Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh has asked the governments at the Centre and in Haryana to take all necessary steps to prevent any violation of Punjab’s borders by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), which has threatened to march into the state to start SYL digging on February 23.Reacting strongly to INLD leader Abhay Chautala’s provocative statement that his party workers were ready to force their way into neighbouring Punjab from Ambala, with or without permission from the district administration, Captain Amarinder Singh has demanded action by the Haryana government against the INLD to prevent the eruption of an inter-state crisis.Chautala’s inflammatory statement has the potential of further escalating the tension already triggered by the ongoing Jat agitation in Haryana, said Captain Amarinder, asking the central government to also initiate stern measures to maintain law and order.With the code of conduct still in place in Punjab, and elections in progress in some other states, the Election Commission (EC) should also take note of the development and direct the Centre to intervene in order to ensure that peace is maintained at all costs, said the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president.
In a statement issued here, Captain Amarinder asked the Badal-led Punjab government to protect the state’s borders from any infringement. It is time now for Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to prove his self-proclaimed commitment to protecting the interests of Punjab, said the Congress chief ministerial candidate. He warned Badal against betraying the people of Punjab again, as he had done in the past by allowing then Haryana chief minister Devi Lal to acquire land for SYL construction in exchange for money.He accused the Chautalas of indulging in political misadventure and trying to take advantage of their proximity with the Badals, on whose silent connivance they were pinning their hopes to realize their mischievous agenda. But the people of Punjab would not allow themselves to be victimized or brow-beaten into submission on such a critical issue, on which depended their lives and future, Captain Amarinder warned the INLD, asking them to refrain from engaging in any ill-conceived action on the SYL matter.