All 42 Cong MLAs quit, party to launch protests tomorrow

Saturday, 12/11/2016

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CHANDIGARH: All 42 Congress MLAs in Punjab resigned from the membership of the Vidhan Sabha on Friday. In absence of speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, they handed over the resignation letters to his office staff.

The party also announced statewide protests starting from Sunday (November 13) with a rally at Suian Sarvar village in Abohar area of southwest Punjab.

The resignations were tendered as a mark of protest over Thursday’s adverse Apex Court ruling on Termination of Agreements Act-2004 that had annulled all inter-state agreements related to water-sharing.

Before handing over the resignations, most of the MLAs attended a meeting addressed by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh, in which the pros and cons of the move were discussed. Some of the MLAs were of the view that Akali-BJP was holding a special session on November 16 and their absence there may go against the party.

“Our stand is clear, we are with Akali-BJP government in case they do anything in the larger interest of Punjab, though I have no hope from them,” said Amarinder, who had quit his Lok Sabha membership on Thursday, immediately after the Apex Court’s verdict.

The PPCC president said the Akalis have backstabbed the people of Punjab as before the Supreme Court verdict, they promised to make all kinds of “sacrifices” to save the rights of Punjab. “Harsimrat Kaur Badal (Akali MP and Union minister) should have resigned if Akalis are really concerned about the state,” he said.

On the choice of Abohar for protest, Amarinder said: “This area will become a desert in case water flows into Haryana through the SYL canal.”

He said the Congress on coming to power will bring in laws to finish the matter once and for all. “I am consulting legal experts to find a way out,” he said. Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Charanjeet Singh Channi, Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa and other senior leaders of the party were also present. DELEGATION TO MEET PRESIDENT

Amarinder said that he will lead a party delegation to meet President Pranab Mukherjee on November 16. “I will tell the President that in case water flows into the SYL canal, it will lead to a serious law-andorder problem. I am sure the President understands the issue and will take a stand keeping in view the concerns of Punjab,” he said. DON’T DRAG OUR HIGH COMMAND: AMBIKA

“Don’t drag our high command, it’s the fight of Punjab Congress,” state Congress’ campaign committee chairperson Ambika Soni told mediapersons. She was replying to a query that if the Congress says injustice has been done to Punjab, why the party high command was not supporting the state’s cause.

On the party’s plan at national level, she said PCC president has asked all party MPs from Punjab to voice Punjab’s concerns in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. JAKHAR TAKES A JIBE AT AKALIS

On Akali Dal rally at Moga on December 8, coinciding with the birthday of Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, senior Congress leader Sunil Jakhar said, “Should they celebrate CM’s birthday or mourn the Supreme Court decision against Punjab?”