Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. File photo

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 15

BJP MP in Rajya Sabha from Haryana Lt General (retd) Dr DP Vats on Monday appealed to the inherent virtues of “benevolence and magnanimity” of a military veteran in Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in allowing Haryana’s share of rivers’ waters.

Taking part in a discussion on the working of Jal Shakti Ministry in Rajya Sabha, Lt General Vats said that although commissions and the Supreme Court have upheld the cause of Haryana with regard to its share of 3.5 MAF of rivers’ waters through SYL from Punjab, the state was not receiving the same.

A lot many issues between Haryana and Punjab are unsettled, including the state capital.

He said that after Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966, it did not have any river allocated to it.

However, bulk of the allocated share of Haryana’s share of waters flow into the seas.

He said that the waters to be drawn vide SYL to Haryana are to cater to the southern region of the state, which is a home of the ex-servicemen.

He referred to iconic Major Shaitan Singh of Kumao Regiment, who led a successful counter to the aggression of the Chinese Army during 1962 Sino-India conflict at Rezang La pass along LAC at the expense of his life, was a native of the Ahirwal belt in south Haryana.

It is often the case that mortal remains of soldiers from the region often return draped in Tricolour.

“The Punjab government is headed by a military veteran. I hope that  in the tradition of benevolence and large-heartedness of a soldier, he would facilitate the flow of Haryana’s share of waters.”

He was critical of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for speaking in forked tongue on the issue of SYL and Haryana’s share of waters from Punjab.

Without naming the Delhi chief minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, he said the former is a native of Haryana.

However, during elections in Punjab he says Haryana has no share.

But in Delhi, he accuses Haryana of not providing water to Delhi, Lt General Vats added.

He further said that AAP indulges in double standards with regard to Haryana’s interest on the water issue even though two of its sitting three Rajya Sabha MPs are natives of the state.