Julana sub-tehsil to be upgraded
JIND, Dec 19 — The Haryana Government has decided to upgrade Julana sub-tehsil to a tehsil, besides shifting the growth sub-centre to Julana. This was disclosed by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, while talking to mediapersons at Julana, 25 km from here today.

Octroi abolition hits civic staff
KAITHAL, Dec 19 — The abolition of octroi by the state government has not only affected the people, but also the municipal councils here and in other towns of the district.

Saini Samaj's plea to Chautala
JIND, Dec 19 — The Saini Samaj has urged the Indian National Lok Dal chief and Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala to allot the ticket of his party to 10 candidates of the Saini Samaj in the fourthcoming Haryana Vidhan Sabha election.

Bansal's book on Haryana praised
ROHTAK, Dec 19 — Haryana is a trend setter in the politics of defection. Its politics and politicians, especially the three Lals, are very lively and amusing. This is what Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, has to say after going through "Haryana ke Lalon ke Sabrange Kisse", book by Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, a Rohtak-based correspondent of a national daily.

Judicial remand for woman’s killer
ROHTAK, Dec 19 — The Chief Judicial Magistrate has sent Head Constable Jai Dev and his son, Sudhir, to a 14-day judicial remand on the charge of murdering a deaf and dumb pregnant woman in the Prem Nagar locality here on Friday evening.

Hooda points out contradictions
ROHTAK, Dec 19 — Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, a former minister, has charged the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, with adopting dual standards.

7 yrs' RI for kidnapper
FARIDABAD, Dec 19 — Mr R.L. Sankhla, Additional District and Sessions Judge, yesterday sentenced Jagan of Gehlab village to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping and attempting to rape a minor.

3 die of food poisoning
KAITHAL, Dec 19 — Three youths died and two others were hospitalised in a serious condition following suspected food poisoning at Narar village near here, the police said today.

Barshami is INLD poll observer
KURUKSHETRA, Dec 19 — Mr Sher Singh Barshami, Convener of the legal cell of the Indian National Lok Dal has been appointed the national observer for the party's organisational poll by its President, Mr Om Prakash Chautala.

Press Club constituted
ROHTAK, Dec 19 — Rohtak Press Club was constituted at a meeting of journalists chaired by Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal (Jansatta) at Canal Rest House here today.

Julana sub-tehsil to be upgraded
From Our Correspondent

JIND, Dec 19 — The Haryana Government has decided to upgrade Julana sub-tehsil to a tehsil, besides shifting the growth sub-centre to Julana.

This was disclosed by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, while talking to mediapersons at Julana, 25 km from here today.

To a question whether the Disneyland project would be revived, Mr Chautala pointed out that the Congress had initiated this move which had been dropped due to its wrong policies. He said the government would not initiate this proposal again due to paucity of funds.

Mr Chautala said the work relating to the consruction of five minors of the area namely Shamlo, Ramkali, Bhartana, Sadipur and Buana sub-minor would be started soon. On the demand of setting up a private college at Julana, Mr Chautala said the foundation stone of the college could be laid whenever the people wanted.

The Chief Minister said to provide more employment opportunities to the youths of the state, the government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Japanese company for manufacturing two-wheelers. The two wheelers' factory would set up near Gurgaon with an investment of Rs 500 crore.

On the priorities of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) during the ensuing Vidhan Sabha election, the Chief Minister said his party would complete all sanctioned projects by the former Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Devi Lal. Chief Minister denied the offer of the people of Julana to contest the Vidhan Sabha poll from this constituency.

Redressing the grievances of 26 panchayats of the Julana constituency, the Chief Minister said the government had decided to undertake a survey to remove the encroachments from the panchayat land. He said a survey would also be conducted for identifying the people living below the poverty line so that yellow cards could be issued to them. He said government had also decided to remove the electricity wires passing over schools, houses and ponds so that incidents of electrocution could be minimised.

The Chief Minister sanctioned the construction of link roads from Poli to Kharak Kalan, Brar Khera main road to Mandir, Gatauli to Sahmlo, Dhanana to Poli via Hathwala, Rajgarh to Deskhera, and Bahbalpur to Kinana villages.

Mr Chautala, approved the upgrading of Girls Primary School, Jhamola, to the level of middle. He also sanctioned a mini-bank of Lalit Khera village.

Besides ordering the construction of Balmiki and backward classes chaupals at Julana and the construction of Balmiki chaupal at Akalgarh village, directed the Public Health Department to ensure potable water to the colonies of Julana and install a boosting station to augment water supply to Brahmanwas village. He also sanctioned retaining walls for ponds in Poli, Sadipur Julana, Jat Jaiwanti, Brar Khera, Hathwala and Buana villages. He sanctioned Rs 2 lakh for villages for Sadipur Julana village and Rs 1 lakh for the pavement of streets Brarkhera and Bibipur villages.

Among others who were present on the occasion included Mr Balwant Singh Mayana, Chairman, Haryana Agriculture Marketing, Board, Mr Balbir Singh and Mr Des Raj Namberdar, former MLA, Mr Suraj Bhan Kajal, Distt. President, INLD, Mr R.N. Chalia, I.G., Hisar Range, Deputy Commissioner, Jind, Mr P.K. Dass, and Suprintendent of Police, Jind, Dr B.K. Sinha.

Later in the day, the Chief Minister also visited Mr Birender Singh at Dumerkha village to express grief over the demise of his father Mr Neki Ram, a former minister.

Octroi abolition hits civic staff
From Our Correspondent

KAITHAL, Dec 19 — The abolition of octroi by the state government has not only affected the people, but also the municipal councils here and in other towns of the district.

With the abolition of octroi, the financial position of the local municipal council and the municipal committees of Kalayat, Pundri and Cheeka has gone from bad to worse.

The civic bodies used to collect a substantial amount as octroi daily to meet their expenses. Following its abolition, on the one hand, all developmental activities have come to a halt and on the other hand, the octroi staff are without work and their future hangs in the balance.

A large number of these employees are reportedly yet to receive their salaries for November and some even for October.

When employees of the local municipal council met the executive officer to seek payment of their salaries, they were told that the civic body had no cash to pay the salaries at present.

The employees are resentful over the fact that octroi has been abolished without finding any alternative source of income for the civic bodies and deciding about the adjustment of surplus octroi staff in other departments.

Besides, the day-to-day functioning of the civic body has been adversely affected. A number of people approach municipal councillors for the construction of roads, drains and to demand other civic amenities, but they are told that due to financial constraints, their demands cannot be met as yet.

Setting up of backward classes panel decried
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, Dec 19 — The co-convener and spokesman for the Haryana Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti, Mr Tara Chand Mor, has criticised the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, for setting up the second backward classes commission headed by Mr Som Datt Jangra.

In a press statement issued here yesterday, he said there was absolutely no need for setting up another commission after the Gurnam Singh Commission. The commission had included Jats among the backward communities. Had the Chief Minister been sympathetic to the community, he would have made a declaration like those of Rajasthan and Delhi Chief Ministers. The appointment of another commission shows that the Chief Minister was not serious about reservation to Jats, he added.

He hastened to add that the Samiti would cooperate with the Jangra Commission.

Meanwhile Mr Jagbir Singh Rana and Mr Tejbir Singh have been nominated to the Samiti as convener and co-convener, respectively, Mr Surat Singh, Mr Ram Dayal Kharab, Mr Dharma Bir Malik and Azad Singh have been made its members.

Saini Samaj's plea to Chautala
From Our Correspondent

JIND, Dec 19 — The Saini Samaj has urged the Indian National Lok Dal chief and Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala to allot the ticket of his party to 10 candidates of the Saini Samaj in the fourthcoming Haryana Vidhan Sabha election. This demand was raised at a state-level Saini sammelan organised by the Yuva Saini Vikas Sabha Haryana here of Friday evening. Mrs Kailasho Devi, member of Parliament, presided.

Speaking at the sammelan, Mrs Kailasho Devi said the community deserves 10 Vidhan Sabha tickets. The community constituted 10 per cent of state's population.

Mr Raj Kumar Saini, Transport Minister, Haryana, said the INLD can give proper political representation to the Saini Samaj. Mr Surender Singh Barwala, MP, said he would apprise the Chief Minister of the demand of Saini Samaj.

Bansal's book on Haryana praised

ROHTAK, Dec 19 — Haryana is a trend setter in the politics of defection. Its politics and politicians, especially the three Lals, are very lively and amusing. This is what Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, has to say after going through "Haryana ke Lalon ke Sabrange Kisse", book by Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, a Rohtak-based correspondent of a national daily.

In a letter written to Mr Bansal, Mr Dhumal said though he had heard a lot of interesting episodes about Haryana's politics and its Lals, this book had added to his knowledge. He had enjoyed its satirical style, Mr Dhumal wrote.

The author had presented a copy of the book to Mr Dhumal when the latter visited Rohtak to participate in 'shakti sammelan' organised by the BJP last month.

The book, anecdotal in structure, highlights the role of Haryana leaders at the national level, including the ouster of Rajiv Gandhi, Chandra Shekhar, V.P. Singh and Morarji Desai from power. Other light point of the book includes the importance of "sons in Haryanavi politics". Other who have found the book interesting includes Justice P.B.Sawant, Chairman, Press Council of India, 'columnist Khushwant Singh' eminent journalists Kuldip Nayar and Prabhash Joshi.

Judicial remand for woman’s killer
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Dec 19 — The Chief Judicial Magistrate has sent Head Constable Jai Dev and his son, Sudhir, to a 14-day judicial remand on the charge of murdering a deaf and dumb pregnant woman in the Prem Nagar locality here on Friday evening.

Sudhir (17) allegedly shot dead Sharmili (22) by the licensed gun of his father. He also opened fire on her younger sister, Rani (16), who was shot in her leg. The assailant was overpowered and locked in a room by the people after the incident and was later handed over to the police.

The police registered a case under Sections 302 and 307 of the IPC and Sections 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.

Hooda points out contradictions
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Dec 19 — Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, a former minister, has charged the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, with adopting dual standards.

In a statement issued here yesterday, he said while the Union government was likely to introduce a Bill for safeguarding the term of Parliament and State Assemblies, it had given consent for curtailing the term of the Haryana Assembly by 18 months. This action of Mr Vajpayee highlighted that he was interested only in his govenment not principles.

Mr Hooda said the Prime Minister doesn't tire of speaking against defection. The BJP engineered defection in Goa and helped Mr Om Prakash Chautala to form the government with the help of defectors.

7 yrs' RI for kidnapper
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Dec 19 — Mr R.L. Sankhla, Additional District and Sessions Judge, yesterday sentenced Jagan of Gehlab village to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping and attempting to rape a minor.

According to prosecution Jagan kidnapped Kamlesh (13), daughter of Chander Singh on June 24, 1998, and took her to Thantri village where he attempted to rape her.

3 die of food poisoning

KAITHAL, Dec 19 (PTI) — Three youths died and two others were hospitalised in a serious condition following suspected food poisoning at Narar village near here, the police said today.

The youths complained of dizziness and nausea after consuming some meat products late night. They were taken to hospital where three of them were declared brought dead and two others were admitted in a serious condition, the DSP, Mr Amir Singh, said.

Barshami is INLD poll observer

KURUKSHETRA, Dec 19 (UNI)—Mr Sher Singh Barshami, Convener of the legal cell of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), has been appointed the national observer for the party's organisational poll by its President, Mr Om Prakash Chautala.

According to an INLD spokesman, Mr Barshami, who hails from Barshami village near Ladwa in this district, will observe the organisational elections of the party according to the directives of the Election Commission. The spokesman said the election process of the party in the state would be completed soon.

Press Club constituted
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Dec 19 — Rohtak Press Club was constituted at a meeting of journalists chaired by Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal (Jansatta) at Canal Rest House here today.

Mr Som Nath Sharma (Dainik Jagran) was unanimously elected patron of the club. Mr Sarv Daman Sangwan (Rashtriya Sahara) was elected President, and Mr Sanjiv Saini (Navbharat Times) and Mr Praveen Batra (Punjab Kesri) were elected General Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.