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Tuesday,
November 6, 2001,
Chandigarh, India  
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MLAs feel let down by CM Cong protest against Jind SP’s behaviour
Why Cong bandh failed Cong, BJP to insist on long House session |
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Rural
service for new lecturers must No plan to ‘privatise’ insurance sector Telecom union plans ‘black day’ on Nov 8 New telecom service to improve efficiency Auction of 3 mines on Nov 20 likely CPM flays govt stand on war Nirmal Singh seeks anticipatory bail Leprosy curable, say experts
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MLAs feel let down by CM Gurgaon, November 5 The Chief Minister had
invited the ministers, MLAs and the presidents of the district units of the INLD and chairpersons of the zila parishads associated with his party,
district wise, for a meeting with him a couple of days before November 2, the day of bandh call in Haryana by the state unit of the Congress. The INLD leaders were given to understand that transfers and postings of officers were the main issues to be discussed by the Chief Minister. They were also given to understand that they could suggest names for transfers and postings of officers to the Chief Minister. It has become normal practice in Haryana, that leaders of the ruling party keep pestering the Chief Minister of the day for transfer and postings of officers.
According to observers, as was the case with the earlier HVP and Congress governments, the decision to transfer personnel rests with the Chief Minister. It is learnt that even Class IV employees are shifted or posted only on the nod of the Chief Minister. Gauging the mood of Mr Chautala on the issue, the party leaders prepared long lists of names for shifting and posting officers of their
choice. They submitted their lists to Mr Chautala. According to a senior functionary of the INLD, some lists submitted to Mr Chautala had recommendations for more than 12 transfers and postings. However, after going through the lists, Mr Chautala stressed that the government would not tamper with the present postings of teachers. He, however, said he would “accommodate their cases”. Significantly, Mr Chautala chose the occasion to direct his party leaders to head for their Assemblies and areas of influence to ensure that the Congress’ call for bandh did not succeed. A senior INLD functionary of the state was heard cribbing that the party leaders felt short-changed by the step of the Chief Minister. He was heard saying that had the party leaders any inclination about the mind set of the Chief Minister, they would have not espoused the cause of teachers and used the opportunity to take up the names of officers instead.  |
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Cong protest against Jind SP’s behaviour Jind, November 5 The leaders held a demonstration in front of the office of the SP. The procession was led by Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, President, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee. Mr Bhajan Lal, former Chief Minister, Mr Birender Singh, former HPCC chief, Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, senior Congress leader, Mr Kulbir Singh, former Haryana Minister, Prof Chhattarpal Singh, former Haryana minister, Mr Karambir Saini, secretary, HPCC, and Mr Om Parkash Jindal, an industrialist, were the prominent among those who participated in the procession and demonstration. Along with them, hundreds of Congress workers took part in the procession and demonstration. They raised slogans against the Haryana Government and the administration. The Congress leaders went to the SP’s office to gherao him, but he was not present. The leaders wanted to court arrest, but the police did not arrest them. The district administration had made elaborate police arrangements to ward off any untoward incident. It may be recalled that during the November bandh, there was a quarrel between Congress workers and a local shopkeeper on the question of shutting down the shop. The shopkeeper alleged that he was manhandled by Congress workers. On the basis of his complaint, the police registered a case against five Congressmen and arrested one of them — Mr Suresh Dev Kaushik. The Congress MLAs alleged that when they approached the SP for withdrawing the case, he misbehaved with them. Before the procession, the Congress leaders held a public meeting at the local Congress office. Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that the government which did not respect the sentiments of the people, could not last long. He said that the decline of the anti-people Chautala government had begun. The November 2 bandh showed that the government had lost the faith of the people and that the government had no moral right to remain in power. Mr Hooda said that the Chautala government had failed on every front. Mr Chautala had betrayed the people by not fulfilling the election promises, he said. The Chautala government had proved to be anti-farmer by ignoring the interests of the farmers. He said that the government had imposed a heavy burden of taxes on the public. Mr Hooda promised that if the Congress comes to power, it would withdraw some taxes and the new house tax policy of the Chautala government. Mr Hooda announced that to protest against the anti-people policies of the government, the November 19 dharna would now be held in front of the Jind sugar mill instead of Rohtak and senior Congress leaders would take part. Mr Bhajan Lal said the representatives of the public had the right to bring the grievances of people to the notice of the government. Any officer who misbehaved with MLAs would not be spared. He said that the government should take stern action against the SP of Jind. He said that this issue would be raised in the next session of the state Assembly. |
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Why Cong bandh failed Chandigarh, November 5 Indeed, the comment is telling. Before the November 2 bandh, the Chautala government was under pressure from both the Opposition as well as its own MLAs to make major changes in its controversial house tax policy, which has put a huge burden on the common man. Such was the strong case put up against the house tax policy by MLAs like Mr Anil Vij (Ambala cantonment) that it convinced the usually insensitive bureaucracy about the unreasonable hike in house tax under the new policy. The government, under the circumstances, was willing to overhaul the policy. But it was facing a dilemma: whether it should announce the changes before or after the bandh. In both cases the credit would have gone to the Congress. But the lukewarm response to the Congress-sponsored bandh has eased the pressure on the Government, as far as the Opposition is concerned. However, the government should not suffer from illusions about the people’s support to its policy. Popular resentment against the house tax policy is evident. Then why did the bandh fail? The Congress failed to sense that after a long recession the traders were expecting some business coming their way during the festival season for earning their bread for the whole year. By the time the party realised it, it was left with no time to control the damage. Local leaders struck deals with the trade organisations of their areas that they could observe the bandh for a few hours only. Many traders ignored the arrangement. Factionalism within the party was equally responsible for the bandh failure. Workers at the grassroots were in the field only to register their presence. So was the case with most of the leaders, who left the scene soon after the shops were closed. But they did not stay long enough to ensure that the shops remained closed for most of the day. This is not to suggest that the government will not make any changes in the house tax policy now. It is still under pressure from its own MLAs to give substantial relief to the house owners. The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, is expected to announce concessions in house tax in the Assembly, which is scheduled to meet for the winter session from November 8.
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Cong, BJP to insist on long House session Chandigarh, November 5 Talking to TNS here, an unruffled Mr Sampat Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister of Haryana, however, put the ball in the court of the Congress when asked how long the session would continue. “It will depend upon the Congress since the session has been called following repeated demands made by it”, Mr Sampat Singh said. He added that the government did not have much business to transact in the Assembly, and advised the Congress legislators to “do their homework properly if they want a long Assembly session”. While the Congress said that it would ask the government for a long session of the Assembly during the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) on the inaugural day of the session, the BJP, an ally of the ruling INLD, too, is all set to echo the Congress demand for the sake of “discussing all issues threadbare”. Mr Krishan Pal Gujjar, leader of the BJP in the House, said there should be at least 14 sittings of the House spread over seven days. He said law and order, the controversial house tax policy, etc, would figure prominently during the discussions in the House. Mr Bhajan Lal, CLP leader and Leader of the Opposition, said he would suggest that the Assembly should meet for at least 12 days and there should be one sitting of the house on each day. The Speaker, Mr Satbir Singh Kadian, has already nominated seven members to the BAC. The committee will decide the duration of the Assembly session and the business to be conducted. While Mr Kadian is himself the ex-officio chairperson, Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, Mr Sampat Singh, Mr Dhirpal Singh, Mr Bhajan Lal, Mr Gujjar and Independent legislator Ram Bhagat have been nominated members of the BAC. Despite the demands of the Congress and the BJP, political observers are of the view that the session will not continue beyond four days and come to an end on November 13, on the eve of Divali. Short sessions of the Assembly in the past had attracted much criticism from the Opposition, which alleged that the government wanted to gag its voice. While the Budget session of the Assembly was shorter than what was initially announced, the monsoon session saw the legislators meeting for three sittings, one of which was spent on making obituary references. The Congress, which faced embarrassment during the monsoon session following the collapse of the no-confidence motion brought by it due to the absence of party legislators, has notified the Assembly regarding a removal motion against the Speaker to be moved by it in the coming session. Till date the removal motion is the only business that the authorities in the Assembly have been intimated about. “We have only received questions for questions hour and notice for the removal motion against the Speaker. “Neither has the government so far intimated us about the business to be transacted in the House nor have legislators from the Opposition or any other party moved any matter to us for putting up in the Vidhan Sabha”, officials in the Assembly told TNS. |
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Rural
service for new lecturers must Chandigarh, November 5 The
Cabinet meeting, presided over by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash
Chautala, however, decided to waive the condition of five years’
compulsory rural service for lecturers appointed on or after January
1, 1996, for granting the senior scale and selection grade. The
decision was taken keeping in view certain difficulties being faced in
implementing the condition of rural service with retrospective effect. An official release said that the UGC had recommended the counting of past service for the grant of the senior scale or selection grade. The recommendation had been accepted by the state government. Following acceptance of the UGC directive, many government lecturers will become eligible for the senior scale on the very day they join government service as they have already put in a number of years of private or ad hoc service. In addition, there are many cases where the senior scale or selection grade had already become due and had to be granted following court orders. Under the circumstances, the implementation of the condition of rural service with retrospective effect was not possible, the release said and added that in view of these difficulties, the Cabinet approved the proposal of the Education Department to waive retrospective operation of this condition. The Cabinet approved a proposal of the Department of Industries to transfer unutilised land measuring 6.7 acres in the Sonepat Industrial Area, to the HSIDC for allotment to prospective entrepreneurs. The Cabinet also approved the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2001, for introduction in the coming session of the Assembly. The proposed amendment will enlarge the scope of election petitions in respect of the elections of panchayati raj institutions. The Cabinet also cleared the draft of a resolution which is to be moved in the next session of the Assembly for the ratification of the Constitution
(Ninety first Amendment) Bill, 2000, as passed by the two Houses of Parliament. The Cabinet approved a proposal of the Urban Development Department for introducing the Punjab Town Improvement (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2001, in the coming Vidhan Sabha session relating to starting of the pension scheme for all employees of improvement trusts (with effect from April 1 this year). The Cabinet also approved a proposal of the Labour and Employment Department to introduce a Bill in the next session of the Assembly to amend Sections 2(10) and 3(2) and insertion of Section 9 A in the Punjab Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1965, for making provision for the contribution of employers and employees towards the Labour Welfare Fund. According to the proposed amendment, every employee will contribute Rs 1 per month to the fund and every employer, in respect of each such employee, will contribute Rs 2 per month to the fund. Before December 31 of every year, the employer will pay to the fund both his contribution and contribution of the employee through crossed cheque or demand draft made in favour of the Welfare Commissioner, Haryana. The contributions will also help the Haryana Labour Welfare Board to start new schemes for the welfare of workers and run the existing schemes smoothly, an official release said. It added that the proposed amendment to Section 2(10) of the Act would reduce the period of three years to two years during which employers could retain unpaid accumulations. The government also changed the name of the Prohibition, Excise and Taxation Department to the Excise and Taxation Department. |
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No plan to ‘privatise’ insurance sector Rohtak, November 5 The government has no plans to privatise the insurance sector, he said, while addressing the national conference on “Privatisation of Insurance Sector: Corporate Challenges and Strategies” organised by the Institute of Management Studies (IMSAAR) of Maharshi Dayanand University here today. He said the insurance companies must keep in mind as to whether they were serving the interests of the masses and the poor. Mr Rangacharya declared that the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority had stipulated a minimum quantity of business in the rural sector as well as for socially and economically weaker sections. Mr Rangacharya said the general perception in India was that “insurance is purchased not sold”. Need of the hour was active players who could carry the insurance product to the market, he said, adding that this required
professionalism in selling and distributing mechanism of insurance sector. He claimed that there has been great improvement in selling and marketing insurance with the entry of new players. He stressed taking effective steps to generate more insurance business. He also called for product innovations, delivery of promises and sound financial set-up as well as continuous solvency in the insurance sector. The Vice-Chancellor, MDU Maj-Gen B.S. Suhag (retd) stressed devising a mechanism of curb unethical, unfair and exploitative practices in the insurance sector. A watchful eye on the new entrants in the sector in national and consumer interests was the need of the hour, he said, while delivering the presidential address. Delegates from Amity School of Insurance, GJU (Hisar), affiliated management institutes of MD other neighbouring universities and public and private insurance companies deliberated upon the sub-stance like foreign joint ventures in insurance, insurance opportunities for commercial banks, entry strategy for private insurance companies etc. |
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Telecom union plans ‘black day’ on Nov 8 Rohtak, November 5 The association in a statement here today said even the Junior Telecom Officers had been kept away from the IMPCS project. The statement reminded the BSNL board that for the past many years, the JTOs and SDEs had met the challenges of the induction of new technologies successfully. The SDEs and JTOs had seen all changes from manual, cross bar, analogue and present digital technologies, both in the fields of switching and transmission, and efficiently manned the areas of installation, operation and maintenance and that too without refresher or in-service training, it said. The association claimed that its members had overcome many difficulties, including those arising from the shortage of JTOs to meet “developmental targets year after year” and thus played a key role to maintain an average growth of 23 per cent. Its members were also playing important role in providing mobile service, Dolphin, and WILL service, Garuda, in the MTNL. Even in the BSNL, the association claimed its members were involved in providing services like WILL, Internet, etc. The association felt that this was a step towards making the cadres of SDEs and JTOs “redundant” in the field of new services and this position would not be accepted by it. The association urged upon the BSNL to reconsider its decision and sanction proportionate SDE posts to the IMPCS project. It said willing SDEs and JTOs should be provided opportunity to work in IMPCS projects by giving suitable in-service training, if
required. The association threatened to hold demonstrations at all levels, on November 8 and stage dharna on November 20 at all circle headquarters. It threatened to intensify the agitation if the BSNL failed to accept its demands. |
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New telecom service to improve efficiency Ambala, November 5 Talking to mediapersons here, Chief General Manager, Telecom, Haryana circle, Mr G. Jethwani, said that the Internet subscribers already cleared from VSNL with user ID ending with “nde” are being migrated today from the VSNL to NIB to improve efficiency and to provide better assistance to customers. He said the new user ID will also be e-mailed to all existing subscribers separately, “Instead of dialing the access code of 172222, the subscribers will be required to dial 172233 and for changing their passwords, they may visit www.sancharnet.in.. In case of assistance, the subscribers can contact on 1957,” he said. Mr Jethwani said that a 1000-line Wireless in Local Loop (WLL) has been commissioned at Panipat for necessary provisioning of WLL connections to subscribers as per demand. “This system is having all 1000 fixed wireless terminals, which are of the size of a normal telephone. This can be installed without any wire or poles. The service is having facilities like enabling the user to connect onto the Internet, STD, ISD and also value-added services like morning alarm, call transfer and access to all automated enquiries.” He said that the Ambala SSA is going to convene a telephone adalat at telecom district level on November 20. General Manager, Telecom, Ambala SSA, G.S. Daria, said that during 2001-2002, four new telephone exchanges at Badhaur, Chamrauli, Khurdban and Sambhalka would be opened in rural areas and 13 exchanges would be commissioned for augumentation of capacity at the existing stations.
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Auction of 3 mines on Nov 20 likely Faridabad, November 5 The mines to be auctioned include mine No. 2 and 3, whose auction could not be held on October 30, here. The reserve price of Rs 10 crore of one of the plot was not acceptable to parties. The auction of mining areas is perhaps adopted for first time and it is likely to generate a huge revenue. The administration has also decided to auction plot No. 4 of the Manger area on the next date. Only two plots would be left after this auction, in this region, according to sources. While the government got an income of Rs 17 crore from auction of seven mines last time, the remaining three mines are likely to give another Rs 12 to 15 crore to the Mines Department as annual revenue. This would be a hike of about five to seven times. The authorities are likely to announce next auction dates of the mines of the Gurgaon district also. On other hand, some of the residents of the mining areas have raised an objection to the norms of the auction. They claim that the NOC from the owner of the land for the mining contractor was not being taken in cases where land was privately owned of belonged to panchayat. |
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CPM flays govt stand on war Rohtak, November 5 Addressing the two-day state-level meeting of the CPM, Mr Mollah accused the Central Government of giving a communal cover to the problem of terrorism keeping in mind the impending Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh. He called upon the party to continue exposing the “sinister motives” of the USA behind its war on Afghanistan. He said the USA was eyeing the gas and petroleum reserves of the Caspian Sea and central Asian republics. The MP also expressed concern at the plight of cotton growers following destruction of the crop due to bollworm infestation. He demand that government should compensate the affected farmers before the sowing of rabi crop. Hitting out at the promulgation of POTO, Mr Mollah said the ordinance was bound to be misused against minorities, political opponents and mediapersons. He cited the example of TADA which was misused in the BJP-ruled Gujarat, a state never affected by terrorism. The CPM state committee considers that the November 2 ‘bazar bandh’ in Haryana was the manifestation of people’s anger against the imposition of a hefty house tax, especially in the absence of minimum civic amenities in the town. The resentment was compounded for other problems like forcible replacement of electricity meters and professional tax on small shopkeepers. The party feared more taxes in view of octroi abolition. The party also took exception to the reports of the Sonepat police asking the minority community people to get them photographed. |
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Nirmal Singh seeks anticipatory bail Ambala, November 5 Mr Nirmal Singh and a few others including general secretary of Haryana Youth Congress Brahmpal Rana are allegedly involved in looting a shopkeeper of Ambala Sadar on the day the market bandh call had been given by the Congress. The complainant has claimed that a few persons including Mr Nirmal Singh had forcibly tried to close his shop in Macchi Mohalla on November 2 and they had taken away money from the shop. Five persons, who are supporters of Mr Nirmal Singh, have been arrested by the police in this regard. They were sent to one-day police remand today by a city court. Congress activists today raised slogans against the Chautala government. The activists including district Congress president Balwant Gupta said Nirmal Singh and others were being falsely implicated in the case. Mr Gupta announced that Congress was going to stage a dharna outside the office of the Superintendent of Police, Ambala, tomorrow to protest against the arrest of five persons. “They are being framed for political reasons,” the Congress leader added.
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Leprosy curable, say experts Rohtak, November 5 The programme was inaugurated by Mr Anil Malik, Deputy Commissioner-cum-president of the District Leprosy Society. He appealed to the medical community to strive for eradicating this disease. Dr S.P. Singh Bhatia, Civil Surgeon, said the objective of the training was to spread awareness about leprosy and detect hidden leprosy cases. He said around one crore patients had been cured of leprosy so far with this treatment. He apprised the participants of new guidelines provided by the government regarding the registration of leprosy cases. Dr V.K. Jain, Professor and Head, Skin Department, PGIMS, also delivered a lecture. |
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Nov 18 to be observed as ‘ekta divas’ Rohtak, November 5 Mr Pradeep Jain, secretary of the state unit of the party, said a decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the national executive of the party held recently at Amritsar. He said the divas would be organised to spread harmony among the masses and in support of the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO). Describing terrorism as a major problem being faced by the world, he said India had been suffering from terrorism for the past nearly 20 years. |
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SPs of Karnal, Sirsa shifted Chandigarh, November 5 Mr P.K. Aggarwal, SP, Karnal, was posted as such at Faridabad vice Mr Ranbir Singh, who becomes SP, Sirsa. Mr Alok Kumar Roy, SP, Sirsa, has been posted as SP, Karnal. Mr Ved Parkash, SP (CID), Haryana Bhavan, Delhi, has been posted as Commandant, 4th Bn, Haryana Armed Police, Madhuban, in place of Ms Mamta Singh, who has been posted as SP, Panipat, against a vacant post.
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54 tubewells sunk in Mewat Chandigarh, November 5 Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today presided over the 17th meeting of the Mewat Development Board. Officials present at the meeting informed the Chief Minister that 54 new tubewells had been sunk already and 85 more were expected to be sunk by December this year to cope with the problem of drinking water in the Mewat area. |
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Mahasangh wants SDO punished Faridabad, November 5 According to a spokesman of the Mahasangh, the authority had ‘failed’ to take action against the officer concerned despite several complaints of alleged corruption and irregularities. The Mahasangh has sought a high-level probe and necessary action at the earliest. He said the dharna which started today would continue till their demand was met.
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Two killed in different accidents Ambala, November 5 The first incident took place in Vivek Vihar, Ambala city, when a man’s body was recovered this morning. The body was later identified to be that of Harbhajan. His brother has told the police that Harbhajan had gone somewhere last night and this morning they learnt that a body had been found from the rail tracks. In the second incident, while crossing the rail line in Ambala city, a woman, residing in Manav Chowk, was run over and killed by a train.
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Netaji’s associate passes away Yamunanagar, November 5 Lieut Karm Singh settled at Jagadhri after Independence and was appointed chairman of the Municipal Committee, Jagadhri. He was also the first chairman of the Improvement Trust, Jagadhri. He will be cremated here tomorrow.
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Robbery at petrol station Ambala, November 5 A case has been registered.
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Army man killed in valley Ambala, November 5 Sube-Major Jagmal Singh was killed during an encounter with militants in Rajouri. His body is expected to arrive here late tonight. He will be cremated tomorrow in his village, Sadhaura in Yamunanagar.
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