BJP will protect water rights of Punjab: Union jal shakti minister Shekhawat

Union jal shakti minister and BJP’s Punjab’s election incharge Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Friday said their party will protect water rights of Punjab.

Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, Shekhawat said their party-led government at the Centre will ensure that Punjab gets rights on its waters. “The people of Punjab will get justice. I myself am the jal shakti minister and we are looking into these issues. I can only tell you this much right now because of the poll code of conduct,” said Shekhawat.

The Centre is also aware of depleting water table in Punjab and acknowledges it as a big problem, said Shekhawat, who was accompanied by Union ministers Hardip Singh Puri and Meenakshi Lekhi.

On charges levelled against Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu by his sister, Shekhawat said he would not like to comment in someone’s personal life.

“But I can only tell you that a person who couldn’t remain loyal to a party that gave him so much, to his family and to his mother doesn’t deserve a chance,” he added.

Puri slammed the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and said the BJP leadership was happy over ending relationship with its alliance partner in Punjab.

Jagmohan Singh Raju, who on Thursday took premature retirement as additional chief secretary in Tamil Nadu, also joined the BJP formally.

He was announced party candidate from Amritsar East segment that is witnessing a high-profile contest between Navjot Sidhu and former Akali minister Bikram Majitha.