Indian National lok Dal (INlD), Haryana’s main Opposition party on Saturday announced that its youth workers will stop the vehicles entering the State from Punjab at the Shambhu barrier near Ambala on July 10 as part of its demonstrations, demanding construction of the Sutlej Yamuna link (SYl) canal. This was decided at the party’s State executive meeting here.

leader of Opposition in Haryana Assembly and INlD’s senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala said his party workers will stop Punjab vehicles entering Haryana on the day.

While talking to the mediapersons after the meeting, Chautala said that they will not allow any (Punjab) Government buses or vehicles, any Minister or MlA to enter Haryana. Even if the Punjab Chief Minister tries to come, he will be stopped on the Haryana border, he said

He said although private vehicles from Punjab will be allowed, the motorists will be given a rose and a copy of the memorandum containing the INlD’s demands on the SYl issue. He, however, made it clear that no emergency vehicle like ambulances will be stopped. The Apex Court will hear the water sharing dispute on July 11.

The INlD leader also hit out at the Punjab unit of the BJP for throwing its weight behind the Amarinder Singh-led Congress Government on the SYl issue.

On being asked about their protest venue, Chautala said it would be either around Rajpura-Ambala border or on the Ambala-Delhi National Highway 1.

Hitting out at the Delhi Government for adopting ‘dissuading tactics’ against INlD workers protesting over the SYl canal issue at Jantar Mantar there, he said from May 1, party workers will start dharna at sub-divisional levels in their respective Assembly constituencies in Haryana and submit memorandum to their respective deputy commissioners.

The INlD, earlier this month, started a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi over the Sutlej-Yamuna link canal issue. The INlD leaders had two months ago tried to march to Punjab from near Shambhu barrier on Haryana-Punjab border to undertake the digging of the SYl canal, but was arrested for breaching prohibitory orders. However, INlD leaders were later released by the Punjab Police.

Over a month ago, hundreds of INlD supporters from Haryana had flooded the Parliament Street in the heart of the national capital to protest over the SYl canal issue, prompting police to resort to lathicharge.

Earlier this week, INlD had also attacked Haryana CM Manohar lal Khattar for not taking with him an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the SYl issue.

Following a Presidential reference, the Supreme Court in November last year held the passing of the Punjab Termination of Water Agreements Bill, 2004, by the Punjab Assembly as ‘unconstitutional’. It directed that the SYl canal should be constructed.