HVP for repoll in Bhiwani segment
BHIWANI: Polling in this sensitive constituency conclude on Sunday peacefully, except for isolated incidents of verbal duels and minor scuffles among supporters of various candidates.

Rise in cases of canal cuts
SONEPAT, Sept 5 — The authorities of the Irrigation Department are worried over increasing incidents of canal cuts in the region and are making efforts to check them by intensifying night patrolling on the embankments of canals, distributaries and minors.

HVP for repoll in Bhiwani segment

BHIWANI: Polling in this sensitive constituency conclude on Sunday peacefully, except for isolated incidents of verbal duels and minor scuffles among supporters of various candidates.

Termed as the 'mother of all contests in Haryana', sons of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and the former Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, are pitted against each other in the constituency. A former Minister, Mr Dharamveer, who enjoys the patronage of another former Chief Minister Mr Bhajan Lal, is the Congress nominee.

However, the HVP has demanded a repoll in the Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri and Hansi segments of the constituency, where the party alleged large-scale booth capturing by the INLD nominee, Mr Ajay Chautala.

Mr Raghbir Singh, election agent of the HVP nominee, Mr Surender Singh, in a communication sent to the Chief Election Commissioner alleged that Mr Chautala and his supporters "in active connivance" with the SP Bhiwani, and another IPS officer, Mr Shatrujit Kapoor, captured almost all booths of Bhiwani, Hansi and Charkhi Dadri towns.

Mr Raghbir Singh, who is a brother of Mr Bansi Lal, alleged that HVP voters were intimidated and not allowed to cast their votes. "Hundreds of vehicles plying without permits carried persons from Sirsa, Rajasthan and Fatehabad district and nobody stopped them".

He also claimed that neither the Returning Officer, Mr K.S. Yadav, nor the SP were available for taking necessary action. He alleged that as part of the conspiracy the para-military forces were not deployed at polling booths but were deliberately put on patrolling duty.

A spokesman for the INLD described the HVP demand for a repoll as a "sign of frustration".

Mr Dharamveer protested to the Election Commission observer against confusion in the printing of the ballot paper.

According to initial estimates, the constituency recorded an average of about 65 per cent polling against 72 per cent recorded in 1998.

The police had sealed the district at midnight yesterday and no vehicle, including two-wheelers, were allowed to ply without permits.

The district had got six companies of para-military forces, two each of the BSF, the RPF and the CISF. These were deployed at the barricades and at over 80 hypersensitive and sensitive booths. Besides 2,000 policemen, 1,560 Home Guards and 65 Forest Guards were on security duty.

AMBALA: Voting percentage remained low in urban areas in Ambala parliamentary constituency on Sunday. In rural areas the voters were found more enthusiastic. The overall percentage of polling worked out to be around 55.

Although the weather was pleasant but light showers affected polling in some parts of the urban areas. In some villages of Mulana and Sadhaura the voters were found standing in queues even before the opening of polling booths. In Dhanaura, a village of Sadhaura assembly constituency, about 40 per cent votes had been polled by 11.30 a.m. A similar position was seen in Tepla village of Naggal constituency where about 25 per cent votes had been polled by 10 a.m.

Meanwhile, the District Returning Officer, Ms Navraj Sandhu, said the polling remained peaceful. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the constituency.

A complaint was lodged with the police by a Congress polling agent against an active member of the ruling party for casting a bogus vote in a booth of Ambala city.

FARIDABAD: Around 30 per cent polling was reported in the Faridabad Lok Sabha constituency. The day passed off peacefully without any incident, official sources said.

There was 70 to 80 per cent polling in the three Meo Assembly segments of Nuh, Taoru and Ferozepur Jhirka.

However, the residents of Badha and Bhamrauli — both the villages falling in the Sohna assembly segment of the Mahendragarh Parliamentary constituency boycotted the poll in protest against the authorities.

While the residents of Bhamrauli, with 307 voters, boycotted the election in protest against the authorities not making timely arrangement for them to cast votes, the residents of Badha, with 952-voters, were annoyed with the administration for ignoring the development of the village for the past 50 years.

Resident of Bhamrauli, about 17 km from here, told TNS that the authorities concerned had shifted the polling booth of the village to the nearby Hayatpur on "political ground". The village is considered to be pro-Congress.

The Sector Magistrate, Mr Charan Das, admitted that the poll related material and personnel for the polling station in Bhamrauli had reached Hayatpur. But he quickly added that it was on account of communication gap. He denied any malafide on the part of the authorities.

The residents of Badha village decided to express their resentment against the successive governments in the state, by boycotting the poll-process. The sarpanch of the village, Mr Anang Pal alleged that the village was neglected by the district administration as it was dominated by the Thakurs.

JIND: About 58 per cent votes were polled in Jind, Narwana, Uchana Kalan and Rajound of Jind district falling under Hisar parliamentary constituency. According to an official report, about 62 per cent votes were polled in Jind Assembly constituency, 60 per cent in Narwana, 60 per cent in Uchana Kalan and about 52 per cent in Rajound Assembly constituency.

About 56 per cent votes were polled in Safidon and Julana Assembly segments of Jind district falling under Sonepat parliamentary constituency. About 55 per cent votes were polled in Safidon Assembly constituency and 58 per cent votes were polled in Julana Assembly constituency, an official report said.

Mr Tarun Bajaj, Deputy Commissioner, Jind, claimed the election was held peacefully in the district. He said no untoward incident was reported from any part of the district.

HISAR: Low to moderate but peaceful polling was witnessed in Hisar parliamentary constituency covering nine Assembly segments. The overall polling percentage, according to official sources, in Hisar was 47.

Hisar Assembly segment recorded the lowest — 36 per cent voting, while Barwala Assembly segment recorded 55 per cent voting.

The low turnout of voters may go in favour of the INLD-BJP candidate, Mr Surinder Singh Barwala. The low turnout in urban areas, particularly Hisar, considered to be the Congress stronghold, may prove disadvantageous for the Congress candidate Mr Birender Singh. Hisar Assembly segment has always given a comfortable lead to the Congress candidates so far.

In the rural areas, however, the mood was not too indifferent. In some villages about 50 per cent polling had been recorded by 2 pm.

While the polling was peaceful, at least 100 voters belonging to the Scheduled Castes and backward classes at Mohjadpur village in Ghirai Assembly segment, about 25 km from here, alleged they were not allowed to cast their votes. They said when they went to the polling booth, they were told that their votes had already been cast. When they tried to meet the Deputy Commissioner and the District Returning Officer they were reportedly prevented by the police. However, six of them were allowed to meet the Deputy Commissioner. No official was available for comments.

The polling was smooth and peaceful in the Hansi and Mandi Adampur Assembly segments of Bhiwani parliamentary constituency also.

Mr Hazari Chand Bishnoi of Siswal village in Mandi Adampur Assembly segment told TNS people this time were not so enthusiastic about the elections and the turnout was relatively lower than the previous elections. Moreover, it was for the first time that polling passed off peacefully and without any tension.

KAITHAL: While the atmosphere was peaceful in "supersensitive" Pai, Pundri, Kalayat, Pehowa and Kurukshetra villages, polling was slower than expected merely 20 to 25 per cent — in the first three hours.

At Devban and Jakholi villages, considered strongholds of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, the polling was merely 15 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, in the first three and a half hours.

According to reports received in the afternoon, booths were captured at Cheeka, Sarasa (Pundri), Kaithal, Radaur and Devigarh.

At Sarasa, the report said people from weaker sections were thrown out and the booth was bolted from inside for nearly one hour. In all these cases, reports had been lodged with the police and election authorities.

At Devigarh it was alleged that a presiding officer was beaten up by supporters of Ms Kailasho Devi in her presence. The Election Commission, it was reported, had been informed about the incident.

At Cheeka also, an election agent was roughed up and locked in a room for more than an hour.

A spokesman of Mr O.P. Jindal, Congress candidate, alleged that one of the workers, Mr Rakesh Kumar, was kidnapped and beaten up mercilessly. A complaint has been made to the police.

At certain places in the Kurukshetra constituency where polling was exceptionally slow it was alleged that people from weaker sections were prevented from going to the polling booths.

At Khurana (Kaithal), considered to be the headquarters of the BKU, a big pool of dirty water almost prevented the voters from reaching the polling booth as that was the only way to go.

At Kurukshetra, two youths were arrested on charge of attempting to cast bogus votes.

Mrs Jaiwanti Sheokand, District Election Officer and District Magistrate told TNS that no complaint of booth capturing in her area had been brought to her notice. So far Sarasa incident was concerned, she said the problem was about a "tender vote" and the matter had been sorted out.

Mr O.P. Jindal, the Congress candidate, said seven employees of the Jindal Strips, Hisar, had been arrested on "cooked up charges". They were on duty at Hassanpur village. Mr Jindal added that his supporters held at Kurukshetra had nothing to do with any case of bogus voting.

Mr N.C. Jain, President of the Ambala Traders Association, and Mr Ajay Jain, general secretary, Citizens Council, said intelligentsia did not vote in protest against keeping the Ambala constituency of the Lok Sabha as Reserved for the past four decades.

Barring a few skirmishes between the INLD-BJP and Congress supporters, the polling passed off peacefully. Nearly 70 per cent of the 9,38,634 voters exercised their right to vote amid tight security.

Prof Teja Singh, election agent of the INLD candidate, has alleged the Congress workers at Aanwal resorted to violence and captured booth nos 96, 97 and 99. Demanding a repoll in these booths, he alleged at least six INLD activists were injured in the violence.

The Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr P.K. Aggarwal, said two persons sustained minor injuries in the clash that took place outside the polling station. The police, he said, had so far not received any complaint from the injured persons.

The Congress candidate, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has in over a dozen complaints faxed to the Chief Election Commissioner alleged the INLD supporters had captured booths at Dimana, Gochhi, Khidwali, Kiloi, Kheri-Saadh, Sanghi, Titoli and Badli. Demanding a re-poll at all these booths, he also alleged that his polling agent was driven away by INLD workers at Rattanthal (Jhajhar) and Bahu Akbarpur.

The electronic voting machine introduced for the first time in the predominantly rural constituency has virtually fascinated the voters, particularly the women electorate. The administration, according to the Returning Officer, did not face any problem in operating these machines.

Mrs Roshni Devi (50) while coming out from booth no 50 after casting her vote at Nindana village described the EVM as a wonderful thing. She suggested that these machines should be introduced in the Assembly and panchayat elections also.

Nearly 80-year-old Vir Bhan was feeling very excited after casting his vote at booth no 121 in Rohtak. No party or candidate could now do any "hera-pheri", he commented.

Polling was disrupted at certain polling stations because of skirmishes between supporters of the INLD and the Congress. The ADC, Mr Anand Mohan Sharan, had to rush to Titoli village with additional police force where tension mounted following alleged capturing of the Dalit booth by the INLD supporters.

Similarly, polling was disrupted for nearly half-an-hour at Khirwali following a complaint of bogus polling by the Congress candidate. In the city, too, voting was held up for some time at different booths located in Vaish Girls College, Vishavkarma School, Jain School and booth no 129 on the Sonepat road.

The Returning Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar, divested the BDO, Sampla, Mr Arvind Malik, of his magisterial powers following a complaint lodged by Mr Hooda. He further alleged that Mr Sube Singh, a polling officer at booth no 21 in Bahu Akbarpur (Kalanaur), was casting votes himself and acting as an INLD supporter.

KARNAL: Voting percentage was about 60 per cent in the Karnal parliamentary constituency. Mr Bhajan Lal, three times Chief Minister of Haryana, is locked in a fierce straight contest with Mr I.D. Swami of the BJP.

The polling in Karnal city started on a very dull note. It seems voters were totally disinterested in some areas. For instance, in Mela Ram School at booth no 35 only 45 voters cast their vote out of 844 in the first hour. Similar situation prevailed at booth no 39.

As compared to elections in the past no long queues of voters could be seen anywhere in the constituency. This may be so because of the use of electronic voting machines in the constituency. This made the vote casting process quicker though not foolproof. Otherwise also, people showed little interest in rushing to the polling booth. The reason may be frequent holding of elections as one voter put it.

Another significant feature was that there were no large crowds near the polling booths.

Inside the polling booths, the staff on election duty performed their duties in a businesslike manner. There were no long ballot papers to be folded and put in the boxes. The polling staff, however, could be seen explaining how to push the button. Some illiterate voters provided a chance to press the button on their behalf.

Voting in adjoining Panipat was brisk as compared to Karnal. In the industrial city of Panipat over 60 per cent of voters were expected to cast their vote by the fag-end while in Karnal, it was hardly 50 per cent. In Panipat at booth no 149 over 95 voters had cast their vote out of 928 in the first two hours. Similarly, at booth no 148 over 80 voters exercised their right to franchise out of 728.

The trend in the villages was totally different. It was brisk polling in the morning and evening. In Dahar village in Neolatha Assembly segment 112 persons had cast their vote in the first two hours out of 664 voters. However, only two women turned up in this period. More enthusiasm could be witnessed among the poor and backward class voters as well as industrial workers.

At a specially created booth for Dalits in Dahar village, 240 voters had cast their vote out of 856. Similarly, in Guddha village and Moonak voting was enthusiastic.

In Karnal city in areas where the lower middle class live the percentage of polling was high as compared to the posh areas in the city. For instance, in Ram Nagar and Prem Nagar the response was enthusiastic.

The district administration claimed 43 per cent voters had cast their vote by 1 p.m. Only one case of bogus voting was reported from Shamgarh village. The polling officer was changed in Babbarpur Mandi because of a complaint. There were some clashes in Jainpur village between BJP and Congress supporters. Both the SSP and the Deputy Commissioner took rounds of the constituency. The three poll observers appointed by the Election Commission went round the constituency. Mr Bhajan Lal guarded by SPG commandos also visited various segments. Mr Swami expressed happiness over the peaceful polling.

In a nutshell, the polling was bereft of any wave and was much quieter as compared to the past.

FATEHABAD: Very low polling was recorded in almost all assembly constituencies of Sirsa parliamentary constituency falling in this district. Till 4 p.m. on Sunday 35 to 45 per cent polling was reported in almost all polling booths in Fatehabad town.

In booth number 112 situated in the local Ram Seva Samiti School, 330 votes were polled out of 905 votes, while in booth number 102 in the Government Senior Secondary School 341 out of a total of 727 votes were polled.

Polling was very low in Mohamedpur Rohi village, the native village of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal. In booth number 158 falling in that village, only 170 votes out of a total of 1,067 votes were polled till 3.30 p.m. in the evening.

The polling was by and large peaceful.

Renaming of university
Controversy continues
From Sameer Sabharwal

GURGAON: A recent announcement of the Chief Minister proposing to rename Kurukshetra University as Guru Gobind Singh Kurukshetra University has generated a heated controversy throughout the state.

Citizens from all walks of life have joined hands in opposing this move. Such unity among the people irrespective of their political affiliations was not seen earlier.

Dr S.K. Arora, an alumnus of Kurukshetra University, regretted the inability or unwillingness of political parties to look beyond petty political manipulations and appreciate the true cultural and religious significance of Kurukshetra and the university established there.

Dr Arora emphasised that most universities in the West derived their name from the locality, town, region or state in which they are located. "For example, Harvard University is named after the local Harvard Square, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology derives its name from the state of Massachusetts. For us to rename a university located in a historically and culturally profound town like Kurukshetra would be tantamount to disregarding our entire cultural heritage as a nation."

Dr Arora pointed out that the Japanese had successfully brought their own cultural identity into modern business corporations. "The Japanese even adopted western theories on quality management way before the western companies themselves, paving the way for total quality management. Similarly, we Indians need to rediscover and have faith in our own cultural identity to succeed in the modern market-driven society. In this context the intention of the Haryana Government to rename a university located in Kurukshetra is most unfortunate.

Professor Emeritus Dr S.P. Singh noted that naming of universities after individuals was a unique phenomenon that surfaced in India during the past few decades. "It is difficult to find a university named after an individual in the West," said Prof Singh. "Eminent persons are honoured by naming a centre or college within a university after them. To illustrate, Cambridge University has a college named "Churchill College" after the great British Prime Minister.

Prof Singh pointed out further that the English Viceroys and Governors "during the Raj" followed this time-honoured practice while establishing universities in India. Thus universities were invariably named after the cities where they were located. "The Universities of Madras, Calcutta, Delhi and Bombay are named without any reference to the British monarchy."

Illustrating the traditional system followed by the erstwhile British rulers, Prof Singh said that the University of Lucknow had King George’s Medical College, Canning College after the Viceroy Lord Canning and Butler Hostel after Sir Harcourt Butler, the then Governor of the United Provinces. Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Rabindra Nath Tagore followed this tradition while establishing Banaras Hindu University, Aligarh Muslim University and Vishwa Bharti, respectively.

He eulogised Guru Gobind Singh and said that the great Guru had made supreme sacrifices which no one could forget. "All right-thinking persons, irrespective of their religion or creed, will agree that the name of such a great personality should not become a matter of debate", said Dr Singh.

Rise in cases of canal cuts
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Sept 5 — The authorities of the Irrigation Department are worried over increasing incidents of canal cuts in the region and are making efforts to check them by intensifying night patrolling on the embankments of canals, distributaries and minors.

According to official sources, the shortage of power supply in the rural areas and the scanty rainfall during the current monsoon season, have led to a sharp increase in the demand for canal water in the paddy-growing belt of the region.

Mr M.K. Lamba, Executive Engineer of the Rai water service division told this correspondent here today that the department had got 45 cases registered against farmers for unauthorised irrigation during the past few days. The officials also detected 12 cases of canal cuts and seized 60 pipes during patrolling on the embankments of the canals.