BJP not to make alliances in Haryana

Chandigarh, Dec 4 (UNI) Ruling out any alliance with other parties, newly-appointed Haryana BJP president Atam Prakash Manchanda today said his party would go it alone in future assembly elections and galvanise its cadre soon.

''We are not going to make alliances with other parties. We will go it alone and mobilise our cadre within six months to become a major force in the state,'' he said while talking to reporters here.

He said the party cadre had remained inactive and demoralised in the past due to its alliance with parties like Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) of former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala who ''ruled by way of terror.'' The BJP had been an ally of the previous Chautala government and a coalition partner of the Bansi Lal government prior to that. The party contested the last assembly elections on its own but could win only two seats.

Asked whether the BJP would induct disgruntled Congress leader Bhajan Lal if he intended to join the party, Mr Manchanda said it would be decided on merit. Pressed further, he said the party's national leadership would decide on the issue.

He alleged that the present Congress government in Haryana was no better than the previous INLD government. The law and order in state had deteriorated and the number of cases of murder, rape and kidnapping were on the increase, he added.

Mr Manchanda also criticised the government for acquiring agricultural land for setting up Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the state but allegedly doing nothing to provide jobs to the people.

On the SYL issue, he said the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal was the lifeline of Haryana and the state could not forego its right on the Ravi-Beas waters.

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