Opposition to stall House

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, October 22

On the eve of the state Assembly session, the Congress leadership gave a call to the INLD to unite against the state government on the Dadupur-Nalvi canal project issue.

They said the House would not be allowed to function till the irrigation project issue was resolved, as it is linked to farmers of three districts.

Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Kiran Chaudhary and AICC media in charge Randeep Singh Surjewala today reached the new grain market at Shahbad Markanda where farmers are holding a relay protest. Both leaders arrived separately with their supporters to show empathy with the protesting farmers.

Surjewala said the party would take the farmers’ organisations on board to approach court and the President to challenge the BJP government’s decision to scrap the irrigation project. “It has a direct fallout on farmers and the Congress welcomes the INLD or any other organisation fighting for the cause of farmers in the Assembly,” he said.

Surjewala said the previous Congress government had spent Rs 304 crore on the canal network project in Kurukshetra, Ambala and Yamunanagar districts.

He added the Cabinet decision of September 27 to denotify 1,019 acres acquired for the irrigation project was unconstitutional and they would challenge it at various platforms. “Section 101 pertaining to the return of unutilised land states that when any acquired land remains unutilised for five years from the date of taking over its possession, the President’s assent is required for its return. Our delegation will meet the President to highlight the plight of farmers and urge him not to grant his approval to the Haryana government on it,” said Surjewala.

Meanwhile, Kiran Chaudhary said the Congress has decided to stall the House proceedings in support of farmers. She added the water table in Kurukshetra and its adjoining districts had depleted to an alarming level and scrapping of the canal project would end the scope to recharge it.

Kiran said the Bansi Lal government had initiated the scheme to meet the long pending demand of farmers but the BJP has dashed their hopes. “The state government move is in contradiction of the Prime Minister’s clarion call to ensure irrigation facilities to each field. The Congress always remains a strong votary of the canal project so that this part of the region could flourish,” she added.