Amidst the political uproar over the digging of Sutlej Yamuna link (canal) announced by Indian National lok Dal (INlD), leader of Opposition in Haryana Assembly and party senior leader Abhay Chautala on Monday warned that the INlD will dig up the SYl canal on February 23 even if Army is called in to stop them.
“We have made all preparations for digging SYl canal and now, there is no question of stepping back,” said Abhay Chautala while talking to the medipersons.
Ahead of February 23, the INlD leader held a series of meetings with the party workers in Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar and Jind asking them to reach Ambala on February 23.
“SYl is lifeline for Haryana...Even the Supreme Court has given its verdict in favour of Haryana but the Chief Minister Manohar lal has failed to do anything in this regard,” Chautala said.
He said that the INlD will ensure that justice is done to the people of Haryana in the issue of water sharing.
Chautala said that more than 6800 panchayats have sent him resolutions in favour of construction of SYl canal. These resolutions would be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, added he.
INlDs announcement to dig the canal has attracted sharp reactions from ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab. SAD has maintained that it will never let the project complete "as it would deprive the farmers of Punjab of their own waters".
On the other hand, Punjab Police has decided to seal the state border to thwart any untoward move from the other side. Punjab Police has also sought central forces to deal with any untoward situation.
The focus remains on Punjab’s Kapuri village bordering Haryana — the village where the foundation of the canal was laid.
The INlD workers have planned is to converge at the Ambala vegetable market, from where the cadres will move to the Haryana–Punjab border between Karpuri and Ismailpur village to dig the canal.
Radical organisations Dal Khalsa and All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) have also announced to gather at Kapuri to challenge the INlD workers, to stop them from the construction of SYl in Punjab.
Meanwhile, the BJP and Congress have criticized INlD to use the issue of SYl canal to fulfil its political motives.
Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda has termed the INlD’s announcement as political drama.
Hooda has also alleged that the entire mess related to SYl canal was created due to former CM OP Chautala, who had refused to protect Haryana's interest during his tenure in Haryana.