SYL issue dominates Haryana Assembly proceedings

TIL Desk/National/Chandigarh/ The Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue dominated the Haryana Assembly proceedings today with main opposition party INLD accusing the Congress and BJP of failing to bring the state’s share of river waters. After the discussion on the Governor’s address resumed today, Leader of Opposition Abhay Chautala took potshots at Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for “soft-pedalling” on the SYL canal issue.

He accused the BJP government in Haryana of “creating stumbling blocks” by deploying forces on February 23, when INLD workers were on their way to Punjab from Ambala to dig the canal as part of their ‘Jal Yudh Sammelan’. However, the Congress and the BJP, while countering Chautala’s claims, asserted that their govt had played an active role on the SYL issue in order to secure Haryana’s share of river waters.

Chautala listed the works done by the Devi Lal government in Haryana towards constructing the canal and accused Punjab of not sharing the waters of Ravi and Beas rivers with the state. The INLD leader was unsparing in his criticism of the Congress for its “failure to safeguard Haryana’s interest”, while praising the role of his late grandfather Devi Lal.