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Saturday, November 10, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Chautala government wins trust vote Protests
mark Assembly session More stringent steps against bootlegging Cong misleading people: Sampat |
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On demand exam system opens Life sentence for woman, paramour Power thefts in Haryana ‘highest’ Make MLAs’ assets
public: JD(U) Dharna plan by BKU foiled
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Chautala government wins trust vote Chandigarh, November 9 The no-confidence motion was admitted during this session after the Congress failed to move such a motion in the previous two sessions. On the first occasion, the motion could not be admitted because when the Speaker sought the permission of the House for moving it, no Congress member was present in the House. The second time, the motion failed to be admitted when the Congress could not muster the support of the minimum requisite 18 members. Today, the no-confidence motion was admitted after the Treasury Benches saved the Speaker, Mr Satbir Singh Kadian, from embarrassment by taking shelter behind technicalities. The government opposed a notice for the removal of the Speaker given by the Congress on the plea that a clear 14-day notice was required under the rules and the Constitution. If public memory is short, a politician’s memory works as per his convenience. This was proved by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Prof Sampat Singh, in the House twice today. Forgetting how vehemently the INLD members had protested when the then Speaker, Prof Chhattar Singh Chauhan, had rejected a similar notice given by Mr Om Prakash Chautala and the other INLD MLAs for his removal on similar grounds, Prof Sampat Singh alleged that the Congress was indulging in gimmicks by not giving the notice in time. The INLD members had at that time pleaded that the Speaker should admit the motion against himself on moral grounds. Today the party’s stand had reversed. The Congress and Mr Karan Singh Dalal (RPI), who was the Parliamentary Affairs Minister when Professor Chauhan was the Speaker, argued that the session should be extended to enable the House to take up the Opposition’s motion against the Speaker. Mr Kadian rejected the notice on technical and legal grounds, saying that the allegations levelled against him were not only wrong but also contradictory. When the Speaker found the no-confidence motion against the government in order, Prof Sampat Singh pleaded that it should be taken up immediately so that the government could first establish that it enjoyed the confidence of the House before conducting the other business. In the previous session the Congress wanted that the government should first prove that it enjoyed the confidence of the House before conducting the other business, but the Treasury Benches had insisted that the no-confidence motion against it would be taken up for discussion after the House had completed the entire agenda listed before it. Replying to the debate, Mr Chautala said his government would abide by the Supreme Court judgement on the SYL canal and would not compromise. He said it was his firm belief that the Eradi Commission report would be implemented in favour of Haryana, but he could not give the time-frame. However, the Chief Minister evaded a direct reply when the HVP President, Mr Bansi Lal, twice asked him whether the state counsel had informed the apex court that Haryana and Punjab had failed to reach a compromise on the canal within the four week time given by the court and now it should make a judicial pronouncement. The question was repeated by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bhajan Lal. The ever-alert Prof Sampat Singh saved the situation for the government by intervening. He said the court had not asked the parties to inform it about their failure to reach a compromise and hence the communication to the court was not required. Mr Chautala once again proved that no one from the Opposition Benches could match his oratorial skills. Those who could have perhaps given him competition were not allowed by the Speaker to speak. In his inimitable style he left no senior Opposition leader unscathed. He cleverly highlighted the Congress infighting by asking first Mr Bhajan Lal if he considered the party president, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, his leader, and then Mr Hooda if he considered the former, who headed the CLP, as his leader. Both Congress leaders were at loss for words. Neither was ready to admit the other as his leader for fear of annoying their supporters outside the House. When a similar question was put to Mr Chautala after he entered the House after winning the Narwana byelection and Prof Sampat Singh was the Leader of Oppostion. Mr Chautala was quick to retort: “Inside the House he is my leader, while outside I am his leader(being the party president).” Then repartee is at a premium in the Haryana Congress. Mr Chautala again added to the discomfiture of the Congress when he remarked that those who could come to blows at their public stages had no right to complain about the law and order situation in the state. His reference was to the murky scenes witnessed at a Congress rally organised by the Bhajan Lal group in Bhiwani in March last when several leaders, including Mr Hooda, were shouted down and manhandled by a section of the audience, alleged to be the supporters of the former Chief Minister. Taking on Mr Bansi Lal, the Chief Minister alleged that a crime mafia had been born in the state following the ill-conceived policy of prohibition by the HVP-BJP government. He said though nobody could stop crime from taking place, his police had solved every case of crime in the state. He caustically remarked that he was appreciative of Mr Bansi Lal’s claim that when he would come to power, he would dismantle all statues of former Deputy Prime Minister, Devi Lal. He said despite being in a minority the INLD had not allowed Mr Bhajan Lal to change the name of Chaudhary Charan Singh Hisar Agriculture University. When Mr Bhajan Lal said the move was dropped following the intervention of Indira Gandhi, Mr Chautala reminded him that she was killed in 1984, while he was the Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996. Mr Bhajan Lal corrected him to say that it was Rajiv Gandhi who had intervened. He was again reminded that Mr Gandhi, too, had been murdered in 1991 before the elections. When Mr Bhajan Lal said his government could be toppled whenever he desired, Mr Chautala dared him to engineer defections from the INLD. “Even if a single MLA expresses lack of confidence in me, I will quit. I am the son of a person who had refused to accept the office of Prime Minister,” he added. He also revealed that Mr Bhajan Lal had been making telephone calls to two Independent MLAs, Mr Anil Vij and Mr Dev Raj Diwan. The leader of the BJP group, Mr Krishan Pal Gujjar, who had criticised the government for releasing murder convicts, was also not spared. Mr Chautala said his government had released only those convicts whose families had reached an ageement with the families of the victims or whose names were recommended “by the high-ups of the RSS”. His reference was to the release of the convicts in the Khandewala murder case of Hansi, in which one of the accused persons belonged to the BJP and the top brass of the party is believed to be interested in his release. Mr Gujjar thought it prudent not to look at Mr Chautala. On the issue of house tax, Mr Chautala said he would call a meeting of “genuine traders” and go by their suggestions. He said the recovery of taxes had gone up because of several trader-friendly steps taken by the government. Several industrial houses had set up their units in the state. Earlier, Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Bansi Lal alleged that the crime graph in Haryana had been on the rise ever since the Chautala government assumed office. Murders, kidnappings for ransom, abductions, dacoities and rape had become a routine. Mr Bansi Lal contested the government claim of having increased power generation. He said most of the power projects, for which the Chautala government was taking credit, were initiated by his government. Among others who participated in the debate were Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, Mr Mange Ram Gupta and Mr Jai Prakash Barwala (all Congress). That the Speaker, the Treasury Benches and the Opposition took proceedings of the House non-seriously and participated in these in a mechanical way was clear when the motion was put to vote. Mr Kadian asked those members who were in favour of the motion to say “aye (yes)”. The Treasury Benches, out of habit, immediately shouted “aye”, without realising that the motion was against them. The Opposition MLAs kept quiet, unmindful of the fact that it was their motion. Instead the Opposition MLAs cried “ney (no)”, when the Speaker asked those who were against the motion to indicate their choice. Even Mr Kadian did not notice that the majority (the ruling party) had voted for the motion of no-confidence. He declared the motion defeated. |
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Protests mark
Assembly session Chandigarh, November 9 However, if it was the floor strategy of the INLD to keep the number of questions to the minimum, the strategy was indeed successful. Lengthy answers given by the Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) in reply to the “friendly” supplementary questions asked by some of the members triggered off noisy protests by the Congress members. Finally, when question hour ended, only five of the 20 listed questions could be taken up by the House. The Congress which has the biggest conglomeration of Opposition MLAs in the House, first lost patience when Mr Majra, replying on behalf of the Chief Minister, gave a lengthy account of power stations and sub-stations being constructed in various parts of the state. Subsequently, whenever the ruling party or the Independent MLAs supporting the government were allowed to ask supplementary questions by the Speaker, the Congress members expressed their resentment. While Mr Jay Prakash Barwala, Congress’ chief whip, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, Deputy Leader of the Congress and Mr Raghuvir Singh Kadian spearheaded the Congress protest, Mr Bhajan Lal, Leader of the Opposition, also accused the Speaker of ignoring the Opposition members. Questions asked during the noisy session of the House, however, included two questions by Congress members. Mr Raghuvir Singh Kadian, who has the habit of running to the well of the House on the slightest provocation asked one of these. Replying to Mr Kadian’s question, Mr Majra said the drinking water in some of the households of four villages of the Beri constituency was being supplied by the private contractors. Mr Majra said the state government could supply water to the households if the consumption was more than 70 litres per day, and added that the government had no plan to discontinue the services of the private contractors. The water being supplied by the private contractors was being tested for potability, he said in reply to Mr Kadian’s question on whether the water was fit for human consumption. Answering another question of Mr Dan Singh, Congress MLA, Mr Majra said repair work of the road from Mahendragarh to Bawania would start from February, 2002, and would be completed by March. Mr Padam Singh Dahiya’s question on whether an electricity substation would be constructed at Rohtak attracted a flurry of questions from the legislators leading Mr Majra to spell out the government’s plans on setting up sub-stations and stations in various districts. As far as the Rohtak circle was concerned, Mr Majra said three new substations were being set up at Meham, Sampla and MDU, Rohtak, which were expected to be completed by June, 2003. Besides, the existing substations at Rohtak, Bahadurgarh (two substations), Kalanaur and Jassia were being augmented, he said. In Narnaul also five new substations — at Mahendergarh, Satnali, Mundiakhera, Dablana and Bawania — were being set up, which would be completed either next year or in 2003, he said while replying to Mr Moola Ram’s question. Besides, three existing substations at Narnaul, Nangal Chaudhry and Baroli were being augmented, said Mr Majra. Replying to a question asked by Mr Ram Bhagat on the steps taken by the government to minimise the electrocution cases caused due to a snag in the main line passing over houses, Mr Om Prakash Chautala’s written answer was that a special maintenance campaign had been launched in the state for tightening the loose wires. |
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Haryana Assembly passes 3 Bills Chandigarh, November 9 The annual report of HAU, Hisar, for 1997-98, audit report of the Haryana Labour Welfare Board for 1999-2000, annual report of the Haryana Tanneries Limited for 1999-2000 and the annual report of the HSIDC, 1999-2000, were also tabled in the House today. Later, the Assembly was adjourned sine die by the Speaker, Mr Satbir Singh Kadian.
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More stringent steps against bootlegging Gurgaon, November 9 According to well-placed sources in the department, more tough measures come against the backdrop of the success achieved by the enforcement wing against bootlegging and illegal distilling of liquor in the state. The state’s Additional Director, Excise and Taxation, Enforcement, Dr R.C. Mishra, claims that the ongoing five-month drive against illicit liquor trade has fetched a sum of Rs 5 crore as revenue to the exchequer collected as fine. The department’s claim is that during the drive 2,574 cases have been registered throughout the state and 527 vehicles involved in the business taken impounded. About 26,000 foreign-made liquor bottles, 33,000 countrymade liquor bottles and more than 10 lakh pouchs have been confiscated. Also,14 distilleries have been found and more than 11,000 kg of raw material to be used by them seized. As compared to the official figures of 1998-99, 1999-2000 and a few months of 2000, where the conviction rate, respectively, was 6.6 per cent, 4.23 per cent and 4.6 per cent, the department has achieved a conviction rate of a whopping 95 per cent in the five months of its operational existence. For the record, the enforcement wing was instituted following the examination by the state government of complaints from license-holders who bought liquor vends through auctions in the past two years. Complaints from almost all liquor contractors from the state was that they could not do business at the optimum level on account of the parallel underground liquor trade. During prohibition imposed by the Bansi Lal government, illicit liquor business came into place. Underworld operators set up an extensive network of liquor distribution along side producing country liquor. On account of the failure of the prohibition policy, it was scrapped by the Bansi Lal govern- ment. Yet, the illegal liquor trade flourished and the underworld lobby remained effective. The contractors could not sell liquor in vends at the optimum capacity, leading to a slump in their business. This resulted in a huge loss to the state exchequer as the consequent revenue to the government from the sale of liquor by authorised licensees thinned. Also, a possible outbreak of hooch tragedy stared in the face of the authorities. In order to give teeth to the enforcement wing, the state government amended the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, by introducing 61(A) and 61(B). On account of the amendment, the authorities were invested with direct power to book the culprits. Also, specific penalties were fixed against all kinds of liquor bottles. The important part was the jurisdictional power extended to the enforcement wing to impound vehicles carrying more than 120 liquor bottles. Dr Mishra, who was here in connection with the drive, held a meeting with the Inspector-General of Police, Gurgaon Range, Mr R.S.Dalal, and exchanged notes with him on the anti-liquor business in South Haryana. Gurgaon Range covers Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rewari and Mahendragarh districts. Talking to TNS, he said the illegal business was conspicuous in Hisar, parts of Fatehabad and the districts bordering with Punjab. |
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Cong misleading people: Sampat Fatehabad, November 9 The Deputy Commissioner, Mr O.P. Indira, the SDM, Mr R.K. Chauhan, and senior officers of the district were also present on the occasion. He asked officers to redress people’s grievances on the spot. Later, addressing mediapersons, Mr Sampat Singh claimed that the Congress was misleading the people on the house tax issue. He said the fizzling out of the November 2 bandh had proved that the people of Haryana had rejected the Congress and its leaders. He alleged that the Congress leaders who were creating a hue and cry over the house tax issue in fact boycotted the Assembly proceedings when the issue was to be discussed. The Chief Minister even directed the Urban Development Minister to discuss the issue with all MLAs of the urban areas irrespective of their political affiliations. But the Congress MLAs boycotted that meeting, he alleged.
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On demand exam system opens Rohtak, November 9 The system provides that a student of National Open School (NOS) could walk into the study centres on any day at any time with the request to appear for examination. The student will have the choice whether to take examination in all subjects or in one subject only. The ODES centre inaugurated here today is the fifth in the country. The remaining four centres are at Sardarshahr (Rajasthan), Amauli (Uttar Pradesh), Jamui Town (Bihar) and Nimdin (Jharkand). Mrs Aggarwal said the system suited the poor who could not study as a regular student in any institution. This would also provide opportunities to every uneducated person, irrespective of his/her age, to fulfil their desire to be educated. Mr N.K. Ambashat, Chairman, NOS said the ODES centres had been set up on experiment basis in far-flung areas. If the system succeeded, it would be extended to other centres in the country. The National Open School, Mr Ambashat said, was established in 1989 with a modest 161 study centres and a student enrolment of 40,000. But today, it has grown to become the largest open school in the world. The phenomenal growth rate recorded by the NOS in student enrolment as well as in the number of study centres are indicators of the demand as well as the quality of education provided by it. With an enrolment of about two lakh students per year, the NOS now reaches out to its learners including remote areas, through a strong network of more that 1800 study centres, he claimed. The ODES, to start with, would be for five subjects only. These are Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. The Lucky Education Society, Meham, where the ODES has been set up now is a franchise of the NOS for the examination only. The students could appear for examinations through computers which are operational even in night hours, Mr Surat Singh, Secretary of the society said. |
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Life sentence for woman, paramour Fatehabad, November 9 According to facts of the case, Devi was married to Maru Ram of Jondwala village. She developed illicit relations with Dharampaul. Maru Ram’s brother had lodged a report with the police that on February 15, 1999, his son Sultan and his friend Nimbu were going to their fields when they heard screams coming from Maru Ram’s house. The victims’s brother Rattan Lal in his FIR said when he rushed to his brother’s house and entered it by breaking the doors, he found Maru Ram lying on the ground and Dharampaul sitting on his chest. On seeing Rattan Lal, Dharampaul allegedly fled from there and Devi put cord around his neck. |
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Power thefts in Haryana ‘highest’ Panipat, November 9 He revealed that according to surveys, the annual power losses due to various reasons, including thefts and line losses, had gone up to Rs 20,000 crore in terms of money in the country. “We cannot fulfil the electricity demands of the people until the power losses are curbed,” he said. He disclosed that the Ministry of Power had recently launched a countrywide awareness campaign for the dissemination of information on power sector reforms, engery conservation and power theft. In the first phase of the campaign, road shows were being organised in all districts and state capitals with the participation of senior officials from the Ministry of Power, Central Electricity Authority and the public sector undertakings under the Ministry of Power, he added. He said during these road shows, he said presentations on power sector development, the need for conservation of energy and curbing of power theft would be given to generate general awareness. The ministry had decided to organise 2,000 such road shows all over the country in a period or 45 days ending in November. ROHTAK: Three road shows were organised in the town on Friday by PFC as a part of countrywide awareness campaign for the dissemination of information on power sector reforms, energy conservation and power theft. |
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Make MLAs’ assets
public: JD(U) Faridabad, November 9 In a statement here today, the party chief, Mr Ved Prakash Vidrohi, said if the state government was really serious to curb corruption, it must start from the top rather than harassing employees at the lower levels. He said the government should direct all MLAs and MPs of the ruling party to make public the property owned by them and should cross check the statements through an independent authority. Claiming that there was large-scale corruption in the political system here, he said unless there was a proper agency with “legal teeth”, no move to overcome it would be successful. Similarly, he said the bureaucracy in the state should also be under some check. He said the recent unearthing of the illegal arms licence case in Haryana was only the tip of the iceberg. |
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Dharna plan by BKU foiled Fatehabad, November 9 The BKU, it may be recalled, has been on a warpath against the state government in support of its demand for compensation to farmers whose cotton crop had been damaged by the American bollworm. The union has organised several demonstrations in support of its demand and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard. The union today staged a dharna outside Mr Chowdhary’s house. The MLA was not at home. When BKU leaders had addressed the dharna, the police reached the venue and took away the activists in a van. |
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Resume aid to jawans’ kin: Cong Faridabad, November 9 In a memorandum to the Governor through the Deputy Commissioner here yesterday, the Congress leader described the decision to discontinue the facility as “unjust”. The memorandum said that a majority of families of these jawans were poor and ‘landless’. |
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