Addressing a press conference here last night, the BSP's national executive member outlined the party's strategy in the campaign to unseat the ruling alliance. Speaking on the occasion, Yadav accused the successive state governments of fooling the people of south Haryana on the issue of canal water. ``Under the Ravi-Beas water agreement, south Haryana was to get sufficient water. But previous governments have befooled the people, linking the issue with the completion of the Satluj Yamuna link canal''.

He pointed out that more than 1.8 million acre feet of land in Haryana had been receiving this water through the Bhakda main canal since 1977, reaching as far as Jyotisar in Kurukshetra. But during Devi Lal's reign, Yadav claimed, this water was diverted to Sirsa and Hisar via Kaithal though it was mean for south Haryana.

``This led to a problem of water-logging and loss of agricultural land in Kaithal, Sipsa, Jind, Fatehabad as these areas had already surplus water and drought like situation in Mahendragarh, Gurgaon, Rewari and Jhajjar,'' Yadav said.

The former MLA pointed out that the water table in south Haryana was very low and in the absence of canal water, the farmers were at the mercy of tubewell water, which of course works out more expensive.

``The power has a direct bearing on agriculture in south Haryana and that's why the farmers agitations took place in Mahendergarh,'' the BSP leader added, demanding equitable distribution of canal water.

He flayed the MLAs and ministers representing south Haryana for not raising their voice in the interest of the region, terming them as ``Durbaris and cowards''.

Referring to the October 12 protest dharna at Gurgaon, he said that the BSP was ready to form a new front of like-minded people and that this dharna will start their political campaign against the Bansi Lal government.