FARIDKOT, Punjab—All India Sikh Students Federation and human rights body Sikhs for Justice have appealed to the mainstream political parties Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP, Congress and AAP to support the petition seeking referendum for Punjab waters at International Court of Justice, Hague (Netherland).

A petition had been raised with the United Nations led International Court of Justice, by SFL, for which the online signature campaign will shortly to be initiated.

Interacting with media at Faridkot, AISSF President S. Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad announced that his party would initiate a campaign on December 27 & 28 at Fatehgarh Sahib to create awareness about this issue, while marking the martyrdom anniversary of Sahibzada Jorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh.

Appealing to mainstream parties to support the online signature campaign seeking referendum on Punjab waters, Peer Mohammad said that the SAD, BJP, Congress and AAP should refrain from politicizing the sensitive issue of Punjab waters to serve their vested interests.

He said that the mainstream parties SAD and Congress were playing blame game to shield their real image in failing to get the SYL-Canal completed in 90s. He added that the SYL-Canal was completed during the rule of the Congress party in Punjab and if Congress was really serious about Punjab waters it should act honestly.

Describing the political noise of the SAD-BJP led Punjab government as crocodile tears, Peer Mohammad said that instead of taking solid steps, the Punjab government has only taken non-consequential action in de-notifying the SYL-Canal land back to farmers. He added that there has been no progress and the issue was in the same position it had been in earlier.

It is pertinent to note here that the right of Punjab over its natural resource i.e. River waters was overtaken by the Indian government via sections-78, 79, 80 of the ‘Punjab Reorganization Act’, imposed on November 1, 1966 while forming new Punjab.