All-party support to Badal on Eradi panel

CHANDIGARH, Nov 4: Cutting across political lines, all political parties in Punjab today extended their full support and cooperation to Chi...

CHANDIGARH, Nov 4: Cutting across political lines, all political parties in Punjab today extended their full support and cooperation to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in tackling the issue raised by the Centre’s revival of the controversial Eradi Tribunal.

“We will continue to strive collectively with firm determination to protect the rights of Punjab on the water issue and will not tolerate any kind of discrimination with the State,” said a resolution adopted unanimously at a two-hour long meeting chaired by Badal.

The resolution stated that the river waters of Punjab were the lifeline of the State. “Punjab contributes 60 per cent of foodgrain to the Central pool and the role of river water for this laudable contribution to the service of the nation is of paramount importance,” it said.

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Held on the eve of the Tribunal’s meeting slated for November 7, the all-party meeting authorised the Chief Minister to take all necessary administrative, political, technical, economic and legal measures to protect Punjab’s riparian interests.

According to sources, the participants urged the Govt to boycott the Tribunal or plead against its revival in the SC. Those who attended the meeting included Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Captain Kanwaljit Singh, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (Shiromani Akali Dal), Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Mohinder Singh Gill (Congress), Sat Mahajan, Baldev Raj Chawla (BJP), Joginder Dayal, Jagroop Singh (CPI), Vijay Kumar Sathi (Janata Dal), Jagjit Singh Lyalpuri (MCPI) and C.D. Singh Kamboj (BSP).