Sutlej Yamuna Link canal controversy: Haryana delegation to meet Rajnath Singh, INLD plans protest
The leaders are scheduled to hold informal discussions at Haryana Bhawan ahead of the crucial meeting. But the Indian National Lok Dal has decided not to be part of the delegation.
In Short
- A 15-member all party delegation will meet Rajnath Singh over Satluj Yamuna Link issue.
- INLD plans to give meeting a miss.
- Bhupinder Singh Hooda criticised INLD for neglecting the delegation.
A 15-member all party delegation will meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday to push for construction of the unfinished Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal in Punjab. The delegation will be led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
His senior cabinet colleagues Ram Bilas Paswan, Capt Abhimanyu and Anil Vij, along with President of BJP Haryana unit Subhash Barala, will also be part of the delegation. The leaders are scheduled to hold informal discussions at Haryana Bhawan ahead of the crucial meeting. But the Indian National Lok Dal has decided not to be part of the delegation.
Leader of Opposition Abhay Chautala in a press statement said that the BJP has been misleading Opposition as they had assured all parties for a meeting with the Prime Minister on the SYL issue.
"The BJP government is not serious about the SYL construction, for the past four months Prime Minister has denied appointment to the Haryana chief minister," said Chautala. INLD will launch indefinite protest at Jantar Mantar from April 6, he added. The Congress party will however be part of the delegation. Apart from former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, party leader in the assembly Kiran Chaudhary and President of the Pradesh Congress committee Ashok Tanwar are likely to be part of the delegation.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda criticised INLD for neglecting the delegation.
"INLD is playing dirty politics over the issue, it was in league with the Akali Dal Government in Punjab and staged fake protest to gain popularity," Mr Hooda alleged.
"Chief Minister Khattar called me and assured that after meeting the Rajnath Singh, the Prime Minister will give time soon to hear the Haryana parties," he added. The 214 kilometer long Satluj Yamuna Link canal has been the bone of contention between Punjab and Haryana for over three decades now. The canal was proposed to share water from Ravi and Beas rivers flowing through Punjab with Haryana.
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