The Congress on Friday staged a walkout in the assembly over the Gujarat Irrigation and Drainage (Amendment) Bill. The Congress demanded the withdrawal of the same stating that the bill wanted to make water thieves out of Gujarat’s farmers. 
Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar reminded the government that the farmers would not have to steal water from canals if the state had ensured irrigation facilities for them. 
The bill proposes to up the punishment for water theft, damage to canals and even dumping of waste and allowing cattle into canal water.