The tussle between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) over the controversial Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue continues to escalate as new evidence from the past comes to light.
Responding to SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s recent statement and legal threat, the AAP Punjab presented documents dating back to 1978, revealing a demand for funds related to the SYL canal by the then Punjab Government, led by Parkash Singh Badal.
AAP Punjab’s chief spokesperson, Malvinder Singh Kang, emphasized that Sukhbir Badal’s recent statements acknowledging facts about the Balasar farm, canal, and Gurgaon plot were a clear indicator of the longstanding controversy surrounding the Badal family’s involvement in the SYL issue. Kang claimed that the Badal family had misled the people of Punjab for years but is now compelled to reveal old documents since Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann disclosed documents that highlighted their betrayal to the state.
During a press conference held in Chandigarh on Friday, Kang criticized Sukhbir Badal for his statements and drew attention to a letter dated July 4, 1978, from Prakash Singh Badal. In the letter, Prakash Singh Badal demanded financial assistance from Haryana for constructing the SYL canal. Kang noted that the Supreme Court had recognized the letters of Prakash Singh Badal and stated in its decision that the Punjab government was prepared to construct the SYL canal, which ultimately led to Punjab’s loss in the case.
Kang went on to question the SAD Badal’s commitment to saving Punjab’s water, highlighting the sacrifices made by Punjabis to protect the state’s riparian rights. He contrasted this with the Badal family’s actions, mentioning that they sent their children to America while the people of Punjab were fighting for their rights. Kang further inquired about the discrepancy between the Akali Dal’s claim that Prakash Singh Badal was actively working to safeguard Punjab’s water and the historical evidence showing that the Badal government was requesting funds from Haryana to construct the SYL canal. Additionally, he pointed out that the honorable court had noted the Punjab government’s intention to expedite the SYL canal’s construction.
Kang shared historical details, indicating that in 1978, Giani Zail Singh accepted the first installment of funds from Haryana for the canal. However, the Badal government subsequently wrote to Haryana in July 1978, requesting an additional Rs 3 crore, of which Rs 1.5 crore was received on March 31, 1979. Kang highlighted that while the Bhakra Main Line was constructed in 1955, the Balasar Canal remained dry until 2004. This, he argued, was a result of an unwritten agreement between the Badal family and Haryana’s Chautalas, ensuring that water was supplied to their farms.
Kang also pointed out that in 2007, the Badals had promised to terminate Section 5 of the Water Termination Act under the leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh.
However, they failed to take action on this commitment during their ten-year tenure in government, allowing Haryana and Rajasthan to continue receiving additional water. Kang held the Badal family responsible for the SYL land acquisition, the loss in the Supreme Court case, and the deprivation of Punjab’s riparian rights. He concluded by stating that the Badal family should apologize to the people of Punjab for their actions, as they consistently prioritized their self-interest over the welfare of Punjab and its residents.
