Amarinder rubbishes ‘secret pact’ with Haryana on SYL issue

Chandigarh, Nov 15 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday lashed out at the Shiromani Akali Dal for making "baseless and frivolous allegations" of an attempted 'secret pact' with Haryana on the SYL issue.

Dismissing the statement of Akali Dal MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, Amarinder said: "The (SYL) matter is in the Supreme Court and there is no question of reaching any deal, secret or otherwise, with the Manohar Lal Khattar government."

"The charges are sheer fabrication, with not an iota of truth in them," Amarinder said, warning Chandumajra against any attempt to whip up passions on the sensitive Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue with such unfounded statements.

He said the SYL canal matter was before the apex court and the Centre was facilitating dialogue to resolve the issue.

"It was the Akalis who believed and indulged in secret deals and political intrigues in order to promote their financial and political interests," Amarinder said, expressing confidence that the apex court and the central government would come to an amicable solution to the SYL problem, keeping the interests of the water-scarce Punjab in mind.

"However, if I ever need to sign a pact with Haryana in the interest of Punjab and its people, I would do so openly and not go for any secret dealings," the Chief Minister declared.

The SYL has been a contentious issue between Punjab and Haryana over river water sharing for the past four decades.