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Monday,
October 29, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Lok
Janshakti rally a big draw Cong to boycott meeting
on house tax Gloom descends on martyr’s house Governor pays tributes to martyr |
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Students to undergo eye check-up Electronic meters not tamper-proof Kisan samiti to hold protests Doctor receives extortion threat Action against Cong
leader upheld
Cong wins MC byelection
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Lok Janshakti
rally a big draw Rohtak, October 28 The party was constituted in Haryana only five
months ago under the leadership of politically unknown persons. Though its state party chief, Capt Shamsher Singh Malik, had been elected president of the Maharshi Dayanand University Students Union in 1978-79, he never joined any political party. After postgraduation, he joined the Army and set up his business following retirement from active service. The other office-bearers of the party, too, are equally politically unknown in the state. But the crowd collected by them at the party’s rally here today has surprised political analysts and the people. A majority of the participants belonged to the Dalit communities and came to the rally in chartered buses, trucks, tempos and four-wheelers dancing to the tunes of the drums. Participants belonging to the farming community came in tractor-trolleys. Women also attended the rally in large numbers. Political analysts believe that the large turnout at the rally indicates that Dalits in Haryana have started drifting away from the Congress notwithstanding its claims that it has a host of Dalit leaders in the state and the country. The Dalits have now found a platform to rally around politically. It is also a warning to the ruling INLD which had won a majority of the reserve seats in the last Assembly elections. The turnout has also put a question mark on the claims of the Bahujan Samaj Party that it enjoys the support of Dalits. Mr Paswan denounced the politics of religion and casteism and said his party was committed to the upliftment of the downtrodden, oppressed and weaker sections irrespective of their caste and religion. He said the economically weaker sections of society needed immediate backing from the government. He said Jats should be included among the Other Backward Classes as recommended by the Mandal Commission. He regretted that while some states, including Rajasthan, had accepted the commission’s recommendations, Haryana was yet to take a decision. Mr Paswan, who is also the President of the Dalit Sena, said his party valued the politics of principles and was not against any political party or caste. He said women should be provided equal opportunities. Mr Paswan demanded that the right to work, the right to education and the right to healthcare should be included in the fundamental rights. The Centre, he said, had already initiated steps to fill posts belonging to the SC/ST categories which were lying vacant for the past many years. He said the Centre had also approved free meal and free education for students below 14 years of age irrespective of their caste and economic status. Speakers at the rally projected Mr Paswan as the future Prime Minister. Besides Capt Shamsher Singh Malik, others who spoke included Mr Rambir Bidhuri, MLA, Delhi, Dr Lal Singh and Lalit Kumar Gautam. |
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Cong to boycott meeting
on house tax Chandigarh, October 28 The party has given a call for a bandh in the towns of the state on November 2 to protest against the “abnormal increase” in the house tax. The Congress had also boycotted a similar meeting of MLAs representing the urban areas held here on October 4. In a statement issued here today the Deputy Leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, alleged that the meeting convened by Mr Goyal was “only a ploy to evade the wrath of the people of the state in the shape of a shehar bandh, for which a call has been given by our party”. Captain Yadav said the Congress was firm on its stand that it was futile to participate in discussions with the government on the issue of house tax when Mr Goyal had made it a precondition that no suggestion would be entertained if it was not in accordance with the government’s fundamental premise of rationalising the house tax policy. The Congress leader said his party’s stand was clear that the house tax should be assessed on the principles formulated by the Congress government. The assessment should be pro-people and should not be harsh on them. Meanwhile, the Chief
Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has been holding meetings with the MLAs supporting the INLD government in the state since yesterday. He met the MLAs of six districts yesterday and of six districts today. It is believed that he is taking feedback from the MLAs on the problems being faced by the people of their constituencies. Sources say the decision to convene another meeting on the issue of house tax on October 30 was taken after Mr Chautala met the MLAs yesterday. The meetings with the MLAs have been held
district wise. The sources say Mr Chautala spent about an hour with the MLAs of each district. The Haryana Congress president, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has claimed that his party’s bandh call will evoke a good response from the public. He told TNS that various trade organisations, including both factions of the Beopar Mandal led by Mr Laxmi Chand Gupta and Mr Bajrang Lal Garg, respectively, had extended support to the call. The president of the Haryana Sabji Mandi Association, Mr Raj Kakkar, has also informed Mr Hooda that members of his association will keep their establishments closed on November 2. On behalf of the party a Kurukshetra-based advocate, Mr Dina Nath Arora, has prepared a set of legal objections which can be filed by individual house owners in response to notices issued by civic bodies for an increase in the house tax. These objections include judgements by the Punjab and Haryana High Court laying down that no increase beyond 25 per cent in the annual rental value was allowed, and that too after five years for the purpose of revision of house tax; tax cannot be imposed with retrospective effect; the collector’s rate for land is not valid as a collector is competent to assess the value of land under the Stamp Act only; and the value of land included in the basis of house tax assessment is not valid in view of a Supreme Court judgement. |
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Bandh not to hit transport: Cong Panipat, October 28 Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Sharma alleged that power officials were violating the instructions in which it had been clarified that only faulty meters should be replaced with electronic meters, whereas the officials were replacing all meters. Mr Sharma, who is also the in charge of the youth wing of the HPCC, said traders’ associations, including the Haryana Beopar Mandal, had agreed to support the bandh. To a question, Mr Sharma, who is also an AICC member, said the new district units of the party would be constituted shortly. Earlier, he presided over a meeting of prominent Congress leaders in connection with the bandh. |
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Gloom descends on martyr’s house Kaithal, October 28 The last rates will take place on Monday with state honours. Vikas Bhardwaj, 28, who was posted at Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir, was killed in an encounter with terrorists yesterday. He joined the BSF in 1998 as a Sub-Inspector and was promoted to the post of Assistant Commandant in March 2001. According to his father, Mr Mangat Ram Bhardwaj, Vikas had called them up yesterday morning to inform that he would be meeting his family soon. In the evening the family received the shocking news of his death. Mr Sri Prakash, elder brother of Vikas, said his brother was awarded with a sword of honour for being the best all-round trainee, and the Home Minister’s trophy. |
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Governor pays tributes to martyr Yamunanagar, October 28 These views were expressed by the Governor today, while addressing a large gathering at Mahilanwali village, 10 km from here. He was here to attend ‘antim ardas’ of martyr Sukhwinder Singh who died fighting enemies in the Kupwara area of Jammu and Kashmir. The Governor said soldiers had displayed exemplary courage while protecting the integrity of the country during 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars. He said during 1971 war, Army had made captive 93,000 soldiers of Pakistan. Recalling the Kargil war, Mr Suraj Bhan said 542 jawans and officers had made the supreme sacrifice while defending the borders and more than 100 jawans were from Haryana alone. He said 1500 jawans had been killed in the war. The Governor called upon film-makers to make films which would motivate the youth. He said it was very unfortunate that the memory of youth was short as far as martyrs’ sacrifices were concerned. Lauding the role of the people of Mahilanwali, Mr Suraj Bhan said he was proud that he belonged to the same village. He assured that no stone would be left unturned in making it a progressive village. The Governor urged the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, that a memorial should be raised in the village to honour the martyrs. The land would be provided by the panchayat. He announced Rs 1.25 lakh grant from his discretionary quota in the coming financial year. He also urged Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, MP and Mr Faqir Chand Mulana, MP, to provide financial help for the purpose. Paying tributes on behalf of the Chief Minister, Abhay Chautala, president of national Youth INLD and MP, said he had come to express condolences to the family of the martyr. Mr Chautala said the government had given many incentives to the families of martyrs, including enhancing the relief amount to 10 lakh. |
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Students to undergo eye check-up Karnal, October 28 This was stated here today by Dr M.L. Ranga, state Health Minister, while talking to The Tribune. The minister was here to inaugurate an eye operation camp organised by a local social organisation. Dr Ranga said he had directed his department to enlist the services of NGO’s and private eye specialists as well as social and religious organisations to enlist their help for the eye check-up of all students. He said at least 10 government eye surgeons were available in each district for this purpose. The CMO’s in the districts had been asked to seek the services of the officials of the Education Department to visit all eligible schools in the state. The minister maintained that the step had been contemplated to check deterioration of eye sight among students at an early age. Dr Ranga said an awareness drive against AIDS had also been launched in the state. He said literature throwing light on the consequences of AIDS and way to avoid it was being distributed through primary health centres, paramedical staff and hospitals. He said telecommunication services had been provided in hospitals to seek counselling and guidance. This had been done as a large number of AIDS patients were shy of coming forward to seek treatment. Another serious problem which the Health Department was trying to tackle was foeticide at certain private clinics in the state. Already the male-female ratio was disproportionate in the state. Dr Ranga said there were 852 females for 1,000 males in the state. If the female foeticide continued, the situation would become alarming. The department was taking effective steps to check this menace. Rural women were being told about the harmful effects of female foeticide in primary health centres in the rural areas. The minister said the Trauma Centre here was at an advanced stage of construction and would start functioning soon. Dr Ranga also made a surprise check at the Government hospital at Gharaunda. He found that five employees, including two doctors, had not reported for duty in time. Two of them came to the hospital late. The minister said action would be taken against the three absentees. |
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Electronic
meters not tamper-proof Faridabad, October 28 The team detected and removed five faulty electronic meters, which allegedly were tampered with, in the Ballabgarh town recently. The meters have been sent to the testing laboratory of the Power Department, said the sources. The incident is said to be the first of its kind in the state, ever since the government launched a campaign to replace the mechanical meters. The new meter costs nearly Rs 1500, and the cost is adjusted in the power bills of the consumers. Thousands of mechanical meters have been replaced by the Power Department in the past three years. The officials, and the company supplying the electronic meters, claim that the new meters are tamper-proof. Consumers, however, say that not only are the new meters faulty they are at least three times “faster” than the old meters. Political parties have also cried foul behind the meter replacement campaign. Meanwhile, the officials of the Vigilance Department do not rule out involvement of the employees of the department in tampering with the new meters. The readings of power consumption, shown by the new meters, have recorded consumption of less power that what these should have recorded, it is learnt. The original seals were found to be
tempered with due to which power theft could go up to 70 per cent. The department is reported to be “calculating” the penalty to be imposed on the defaulters. |
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Kisan samiti to hold protests Fatehabad, October 28 The samiti will also participate in the November 6 demonstrations in Delhi against the World Trade Organisation (WTO) recommendations. This was decided at a meeting of the state executive held under the presidentship of Colonel Ram Partap Malhan. A spokesman for the Samiti said a massive mass contact programme had been launched to make the demonstrations a success. He said after the demonstrations on November 5, the samiti would meet the Chief Minister, the Governor, the Leader of the opposition, MPs and MLAs of various political parties and give them memorandums. He said appeals had already been issued to various political parties, social and other organisations to support the samiti in its endeavour. The samiti is demanding a compensation of Rs 10,000 per acre besides free supply of seeds and fertilisers. |
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Doctor receives extortion threat Rohtak, October 28 According to information, Dr Ishwar Singh received a typed letter at his residence at DLF colony here demanding the sum. Later, the extortionist also telephoned him raising the same demand. The doctor reported the matter to the police and demanded adequate security. A policeman has been deployed at his residence as a safety measure. During the past six months other established doctors in the town had also received such threatening calls. |
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Action against Cong
leader upheld Rohtak, October 28 Mr Hooda said Congress President Sonia Gandhi had issued a show-cause notice to Mr Sultan Singh for his step. Describing the party decision as “a step in the right direction,” he said the party workers were confused on account of the delay in taking disciplinary action against Mr Sultan Singh for his “undesirable” action. He alleged that Mr Sultan Singh was hand in glove with the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to serve his personal interests and it was an open secret to a majority of Congress men. He said the tough decision of the party high command had also exposed the “loyalty” of some other party leaders who backed Mr Sultan Singh. He appealed to the HPCC chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, to ban the entry of Mr Sultan Singh to the party office at Chandigarh. |
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Cong wins MC byelection Ambala, October 28 He bagged 635 votes while his closest rival Mr Lok Nath of the BJP got 604 votes and Mr Mukandi Lal of the Vikas Parishad got 279 votes. The polling was slow initially but, it picked up as the day progressed. The ward has about 1,897 votes. A total of 1,541 votes were polled out of which 23 were rejected. Mr Jagan Nath, after being declared the winner, said he would wok hard for the development of the ward. He said he was well aware of the problems being faced by the people of the ward and would try to live up to their expectations. With this victory, the Congress tally in the Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar, has gone to 10.
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