 |
| Tuesday, January 11, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Chautala: deal sternly with
law-breakers Haryana ex-ministers join Congress Election date fixed ‘under
pressure’ Haryana for review of panchayat
poll order BJP stand may split alliance |
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Cong trying for tie-up
with BSP in Haryana BJP may go it alone in Haryana Sonia cautious in selecting
nominees Haryana parties gear up for poll Number of ticket seekers up Vij to contest as Independent Cong starts selection process HAU Registrar appointed Panipat exports touch new high Rape attempt case against two Conference Hall inaugurated Plea to spare women from poll duty
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Cong collects 30 lakh from
aspirants CHANDIGARH, Jan 10 — The Haryana Congress has been able to collect over Rs 30 lakh as application fee charged from those desirous of contesting the ensuing Assembly elections on the party ticket. About 1,450 candidates have applied for the ticket. The party had fixed a fee of Rs 3,000 for general category candidates and Rs 1,500 for the Scheduled Castes candidates. The highest number of candidates, 43, have applied for the party ticket from Narnaul, followed by Naultha, Rai and Safidon with each constituency attracting 42 applicants. No application has been received for the Adampur constituency, but party sources say the former Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal, will be the party candidate from his traditional constituency. Those constituencies for which the Congress candidates are almost decided have attracted a small number of applicants. Uchana Kalan has the former PCC chief, Mr Birender Singh, as the lone applicant. Kiloi, from where the PCC President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, is likely to contest, has received one more application besides Mr Hooda's. The other applicant is Mr Raj Singh Hooda. Similarly, from Narwana, where Mr Randip Singh Surjewala is the sitting MLA, only one more person has applied for the party ticket. For Kalka from where Mr Chander Mohan, the elder son of Mr Bhajan Lal is the MLA, only three more applications have been given. Interestingly, the six former ministers who joined the Congress today also filed their applications for the party ticket. The number of applications received for various constituencies is given in parenthesis Kalka (4), Naraingarh (25), Sadhaura reserved (18), Chhachhrauli (16), Yamunanagar (20), Jagadhri (16), Mullana reserved (15), Ambala Cantt (21), Ambala City (33), Naggal (4), Indri (22), Nilokheri (2), Karnal (30), Jundla reserved (40), Gharaunda (26), Assandh reserved (33), Panipat (9), Samalkha (26), Naultha (42), Shahabad (20), Radaur reserved (19), Thanesar (20), Pehowa (14), Guhla reserved (5), Kaithal (22), Pundri (24), Pai (14), Hassangarh (17), Kiloi (2), Rohtak (16), Meham (5), Kalanaur reserved (1), Beri (13), Salhawas (22), Jhajjar reserved (12), Badli (16), Bahadurgarh (25), Baroda reserved (38), Gohana (34), Kailana (21), Sonepat (15), Rai (42), Rohat (27), Kalayat reserved (30), Narwana (2), Uchana Kalan (1), Rajaund (13), Jind (26), Julana (31), Safidon (42), Faridabad (14), Mewla Maharajpur (12), Ballabgarh (27), Palwal (22) Hassanpur reserved (17), Hathin (13), Firozepur Jhirka (7), Nuh (2), Taouru (3), Sohna (10), Gurgaon (9), Pataudi reserved (26), Badhra (9), Dadri (15), Mundhal Khurd (9), Bhiwani (18), Tosham (2), Loharu (10), Bawani Khera reserved (13), Barwala (24), Narnaund (10), Hansi (17), Bhattu Kalan (15) Hisar (17), Ghirai (16), Tohana (1), Ratia reserved (19), Fatehabad (9), Adampur (0), Darba Kalan (12), Ellenabad reserved (7), Sirsa (11), Rori (5), Dabwali (16), Bawal reserved (8), Rewari (2), Jatusana (5), Mahendragarh (11), Ateli (3) and Narnaul (43). The applications will be put before the Election Committee of the party which is scheduled to meet in Delhi on January 14. Meanwhile, the party high command has appointed 10 observers who will visit respective Lok Sabha constituencies and assess the prospects of various candidates for the nine Assembly segments falling in each Lok Sabha constituency. While some of these observers have already visited the state, the others are likely to reach the state in a day or two. Mr Sant Ram Singla,
former MP, is the observer for Ambala, Mr Rameshwar Dudi,
MP, for Kurukshetra, Mr Sona Ram Choudhary, MP, for
Karnal, Mr vishnu Prasad, former MP, for Sonepat, Mr Mool
Chand Meena, former MP, for Rohtak, Mr Rajubhai Parmar,
MP, for Faridabad, Mr Shankar Pannu, former MP, for
Mahendragarh, Mr Ram Narayan Meena, former MP, for
Bhiwani, Mr Satyajit Gaikwad, former MP, for Hisar and Mr
I.G. Sanadi, MP, for Sirsa. |
Chautala: deal sternly with
law-breakers CHANDIGARH, Jan 10 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today directed the district administrations to ensure free and fair poll during the ensuing Assembly elections. The Chief Minister, who was reviewing the law and order situation and the on-going developmental works at a meeting of the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police here, urged them to be impartial. He said anti-social elements should be dealt with sternly and nobody should be allowed to take the law in his own hands. He expressed satisfaction at the improved law and order situation in the state, but stressed the need for continued vigil besides intensifying patrolling to maintain the peace and tranquility in view of the ensuing elections. He also said that photo identity cards should be issued to the left out electorates at the earliest so as to check bogus voting during the elections. He called upon the Deputy Commissioner to intensify the campaign of making photo identity cards. The Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Bhaskar Chatterjee, said that 87 per cent of the eligible voters had already been issued photo identity cards, which was the highest percentage for any state in the country. He said a campaign was already in progress for photo identity cards for these left out. He said those who had already got their photographs taken would get their photo identity cards by January 26. He hoped that up to 95 per cent of the voters in the state would have photo identity cards by the time the state goes to the poll. He said all the district had been provided with three electronic voting machines (EVM) each so as to educate the people before the elections. He also told Mr Chautala that police personnel on election duty would be able to caste their votes through postal ballots on the pattern of the Army. While reviewing the distribution of old age pension at the enhanced rate of Rs 200 per month, Mr Chautala pointed out that as decided earlier, the pension for the handicapped and the widows should be disbursed to the beneficiaries on the same pattern and rate as was the case of old age pension. The Chief Minister directed that the roads should be repaired speedily and the quality of work should be supervised by the Deputy Commissioners themselves. He was informed that the Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board had spent Rs 15 crore to make roads pothole free and the special repairs of the roads would cost Rs 85.33 core. The tenders had already been invited and the work would be completed by May 30 next. The Finance Minister, Mr Sampat Singh, who was also present at the meeting, said the grants for the works to be undertaken within the municipal limits had already been released so as to speed up the developmental works. The Chief Secretary, Mr
R.S. Varma, assured the Chief Minister that the
administration would be impartial and ensure free and
fair poll. |
Haryana ex-ministers join
Congress CHANDIGARH, Jan 10 — Six former ministers of Haryana joined the Congress in the presence of the AICC General Secretary, Mr Moti Lal Vora, here today. While five former ministers, Mrs Krishna Gahlawat, Mr Brij Mohan Singla, Mr Narbir Singh, Mr Ramesh Kaushik and Mr Sat Narain Lather were in the ruling INLD till recently, the sixth former minister, Mr Ram Krishan Bairagi, was in the HVP. Mrs Gahlawat, who was the Social Welfare Minister in the Chautala Ministry, said she resigned from the ministry on January 8 and only later the Chief Minister dropped her. The other four former INLD ministers along with Mrs Gahlawat were expelled from the party by Mr Om Prakash Chautala for their alleged anti-party activities on January 8. Mr Vora, who announced their decision to join the Congress at a press conference, said their entry into the party was "unconditional". However, he said, they would be free to apply for the party ticket for the ensuing Assembly elections. The state Election Committee of the party would take a decision on these applications. He said the leaders had first met the AICC President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, who accepted their request to join the party. Later, Mrs Gandhi’s decision was conveyed to the Haryana Congress President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Mr Vora said he was not aware of any proposal for the merger of the HVP with the Congress. He said he would ask Mr
Hooda to prepare a charge sheet against the Chautala
government highlighting its misuse of official machinery,
making of populist announcements without any budgetary
provision and failure to fulfil its promise of supplying
free power and water. |
Election date fixed ‘under
pressure’ AMBALA, Jan 10—The Election Commission has decided the date of Haryana assembly poll under pressure from the Union Government and the Haryana Government. It was alleged by Mr Dharam Pal Malik, a former President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC). Talking to mediapersons here today, he said the holding of assembly elections before the Union government presents the Railway General Budget will benefit the BJP and its alliance partner. Moreover this decision had provided an opportunity to Haryana to announce its budget after the assembly elections. He said in the coming Central and state budgets levying of heavy taxes was expected which could have affected the poll prospects of the BJP-INLD confine in Haryana and some other states too had the elections been announced one week late. Mr Malik urged the state government to release a white paper on the promises made by the Chief Minister during his visits to a number of constituencies of the state under the programme "Sarkar aapke dwar". He said the government should also clarify whether these announcements were sanctioned by the Finance Department and how much amount would have to be spent to fulfil these promises. He said in this election the ruling would have to face stiff opposition from "jeeri and Jats" as paddy producers had suffered record losses during this year and Jats, which had been known as the backbone of the INLD, were not happy with the anti-farmer policies of the government. The ruling party should also make it in its manifesto as to what would be its policy for providing free water and power to the farmers as announced earlier by the Chief Minister in the last Lok Sabha elections. He said an alliance with the BSP was not in the interest of the Congress. The Congress had the capacity to form the government on its own, he added. Mr Malik said a
"united show" of the state unit of the party
held at Ambala on January 13 in which Mr Moti Lal Vora,
former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, HPCC chief Bhupinder
Singh Hooda, former HPCC President Virender Singh and Mr
Shamsher Singh Surjewala and almost all MLAs of the party
would participate. |
‘EC pressurised to hold
early poll' ROHTAK, Jan 10 — The Haryana State Committee of the CPM has expressed ‘surprise’ over the poll schedule for assembly elections in four states and alleged that the Election Commission had been ‘pressurised’ to hold the elections before tabling of the annual Budget in Lok Sabha. In a statement issued here today, the CPM state unit said that while the Election Commission had hinted at holding these elections in March, but announcement of election dates in February proved that the commission might have been pressurised to hold elections before the Budget. It alleged that since
the Vajpayee government did not want to face the wrath of
voters in view of the repercussions of the annual Budget,
which could lead to price rise. It said the Election
Commission ought to have consulted the political parties
before deciding the poll schedule. |
Haryana for review of panchayat
poll order CHANDIGARH, Jan 10 — The Haryana Government today urged the Punjab and Haryana High Court to review its order of December 27 directing it to hold elections to panchayati raj institutions in the state by February 28 positively. The five-page review application preferred by the government is likely to come up tomorrow before Mr Justice H S Bedi and Mr Justice A S Garg who had handed down the December 27 judgement. The review application stated that a perusal of the detailed reasons recorded by the High Court in its order contain certain "errors or omissions which constitute sufficient ground for reviewing the order dated December 27. Pursuant to the High Court order dated September 30, 1999, since recalled, the state government had undertakan the exercise of preparing fresh electoral rolls as "it was not possible to hold elections before the expiry of the term of the panchayats and municipal bodies." The application added that the state government had issued three ordinances amending provisions of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, the Haryana Municipal Act, 1973, and the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994. These ordinances "have been issued with the object of filling the vacuum which exists in the three statutes." As a consequence of the three ordinances the state government had the power to appoint one or more persons to look after the work of panchayats and municipalities and exercise all powers and all duties till elections were held within six months from the date of the expirty of their existing terms. To counter this apprehension of the petitioners, the state government took a decision that these bodies "shall continue to exercise powers till fresh gram panchayat or panchayat samitis and zila parishads" were constituted. This decsion of the government was brought to the notice of the High Court as also the petitioners during the course of arguments. However, it had inadvertently been overlooked by the court while passing the December 27 order. The application added that the High Court had relied on the affidavit filed by counsel of the state Election Commission. No opportunity was afforded to any of the parties to rebut the allegations levelled in the affidavit. Therefore, the same could not be held to be correct and made the basis for recording the finding that the order dated September 30, 1999 was obtained by fraud. Another argument that the review application adduced for seeking the review of the December 27 order is that the Constitution does not provide for a situation when the term of the panchayat or municipal bodies comes to an end and elections are not held to constitute fresh panchayat-municipal bodies prior thereto. The sole ground of the
review petition filed by Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala was
that Articles 243-E and 243-U provide that the term of
elected panchayats and municipal committees will be
"five years and no longer." |
BJP stand may split alliance CHANDIGARH, Jan 10 — The impasse over sharing of seats between the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the BJP is threatening to destroy the alliance between these two parties in Haryana. At a Cabinet meeting at Mr Chautala’s official residence today, which was followed by lunch, a number of ministers reportedly advocated renewal of INLD’s ties with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The Chief Minister, however, told his colleagues, who were furious over the public outbursts made by the BJP over sharing of seats, to maintain calm and exercise restraint while reacting to BJP’s claims. The Chief Minister is reportedly of the view that the INLD must fight the Assembly elections together with the BJP. However, at the same time Mr Chautala is not agreeable to the BJP’s demand of giving 35 seats to the saffron party. Mr Chautala reportedly told his colleagues today that at best the BJP could be given 25 seats. Mr Chautala also felt that even if 25 seats were given to the BJP, the BJP’s candidates would manage to win in only three to four seats. A member of Mr Chautala’s Cabinet said the Chief Minister was aware that the BJP’s gameplan was to make him depend upon the BJP MLAs in case the BJP-INLD alliance could win the majority in the Haryana Assembly. The Chief Minister, however, does not want to depend upon any other party. Moreover, Mr Chautala and his colleagues reportedly also feel that the demand of 35 seats by the BJP is hugely disproportionate to the BJP’s strength in Haryana. "Even during the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had to borrow our sitting candidate for the Sonepat constituency", a senior INLD minister said. However, Mr Chautala has also had some compulsions not to break ties with the BJP. For getting financial grants, supply of power to Haryana, getting its share of river waters etc., are some of the important areas where Mr Chautala is counting on the centre's backing. By snapping ties with the BJP Mr Chautala does not antagonise the Union Government headed by Mr A B Vajpayee, the sources said. The BJP's Haryana leaders, who recently met Mr Vajpayee, ostensibly to talk about the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal issue, actually wanted to create pressure on Mr Chautala through the Prime Minister, the minister said. The minister said the issue of seat sharing between the BJP and INLD would be again discussed at a meeting of Mr Chautala and the BJP's Haryana leaders in Delhi. Mr Chautala is leaving for Delhi tomorrow and the crucial meeting is expected to take place on Tuesday itself. However, if the BJP does not want to come down from its demand of contesting 35 seats, that may be the end of the alliance, the source added. The minister said at today's meeting all the ministers, except Cooperation Minister Kartar Singh Bhadana, and Health Minister Om Prakash Mahajan, were present. He also claimed that despite the expulsion of five legislators, there was no feeling of insecurity among the MLAs who had deserted Mr Bansi Lal and joined Mr Chautala's camp. "It is anticipated that action will be taken against Ms Gahlawat and the four others", he said. Mr Chautala reportedly also assured his colleagues that he would not sacrifice them even if the BJP made claims to the seats the newcomers in the INLD were representing. During lunch, which
followed the Cabinet meeting, Ram Bilas Sharma, BJP
leader and former Education Minister of Haryana, called
up Mr Chautala. Mr Chautala reportedly told the BJP
leader that the public announcements made by the BJP in
Haryana on Sunday and before that, were in violation of
the agreement between the BJP and the INLD. |
Cong trying for tie-up with
BSP in Haryana CHANDIGARH, Jan 10 — The Haryana Congress is trying hard to have an electoral tie-up with the BSP. The party which has presented a united face after paying a heavy price for its political adventurism, is now keen to capture power. It does not want to lose any support. The BSP is still considered a force in certain pockets of Haryana. The Congress which has had the support of the loyalist Scheduled Castes, is keen on not losing even a fraction of this. According to Congress sources the top brass has contacted senior leaders of the BSP, including the party supremo, Mr Kanshi Ram and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati. It is not clear how many seats the Congress is prepared to leave for the BSP and what this kind of electoral understanding would mean later if the Congress is able to capture power. "We were expecting the elections to come in March. But these have come too early — in February. At least a month earlier as per the earlier announcement by the Election Commission. We are short of time. We shall try to weave a quick alliance", a senior Congress leader here confided. During the Lok Sabha elections, the BSP had made arrangements with the Haryana Vikas Party, but both could not help each other win any seat. But the Assembly elections contested keenly on state and local issues could be a different ball game. At another level, the hiccups between the ruling INLD and BJP have developed into a serious problem. The BJP, which announced its first candidate from Narnaud yesterday has made it clear that it would only accept the original agreement of having its share of 35 of the 90 seats. The top leaders from the state, party president Om Parkash Grover and former state legislature party leader, Ram Bilas Sharma, feel emboldened by the response of the Central BJP leaders. They had separate meetings with Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani and Party President, Khushabau Thakre. They claimed that the Chief Minister and INLD President, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had agreed to leave 35 seats. Now their grouse is that he goes around announcing candidates and welfare schemes without bothering about the BJP. "We feel slighted", is the general refrain. Mr Chautala on the other had given a damn to the state leaders and knows how to sort out with the Prime Minister. INLD sources say this war of attrition is because some of the BJP leaders have developed illusions. It is pointed out that both parties swept the Lok Sabha polls due to both the factors. Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee was important, but no one should forget that Mr Chautala led the campaign and his graph was high. In any case does the BJP have 35 winning candidates? they ask. BJP leaders contend that the Vajpayee factor was still the most important factor with the people. "This charisma has not waned. It has become rather more bright", they contend. Mr Chautala, according to these sources, is confident that when nominations are complete, there will be no problem and both sides will be happy. He must have calculated his game and measured his strength. In fact, the BJP has drawn a long term plan. It does want to be seen as an appendage to any political party, whether that of Mr Bansi Lal or that of Mr Chautala. It wants an independent position of its own. Shakti sammelans are planned to spread the party. The BJP is also trying to rake up the issue of SYL canal, although all know that no leader has the will to sort it out. But this is one way to reach the farmers of Haryana, who are so far not attracted to the BJP. The Haryana Vikas Party
which had a poor showing during the Lok Sabha polls has
begun to mount a campaign. Former Chief minister, Bansi
Lal who launched his campaign by mounting a sharp attack
on the present government, today addressed a good crowd
at Kurukshetra. The party proposes to contest all the 90
seats on its own stream. Its main objective would be to
see that it retains its political presence and spoils the
chances of Mr Chautala. |
BJP may go it alone in
Haryana HISAR, Jan 10 — The Bharatiya Janata Party is understood to have taken a tough stand on the issue of seat sharing. The party sources maintain that the recent statements by the State President, Mr Om Prakash Grover, reflect the party thinking. The sources said, party was not hesitant in going it alone. The BJP being a national party should not play a second fiddle to a regional party. The leadership feels that the BJP had not much to gain from the alliance. The stakes of the Indian National Lok Dal were much higher, they feel. There is a dominant feeling in the State BJP, which is supported by the central leadership, the BJP should come out from its confines. The sources claim, it was the best time for the party to establish an identity of its own in the state. The state unit should take advantage of Mr Vajpayee’s charisma. The BJP leaders feel the INLD would leave 35 seats for the BJP. The INLD, the sources point out, cannot afford to go it alone. The non-Jat voters have other options also. Moreover, the INLD (in its previous avtars) has never acquired power on its own. It could do it only in alliance with the BJP, both in 1977 and in 1987. The BJP leadership wants to take advantage of this position. Buoyed by the phenomenal success in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP leaders claim that the clean sweep was because of the people’s endorsement of BJP policies and Mr Vajpayee’s leadership. The BJP MP from Sonepat, Mr Krishen Sangwan, is a strong votary of this assertion. Moreover, he has several reasons to carve out an independent identity for the BJP, at least independent of Mr Om Prakash Chautala. The State BJP is working on the assumption that the stakes are high for the INLD. If it goes it alone, it will not be able to manage a comfortable majority. For the BJP, as on now there are not so high stakes. The BJP, even if it goes alone, may not lose much. If it had 12 members in the previous legislature, it can afford to lose a few more. But, for the INLD it is power. Fighting alone means risking victory for the INLD", said a senior BJP leader. Both Mr Chautala and the BJP leaders, however, have been maintaining, at least in public that the alliance will be finalised smoothly. Mr Chautala appears to be more shrewd. "I am ready to give them (BJP) all the 90 seats, why 35 or 40 only", he has been saying. His argument is that, the ability to win and sincerity of the candidate will be important, not the party he belongs to. Mr Ram Bilas Sharma speaks almost in a similar tone, "We will contest on all the 90 seats", adding that very intelligently, "at some places on the symbol of lotus and on other places on the symbol of spectacles". But, the process of
finalising the alliance does not appear to be so simple.
Mr Chautala has already reconciled to the inevitability
of "friendly contests between the BJP and the INLD
candidates at some places." More friendly contests
and more apprehensions of trouble for the "two
friends". |
Sonia cautious in selecting
nominees KARNAL, Jan 10 — The Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, is reportedly keeping her own counsel as far as the selection of Congress candidates for the Haryana Assembly elections is concerned. Highly placed sources in the Congress high command told TNS that the Congress President had made it clear that if not 30 per cent, at least 20 per cent representation to women should be ensured while allotting the party ticket. Mrs Gandhi has already appointed 10 observers for the parliamentary constituencies in Haryana. Mr Moti Lal Bora, a former Uttar Pradesh Governor, who is in charge of the party affairs in Haryana, would interact with these observers to prepare the list of prospective winning candidates. Mrs Gandhi is learnt to have sought the opinion of some highly placed officials who have retired from government service to give their views on the suitability of various contenders for the party ticket. These officials would submit lists of names to Mrs Gandhi. On the other hand, the State Election Committee of the Congress would also sbumit a list of candidates to Mrs Gandhi. To avoid too many applications the HPCC had demanded a fee of Rs 3000 from each applicant. Even though the former Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal, had opposed the move of charging Rs 3000 as application fee, the HPCC President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, did not relent. Sources said the fee had been levied so that the HPCC Election Committee had to consider only the names of those who had chances of winning. The sources said that unlike the past, this time the Congress high command would not entertain individual lists of recommendations by various factions of the Congress headed by Mr Hooda, Mr Bhajan Lal, Mr Birender Singh and Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala. The Election Committee of the state headed by Mr Birender Singh would submit a compact list of candidates from each constituency. The Congress high command already has done enough ground work in Haryana with central observers having details about the prospective candidates. Unlike the thinking in INLD-BJP circles that the Congress would not have many ‘suitable’ candidates, there are reports that the HPCC office has already been flooded with applications along with the fees. The only problem could
be that the HPCC may find it difficult to find 20 per
cent suitable women candidates. There are about 12 women
candidates in the race. These include Ms Shelja, Ms
Shakuntla Bhagwaria, Ms Parsinni Devi, Ms Kartar Devi,
Mrs Gill of Kurukshetra, Mrs Jain (Ambala), Mrs Jasma
Devi, wife of Mr Bhajan Lal, Mrs Chokkar (Panipat), Mrs
Shanti Rathi (Sonipat) and the latest entry, Mrs Krishna
Gehlawat. The Congress will have to search for more women
nominees. |
Haryana parties gear up for poll ROHTAK, Jan 10 — The various political parties in the state are gearing up for Assembly elections following the declaration of the poll schedule. The ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has convened a meeting of its state executive here on January 12 to chalk out its strategy for the ensuing Assembly elections. Party MPs, former ministers and MLAs, chairmen of various boards, presidents of frontal organisations and district units, and heads of constituency committees besides active workers have also been invited to the proposed meeting. The party would also finalise the schedule for holding organisational elections prior to the Assembly elections slated for February 22. This is being done to fulfil certain statutory requirements under the party constitution. The INLD supremo and Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, would preside over the meeting. The Haryana units of Communist Party (Marxist-CPM) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) would meet on January 12 at Panipat to explore possibilities of jointly contesting the Vidhan Sabha elections. The state committee of the CPM, would later meet here on January 16 to identify the Assembly constituencies which it would contest. While the CPI was considering to contest from atleast eight Assembly segments, the CPM would be contended by fielding candidates in the constituencies of Fatehabad, Hisar and Jundla. The Congress observer for Rohtak Parliamentary constituency, Mr Mool Chand Meena, is reportedly touring all nine Assembly segments that constitute the Parliamentary constituency since January 7 to independently assess the chances of the party in the ensuing Assembly elections. He would also meet the prospective candidates and active party workers on January 12 in the office of the DCC (Urban). The DCCs, urban and rural, would also finalise the names of the prospective candidates on the same day and forward the list to the Pradesh Election Committee. The Bahujan Samaj Party supremo, Mr Kanshi Ram is slated to address a state-level rally of party workers on January 17 in Meham. The party would also ask the prospective candidates to submit applications on that day. Meanwhile the CPM,
Haryana unit, has urged the Election Commission to
postpone the Vidhan Sabha elections in Haryana so that
the elections to the gram panchayats and municipal
committees could be held by February 28 as directed by
the Punjab and Haryana High Court. |
Number of ticket seekers up AMBALA, Jan 10 — Following unity among senior leaders of the Haryana Congress, enthusiasm has returned among the workers. The number of ticket-seekers from Ambala district almost double than in the last assembly elections. As many as 33 persons have applied from Ambala City constituency for the party ticket. This time the party had demanded a deposit of Rs 3,000 along with the application. The applicants include Mr Guljar Singh, Mr Satish Kapoor, Mr B.N. Kaushal, Mr Dharam Pal, Mr Madan Mohan, Mr Dinesh Kumar, Mr Raj Kumar Gama, Mr Narinder Kumar, Mr Gobind Lal, Mr Om Parkash, Mr Suresh Kumar, Mr Madan Lal Aggarwal, Mr Parminder Singh, Mr Arun Garg, Mr Davender Bajaj, Mr Jag Mohan Joshi, Mr Pritam Singh, Mr Parkash Chander, Mr Ranvir Singh, Mr Rantej Pal, Mr Nishit Bhatti, Mr Kalaish Bhatt, Mr Rajan Guglani, Mr Dilip Chawla, Mr Naresh Kumar, Mr Harish Kumar, Mr Dharam Pal Chadda, Mr Balwant Gupta, Ms Usha Sharma, Mr Tej Parkash Singh, Mr Munshi Ram, Ms Kiran Bala Jain, Mr Ramesh Kumar and Mr Ramesh Verma. Applicants from Naraingarh constituency include — Mr Lal Singh, Mr Bhupinder Singh, Mr Ram Kishan, Mr Mohinder Singh, Mr Om Parkash, Mr Ranvir Singh, Mr Gulab Singh, Mr Amar Nath, Mr Ramesh Kumar, Mr Alok Kumar, Mr Raj Singh, Mr Ashok Mehta, Mr Jasvir Singh, Mr Subhash Sharma, Mr Mohinder Singh, Mr Mohinder Nath Gupta, Mr Bhoom Singh, Dr Bal Raj, Ms Latika, Mr Babu Ram, Mr Satpal Bhatti, Mr Sampuran Singh, Mr Ranvir Singh, Mr Phool Singh and Mr Kanwar Pal Singh. Applicants from Mulana constituency include Mr Giyan Chand, Ms Kanta Devi, Mr Mohinder Kumar, Mr Phool Chand, Mr Ram Saran, Mr Tahal Ram, Mr Dev Raj, Mr Sadhu Ram Nanhera, Mr Suresh Kumar, Ms Jaswanti Devi, Mr Satpal, Mr Amar Singh, Mr Ram Chander and Ms Raj Bala. Four persons have applied for Congress ticket from Naggal constituency. They are Mr Nirmal Singh, Mr Duni Chand, Mr Jai Singh and Mr Mohan Singh. In Ambala contonment, Mr
Brij Anand, Mr Arjun Lal Kalra, Mr O.P. Malik, Mr Ashok
Jain Ms Sudarshan Dua, Mr Darshan Lal Dua, Mr Ashok Dua,
Ms Neelam Sharma, Mr Lavlesh Kaushal, Mr Heera Lal Yadav,
Ms Naib Kaur, Ms Narender Dhamija, Dr Ved Parkash, Mr Raj
Kumar Bindra, Mr Sher Singh Shera, Mr Ranbir Chaudhary,
Mr Jai Pal Rana, Mr Sudhir Jaiswal, Ms Balvinder Kaur, Mr
Tilak Raj Taneja and Mr Virender Guali have applied for
the Congress ticket. |
Vij to contest as
Independent AMBALA, Jan 10 — While political parties have begun the process of selecting their candidates, one leader seems to have stolen a march over others. The independent MLA from Ambala Cantonment, Mr Anil Vij, talking to the Tribune, said he had begun reaching out to the people in the constituency. The bearded leader, who became an independent after servering links with the Bharatiya Janata Party, stated that he would contest the forthcoming elections as an independent candidate. "I am not going to join any political party to contest these elections," he said. "Looking at my past performance, voters of Ambala Cantonment are surely going to allow me to continue with the good work," he claimed. The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, during the ‘Sarkar Aapke Dwar’ programme at Naraingarh, had stated that there was no need for him to visit Ambala Cantonment as the local MLA had done a lot of work there. Referring to Mr Chautala’s statement, Mr Vij said it not only reflected on the work done by him but also showed that two successive Chief Ministers had appreciated his efforts. Citing examples, Mr Vij said the Chautala Government had sanctioned money for the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Park, Rs 10 lakh for the building of Government College Rs 11 for the war heroes memorial stadium and Rs 5 lakh for the gobar gas plant project for Ambala Cantonment. "This shows the keenness of the Chautala Government to carry forward the efforts put in by me," he said. To ensure that the
process of reaching out to people does not face hiccups,
Mr Vij has decided to divide the Ambala Cantonment
assembly segment into four zones. While the ward level
organisation had been strengthened, the booth level
committes would be formed in the next few days, Mr Vij
said. |
Cong starts selection process HISAR, Jan 10 — The Congress today initiated the process of selection of candidates for the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state, by interviewing 28 candidates for Hisar and Ghirai Assembly segments. The Congress observer for the Hisar Parliamentary constituency, Mr Satyajit Gaekwad, conducted the interview of 28 candidates for the two constituencies. These included the industrialist-turned-politician O.P. Jindal, former Minister Hari Singh Saini, youth leaders Rahul Tayal, Chhaterpal, Harpal Singh Boora and Col Sunder Singh. Later talking to reporters Mr Gaekwad, who has served as the president of the Youth Congress, said, he would submit his report to the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi and another copy would be submitted to the state selection committee. He disclosed that this had been done, to avoid resentment and dissidence in the party. The Congress observer said, the party would encourage young candidates. Moreover, the winning ability and the previous performance of the candidates would also be one of the factors for the selection. He said, the candidate would be announced at least before one month of the date of election. Mr Gaekwad said, he had
observed that the people wanted a change as they had been
"quite upset" with both the Haryana Vikas Party
and the Indian National Lok Dal rule. He claimed, only
the Congress could provide a good alternative to the
people. |
HAU Registrar appointed HISAR, Jan 10 — Prof M.S. Kuhad, Head of the Department of Soil Sciences, has been appointed the Registrar of the CCS Haryana Agricultural University. The decision has been hailed by the teaching, non-teaching and the student community of the university. It is for the first time that a senior academician has been appointed as the Registrar of the university. The appointment has been welcomed by the Haryana Agricultural University Teachers' Association (HAUTA). It was a long-pending demand of the HAUTA that only an academician be appointed as the Registrar of the university. Because, the HAUTA says, only an academician can understand the problems of the scientists, students as well as the non-teaching staff properly. Reacting to his appointment Dr Ramesh Goyal, Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture, said, the decision has come as a great relief to the people in the university, particularly the teachers and the scientists. He pointed out, the appointment of a senior scientist as the Registrar would help in improving the research and academic environment in the university. So far the government
had been appointing junior-level officers of the Indian
Administrative Service as Registrar in the universities.
It is for the first time that an academician has been
appointed as Registrar in any of the four universities of
the state. |
Panipat exports touch new high PANIPAT: Twenty years ago when Mr Ravinder Pal Singh started manufacturing and exporting hand-tufted carpets little did he realise that one day he would become one of the leading carpet export houses in the country. Last year his export turnover touched Rs 27 crore out of a total of Rs 60 crore earned by Panipat through export of carpets. From exporting handloom products like bed covers, cotton and jute floor coverings, table covers, pillow covers, napkins, mats and durries to hand-tufted carpets, Pachranga pickles and high quality basmati rice, Panipat has come a long way to emerge as a growing export centre of northern India. The major export destinations are Europe, USA, Australia, Japan, Saudi Arab and Canada. The 1970-80 export figures of Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore to export turnover of over Rs 600 crore in 1998-99 itself speaks volumes about the massive growth in exports in the last two decades. Though rise has been steady, there have been phases where the export turnover had fluctuated due to global economic recession, as the figures suggest — in 1991-92 the export turnover was 140 crore, in 1992-93 it reached 191 crore. The exports touched Rs 300 crore in 1993-94 and reached 450 crore in 1994-95. In 1995-96 it came down to Rs 400 crore, shot up to 425 crore in 1996-97 and came down again to 400 crore in 1997-98 before touching a record 600 crore in 1998-99. "I foresee a very bright future for the export industry here. Every year there has been increase in the export business though it has also to do a lot with the ever-increasing rate of foreign currencies vis-a-vis the Indian rupee. Yet it is quite encouraging that the exporters are exploring new markets and adding variety to their products. All these are healthy signs for the export industry of Panipat," says Mr Ram Niwas Gupta, an ex-porter. More than 100 exporters from Panipat also will be going to Germany this month to take part in the Haimtex and Domotex fair. These two events provide the exhibitors an opportunity to do business with top professionals and buyers from around the world. Mr R.P. Singh, a carpet exporter, is of the view that the carpet manufacturers are facing stiff competition from China in the international market. "China is providing better subsidies and updated technical knowhow to its yarn and carpet industry. Our government has not bothered to prop up this industry. The woollen yarn manufactured in Panipat has been rejected by the carpet manufacturers and we are now buying it from Bikaner. The woollen yarn industry is suffering but we too have to buy the yarn from Rajasthan at a higher price. In the process the Haryana government is losing lakhs in terms of taxes but nobody has bothered to find out why the local yarn has been rejected and what technical assistance can be provided to the yarn industry to improve the quality. However, Mr Singh is
still optimistic about the future of carpet exports:
"Production is limited because it is a handicraft
work hence the demand can only be fulfilled collectively.
Further, more and more exporters are taking interest in
the carpet trade which is quite encouraging." |
Rape attempt case against two SIRSA, Jan 10 — The district police has registered a case of rape against two persons. According to a press note issued here today, Jaspal Kaur of Johar-Rohi village in the district had lodged a complaint with the police alleging that Jagdeep Singh and Angrej Singh of the same village had entered her house on Saturday and threatened to rape and kill her. The police has registered a case against the two suspects. Meanwhile, the police arrested 13 persons in the district under the Gambling Narcotics Excise Act. According to the information given by the district police chief, six persons were arrested at Kalanwali and one was arrested at Ding under the Gambling Act. Some cash and bills were also seized from them. The police also arrested
five persons under the Excise Act for possessing illicit
liquor while Daljeet Singh of Rania was arrested under
the Narcotics Act with 5 kg poppy husk during routine
patrolling. |
Plea to spare women from poll
duty ROHTAK, Jan 10 — The Sarva Karamchari Sangh Haryana has asked the government to spare the women employees from election duty. At a meeting held here yesterday, the sangh demanded payment of poll remuneration in advance and arrangement of food and shelter for outstation employees. The sangh leaders said the organisation would not favour any political party in the coming Assembly polls and its members had been asked to vote according to their choice. The sangh, however,
expressed concern over the delay in the acceptance of its
main demands. It said the issues on which it had to
launch agitations and protests had been hanging fire and
the present government had not taken any interest so far
to solve these. It also criticised the alleged lathi
charge on ad hoc teachers at Karnal recently and
condemned the BJP leaders’ attitude and stance
towards the protesters. |
Conference Hall inaugurated CHANDIGARH, Jan 10 — Under the chairmanship of the Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, the state Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, inaugurated a conference hall at the Haryana Raj Bhavan premies here today. The hall has been constructed at a cost of about Rs 66.50 lakh within a record period of less than one and half years. Having a dimension of 68'x36', the hall has a seating capacity for about 100 persons. It consists of a bathroom, store and lounge. It has also been provided with an air-conditioner unit, conference system, including mike, amplifier deck and speakers, along with modern fire-alarm and sound-proof systems. Describing the hall a unique asset in Chandigarh, the Governor complimented the state government and other officers who had extended cooperation in completing it in a record time. Besides, the Governor
and the Chief Minister, the others who attended the
function included Mr Jaswant Singh, Food and Supplies
Minister, the Chief Secretary, Mr R.S. Varma, the
Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr Vishnu
Bhagwan and other senior officers of the state
government. |
Corpn MD's death mourned CHANDIGARH, Jan 10 — Employees of the Haryana Warehousing Corporation today mourned the sudden demise of Mr Sushil Kumar, IAS, who was holding the charge of Managing Director of the corporation. The Chairman of the
corporation, Mr Niranjan Lal Bansal, sasid though Mr
Sushil Kumar had remained with the corporation for a
short time he left an indelible mark with his efficient
working and soft-spoken attitude. With his death Haryana
had lost an able administrator who was also a firm
believer of humanity, he added. |
HVP to go it alone KURUKSHETRA, Jan 10 (PTI) — The Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) chief, Mr Bansi Lal, today announced that his party would contest the coming assembly elections on its own. The former Chief Minister told reporters at Pipli, near here, that the HVP would contest all 90 assembly seats without any alliance. The party ticket would be given to those MLAs of the outgoing assembly who were still loyal to the party, he said in an apparent reference to senior leader Maniram Godara’s joining Om Prakash Chautala’s INLD last week. Mr Bansi Lal claimed
that the elections would see a "direct fight"
between the HVP and Congress. |
1-cr presented to CM CHANDIGARH, Jan 10
— The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash
Chautala, was presented with a cheque of Rs 1 crore by
the Managing Director of the Haryana State Industrial
Development Corporation, Dr Harbaksh Singh, as dividend
of the corporation for the year 1998-99 here today. |
Mini-bank staff hold dharna CHANDIGARH, Jan 10 — At least 300 members of the Haryana Mini-Bank Karamchari Mahasangh, affiliated to the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, stayed a dharna outside the office of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies under the leadership of Mr Bachan Singh Malik here today. According to Mr Pawan Kumar, secretary of the Haryana unit of the BMS, workers who sat in dharna came from Karnal, Faridabad and Panipat districts. He said the dharna would continue till January 14. The mahasangh is
demanding among other things the grant of regular pay
scales to mini-bank employees, removal of certain
anomalies in service rules, promotion policy for Class IV
staff and grant of autonomy to the mini-banks. |
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