SYL issue: INLD to block vehicles

Chandigarh: Leader of Opposition in Haryana Assembly and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Singh Chautala said party workers were resolved to stop vehicles entering Haryana from Punjab on Monday over the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue.

He accused the BJP of trying to mislead people by making false statements about appeals by chief minister Manohar Lal to withdraw the current campaign. He denied claims of education minister Ram Bilas Sharma who said the chief minister spoke to Mr Chautala over the issue.

He pointed out that their protests over the completion of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal peacefully, as ordered by the Supreme Court, had gone through various phases, including submission of memorandums, staging of dharnas and demonstrations, and had now reached the stage where INLD was constrained to stop all traffic coming from Punjab.

He added that five points bordering Punjab had been identified where senior leaders of the party would lead workers and volunteers to stop the vehicles.

He claimed that the State and Union Governments had failed to ensure that the orders of the apex court were implemented.