SAD may ditch BJP on Udham Nagar

The Akali Dal has been demanding the exclusion of Udham Singh Nagar from the proposed state of Uttaranchal but according to the bill, recently passed in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, while Hardwar is out, Udham Singh Nagar is in.

Badal said that if Hardwar could be excluded, the same yardstick should be applied on Udham Singh Nagar. He,however, hurriedly added that since the Akali Dal was a democratic party, a final decision would be taken at its working committee meet fixed for October 6.

Earlier, Badal addressed about 200 residents of Udham Singh Nagar who met him at his official residence here to press for the exclusion of the district from Uttaranchal.

Badal said that the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in Uttaranchal was not “constitutional” going by the principles adopted while carving out new states. All necessary steps in support of the residents of the district would be taken, come what may, he said.

He said that the demand for excluding Udham Singh Nagar from the new state did not pertain to one community as the district was inhabited by Bengalis, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus as well. They had worked hard for decades to convert wasteland into fertile farms but were now being made homeless, he said.

Badal, who is also the Akali Dal president, condemned the registration of casesunder the National Security Actagainst 26 leadingfarmers of the district by the UP government. As many as 325 residents had been booked earlier by the UP government during their agitation when railway lines and roads were blocked and markets closed. Badal said he would go to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to get the cases cancelled.

Badal said that various experts contacted by the Punjab Government on the Constitutional position of excluding Udham Singh Nagar from Uttaranchal Pradesh had supported the claim of the residents. They had based their opinion on “principles and legal position” governing the creation of new states.

Earlier, the Dal’s political affairs committee had passed a resolution demanding retention of Udham Singh Nagar in UP and issued a veiled threat to withdraw support. Harbhajan Singh Cheema, who led the residents, said that they were banking only on the Akali Dal since it was the only one supporting their cause. The adamant attitude of the BJP government will not help in maintaining peace, he said.