JALANDHAR: Taking a firm stand on the controversial Sutlej Yamuna link canal, Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh on Sept.26 said it was in the nation’s interest that the canal be constructed.
He also reiterated his stand on the merger of Punjab, Haryana and Himchal Pradesh into a big state so that the challenges posed by Pakistan could be faced effectively. Beant Singh was speaking at the Shaheed Paniwar Fund function, organized by the Hind Samachar Group of publications, to distribute aid packages worth Rs 10 lakh to 100 families of militant victims. Haryana Finance Minister Mange Ram Gupta and AllIndia Youth Congress president Maninderjit Singh Bitta were present. Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, who was supposed 10 attend the function as chief guest, was conspicuous with his absence. Beant Singh said the differences between Haryana and Punjab could be sorted out across the table. The chief minister suggested that talks between the two Chief Ministers on issues such as sharing of river waters, transfer of Chandigarh and Punjabi as second language in Haryana should be initiated in the presence of the Prime Minister. He, however, expressed the confidence that Punjab would be able to get Chandigarh and more water through dialogue. It would also be able to convince the Haryana government and the state’s police to give second language status to Punjabi in their state.
Haryana Finance Minister Mange Ram Gupta said the SYL canal should be completed soon for the greater interest of the farmers,
Calling Haryana the younger brother of Punjab, Gupta urged the
Punjab government to initiate steps for construction of the canal.
Likening Beant Singh to Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Gupta said it was because of him that Punjab was now an integral part of the country,
Maninderjit Singh Bitta said the youth force in the country should untidily fight against the evil forces Such as antinational and fundamentalists.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 1, 1993
