Sutlej-Yamuna canal issue: SAD to hold protest rallies against Kejriwal

All leaders and workers of the Shiromani Akali Dal will participate in the protest rallies at district headquarters on April 12, party president Sukhbir Badal said.

Chandigarh: Sharply criticising Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's "anti-Punjab" stand on Sutlej Yamuna Link canal issue in the Supreme court, the ruling SAD on Saturday announced state-wide protests against the AAP chief.

All leaders and workers of the Shiromani Akali Dal, including its MPs and MLAs along with SGPC members will participate in the protest rallies which will be held at district headquarters on April 12 at 11 AM, party president Sukhbir Badal said.

"The recent act of the Kejriwal government to file affidavit supporting Haryana and strongly opposing the Punjab's stand on SYL has exposed the 'anti-Punjab' stand of Kejriwal. By doing so he has betrayed the people of Punjab," the SAD secretary Daljit Singh Cheema said.

Accusing Kejriwal of "double speak", Cheema said, "On one hand he opposed construction of SYL canal when he was in Punjab and spoke in favour of water for all when he was in Delhi. But when the issue came up for hearing before the Supreme Court, Delhi government filed an affidavit favouring Haryana, betraying all the Punjabis."

After filing the affidavit and bringing everything on record now the blame is being put on the lawyer to befool the public in "Kejriwal style", Cheema said.

"How can a lawyer file an affidavit in the court without instructions from the state government?," he asked.

Hours after the affidavit was filed, the government sacked its counsel Suresh Tripathy, saying his submissions were "unauthorised."

The rallies will also be held against the demolition of 'Piao', a water kiosk at Gurdwara Sisganj Sahib in Delhi, he said.

Cheema alleged AAP Legislator Alka Lamba has claimed credit for dismantling of 'Piao' and thus proved that the AAP government was "behind the demolition".

"This act has hurt greatly the sentiments of Sikh community world over and the AAP government will have to face the ire of the people in the time to come," he said, adding "it is necessary to expose Kejriwal publicly."