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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Tuesday, December 7, 1999 |
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INLD dissidents suffer
setback |
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Ambedkar's
ideals "politicised" Sugar mill begins cane crushing BJP ready for snap poll in Haryana Haryana transfers, postings Foreign Origin Bill "against
democracy" Girls outshine boys in examination MD University decision on law
courses
Bride, groom hurt in accident 3 killed in road mishaps Dengue cases in Faridabad |
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INLD dissidents suffer
setback CHANDIGARH, Dec 6 — Dissidents in the ruling Indian National Lok Dal, who have been trying to topple the Chautala Government in Haryana, suffered a setback today when Mr Charan Dass Shorewala, MLA from Kaithal, came out in the support of the Chief Minister. Last week a leading dissident, Mr Sat Narain Lather, who held a press conference against Mr Chautala, had listed Mr Shorewala as one of his colleagues. In a statement issued here today Mr Shorewala denied that he had attended a "so-called confidential meeting of certain MLAs at a farm house at Mehrauli, near New Delhi, recently." Claiming that he had no knowledge of the meeting, Mr Shorewala said that certain disgruntled elements, who were jealous of him and the present State Government, were spreading such rumours. Mr Shorewala was elected to the State Assembly on the ticket of Mr Chautala's party in 1996. However, soon he joined hands with Mr Bansi Lal and was inducted as a Minister in his Cabinet. He ditched the HVP president to once again board the bandwagon of Mr Chautala when he replaced Mr Bansi Lal as Chief Minister in July last. Expressing "full faith and confidence" in the leadership of Mr Chautala, Mr Shorewala said the present government had implemented so many welfare schemes for every section of society during the past four months. Mr Chautala had introduced such schemes which could not even be thought of during the Bansi Lal Government. He said the interests of
the people of Haryana were safe in the hands of Mr
Chautala and the State would make progress only under his
dynamic leadership. |
Rs 23-cr scheme for
effluent treatment SONEPAT, Dec 6 — The National River Conservation Directorate, Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, has approved a Rs 23.69 crore scheme for checking of untreated effluent from the city and discharging the same into the Yamuna. According to official sources, the government had spent Rs 20.38 crore till September 30 last on various works executed by the Public Health Department for abatement of pollution in this city. A total length of 12 km interception and diversion sewers of various sizes had been laid in this city under the Yamuna Action Plan. Besides, a 30 MLD flow anaembic sludge blanket-based sewage treatment plant had been constructed for the treatment of sewage water of the city near Rathdhanna village. The BOD level of sewage water was thus reduced from 200 mg/lt to 30 mg/lt. Moreover, five sulabh shauchalayas had been set up at bus stand, Dhanik basti, Delhi camp, municipal council's office and the mini-secretariat. These would avoid open defecation and thus improve the environment. Similarly, four improved woodbased crematoriums had been constructed at Gohana Road, Subzimandi, Sector 15 and behind Hindu School building. At least 7,000 trees had been planted at vacant land at the sewage treatment plant. Official sources also added that sewerage facilities in 50 per cent area of this city were available at present and the number of sewer connections had gone up to 7,800. The state government planned to provide connections to maximum number of residents for utilising the facilities under the Yamuna Action Plan. The treated water from sewage treatment plant would be utilised for irrigation purposes. The sludge produced in the treatment plant has high nutritional value for crops and plants. The sewage treatment plant had been designed to treat only domestic waste water. Industries had been asked to treat their own waste water. The Yamuna Action Plan, it may be recalled, was launched in 1993 in Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, with the objective of abatement of pollution in the Yamuna and to ensure that no untreated effluent from 15 towns located along the Yamuna were discharged into the river. Six town of Haryana — Yamunanagar, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat, Gurgaon and Faridabad — were covered under the Yamuna Action Plan. The approved cost of this project for these towns was Rs 211.5 crore. The progress of various works was stated to be satisfactory. The government had now decided to take up six new town Chhachhrauli, Radaur, Indri, Gharaunda, Gohana and Palwal — in the second phase. There was a proposal to construct oxidation ponds and lay interception and diversion sewers in these towns. The government had already sanctioned Rs 20.65 crore for the works to be carried during the second phase. Official sources also said that the work for laying of sewers had already been started in the new six towns of Haryana and was likely to be completed by March next. The Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund (OECP), Japan would provide a soft loan to the central government for the implementation of this project. It was proposed to construct 11 sewage treatment plants, 83-km-long sewer lines, 30 sulabh shauchalayas, 14 improved wood-based crematoriums, bathing ghats on the embankments of the Yamuna and plantation of trees in six towns of the Haryana state selected for the first phase. The government had
already spent Rs 174 crore on this project whereas the
work had also been completed in some towns. |
No conversions among
Mauritius Hindus GURGAON, Dec 6 — Mr Damodur Chaturvedi Toolsee, Attorney-at-Law, Mauritius on a visit to India, home to his ancestors is on a nostalgia trip as well. President of the Brahman Maha Sabha and office-bearer of many religious and social organisations relating to Hinduism, like the Shri Sanatan Dharma Mandir Parishad, Gita Pracharack Maha Mandal and the Hindu Maha Sabha in the island nation, he is always in the vanguard of a number of campaigns for propagation of Hinduism and Vedantic way of life in his country. He is credited to have successfully launched a movement in Mauritius to extract a number of concessions from the governments there in favour of his religion. He was in India, a few days ago, for pilgrimage to all 12 Jyotir Lingas. Speaking to TNS recently in Gurgaon where he was the chief guest of a public function organised in his honour, he spoke on the status of Hinduism in his country and against the alleged conversions of Hindus by the missionaries, here in India. Q: Do the Constitution and the policies of the Mauritius Government go in consonance with your activities for promoting Hinduism? A: No. Rather, they have contributed positively and the indications are that the status quo will be maintained. The government generously gives subsidies to Hindu organisations and salaries to the poojarees. The government declares a national holiday on the occasion of Maha Shivratri festival. Besides, out of 11 lakh population in Mauritius, the Hindus account for about seven lakh, followed by the Muslims who are about two lakh in number. Any political party vying to come to power cannot achieve its goal without the approval of the Hindu society. Q: What is the general perception there on the alleged conversions of the Hindus by the Christian missionaries in India? A: The people of Mauritius, particularly the Hindus, feel the deep impact of the events in India. The Hindus feel strongly against the continued efforts of the missionaries to lure the lower strata of Hindu society into conversions. The missionaries run down Hindu society for its hierarchical structure and justify the conversions saying that there is inequality of status in the society. Can they honestly say that the converts, even after many generations, are given pride of place in the religious society of Christians. Q: But are not the allegations about the inequality in the status in Hindu society well founded? A: Yes, they are. But this does not mean that any one should exploit the deformities. If every one is guided by the spirit of opportunism, law of jungle will prevail. Do not forget that the universal truth that nothing in the temporal world is perfect. Hinduism is a religion having strong resilience. However, I strongly feel that the pace of the process of the ongoing reforms in Hinduism must pick up. Q: What is the rate of conversion of Hindus in Mauritius? A: At present, nil. The Hindus in all strata of society in my country are economically well off. So the question of them being weaned away on economic grounds just does not arise. A long time back moneybags had arrived in my country from the petro-rich Libya. The nefarious designs were nipped in the bud and their agents shown their places. Besides, the Hindus are a homogeneous society in Mauritius as they are conscious of the common denominator: their common origin. Also, they are proud of themselves as they have come a long way. Our ancestors had gone to Mauritius from Bhojpur and its nearabouts in Bihar as labourers. Now we guide the course of the country's economy on account of our sheer hard labour that we have put in for many years. Q: In your perception what is the scope of the relationship between people to people of the two countries in the context of both of them being dominated by Hindu community. A: The Hindus of
Mauritius always look up to India as the sacred source of
their religion. Presently the relationship between the
people and also between the governments is fine. We have
created a magnificent Ganga Talab. This was done by
mixing the holy water from the Ganges in India. Lakhs of
Hindus from the African and the European countries visit
Ganga Talab on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. |
Sugar mill begins cane
crushing AMBALA, Dec 6 — The cane crushing in Naraingarh sugar mill has been continuing for the past two days even though some of the employees have been sitting in dharna in protest against the non-implementation of the agreement reached between the management and the union two days back. Farmers of about 300 villages who supply sugarcane to this mill have heaved a sign of relief after the start of the crushing operations. According to sources, the managements of two adjoining sugar mills had contacted farmers in the area and assured them that they would arrange a 'kanta' (weight and measure machine) near Naraingarh if they were ready to supply sugarcane to their mills. The plan was dumped after the Naraingarh mill started the crushing operations. Mr Hem Raj Singh General Manager of Naraingarh Sugar Mill said around 300 villages, most of them in Naraingarh, and several villages of Yamunanagar, Sadhaura and Panchkula were attached with this mill. The mill had fixed the target of crushing around 25,000 quintals of sugarcane daily. According to information only100 to 200 trolleys of sugarcane are currently reaching the mill whereas the mill required at 300 to 400 trolleys of sugarcane every day to reach the target. Meanwhile, Mr Sumesh Saini president of the union, said their agitation would continue till all-employees sitting outside the mill were taken back. The mill authorities said they were ready to take back the employees who were on the rolls during the last season. They alleged that most of the person sitting outside the mill had never been their regular employees. The district
administration has been keeping close watch on the
situation. The Deputy Commissioner of Ambala said nobody
would be allowed to disturb the functioning of the mill. |
Sugar mills staff threaten
stir SONEPAT, Dec 6 — Employees of cooperative sugar mills in Haryana will go on strike if the state government failed to accept their long-standing demands by tomorrow. Mr Krishan Kumar Kataria, general secretary of the state unit of the Haryana Sugar Mills Workers Federation, said here yesterday. The main demands of the federation include the supply of 10 kg of sugar to each employee every month, regularisation of the all daily-wage employees, scales to employees working at higher posts, payment of salary on a par with the employees of cooperative banks and bonus for 1998-99. Mr Kataria regretted the
state government had failed to fulfil the demands of the
employees in spite of repeated representations made to it
by leaders of the federation. He announced the employees
would continue their agitation till all demands were
accepted by the government. |
Strike in sugar mills called
off ROHTAK, Dec 6 — The indefinite strike by the employees of local Cooperative Sugar Mills was called off unconditionally today, claimed the district administration. Giving this information the District Public Relations officer said the decision was taken at a meeting of the Deputy Commissioner with the Managing Director and union leaders of the mills held here today. He said the management assured the union leaders that it would not adopt the victimisation policy against the employees and give a sympathetic consideration to their demands. The union leaders could
not be contacted for comments. |
Ambedkar's ideals
"politicised" KURUKSHETRA, Dec 6 — Dr M.L. Ranga, Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, stated here today that Dr B.R. Ambedkar wanted that all inequalities — be they social, political or economic — should be ended in free India. For this purpose, he had stressed the need for quality education to all sections of society, irrespective of their caste, creed and sex. Dr Ranga was presiding over the 'mahaparinirwan divas' of Dr B.R. Ambedkar in the Senate Hall of the university. The Vice-Chancellor, however, regretted that the country was far from the goal envisioned by Dr Ambedkar. He lamented that India was entering the 21st century with the evils of dowry system, casteism, sati, etc. He regretted that 76 per cent of the rural population was denied proper opportunities for quality education. Even the benefits of reservation had not reached them. He alleged that the political ideology of Dr Ambedkar and his name were being politicised by different political parties for selfish ends. Even job reservation had become 'a political stunt' because only the higher echelons in the reserved category benefited from such policy. Prof Shyam Lal, a former Vice-Chancellor of J.N.V. University, Jodhpur, in his keynote address stated that till caste degradation continued in India, Dalits could not progress. He stated that Dr Ambedkar had desired that both insurance and agriculture should be under government control. Prof Sharma described Dr Ambedkar as the ‘messiah of the Dalits’. Few people could match Dr Ambedkar intellectually, he said, describing Dr Ambedkar as a 'misunderstood intellectual'. He, however, said that today Dalits had achieved political identity because of Dr Ambedkar. Prof K.L. Sharma of the J.N.U, New Delhi, in his lecture on "social inequality, Dalit identity and Dr B.R. Ambedkar" stated that Dr Ambedkar stood for 'self-culture, self-service and self-assertion' of the oppressed. Prof Ranbir Singh, Dean,
Academic Affairs of the university, claimed that Dr
Ambedkar's stream of thinking did not get due attention. |
BJP ready for snap poll in
Haryana FATEHABAD, Dec 6 — Leader of the BJP Legislative Party in the State Assembly, Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, has expressed the possibility of mid-term polls in Haryana. Mr Sharma was talking to reporters here yesterday evening. Responding to a question by reporters Mr Sharma said that no possibility could ever be ruled out in politics. He added that the question of holding or not holding of mid-term polls for the state Assembly depended solely on the circumstances. And in the present circumstances, the possibility of mid-term polls could not be ruled out. Mr Sharma said that though the BJP wanted the present Assembly to complete its full term, but the party was prepared for the mid-term polls whenever these are held. On the question of his party's relations with the ruling INLD in Haryana, Mr Sharma said that the BJP was happy with some welfare steps taken by the Om Parkash Chautala government. He made particular reference to the grants to Agroha Medical College, abolition of octroi and increasing the amount of grant given to the families of martyrs. The BJP leader claimed that his party was the champion for the cause of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and the down-trodden and said that the first work Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee did after assuming power at the Centre was to extend the reservation for the SCs and STs for the next 10 years. This, he said, had allayed apprehensions being raised by the Congress that the reservation to the SCs and STs might not be extended if the BJP came to power. Mr Sharma castigated the former UP Chief Minister, Mr Kalyan Singh, for his sarcastic remarks about Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. He said out of sheer frustration, Mr Kalyan Singh had been spitting venom against Mr Vajpayee and on the other hand the Prime Minister was taking that venom smilingly like 'Lord Mahadeva'. Mr Sharma said that the BJP had decided to increase its mass base among the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for this and the party had decided to make 50000 new members among the SCs and STs in the state. He said that the BJP was celebrating the 'Nirwan Divas' of Baba Sahib Ambedkar all over the state. Earlier, speaking at a
'Ambedkar Nirwan Divas' function organised by party at
village Bighar in this district, Mr Sharma said that it
was really ironical that even after 53 years of
independence. There was no improvement in the plight of
the Dalits. He said that the various governments that had
ruled the country till now were responsible for this. He
said that the BJP had organised a three-day seminar at
Delhi in which intellectuals from all across the country
were participating. The seminar would find ways and means
to improve the lot of Dalits in the country. The party,
he said would seek necessary amendments in the
constitution for this if needed. |
Haryana transfers, postings CHANDIGARH, Dec 6 — The Haryana Government today gave additional charge of the Technical Education Department to Mr M.K. Miglani, Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Local Bodies during the leave of Mr H.C. Disodia, up to December 12. Mr M.P. Bidlan, Joint Secretary, Health, will also hold the charge of Joint Secretary, Housing, against a vacant post. Mr Rajiv Mehta, HCS, City Magistrate, Sirsa, goes as Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Jind, relieving Mr I.N. Ichhpujani, of the charge of the post. Mrs Vinod Anand, Special Collector, Gurgaon, becomes Zonal Administrator of the Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board, in addition to her present duties vice Mrs Anju Choudhary, who goes as the Administrative Officer, HIPA, Gurgaon. Mr Raj Pal, on his first appointment to HCS, becomes Under Secretary, Planning Board. Mr Jagtar Singh, on his first appointment to HCS, has been appointed Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister against a newly created post. Mr Ishwar Singh Dahiya
becomes Deputy Director, Women and Child Development. Mr
H.C. Bhatia is the new City Magistrate, Sirsa. |
Foreign Origin Bill
"against democracy" KURUKSHETRA, Dec 6 — The Foreign Origin Bill introduced by the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre, is an insult to the people of India. This has been alleged by Professor Bhim Singh Dahiya, former Vice-Chancellor, Kurukshetra University, former MLA and a senior Congress man, in a signed statement released to the mediapersons here today. Professor Dahiya said that "the political matter of electing members to Parliament is a Fundamental Right of the people, and to elect the leader of the majority to head the government, is the constitutional right of political parties. As for the election of the President and Vice-President, they are elected by the elected representatives of the people". He said that "if the BJP-led coalition government had any faith in democracy, it should leave the matter to be decided democratically — by the people and their elected representatives. All of us know why the Bill has been introduced? Only to keep out Mrs Sonia Gandhi out from becoming the Prime Minister. Arguing in favour of his stand, Professor Dahiya said that "the people of India have already given their verdict on the issue by electing her with a margin of over three lakh votes — a much longer margin than the one by which the present Prime Minister won from the same state of UP which elected Mrs Gandhi. Besides, she has won from the southern state of Karnataka also, and again by a big margin of about one lakh votes. Also, under her leadership, and on her campaign, the people of India have voted the Congress party to power in several states, namely Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Meghalaya. Why are the BJP and its allies afraid of the verdict of the people? Why do they wish to achieve through legislation what they have lost on the ground? They should not forget, that the Constitution, if made against the wishes of the people, has never stayed for long. The ultimate power being with the people, they will recast the Constitution even as they overthrow the government," he added. Professor Dahiya further
pointed out that "in modern world, state is the only
valid concept and not a nation which is out-dated.
Indians today, are in all the states of the world and
have rights to get elected and occupy the highest
position. Would the BJP and its allies like all these
millions of Indians deprived of the right to get elected
or occupy the positions of Prime Minister and President,
which in three or four countries they are already
occupying?", he questioned. |
Girls outshine boys in
examination BHIWANI, Dec 6 — The pass percentage of Senior Secondary (Academic and Vocational) Supplementary Examination, September, 1999 has increased considerably as compared to previous years. Disclosing this here today the Board Secretary, Prof Jagdish Kumar Sihag, told mediapersons that this year 66.82 per cent candidates had been successful as compared to 59.55 of the previous year. In 1997, the pass percentage was 47.91 per cent and in 1996 37.84 per cent. He said this year 37,893 candidates appeared for the senior Secondary Academic Examination and 25,320 candidates passed. Girls had shown better results than boys by showing a pass percentage of 70.22 whereas the pass percentage of boys turned out to be 65.04. He said 34906 boys appeared in examination and 16,200 got through it whereas 12,987 girls appeared in this examination and 9,120 of them passed. He said in the Senior Secondary Vocational Examination, the pass percentage was 46 whereas 38 per cent candidates cleared the examination last year. In 1997, the pass percentage was 36 and in 1996 it was 22. He said the result would
be available at offices of District Education Officers,
District Public Relations Officers, district-level
coordination centres of the board, and board head office
at Bhiwani. |
MD University decision on
law courses ROHTAK, Dec 6 — The 115th meeting of the Academic Council of Maharshi Dayanand University here today endorsed the recommendations of the departmental committee that "the university should stick to the policy of not granting affiliation to any private college institution, including government colleges, to run law course(s) within the jurisdiction of this university." The Adhiyaman Educational and Research Trust headed by Dr M. Thambi Durai, a former Union Minister of law, Justice and Company Affairs, obtained a 'no objection certificate' from M.D. university for setting up a law college under the name of "national institute of law" at Faridabad in June 1998. The trust, on the basis of NOC, also got approval of the Bar of Council of India and the state government for setting up the college. However, a committee of the Law Department of the university resolved of a meeting that the university should not grant affiliation to any private college to run law course within the jurisdiction of the university as it would dilute the academic standards. The committee also
observed that in the neighbouring of Kurukshetra
University, Kurukshetra, Panjab University, Chandigarh,
Punjabi University, Patiala, Himachal Pradesh University,
Shimla, G.N.D. University, Amritsar, Delhi University and
Jammu and Kashmir University, J and K any such policy of
granting affiliation to start law courses at the college
level did not exist. |
Jawan Parveen Saini cremated AMBALA, Dec 6 — The body of jawan Parveen Saini of Dhanouri village, 30 km from here, was cremated with civil and military honours. Thousands of villagers from surrounding villages, senior officers of the administration and Army officials paid homage to the brave soldier who laid down his life on December 2 while fighting Pakistani militants in Baramula sector. Director-General of 1619 EME Battalion, Brig V. Jacob, placed a wreath on the body of the martyr. Deputy Commissioner, Ramniwas placed the wreath on behalf of the Haryana Governor, while a state minister of the state, Mr Raj Kumar Saini, placed the wreath on behalf of the Chief Minister. Others who placed wreaths included former Education Minister of Haryana, Mr Phool Chand Mullana, and MLA from Naggal constituency, Mr Nirmal Singh. The deceased is survived by his young wife Jaswinder Kaur and a month-old son Aditya. The Deputy Commissioner
announced that the name of the village school and the
approaching road of the village would be named after the
martyr. He also announced grant of Rs 10,000 to the
family of the martyr. |
Bride, groom hurt in accident SIRSA, Dec 6 — A bride and a bridegroom, along with 3 others suffered injuries when their Maruti car hit a tree near Moriwala village on the Hisar road. According to information received today, the bride and the bridegroom were returning from Muktsar. Meanwhile, the police has arrested Kuldeep Singh for reportedly beating his wife for more dowry. A case has been registered. In another incident, a youth, Ramesh, of J.J. Colony was admitted to the local hospital with 80 per cent of burns. According to information
received today, Ramesh is said to have been mentally
upset. |
3 killed in road mishaps ROHTAK, Dec 6 — Three persons, including a woman, died and two others were injured into two separate road accidents in the past 24 hours. According to police sources, two youths riding a motor cycle were crushed to death by a truck near Bahadurgarh town last night. The deceased have been identified as Deepak, son of Mahender Singh, and Sanjay, son of Prem Singh, both residents of Bahadurgarh. In another incident, a
woman identified as Chanderkanta died after a Tata Sumo
hit her and two others from behind near Hanuman Mandir on
the Rohtak-Delhi road here. |
Dengue cases in Faridabad FARIDABAD, Dec 6 — A number of cases of dengue fever have again been reported in Faridabad. At present there are 13 patients in the local Escorts Hospital alone. But the number of the patients suffering from the disease may be much higher because many more are stated to be under treatment in various city hospitals and nursing homes. Dr Ashok Chordia of the Escorts Hospital told TNS that about 56 patients had shown dengue symptoms. Doctors say that there is now no chance of the disease breaking out in an epidemic form as the weather has cooled down. Two years back thousands of people were affected by dengue fever. It is stated that the
disease spreads from aedes mosquito which is found in
northern India, particularly surrounding Delhi. Not many
cases are reported from the South. |
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