Kurukshetra to host Khalsa function
KURUKSHETRA, April 8 — All arrangements to celebrate the state-level function of the Khalsa tercentenary on April 10, have been completed.

Telephone services in disarray
KAITHAL: The functioning of the District Telephone Office here remains paralysed due to shortage of staff, apathy of senior officials and faulty policies of the Department of Telecommunication.

Chautala's remarks decried
CHANDIGARH, April 8 — The Haryana Minister of State for Irrigation, Mr Harsh Kumar, today criticised the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, for his statement regarding the decision of the state government to absorb students of Agroha Medical College in Pt B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences at Rohtak.

Decision on medical college flayed
CHANDIGARH, April 8 — Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, president, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, has flayed the decision of the Haryana Government to close down the Maharaja Aggarsain Medical College, Agroha.

• Printing of voters' list postponed
• Youth's bid to hoodwink police
• 4 killed, 5 hurt in accidents
• Tension over killing of peacock
• MDU teachers seek release of salaries
• 2 arrested for raping minor

• Workers threaten to commit suicide
• Directive on gram sabha meetings
• Yamdagni new VC of UP varsity
• Cong office-bearers boycott meetings
• MDU's non-teaching staff observe strike
• 753 govt schools upgraded

Bid to dent Bhajan's Punjabi base
From Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, April 8 — Factionalism in the Haryana unit of the Congress has taken a new turn with senior Punjabi leaders in the party deciding to intensify their campaign to thwart former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal from making dent in their community.

The Punjabi leaders, spearheading a campaign for ensuring the "just" share of the community in the decision making process at party and government level under the banner of the Haryana Punjabi Sabha are determined to go ahead with their public meeting at Hansi on April 14. The convener of the sabha and Congress MLA, Mr Dharamvir Gauba, told TNS that senior leaders of the Punjabi community were firm on holding the meeting.

Without naming Mr Bhajan Lal, Mr Gauba alleged that the former Chief Minister was a "self-styled" leader of the Punjabi community. Leaders like him had used the community to serve their own political purpose without promoting its interest.

Referring to Mr Bhajan Lal’s public meeting at Panipat on March 28, Mr Gauba said that although the former Chief Minister claimed to be the leader of the Punjabi commmunity, it was only attended by labourers and people from the Adampur assembly constituency. Among senior leaders Mr Leela Krishan and Mr Balbir Pal Shah (both former ministers) participated in the meeting.

Mr Gauba claimed that a former MLA, Mr Amir Chand Makar, Mrs Kartar Devi and senior leaders, including he, had "spurned" Mr Bhajan Lal’s invitation to attend his meeting. According to him, Mr Bhajan Lal had sent a Rajya Sabha MP of the Congress to mollify Mr Makar. Mr Makar is said to be the main organiser of the proposed meeting of the Punjabi Sabha at Hansi.

Mr Gauba said he accepted the president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, as his leader. All members of the party must act according to the guidelines laid by the President. By implication he would extend his loyalty to any one who was the President of the party.

He further said the resolution passed by the Punjabi sabha in its first public meeting at Rohtak had been sent to the All-India President Mrs Sonia Gandhi. The resolution expressed the faith of the sabha in the leadership of Mrs Gandhi. It says that the sabha was working in the interest of the Punjabis.

Another prominent Punjabi leader in South Haryana, Mr Vasu Dev Saluja, said that the sabha would hold public meetings in all districts.

The strategy of the Punjabi Sabha, which was being led by Sardar Harpal Singh and Mr Lakshman Das Arora, is to hold public meetings to neutralise possible "reemergence" of Mr Bhajan Lal. Mr Bhajan Lal has declared that he would organise his second meeting in Faridabad. Many see Mr Bhajan Lal’s move of organising meeting to weaken the state leadership.

The strategy of the Punjabi Sabha becomes clear when considered that it held its first public meeting the same day when Mr Bhajan Lal held his meeting at Panipat.

To counter Mr Bhajan Lal, who had reportedly stated that the Congress was reduced to "Lok Dal Congress" with leaders having background of erstwhile Lok Dal in it, Punjabi leaders have launched a whisper campaign against him. Their sentiments were echoed by Mr Gauba who charged Mr Bhajan Lal with hobnobbing with leaders of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) to weaken the Congress. He said Mr Bhajan Lal provided support to INLD nominee and former Home Minister in the Fatehabad Assembly constituency. Also he covertly helped Mr Ajay Chautala, son of Mr Om Prakash Chautala, in the last parliamentary election in Bhiwani. This was done specifically to defeat the Congress nominees, he alleged.

British Columbia team meets ministers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — A five-member team from British Columbia (Canada), led by Mr Harry S. Lali, Minister for Transportation and Highways, British Columbia, met the Haryana Minister for Public Works, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, the Minister of State for Public Works, Mr Subhash Chaudhary, and senior officers of the department here today and discussed issues of mutual interest.

The other members of the team included the Assistant Deputy Minister of Transportation and Highways, Mr Har Singh (who hails from Karnal), Mr Amarjeet Rattan, manager, British Columbia Trade Office, Vancouver, Ms Linda Brazean, Trade Commissioner, Canadian High Commission in Delhi, and Mr G.S. Sobti, Trade Adviser to the commission based at Chandigarh.

Mr Dalal later told mediapersons that the Haryana team evinced keen interest in the infrastructure of different fields in British Columbia, particularly agriculture, hydroelectric generation, roads and forest. He said he was surprised to know that there was no subsidy of any kind in British Columbia.

Mr Lali, who also talked to mediapersons, said the objective of the team was to interact on issues relating to trade and business. He said he had taken the opportunity to discuss these issues including the transfer of technology with the Punjab and Haryana governments, besides Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Lali said he had come especially as a representative of the British Columbia Government and its people to participate in the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa.

Mr Lali said Punjab and Haryana having made great strides in the green revolution should now take to food processing, dairy and poultry development to augment the income of farmers. He said British Columbia, having 40,000 sq km area had a population of 40 lakh of which 2.45 lakh were of Indian origin with 80 per cent of them from Punjab and Haryana.

In recognition to their services, British Columbia had introduced Hindi, Punjabi, Sanskrit and Urdu in their schools. Now, Chinese and Japanese, too, had been introduced.

He said British Columbia had perfected the infrastructure for building roads that could withstand all-weather conditions. This technology, he said, could be transferred to Haryana and Punjab.

The Haryana Social Welfare Minister, Dr Kamla Verma, the Transport Minister, Mr Krishan Pal Gurjar, the Minister of State for Ayurveda, Mrs Kanta Devi, the Minister of State for Health, Mr Bijender Kadyan, the Chief Secretary, Mr Ram S. Varma, the Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Mr Virender Nath and Mrs Urvashi Gulati, Commissioner and Secretary, Public Works, were also present on the occasion.

Taxes render traders ‘jobless’
From Jatinder Sharma
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, April 8 — Various taxes imposed on foodgrain dealers and consumers have virtually rendered traders jobless in Rohtak, Sonepat and Jhajjar districts.

The dealers and the consumers have a pay over 11 per cent extra in the form of taxes, commission and labour charges. These taxes include sales tax (4 per cent), market fee (2 per cent), commission (2.5 per cent) Haryana rural development fund (2 per cent) and labour (1 per cent).

Because of the heavy dose of taxes, farmers do not get remunerative price for their produce and prefer to sell it in the adjoining Delhi markets which are free from these taxes. In Delhi, the dealer and the consumer has to pay only Rs 3.12 paise per quintal as commission charges.

Mr Narain Dass Goyal, President, Foodgrain Dealers Association, told TNS that approximately 70 to 80 per cent of the foodgrain produced in these districts was being sold in the Delhi markets. The situation would be worse this year following hike in the Haryana Rural Development Fund (HRDF).

The government had, it may be recalled, hiked the HRDF from 1 per cent to 2 per cent on foodgrain, vegetables and other products on which market fee was charged.

Mr Goyal said due to disparity in the tax structure between Haryana and Delhi, the foodgrain trade in these districts had suffered the most. If the government reduced the taxes by 50 per cent, its revenue would increase manifold as the farmers would then market their produce in Haryana, he said.

Although, the Market Committee had set up nine purchase centres in the district, the arrival of wheat was still minimal. The total arrivals were only 1565 bags on Tuesday and 300 bags on Wednesday, the Deputy Commissioner said. The entire wheat had been purchased by the government agencies only.

The revenue of the Market Committee, however, had recorded a substantial increase. As against 59 lakh in 1997-98, the committee collected Rs 88 lakh as market fees in 1998-99.

The Administrator, Market Committee, Mr R.K. Chauhan, claimed that over Rs 2.7 crore were spent on the repair and construction of roads leading to these purchase centres. Besides, an amount of Rs 6.3 lakh had been paid as compensation to those who suffered injuries during agricultural operations.

Beopar mandal gives call for strike
From Our Reporters

HISAR, April 8 — The Haryana Pradesh Beopar Mandal has decided to observe a strike tomorrow in protest against the hike in the Gramin Vikas Tax. The President of the mandal, Mr Bajrang Dass Garg said all grain markets in the state would remain closed tomorrow.

He said the hike in the tax from 1 per cent to 2 per cent would spell doom for the trading community in the state. He pointed out that the trading community was not taken into confidence before the decision.

The traders have to pay 4 per cent tax, besides the Gramin Vikas Tax, and have to pay Market Tax of 2 per cent.

They were demanding the withdrawal of the tax.

SIRSA: A strike call for tomorrow has been given at the mandis against the hike in market fee ordered by the state government. According to the general secretary of the District Haryana Beopar Mandal a meeting was held in which a decision was taken to protest against the hike in the public interest.

A call to close the shops in the district on April 9 has been given.

ROHTAK: The foodgrain markets in Haryana are likely to be adversely affected following the recent move of the state government regarding the increase in the tax on the purchase of various foodgrains by the market committees from 1 per cent to 2 per cent.

The tax on the purchase of food grains is collected in the name of Rural Development Fund (RDF) and the amount is spent on the development work in rural areas.

Resentment prevails among the foodgrain dealers over the hike in tax. They have threatened that the grain markets would collapse if the hike was not withdrawn. They have threatened to hold a bandh tomorrow against the hike.

Meanwhile, the foodgrain dealers of the district have decided to boycott the purchase of wheat at the grain markets by the farmers tomorrow.

3 private schools derecognised
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

HISAR, April 8 — The State Government appears to be getting tough with the private schools, which have failed to fulfil minimum requirement norms. So far, three schools have been derecognised and 15 others degraded for not fulfilling the basic requirements in Hisar alone.

This step comes in the wake of a high court directive to the Haryana Government. The court had asked it to conduct a survey of private schools when it was noticed that private schools were not fulfilling the required norms.

According to the District Education Officer Mr S.P. Chaudhary, one senior secondary school and two high schools here have been derecognised so far. Besides four senior secondary schools have been degraded to high schools, six high schools to middle schools and five middle schools to primary schools.

All schools were issued instructions in advance. Subsequently notices were also served. The schools which failed to adhere to the norms were demoted or derecognised. The DEO said more schools were likely to be derecognised or degraded.

Some estimates put the total number of schools in Hisar to 250. Only 25 school are said to be fulfilling all norms. The educational authorities have asked presents to ensure that their wards schools are recognised.

According to norms on an average a student must get nine to twelve square feet for comfortable sitting in the classroom. Other facilities including library, laboratory, prayer space and playground are also essential.

The DEO admitted that although these guidelines were not being strictly followed, but it was ensured that basic facilities were made available to the students.

Meanwhile the Private School Association has decided to approach the court against the government's move.

Kurukshetra to host Khalsa function
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, April 8 — All arrangements to celebrate the state-level function of the Khalsa tercentenary on April 10, have been completed.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S N Roy, said here yesterday that the function would be organised at Daronacharya Stadium here and the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal would be the chief guest.

A committee had been constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister to celebrate the tercentenary in a befitting manner. The city had been chosen for the function because of its glorious past and unique location, he said.

Mr Roy said a "nagar kirtan" procession would start from Gurdwara Sixth Patshahi on April 10 at 4.00 a.m. and after passing through various parts of the city, it would reach the stadium at around 8 a.m. Thereafter, bhajans would be rendered by Mr Pooran Chand. Poetry recitation and kirtan darbar by Iddushareef, a jatha from Patiala would be held. Mr Balwinder Singh Rangila, a famous raagi, would also be present. "Langer" would be arranged at the venue of the celebrations.

Ministers and MLAs of the state would also participate in the function.

A member and co-ordinator of the Khalsa Tercentenary Celebrations Samiti, Kaka Jatender Singh, said people from all over the country had been invited to grace the occasion and the programme had been organised in such a way that the people could participate in the celebrations in Haryana as well as in Punjab. This function would be a collective effort by the people irrespective of religion, caste or political affiliations, he added.

Telephone services in disarray
From Satish Seth

KAITHAL: The functioning of the District Telephone Office here remains paralysed due to shortage of staff, apathy of senior officials and faulty policies of the Department of Telecommunication (DoT).

Owing to shortage of staff even urgent telegraphic messages are being sent by post. As a result, telegrams take a number of days to reach the addressee, after the telegrams are received by the telegraph office here.

According to information, the department has terminated the services of some ad hoc employees which has aggravated existing problems. This step has been taken by the department after receiving a communiqué from (DoT).

When this correspondent contacted the Divisional Engineer (Telephones) to know the reasons for delivery of telegrams by post, he gave a vague reply that he was not aware of this practice but at the same time admitted that the telegraph office might have sent some telegrams by ordinary post. He also pointed out that the staff shortage was owing to a ban imposed by the Central Government on fresh recruitment to vacant posts.

Telephone subscribers are unhappy as the services on the Kaithal-Pundri, Kaithal-Cheeka, Kaithal-Siwan and a number of other important routes are deteriorating day by day. Many subscribers complain that they do not get the desired route or the desired telephone number for hours and sometimes for days together, as the route is busy or there is a fault in the lines.

When asked, the DET said, that due to an increase in the number of telephone connections there was congestion on some routes so the subscribers sometimes face difficulty in getting the desired channel or route to nearby towns.

Another grudge of the subscribers is that their defective telephone sets are not replaced by the department even after a number of requests.

On this point the reply of the DET was that they were not getting adequate supply of telephone sets from the department and they found it difficult to cater to the needs of even new telephone subscribers. Under such circumstances, it was not easy to replace the defective telephone sets of old subscribers. And regarding action on defective telephones, he said that these were being done in routine, whereas the consumers maintain that their faulty telephones were not repaired promptly and they were put to a lot of inconvenience the telephones remaining out of orders for a number of days and they allege that during holidays and when staff proceeded on leave the situation worsens.

On a number of occasions the consumer receive inflated telephone bills and for their corrections they have to complain to Telephone Revenue Accounts (TRA) branch at Karnal. As the relevant record is not available there, they ask for report from the Kaithal branch. A lot of time is wasted and sometimes consumers have to shuttle between Karnal and Kaithal to get their inflated bills rectified. Hence, consumers demand that the TRA branch should be opened at the office of DTA, Kaithal, to cover Kaithal district and provide relief to the harassed consumers.

Many consumers allege that a lot bungling is taking place in the allotment and installation of new telephone connections. It is a common complaint that the field staff having patronage of senior DoT officers make manipulations in the waiting list and instal new telephones according to their will and not according to the seniority list.

While talking to this correspondent many applicants for new telephones pointed that the department has sent the telephone instrument to their houses, but it had not been connected to the telephone exchange.

The consumers allege that in spite of tall claims made by DoT regarding expansion of their activities and their claims to provide good services, the situation was worsening day by day. They lament that whenever senior department officers are approached for removal of their grievances their attitude is indifferent.

Chautala's remarks decried
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — The Haryana Minister of State for Irrigation, Mr Harsh Kumar, today criticised the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, for his statement regarding the decision of the state government to absorb students of Agroha Medical College in Pt B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences at Rohtak.

Mr Harsh Kumar made it clear that the HVP-BJP Government did not order the closure of the medical college, which in fact, had been closed by the Maharaja Agrasen Medical Education and Scientific Society and a written intimation to this effect was conveyed to the state government on April 6.

Referring to the claim made by Mr Chautala that the college was set up by Mr Devi Lal, he said it was not a wise decision to set up such an institute at an isolated place without getting its feasibility study conducted in the right perspective.

Mr Harsh Kumar said Mr Chautala had failed to understand the gravity of the situation arising out of the decision of the society to close the institute. He said following the decision, the government acted swiftly and decided to absorb the students at the Rohtak Medical College.

Mr Harsh Kumar said the Haryana Government had so far spent Rs 10.35 crore on the college.

Decision on medical college flayed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, president, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, has flayed the decision of the Haryana Government to close down the Maharaja Aggarsain Medical College, Agroha.

In a statement here today, Mr Hooda said the closure of the medical college was pre-planned .

Mr Hooda said the future and career of the students was at stake and if the government did not take immediate steps to ensure smooth functioning of the institution, it would bring a bad name to the state. The decision would hamper the growth of medical education.

Mr Hooda blamed the government for first withdrawing the grants in order to prepare a ground for the institute's closure and then not pleading the case with the Medical Council of India for its recognition. Mr Hooda said the government should have taken effective steps to meet the requirements of the staff, space and equipment for its development as reported by a team of the Medical Council of India which visited the college.

He appealed to the Aggarwal community to make liberal donations for saving the college.

An act of honesty
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, April 8 — Mr Bhagwan Dass, a park supervisor of the local municipal council, set a fine example of honesty by returning Rs 40,000 to the cashier of the Central Bank of India at Model Town here yesterday.

According to a report, Mr Dass had withdrawn an amount of Rs 2.5 lakh for distribution among beneficiaries of old age pension. The cashier, however, gave him a bundle of currency notes of 500 denomination instead of 100, by mistake thereby giving him Rs 40,000 more.

Mr Dass immediately informed Mr Y.S. Gupta, Secretary of the municipal council about the excess money. The money was later returned to the cashier.

When he tried to give some amount as reward to Mr Dass, he refused saying he had not returned the money for a reward.

Printing of voters' list postponed
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, April 8 — As per the directions from the Election Commission of India, the special revision of electoral rolls is being done on the basis of January, 1999. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Rastogi said the preliminary publication of the electoral rolls would be done now on April 20 instead of April 10.

He further said the electorates could file their claims and objections from April 20 to May 20 with the Electoral Registration Officer. The claims and objections filed by the electorates would be settled on June 21 and the final publication of electoral rolls would be done on July 21.

The Deputy Commissioner said computerised electoral rolls would be available for inspection by the electorates at the office of Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer, Electoral Election Officer, Assistant Electoral Registration Officer, Sub Divisional Officer (civil), Municipal Committee, tehsil, DPRO, Panchayat ghar and patwarkhana etc.

Workers threaten to commit suicide
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, April 8 — The district unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) gave a call of a one-day token strike in all industrial units of the Sonepat industrial belt on April 12 to register its protest against the non-payment of salary to workers of the Gadore-Jhalani Tools India Limited, Kundli, for the past eight months and the "partisan" attitude of the district administration and the Labour Department.

This was stated by Mr SN Solanki, President of the Haryana unit of the CITU, while addressing a workers' meeting in front of the factory, 25 km from here, yesterday.

He alleged that neither the Deputy Commissioner nor the Labour Department had taken any action against the management of the factory.

He warned that the workers would be forced to commit suicide if the management failed to immediately release the salary to them.

The CITU leader appealed to the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal to intervene in the matter.

Youth's bid to hoodwink police
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, April 8 — A Delhi youth on Tuesday made an attempt to deceive the local police by stating that he had been robbed of Rs 66,000 by some unidentified persons.

Ajay, an employee of a Delhi firm, used to come here to collect money on behalf of the company. On Tuesday he went to the police station to report that he had been looted. The police, however, doubted his story because he took them to a number of places where the incident was stated to have taken place.

On sustained interrogation Ajay admitted that he had hidden the money which was later recovered by the police. Ajay has been arrested.

Directive on gram sabha meetings
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — Haryana is the first state in the country which has statutorily prescribed dates on which each gram sabha shall hold its meetings.

It shall be mandatory for every sabha to hold its meetings on April 13 and October 2 every year, apart from other extraordinary meetings.

Stating this here today, a spokesman of the Development and Panchayats Department said the decision had been taken with a view to making the functioning of the gram sabhas more effective and purposeful This would also reduce complaints of the villagers.

4 killed, 5 hurt in accidents
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, April 8 — Four persons were killed and five injured in three separate incidents in the district today.

Two persons, a father and his son, were killed when they tried to overtake another vehicle near the new anaj mandi here today. They were identified as Ramji Lal and his son, Jai Singh of Dobhi village.

In another incident one person was killed and three injured seriously in a truck-jeep collision near Talwandi, village 15 km from here, today. The victim has been identified as Dilbag Singh of Pabra village. The injured, Sukhbir, Om Prakash and Balbir have been hospitalised.

Hanuman of Sadalpur village was run over by a train and killed here today.

Yamdagni new VC of UP varsity
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, April 8 — Dr Rakesh Yamdagni, Director, Extension Education of Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), Hisar, has been appointed new Vice-Chancellor of the Narender Dev University of Agriculture and Technology, Faizabad.

Mr Suraj Bhan, the Uttar Pradesh Governor, has issued an order to this effect.

Noted scientist Dr Yamdagni is the recipient of several national and international awards. He will take over the charge on April 20.

Tension over killing of peacock
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, April 8 — Tension prevails in Khambi village of Palwal subdivision over the alleged killing of a peacock, the protected national bird under the Wildlife Act.

Reports received at the district headquarters here said some persons killed the peacock in the Hanuman Temple complex in Khambi village on April 5.

A large number of villagers yesterday came to Faridabad with the body of the peacock to demand the arrest of the killers. They also met the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police and submitted memoranda naming the persons involved in the killing.

The Deputy Commissioner and SP had ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Cong office-bearers boycott meetings
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, April 8 — The Ballabhgarh Block Congress Committee has complained to the District Congress (Urban) for organising street corner meetings in the town without taking it into confidence. Party sources said no information was given to the Block Committee by the district unit that the meetings would be held in Ballabhgarh. Office-bearers of the block, including its President are not attending the meetings in protest against it.

On the other hand, the district unit is of the opinion that it was not necessary to inform the block office-bearers in advance if the meetings were to be organised by the district president.

MDU teachers seek release of salaries
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, April 8 — The MD University Teaching Departments Teachers' Association (MDUTDTA) has expressed concern over the financial crisis prevailing in the university which has resulted in the non-payment of wages to the employees.

The executive committee of the MDUTDTA at a meeting held here yesterday, said it was for the first time in the history of the university that such a financial crisis had engulfed it. It held the confrontation between the Vice-Chancellor and the government responsible for the situation.

The association warned that if the salaries were not released on time, it would further deteriorate the academic atmosphere. It said if no action was taken to release the salaries and implement the revised pay scales, the teachers would be left with no other alternative but to boycott the examinations and evaluation work.

The association also expressed concern over depriving the university of its power to hold various professional entrance tests. Such decisions would simply vitiate the academic atmosphere and jeopardise the status of the university.

The association, through another resolution, regretted that the Vice-Chancellor had not conceded any demand of the teachers like holding elections to the Executive Council and the University Court, pay fixation of the MPS teachers, confirmation of services of some teachers and accounting the total service put in by a teacher.

MDU's non-teaching staff observe strike
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, April 8 — Non-teaching employees of Maharshi Dayanand University observed a strike today to protest against the non-payment of salary for March.

The employees held a meeting and criticised the government for not releasing the grant-in-aid to the university because of which the salaries could not be paid to the employees.

They warned that they would not allow the university to withdraw money from their provident fund accounts for payment of wages.

The Non-Teaching Employees Association has urged the government to release the grant-in aid to the university without any delay. It has decided to meet the Governor and the Chancellor of the university, the Chief Minister, the Education and Finance Minister regarding their demand.

2 arrested for raping minor
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, April 8 — Mohan Lal and Ram Savroop of Kahelnia village in this district were arrested by the Sadar police yesterday on a charge of allegedly raping a minor. Seven others related to the accused, were also arrested for reportedly making a murderous assault on the victim's family.

Giving this information, Mr B.S. Sandhu, SSP said here today that the girl was abducted by the accused from her house on March 2 last and raped at the house of Mohal Lal.

When family members of the girl visited the house of the accused they were seriously injured with sharp edged weapons.

A case under Sections 376, 323, 506, 342 and 326, IPC, has been registered.

753 govt schools upgraded
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — The Haryana Government has upgraded 753 government schools in the state after assuming office in May, 1996.

Of these, 356 have been upgraded from the current academic session.

This was disclosed by the Education Minister, Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, here today.