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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Wednesday, August 25, 1999 |
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Another split in HVP on cards CHANDIGARH, Aug 24 — Another split in former Chief Minister Bansi Lal’s Haryana Vikas Party is on the cards. According to informed sources, over six HVP MLAs are in touch with the ruling INLD leadership and if all goes well, they may take the plunge in a day or two. Reservation policy change struck down CHANDIGARH, Aug 24 — Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today held the change in reservation policy for admission to engineering colleges located in Haryana as illegal. |
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Ensure Vajpayee's victory: Chautala CHANDIGARH, Aug 24 — The President of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Mr Om Prakash Chautala said today that it was time for millions of people in the country to decide whether to caste their votes in favour of an inexperienced foreign-born Mrs Sonia Gandi or an experienced and true son of soil, Mr A.B. Vajpayee. Sonia’s
Faridabad rally on Aug 28 10-year-old
returns home after 3 years GJU
staff direct anger on VC Indora’s
poll office opened Bitta
honours martyrs' kin Dhumal
holds Oppn responsible for poll Harpal
contests Chautala’s claim Girl
burnt to death by father 4
killed in road mishap Dalit
woman dies in hospital IAS
officers mourn Caprihan’s death |
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Another split in HVP on cards CHANDIGARH, Aug 24 — Another split in the former Chief Minister, Bansi Lal’s Haryana Vikas Party is on the cards. According to informed sources, over six HVP MLAs are in touch with the ruling INLD leadership and if all goes well, they may take the plunge in a day or two. It needs a minimum of six MLAs to split the 18-member HVP. The sources say the number of the HVP MLAs who are in contact with the INLD top leadership exceeds the minimum statutory requirement of six to split the party without invoking the provisions of the anti-defection law. The younger son of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Abhey, left the campaigning midway and suddenly reached here today presumably to supervise the formalities to complete the split in the HVP and to take care of any last-minute hitch. Mr Chautala had hinted at the another split in the HVP when he had announced the merger of the HVP (D) with the INLD here on August 16. Of the 17 HVP (D) MLAs, 14 had joined the INLD while two MLAs — Mr Jagan Nath and Dr Dharambir Yadav — had joined the Congress. The lone HVP (D) MLA, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, joined the BJP at the Karnal public meeting of the Prime Minister, Mr A.B. Vajpayee on August 20. The sources say the HVP MLAs who intend to leave the party will initially form a separate group, which may merge with the Lok Dal later on. INLD sources say that its leaders are working for providing stability to the Chautala Government which, at present, is dependent upon the support of Independent MLAs and the BJP. Already the strength of the INLD has gone up from 22 to 36 after the merger of the HVP (D). Another split in the HVP would take the INLD strength to near the mark of 45 in the House of 90. The sources said the INLD leaders were planning to spring another surprise, which will be bigger than the split in the RVP, just before the polling day of September 5. The HVP has already suffered a setback with the Independent MLA from Hisar, Mr Om Prakash Mahajan, who was the Excise and Taxation Minister in the Bansi Lal Government, declaring his support to the INLD nominee, Mr Surinder Singh Barwala, in the Hisar Lok Sabha constituency. Mr Mahajan's support will give the INLD a foothold in Hisar town from where the party had always been trailing in all elections. If by engineering splits in the HVP and other Opposition parties, the INLD manages to acquire a majority of its own, its dependence on the BJP will be reduced and also the party will have a better grip over those MLAs who have swelled its ranks after deserting the other parties. Once the INLD gets a majority of its own the BJP strength to bargain for a bigger share of seats during the Assembly elections, considered to be a foregone conclusion after the Lok Sabha elections would be reduced considerably. The HVP had won 32 Assembly seats in alliance with the BJP in 1996. Its strength went up to 35 after three INLD MLAs joined its ranks. However, within two months of the fall of the Bansi Lal Government, the party structure is fast crumbling. The first jolt the party got when its 17 MLAs formed the HVP(D). Since then several of its organisational leaders have deserted the party and have joined either the INLD, the Congress or the BJP. Barring the Bhiwani Lok
Sabha constituency from where Mr Surender Singh, son of
Mr Bansi Lal, is contesting, the HVP presence is not seen
in any other constituency of the state. Though the party
has an alliance with the BSP, the latter has not
published joint posters for use in the constituencies in
which it is contesting. The HVP has published posters
carrying photographs of Mr Bansi Lal, Mr Kanshi Ram, the
BSP supremo, and Mr Surender Singh for the Bhiwani seat.
Even Mr Bansi Lal has not so far moved out of Bhiwani to
campaign for the BSP candidates in the absence of an
invitation to do so. |
Reservation policy change struck
down CHANDIGARH, Aug 24 — Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today held the change in reservation policy for admission to engineering colleges located in Haryana as illegal, and directed that a fresh process of admission (except for Regional Engineering Colleges) shall be conducted as per the brochure made available to students. It was further directed that if as a result of this decision some other candidates lost their seats/admissions, a show cause notice must be issued. The process should be completed within two weeks to avoid loss of studies. The grievance of the petitioners was that Haryana's Director of Technical Education had issued a prospectus for a common entrance test to all engineering colleges in the state. The petitioners had applied against the sports quota. Although the last date for receipt of applications was April 16, still the state government changed the reservation policy. On May 5, the reservation quota for sportsmen was deleted which the petitioners challenged. It was the contention of the petitioners that changed policy could be implemented prospectively and that the right of the petitioners could not be withdrawn arbitrarily. The state government replaced the 2 per cent reservation for sportsmen with the orthopaedically handicapped and dependants of freedom fighters. The respondents submitted that reservation for sportsmen was withdrawn well before the admissions and because of a note in the prospectus, the candidates were well aware about the intended change in policy. According to the petitioners, the impugned directions ran totally counter to the prospectus that was provided. Mr Justice Aggarwal came to the conclusion that telling prospective candidates at a late stage about the deletion of their names had certainly taken away the vested right of these persons. There was no compelling reason on why it was done suddenly. No purpose was achieved. "In a society governed by law, the arbitrary decisions as referred to above, do not stand scrutiny," the Judge observed. This change of policy, therefore, after the test has to be held to be illegal. The petitions filed by
Mr Raghunandan and other candidates were, therefore,
allowed. |
CM sets up panel to cut
revenue losses YAMUNANAGAR, Aug 24 — The Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, has appealed to the people to cooperate and support the present government. While talking to mediapersons here yesterday , he said the government was giving priority to improving the law and order situation in the state. Mr Chautala claimed that his government would ensure impartial and fair elections in the state and urged the people to vote for a party which would provide a stable government at the Centre. He blamed the former HVP government for encouraging crime and liquor mafia in the state in the name of prohibition. He said the state government would reduce the administrative expenses, power theft and revenue losses, to improve the financial condition of the state. He said a committee has also been set up in the state under the chairmanship of the Finance Minister, Mr Sampat Singh for improving the financial position of the state. Referring to the election manifesto of the National Democratic Alliance, Mr Chautala said his government would follow the NDA's election manifesto. On this occasion, Mr Ashok Kumar Arora, Speaker Haryana Vidhan Sabha , Dr Kamla Verma, local MLA, Dr M.C.Gambhir and Mr Ram Singh Brar, Press Adviser to the Chief Minister, were also present. The Chairman of Maharshi Vidya Mandir Mr Deepak Bakshi, presented a cheque for Rs 25,025 and the Haryana College Teachers Association a cheque for Rs 78,950 to Mr Chautala for the Chief Minister's War Heroes Fund. The Chief Minister also inaugurated a blood donation camp organised on the occasion of the 21st death anniversary of Sant Pandit Nischal Singh and silver jubilee celebrations of Guru Nanak Girls College. The camp was organised jointly by the Lions Club, Yamunanagar, and the college. While paying tributes to the Sant, Mr Chautala said the Sant dedicated his whole life for the spread of education and promotion of moral values. Sant Karamjit Singh of Dera Santpura welcomed the Chief Minister by presenting him with a turban and a shawl on behalf of the management of the institution. Over 100 persons donated blood at the camp. Later, the Chief
Minister also visited Dera Santpura Gurdwara. |
Ensure Vajpayee's victory:
Chautala CHANDIGARH, Aug 24 — The President of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Mr Om Prakash Chautala said today that it was time for millions of people in the country to decide whether to caste their votes in favour of an inexperienced foreign-born Mrs Sonia Gandi or an experienced and true son of soil, Mr A.B. Vajpayee. In his address telecast by Doordarshan today, Mr Chautala said as India had already emerged as the seventh nuclear power in the world, how could an inexperienced person be allowed to guide the destiny of the nation. Mr Chautala termed the Congress as "power-hungry" and accused it of creating political instability in the country and shattering its economy by increasing the debts of the nation in the past five decades. He said the Congress was in the habit of first creating political instability and then misleading the people by raising the slogan of stability and grabbing votes in the name of caste and religion to enjoy power. While cautioning the people against the forces of opportunism, he said the "power-hungry" Congress, with the support of forces of opportunism brought the government to a fall by a margin of one vote, and itself could not form a government at the Centre for want of a leader. Mr Chautala said liquor used to be smuggled even during the days of prohibition in the state. All sections of society, including traders, farmers, educationists, doctors running small clinics and 'dhaba' owners, were burdened with heavy taxes to make up the financial loss of the government. Traders and businessmen closed their establishments because of the "wrong policies" of Mr Bansi Lal and the consumer was hard pressed due to escalating prices. The casual leave of employees were reduced, they were humiliated by installing automatic punching machines to record their attendance and they were also harassed financially as the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission were not implemented properly. The employees, who were agitating for the redressal of their grievances, were sent to jail and even their services were terminated. Dozens of farmers demanding power fell to the bullets and the property of the state was "looted" to save the government. The INLD chief said such forces feared that in case he returned to power he would fulfil all these promises and that would keep the Congress away from power for ever. Therefore, they even tried to lure one of my ministers to mislead the people and create an impression that this government would not function." But the support of the people gave a befitting reply to such forces, he claimed. Mr Chautala urged the
people that in case they wanted the present Haryana
Government to function smoothly, they should exercise
their franchise in favour of Mr Vajpayee to enable him to
provide a stable and strong government at the Centre so
that these opportunist forces might not again force fall
the government by a one-vote a margin. The Congress knew
how to pull down government but did not know how to form
a government. This election was not similar to that of
the village panchayat or the municipal committee or state
Assembly as it would decide what kind of leadership
should guide the destiny of the nation. |
Sonia’s Faridabad rally
on Aug 28 FARIDABAD, Aug 24 — Mrs Sonia Gandhi, President of the Congress, will visit Faridabad on August 28 to address an election meeting of Mr Zakir Husain, party nominee for the Lok Sabha seat. Party sources said that the preparations for holding the public meeting at Desehra Grounds at 4.30 pm in NIT were in full swing. Street corners meetings were being held all over the constituency to mobilise a large gathering. Mrs Gandhi had earlier addressed a public meeting during the last Lok Sabha poll in 1998 in favour of Mr Khurshid Ahmed who lost the election to Mr Ram Chand Bainda of the BJP. Mr Rajesh Pilot, a senior Congress leader and a former Union Minister will also address an election meeting in Tigaon and Palwal, which have a sizeable population of Gujjars on August 26. Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, Chairman of the Haryana Congress Campaign Committee is scheduled to hold meetings in Fatehpur Biloch and Chhainsa, Jat-dominated areas on August 26. The BJP is not lagging behind in inviting its top leaders to Faridabad to campaign for Mr Ram Chand Bainda, who is seeking re-election for the first time. Although the visit of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, has not yet been officially confirmed BJP sources said that he would address a public meeting at Dasehra Grounds here on August 30. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Haryana Chief Minister had already addressed a number of election meetings in favour of BJP candidate. Although there is no
heat yet in the campaign of the candidates it is likely
to pick up after the visit of the top leaders of the
Congress and the BJP. |
10-year-old returns home after 3
years REWARI, Aug 24 — Following the intervention of Mr Vijay Somani president and other office bearers of Rashtriya Navchetna, a prominent voluntary organisation, 10-year-old Manider Singh who disappeared from Sonepat in October 1996 and had been living in Astha Kunj (Juvenile Home) here since November 1996, was reunited with his parents after a gap of about three years. Mr Vijay Somani and his associates had gone to the Astha Kunj and distributed sweets and fruit among the children there on August 15. During his interaction with the children there. Maninder Singh told him about his antecedents. Following this Navchetna gave an undertaking to the Astha Kunj's superintendent and took Maninder to Sonepat where they, followed Maninder’s directions to trace the residence of his parents. Following this Maninder,
his mother Sushila Devi and his uncle Ashok Kumar,
returned to Rewari and were produced before journalists
here on Sunday. Sushila Devi said that after her son
disappeared on the evening of October 29, 1996, they had
made repeated requests to the police officials concerned
to trace their lost son but the police neither registered
there complaint nor showed any interest in it. |
GJU staff direct anger on VC HISAR, Aug 24 — The academic atmosphere in Guru Jambeshwar University seems to have been vitiated with the growing unrest among both the teaching and non-teaching sections of employees. Only yesterday, all the non-teaching employees staged a demonstration seeking the removal of the Acting Vice-Chancellor. The non-teaching employees charged the Vice-Chancellor with "indecisiveness". They pointed out, they had been demanding the introduction of five-day week in the university like in MDU and Kurukshetra University. They claimed, the Vice-Chancellor had assured them thrice that the demand would be favourably considered. However, they alleged, the Vice-Chancellor went back on his promise. The Non-Teaching Employees Union alleged that the Vice-Chancellor tried to suppress their agitation. They pointed out, the Vice-Chancellor's office had issued instructions to various heads of departments to take punitive measures against the protesting employees. On the other hand, the teachers union of the university has served a legal notice on the Vice-Chancellor for his alleged violation of norms in appointment of a superannuated professor as chairman of a department. The teachers are also sore over the undue delay in allotment of residential accommodation to them. They said that about 10 residential houses in the university remain unoccupied, thanks to the delay in taking a decision on the issue. The teachers have also accused the Vice-Chancellor of favouring some teachers belonging to a particular caste. They pointed out, there was great resentment amongst the teachers over the grant of special favours to one particular teacher, who has been promoted as the most powerful functionary in the university. The same teachers is said to have been allotted five different office rooms in different capacities, besides five telephone numbers. In another development,
the faculty members of the Department of Management have
demanded appointment of in charges for various courses.
Teachers have demanded, decentralisation of powers in the
university and alleged that the Vice-Chancellor was
concentrating powers in some favourites only. |
Indora’s poll office
opened FATEHABAD, Aug 24 — The INLD-BJP alliance candidate for the Sirsa (Reserved) constituency, Dr Sushil Indora, inaugurated his election office at Rattia in the district yesterday evening. Several office-bearers of the INLD and the BJP, including Mr Baldev Singh, Block President INLD, Mr Atma Singh Gill, a former INLD MLA and Mr Narender Wadhwa, Block President of the BJP were present on the occasion. Dr Indora toured different wards, of Rattia town to seek votes. Earlier, addressing BJP workers here, Dr Indora said there was a strong pro-INLD-BJP wave in the state, after the election rallies of the Prime Minister. He assured the workers that he would always be at beck and call of the people. He exhorted the workers to intensify the poll campaign. The district BJP President, Dr Atam Parkash Mehta, the block BJP President, Mr Atam Parkash Ralhan, Mr Naresh Lohia and Mr D.D. Varma were also present on the occasion. Meanwhile, the alliance has made several teams to campaign for Dr Indora, in the district. The District President of the Mahila wing of the party, Mrs Krishna Poonia, toured Gorakhpur, Indachhoi and Buan villager, in the district and campaigned for the INLD candidate. She said in the present national scenario, Mr Vajpayee was the only leader who could steer the country out of crisis. She appealed the women voters to vote for Dr Indora. Meanwhile, the Congress, has not been able to recover from the setback it received from the refusal of former Union Minister Ms Selja to contest. Though the Congress workers have been trying hard to convince the voters that Ms Selja had to withdraw from the poll race as the party high command wanted to utilise her services for campaigning in Rajasthan. The party’s candidate, Mr Om Parkash Keharwala, launched his campaign here yesterday. Former Haryana Minister Jagdish Nehra, inaugurated the election office of Mr Keharwala. The HPCC Vice-President, Dr K.V. Singh, was present on the occasion. Addressing party workers, Mr Nehra said the Congress was the only party that could provide a stable government at the Centre. He asked the party workers to go to various villages and work for the victory of the party candidate. The former Union
Minister, Ms Selja will campaign at Fatehabad on August
27. |
Bitta honours martyrs' kin PANIPAT, Aug 24 — The Berozgari Hatao Kshetra Bachao Samiti, a social voluntary organisation, honoured the kin of four Kargil martyrs of the district on the occasion of its "Sathapna Divas" organised at the local Arya College yesterday. The former President of the Indian Youth Congress, Mr Maninderjit Singh Bitta, gave fixed-deposit pass books for Rs 11,000 each, shawls and commendations to Bedo Devi, mother of martyr Gndr Amardeep Singh; Sonia, daughter of Naik Rishi Pal; Ravina, daughter of Havildar Vijay Singh; and Shabnam, daughter of martyr Riyasat Ali. The fixed deposit amount was contributed by the students and teachers of Bal Vikas Public School. Mr Bitta urged people to defeat the nefarious designs of the anti-national forces. Paying tributes to the martyrs, the Chief Coordinator of the Samiti, MR Surinder Singh Hooda, said the politicians should also learn a lesson of patriotism and sacrifice from the martyrs. The samiti also organised a painting competition on environment to create awareness among the students. At least 175 students from 11 schools took part in the competition and the winners were given prizes by the samiti. The Minister of State,
Mr Om Prakash Jain, President of the Haryana Congress
Seva Dal, Mr Rajiv Gugnani and Vice-President of the INLD
and MLA, Mr Krishan Lal Pawar were also present on the
occasion. |
Dhumal holds Oppn responsible
for poll BARWALA, Aug 24 — The Opposition is responsible for forcing yet another election on the public while voters are tired of exercising their franchise and candidates asking for votes time and again, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, said at a rally to garner support for the local BJP candidate, Mr R.L. Kataria, here today. Coming out strongly against the Congress, Mr Dhumal stated that holding elections frequently was a drain on the country's scarce resources and yet the Congress was leaving no stone unturned to return to power, and the no-confidence motions were the means to this end. "The Congress cannot bear to see any other party wrest power from them and is constantly striving to win a majority in the Lok Sabha,'' he said. Speaking about Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the Chief Minister said that Mrs Sushma Swaraj would give her a run for her money at Bellary. "If Mrs Sonia Gandhi can go all the way to Bellary from Italy to file her papers, Mrs Swaraj is better placed for a win by virtue of being an Indian,'' he stated. Even after 30 years of her stay in India, Mrs Gandhi could only manage read her speeches in broken Hindi, it went to the credit of Mrs Swaraj that she had managed to read `Kannada' in four days and was delivering fiery speeches in that language. Highlighting the successes of the BJP Government, Mr Dhumal explained that the growth rate of the government had increased to 6.8 per cent, the country had made tremendous progress in the different areas of activity and witnessed a record production of grains. The ousting of the enemy from Kargil was a great victory, and India had emerged as a force to reckon with on the international scene. He urged the people to
cast their votes in favour of the BJP candidate being
supported by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and make
this the last Lok Sabha poll of the millennium. On the
instability in the Congress, he commented that it had
taken a foreigner, Annie Besant, to get the party going,
and another "outsider'', Mrs Gandhi, was needed to
take charge of the party to "bring about its
doom" to give way to a stable government. |
Harpal contests Chautala’s
claim CHANDIGARH Aug 24 — Mr Harpal Singh, working president, of the Haryana Pradesh Congress (I) Committee , has ridiculed the claim of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, at a public meeting in Babain the other day that the Congress in Haryana would be wiped out completely even before the Lok Sabha elections. Mr Harpal Singh today said Mr Chautala seemed to be living in "misplaced overconfidence" about himself and his party, the Indian National Lok Dal’s alliance partner BJP, leading him to day-dreaming about the future of the Congress in the state. Mr Harpal Singh said the people of Haryana had fully recognised as to which party and which leader was capable of safeguarding the state’s interests. Mr Harpal Singh blamed Mr Chautala for bartering away the state’s interest with the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who had always created bottlenecks in the implementation of the Eradi Tribunal Award on sharing of river waters and completion of the SYL canal’s remaining portion of 5 km in the Punjab territory, resulting in the flowing of surplus waters to Pakistan, instead of quenching the thirst of the fields of Haryana farmers. The waters were legally awarded to Haryana as a result of the Rajiv-Longowal accord on inter-state disputes between the two states. Mr Harpal Singh claimed
that the Congress would capture all the 10 Lok Sabha
seats in the coming Lok Sabha elections. |
Girl burnt to death by father AMBALA, Aug 24 — A girl was allegedly burnt to death by his father in Shekhpur village 20 kilometre from here the police has registered a murder case against her father and his friend. According to a police report Sarwjit Kaur, who admitted to Civil Hospital, Ambala City, in serious condition said before the Judicial Magistrate yesterday night that her father poured kerosene on her and one of his friends set her ablazed. According to an FIR lodged with the Naggal police station her father came yesterday evening with his friend in the house and started drinking liquor. When Sarwjit objected to this, he set her on fire. She succumbed to her
injuries today morning in the hospital.Later She was
admitted to local civil hospital in a serious condition
where she succumbed to her injuries today morning. |
4 killed in road mishap HISAR, Aug 24 (PTI) — Four persons were killed and seven injured, some of them seriously, when a jeep carrying them collided with a bus near Housing Board Colony here yesterday, the police said today. While one of the victims has been identified as Devi Lal, jeep driver, others could not be identified so far, the police said. The bus was on its way from Hisar to Bhuna while the ill-fated jeep was coming from Naoli Kalan village near here. The injured were
hospitalised. |
Dalit woman dies in hospital FATEHABAD, Aug 24 — Laxmi (25), a Dalit woman who had been thrown in front of a moving train by her husband, died in the local general hospital after battling for life for more than one month. The victim had been thrown in front of a moving train by her husband Jagdish and brother-in-law Inder at Jodhkan village in Sirsa district on July 21. She was shifted to the local general hospital where both her legs had to be amputated. Her in-laws did not attend her. The District Red Cross
was meeting the expenses of her treatment as her mother
could not afford it of her treatment. |
IAS officers mourn
Caprihan’s death CHANDIGARH, Aug 24 — The Haryana IAS Officers' Association today mourned the death of Mr P.P. Caprihan, a former Chief Secretary of Haryana. Mr Ram S. Varma, Chief Secretary, Haryana, presided over the meeting. Mr Caprihan remained Chief Secretary of Haryana from June, 1982 to June, 1987. Earlier, he had been Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Delhi. He was born on March 7, 1931. He did his postgraduation in Mathematics and entered the IAS at the age of 22. Mr Caprihan was also the
Vice-Chancellor of Haryana Agricultural University,
Hisar, and Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, while he
was the Chief Secretary. |
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