INLD to stop Punjab vehicles on Monday, Punjab not to send state-run buses

With the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) determined to go ahead with its protest on Monday over the SYL Canal issue by stopping vehicles coming into Haryana from Punjab, authorities in Haryana on Sunday geared up to ensure law and order.

Meanwhile, authorities in Punjab have decided not to send buses from state-run companies to Haryana on Monday as a precautionary measure.

INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala said on Sunday that all necessary arrangements had been made to carry out the protest in which all vehicles entering Haryana from Punjab will be stopped.

He said that the protest will remain peaceful.

The INLD is seeking immediate construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal in Punjab to bring more water to Haryana.

"As a gesture of goodwill towards the people of Punjab, our workers have made arrangements for flowers which would be given to commuters from Punjab. The workers would also urge the commuters to pressurise the Punjab Government to complete the construction of SYL canal," Chautala said.

The vehicles will be stopped at five places - the Lalru-Chandigarh stretch on National Highway-I, Ambala-Shambhu border, Narwana-Dhanauri border, Ratia-Budhlada road (Jakhal point) in Fatehabad district and Dabwali in Sirsa district.

Emergency vehicles, like ambulances, will be exempted from the protest.

Chautala also said that Deputy Commissioners of Ambala, Jind, Fatehabad and Sirsa have been informed of the protest to be held between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Monday. Chautala will go to all five protest points on a helicopter.

Terming the INLD call a "mere show-off" that would help achieve nothing, Haryana Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Om Prakash Dhankar said on Sunday: "The state's claim on the SYL canal is legally strong and the INLD threat to prevent the entry of Punjab vehicles into Haryana will not only dent it but also spoil the peaceful atmosphere in the state."

The Haryana government has sought 10 additional companies of central paramilitary forces to maintain law and order during the protest, Haryana Director General of Police B.S. Sandhu said. Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Ram Niwas said law and order would be maintained in the state.

Police is likely to divert traffic on some routes in the wake of the proposed protest.

--IANS

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