A day after protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on the issue of Sutlej Yamuna link (SYl) canal, Haryana’s main opposition party, Indian National lok Dal (INlD) has announced to begin indefinite protest at Jantar Mantar from April 6 onwards, pressing for their demand of SYl construction.
The INlD workers led by leader of opposition in Haryana Assembly and party’s senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala had protested at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to mount pressure on the BJP led Central Government to intervene in the SYl issue and get it constructed as per Supreme Court directions.
After their protest at Jantar Mantar, the INlD protesters waving green flags had later approached the Parliament House Annexe building gate, prompting police to resort to lathicharge. Few women and old aged protesters who managed to go past the barricades were allegedly manhandled by male policemen.
INlD leader Abhay Chautala and Haryana party president Ashok Arora while addressing a press conference at Gurugram on Thursday announced that the party will start indefinite protest at Jantar Mantar from April 6 onwards on SYl canal issue.
They also condemned Delhi Police’s lathicharge on INlD workers.
Chautala said that the party would continue its fight for the rights of people of Haryana. The INlD will continue its protest till Haryana gets its due share of water from Punjab, said he.
The party leader said that over 6,800 panchayats (village councils) of Haryana had submitted memorandums to the INlD seeking construction of the SYl canal. We wanted to submit these to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demand immediate construction of the canal. But, we were not allowed to do so in a peaceful manner, he alleged.
Punjab and Haryana have been at loggerheads over the SYl canal issue. The Supreme Court in a verdict last November had held as unconstitutional the 2004 law passed by Punjab to terminate the Sutlej-Yamuna link (SYl) canal water sharing agreement with neighbouring states.
On February 23, the INlD leaders were arrested for breaching prohibitory orders by Punjab Police when they were marching towards Punjab to undertake the digging of the SYl canal. Two MPs, 18 legislators and 73 other INlD leaders were arrested by the Punjab Police and were later sent to judicial custody till February 27 and lodged in Patiala jail.
Chautala also announced that the party will initiate campaign demanding implementation of Swaminathan report for the welfare of farmers. Besides, the INlD will also start a campaign for getting its capital Chandigarh, added he.