Lawyers’ strike enters 20th day
FATEHABAD, Aug 9 — Strike by lawyers entered its 20th day here today. The lawyers who are on an indefinite strike have been demanding the setting up of a district court.

Cong reconsidering ticket to Husain
FARIDABAD, Aug 9 — The central election committee of the Congress is learnt to be reconsidering its decision to give the party ticket to Mr Zakir Husain, a former MLA from Taoro, for contesting the coming Lok Sabha poll from Faridabad.

BSP (A) fields Sihota from Ambala

Five booked under dowry law

'No rule' to review disenfranchisement

Mela begins on low-key note
From K. G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

KURUKSHETRA, Aug 9 — The four-day Solar Eclipse Fair started here today on a formal note.

There was little hustle and bustle in the town as few pilgrims reached the mela site and the historic Kurukshetra town so far.

Feverish activity around the sacred Sannehit and Brahamsarovar tanks still on with the mela administration was engaged in last-minute work.

It seems the administration has belatedly woken to the reality of holding the last big fair of this century.

Interestingly road repair work is still going on even though the mela has formally started. The main road from the old bus stand upto the third gate of the University, which was to be converted into four lanes, has not so far been completed. Work on the road started when Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee visited Kurukshetra on the birth centenary of late Mr Gulzari Lal Nanda. But was later abandoned.

The administration has felled hundreds of trees along the road.

Another sore point is the back of lighting from Pipli upto the Sannehit Sarovar. The road which was fourlaned during last years mela on August, 22 was provided a lighting system at a cost of about rupees 15 lakh. At that time, the then Deputy Commissioner, Mr T.V.S.N. Prasad had declared that the lighting system had been adopted to give Kurukshetra ‘a heritage look’. But after his transfer the system was not found viable and not properly looked after by the Municipal Committee. Its present state indicates that the entire amount of rupees 15 lakh went down the drain.

Although, the mela administration has taken care to clean the surrounding of the sacred Sannehit and Brahamsarovars, no such effort is viable on various roads leading to the sarovars. Pools of dirty water and heaps of dirt can be seen from Neelam Cinema upto the Ambedakar Chowk on both sides of the road.

Though the mela has started not a single shop has so far come up in the stipulated site in sector 17 here. The administration has decided that it would not allow any type of shops on either side of the roads leading upto the sarovars. The only redeeming feature is that the Kurukshetra Development Board has put in massive efforts to cleanse the sarovars, and their footpaths and to fill both of them with clean water.

Mr Ashok Yadav, Chief Executive Officer of the KDB told TNS that long before the mela renovation of Sannehit tank was taken up. The entire sarovar was dug up afresh and searchlights provided for the convenience of the pilgrims who wanted to take a dip during the night. The total cost of this project was rupees 15 lakh. A 30-metre high ‘High Mast Light’ was put up in the middle of the sarovar. Mr Yadav disclosed that there was a proposal to put up such a High Mast Light — about 40-metre high — in the centre of Brahamsarovar also for the convenience of the pilgrims.

All rehries and hawkers around the Brahamsarovar and the Sannehit tank are being shifted outside the mela area so as to avoid any inconvenience to pilgrims.

The Haryana Roadways has constructed temporary bus stops for the incoming buses. Parking lots for the vehicles of the pilgrims have been provided. However as these have been kept at a fairly long distance, each pilgrim is likely to traverse a distance of about 4 km to reach the two sarovars. This would be difficult for the aged and the infirm.

Another major drawback seems to be that being the rainy season, pilgrims will suffer in case of sudden rain. There are very few shelters for pilgrims.

The administration has provided a special VIP ghat for the VIP pilgrims who will be taking a holy dip during the eclipse period. These include the Governor of Haryana, Mr Mahabir Prasad and the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala who are expected to take a holy dip. For Mr Mahabir Prasad, it will be his third holy dip during the eclipse in Kurukshetra. According to official sources he had visited Kurukshetra and had a holy dip on October 24,1995 and August 22, 1998.

The administration expects about 10 lakh pilgrims to visit the historic city on the eclipse day. A sum of rupees 1.35 crore has been provided for the mela arrangements, according to mela administrator, Mr D. Suresh.

Congress leaders oppose ticket to Arvind Sharma
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Aug 9 — Senior Congress leaders of Haryana, including Mr Sultan Singh, former Governor of Tripura, Mr Chiranji Lal Sharma, former MP, and Mr Dharampal Singh Malik, former HPCC President today opposed the reported decision of the Congress high command to field Dr Arvind Sharma, a former MP from the Sonepat Lok Sabha seat.

According to party sources, these leaders had warned that if Dr Sharma was given the ticket, the party would definitely lose the seat.

Mr Nafe Singh Dahiya, Vice President of the then Sarvjatiya Party, who joined the Congress, along with Mr O.P. Jindal, President of the party, were reported to have submitted a memorandum to the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, giving details of the "misdeeds" of Dr Sharma presented newspapers clippings in this regard.

According to a report, Mr Dahiya was roughed up by Dr Sharma's supporters at the Congress office in New Delhi yesterday when he had gone there to meet Mrs Gandhi and other senior leaders of the party. However, he was rescued by Mr Pranab Mukherji, former Union Minister and in charge of Haryana affairs of the party.

Dr Sharma, it may be recalled, had contested the Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate in 1996 from this seat and won by a huge margin, defeating all other candidates including Mr Dharampal Singh Malik.

Will HVP (D) campaign for Cong?
By Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 9 — Notwithstanding the denial by the HVP (D) President, Mr Kartar Singh Bhadana, the assertion by the Haryana Congress President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, that some of the HVP (D) MLAs are likely to campaign for the Congress in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections is not baseless.

According to informed sources, a serious debate is on within the HVP (D) on the issue of what stand the party should take during the Lok Sabha elections. One section of the party is of the view that the understanding between the HVP (D) and the INLD of Mr Om Prakash Chautala was limited to the formation of an alternative government in the state after the fall of the Bansi Lal government.

This section says when the HVP (D) had extended support to the INLD, clearing the decks for the swearing-in of Mr Chautala as the Chief Minister, nothing was decided about the Lok Sabha elections. Interestingly, this section of the HVP (D) includes ministers as well as those MLAs who are awaiting their turn to occupy Cabinet berths.

At present seven of the 17-member HVP (D) are in the Chautala ministry.

Those who are opposed to this line of thinking say once the HVP (D) extended support to the Chautala government and also joined it, there is no other alternative before it but to support the candidates of the National Democratic Alliance of which the INLD and the BJP are members. The HVP (D) members cannot have their cake and eat it too.

The sources say the differences within the HVP (D) on the issue of the Lok Sabha elections have arisen because of the apprehensions certain party MLAs have about their political future. It is no secret that the HVP (D) has no political future after the life of the present Vidhan Sabha expires either at the end of its term or otherwise.

There is a growing feeling among HVP (D) MLAs that if the Lok Sabha elections in Haryana are as per the expectations of Mr Chautala, the latter is likely to recommend the dissolution of the Assembly soon after the election results are out and after making certain populist announcements.

Though Mr Chautala has taken pains to explain on more than one occasion that he would not go for the dissolution of the House before its term, his word has not cut ice with the HVP (D) MLAs, most of whom had walked out of the HVP solely to avoid facing elections for as long as possible rather than because of any ideological differences with the HVP leadership.

With the spectre of House dissolution looming large in their minds, many an HVP MLA look beyond the Lok Sabha elections and want to park themselves safely in one or the other major party. In some cases since the Lok Dal already has strong candidates in their respective constituencies, the HVP (D) MLAs are jittery about their future in the ruling party. Certain HVP (D) MLAs see their future in the Congress during the next Assembly elections. Therefore, they want to warm the hearts of Congress leaders by campaigning for it in the Lok Sabha elections.

Interestingly, the Speaker of the Haryana Assembly, Mr Ashok Kumar Arora, is yet to recognise the HVP (D) as a separate party, the proceedings for which were conducted in his chamber today. In the absence of certain HVP (D) MLAs, the proceedings could not be completed today.

The recognition by the Speaker is not a technical necessity to defeat the anti-defection law. It is merely to provide certain facilities to the new party in the Vidhan Sabha.

If certain HVP (D) MLAs and ministers campaign in favour of candidates opposed to official candidates of the INLD and the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections it would be embarrassing for the Chief Minister and also may not be possible for him to retain such ministers in his Cabinet.

The sources say those HVP (D) ministers, who are now talking about supporting the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections, may be only using their threat as pressure tactics to gain more out of Mr Chautala.

Meanwhile, Mr Bhadana, who is also the Cooperation Minister, has said there could not be any difference between the INLD and the HVP (D) as both had the same ideology. It was totally wrong to say the HVP (D) was keen to have the post of the Deputy Chief Minister and all party MLAs were functioning under the leadership of Mr Chautala.

He said it was wrong to say that the HVP (D) MLAs would campaign for the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections. He accused Mr Hooda of making irresponsible statements to create confusion in the minds of the people of the state. The HVP (D) was totally against the policies of the Congress. The Chautala government was strong like a rock, he added.

2 policemen hurt in clash
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Aug 9 — Hundreds of passengers, mostly commuters of a Delhi-Panipat shuttle train, turned violent after their train was reportedly halted at the Azadpur railway station, 40 km from here, yesterday.

According to a report, the irate passengers pelted stones at two policemen who sustained injuries.

The incident took place shortly after 2.30 p.m. when the train packed with over 2,000 daily passengers was halted at the Azadpur railway station by the railway control room for allowing the Amritsar Express to pass through. Thereafter, the irate passengers turned violent and started pelting stones. They reportedly damaged the station master’s room and raised slogans against the railway authorities.

Police reinforcements were rushed in to bring the situation under control.

Naresh, Vikram and Satyendra were arrested by the police on the charges of rioting.

Meanwhile, the Daily Passengers Welfare Association has condemned the arrests of the three passengers and demanded their immediate release.

In a press note, it complained that the late running and halting of shuttle trains by the railway control room have become a routine of this section and the railway authorities were indifferent to their complaints.

Lawyers’ strike enters 20th day
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Aug 9 — Strike by lawyers entered its 20th day here today. The lawyers who are on an indefinite strike have been demanding the setting up of a district court.

The District Bar Association is pining its hope on the visit of Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala here tomorrow. A delegation of lawyers had met the Chief Minister at Chandigarh in this connection last week and had been assured that a district court would be set up by August 10, when he visited Fatehabad.

The only hurdle that remains in the setting up of a district court is the non-availability of a suitable accommodation for the district judge. Though site for the court room has already been provided, the administration has not been able to provide accommodation for the judge.

The Chief Minister, according to the association, had directed the authorities concerned to provide accommodation for two district judges immediately.

The association, however, said the strike would continue till the Punjab and Haryana High Court constituted the district court.

Cong reconsidering ticket to Husain
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Aug 9 — The central election committee of the Congress is learnt to be reconsidering its decision to give the party ticket to Mr Zakir Husain, a former MLA from Taoro, for contesting the coming Lok Sabha poll from Faridabad.

Mr Husain is the son of Mr Taiyyab Husain, Agriculture Minister in Rajasthan. Mr Zakir Husain had lost the last Assembly election from Taoro.

The central election committee is reconsidering the decision after a number of delegations from Faridabad called upon central leaders to convey their opposition to give the ticket to him.

They are learnt to have pointed out that if Mr Husain was nominated, the Bharatiya Janata Party would again win the seat. They claimed that he did not enjoy a solid base in the constituency, specially in the urban areas, where he would not be able to face the challenge of the BJP.

The other aspirants to the Faridabad seat are Mr Khursheed Ahmed, Mr Avtar Singh Bhadana and Mr J.P. Nagar.

Earlier, the Congress committee went in favour of Mr Husain due to the pressure reportedly exerted by Mr Natwar Singh who was keen on contesting from Bharatpur in Rajasthan. It was argued by Mr Natwar Singh that if Mr Husain was given the ticket from Faridabad, Meo Muslims of the Bharatpur-Alwar belt would vote for the Congress.

BSP (A) fields Sihota from Ambala
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Aug 9 — Mr Maya Ram Sihota will be the BSP (Ambedkar) candidate for the Ambala (Reserve) parliamentary seat. Mr Devi Das Nahar, President BSP (Ambedkar) while addressing workers’ meeting stated here yesterday that their president, Haryana unit, Mr Maya Ram would contest from here. He said list of the remaining candidates would be released soon.

Five booked under dowry law
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Aug 9 — Five members of a family of Indergarh village in the district have been booked under the dowry law in connection with the harassment of a woman.

According to the police, the complainant, Babli, wife of Prakash, had alleged that her in-laws, namely Manphool, Subhash, Raja, Gyan and Shrikishan had been harassing her for more dowry. She said because of this she was forced to leave her in-laws' house.

Meanwhile, some incidents of theft have also been reported from the district in the past 24 hours. A Maruti car belonging to Mr Vinod Kumar was stolen from the Para Mohalla locality yesterday.

In another incident, robbers decamped with some cash and jewellery from a house in DLF Colony on Friday.

'No rule' to review disenfranchisement
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Aug 9 — There is no provision for reconsidering the decision of the Election Commission to disenfranchise the Shiv Sena chief, Mr Bal Thackeray.

Replying to a question on the issue, the Election Commissioner, Mr J.M Lyngdoh, said there was no legal provision for reconsidering the decision. He said the commission could not do anything on the issue.