Date:24/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/24/stories/2006122401800700.htm

National

INLD to hold protest marches in Haryana from January 9

Special Correspondent

Against "rampant corruption, deteriorating law and order"

CHANDIGARH: The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) on Saturday decided to organise marches at all the district headquarters in Haryana to protest against "rampant corruption, deteriorating law and order, scarcity of water and electricity, rising prices and the sealing drive launched by the Hooda Government." The protest demonstrations would be organised from January 9 to 17 and memoranda addressed to the Governor would be submitted to the respective District Commissioners.

This decision was taken at a State INLD executive and Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting presided over by party president and former Haryana Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala.

An INLD spokesman said here that protest marches would be organised at Faridabad, Sirsa and Jind on January 9, at Narnaul, Kurukshetra and Rohtak on January 10, at Bhiwani, Yamunanagar and Sonepat on January 11, at Rewari, Fatehabad and Karnal on January 12, Mewat, Kaithal and Jhajjar on January 15, Gurgaon, Panchkula and Panipat on January 16, and at Hisar and Ambala on January 17. Senior INLD leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Singh Chautala, former State INLD president Sher Singh Barshami, former MLA Abhay Singh Chautala, former Minister Sampat Singh, former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Rampal Majra and State INLD president Ashok Arora would lead the protest marches. The PAC decided to support the Shiromani Akali Dal and its alliance candidates in the coming Punjab elections to ensure defeat of the Congress. Six resolutions were passed expressing concern over "problems being faced by the people of Haryana.''

Chautala charge

Mr. Chautala alleged that the Hooda Government was "re-inaugurating'' schemes of the then INLD regime. He also criticised the Hooda Government for changing the names of institutions named after his father, Devi Lal, and demanded that these be renamed after him.