Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann targets opposition leaders over SYL issue

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday hit back at opposition leaders for accusing his government of failing to safeguard the states interest on the Sutlej Yamuna Link SYL canal issue reported news agency PTIOpposition leaders including Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal state Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa have been attacking the government over the vexed issueTheir criticism came following the Supreme Court directive on October 4 asking the Centre to conduct a survey of land in Punjab that was allocated for the construction of the canals portion in the state and make an estimate of the extent of work carried out thereThe Congress BJP and SAD have held protests over the past few days slamming the Mann government over the issueIn a post on X Bhagwant Mann hit back at them asking if these leaders carry some shame when they leave homeFormer Congress leader Late Balram Jakhar father of Sunil Jakhar and Amarinder Singh who is now with the BJP and former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had supported the construction of SYL canal in Punjab Bhagwant Mann saidBalram Jakhar stood with Captain Amarinder Singh in a photo of silver spade a picture taken during the groundbreaking ceremony for the SYL canal in PunjabiquestDevi Lal former Haryana chief minister praised in Haryana Vidhan Sabha Parkash Singh Badal former Punjab CM for giving nod to carry out a survey for SYL Mann said in his postMann said opposition leaders should not worry about river water as he as a child used to guard a water course in his village Today the God has assigned me the task of protecting the SutlejMann asked the opposition party leaders to come for an open debate on November 1Earlier he had alleged these leaders betrayed Punjab and its people and their hands and souls were drenched in bloodEarlier amid the ongoing dispute over the Satluj Yamuna Link SYL Canal Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has thrown down the gauntlet to opposition parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress by extending an open invitation for a live debate on all issues instead of engaging in daily bickeringIn a statement posted in Hindi on X CM Mann said It is my open invitation to BJP chief Jakhar ji Akali Dals Sukhbir Singh Badal and Congresss Raja WaddingPratap Bajwa ji that instead of daily bickering come once and sit in front of the media and discuss who looted Punjab and how brothernephew brotherinlaw friendsrelatives youthfarmers businessesshopkeepers speeches of Gurus Canal waters Lets do a live debate on all issuesWith inputs from PTI