Latest News | Won't Be Part of 'drama': Punjab BJP Leader Jakhar Calls Mann's Debate Challenge 'ploy to Distract' People

Chandigarh, Oct 11 (PTI) Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar Wednesday said he is not going to be part of any "drama" as he is not a theatre artiste, calling Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's challenge for an open debate a "ploy" to distract peoples' attention from issues.

Jakhar claimed that he was not running away from any debate but said he cannot crack jokes and does not know drama like Mann, who just wants to indulge in theatrics.

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The BJP leader said he would rather invite the chief minister to come to Abohar to hold the debate on river waters as the area was going to be hit if water was shared with Haryana through the SYL canal.

Mann on Sunday challenged the BJP, Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal for an open debate on issues pertaining to the state on November 1, amid the opposition parties' criticism over the issue of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.

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The state government is learnt to have inquired about the Tagore Theatre here as the venue for the debate on November 1.

Addressing the media here, Jakhar alleged that Mann's call for the debate with opposition leaders was a "distraction and deception" as the AAP government was facing criticism for "diluting" the state's stand on the SYL issue in the Supreme Court.

On whether he will join the debate, the BJP leader said, "Have you seen me playing any drama, any comedy? Why will I go to Tagore Theatre? I am not a theatre artiste. I have not done any comedy shows. Comedy shows take place at theatres."

"How can it be called an open debate," he asked.

"We do not run away from debates but we cannot crack jokes and we do not know drama," the BJP leader added.

"If the river water issue is to be discussed, I invite him to come to Abohar which will face an adverse impact if Punjab waters are shared with Haryana through the SYL," he said.

Jakhar said a meaningful discussion can be held at the Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana. "But Bhagwant Mann does not want to discuss, he chooses to do dramas through his old profession of comedy," he said in a swipe at the chief minister.

Mann has no right to dictate the terms of the debate, Jakhar asserted, adding that it has to be a fair playground and "let people participate in it".

The BJP state president alleged that whenever any issue arises in the state, be it drugs, the death of youths due to drug overdose or illegal mining, the AAP-led government tries to divert people's attention.

"The people of Punjab gave a two-thirds majority to AAP and Mann is accountable to them," he said.

"People ask why the promise for a drug-free state in three months has fallen flat. Where has the debt of Rs 50,000 crore gone," Jakhar asked.

On Mann's tweet about his father, Jakhar said Congress leader Balram Jakhar was the Speaker of the Lok Sabha in April 1982 and he was not present in Patiala when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi came to perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the SYL.

Mann earlier claimed that former Union minister Balram Jakhar, along with Amarinder Singh, who is now with the BJP, had accompanied the then PM at the ceremony.

Reacting to Jakhar's statement, AAP leader Malvinder Singh Kang said the Modi government at the Centre has been constantly taking "anti-Punjab" decisions and that is why, Jakhar was "running away" from the debate with Mann.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)