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Chandigarh, July 21 The Haryana Finance Minister, Prof Sampat Singh, said here today that the state government would approach the Supreme Court against the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act at an "appropriate time".
Congress protest on waters issue
Chautala to be at HQ on Mondays, Tuesdays
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Revision of poll rolls begins in Haryana
108 complainants appear before
Lok Manch
Rana chief of Maharana Partap Trust
Work on rail line soon, says Hooda
Dry weather hits sowing
in Haryana
Canal water thefts rise
Residents bring train to halt
Occultist sentenced on rape charges
4 houses burgled, Rs 2 lakh stolen
8 juveniles escape from prison
5 booked in rape case
3 get life term for killing
2 kids
Special drive to protect cattle
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State may move SC after Cong deadline
Chandigarh, July 21 Prof Sampat Singh's statement is a clear indication that the government was unlikely to approach the Supreme Court before the expiry of the Congress ultimatum. Terming the Congress ultimatum as a "political and election stunt", Prof Sampat Singh accused the Centre of being behind the enactment of the Punjab Act, so that it could avoid its responsibility to construct the SYL canal inside Punjab as ordered by the Supreme Court. He also alleged that the Centre had put pressure on Punjab Governor O P Verma to give his assent to the Bill rather than referring it to the President. Coming back to the Congress ultimatum, he said the Congress MLAs could give their resignations if they wanted so. He said ''had the Congress been serious about the issue, its MPs would have given a similar ultimatum to the Prime Minister or the party president which could have some impact.'' The ''resignation politics'' of the state Congress legislators, he said, was also being played at the instance of the Centre which wanted to ''throw the ball in the state government's court''. Both the BJP and the Congress had double standards on the issue, he added. ''If the BJP is serious about the issue, its government in Rajasthan should resign.'' Regarding the proposed move of the Centre to go in for the Presidential reference to resolve the water imbroglio, he said the
Central Government was only indulging in ''delaying tactics'' on the SYL issue.
To a question, he said the Haryana Government had no trust in the Central
Government. |
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Congress protest on waters issue
Rohtak, July 21 The demonstrators presented a memorandum to the City Magistrate which was addressed to the Centre and the Haryana Governor. It sought stern action against those responsible for the termination of agreements. The memorandum also alleged that Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala was equally guilty of ignoring the SYL canal issue since he had a personal equation with Akali leader Parkash Singh Badal and was protecting his political interests. JHAJJAR: Congressmen held a dharna at Ambedkar Chowk here on Wednesday to protest against Mr Om Prakash Chautala-led INLD government for not convening a special session of the assembly to discuss the situation arising out of the Punjab’s move to annul all the water sharing agreements by passing a resolution in the assembly. Hundreds of Congress workers led by the district campaign committee chief, Mr Om Prakash Beri, and City Congress president Sohan Singh Gurjar, gathered at the old bus stand here and organised a demonstration. They demanded that besides calling a special session of the assembly, the Chief Minister should approach the Supreme Court to get the Act passed by Punjab declared null and void. Karnal: Hundreds of Congress workers gathered on the premises of the mini-secretariat today and protested against the Haryana Government for not seriously taking up the SYL canal issue, particularly after the termination of all water agreements by the Punjab Government. The Congress workers raised slogans against the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and alleged that the state government was not serious in taking up the issue before the Supreme Court. They demanded from the state government to call an all-party meeting to draw a common action plan to take up the issue. Later, a delegation of the party workers led by district president Zile Ram Sharma met the District Magistrate and handed over a memorandum addressed to the Governor demanding specific directions to the state government to approach the Supreme Court against the Punjab Government’s unilateral decision. The state secretary of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), Mr Harvinder Kalyan, and the state president of the Mahila Congress, Ms Sumita Singh, were also present in the delegation.
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Chautala to be at HQ on Mondays, Tuesdays
Chandigarh, July 21 However, the Chief Minister has at last decided on two days when he will be in Chandigarh and has asked the officers to be present in the state capital on those days. A letter written by the Chief Secretary of Haryana on July 12, addressed to all the Principal Secretaries and heads of departments, said the Chief Minister would be frequently touring the state in near future and normally he would be in the headquarters on Monday and Tuesday. The CM wanted that all the Administrative Secretaries and heads of departments should be available at the state headquarters on every Monday and Tuesday. The instruction may be strictly followed for compliance, added the letter. It is believed that the move is aimed at streamlining administrative functioning and among the steps initiated by the Chief Minister following his party’s election debacle in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. They added there was a tendency among some of the officers to keep tour programmes in the
beginning of the week so that the tours can be combined with the two holidays falling at the end of the week. While the instruction will be prevent the officials from leaving the state headquarters on Monday and Tuesday, nobody, however, is absolutely certain how far the CM himself will abide by the programme. An official attached to the Chief Minister, however, said that the Chief Minister was at Chandigarh on the first Monday and Tuesday (yesterday and the day before) following the issuing of the
instruction and. He asserted that in future also Mr Chautala would be in Chandigarh on these two days. |
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CM’s approach on SYL issue casual: Cong
Chandigarh, July 21 The Youth Congress demanded the resignation of the Chautala-led government for its inaction and passiveness on the water issue. “If the government does not resign, then our volunteers would gherao Mr Chautala wherever he goes”, the statement said. Mr Sandhu, who was part of the Haryana Congress delegation that met the Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh and Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, for a judicious solution of the SYL issue, expressed the hope that the people of Haryana would soon get the share of water due to them through the SYL canal. The youth president also condemned the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Amarinder Singh, for creating a national crisis by bringing the Termination of Agreement Act. He said the party would chalk out a programme to “gherao” the Haryana Chief Minister following a meeting which will take place on July 23 at Kurukshetra. |
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CPM, Congress irked over water, power crisis
Hisar, July 21 Led by Ms Vimla Chaudhry, the protesters staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Superintending Engineer of the Public Health Department. They alleged that the 54 colonies, which had been declared unauthorised, lacked even the basic amenities and the residents were facing various problems due to the alleged indifferent attitude of the authorities concerned. Meanwhile, Congress members led by Mr Ramji Lal, a former MP and president of the District Congress Committee (Rural), marched in protest from Congress Bhavan to Mini-Secretariat over the SYL issue. They also submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the Deputy Commissioner. They asked the Haryana Government to get the issue resolved at the earliest. The president of the District Congress Committee (Urban), Mr Pankaj Mehta, said the party would organise a protest demonstration tomorrow in this regard.
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Cong activists hold dharna
Sonepat, July 21 The party has, in the memorandum, warned that if the Chautala government failed to file this appeal for nullifying of the
controversial Bill, the party would launch a state-wide agitation. Other prominent Congress leaders who were also present, included former Minister Ramesh Kaushik, Satpal Chauhan, Jaipal Machhri, Joginder Antil, Master Rampal Dahiya, Shyam Lal Kaushik, Narender Jham, Rajpal Malik, Mahender Antil, Nirmala Pachal, Rajbir Antil. Talking to mediapersons, Mrs Gahlot alleged that the Chief Minister was knowingly delaying the appeal in the Supreme Court despite the fact that the state government had been the party in the case relating to construction of SYL canal and which was decided by the Supreme Court. “It is the constitutional and moral duty of the state government to protect the interests of the state and its people; but the Chautala government instead of going to the Supreme Court, is trying to make political gains on this sensitive issue?” she remarked. |
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Left to launch stir for Chautala’s ouster
Rohtak, July 21 This decision was taken at a meeting of the state-level coordination committee set up by the two parties in Haryana. The CPM was represented by its state secretary, Mr Inderjit Singh, Mr Balbir Dahiya and Mr Surinder Malik. On behalf of the CPI former legislator Harnam Singh, secretary Raghbir Singh and Satpal Singh attended the meeting. According to a joint press release issued after the meeting the two parties were of the view that the lot of the farmers should be ameliorated by making farming lucrative. Besides, health and education needed more resources. More jobs needed to be created and small industries required a helping hand from the government. All this could only be achieved by implementing the CMP in totality. The meeting warned political parties against further exploitation of the SYL Canal issue in the wake of the termination of water agreements by Punjab. The Left parties would not allow the issue to be used for inciting the masses for political gains. The meeting also criticised the Congress, the BJP and the Indian National Lok Dal for the double standards adopted on the issue of the SYL canal.
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Cong protest march on
Punjab Act Ambala, July 21 The general secretary of the Haryana Congress and the convener of an 11-member action committee formed by the party. Mr Mange Ram Gupta, led the procession which passed through the main bazaar of Ambala Cantonment. Senior leaders of Ambala Congress, Mr Ashok Jain, Mr Arjun Lal Kalra and Mr Narender Singh Shera also participated in the march. Later, a rally was organised in Bajaja Bazaar. Addressing the rally, Mr Gupta said the Haryana Congress had served a 72-hour ultimatum to the Chief Minister to approach the court on this issue otherwise Congress MLAs would tender their resignations from the Assembly. He said the Prime Minister had assured the Haryana Congress that he would sort out an amicable settlement of this issue. He criticised the Punjab Government for annulling the inter-state water accords without taking states concerned into confidence. |
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Revision of poll rolls begins in Haryana
Fatehabad, July 21 The Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, Mr Mahtab Singh Sehrawat informed mediapersons here today that work on the revision of electoral rolls began on July 1. He said the work on the preparation of the first electoral rolls for inviting claims and objection began on July 1 and would be completed by September 10. The first electoral rolls would be published on September 15. Claims and objections would be accepted from September 15 to October 15. Settlement of all claims and disputes would be completed by October 10 by holding special camps on September 18 and September 19 and then again on October 9 and October 10. The addition, omission and rectification of mistakes in the rolls would be completed by December 31. The final electoral rolls would be published on January 3. Mr Sehrawat said the first lists, which would be published on September 15, would be displayed at several offices of the district. |
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108 complainants appear before
Lok Manch
Fatehabad, July 21 Addressing officers, Mr Sehrawat urged them to listen to public grievances. He asked the officers of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam to look into the problem of hanging power lines in the town and surrounding areas as these lines posed threat to people. The DC also directed the officers to install hoardings exhibiting the development activities of the government in villages. In all, 108 complainants appeared before the Deputy Commissioner. |
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Rana chief of Maharana Partap Trust
Chandigarh, July 21 Mr Jagjit Singh, Mr Virender Singh, Mr Jile Singh, Mr Om Pal Singh, Mr Ashok Aggarwal, Mr Hardev Sharma and Mr Ram Niwas Garg have been appointed senior vice-presidents. Mr Shyam Lal Gupta, Mr Rakesh Sharma, Mr Baldev Singh Virk, Mr Surinder Singh, Mr Najeem Mohammed, Mr Tara Chand Dhanwal, Mr Rajbir Singh, Mr Mahipal Singh and Mr Rajesh Chauhan will be vice-presidents. Mr Kushal Pal Singh will be the secretary. Kanwar Chaman Singh, Mr Kanwar Pal Singh, Mr Bhagat Singh, Mr Gian Singh, Mr Sunder Pal Singh and Mr Mahipal Singh Tanwar will be the joint secretaries and Mr Sanjay Chauhan the treasurer. The following have been appointed district presidents: Mr Ashok
Thakur (Ambala), Mr Vinod
Tanwar (Bhiwani), Mr Kanwar Pal Singh (Faridabad), Mr Lalit Kumar Chandel (Fatehabad), Mr Krishan Vir
Singh (Gurgaon), Prof Darshan Singh (Hisar), Mr Lilu Singh (Jind), Mr Udayvir
Singh (Jhajjar), Mr Naresh Chauhan (Karnal), Mr Rampal Singh (Kaithal), Mr Karan
Singh (Kurukshetra), Dr Rambir Singh (Mahendragarh), Mr J.B. Singh
(Panipat), Mr Subhash Singh (Panchkula), Mr Vijay Pal Singh (Rohtak), Mr Vivek
Singh (Rewari), Mr Satpal Singh (Sonipat), Mr Hanumant Singh (Sirsa) and Mr Narinder
Singh (Yamunanagar). |
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Work on rail line soon, says Hooda
Rohtak, July 21 Mr Hooda said he had raised the issue in the Lok Sabha during discussion on the Rail Budget and pointed out that the project had already been approved by the Planning Commission but no allocation had been made for it. Following the discussion, he met the Minister, for Railways Mr Laloo Parshad Yadav, who sanctioned the amount for the project with the assurance that more funds, if needed, for the groundwork would be allocated during the current fiscal. Mr Hooda said Mr Yadav would make the formal announcement of the commencement of the project at a function in Jhajjar shortly. He said he had also asked the minister to introduce more trains on the Rohtak-Delhi route since there was no train between the two destinations between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Besides, he had suggested that the Kisan Express should halt at Kalanaur and the New Delhi-Sriganganagar Inter City Express and the Dhauladhar Express should have stoppages at Sampla, where the two platforms should be covered by a shed. He said he had also submitted a proposal for the electrification of the Rohtak-Delhi rail line to facilitate the running of faster trains on this busy route. |
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Dry weather hits sowing
in Haryana
Chandigarh, July 21 Official sources said that the worst affected crop was Guar, which could not be sown at all due to the prevailing weather conditions. Guar, used for making glue, is promoted by the state government as part of its crop diversification programme. Last year the crop was sown in over two lakh hectare area in the state. But this year it has drawn a blank. Paddy crop too has been drastically affected by the lack of rainfall. By this time last year, paddy was sown in over 7.50 lakh hectares area in the state. This year the area covered under paddy till now is one lakh hectare less than the previous year. The sources added that the production of Basmati rice, which accounts for about 50 per cent of the total rice production of Haryana, would heavily suffer due to the dry weather. “ This is the time for sowing Basmati rice. But it cannot be carried out without adequate water in the fields”, the sources said. Giving the figure of rainfall in the state, the sources said that in the month of July, only 8 mm rainfall had been recorded in the state so far. The corresponding figure for the same period last year was 125 mm, the sources said and added that forecast on probability of rainfall during the next four/five days was not good either. They added that areas well covered by canal irrigation were not getting adequate water as canal irrigation had been affected by shortage of water in the Bhakra reservoir. The water level in Bhakra had come down to 1517 ft from 1606 ft in the corresponding period last year, the sources said. They, however, claimed that power was being supplied to farm sector for about 8 hours daily so that tubewell irrigation was not affected. The sources added that the weather had its effect in the sowing of the Bajra crop as well. The crop could be sown on only 2.60 lakh hectares area so far compared to 4.25 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year. The area covered under cotton and sugarcane crop was also less than last year, sources said. They, however, added that sowing of these two crops had started before the dry weather set in in the region. The state government has drawn up a contingency plan which will be put into operation in case the rainfall gets further delayed. As part of the contingency plan, short duration crops will be planted in the land lying fallow, the sources said. They added that the Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, also held a meeting here today to take stock of the situation arising out of the dry weather conditions. Representatives of the Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Public Health and Rural Development departments were among those who attended the meeting. The sources said that all the departments were asked to gear themselves up in view of the dry weather conditions. It was also decided that steps such as giving subsidy on seeds etc would be taken if it was formally announced that the state was under grip of drought. |
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Canal water thefts rise
Sonepat, July 21 According to the Executive Engineer of the Irrigation Department, Mr Anil Kumar Gupta, despite night patrolling by the department staff, nearly hundred of cases of water theft had been detected during the past one week in areas of about a dozen villages. The villages included Salimsar Majra, Jaji, Bidhlan, Bhatgaon, Chitana, Kilorad, Kasandi, Bajana and Khanpur. Though there have been a shortage of canal water supply for want of rains and decrease in the Yamuna water level, the water is being directed for filling up village ponds which have gone dry. These directions have
been issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Vidya Dhar, following demands from village panchayats. Maximum complaints of water thefts are being received from the villages located at the tail ends of the Israna and Katwal minors. Bidhlan and Bhainswal villages are reported to be indulging in the maximum water thefts in the opinion of the Irrigation Department. Because of water thefts in Bhainswal and Katwal villages, the water in the Katwal minor is not reaching the fields of Farmana, Mauzam Nagar, Nizampur Majra and Ridhau villages. Similarly, Gamri, Niyat, Kakana, Garhi Ujale Khan and Garhi Sarai Nandar Khan, which are located at the tail end of the Israna minor are not getting water.
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Residents bring train to halt Ambala, July 21 The incident took place this morning when the train carrying Mr Jaruhar and four other senior officers started from Ambala for
Saharanpur. Mr Jaruhar was carrying out an inspection. Local residents and Congress activists led by former minister Phool Chand Mullana reached the Barara railway station to demand that the
Sriganganagar-Haridwar train should halt at Barara. A group of people then stepped onto the track. However, a message was sent to Mr Jaruhar that a delegation wanted to meet him. Mr Jaruhar acceded to the request and directed that the train be stopped at
Barara. Former minister Phool Chand Mullana told Mr Jaruhar that the Railways must look into the
long pending demand of the local people. |
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Occultist sentenced on rape charges
Rewari, July 21 According to the police, Karan Singh, son of Raghbir Singh, a resident of Kosli village, frequently visited Karoli village, 8 km from Kosli, as a hawker. A young married woman of Karoli, suffering from some ailment, fell into his trap and started getting treatment from him. The incident happened when on July 16, 2002, Karan Singh visited the patient’s house and took her to a room on the pretext of providing some treatment. The patient’s sister, who was also present in the house, suspected foul play and intervened at which Karan Singh assaulted her. |
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4 houses burgled, Rs 2 lakh stolen
Sonepat, July 21 According to a report, Mrs Nirmala was attacked and injured by thieves when she resisted them. She was hospitalised and stated to be in serious condition. The police has registered a case. Thieves stole Rs 1.25 lakh in cash and gold ornaments worth Rs 60,000 from the house of Mr Om Parkash. Mrs Nirmala wife of Mr Om Parkash resisted and was attacked with an iron rod. She received serious injuries. Thieves also burgled house of Mr Mohammad Ali. They also entered the house of Mr Ramesh and decamped with cash and gold ornaments. Thefts in villages under the Rai police station have scared people in the area. |
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8 juveniles escape from prison
Sonepat, July 21 Prisoners were identified as Sunil, Vinod, Pradeep, Jamuna, Somvir, Rakesh and Vinod. The police has registered a case and launched a massive hunt to apprehend the prisoners. The prisoners took their meals at night and went to sleep. They fled the jail at 11.30 p.m. The staff of the Bal Sudhar Graha informed the police about the incident following which the police sealed the main road and the link roads. Raids were carried out at the railway station and the bus stand but to no avail. This is the fourth incident of the prisoners escaping from the Bal Sudhar Graha but the authorities concerned made no efforts to spruce up the security measures in and around the jail. |
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5 booked in rape case
Sonepat, July 21 According to a report, the culprits were identified as Raj Singh, Krishan, Pradeep, Ms Sunita and Ms Yashwanti. The girl had stated that Raj Singh offered her sweets laced with some intoxicants after which she became unconscious. Thereafter, she was allegedly raped by him repeatedly. The girl was medically examined by the police and further investigations are in progress. |
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3 get life term for killing
2 kids
Sonepat, July 21 According to the prosecution story, the Murthal police had registered the case of murder against them on February 1, 2001 and arrested them on July 11, 2001. The police had recovered the body of Akash from the field in the village on February 4, 2001. |
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Special drive to protect cattle
Karnal, July 21 As many as 36.11 lakh cattle were covered under the first phase of the programme aimed at making the state free from the disease.
TNS |
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