Chandigarh, February 23: Sukhpal Singh Khaira MLA and President of Punjabi Ekta Party(PEP) today strongly condemned the statement of Union Water Resource Minister Nitin Gadkari, saying that water from three rivers of Ravi, Beas and Satluj in Punjab would be diverted to Yamuna river to stop flow of water to Pakistan.
Khaira while addressing a press conference here said that Gadkari’s statement was very dangerous and against the interests of Punjab. He said there was a deep rooted conspiracy against Punjab to divest it from its legitimate waters. He said that earlier construction of Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal was build to supply Punjab’s water to Haryana. Now it is another attempt by center to rob Punjab of its waters under the garb of punishing Pakistan, he added.
Khaira said that he was surprised that neither Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh not former CM Parkash Singh Badal had given any reaction on Gadkari’s statement which show their complicity in the anti-Punjab stance of BJP government at center. He said that if water from three rivers of Punjab would be diverted to Yamuna, it would ruin Punjab and agriculture land would become barren.
PEP President said that previous government at center had already given share from Punjab’s river waters to Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi under wrong agreements. He said that center’s move to divert water of three rivers would be economic disaster for Punjab. Punjab farmers were already fetching underground water through 14 lakh tube wells installed in the state. NASA, the US space agency has marked Punjab with red spot indicating alarming situation of underground water.
Khaira demands clarification from Centre on Gadkari’s statement
Khaira demands a clarification from center on the statement made by Gadkari. Such a move would be violation of riparian laws because water is the only natural resource with Punjab. He added that Punjab was already excluded from hydro projects and control is given to Bhakra Beas Management Board(BBMB)
He said that PEP will build a mass movement of people against the center’s decision. He also warned the dishonest leaders of Punjab who are part of conspiracy against Punjab.
Khaira also demanded immediate arrest of former CM Parkash Singh Badal, former Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini for their involvement in the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib. He said that they should be given exemplary punishment so that in future no one could dare to disrespect any religious scripture. He said that Badal’s action of calling DGP to arrest him was unwarranted. Let Sukhbir Badal also make similar offer.
Khaira said that raids in schools by education authorities along with police teams was highly condemnable. He said that teachers were forced to work on wages of NAREGA. He asked Chief Minister to intervene and give justice to teachers.
 today strongly condemned the statement of Union Water Resource Minister Nitin Gadkari.){kind=link}