Indian National lok Dal (INlD), Haryana’s main Opposition party on Thursday gave an ultimatum to the BJP-led Centre and Haryana Government to start the construction of Sutlej Yamuna link (SYl) canal by July 9, otherwise, the party will stop Government vehicles entering Haryana from Punjab on July 10.
leader of Opposition in Haryana Vidhan Sabha and INlD’s senior leader, Abhay Singh Chautala said that the State Government is not serious on the SYl issue but the INlD will continue fighting till the SYl is constructed.
“The party has given an ultimatum to the Centre and Haryana Government to begin the construction of SYl canal by July 9. In case, the construction is not started, the INlD workers will stop the Government vehicles entering the State from Punjab in Ambala on July 10. If even after July 10 protest, the Government does not start the construction of SYl canal, the party will not let the vehicles from Punjab enter Haryana,” said Chautala while talking to the mediapersons in Jhajjar on Thursday.
lashing out at the Manohar lal Khattar Government in Haryana, the INlD leader said that the Government is deliberately delaying the construction of SYl canal. Even after the Supreme Court orders in favor of Haryana on SYl issue, the BJP Government did nothing so far, he added.
The Opposition has decided not to allow any Punjab Govern-
ment buses, any Government vehicles, any Minister or MlA to enter Haryana on July 10. 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.
The INlD had last month held a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi over the SYl canal issue. In March, hundreds of INlD supporters from Haryana flooded the Parliament Street in the heart of the national capital to protest over the SYl canal issue, prompting police to resort to lathicharge.
The INlD leaders had in February tried to march to Punjab from near Shambhu barrier on Haryana-Punjab border to undertake the digging of the SYl canal, but were arrested for breaching prohibitory orders. However, Chautala along with other INlD leaders were later released by the Punjab Police.
last week, the INlD had attacked Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar for not taking with him an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the SYl issue.
Chautala had raised the issue in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha seeking a reply from the Chief Minister on his meeting with PM on SYl issue in April.
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.
The Punjab Government has flatly refused to construct the canal saying that the State has no more water to share with Haryana. Following this, an all party delegation from Haryana led by the Chief Minister had this year met Home Minister Rajnath Singh. last year on November 28, all party delegation had also met President urging him for implementation of the SC verdict on SYl canal.