:dateline:Former Punjab chief minister and Congress MP from Amritsar Captain Amrinder Singh today claimed that the word �Khalistan� is not mentioned in �Amritsar Declaration� which was adopted by Shiromani Akali Dal in 1995 under the presidentship of Sardar Simranjit Singh Mann. He was addressing worker rallies in Majitha and Attari assembly segments.
The former Punjab CM made this statement in reaction to �charges� leveled by Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) spokesperson and Punjab education minister Daljit Singh Cheema some days ago. Cheema had stated that Capt Amrinder Singh who questioned Parkash Badal for �reverting� Panthik agenda, himself had signed pro-Khalistan �Amritsar Declaration�.
Capt Amrinder Singh claimed that the declaration only demanded more powers for states within Indian constitution. He alleged that in view of upcoming Punjab assembly election of 2017, Badal was raking up Panthik issues.
However, he did not mention that the words �sovereign Sikh state� used in the declaration which clearly indicates toward �Khalistan�, the name given by Sikhs to the sovereign Sikh state for which they have been struggling. It was drafted by noted Sikh scholar late Dr. Gurbhagat Singh and adopted by all factions of SAD including Badal and Tohra uniting at Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Except Surjit Singh Baranala, all the SAD leaders accepted the patronage of Simranjit Singh Mann at that time.
Besides, reacting on Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar demand on SYL canal, he said Punjab had not even single drop of water to share with any other state. However, he justified the supply of water being already given to Haryana and Rajasthan accords on Punjab�s river water which are extra-constitutional basically and violate riparian rule and basin principle.
