Punjab will burn if SYL built: Capt Amarinder Singh

Chandigarh, August 18

The meeting between the Punjab and Haryana CMs convened by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to work out a solution to the SYL issue on the directions of the Supreme Court ended inconclusive today.

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While Shekhawat said the logjam on the issue was broken with the meeting, where the parties decided to meet again, Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh warned the Centre that “Punjab will burn” if the state was forced to share water with Haryana.

“You have to look at the issue from the national security perspective. If you decide to go ahead with the SYL, Punjab will burn and it will become a national problem, with Haryana and Rajasthan also suffering the impact,” he said.

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, however, said whatever be the outcome of deliberations, the state would put it up before the apex court.

“There is no doubt the SYL must be constructed, as this is also the verdict of the SC. Whatever comes out of these meetings will be brought to the notice of the SC,” he said. The next meeting is likely in the next few days. — TNS