INLD to field candidates in 6 states
PANIPAT, May 16 — A former Chief Minister and leader of the Indian National Lok Dal, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, said here today that his party would field candidates in six states, including Haryana and Delhi, in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

FCI officials' working arouses suspiscion
ROHTAK, May 16 — The functioning of local Food Corporation of India officials has aroused suspicion following the cancellation of a contract of transporting wheat purchased for central pool.

• Reject dissenters’ demand: Bhajan

Ban sought on student's entry
HISAR, May 16 — The Guru Jambeshwar University Teachers Association had demanded an immediate ban on the entry of a male student on the campus who recently assaulted a girl student and was also involved in other acts of gross misconduct during admission time.

Former suspended IPS officer reinstated
CHANDIGARH, May 16 — Mr Ramesh Sehgal, seniormost IPS officer of Haryana, who had been under suspension since December 12, 1996, was reinstated by the Governor last night.

Water supply in Sirsa regulated
SIRSA, May 16 — Following a breach in the Bhakhra main line canal three days ago the administration has regulated supply of water in this district.

BJP constitutes poll panel
ROHTAK, May 16 — Mr Om Prakash Grover, state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, today constituted a 21-member state election managing committee headed by Prof Ram Bilas Sharma, Education Minister.

Plea to revoke suspension
ROHTAK, May 16 — The Haryana Pichhra Varg Sangh has criticised the 'suspension' of a superintendent of Maharshi Dayanand University and demanded a CBI probe into all appointments made in the past two years.

INLD to field candidates in 6 states
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, May 16 — A former Chief Minister and leader of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Mr Om Parkash Chautala, said here today that his party would field candidates in six states, including Haryana and Delhi, in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

He said except for the Congress, the INLD was willing to have an alliance with any national party and had kept its options open.

Stating this to mediapersons after a workers' meeting, he said his party would contest elections in Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

BHIWANI: Mr Chautala, talking to mediapersons here on Saturday said he would gladly accept the challenge of the Congress to field Mrs Sonia Gandhi from Bhiwani parliamentary constituency from where his son, Mr Ajay Chautala, had been declared candidate by the INLD.

Responding to a question, he said his party would not join an alliance in which the Congress or the Haryana Vikas Party were included. Expressing his views on the latest National Democratic Alliance (NDA), he said if the interests of farmers were not included in the common manifesto, he would have to think twice before joining it.

On the decision of the party on the seat adjustment or alliance with regional parties in other states he said it would depend on the situation.

FCI officials' working arouses suspiscion
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, May 16 — The functioning of local Food Corporation of India (FCI) officials has aroused suspicion following the cancellation of a contract of transporting wheat purchased for central pool.

According to sources, the officials here cancelled the contract and gave it to another contractor at a higher rate. The obscure move of the officials has not only caused financial loss to the FCI but also landed its functioning in doubt.

According to official record, Mr C.B. Singh, office manager appointed Mr Satish Kumar market labour contractor on April 8 for transportation of wheat from the local grain market to a warehouse at Rs 2.58 per bag (50 kg). Mr Satish transported 4,315 wheat bags from April 8 to 17, payment of which is yet to be released by the FCI. However, the contract was withdrawn without assigning any reason and given to another firm, P.K. and Company, at a higher rate of Rs 3.19 per bag. This firm has transported nearly 2 lakh wheat bags to the warehouse so far. Interestingly, this firm did not get the contract earlier due to its higher rates.

When contracted the office manager said he had no information regarding the cancellation of the contract and giving it to another party. However, another official said the former contractor suddenly stopped the transportation of wheat bags on April 14 and therefore the quality inspector offered the job to P.K. and Company.

Some employees at the office, on condition of anonymity, said irregularity had been committed at higher levels in this connection.

Meanwhile, the affected party has demanded a probe into the incident.

An act of betrayal, say Hooda, others
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 16 — The Haryana Congress today described the demand raised by three senior Congress leaders, — Mr Sharad Pawar, Mr P.A. Sangma and Mr Tariq Anwar — in their letter to Mrs Sonia Gandhi that only a natural born Indian citizen should hold the offices of the President, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister of India as "an act of betrayal to the cause of the party and the country at large".

In a joint statement issued here tonight the President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Vice-President, Dr K.V. Singh; General Secretary, Dr Ram Prakash; and the acting leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party, Mrs Kartar Devi; said it was regrettable that the three members of the CWC had echoed the voice of the BJP in their letter and had tried to give credibility to the "slanderous and malicious campaign of the BJP".

They said the propaganda of the BJP and its allies was nothing but an attempt to subvert the democratic powers vested in the citizens to elect a prime minister by giving a majority to his or her party in the Lok Sabha elections. "It is the right of the people to decide who will be the Prime Minister".

The Haryana Congress leaders urged the Congress Working Committee, before which the three CWC members had sought their letter to be placed, to outrightly reject their demand and "take appropriate action".

Reject dissenters’ demand: Bhajan

CHANDIGARH, May 16 (PTI) — Senior Congress leader and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal tonight asked the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to reject the demand of three party leaders that only Indian-born people should hold the post of the Prime Minister.

In a statement, he described the statement of Sharad Pawar, P.A.Sangma and Tariq Anwar as "unfortunate" and "rejectful".

MLA withdraws support to Bansi govt
From Our Correspondent

JIND, May 16 — Mr Kailash Chander Sharma, an Independent MLA from Narnaul, has announced the withdrawal of his support to the Bansi Lal government. In a press note here today, Mr Sharma said the Chief Minister had assured him that members of the Market Committee, Narnaul, would be nominated with his consent, but the Chief Minister had ignored him while constituting the committee.

He alleged that there was political instability in the state and the Chief Minister had recently dismissed four ministers belonging to South Haryana, he had not only done injustice to this region, but also insulted the public mandate, he said. The reason for dismissing the ministers was stated to be anti-party activities.

Mr Sharma said there was resentment among ministers and MLAs of the Haryana Vikas Party. About 11 ministers and MLAs had joined hands twice against the Chief Minister, he said. If there had not been the anti-defection law the Bansi Lal government would have collapsed long ago, he said adding that the policies of the Bansi Lal government were responsible for the set back to the ruling party in the parliamentary elections held last year and were likley to cause further set backs in the forthcoming elections.

Ban sought on student's entry
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, May 16 — The Guru Jambeshwar University Teachers Association (GJUTA) had demanded an immediate ban on the entry of a male student on the campus who recently assaulted a girl student and was also involved in other acts of gross misconduct during admission time.

The president of the association, Mr Mukul Bishnoi, said in a statement here today that the association at its meeting held here recently lamented the fact that the university authorities admitted this student against the unanimous decision of the staff council of the concerned department. The student had reportedly threaten to kidnap the child of a faculty member if he was not admitted.

The GJUTA has demanded an inquiry by a committee that should include a representative of the women cell and the staff council of the concerned department.

It also sought a comprehensive and transparent system regarding house allotment and urged the vice-chancellor to rectify any violation in the appointments of chairpersons of departments. It also sought revised pay scales and arrears.

Former suspended IPS officer reinstated
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 16 — Mr Ramesh Sehgal, seniormost IPS officer of Haryana, who had been under suspension since December 12, 1996, was reinstated by the Governor last night.

Mr Sehgal had gone to the Central Administrative Tribunal to challenge his suspension. The CAT had ordered his immediate reinstatement. The state Government, however, did not comply with the orders, following which Mr Sehgal filed a contempt petition against the Chief Secretary, Mr R.S. Varma, and the Home Secretary, Mr K.G. Varma. The tribunal had issued notice to the respondents for May 18. The Centre had concurred with the CAT orders and asked the state to carry out the orders forthwith.

On his reinstatement Mr Sehgal has been appointed Chairman of the Haryana Police Housing Corporation. The present incumbent, Mr S.H. Mohan, will function as Managing Director of the corporation till June 30 when his term expires.

Meanwhile, Mr Vikas, Inspector-General and Director State Crime Record Bureau, Madhuban, will look after the work of the Inspector-General of Police Training College, Madhuban, in addition to his own duties.

Police remand for Behl, wife
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, May 16 — A local court today remanded Sunil Behl, the 'self-styled vice-president of the World Bank, in police custody for five days.

Behl was arrested yesterday from his residence in Sector 16-A on a charge of cheating and impersonation after a joint raid by the police and other agencies, including Income Tax and Customs Departments.

Savita, who was arrested alongwith her husband, Sunil has also been remanded in police custody.

Huge immovable and mvoable assets moveable were found from the residence of the couple. Two registration number plates of cars of UN staff were also seized from their residence. The plates were similar to those of the car of the head off a UN Mission in Delhi.

T he police has registered three cases against the couple. They have been booked for excise violations, electricity theft and cheating.

The police found that Behl had close links with a Central minister and senior bureaucrat, who allegedly enjoyed his hospitality frequently.

Water supply in Sirsa regulated
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, May 16 — Following a breach in the Bhakhra main line (BML) canal three days ago the administration has regulated supply of water in this district.

According to the Superintending Engineer Public Health, Mr R.C. Bakshi, the administration will be able to tide over crises caused by the water shortage.

Mr Bakshi said 35 feet water in the Sirsa main water works will rise by 2 feet with the discharge from the Sukhchain distributory.

The tubewells, on the bank of the Ghaghar will be operated for 16 hours a day instead of six hours.

In this way the areas connected with this water works will not face a grave situation till next 15 days.

In both the tanks of the water works at mini secretariat there was 6 feet water in each as against 24 feet. The situation had been prevented from becoming serious by providing electricity connections to two private tubewells in this area.

Similarly water was being rationed in Dabwali and Kalanwali. The Darba area connected with the Vanmandori distributory has not been working for the past 15 days because of a cleaning operation. The area would be affected.

However people in villages that are covered by the Sukhchain water works have already complained of non-availability of water for the past several days.

B.Ed forms being sold on black market
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, May 16 — Application forms for admission to BEd course of Kurukshetra University are being sold on the black market here.

Students alleged that some shopkeepers were charging Rs 50 to Rs 100 extra on every form and that these were being sold for Rs 450 each.

They urged the Vice-Chancellor of the university to make these forms available in the local BEd College and demanded that action be taken against the shopkeepers.

BJP constitutes poll panel
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, May 16 — Mr Om Prakash Grover, state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, today constituted a 21-member state election managing committee headed by Prof Ram Bilas Sharma, Education Minister.

In a statement here today Mr Gulshan Bhatia, state office secretary of the party, said Mr Om Prakash Dhankar had been appointed secretary of the committee.

The first meeting of the panel would be held on May 18 in Delhi.

Plea to revoke suspension
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, May 16 — The Haryana Pichhra Varg Sangh (Backward classes Association) has criticised the 'suspension' of a superintendent of Maharshi Dayanand University and demanded a CBI probe into all appointments made in the past two years.

In a statement issued here today, the President of the sangh, Mr Om Prakash Verma, alleged that the MDU authorities had been "victimising and harassing" employees who had been opposing the violation of reservation norms. He said the suspension of the Bhale Ram Verma a superintendent in the establishment wing, was 'illegal', adding that an agitation would be lounched if the suspension was not revoked.