Apart from NH-1, the border villages also remained on high alert and police presence was seen across all the villages situated along the route of SYL canal in Punjab
The simmering tension over the sharing of river-water between Punjab and Haryana reached a new high, after thousands of workers of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) stomped the Punjab and Haryana border from Ambala vowing to re-dig the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, which has been lying incomplete since 1990.
INLD workers led by their leader Abhay Singh Chautala gathered at Ambala City, from where they marched towards the Punjab border on the National Highway-1, near Patiala. Despite the police presence on Haryana side, the protestors crossed the Shambhu barrier, which is the entry point to Punjab.
Over 2,500 workers reached the Punjab border, in Patiala where they were police force deployed by Punjab stopped them with nine-foot high barricading. The protestors could not cross the Punjab border and staged demonstration brandishing spades and claiming their share on the river water from Sutlej-Yamuna.
Urging his supporters to avoid any confrontation with police Chautala urged Punjab to provide its neighbouring state its due share of water. "Punjab is like our elder brother and we do not want to create any law and order situation. But it is time that justice be done to Haryana with construction of SYL canal," said Chautala, highlighting the recent Supreme Court verdict directing Punjab to allow construction of the canal.
Helicopters hovered over the area and drones were used to monitor the swell of protestors. The Punjab border was fortified with deployment of over 5,000 police personnel brought from various districts in the state. As many as ten companies of paramilitary forces were also called in for support.
Armed with riot gear, tear gas shells, police remained alert all across the border. The Punjab police had also hired as many as 300 divers to prevent any mishap.
However, the protest remained largely peaceful and ended with Chautala courting arrest, alonwgith 19 MLAs and over 60 party workers.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday had directed both the states to maintain law and order, in wake of protest by Haryana's main opposition party. Punjab DGP Suresh Arora and Ambala IG R C Mishra monitored the situation making several rounds to the spot.
Apart from NH-1, the border villages also remained on high alert and police presence was seen across all the villages situated along the route of SYL canal in Punjab. Supporters of Sikh group All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) which had given a call to oppose construction of SYL were restricted to the border villages.
The 214 km SYL canal defines the river water sharing between Punjab and Haryana, but has been lying incomplete since 1990 when its construction stopped. The project has been mired in controversy following stern opposition from Punjab eversince its foundation stone was laid down by former PM Indira Gandhi in 1982.
Highlighting apprehensions over break down of law and order, Punjab Congress' CM candidate Captain Amarinder said the failure to bring the SYL-triggered tensions under control can have grave potential of leading to resurgence of militancy in Punjab.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Bhagwant Mann blamed SAD and INLD for raking up the issue to create tension in the state for their political motive, and said AAP was firm on its stand To resolve the river waters issue.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Punjab police")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}