Bhajan can be jailed, says Haryana minister

Chandigarh, Apr 15 (UNI) Former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal can be jailed if he fails to present himself before a House Committee of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha looking into the circumstances which led to signing of the controversial Yamuna water sharing accord, Irrigation Minister Ajay Singh Yadav said today.

''He can be jailed,'' Capt Yadav told reporters after the House Committee held its fifth meeting under the chairmanship of assembly Speaker Raghuvir Singh Kadian to probe into the accord, signed in 1994 by the then Bhajan Lal government, which reduced Haryana's share in Yamuna waters from 67 per cent to 47 per cent.

Capt Yadav, however, clarified that the comittee did not want to arrest Mr Bhajan Lal who had so far not presented himself before the committee which had summoned him to explain his position in this regard. ''We hope he will come in the next meeting of the panel,' he added.

Capt Yadav said the accord signed by the Bhajan Lal government had several discrepancies as against the draft agreement prepared by the then state cabinet.

The 11-member House committee, headed by Speaker Kadian, was constituted in September last year.

As per its terms of reference, the committee would also review the document signed by Mr Bhajan Lal in 1994 for Renuka and Kishau dams.

It would also suggest terms for construction and maintenance of these dams by a central agency on the pattern of BBMB to avoid inter-state disputes.

UNI MA RR HT1925