Farmers Movement Archive

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar keeps raising demand for Satluj-Yamuna link

CHANDIGARH: Even as thousands of farmers continued their protest against the Centre’s three contentious farm laws around Delhi, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday continued to raise the demand for Satluj-Yamuna link (SYL) canal and asserted Punjab will have to give up its stance on the issue. Addressing the BJP’s Jal Adhikar Rally in Narnaul — which is being considered as a desperate move by the saffron party and its government to counter the farmers’ protest — Khattar questioned the mode of protest by farmers from Punjab and Haryana. “In democratic countries, states cannot work on their own. Punjab will have to give up its stubborn attitude on SYL. The Supreme Court has already given the verdict in favor of Haryana and chief ministers of both the states were told to sit together. But Punjab has not agreed to part with Haryana’s water share. Now we shall have it when the Supreme Court gives its final verdict,’’ said Khattar. “In a democracy, there is a way to protest before the house or media, but certainly not by obstructing ways. Such agitations are in violation and spirit of Constitution, as created by B R Ambedkar,” he added. Khattar yet again said he would give up politics if the three agriculture laws had any impact on MSP or grain markets. “MSP exists; it is there and will continue to be there. Government here is planning to give beyond MSP. Some people with a political motive are on the agitation path and they are certainly not the wellwishers of farmers. Our farmers must speak to the those brothers from Punjab over the issue of SYL,” said Khattar. He also hit out at his predecessor Bhupinder Singh Hooda, saying his government had, in 2010, suggested measures to improve condition of farmers and farm produce. “Now, the same set of people is misleading farmers and provoking them against the measures,” he added.

The Times of India

2020-12-21

Chandigarh