Punjab: BJP's Sunil Jakhar attacks AAP govt after CM Mann slams Oppn leaders over SYL canal row

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], October 11 : Amid the tussle on SYL (Satluj Yamuna Link) Canal, Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Sunil Jakhar on Wednesday hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state and said that they "forgot their dignity" after assuming power.
"They (AAP government) are trying to divert the attention of people. They just diluted the time-tested stand in the Supreme Court, later their Advocate General said that they were ready to hold talks with Haryana but what kind of talks? There is no water in Punjab so what is the point of holding talks? they forgot their dignity after they came to power," the BJP chief said while speaking to ANI today.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann earlier today slammed opposition leaders for their stand on the SYL canal issue and said that Sunil Jakhar, Sukhbir Badal, and Partap Bajwa should be ashamed of themselves for allowing the survey of the land allocated to Punjab for the canal.
Mann's remarks came in response to a statement by Devi Lal, Haryana MLA, who praised the late Parkash Singh Badal, former Punjab Chief Minister, for allowing the survey.
In a post on X, CM Bhagwant Mann said, "Honorable Sunil Jakhar ji, Sukhbir Badal ji, Bajwa ji, Raja Waring ji... Do you have a little shame or not?? Devi Lal praised Parkash Singh Badal in the Haryana Assembly for allowing the survey of SYL. As far as the water from the river goes, you need not worry. Since I was a child my parents used to ask me to look after the fields. Today also this is my duty and that duty is toward the Sutlej. On the first of November, the people will know who actually sacrificed for this land of Punjab."
The Supreme Court on October 4, directed the Centre to look into the mediation process over the Sutlej-Yamuna link (SYL) canal dispute. Meanwhile, the top court also came down heavily on the Punjab government over their approach to the issue.
A bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul CT Ravikumar and Sudhanshu Dhulia remarks came while hearing a matter relating to the Sutlej-Yamuna link (SYL) canal dispute.
The court came down heavily on the Punjab government for not taking steps for the construction of the canal. The court remarked that Punjab has to cooperate in the process.
The court directed the Centre to survey the portion of the land allocated to Punjab. The court also directed the Centre to look into the mediation process. The court listed the matter for further in January 2024.
The problem stems from the controversial 1981 water-sharing agreement after Haryana was formed out of Punjab in 1966. For effective allocation of water, the SYL canal was to be constructed and the two states were required to construct their portions within their territories.
While Haryana constructed its portion of the canal, after the initial phase, Punjab stopped the work, leading to multiple cases.
In 2004, the Punjab government passed a law that unilaterally cancelled the SYL agreement and other such pacts, however, in 2016, the apex court had struck down this law. Later, Punjab went ahead and returned the acquired land--on which the canal was to be constructed--to the landowners.