Badal proving himself to be congenital liar: Amarinder

Chandigarh, Sep 3 (PTI) Punjab Congress chief AmarinderSingh today hit out at Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badalalleging that it was he who had signed the file for landacquisition for Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal in 1978 and bydenying it, he is proving himself to be a "congenital liar". "Didn’t you (Badal) sign the file for the acquisition ofland and didn’t your friend the then Haryana Chief MinisterDevi Lal proudly announce it in Haryana Vidhan Sabha that youhad signed the file and all this is part of record now," heasked. "Why can’t you swear at Akal Takhat (highest temporalseat of the Sikhs) that you didn’t sign it?" Amarinder said,and asked Badal why he did not refute Anandpur Sahab MP PremSingh Chandumajra’s statement "who confirmed that signing theSYL file, was an innocent mistake of Badal." "You have always betrayed Punjab’s interests for yourpersonal interests and you signed the SYL file only to pleaseyour friend, Devi Lal, whom you used to describe as yourfoster brother," the Congress leader alleged. Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister alleged thatAmarinder was lying on SYL issue and said, "Everyone is awareof the fact that the plan to construct SYL canal was conceivedand executed by the then Congress government, and thefoundation of this sorrow of Punjab was laid by the then PrimeMinister Indira Gandhi." Badal said also that he "could not even dream" ofapproving any project which is against the interests of stateand Amarinder is "blatantly lying" on this issue to "mislead"people. On the new front formed by cricketer-turned-politicianNavjot Singh Sidhu along with former Indian Hockey captainPargat Song among others ahead of next year’s state election,Amarinder said, it is a democracy and everybody has right tocontest and seek people’s mandate. "It is a sign of healthy and robust democracy that youhave many contestants and contenders," he said, adding alreadythere are so many political parties and formations and if onemore is added, it will not make any difference. "Congress is the only party which is secular, democraticand appeals to every section and segment of the society. Noparty can match its strength and appeal," Amarinder claimed. Earlier addressing a volunteers’ meet of ‘Jago Punjab’campaign, Amarinder said, "No doubt Congress remains thestrongest party in Punjab today, but that does not mean weshould relax or lower our guard." PTI SUN NSD RGNSD