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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Thursday, June 24, 1999 |
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Cong keeps close watch |
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INLD
ready to face poll: Chautala ‘Soft
targets’ moved to safe places Lok
Pal to bring out booklet Incentive
to control population Survey
on rural development Chowkidar
sabha sammelan today Minister
inaugurates tourist complex |
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Cong
keeps close watch NEW DELHI, June 23 — The Congress today continued to keep a close watch over developments in Haryana while a direct contact was established between the party high command and the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal. The Congress central leadership made its assessment through consultations with party MLAs from the state and also opened channels of communication with the HVP leadership in Chandigarh. The AICC General Secretary, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, who is in-charge of party affairs in the state, was the key man in the dialogue within the party and outside. Mr Mukherjee said he spoke to Mr Bansi Lal over the telephone in Chandigarh, but refused to divulge the contents of the conversation. While not disclosing the formulation, Mr Mukherjee reiterated that the Congress would try to prevent the formation of a government by the BJP-INLD combine in Haryana. Talks of the merger of Mr Bansi Lal’s party with the Congress gained ground once again even as former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal emerged as a staunch opponent of the move. "There is uncertainty in the state and what role should the Congress play is being discussed with leaders of the party from Haryana,’’ Mr Mukherjee said. Mr Mukherjee met a delegation of party leaders led by the PCC chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda. It included Mr Bhajan Lal, Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, Ms Selja, Mr Sultan Singh and Mr K R Punia. The MLAs included Mr Birender Singh, Mrs Kartari Devi, Mr Khurshed Ahmed, Capt Ajay Singh, Mr Satender Rana, Rao Narbir Singh, Mr N S Yadav, Mr L D Arora, Mr Harpal Singh and Mr Devraj Dewan, who was admitted to the party recently. One viewpoint was that the HVP should be allowed to merge with the Congress which could then work out a strategy and draw up the future course of action while another section was of the opinion that nothing should be done which would give the HVP the upper hand. A meeting of the Haryana Legislature Congress Party has been called at Chandigarh on June 25 to take a final view on the matter, according to Mr Hooda. Meanwhile, Mr Mukherjee criticised the attempt by the BJP to create political instability in the state right in the middle of the battle in Kargil. "One dimension till now is that a large number of casualties in Kargil belong to Haryana. The BJP is creating political instability at a moment when the state requires a stable political regime to support military operations,’’ Mr Mukherjee said at the regular briefing. He also demanded that reports of the Prime Minister talking of corruption in Haryana should be substantiated. Mr Mukherjee said the nation needed to be told by the Prime Minister as to when and how did he get the allegations of corruption and what action he took. He said it was a serious
matter when a Prime Minister spoke of charges against a
Chief Minister, especially when he was an ally. |
Cong divided over backing
Bansi govt ROHTAK, June 23 — The Pradesh Congress leaders are divided over extending support to the Bansi Lal government, whereas the CPM has demanded dissolution of the state Assembly and holding of fresh elections simultaneously with the parliamentary poll. The support of the Congress was very crucial for the survival of the government which has been reduced to minority following the withdrawal of support by its poll ally, the BJP. If the Congress extends support to the HVP government, Mr Bansi Lal will be able to contain dissidence within his party and even go to the extent of encouraging defection from other parties. Former Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal, who enjoys support of a majority of the Congress legislators, is opposed to extending support to the government or merger of the HVP with the Congress due to his political compulsions. Mr Birender Singh and Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, former PCC Presidents, have also reportedly opposed any such move that could provide life to the HVP Government. They have reportedly told the AICC General Secretary and in charge Haryana affairs, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, that any such move would be suicidal for the Congress in Haryana. The PCC Chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda has adopted a very cautious approach on the issue. He told reporters at Delhi that the Congress would take an appropriate decision in the interests of the party and the state. Mr Inderjit Singh, Secretary, Haryana unit of the CPM said there would be no stable government in Haryana if the present arithmatic of the Assembly continues. He has also demanded dissolution of the Assembly to prevent horsetrading. The CPM leader said unfortunately the unprincipled politics in Haryana was getting strengthened and the leaders have failed to set any healthy trend. The BJP, which failed to engineer defections from the HVP has now aligned with the INLD to escape incumbency factor. Meanwhile, the visit of
the AICC President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi to Haryana on June
25 has been cancelled due to political instability in the
state. She was scheduled to visit Rohtak, Sonepat,
Jhajjar to offer condolences to the families of Army
jawans who died fighting Pakistani-based intruders in the
Kargil and Dras sectors. |
Double speak goes on CHANDIGARH, June 23 — Double speak thy name is politics. Today when power equations in Haryana have changed fast following the withdrawal of support by the BJP to the Bansi Lal government, statements issued by various leaders on various occasions make an interesting reading. In 1986-87, the BJP was with the Lok Dal supreme, Mr Devi Lal, in the agitation against the Rajiv-Longowal accord and Mr Bansi Lal was the Chief Minister. The BJP leaders, including Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, and Dr Kamla Verma, used to describe Mr Bansi Lal as the "hero of the Emergency". The same BJP entered into a poll alliance with Mr Bansi Lal’s HVP in 1996. Defending Mr Bansi Lal against criticism by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Mr Sharma stated in the last session of the Assembly that the Chief Minister was not only the architect of Haryana, but was also a responsive person. After the withdrawal of support, Mr Sharma criticised Mr Bansi Lal for being a dictator. In 1991, Mr Bansi Lal, who was itching for his expulsion from the Congress, described the action of Rajiv Gandhi for withdrawing support to the Chandra Shekhar Government on the issue of surveillance as "irresponsible and childish and also for adopting a "double standard". Today he is seeking support of the Congress to save his government. When Mrs Sonia Gandhi visited Narwana and Rohtak on October 12 last year she said the Haryana Government had failed on all fronts and had lost the right to stay in power. She went on to say the law and order had collapsed and the people were feeling insecure. Kidnappings, dacoities and extortions had become the rule of the day. Excesses on women and weaker sections were on the increase. Today her party took no time to come to the rescue of the same government, which she had felt had lost the right to stay in power only eight months ago. a repeat of Bihar! Reacting to Mrs Sonia's statement at Rohtak, the Haryana Government through its two ministers, Mr Karan Singh Dalal and Mr Attar Singh Saini, had issued a statement on October 13 which not only referred to the AICC president's links with Quattrochi, and accused in the Bofors case, but also said that "it is a well known-fact that Mrs Gandhi is only reading out speeches written by those who are trying to make the best out of her ignorance about politics." The MP-son of the Chief Minister, Mr Surinder Singh, told a TV channel yesterday that his party had urged the 'honourable President" of the Congress to support the HVP. Mr Dalal told TNS today
that the October statement against Mrs Gandhi was not
shown to him before it was issued by the Haryana Public
Relations department nor had he signed it. |
INLD ready to face poll: Chautala NEW DELHI, June 23 — The leader of the Opposition in the Haryana Assembly and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader, Mr Om Prakash Chautala has said his party is prepared to face elections at a fortnight’s notice. "We want to make it clear that we were never interested in wielding power or forming a government but we are keen on the formation of an alternative government. The first task before us is to see that the government is toppled when it faces the motion in the Assembly on Friday. The Congress will have to support the HVP and the cat will be out of the bag during the trial of strength,’’ he added. Asked whether his party would be able to muster support of legislators to get the magic number, Mr Chautala said, "The mathematical truth is before all of us. We have never abandoned hope." Mr Chautala said his party would like to ensure that the people of the state get a secure and safe administration which met their aspirations. He added that his party would look forward to getting support of the BJP and the dissident legislators of the of Haryana Vikas Party. The INLD leader said his party was happy that sense has finally dawned on the BJP and they had decided to withdraw support. We had been telling them for the past three years not to be a party to the corrupt practices of the Bansi Lal government as their credibility would be affected. For us, the HVP and the Congress were untouchables. The HVP has destroyed the state while the Congress has destroyed the nation. Mr Chautala pointed out that, "The law and order situation is a cause of concern. All officers of the rank of DSP are keeping a vigil on the movements of HVP MLAs. The police presence in the state is ineffective. Encroachment of land is common and jobs are being auctioned." He said the INLD had requested the Haryana Governor to appoint an observer to look into their complaint against the Haryana Speaker, Mr Chattar Singh Chauhan. Mr Chautala dismissed
allegations that his party supported the Vajpayee
government on the condition that the BJP withdrew support
from the Bansi Lal government. "If this were true,
we would have asked the BJP to topple the government the
very next day on April 18." |
‘Soft
targets’ moved to safe places CHANDIGARH, June 23 — With just two days to go before the trial of strength on the floor of the House, crisis managers of the ruling Haryana Vikas Party today made almost its entire lot incommunicado to save them from possible poaching by the BJP, the Indian National Lok Dal and the HVP rebels. According to informed sources, the HVP MLAs and Independents considered to be "soft targets" were taken to "safe places" immediately after a meeting of the HVP MLAs held at the residence of the Speaker of the Assembly, Prof Chhattar Singh Chauhan, last evening. The MLAs have been kept either at the houses of loyalist ministers, or government guest houses. Yesterday's meeting was presided over by the seniormost minister in the Bansi Lal Cabinet, Mr Mani Ram Godara, in the absence of the Chief Minister, who is confined to bed for the past few days. It was clear from the opening remarks of Mr Godara that certain HVP MLAs were adverse to the possible merger of the party with the Congress. Mr Godara said he and his colleagues had built the HVP with their sweat and blood. It was their duty to save its government and, therefore, they should remain united during this crisis. Though Mr Godara welcomed support from the Congress he asserted that if there was any proposal to merge the HVP with the Congress, he would be the last person to quit the HVP, a sentiment appreciated by many at the meeting. As many as 30 MLAs — 25 belonging to the HVP and five Independents — signed a joint statement, expressing confidence in Mr Bansi Lal's leadership and condemning the BJP for its "immoral, shameful and unbecoming act" of withdrawing support to the Bansi Lal Government. HVP sources said since the meeting was convened at a very short notice following the withdrawal of support by the BJP in the afternoon, not all MLAs could attend it. However, barring the four known dissidents — Mr Jagan Nath, Mr Narbir Singh, Mr Brij Mohan Singla and Mrs Krishna Gehlawat — the others had conveyed their acceptance of the statement on the telephone. Meanwhile, HVP dissidents today tried to put up a brave front by claiming that their number could swell to 15 by June 25 when the Chief Minister would try to prove his majority in the Assembly. Asked if they would defy the party whip and risk disqualification under the anti-defection law, Mr Narbir Singh, Mr Jagan Nath and Mr Singla said the question would arise only if their number was less than 12, the magic figure necessary to split the 35-member HVP. However, Mr Jagan Nath added that they were considering legal position how to defy the whip. When the three dissidents were talking to the press at the residence of advocate Mohan Jain, their colleague, Mrs Gehlawat, was seen by reliable sources at the Chief Minister's residence. However, HVP sources refused to comment when asked if Mrs Gehlawt had crossed over to the loyalist camp. The three rebels
asserted that whatever might be the political scenario of
the state in the coming days, Mr Bansi Lal would not be
the Chief Minister after June 25. They did not elaborate
their thesis. |
Lok Pal to bring out booklet BHIWANI, June 23 — Unless active cooperation of the public does not come forth purity in social life will remain a dream. This was stated by the Lok Pal of Haryana, Mr I.P. Vashisht, while addressing public representatives in Panchayat Bhavan here yesterday on his first visit to the district. He said anybody could send his complaint against any public representative or bureaucrat directly to the Lok Pal. However, an affidavit, the requisite fee and concrete proof of corruption were necessary to support the complaint, he said. Mr Vashisht added that the condition of affidavit and requisite fee could be relaxed if the Lok Pal found that the complaint was legitimate. He said a retired teacher was provided with this relaxation on a reasonable complaint. He said anonymity is maintained somebody so desires. Mr Vashisht appealed that one should desist from making false complaints in a bid to tarnish the image of a person. He said it had been established that most bureaucrats and high-ranking officers were corrupt but the same yardstick could not be applied to everyone. He said a booklet would be brought out in order to provide knowledge about this independent body which has the right to constitute an inquiry against from a representative of the gram panchayat to the Chief Minister. Earlier, addressing members of the Bhiwani Bar Association, Mr Vashisht said lawyers were an "intellectual class" and could play an important role in curbing prevailing corruption in society. The Deputy Commissioner,
Mr K.S. Yadav, the Superintendent of Police, Mr S.S.
Deswal, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dr R.B.
Langyan, were among those who attended the function. |
Incentive to control population ROHTAK, June 23 — Continuous and unchecked growth of population which perhaps is problem number one for the country at present has also become a cause of serious concern for several people. One such organisation is the Indo-British Education Society, based here, which has evolved a unique way to control the problem. The society set up last year, held a special function here recently to launch its unique programme. According to the programme, the society has decided to give financial incentives to the couples who follow the scheme, which promises to provide a cash reward of Rs 5,000. This amount will be given to those eligible couples who keep a space of minimum of five years between the first and the second child. The society has launched this scheme at Makroli Khurd village of the district in the first phase. According to Dr Prem Prakash Lamoria, who has prepared the scheme, the benefit would be given only to those couples who get registered with the society. He said already as many as 94 eligible couples of Makroli village had got registered. Out of these 51 couples had one child and rest had been recently married and had no issue so far. Dr Lamoria claims that if the scheme was launched for one crore of the population, the total expenditure spent in a span of about eight to 10 years would be equivalent to half the amount of old age pension of one year. He said the budget of several crores being spent on "Apni Beti Apna Dhan" Yojna, could be well used in such a scheme which could bring down the birth rate from the present 28 per 1,000 to 17 per 1,000 after five years. He said the society would be financing the project from its own budget and if the scheme got successful then it could be extended to other parts of the state. He said about 438 couples had been identified in the target village which had a population of over 2630. The society had prepared a follow up and an awareness programme for the registered and identified couples, according to which the eligible couples would not only be guided about the family planning means but also helped to take proper care of the new-born babies and infants. The society has prepared some booklets and hand-outs which would be distributed through volunteers and anganwadi workers to the couples who can read and write. For illiterate couples, he said the volunteers would tell about the means to keep space between two children. Lt. Gen. (retd) D Raghunath, consultant, WHO and chairman of the Life Sciences Board in the office of the Director-General, Health Services of the Ministry of Heath, who inaugurated the issuing of the family welfare booklet and registration of couples said new and attractive schemes had to be launched to involve the people at a mass scale. Lauding the schemes he said the programme could be compared to the "googly balls" of former cricketer Chandershekhar in which batsman had to be bowled out. He observed that it could become an example for the other agencies working to bring down population explosion. The president of the society, Mr Chandan Singh , later presented cash rewards of Rs 500 to four couples of the village, who had only one child for the past five years. He said the society proposed to hold a sports meet for the physically handicapped children in the district soon.
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Survey on rural development ROHTAK, June 23 — The Scientists Community Consortium for Sustainable Rural Development (SCCFSRD), a national-level non-governmental organisation based in New Delhi and having a branch at Rohtak, will conduct a three-month research-cum-survey in collaboration with the University of Salford, London, from June 25. According to Dr Sunil
Dhussa, Secretary of the SCCFSRD, the programme had been
taken up for the first time in the field of environment
and resource development, which involved experts of the
two countries. He said a six-member team of students of
the Department of Environmental Resources led by Dr S.
Frost of the University of Salford will be staying at
Rohtak. The team will visit various parts of Haryana for
the work. The main thrust of the work includes energy
technology assessment for rural development, energy
management in small and medium-scale industries, water
management and looking into the role of the NGOs in new
approaches in forestry in Haryana. |
Chowkidar sabha sammelan today SONEPAT, June 23 — The Gramin Chowkidar Sabha, Haryana, is organising its third two-day annual sammelan from June 24 at Karnal to finalise an action plan for launching a struggle against the failure of the state government to accept the demands of the agitating chowkidars in the state. Mr Howa Singh, Vice-President of the Haryana state committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), told mediapersons here yesterday that more than 1,000 delegates from all over the state would take part in this conference. Mr S.N. Solanki, president of the Haryana unit of CITU, will be the chief guest. The conference will be inaugurated by Mr Prabhat Singh, General Secretary of the Lal Jhanda Brick-Kiln Mazdoor Union, Haryana. The CITU leader urged
the state government to grant the status of government
employees to village chowkidars and salary in accordance
with the Minimum Wages Act. He also demanded immediate
fixation of duty hours for the village chowkidars and
said they should not be harassed by officials to do work
at their homes. |
Minister inaugurates tourist
complex ROHTAK, June 23 — The Minister of State for Tourism, Mr Ram Bhajan Aggarwal today inaugurated a new wing of the Tilyar Lake tourist complex. However two children, whose birthday fall today, were special guests at the function. Mr Aggarwal said from now onwards the children whose birthday fell on the date of inauguration of any tourist complex in Haryana would be invited to the resort as special guests. The new wing, constructed at a cost of Rs 13.10 lakh, has been tastefully decorated. Established in 1978 and spread over an area of 132 acres, the complex is a popular holiday centre for Delhites. He said a new tourist resort would be opened to public shortly at Rai in Sonepat district. Besides a restaurant, fast food and motel facilities would be provided at this complex. Early, Mr Surender Singh, former MP inaugurated the new Blackbird Tourist resort at Hansi. With the opening of this resort, the number of tourist complexes in Haryana has increased to 46. The Haryana Tourism
Department also plans to develop Pinjore as a major
tourist centre and Kurukshetra as a pilgrim centre. The
department has encouraged private entrepreneurs to set up
hotels and tourist centres in Haryana. As many as 48 such
projects, with an investment of Rs 351 crore, have
already been cleared and 24 of them have been
commissioned. |
Abducted sisters recovered SIRSA, June 23 — Ms Hemlettai (19) and her sister Sunaina (17), who were abducted from the old Housing Board colony on June 17, last were recovered by the Sirsa police yesterday. While giving this information, Mr Baljeet Singh Sandhu, Senior Superintendent of Police, Sirsa, said here today in a complaint to police that Amarnath, father of the two girls, alleged that his daughters were abducted by Ravi Sharma and one other person living in rented house near his place. A criminal case has been registered under Sections 363, 366 and 34, IPC. The police conducted a raid at Balogi village in Ropar district. The recovered girls were handed over to their parents and they refused a medical examination for the girls. The two accused were
remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by the Duty
Magistrate, here yesterday. |
Petrol pumps close today PANIPAT, June 23 — The Haryana Petroleum Dealers Association has decided to close all petrol pumps in the state tomorrow in protest against the dictatorial attitude of the Indian Oil Corporation towards the dealers over the commission issue. This was announced by the Vice-President of the association, Shamsher Singh Gogi, in a press conference on Monday evening. The Association has also decided to display black flags in their petrol pumps premises as a mark of protest on the occasion of the Prime Minister's visit here to inaugurate the Panipat refinery. Mr Gogi revealed that the commission of the dealers of petrol and diesel has been reduced from 10 per cent in 1976 to just over 1 per cent now.
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Wife
burnt
to death, 2 daughters injured FARIDABAD, June 23 — A woman was killed and her two daughters received severe burns when they were set on fire by their father in Chamarwada in Ballabhgarh yesterday. It is stated that Amarpal poured kerosene on his wife Pushpa and Shashi (4) and Jyoti (6), daughters; set them on fire, locked the door from outside and ran away. Cries for help attracted neighbours who broke open the door only to find Pusha dead. The daughters who received serious burns have been admitted to Safdarjung hospital in Delhi. Domestic discord was
said to be the cause of the incident. No arrest has yet
been made. |
11-year-old boy missing ROHTAK, June 23 — An 11-year-old boy is reported missing from his house on the Jhajjar road here since last evening. According to a complaint lodged by his father Narender Bansal, his son Pravin, a student of Adarsh Public School here went outside his house at 4 p.m, but did not return till this morning. He has suspected that his son may be abducted. The police has registered a case. Meanwhile in another
incident unidentified robbers snatched a gold chain,
valued at around Rs 12000 from a married woman in the
Shakti Nagar locality last evening. A case under Section
356 of the IPC has been registered. |
Husband, 2 others held for dowry
death FARIDABAD, June 23 — Mr Kali Charan, a resident of Lohagarh, near Palwal, has complained to the police that his daughter, Vijay, was poisoned to death by her in-laws when she failed to meet their demands for dowry. The police has arrested the husband, brother-in-law and mother-in-law of the deceased. A case under Sections 498-A and 304 of the IPC has been registered against them. Meanwhile, two sisters, Suman and Babli, residents of old Faridabad, too have complained of dowry harassment. The police has arrested
the sisters’ husbands and fathers-in-law. A case
under Sections 498 and 406-A of the IPC has been
registered against them. |
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