INLD asks workers to reach Rajpura on Feb 27

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 24

After courting arrests over digging of the SYL canal yesterday, INLD leaders Abhay Singh Chautala and others have now decided to hold a show of strength at Rajpura in Punjab on February 27 when they have to be produced before the SDM there.

The INLD has sent SMSes to its workers across the state to reach the SDM court in Rajpura by 9 am on February 27 when Leader of Opposition Abhay Chautala, state INLD president Ashok Arora, party MPs, MLAs and other leaders will be produced.

Abhay and others were yesterday sent to judicial custody till February 27 and were sent to Patiala jail.

Sources said that the INLD leaders who did not seek bail yesterday would apply for it on Monday since Budget Session of the Assembly was to begin on that day.

Praveen Attrey, spokesperson of the INLD, said the party was expecting a turnout of over 10,000 supporters in Rajpura on Monday.

“If our leaders are released on February 27, they will be brought to Chandigarh in a procession of hundreds of vehicles. They will come to the party office and then the party MLAs will go to the Assembly to attend the session,” he said.

He said the party would raise the issue of the SYL canal vehemently in the Assembly and “expose” other political parties for their stand. “We are surprised that while the Punjab Government was justified in deploying police to stop our leaders marching towards the SYL canal for its digging, what prompted the Haryana Government to set up three lines of barricades deploying hundreds of policemen to stop us,” he said.

Meanwhile, the INLD has clarified that its fight for the SYL waters did not end with yesterday’s rally, but the party would carry it further and even take the fight on the issue to Delhi.

“Abhay has already announced that people of Haryana will oppose leaders of different political parties from Punjab whenever they cross through Haryana. The party will also chalk out a strategy to hold protests in the national capital, including dharna at Jantar Mantar and gherao of Parliament,” Attrey said.