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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Tuesday, July 21, 1998 |
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Vidhan Sabha: ruling parties may be under pressure CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Although there is no apparent threat to the HVP-BJP alliance government in Haryana, the forthcoming Budget session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha is likely to generate enough heat to give a difficult time to the ruling parties... Two women burnt to death ROHTAK, July 20 — Prem Singh, a resident of Deegal village, has alleged that his niece, Sunita, was burnt to death by her husband and in-laws over dowry. In another case at Madina, a married woman, identified as Sanjana, was also allegedly burnt to death... |
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Afghan refugees seek Indian citizenship FARIDABAD, July 20 — Thousands of Afghans, mostly Hindus and Sikhs who had taken refuge in India after fundamentalists came to power in Kabul in 1992, have been seeking Indian citizenship since then, but of no avail... Mulana alleges threat to life CHANDIGARH, July 20 — A former Haryana Minister, Mr Phool Chand Mulana, has alleged threat to his life and property from the sitting Independent MLA from Ambala Cantonment, Mr Anil Vij... HSEB has "potential to improve" HISAR, July 20 — The Haryana State Electricity Board (HSEB) has the potential to improve power supply system to match the standard of the developed countries, Mr M.R. Chaudhary, consultant of the World Bank for the power restructuring and reformation project in Haryana, said here today ... One held in Kalka assault case PANCHKULA, July 20 — The main accused in the Kalka assault case in which two residents of SAS Nagar were beaten up on July 12 was arrested today... Cheating case suspects escape KAITHAL, July 20 — Two suspects who were in police remand escaped from custody at Siwan last night. They were arrested in a cheating case and were to be produced in the court here today... Drive against quacks SIRSA, July 20 — The Health Department, Sirsa, has reportedly launched a campaign against unregistered medical practitioners practising in rural areas of the district... Rs 34-lakh shopping centre inaugurated Blockade by BKU men continues Agricultural officers hold demonstration Teacher-student ties stressed SFI to launch agitation  |
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| Vidhan Sabha: ruling parties may
be under pressure By U K Bhanot Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Although there is no apparent threat to the HVP-BJP alliance government in Haryana, the forthcoming Budget session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha is likely to generate enough heat to give a difficult time to the ruling parties. The role of the Speaker will become more crucial than ever before. This session will give the Opposition parties , which have so far failed to forge an impressive united front, another opportunity to give vent to their feelings on issues which have been agitating their mind during the recent past. As this will be the first session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha after withdrawal of prohibition which made headlines and created a resource crunch for the government allthrough its two-year period so far, the Opposition leaders will certainly utilise the opportunity to demand rolling back of taxes worth several hundred crores which were imposed on the people of the state directly and indirectly soon after assumption of the power by the HVP-BJP alliance to make up for the losses. The resource crunch has been evident in more than one way — in the field of development as well as in the fulfilment of employees' demands. Certain leaders are likely to raise the issues of employees' and nurses' agitation for allowances. The Opposition leaders will try to win the sympathy of the employees and nurses who have been so far given a revision of only basic salaries and have yet to receive revised allowances. Employees of boards, corporations and voluntary bodies appeared to be still far away from the Pay Commission's impact. The issue of law and order is likely to be raised by some leaders in view of several incidents of murder. There have also been allegations of lootings in certain parts of Haryana. Opposition leaders have at numerous press conferences repeatedly alleged breakdown of the law and order machinery in several parts of the state. The question of 24-hour power supply which has been a mirage for people in several areas in the state is very much alive particularly with those leaders who claimed to be best friends, of farmers. Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, who is on the last leg of his seat in the Rajya Sabha, has stirred the minds of the Opposition members , including his own son, Mr Randeep Surjewala, by raising the issue of suicides by farmers. Of course the story of Mr Surjewala has been totally denied by the State Agriculture Minister, Mr Karan Singh Dalal. The supply of free power in the neighbouring state of Punjab remains a perennial irritant among the Haryana farmers. The issue may be raised again along with the 15 per cent hike in power tariff. The raise in the power tariff for the second time by the present government has attracted condemnation from all quarters. The introduction of the slab system in the entire state as compared to its earlier implementation on an experimental basis done in southern Haryana, mainly in Bhiwani, Mahendragarh and Rewari areas may create an opportunity of giving expression to people's anguish through their representatives. While police recruitments have always been the subject of controversy irrespective of the party which led the government for allegations of pricing each post, the irregularities alleged in the recruitments by the present government are also likely to become an issue for the Opposition leaders. While Mr Om Parkash Chautala, former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, has expressed his decision to move a no confidence motion in the Vidhan Sabha to expose the alleged misdeeds of the HVP-BJP Government, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, has repeatedly demanded the resignation of the present government for its failure on all fronts. The Congress representatives in Haryana are likely to raise these and allied issues like reverses suffered by the ruling parties in the Fatehabad and Adampur byelections and earlier in the Lok Sabha elections during the discussions. |
| Two women burnt to death From Our Correspondent ROHTAK, July 20 — A dowry death has been reported in the district during the past 24 hours. According to a complaint lodged with the police, Prem Singh, a resident of Deegal village, has alleged that his niece, Sunita, was burnt to death by her husband and in-laws over dowry at Bohar village, near here. While the case has been booked under Sections 304/B, and 302/34, IPC no arrest has been made. In another case at Madina, a married woman, identified as Sanjana, was also allegedly burnt to death. The police has booked a case and arrested one Surinder on a complaint lodged by a brother of the deceased. Meanwhile, in another case the CIA staff of the police has arrested four youths while they had been allegedly planning a dacoity. It is learnt that while the police had been investigating the case of the murder of a former student leader, Devender Coach, it came across the four youths. They had a Tata Sumo jeep were a part of the criminal gang that was planning a dacoity. While one of the arrested youths belongs to Ghaziabad, the rest of them hail from Simli, Sisar and Kharak Khurd villages, respectively. Some arms and ammunition, including a pistol and a few cartridges, and the vehicle have been recovered from them. |
| "Unilateral" downgrading of ACRs By Yoginder Gupta Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Certain IAS officers of Haryana are contemplating moving court or the Central Administrative Tribunal against "unilateral" downgrading of their annual confidential reports (ACRs) by the State Government. Though the State Government has a right to give whatever grading it deems fit to an officer in his ACR, all adverse entries have to be communicated to the officer concerned so that if he desires he can represent against the remarks made in his ACR by his superiors. Earlier it was supposed that no positive grading, even of the lowest intensity like "average", was to be communicated to the officer concerned. However, the situation changed after the Supreme Court ruled otherwise in 1996. Informed sources say during the past two years the ACRs of about 100 IAS and IPS officers have been downgraded by the accepting authority which in most of the cases is the Chief Minister. Under the rules the accepting authority can downgrade the ACR by two steps. Since the fact of downgrading their ACRs has not been communicated to the officers concerned, the complete list of the affected officers is not available. The Supreme Court held in the UP Jal Nigam and others versus Prabhat Chandra Jain and others case that while writing the confidential reports, if the officials were to be downgraded from the previous reports ("like falling from 'very good' to 'good')..." All that is required by the authority recording confidentials in the situation is to record reasons for such downgrading on the personal file of the officer concerned and inform him of the change in the form of an advice...It may be emphasised that even a positive confidential entry in a given case can perilously be adverse and to say that an adverse entry should always be qualitatively damaging may not be true." The IAS officers say the downgrading of their ACRs would affect their future career prospects because the ACRs matter a lot at the time of empanelment for deputation to the Centre. Interestingly during the same period about 20 IAS officers have been charge-sheeted. A majority of the officers has been charge-sheeted for major penalty. At least two of them are officers of the rank of Commissioner. |
| Afghan refugees seek Indian
citizenship From D.N. Chaturvedi Tribune News Service FARIDABAD, July 20 — Thousands of Afghans, mostly Hindus and Sikhs who had taken refuge in India after fundamentalists came to power in Kabul in 1992, have been seeking Indian citizenship since then, but of no avail. More than 1,500 of them have settled in Faridabad and the rest in Delhi. A few Muslim families are also living here. An Afghan Hindu, who did not wish to be identified, said their forefathers had settled in Kabul, Jalalabad, Kandhar, Ghazni and Pakteya centuries back and were working as shopkeepers and employees of private firms. They had to flee homeland after the fundamentalists led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar started pressurising them either to leave the country or convert to Islam. Kidnappings of girls and young women and rape became the order of the day. Cremation of bodies was prohibited and they were left with no alternative but to perform the last rites in temples and gurdwaras. They came to India via Pakistan in trucks and boarded the train to Amritsar in Lahore leaving behind heavy household goods. The behaviour of Pakistanis towards them was also not good and their cash was snatched by the police. Some Hindus and Sikhs are still living in Afghanistan because they have not been able to get visas to come to India as the Embassy of the country has closed down due to the uncertain conditions there. The United Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) has granted them a refugee status and gives financial assistance which has since been reduced. The monetary help of the UN body is too meagre to meet the need for food, shelter and school and college fees of children. The Afghan refugees are not able to purchase foodgrain, kerosene and LPG connections from the public distribution system as ration cards have not been given to them because they are not Indian citizens. They still hold Afghan passports and go to the foreigners' registration office for extension of visas after every three months. This is done only if the UNHCR refugee status certificate and valid passports are produced. The expired passports are not easily renewed by the Afghan Embassy in Delhi which sometimes does not accept the UNHCR certificate. A fee of Rs 3,000 for the renewal of each passport is also demanded which they are unable to pay. The problems of the Afghan refugees can be solved to a great extent if they are granted Indian citizenship at the earliest. The refugees are determined not to go back to Afghanistan because there is no hope of any liberal government coming to power there. Most of the Afghan refugees have taken up jobs in private companies and shops. A large number of them have sold costly goods to purchase daily necessities and pay rents of houses. When contacted police sources said a close watch was being kept on the refugees as there were some bad elements among them. Recently Kalyan Singh, alias Inder Singh, had deported to Afghanistan by air for indulging in smuggling activities. |
| Mulana alleges threat to life Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 20 — A former Haryana Minister, Mr Phool Chand Mulana, has alleged threat to his life and property from the sitting Independent MLA from Ambala Cantonment, Mr Anil Vij. The allegation has been levelled in an application moved by Mr Mulana in the Punjab and Haryana High Court which has issued notice to Mr Vij, the SP of Ambala and the State of Haryana for July 30. In his application Mr Mulana stated that he was a peace-loving and law-abiding citizen and had been elected to the Vidhan Sabha thrice. He had been a state Cabinet minister thrice and a loyal Congress worker throughout his life. He said Mr Vij won the election as an Independent but was now supporting the HVP-BJP Government, adding that Mr Vij considered him to be a potential political rival and "in order to destroy him physically and economically he is leaving no stone unturned". Mr Mulana alleged that Mr Vij had "personalised" the allotment of a petrol pump to his (Mr Mulana's) wife and was instrumental in raids on the pump by several departments like Weight and Measures, Food and Supplies Controller and the police "almost daily", besides blocking the road leading to the pump. Mr Mulana also alleged that he was receiving telephone threats that he and his family members would be eliminated and "some unwanted elements who are supporters of Mr Vij keep on creating nuisance at the petrol pump and at the house of the petitioner". He said the SP Ambala had expressed his helplessness in the matter. He urged the court that an irreparable loss would be caused to his life and property if adequate security was not provided to him. He sought directions from the court to the State of Haryana and the SP Ambala, in this regard. |
| HSEB has "potential to
improve" From Our Correspondent HISAR, July 20 — The Haryana State Electricity Board (HSEB) has the potential to improve power supply system to match the standard of the developed countries, Mr M.R. Chaudhary, consultant of the World Bank for the power restructuring and reformation project in Haryana, said here today at a workshop on the construction of distribution work organised by the HSEB. He lauded the efforts of the HSEB engineers in the implementation of the World Bank-aided Rs 240 crore emergency action plan. Mr S.K. Allawadhi, Chief Engineer, reformation and restructuring project, said the rehabilitation work of 50 worst behaving 11KV feeders in the state had come at execution stage as most of the material for this work had been purchased. Execution of the work would be monitored by the World Bank. The work under the emergency action plan would be carried departmentally and not through contractors. This work included bifurcation, trifurcation and realignment of the feeders. According to Mr Allawadhi, the board was purchasing about new high accuracy meters under this action plan at a cost of Rs 35 crore. Over 1.30 lakh would be electronic meters, while about 50,000 would be three phase conventional meters. It would help minimising the chances of theft of power. He said the field staff was being equipped with vehicles, tool-kits, safety gears, etc. to bring about operational efficiency and promptness in attending public complaints. Mr P.C. Dewan, Chief Engineer, said the implementation of the emergency action plan would bring visible impact on the quality of service to the consumers and the work environment. |
| One held in Kalka assault case From Our Correspondent PANCHKULA, July 20 — The main accused in the Kalka assault case in which two residents of SAS Nagar were beaten up on July 12 was arrested today. The accused, Amarjit Singh Bawa, alias Papu, and his accomplices had allegedly beaten up two members of a family, Mr N.P. Singh and Mr Paramjit Singh, while they were on their way to Parwanoo. The police had registered a case under Sections 148, 149, 307, 324, 326 and 109, IPC, against Amarjit Singh and his accomplices for causing injuries to the victims with lethal weapons. The complainants in their statement to the police had alleged that they were beaten up as they objected to some "derogatory" remarks by the accused to a woman accompanying them. The SP, Mr Alok Mittal, said the main accused, who was produced before the Duty Magistrate, had been remanded in police custody for two days. The police was on the trail of the other accused, mainly Sukha and Mani. |
| Cheating case suspects escape From Our Correspondent KAITHAL, July 20 — Two suspects who were in police remand escaped from custody at Siwan last night. They were arrested in a cheating case and were to be produced in the court here today. Anil Kumar and Surinder of Pillakhera village were allegedly cheating the public by promising to double their currency notes. They removed their handcuffs last night and escaped while the third suspect could not escape as his feet were tied. The police launched a massive search to apprehend them. Though no senior official was available for comments, the police has registered a case under Sections 223/224, I.P.C., against constable Mahipal for negligence of duty. |
| Drive against quacks From Our Correspondent SIRSA, July 20 — The Health Department, Sirsa, has reportedly launched a campaign against unregistered medical practitioners practising in rural areas of the district and has started conducting raids along with the police. According to informed sources, the health authorities have been preparing a list of unregistered medical practitioners in the district. This has caused resentment frustration and anger not only among the practitioners, but also the villagers who are annoyed with the government. They state that they are not being provided with medical facilities and these unregistered practitioners treat them. The sources say a secret meeting of unregistered medical practitioners of the district was held here yesterday in which it was demanded that the Haryana government should start the registration of medical practitioners as registration of medical practitioners on experience basis had been closed in the state a couple of years back. Leaders of the HVP and the BJP has assured the public during the general assembly elections that in case they would be voted to power all experienced practitioners would be registered with the Haryana government. But after assuming power, the state government headed had observed silence over the issue, the meeting added. |
Rs 34-lakh shopping centre inaugurated From Our Correspondent BHIWANI, July 20 — The Haryana Government is launching various schemes to make civic bodies financially strong so that more basic amenities can be provided to inhabitants in the municipal areas. This was disclosed by Mr Surender Singh, MP, while inaugurating a two-storeyed shopping complex constructed at a cost of Rs 34.50 lakh at Charkhi Dadri, 30 km from here yesterday. This complex has been constructed under development programmes of small and medium towns and 46 shops have been opened therein. A sum of Rs 2 crore will be spent on the development works in Charkhi Dadri under this programme. Mr Singh said two more complexes would be constructed that would include 70 shops, a restaurant and a big hall. Under another programme, the Public Health Minister, Mr Jagannath, yesterday inaugurated newly constructed drinking water schemes built at a cost of Rs 77 lakh at Modi and Kanheri villages. |
| Blockade by BKU men continues From Our Correspondent JIND, July 20 — Blockade of the Jind-Hansi road by activists of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) continued for the fourth day on Monday. The BKU activists staged a dharna and blocked the road near Ram Rai village in support of their demands, which included replacement of burnt transformers and regular supply of power to the farm sector. Yesterday, they blocked the Jind-Bhiwani road near Ghimana village. ADOs hold demonstration From Our Correspondent REWARI, July 20 — Agricultural Development Officers (ADOs) of the district held a demonstration near the office of the Deputy Commissioner here yesterday in protest against the non-acceptance of their demands. The officers' demands include parity of pay-scales with veterinary doctors, grant of the gazetted status and power to check adulteration in fertilisers, pesticides and seeds etc. Dr Mahavir Singh Malik, state president of the Haryana Agricultural Development Officers Association, criticised the government for giving them lower scales. The district president of the association, Dr Satya Pal Yadav, warned that if this state of neglect persisted, an exodus of ADOs would start, resulting in the decline of production of foodgrains. |
| Teacher-student ties stressed Tribune News Service ROHTAK, July 20 — The Vice-Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University, Lieut-Gen O.P. Kaushik (retd.) has emphasised the need for creating healthy academic environment, seriousness in research work and cordial relations between the teachers and the students. Addressing the university faculty on the eve of the new academic session, he said relation between the teachers and students should not be academic only but cultural and social also. He remarked that the teachers must participate in administrative, research and creative work for the development of the university. The 1998-99 academic session of the university will commence from July 21. The university has received appreciation from the UGC for imparting minimum 180 days of teaching in the previous session. The Vice-Chancellor announced that the re-evaluation cases would be decided within 45 days from the commencement of the academic session. He also introduced community-university interaction programme under which the university would invite the parents of students thrice a session to acquaint them with the facilities and environment provided of their wards. |
| SFI to launch agitation From Our Correspondent ROHTAK, July 20 — The Student Federation of India (SFI) has decided to launch a statewide agitation to press for acceptance of their demands. The SFI state committee said that in the first phase state level convention of the students would be held at Bhiwani on July 25 and a charter of demands would be framed. In the next phase a 'chhatra chetna' campaign would be launched from August 1 to 14 in support of these demands. Stating this here today, Mr Naresh Kumar, state secretary of the SFI said that the federation would observe September 5 as "save Haryana, save education" day all over the state to protest against education policy of the HVP-BJP combine. Demonstrations would be held at the district level. Besides, a demonstration would be held at Delhi in protest against the 'casual' attitude of the Union Government towards, education, employment and health, he added. The SFI sought immediate withdrawal of the hike in tuition fee and hostel charges, check on commercialisation of education and recruitment of teachers on contractual basis, holding of elections to student bodies and curbing the mushrooming growth of private schools. |
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