CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has thrown a challenge to opposition parties of Punjab and invited them for an open debate in front of media on November 1 on controversial issue of Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.
The Opposition parties-Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP and Congress are attacking AAP Government on SYL canal issue after Supreme Court orders for survey of the canal in Punjab area.
Bhagwant Mann who is on tour of Delhi said that opposition parties who ruled Punjab were raising the SYL canal issue for political gains but they themselves are responsible for present state of affairs. He invited SAD,BJP and Congress on November 1 for open debate and let the people of Punjab decide who is right and who is wrong. He said that open debates are common in foregin countries. We will start this trend in India.
Bhagwant Mann said that opposition parties had failed to safeguard the interests of Punjab. He alleged that Parkash Singh Badal received plot for five star hotel in Gurgaon from Devi Lal in lieu of allowing SYL canal construction and Indira Gandhi laid the foundation stone of SYL Canal. He asked oppostiion leaders to come prepared for the debate and bring documents to defend them. "I will speak without any paper in hand" CM asserted.
Sukhbir Singh Badal president of Shiromani Akali Dal was not committed to attend the debate on November 1 rather he told CM to talk to him on October 10 when his party planned to gherao CM residence in Chandigarh. He said that November 1 was still far away. "We will come to gherao your house on October 10, if you can dare come out and face him", he quipped.
Congress party is also seems not ready to take the challenge. Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said that before they attend the debate Bhagwant Mann would have to answer their seven questions. Bhagwant Mann has replied to Congress chief saying debate would be perfect platform for asking questions. Partap Singh Bajwa CLP while welcomed the invitation by Mann also put condition that debate shall be in Chandigarh and a moderator acceptable to all parties shall be appointed.
