SYL row: INLD snaps ties with Akali Dal

Chandigarh, March 17

With sharing of river waters becoming a bone of contention between Haryana and Punjab, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) today severed its ties with long-time ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

“Party's (INLD) alliance with Akalis has now ended as it has brought a Bill against the interests of Haryana," said INLD Secretary General and Leader of Opposition in Haryana assembly Abhay Chautala, who is also younger son of jailed leader and former chief minister Om Parkash Chautala.

"We now do not have any relation with SAD in Punjab," he said announcing the breaking of the decades-old ties between the two parties.

SAD has one MLA Balkaur Singh from Kalianwali assembly seat in Haryana.

“Because of the Bill (by which the owners whose land was acquired by government will be returned back to them), there is a lot of anger against Punjab among Haryana people," he said.

"We have always considered Punjab as our elder brother but today they have betrayed us. Now the people of Haryana will have no faith in Punjab...They have ended the relationship between the two states," he said.

SAD patron and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's family and INLD's Chautala family have long relations with each other besides both the families have businesses in each others states. — PTI