Date:20/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/20/stories/2004072004951100.htm

National

Haryana Congress MLAs meet PM, Sonia

NEW DELHI, JULY 19. A delegation of the Haryana Congress MLAs and other leaders met the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, here today to demand that the Punjab Termination Bill be declared "null and void."

The delegation demanded action against the Punjab Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, and threatened to launch an agitation if the Centre failed to come up with a solution to the Sutlet-Yamuna Link canal issue.

Led by the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Bhajan Lal, the MLAs said they would organise a dharna outside Parliament and Rajghat later this week. "We explained the whole issue to the Prime Minister and requested him to ensure that Haryana's interests are safeguarded," Mr. Bhajan Lal said. The Prime Minister and Ms. Gandhi assured the delegation that justice would be done to all.

The acting Haryana Legislature Party leader, Ajay Yadav, said Ms. Gandhi also told the legislators that there was no need for them to resign from the House. He said the Haryana PCC had decided to hold a rally here on August 9.