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Punjab Congress Sees SC Verdict On Sutlej-Yamuna Link A Boon, Sparks Off Political Drama
Punjab Congress chief and member of parliament (MP) from Amritsar Amarinder Singh (C) (NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images)
The Supreme Court verdict on the proposed Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, striking down a 2004 law enacted by Punjab scrapping all water-sharing agreements with Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Delhi, has triggered a political upheaval in Punjab.
Punjab Congress chief and Lok Sabha MP Amarinder Singh views the SC verdict as a god-send to revive the failing prospects of his party in Punjab. Amarinder, who as Punjab chief minister helmed the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act, 2004, that the apex court scrapped as "unconstitutional", resigned from the Lok Sabha immediately after the verdict was passed Thursday (10 November) afternoon.
Congress MLAs in Punjab are also resigning from the Assembly. While these resignations mean nothing as Punjab is headed for polls early next year, they expose the Congress’ sinister intention to whip up sentiments in that state. Amarinder has already termed the SC verdict as “a major blow to the people of Punjab” and has vowed to “go to the people of Punjab” with this issue.
Amarinder has also already blamed the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP government in Punjab for failing to argue Punjab's case properly before the SC. He is sure to harp on this to whip up parochial sentiments among the people of the state. Amarinder hopes that doing so, and turning the people of Punjab against Haryana and the SAD-BJP combine, would yield rich political dividends for the Congress in the state.
While such sinister calculations may not bring the expected results, Amarinder's negative game plan will definitely hurt national interests. The common people of Punjab will, expectedly, react angrily to the SC verdict. If that anger is turned by the Congress against the SAD-BJP combine and against other neighbouring states, it will be playing dangerous politics.
The Congress has been primarily responsible for the rise of the Khalistani movement in the 1980s that left tens of thousands dead, uprooted thousands of families and left countless number of families shattered. At a time when the Kalistani movement is showing signs of revival, Amarinder's attempts to whip up sentiments could push the state towards more trouble. The Congress and Amarinder need to put national interests over narrow party interests.
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