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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Saturday, January 23, 1999 |
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9 of marriage party die in
road accident HSIDC
plea to stay order dismissed |
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Haryana to
fill post for handicapped Farmers'
fate uncertain Husband,
in-laws convicted Goyal
award for 2 scientists |
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9 of marriage party die in
road accident HISAR, Jan 22 — Nine members of a marriage party, including the bridegroom, were killed and at least six others injured when a Tata Sumo carrying them, collided with a private bus near Siwani, about 30 km from here, today. While seven persons died on the spot, two persons including a child died while being taken to hospital. According to information, the ill-fated Tata Sumo was on its way from Muklam village in Hisar district to Kalri village near Rajgarh in Rajasthan when it collided with the bus. Three of the seven killed have been identified so far. They are Inder Singh of Churi Bagriyan village in Hisar district, Balwant Singh bridegroom and Sunder both of Muklam village in Hisar. Four of the injured have
been hospitalised here while the others to Siwani
Hospital. A case has been registered. |
Crisis of confidence in HVP CHANDIGARH, Jan 22 — Though the weather has cleared after remaining foggy for days, the same cannot be said about the political scenario of Haryana which became cloudy on the eve of the new year. After the aborted coup by certain HVP rebels who were aided by a section of the state Congress and were promised help by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), the ruling party continues to suffer from a crisis of confidence despite a massive exercise to control the damage. From all available accounts, the crisis managers of the HVP led by the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, himself have succeeded in thwarting an immediate threat to the survival of the HVP-BJP government, but seeds of suspension remain sowed, waiting for right conditions to germinate. Despite assurances of loyalty to the party and the government by the suspected rebels, their words are not taken at face value. Caution is the watch word as surveillance of the MLAs and ministers continues. During the past 20 days the HVP MLAs are having a field day. Their demands, reasonable as well as unreasonable, are being conceded. Officers of their choice are being posted in their departments and constituencies. In a number of cases, inconvenient officers, whom the MLAs had not been able to dislodge in the past, have been suddenly transferred in order to placate the rebels. Such officers include DIGs and Commissioners. In a particular case, a minister got away after publicly humiliating a technocrate, about whose integrity the Chief Minister was highly appreciative. This time, however, Mr Bansi Lal could not help the technocrat. He was advised to bear with the situation. The administration is in a state of inertia as the bureaucracy waits for the political weather of the state to clear. Even the ruling partymen admit in private that the train which has been derailed by the aborted coup, will be put back on the rails after the government survives the forthcoming Budget session of the assembly. Why this uncertainty? Though the rebels say on record that the government is stable and would face the opposition onslaught in the assembly unitedly, in private they remain sceptic about their political future under the HVP banner. They seem convinced that chances of their winning the next elections on the HVP ticket are remote. They also seem convinced that the next elections, which are otherwise due in 2001, are linked with the survival of the BJP government at the Centre, which they feel, is unlikely to last till 2001. The rebels are also convinced that the next election would be fought between the Congress and the Lok Dal of Mr Om Prakash Chautala. No wonder, most of the rebels, who do not have any ideological problem in the HVP, want to secure their future with either party. On their part the HVP crisis managers are a puzzled lot. They are unable to understand why the MLAs and ministers are not happy despite all "chhoot" given to them. It goes to the credit of the HVP crisis managers that even Mr Chander Bhatia, BJP MLA from Faridabad, who had a continuous battle with the Chief Minister for a long time, has been placated. But the same managers have been somehow not so successful to win over the Cooperation Minister, Mr Narbir Singh, and the Industrial Training Minister, Mr Brij Mohan Singla, despite a long meeting between them and the Chief Minister a few days ago. It was the "Rao" from Ahirwal and the "Seth" from Jind who primarily planned the aborted coup. From the way an officer, whom Mr Narbir Singh considers highly inconvenient, has been pulled out of cold storage and posted in a senior position under the minister two days ago it appears even the HVP crisis managers have lost all hopes to placate him. Mr Singla is still considered to be a "curable case". The internal politics of the Congress have further added to the murky politics of the state. Its three senior leaders, party chief Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former party chief Birender Singh and former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, are working at cross purposes in a bid to score over one another. Immediately after Mr Hooda declared that his party would not seek any other party's support for the no-confidence motion it proposed to move, Mr Birender Singh held an informal meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (attended by nine out of the 12 MLAs) and issued a statement that they had decided to have floor coordination with other political parties. He also left no one in doubt that to move a no-confidence motion in the Budget session would only close the options of the opposition for the next six months — a stand diametrically opposed to that of Mr Hooda. It is an open secret that the HVP rebels were encouraged for adventurism by some kind of assurance given to them by Mr Birender Singh and Mr Bhajan Lal. However, Mr Hooda sought to demolish the effect of that assurance by declaring that the toppling game did not have the blessings of the Congress which was against any kind of horse trading. Mr Hooda's statement opened him to the charge of saving the Bansi Lal government by his political opponents both within and outside the Congress. Interestingly, it is Mr Hooda who stands to benefit the most in case the Bansi Lal government falls and a mid-term poll is held. If the Congress wins in the elections, Mr Hooda may become the next Chief Minister if the party follows the tradition set up by it in Rajasthan and Delhi after the recent assembly elections. In both states the party Presidents were made the Chief Ministers. After the dismal showing of his party in the Delhi and Rajasthan elections, Mr Chautala too would not like a mid-term poll in Haryana soon. The Budget session of the
Haryana Assembly is likely to turn out to be an
anti-climax. |
Orbit Resort plot restoration CHANDIGARH, Jan 22 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today declined the plea of the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) for staying the operation of its judgement restoring the 17.5-acre of plot at Gurgaon allotted to Orbit Resort for 90 days to enable it to file an SLP against the verdict in the Supreme Court. Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal, who constituted the Bench, held: "After hearing the learned counsel for the applicant, we do not find any merit in the application. Dismissed." Plot No 443, Phase V, Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon, had been allotted on September 6, 1989, to Orbit Resort, said to be owned by Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, son of Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, by the HSIDC on certain conditions. According to the terms and conditions of the agreement reached between the HSIDC and Orbit Resort, the allottee had to start and complete 25 per cent of the construction within three years from the date of issue of the allotment letter. Orbit Resort neither started the construction within the stipulated period nor did it complete the 25 per cent construction within the stipulated period. Hence the plot was resumed on January 2, 1995 and possession taken by the HSIDC on March 3, 1995. Orbit Resort had filed a petition before a Single Judge against the resumption of its plot. The Judge had upheld the resumption on the ground that the allottee had not adhered to the terms and conditions of the agreement. This order was contested by the allottee before a Division Bench through a Letters Patent Appeal. The Division Bench consisting of Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal had allowed the LPA and restored the plot to Orbit Resort. In its application, the
HSIDC had stated that "the interest of justice
requires that the operation of the order allowing the
appeal may kindly be stayed for a period of three months
from the date of delivery of a certified copy of the
judgement dated January 11, 1999, to enable the HSIDC to
approach the apex court and obtain an appropriate order
in this behalf." |
Haryana to fill post for
handicapped CHANDIGARH, Jan 22 — The Haryana Government has decided to launch a special campaign to fill all the posts reserved for the handicapped by March 31, besides issuing identity cards to the handicapped. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Social Welfare Minister, Dr Kamla Verma, here to review the implementation of various provisions made in the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, for the welfare of the handicapped by various government departments. The meeting was attended by representatives of various departments. It was decided that the offices of the civil surgeons would issue identity cards along with certificates of handicap to the handicapped on each Wednesday in their offices at the district level. Apart from identifying the nature of disability, camps would also be organised to provide surgical treatment. It was decided to conduct check-up camps for all students under the school health programme, besides providing the facility of part-time classes or open school to the handicapped. The Transport Department was directed to instruct the drivers to stop buses at proper places and provide ramps at big bus stands for the convenience of the handicapped. The Centre for the Welfare of Deaf and Dumb at Raipur Rani in Panchkula district is not only a place for treatment and rehabilitation of the dumb and hearing impaired but it is also a fine example of concern the people of the area have shown for such children as the panchayat had donated 16 kanals to build the complex of the centre. It was in 1993 that a
school was also opened there to provide educational
facilities to the deaf and dumb children. At present it
has 39 such children studying in nursery to class III. A
hostel has been set up for those hailing from far-off
areas. |
Farmers' fate uncertain UGHALAN (Hisar), Jan 22 — Hundreds of acres of land in this village along with about 20 other villages have remained unsown, thanks to the untimely rains and a callous and indifferent attitude of the government. The villagers blamed the government, saying that its efforts to drain out water were, "at best, only half-hearted". The farmers have been left to their own fate. In October the government had ordered a special girdawri to assess loss to the farmers, besides finding the area under water. This was done for granting relief to the affected farmers. According to the District Revenue Officer, Mr K.K. Gupta, one lakh seven thousand acres were found to be damaged. However, according to this type of girdawri done by the government officials, only that area is counted as "affected" which has suffered more than 50 per cent loss. The district president of the Indian National Lok Dal, Mr Puran Singh Dhabra, said the system was faulty. Because the government girdawri was done on village basis and not on individual basis. He pointed out that there were farmers with less than one acre individual land holdings. Scores of such farmers had not been able neither to harvest their kharif crops, nor could they sow the seeds for their rabi crops, due to the water lying on their land. A survey carried out by the TNS on Wednesday revealed that about 20 villages in the Narnaund area of Hansi subdivision in Hisar district are worst hit. These include Badala, Beas, Uthi, Baklana, Mola, Barh Chhaper, Khera, Ragraan, Dharamkheri, Jamini, Khanda, Sulchaini, Pithwad, Narnaunl, Rathrod, Majra, Manda, Rajpura, Dhani Brahman, Pali, Gagan Kheri, Khanpur and Raithal. Mr Ram Bhag Kharab of this village, who owns about 200 acres of land, said about half the land had remained uncultivated. The land was either under water, or the water level was too high to allow sowing of wheat. There are several farmers like Tek Ram whose land has remained uncultivated for the past three years. He owns 15 acres of land in village Jamuni Kheri. The land was submerged in 1995 floods. He has been reduced to penury. Earlier, the land was enough to feed his family. Now, his three sons have to search for work. The farmers are now feeling desperate, Mr Kharab alleged that instead of providing any relief to the farmers, it has been "rubbing salt in to their wounds". He pointed out that the farmers were being repeatedly threatened with imprisonment if they failed to repay the debts. He said similarly the government was forcing the farmers to pay the electricity charges even of those tubewells, which had not been functional for the past several months. These tubewells are under water. The farmers demanded that the government in the first instance should impose a moratorium on the realisation of loans, debts and electricity arrears, besides announcing immediate cash relief to the farmers on the Punjab pattern. The farmers were annoyed with the government. Narinder Kumar, the sarpanch of village Bakhlan, said it had been a long wait for farmers that the government may announce some cash relief. It is not just the human beings who are facing food shortage, the farmers are facing acute scarcity of fodder for their cattle as well. Mr Tek Ram said the farmers felt desperate enough to sell their cattle, as they could not afford to purchase fodder. The condition of roads is so bad that the farmers are not able to take sugarcane out of their farms. Mr Kharab said the sugarcane crop standing on hundreds of acres was likely to go waste as nobody was prepared to purchase it. There was hardly any wayout left, through which the sugarcane could be loaded in trucks. The farmers alleged that
the government was trying to delay the issue of granting
them relief. They claimed that the time may not be too
far when the farmers may be forced to desperate steps
that may even mean suicide. "May be that will make
this government understand the intensity of our
problem", Mr Kharab remarked. |
Husband, in-laws convicted FARIDABAD, Jan 22 — Mr P.L. Goyal, Additional District and Sessions Judge, yesterday sentenced Dinesh Gupta, his parents Dr Chatar Singh and Mrs Kanta for the suicide of Geetanjali, wife of Dinesh, to seven years imprisonment. According to the prosecution Dinesh was married to Geetanjali in 1995. Soon after Dinesh and his parents started harassing her to bring more dowry. After getting Rs 30,000 for purchasing a scooter the demand for a car and an air-conditioner were also raised. On May 7 Dinesh along with Geetanjali came to discuss the demand. Fed up with the greed of her husband Geetanjali consumed poison and died in hospital. The judge, however,
acquitted Mahesh, younger brother of Dinesh. |
Goyal award for 2 scientists KURUKSHETRA, Jan 22 — Prof P. Balram, Indian Institute of Science (IIS) Bangalore and Prof Girjesh Govil, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, have been selected for the 1998 Goyal awards for their outstanding contributions in biological and chemical sciences, respectively. Announcing these awards here today, convener of the advisory board for Goyal prizes, Dr S.P. Singh said that both these scientists were working towards our understanding of the chemistry of life using multi-disciplinary approach. He said Professor Balram was an internationally acknowledged scientist who had brought in the fusion of chemistry and biology through his work involving the application of Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry and fluorescence in establishing the conformation of peptides and proteins which are the building blocks for the human body. Biomedical applications of Professor Balram's work resulted in the development of the first indigenously made HIV diagnostic kit based on synthetic peptides, Dr Singh added. Highlighting the contributions of Professor Govil, Dr Singh said that he (Professor Govil) was selected for the award for his basic contribution in unrevealing the chemistry of living systems which involves a unique multidisciplinary approach. Professor Govil is one of the leading scientists of the country in the area of biomolecular structure and functions. With the advent of high speed computers and the possibility of coupling theoretical approaches, this area has emerged as one of the most vigorous fields of research today. He had established a world-class laboratory at TIFR, Mumbai, Dr Singh added. The awards carrying Rs 1
lakh in cash, a gold medal and a citation will be
conferred at an award ceremony at Kurukshetra University
in February. |
Release of grant sought KURUKSHETRA, Jan 22 — The Haryana Pradesh Yuva Aggarwal Sammelan has given an ultimatum to the Haryana Government that the grant to Maharaja Aggarsain Medical College, Agroha, should be released by January 23 failing which it will launch an agitation. Mr Rajesh Singla,
General-Secretary of the sammelan, said here yesterday
that during the first phase, memorandums would be sent to
the Chief Minister, Haryana, through the Deputy
Commissioner. In case their demands are not fulfilled by
March 31, then during the second phase, their workers
would start boycotting the public functions of the Chief
Minister. |
Sir Chhotu Ram remembered ROHTAK, Jan 22 — The birth anniversary of kisan leader Sir Chhotu Ram was celebrated at Chhotu Ram Park here today. A large number of people from various parts of the state attended the function. However, the chief guest, Mr Karan Singh, PWD Minister, failed to turn up. Speaking on the occasion, Pradesh Congress chief Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said adequate attention was not being paid by the government to improve the lot of farmers. Paying tribute to the late leader, he said Sir Chhotu Ram had created an example by freeing the farmers from clutches of money-lenders. Mr Yoganand Shastri, a minister in the Delhi Government, who was the guest of honour on the occasion, said it was sheer hardwork and honesty which helped Sir Chhotu Ram to rise to such a high position. PANIPAT (FOC):
The birth anniversary of Sir Chhotu Ram was celebrated
here on Friday. It was organised by the Jatt Dharamarth
Sabha. Mr Kanwal Singh, Development and Panchayat
Minister, Haryana, was the chief guest on the occasion. |
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