Khattar called on Modi, but did not discuss SYL issue: Abhay

CHANDIGARH: Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Chautala on Tuesday alleged that Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give an explanation on the bickering in the state BJP and and not on the issues of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal or farmers’ welfare.

Talking to the media, Abhay, who was accompanied by party state president Ashok Arora, said that he did not think Khattar called on Modi on the issue of SYL canal or farmers’ welfare as was officially projected.

“Khattar had rather gone to him to give explanation on the issue of ongoing bickering in the party in Haryana and resentment prevailing among party MLAs,” Abhay alleged.

He said it was shocking to see Khattar meeting Modi though it was decided in the all-party meeting held by Khattar on November 19 last that an all party delegation would call on Modi to urge upon him to get the SYL canal constructed as per the verdict of the Supreme Court.

“It is a breach of trust of people of Haryana by Khattar,” he said that Khattar had failed to even seek time from Modi for the proposed meeting.

To a question pertaining to the bickering in BJP, the INLD leaders alleged that Khattar was misleading people of the state in the name of development while BJP’s own MLAs were publicly decrying his way of functioning. “While people are undergoing harrowing times because of the irregular and inadequate supply of water and power, the government is busy celebrating festivals,” they added.

The INLD leaders also flayed the Delhi Police for forcibly removing the party tents from Jantar Mantar, where INLD workers had been sitting on a dharna since April 6, demanding construction of SYL Canal. “Though the INLD workers would continue to stage a sit-in there, the party would decide its action plan in its executive meeting scheduled to be held on April 29,” he said.