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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Monday, February 8, 1999 |
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MLAs' suspension
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Hooda flays
pardon of murder convict Yatra
causes traffic jam Blood
donation his passion Bhajan
predicts fall of Haryana Govt People
want change in state: Selja Training
camps for Haj pilgrims |
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MLAs' suspension
"pre-planned" HISAR, Feb 7 — Senior leader of the Indian National Lok Dal, Prof Sampat Singh, today appealed to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha to convene a meeting of Speakers and Chairpersons of Legislative Assemblies and Councils from all over the country to evolve a mechanism for smooth functioning of legislative Houses. Referring to the suspension of nine legislators for the entire Budget session by the Speaker in the Haryana Assembly, Prof Sampat Singh said: "The government was seeking shelter under the august office of the Speaker". The INLD leader claimed that the suspensions were pre-planned. He said the Bansi Lal Government wanted to rush through the session which was convened more for fulfilling the constitutional obligation (of convening the session at least once in six months) than for conducting business. He claimed Mr Bansi Lal had during one of his earlier tenures passed the Budget in a day. Prof Sampat Singh regretted that the Opposition was being "strangulated". Instead of encouraging a healthy debate, he said, the government was trying to crush the Opposition. The former minister claimed the office of the Speaker has been hijacked by the government" as it was wary of the dissatisfaction among its legislators who had already tried ousting Mr Bansi Lal. The INLD leader said it was unfortunate that the people had to tolerate a "deaf and dumb" government. He pointed out that the government was not prepared to give a hearing to the people's representatives. He pointed out that the Chief Minister was not even prepared to face the press. He said in order to avoid the onslaught of the Opposition over government failures the government had tried to use the "august office" of the Speaker. He alleged that the present government had destroyed the infrastructure of political and democratic institutions in the state. He claimed the Chief Minister was holding regular cabinet meetings "just to keep a watch on the activities of his ministers as he is apprehensive about their loyalty". Prof Sampat Singh claimed
the suspension of the Opposition members was aimed at
saving the government from possible embarrassment over
its failures. He claimed the government would have been
"exposed in the eyes of the people" had it
allowed a frank and free discussion in the assembly. |
MDU asked to pay PF ROHTAK, Feb 7 — A local court has directed Maharshi Dayanand University to pay the university contributory provident fund to a retired Professor of Dr B.R. Ambedkar Chair of the University. The university had withheld the fund due to changed terms and conditions of the appointment of the petitioner. The petitioner, Dr Jage Ram Siwach, who retired on February 4 last year filed a civil suit to claim the university contributory provident fund (CPF). Challenging the decision of the authorities Dr Siwach had claimed that he was entitled to the CPF as per his appointment made under terms of the Statute-22 (1) of the M.D. University Act on March 7, 1992, up to the age of his retirement that had been 65 years. But he alleged that the then Vice-Chancellor due to some reasons had become biased and got the terms and conditions of his appointment letter changed through a resolution of the Executive Council. According to the new conditions the petitioner was told by that in view of the special mode of his appointment he was not entitled to the benefit of the CPF in terms of the Statute-35 (2) (ii). Professor Siwach then filed a civil suit on November 2, 1995, seeking relief from the court that he was entitled to the benefit of the CPF and sought the declaration of the resolution as illegal, arbitrary, political motivated and against the rules of the defendant university. After hearing the case the
Civil Judge (jr division) Mr A.K. Singhal, ordered the
university to pay the share of the university CPF to the
plaintiff from the date of appointment to the age of his
retirement. |
Chautala promises free power, water KAITHAL, Feb 7 — The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) President and a former Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has promised to provide loans at 4 per cent interest to farmers and small entrepreneurs willing to set up industries in the state, if his party came to power. He was addressing party workers at a meeting held here yesterday. Mr Chautala said it was a pity that farmers had to pay high rate of interest while big industrialists were being provided subsidies amounting to thousands of crores and loans at low rate of interest. Besides promising free power and water for irrigation to farmers, Mr Chautala said persons living below poverty line would also be provided free power. While criticising the HVP-BJP coalition government in the state, he said the government had failed to provide relief to the electorate promised during the last Assembly elections. It had burdened all sections of society with taxes, he added. Mr Chautala criticised the BJP-led central government for the recent hike in the prices of urea and other commodities. He urged the government to withdraw the hike and added that he had already threatened to withdraw support to the central government if it did not reduce the hike. FATEHABAD, (FOC): Mr Chautala termed the "Kranti "Padyatras" being undertaken by the state Congress as a fiasco. He was talking to media persons here on Sunday. He added that these "padyatras" were a flop as Congress leaders had not been able to persuade the people of the state to join them. Ridiculing the very purpose of these yatras, Mr Chautala said none of the Congress workers knew the motive behind it. The former Chief Minister said the leadership of the Congress believed in practising politics from their drawing rooms and did not believe in mixing up with the common people. Terming the Congress as a
party without a leader, Mr Chautala said the party had to
"import" its leader as it could not find a
single person in the country to lead its ranks. Making a
dig at the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, he said
at her public rallies she only read the written matter
which was handed over to her. |
Hooda flays pardon of murder
convict CHANDIGARH, Feb 7 — The Haryana Congress has flayed the HVP-BJP government for recommending the pardon of a former BJP municipal commissioner of Hansi, Shiriyans Kumar Jain, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court in a murder case. In a statement issued here, the President of the party, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said the manner and haste in which the mercy petition of Shiriyans Kumar Jain for pardon was accepted within 10 days, showed that the state government had thrown to the winds the judicious wisdom of the apex court. Mr Hooda said the murder of Krishan Khandelwal, Congress municipal commissioner of Hansi, who was a candidate for the post of President of the local body, on the night intervening October 12 and 13, 1987, had led to a statewide agitation by the Congress, and Hansi town had observed an unprecedented strike for five days to protest against the heinous crime committed during the regime of Mr Devi Lal. He alleged that the BJP, which was then an ally of the ruling Janata Dal, could not swallow the impending defeat of its candidate against the Congress nominee. Mr Hooda said the Home Department of the state, more so the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, seemed to have completely surrendered to the BJP. He reminded that Mr Bansi Lal, who was in the Congress at that time, had also supported the party agitation. He said it was strange that the same Mr Bansi Lal had now buckled under the pressure of the BJP. Perhaps, Mr Bansi Lal succumbed to pressure in the wake of a revolt brewing within his party, he added. The Congress leader
expressed surprise over the "unusual order"
issued by the Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, pardoning Jain
without going into the merits of the Supreme Court's
judgement. He said if the President, Mr K.R. Narayanan,
could reject the recommendations of the Union Government
in certain controversial matters, it would have added to
Mr Prasad's stature if he had considered the matter
dispassionately. |
Yatra causes traffic jam FAZILPUR (Gurgaon), Feb 7 — The ongoing "kranti padyatra" of the Congress in Haryana was given a warm send off here today. At least 1,000 Congress workers, led by the vice-president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) and former minister, Rao Dharampal, took part. The yatra passed through a dozen villages on the Sohna-Gurgaon road. Addressing party workers before the start of the yatra, Rao Dharampal said the programme was being organised by the HPCC at the directive of the party leadership. The purpose was to rejuvenate party workers and highlight the shortcomings of the HVP-BJP government in the state. Rao Dharampal, who has been representing Sohna in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, alleged that the Bansi Lal regime in the state was harassing Congress workers. He cautioned the government against a "witchhunt", or else the Congress would launch an agitation. The jatha of Congress workers from Sohna trekked a distance of 10 km to pass on the baton to the jatha led by the party MLA from Gurgaon, Mr Dharamvir Gabba, at Rajiv Chowk. Among others, the district president of the party, Mr Khurshid Ahmed, Mr Sudarshan Pal, Devender Thakran (Goli Pehlwan), Capt Mahabir Singh and Mr Naresh Chhikara accompanied the yatra. The jatha, which started in Gurgaon assembly, passed through Basai, Dhankot and Chandu villages. The yatra in Sohna and Gurgaon led to a traffic jam, causing immense hardship to commuters. Rao Inderjit Singh, Congress MP from Mahendragarh providing overall leadership to the yatra in South Haryana, made his appearance in Gurgaon. He left after a short while to join the jatha in the Pataudi assembly constituency. Talking to TNS, Rao Inderjit said successive governments in the state had "ignored" South Haryana in spite of the fact that several ministers belonged to the area. He wondered why South Haryana was not given its share of available water. KURUKSHETRA (FOC): The HVP-BJP alliance government should publish a "white paper" on the much-publicised scheme to supply electricity round the clock from June in Haryana. At a press conference held at Nilkanthi Yatri Niwas late in the evening here on Saturday, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, president, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (I), who was leading "kranti padyatra", demanded the Mr Bansi Lal government should fulfil the promises made to the people and stop "fooling" them. Mr Hooda said the people
were worried at the enhancement of electricity charges
time and again. |
Blood donation his passion SIRSA : Blood and toil for human welfare is the mode of true service to God — this has been the essence of meaningful life of 35-year-old M.P. Sharma. He was honoured for his distinguished services in the field of blood donation and family welfare on the Republic Day by the district administration. At present, Mr Sharma is working as district youth coordinator in the Nehru Yuva Kendra here. Increasing the horizon of his activities beyond his official duties, this dynamic youngman is dedicated to the elimination of health problems of the rural masses. He has latest to his credit 12 "viklang sahayata shivers", 31 blood donation camps, eight eye camps, 11 family planning camps, two medical aid camps, a massive awareness drive for hepatitis-B, polio pulse, AIDS and drug addiction and various workshops on burning health issues. No wonder, this youngman has been a recipient of the President of India, "Jeevan Raksha Padak" (received as a student) and the state award of J & K for his courage, integrity, competence and distinguished service to society. While recalling the incidents for which he was given the bravery award, Mr Sharma tells this correspondent how on the night of 28 and 29 October, 1993, while returning from Mata Vaishno Devi, he had noticed a girl stumbling and falling down the hill. Not caring for his life, he jumped immediately and caught hold of the girl. In this process, he was badly injured but the girl was saved. In another incident on March 24, 1984, Mr Sharma immediately jumped into a nullah after a scooter driver fell in Ploura near Jammu. Mr Sharma rescued the unconscious man by taking him to SMGS Hospital, Jammu, all alone and saved his life by donating his blood. Blood donation is a passion for him. Not only has he donated blood 34 times till today but also has arranged more than 250 voluntary blood donation camps, including a historic 'rakt daan jagran mela' at Sirsa on January 10, 1996, when 2451 units were collected in six hours. 'Let no one die for want of a drug or blood' is the motto of his life. Spreading literacy, especially among the under-privileged, service to lepers, campaign against dowry and arranging mass marriages have been some of his other contributions to society. In 1992, he received the J&K State Award for organising and involving the rural youth of border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in nation-building activities. It is a privilege that a man of such potential and zeal is guiding the rural youth through 325 youth clubs and yuvti mandals covering almost all villages of the district. His contribution to
society will inspire many others too. |
Bhajan predicts fall of Haryana
Govt KURUKSHETRA, Feb 7 — The Haryana Government will fall very soon. Claiming this, a former Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal, today told the mediapersons that had the policemen not kidnapped two out of the 13 MLAs, the HVP-BJP government would have fallen on February 1 last. Mr Bhajan Lal said Mr Bansi Lal's government had already lost its credibility because it had failed miserably on all fronts. He said that the democracy had virtually been strangulated by placing nine MLAs under suspension by the Bansi Lal government and thus snatching their right of freedom of speech. He said that during earlier regimes, action had to be taken against such MLAs who went beyond limit but now by suspending nine MLAs, Mr Bansi Lal had proved that he was afraid of losing his ground. Attacking the BJP, Mr Bhajan Lal said that even the BJP who boasted of its idealism always, kept mum on the issue of suspension of the MLAs and consequently opposition members had no option except to walk out from the Haryana Vidhan Sabha session. If elections were declared today, the BJP could get five seats only, he added. Commenting on the present situation in the state, Mr Bhajan Lal said the law and order situation had been deteriorating since Mr Bansi Lal took the reins of the Haryana Government. He alleged that corruption was on rampant in Haryana. On the other hand, injustice was being done to employees as if Mr Bansi Lal was confident about his not coming to power again. He said that the same was
the case at the Centre where the BJP was running the show
with the support of other parties. The Union Government
should have suspended the Haryana Government by now, he
suggested. |
People want change in state:
Selja FATEHABAD, Feb 7 — A former Union Minister and AICC Secretary, Ms Selja, has said the "Kranti Padyatras" by the state unit of the Congress will pave the way for the party's coming to power in the state. She was speaking to mediapersons at the local Ramseva Samiti today before starting the padyatra from here. She was accompanied by the HPCC Vice-President, Dr K.V. Singh, a senior Congress leader, Dr Vinod Batra, Mr Jai Pal Singh Lali, secretary of the HPCC, Mr Ram Raj Mehta and Mr Krishan Taneja, both members of the HPCC, Mr Arvind Sharma, block Congress chief, and Mr Sucha Singh, Mr Vijay Choudhary and Mr Ashok Garg. She alleged that the people were disillusioned with the Centre and the state government. She said the people in villages were facing the problems of power and water scarcity but the government was doing nothing to lessen their woes. She also hit out at the Indian National Lok Dal and said it had failed to fulfil its duty as an opposition party. The people, she said, were now looking towards the Congress and claimed that a large number of workers of these parties were coming to the fold of the Congress. Earlier, Ms Selja addressed a public meeting at the local Balmiki chowk after reaching the town. She said the advent of Mrs Sonia Gandhi at the helm of affairs of the Congress had totally changed the political scenario in the country. She will halt a Kharakheri
village for the night and enter Hisar district on Monday
on her way to Dhanger village. |
Case against former MP SONEPAT, Feb 7 — The Gohana police has registered a case under Sections 323, 324 and 506, IPC against Dr Arvind Sharma, former MP and vice-president of the Sarvjatiya Party, Haryana, for allegedly inflicting knife injuries on Mr Umesh Sharma, a Youth Congress leader and a resident of Sikandarpur Majra village, on the night of February 5. According to a report received here, Dr Sharma had borrowed Rs 1.70 lakh from the Congress leader in 1996 but failed to repay the same inspite of repeated requests. On the night of the incident, both met at the residence of Mr Dharamvir Gaur a BJP leader of Gohana and grappled with each other after an altercation. Dr Sharma attacked the Youth Congress leader with a knife. The police is investigating but no arrest has been made. Dr Sharma has described the case against him as a "conspiracy". He has denied that he borrowed Rs 1.70 lakh from him. On the contrary, the Youth Congress leader owned Rs 5 lakh to him which he had spent on sending him to Japan, he stated. Dr Sharma has accused the
Youth Congress leader of trying to malign him on the
behest of vested interests and said he would contact the
SSP, Sonepat, Mr K Selvraj, and apprise him of the
"facts". |
Ration card list "bungled" SIRSA, Feb 7 — Mr Jiwan Ram Chaperwal, a senior Rastriya Janata Dal leader of Haryana, talking to this correspondent here today, challenged the veracity of the list for distribution of ration cards. He alleged that the Civil Supplies Department had included only 30 per cent names of those below the poverty line in the list and one-third of families under the poverty line had been excluded deliberately so that affluent persons could be benefited under pressure from BJP and the Haryana Vikas Party legislators. He demanded that the matter be entrusted with an all-party committee to scrutinise the lists prepared by the department. Mr Chaperwal criticised
the HVP-BJP government for its "anti-people"
policies. He alleged that despite successive failure of
paddy and other crops, particularly in Sirsa district the
state government had not announced any subsidy for the
farmers. He alleged that poor farmers were being harassed
by agencies for recovery of loans and were being supplied
neither adequate water for their crops nor power. |
VC's discriminatory attitude
resented HISAR, Feb 7 — The Guru Jambheshwar University Teachers Association (GJUTA) has expressed resentment at the discriminatory attitude of the Vice-Chancellor towards faculty members. A resolution in this regard was passed unanimously by the association at a meeting held here on Friday. The resolution also expressed resentment for non-availability of the Vice-Chancellor during meeting hours. The association in another resolution has demanded that the condition of three years service for applying for outside jobs and five years service for forwarding applications for scholarships, fellowships for higher studies of confirmed teachers should be withdrawn. The association resolved to take out a protest march with black badges next week if the university failed to implement new pay scales. The association has
demanded that anomalies in the house allotment policy
should be removed and the vacant houses should be
allotted according to the seniority list. The
discretionary quota in the house allotment should be
scrapped. The teachers demanded that houses on the
university campus should be allotted only to regular
employees and F-type houses allotted to teachers on
contract basis should be vacated. |
Jind to have sewage treatment
plant JIND, Feb 7 — Mr Brij Mohan Singla, Industrial Training and Vocational Education Minister, Haryana, and a local MLA, said here yesterday that about Rs 2 crore would be spent for the disposal of sewerage water of that town. He said a sewage treatment plant would be set up here soon. He added that treated water would be utilised for irrigational purpose. Mr Singla said Rs 2.25 crore would be spent on the augmentation of water supply schemes in rural areas of the district during the current financial year. While more than Rs 1 crore had been spent on such schemes in urban areas. The minister said a bypass
from Jayanti Devi Temple to the Timber Market would be
constructed to reduce traffic congestion in the town. He
directed officers of the local Municipal Council to
remove encroachments from the roads for the smooth flow
of traffic. |
Fresh survey on poverty line SONEPAT, Feb 7 — The administration has decided to conduct a fresh survey of the people living below the poverty line in the district. This was stated by Mr P.K. Mahapatra, Deputy Commissioner, at an "open darbar" held at Ganaur, 16 km from here, yesterday. Mr Mahapatra said the survey would help, deserving people to get subsidised ration. The Deputy Commissioner took serious note of complaints of residents of Ganaur town about irregularities and malpractices in the assessment of the House Tax and directed the Secretary, Municipal Committee, to take immediate steps for the removal of people's grievances. He asked the civic
authorities to take steps for removing filth and garbage
from the streets and other places of Ganaur every day and
to take stern action against those safai workers found
responsible for insanitary conditions. |
Train services disrupted AMBALA, Feb 7 (PTI) — Train services were disrupted this evening on the Delhi-Ambala section following reports of a bomb lying on the railway line near Shahabad. A bomb disposal team of the Army was summoned and senior officers of the GRP and the Railways rushed to the spot, Divisional Railway Manager (Ambala Division) Vijay Kumar said. Many train services were being terminated at Ambala cantonment while some others were being diverted, he said. "Whether it is a bomb
or a hoax call will be known only after the bomb disposal
squad reaches the spot", he said. |
Training camps for Haj pilgrims CHANDIGARH, Feb 7 — The Haryana Government will organise special training camps in Faridabad and Gurgaon districts for Haj pilgrims going through the State Haj Committee. Stating this here today, the Chairman of the committee, Mr Jaswant Singh, said necessary information regarding the Haj and training would be imparted to the pilgrims at the camps. Also, as part of precautionary measures, they would be vaccinated for infectious diseases like brain fever. He said the training camp for the pilgrims of Faridabad district would be organised at 'Idgah' of Sector 6, Faridabad, on February 15. Mr Jaswant Singh, who is
also the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Wakf,
Fisheries and PWD (B&R), said similar training camps
would be organised at Badkali Chowk, near Nagina, on
February 18 and at Punhana on February 20 for the
pilgrims of Gurgaon district. |
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