Let people decide on Udham Nagar 8212; Tohra

The district has a high percentage of Sikh, Bengali and Haryanvi farmers who have nothing in common with the people of Uttaranchal. Topographically too, it is at a height of 1,200 feet above sea level, while a hill area normally begins at 2,200 feet above sea level, he said.

Tohra denied the charge that relatives of several Akali Dal leaders owned vast tract of agricultural land in the area and these could fall within the purview of the land ceiling act once the new state was formed.

quot;Can you name one Akali leader who has property there? Even Punjab ChiefMinister Parkash Singh Badal sold away his property there seven to eight years agoquot;, he said.

Asked if he would apply the same yardstick to let the people of Chandigarh decide on making a choice between Haryana and Punjab, the Akali leader8217;s reply was negative.

quot;Many non-Punjabis have settled in Chandigarh during last 20 years. If the opinion of people who have been living there for more than 20 years is sought, they would naturally want Chandigarh to be part of Punjab,quot; he said.

Tohra said there was no threat to the government at the Centre on the Udham Singh Nagar issue.

quot;We discuss, debate and settle any issue as good partnersquot;. There was no option for the Shiromani Akali Dal but to align with the BJP at the national level, after the treatment meted out to Punjab by Congress, he said.

On his reported differences with Badal, Tohra said there were no problems within Akali Dal.