Withdraw FIR, warn traders
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Oct 9 — The confrontation between traders and the Administration took a serious turn today when the Haryana Beopar Mandal threatened to observe a statewide bandh if criminal cases registered against Qilla Road traders here were not withdrawn by Sunday.

Various trade organisations today decided to observe a hartal here tomorrow to express solidarity with the agitating traders of Qilla Road.

Criminal cases have been registered against the traders on charges of assaulting Sales Tax officials conducting raids on their shops and damaging official vehicles.

The situation appeared to be returning normal last evening but the arrest of a trader today provoked the businessmen to block traffic at the Bhiwani bus stand. They held a demonstration at the residence of the local MLA and Urban Development Minister, Mr Sri Kishan Dass.

The agitated traders also held a rally at the police station demanding cancellation of the criminal cases registered against them and release of their arrested colleague. The police responded by freeing trader.

The Qilla Road traders and functionaries of other local trade organisations held a meeting at Durga Bhavan here and decided to observe a hartal in the town tomorrow. The hartal by Qilla Road traders would continue. The traders alleged that Mr Amarnath Anand, president, Qilla Road Traders Association, had been "implicated" in a case whereas he had been ill for the past four weeks.

Addressing a public meeting, Mr Bajrang Dass Garg, president, Haryana Beopar Mandal, warned the officials of the Sales Tax Department to stop "exploitation" of the business community, failing which the traders would be forced to launch an agitation. He urged the government to take action against "corrupt" officials.

He threatened to give a call for a Haryana bandh if the FIR registered against the Qilla Road traders was not cancelled by Sunday.

Mr Subhash Batra, former Minister of State for Home, also demanded cancellation of the FIR. He said the traders were respectable citizens and the Administration should not treat them as criminals.

Mr Batra charged the Sales Tax officials with "victimising and harassing" the small and middle class traders for "extraneous reasons". Demanding action against the erring officials, he advised the government to bring the Sales Tax rates in Haryana on a par with the neighbouring Delhi state.

Zamindars, labourers on collision course
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

DHANI CHHATRIA (Fatehabad), Oct 9 — Tense silence prevails in this tiny hamlet situated about 10 km from Fatehabad on both sides of the road leading to Ratia. The road has almost become the line of actual control for two caste groups who have been boycotting each other for the past two weeks. On the one side are living zamindars and on the other the nayaks (landless labourers). No one from each community dares to venture on the other side.

The bone of contention between these two caste groups has been the draining out of rain water that had accumulated in the part of the village inhabited by zamindars. According to landless labourers who belong to the 'nayak' caste, zamindars, without caring about their (nayaks') security breached the ring bundh to divert the rain water. The rain water entered the houses of nayaks. Some of the houses even collapsed.

This reportedly enraged nayaks, who outnumber zamindars. When nayaks took up the matter with the zamindars, the latter allegedly misbehaved with them. This led to an altercation and exchange of blows. About 10 persons suffered minor injuries in the scuffle. They were admitted to the Fatehabad hospital from where they were discharged after first aid.

Both sides have been levelling charges against each other. However, the nayaks alleged that the police was playing a partial role by not registering cases against the persons who had been responsible for breaching the ring bundh around the village. Instead, the police has registered cases against some members of the nayak community only.

The police, however, denied these charges. Nayaks have been alleging that zamindars were being encouraged by Home Minister, Mani Ram Godara, who was not allowing the police to register cases against them. However, Mr Rajbir Deswal, SP, Fatehabad, told TNS that there had been no pressure from any quarter and the cases had been registered only after a preliminary enquiry. He clarified that the police had no role except to ensure peace and law and order.

Surprisingly, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr K.R. Yadav, expressed ignorance about any such event. He said, he had no information as he had joined duty only a few days ago.

The upper-caste zamindars have passed a resolution in the panchayat to boycott the nayaks. Anybody found violating the boycott will be fined Rs 5000. This has enraged the nayaks more. Even the shopkeepers have been told not to sell goods to the nayaks. One nayak girl who had gone to purchase bidis from a shopkeeper was reportedly slapped and told not to visit the part of the village inhabited by the zamindars again.

Tempers are running high on both sides. Both nayaks and zamindars feel that one community is dependent on the other. The nayaks, most of them landless labourers, work in the fields of zamindars. They feel that zamindars will not be able to do farming without them. The zamindars, however, feel that they (the nayaks) are dependent on them as they provide them with livelihood.

There is general resentment among the nayaks who are shocked at the zamindars, action of diverting the flood water towards their locality, especially when they knew that it could endanger their (nayaks) lives.

Rizk Ram dead
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Oct 9 — Mr Rizk Ram (86), a veteran Jat leader and former minister, died in the medical college hospital at Rohtak last night.

He is survived by two sons and three daughters.

He was admitted to the medical college hospital on October 4. Mr Bansi Lal, Chief Minister, called on him at his residence on October 3 here.

He contested his first assembly election in 1952 in united Punjab from the Rai assembly constituency. He also successfully contested the 1962 assembly elections and remained the Irrigation and Power Minister in united Punjab from 1964 to 1966. In 1967 he became a minister in the Bhagwat Dayal Ministry but quit owing to some differences with the Chief Minister.

In 1968 he was elected to the Rajya Sabha but resigned in protest against the reported decision of the Centre to transfer Chandigarh to Punjab. In 1977 he was again elected as a member of the Vidhan Sabha and became the Irrigation and Power Minister in the Bhajan Lal Cabinet.

Mr Chiranji Lal Sharma, a former MP and minister, and other leaders of various political, social, religious and voluntary organisations thronged the residence of Mr Rizk Ram and paid homage to him.

Mr Rizk Ram was associated with the Hindu Educational Society and Gurukul, Matindoo village, in this district. He was also a life member of the Maharaja Suraj Mal Trust.

Several educational institutions remained closed for the day as a mark of respect to the departed leader.

His body was later cremated. A large number of people and VIPs attended the funeral.

Review winding up of HSEB: NIPEF
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 9 — Engineers of the Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board and the Punjab State Electricity Board held a dharna here today as part of the on-going protest started by the Northern India Power Engineers Federation against the dismissal of two engineers, Mr R.L. Chhokar and Mr R.S. Bhatti by the erstwhile Haryana State Electricity Board.

In a statement issued here the Secretary of the NIPEF, MR V.K. Gupta said the dissolution of the HSEB would give a blow to the concept of improving consumer services and economic health of the board.

He said since the private companies would attempt to maximise return on their investment, welfare of the State and the consumer would be lost sight of in the process. Moreover, since private companies would operate their plants at the agreed plant load factor, the State would have to surrender cheaper power from the Central grid during low demand conditions.

Mr Gupta alleged that farm sector would be hit because private companies would charge commercial tariff from all categories of consumers. He said as per the policy document of the Haryana Government, the reform process aimed at eliminating State subsidies in a phased manner. Farm tariff would be modified on metered supply and out-of-turn tube well connections would be released on higher tariff.

Urging the State Government to review its decision to wind up the HSEB, the NIPEF said it was of the opinion that the present sorry state of the board was due to excessive and frequent interference by the State Government. The HSEB could be revitalised once it was allowed to act autonomously under a professional management.

Among those who addressed the engineers sitting on dharna were Mr M.S. Bajwa, Vice-Chairman of the All-India Power Engineers Federation, and Mr V.N. Sharma of the Uttar Pradesh Abhiyanta Sangh.

Mayor threatens gherao
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Oct 9 — Subedar Suman, Mayor of the Faridabad Municipal Corporation, has threatened to gherao civic officials along with the other councillors if they failed to repair the street lights before Diwali.

The Mayor accused the officials of being indifferent to the problems of the people despite the fact that 5,000 tubelights had been given to them long ago. He would soon write to the government to take disciplinary action against the erring officials.

Subedar Suman said that the next meeting of the general house of the corporation would adopt a resolution for re-energisation of the tubelights on the Delhi-Mathura national highway passing through Faridabad.

Compensation for farmers sought
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 9 — The Haryana Lok Dal has demanded compensation for those farmers whose crops had been damaged by the recent rains and hailstorm in the State.

In a statement issued here, today the party President, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, said the recent rains had exposed the hollowness of the claims being made by the Haryana Government about the flood prevention measures taken by it.

Alleging large-scale irregularities in the execution of flood prevention measures, Mr Chautala demanded a CBI enquiry into the expenditure shown on this account.

Demanding a special girdawri to assess the damage to the crops by the rains, Mr Chautala said Rs 10,000 per acre should be paid to farmers as compensation. Similar compensation should be paid for damage to houses and for the loss of cattle. He also demanded that recovery of loans should be postponed and immediate pumping out of rain water.

The Lok Dal leader said the State Government should make arrangements for the supply of onions on subsidised rates on the pattern of Delhi.

Referring to the victory of his party candidates in the Zila Parishad elections in Kurukshetra and Jind districts today, Mr Chautala said the Lok Dal was gaining ground in the State every day.

He said earlier his party had captured the civic bodies of Bahadurgarh and Dabwali.

Govt to withdraw case against
Vidya Niketan
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Oct 9 - The state government has decided not to pursue the case against the Principal and staff of Modern Vidya Niketan, Sector 17 for allegedly firing in the air to scare away brickbatting demonstrators on August 11 last year.

Official sources said an application on behalf of the District Administration had been submitted in a local court for withdrawal of the case.

The sources said after an enquiry conducted by the police, it had been established that no case could be made out as the school guard had fired in the air in self-defence to protect school property.

The Avibhavak Ekta Manch had organised a demonstration in protest against the hike in fee by public schools in the city when the incident occurred.

HVPN gives concession to consumers
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Oct 9 — The Haryana Vidyut Parsaran Nigam (HVPN) has decided to waive the surcharge levied on defaulting agricultural tubewell consumers, provided they pay the outstanding bills in four equal quarterly instalments.

The Superintending Engineer, HVSN, Mr H.K. Sharma, said here today the concession would be available to those consumers who ensured regular and timely payment of their electricity bills.

He said the defaulting agricultural tubewell consumers should deposit the first quarterly instalment by October 31 and the subsequent instalments by January 31, April 30 and July 31, 1999. The surcharge levied on the outstanding bills of such consumers would be waived as on September 30.

However, adjustment on the surcharge would be made at the time of the final instalment.

Mr Sharma said this facility would also be available to defaulting domestic consumers in urban and rural areas. Urban consumers who owed outstanding arrears of Rs 5000 on more would get this benefit. For the rural domestic consumer, the amount of arrears should be Rs 500 or more.

He said the concession would also be granted to domestic supply consumers who ensured regular and timely payment of bills. The facility would be withdrawn in case of a default at any stage.

Chautala calls on PM
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Oct 9 — The Indian National Lok Dal leader, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, called on the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, here today.

Mr Chautala described the visit as "courtesy call". In a statement issued here, he also denied that his party has entered into any poll pact with the BJP for the forthcoming assembly elections in Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. He said the INLD would start its election campaign from Mandawa rally in Rajasthan on October 15.

Rain hits paddy procurement
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Oct 9 — Unseasonal rain and hailstorm have severely hampered the procurement of paddy in the district.

During a visit to markets in Sonepat, Gohana and Ganaur, this correspondent found that the arrival of paddy was negligible.

Heaps of paddy are lying in the open with no sheds in any market. Some growers say neither any procurement agency nor any private trader has purchased the crop.

Leaders of various farmers’ organisations said private traders as well as owners of rice-shellers were forcing growers to sell the crop at cheaper rates but most of them had taken back the crop. They said they had been pleading with the government to formulate a plan, but nothing had been done so far.