Sidhu flays BJP-SAD govt over floods

Returning from a trip to Haryana and Punjab as part of a BJP committee to review the flood situation, BJP leader Navjot Sidhu on Thursday targeted the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government in Punjab for water mismanagement. HT reports.

Returning from a trip to Haryana and Punjab as part of a BJP committee to review the flood situation, BJP leader Navjot Sidhu on Thursday targeted the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government in Punjab for water mismanagement.

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He, however, added that Congress government in Haryana was more to blame, as floods there were far more serious.

Days after BJP sought to wriggle out of ally problems with Nitish Kumar in Bihar, a BJP MP attacking the Badal government may not be music to the ears of the BJP and SAD leaderships.

"There has been no coordination between Punjab and Haryana..." Sidhu said.

"State governments in Punjab and Haryana failed to put any preventive mechanisms in place. Punjab has not been affected by the floods the way Haryana has been, but preventive mechanisms have been missing."

Sidhu also attacked the centre for remaining a mute spectator as the "granary of India" faced a crisis.

He suggested that the interlinking of rivers should be taken up seriously so that flood water is diverted to drier regions.

He demanded a relief package for the region and suggested that preventive mechanisms be carried out timely in future - "It is better to prevent and prepare than to repent and repair".