Jagraon (Punjab): Aam Aadmi Party Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has accused Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Congress of “befooling” the people of Punjab on the issue of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.

Both Congress and SAD are responsible for constructing SYL and are now shedding crocodile tears to misguide the people of state, he said.

“Parkash Singh Badal being CM of Punjab in 1978 acquired land for SYL and now in 2016 is trying to act as the savior of Punjab waters by passing resolution regarding it. He must clarify if he was wrong in 1978 or now in 2016,” he said. Kejriwal said that then Prime Minister Indra Gandhi signed agreement regarding SYL and initiated construction work along with Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh. Even Punjab Congress welcomed the move at that time, he added. The AAP leader accused Badal and Amarinder of allegedly being hand in glove to get power and misguiding the Punjab people by submitting resignations. “Badal and Amarinder are trying to get political mileage on SYL issue. SAD-BJP are alliance partners in Punjab and the same alliance is in power at Centre and in Haryana but their leaders give different statements on SYL issue while in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab,” he said. He said that if SAD-BJP wanted to solve the issue they could have done it long ago but their motive is to politicise the issue as Punjab elections are near. Kejriwal said only AAP can protect the waters of Punjab. He assured the people that nobody will be allowed to snatch the rights of state. The AAP leader said that Punjab does not have extra water and question of giving it to any other state does not arise. — PTI