder Singh Resigns as MP
Captain Amarinder Singh also submitted his resignation as Member of Parliament (MP) and called for a press conference at 4.30 pm.
Singh said that he was disappointed by the SC order and it will ruin Punjab farmers.
“The present government of Punjab didn’t protect the rights of farmers, it will impact at least 10 lakh acres of agricultural land and it will affect the livelihoods of farmers. I have already filed my resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker,” he said.
When asked about Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s actions following the judgement, he told CNN News 18:
Big Blow to Punjab Government
In a major setback to the Punjab government, the Supreme Court on Thursday said that the state does not have any right to unilaterally terminate water-sharing agreements with neighbouring states including Haryana and Punjab.
It said that the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act 2004, which cancels the water-sharing agreement, stand null and void.
The verdict is likely to play a huge role in Punjab, which is slated to go for Assembly elections in 2017. The ruling also means that the Centre could now take over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal project.
The political fallout of the decision could be witnessed as all Congress MLAs in the Punjab Assembly immediately resigned after the judgement.
They argued that the decision of the Supreme Court was not in favour of Punjab and it will benefit Haryana.
SC Nullifies Punjab Law
The Termination of Agreements Act 2004 was passed by the Vidhan Sabha in 2004 when Captain Amarinder Singh was the Chief Minister. By passing this act, the Punjab Government had terminated the agreements of sharing of water with Haryana, Rajasthan and other states.
The ruling SAD and opposition Congress had announced to oppose Supreme Court order which is against the interest of Punjab.
Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal had said that if Rajasthan, Bihar and other states were claiming royalty from other states for using mineral resources then Punjab had the right to claim royalty from riparian states for using the river waters.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
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