H A R Y A N A

Decisive verdict by Haryana voters
CHANDIGARH, Feb 26 — Voters in Haryana have pronounced a clear verdict. They have reposed faith in the Indian National Lok Dal and its leader, Mr Om Parkash Chautala. The message is: "Here is the control of the government for which you have been struggling since 1989. Let us now see how you honour your promises made during the elections."

Cong retains base in Hisar
HISAR, Feb 26 — Notwithstanding its debacle in other parts of the state the Congress improved its performance in Hisar district claiming 3 of the six seats. It had only one seat in the dissolved House from Hisar district. At the same time the Indian National Lok Dal opened its account with two seats in the district. It had drawn a blank in 1996.

Dahiya Acting VC
ROHTAK, Feb 26 — Dr L.N. Dahiya, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, has taken over as Acting Vice-Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University following the retirement of Lieut-Gen O.P. Kaushik.

More vet facilities for HAU
HISAR, Feb 26 — The veterinary clinical facilities at CCS Haryana Agricultural University are going to be strengthened further. This was disclosed by the Vice-Chancellor, Mr Vinay Kumar, while speaking at the closing function of a training course on "Advances in ruminant diagnostic radiology" here today.

Panchayat poll in two phases
CHANDIGARH, Feb 26 — Elections to Panchayati Raj institutions in Haryana will now be held in two phases on March 22 and 29 instead of three phases as notified earlier, a communiqué by Mr T D Jogpal, State Election Commissioner, said here today.

Factory owners 'exploiting' workers
SONEPAT, Feb 26 — Mr S.N. Solanki, president of the Haryana Committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions told mediapersons here today that many workers had been sacked on flimsy grounds but the Labour Department was reluctant to take any action despite complaints. He urged the state government to intervene and direct the managements of such factories to reinstate all workers.

Eligibility for MCA relaxed
HISAR, Feb 26 — Guru Jambeshwar University has started admissions to various MBBS and diploma courses being conducted by Pt Bagwat Dayal Sharma Medical College, Rohtak. The notification to this effect was issued on February 25.

Truck driver shot
ROHTAK, Feb 26 — Two persons, including a truck driver, died in two separate incidents in the district in the past 24 hours.

Over charging by kiln owners flayed
SONEPAT, Feb 26 — Representatives of various political parties, voluntary organisations and trade unions at a joint meeting here today adopted a resolution urging the district administration to take immediate steps to check malpractices by brick kiln owners who sold bricks at rates higher than those fixed by the district authorities besides exporting bricks to Delhi in violation of the ban on exports.

School celebrates annual day
AMBALA, Feb 26 — Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, Ambala cantonment, celebrated its annual day today.

Tension in village following murder
AMBALA, Feb 26 — Tension prevailed in Maura village and adjoining areas following the murder of two residents of the village, 10 km from here late last night.

Decisive verdict by Haryana voters
By Gobind Thukral
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 26 — Voters in Haryana have pronounced a clear verdict. They have reposed faith in the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and its leader, Mr Om Parkash Chautala. The message is: "Here is the control of the government for which you have been struggling since 1989. let us now see how you honour your promises made during the elections." They have also eliminated the possibility of horse-trading for which Haryana has earned a dubious distinction. Mr Chautala also does not have to depend upon his ally, the BJP. But the INLD and the BJP shall have to work together and defuse the tension generated by the assembly elections.

Why did the electorate prefer the INLD. There are three major reasons. The Congress failed to throw up any major issue to galvanise the voters. The HVP-BJP experiment did not last long. Thirdly, the INLD responded to people's regional aspirations and its alliance with the BJP helped it.

For the Devi Lal clan it's a kind of repeat of 1987 when it had won 85 of the 90 seats. The number is not that high now but the confidence reposed in Mr Chautala is indeed massive. It would be quite a task for Mr Chautala who has been struggling to capture power on his own. It is indeed a glorious moment for Mr Chautala and his colleagues, but then any flaw can take away the glory as fast as it has come. The pitfalls are too many. The coffers are nearly empty, government machinery is not only heavy, but also costs nearly 68 per cent of the revenue. Power sector reforms have to be pushed further and the law and order which is under pressure from social tensions has to be maintained. Education has to improve. Mr Chautala by not making his of-repeated promise of providing power and water free of cost to the farmers has shown good understanding of the situation. Populism has its limits as his counterpart, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has realised in Punjab. His manifesto spells much more. The point is give it some sanctity and not retain it as a bunch of platitudes.

For observers of Haryana's political scene, there were not many surprises. By and large, it was predicted that the alliance, and not Mr Chautala alone, would get the majority. The Congress began the race with groupism staring it in the face. Despite bonhomie enforced by the central leadership, there were clearly two major groups and within these several other sub-groups. The INLD did not suffer from it. The Congress lacked the cunning and the fire. However, these were in abundance in the INLD. Yet, the Congress got better than what it had during the Lok Sabha elections a months ago. It had drawn a blank and lost all 10 seats then. This time it has won 21 assembly seats. It had nine seats in 1996. It could, like Mr Chautala, attract some Independents. Its vote share, too, has improved.

The BJP's ambitions have come a cropper. It had 11 legislators in the last House. It has just six now. It forced Mr Chautala to leave 29 seats though initially it had insisted on 35. It clearly bit more than it could chew. Mr Chautala who had cleverly judged the mood and the ground realities during his "sarkar aap ke dwar" programme, tried hard to convince the BJP to scale down its demand. After failing to do so, he conceded the demand but made it sure that the party was put in its place. He had marked his winning horses and meticulously went about campaigning for them. Even Mr Vajpayee's visit could do little Of the three places, Ambala, Panipat and Palwal, at least Panipat and Palwal, went against the ruling alliance. The BJP through its front organisations had planned to reach the rural areas and become a real force beyond the portals of the urban Hindu middle and lower middle class. This dream now lies shattered. By itself the party is not a force. It can ride piggyback either on Mr Bansi Lal or Mr Chautala and ditch anyone as it pleases.

For the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP), the time of reckoning has come. It could win only two seats. No campaign and poor resources. The party had 33 MLAs in 1996 and a government that lasted three years despite hiccups. Mr Bansi Lal did achieve something despite unstable conditions. But then to form a party at the state level and lead it to power is a tough job. Mr Devi Lal has been struggling since the sixties and has always banked on anti-Congressism. Mr Bansi Lal came out of the Congress when the going was tough and banking upon his image of a builder and an administrator launched the HVP. He succeeded inkeeping Mr Devi Lal out of power for some years and later ruled for three years. Mr Chautala is a workers' leader, a hard campaigner and a shrewd politician. Can Mr Bansi Lal resurrect himself and his party? It would depend upon the mistakes of the new government. But then he has to match both the Congress and the INLD. And yet, there is no third alternative visible on the horizon of Haryana.

Analysts also see the caste factor at play. While the Jats, and upper castes by and large went in favour of the INLD-BJP alliance, the Congress retained its hold on the Scheduled Castes and the backwards.

The current Assembly poll has once again shown that regional parties in a multi-cultural and multi-religious country have much more relevance than the national parties. Regional assertion has prevailed. In Bihar, Orissa, Haryana and Manipur, the Congress and the BJP have been deprived of any direct control over the levers of power. Regional parties have done much better. The INLD's victory has also to be seen from this point of view.

Cong retains base in Hisar
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Feb 26 — Notwithstanding its debacle in other parts of the state the Congress improved its performance in Hisar district claiming 3 of the six seats. It had only one seat in the dissolved House from Hisar district. At the same time the Indian National Lok Dal opened its account with two seats in the district. It had drawn a blank in 1996.

Besides an Independent candidate supported by the party also won from Narnaund.

It was for the first time in the past 28 years that the Congress won the Hisar seat. In a keen contest its candidate Mr Om Prakash Jindal defeated his nearest rival Mr Hari Singh Saini, Independent, by a comfortable margin of 12,120 votes. Mr Saini was a Congress rebel. Mr Jindal polled 37002 votes while Mr Saini got 24,922. The sitting MLA Mr Om Prakash Mahajan, who contested as an Independent forfeited his security. He had been claiming the support of the INLD.

Not unexpectedly the Congress retained the Mandi Adampur seat of Mr Bhajan Lal. Although the victory was not unexpected the victory margin was the largest in the state. All the other candidates lost their security.

The Congress managed to win the Barwala seat also, where Mr Jai Prakash defeated his nearest rival Ms Promilla Barwala of the INLD by a margin of 5891 votes. This was despite the fact that the sitting MLA Relu Ram Punia, who won as an Independent in 1996, was this time supporting Ms Barwala.

The INLD performance was equally good with its candidate from Ghirai, Mr Puran Singh Dabra, defeating the formidable Congress candidate Mr Chhaterpaul by a margin of 5120 votes. In fact, it was because of the sitting MLA and former minister Mr Kanwal Singh of the HVP, who withdrew from the contest at the last moment and supported Mr Dabra, which enabled him to win.

In Hansi, the INLD candidate Mr Subash Goyal defeated the rebel Congress candidate Mr Amir Chand Makkar, by a margin of 5713 votes. The Congress candidate Mr Vinod Bayana got 11,727.

For all practical purposes the INLD won the Narnaund seat also as Prof Ram Bhagat Sharma an Independent supported by the party defeated Mr Virender Singh by a margin of 2782 votes. The official alliance candidate Mr Ram Kumar Gautam (of the BJP) managed a respectable total of 15017 votes.

More vet facilities for HAU
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Feb 26 — The veterinary clinical facilities at CCS Haryana Agricultural University are going to be strengthened further. This was disclosed by the Vice-Chancellor, Mr Vinay Kumar, while speaking at the closing function of a training course on "Advances in ruminant diagnostic radiology" here today.

He said an ultra sound machine and a 1000 ma X-ray machine for the diagnosis of sick animals would be installed shortly in the College of Veterinary Sciences. He said that a 500 ma X-ray machine was already in operation but that was insufficient to take the X-ray prints of thoracic and abdominal regions of the large animals.

The Vice-Chancellor called upon the veterinarians to sharpen their skills in radiology as well, as diagnosis was more important than the treatment.

Presiding over, Dr R.P.S. Tyagi, former Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvidyalya, Palampur, distributed certificates among the participants drawn from agricultural universities of nine states.

Dr Tyagi pointed out that in view of the fast developments taking place in radiology, an independent radiology department should be created in each veterinary institute.

Complementing the Academy of Agricultural Research and Education Management (AAREM) for organising such a useful training course, he exhorted the participants to make use of the latest radiological techniques learnt during the course for providing quality treatment.

Dr I.J. Singh, Director, AAREM, said that it was the 121st training course being organised by the academy in the direction of agricultural human resource development. He said, till recently about 3,000 scientists, teachers and administrators from various state agricultural universities, ICAR institutes and the development departments of the government had been imparted training in various fields of educational technology, research management and administrative functioning. Dr A.P. Singh, Professor of Surgery and Radiology and Course Director, while highlighting the course contents, said the stress was laid on diagnosis of various diseases of cattle and buffaloes.

Meanwhile, at a separate function, the Vice-Chancellor impressed upon the veterinary undergraduates to acquire integrated knowledge on birds and animals. It would pay them good dividends, after passing out, while doing private practice, he added. He distributed copies of the Journal of Camel Practice and Research among 50 students of BVSc & AH (final year). The journal published by the Institute on Camel Research, Bikaner with Dr T.K. Gahlot as its editor was provided free of cost on behalf of the HEF Foundation of the UAE.

Expressing gratitude towards the foundation, for this course, Dr M.S. Kuhad, Registrar, said that the foundation, which was devoted to research on camel and horse, would also hold workshops and lectures for varsity students and the veterinary faculty. Dr D.N. Garg, Dean, College of Veterinary Science, also spoke on the occasion.

Dahiya Acting VC
From Jatinder Sharma

ROHTAK, Feb 26 — Dr L.N. Dahiya, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, has taken over as Acting Vice-Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University following the retirement of Lieut-Gen O.P. Kaushik.

The three-year tenure of General Kaushik, who was appointed Vice-Chancellor on February 26, 1997, came to an end today.

The tenure of Dr Dahiya, interestingly, will come to an end on March 3, 2000, and the government will have to either appoint a Pro-Vice-Chancellor before that date or constitute a committee for the selection of a new Vice-Chancellor.

Immediately after taking over as Acting Vice-Chancellor, Dr Dahiya issued orders restoring the powers of the Registrar, Dr Ashok Khemka. The outgoing Vice-Chancellor had on September 9 last taken the charge of establishment from the Registrar and given the same to the Controller of Examination.

The Governor-cum-Chancellor of the university, Mr Mahabir Prasad, had on December 10 last ordered retransfer of the establishment branch to the Registrar but General Kaushik stayed the operation of the Chancellor's orders on December 17.

Dr Dahiya directed that the orders issued by the Vice-Chancellor on December 17 stood withdrawn.

Before demitting office, General Kaushik told mediapersons that Haryana needed a central university for imparting higher education.

He said he had taken up the matter with the UGC and the Union Human Resource Development Minister for declaring MDU as a central university as it was located near the national Capital and had 800 acres of land attached to it. He regretted the then Chief Minister had shot down the proposal.

Panchayat poll in two phases
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 26 — Elections to Panchayati Raj institutions in Haryana will now be held in two phases on March 22 and 29 instead of three phases as notified earlier, a communiqué by Mr T D Jogpal, State Election Commissioner, said here today.

The note said in the first phase, elections for panches, sarpanches, members of panchayat samitis and zila parishads would be held on March 22 in all blocks of Ambala, Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rewari and Mahendragarh districts.

In the second phase on March 29, elections to these bodies would be held in all blocks of Kaithal, Sonepat, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Jind, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa districts.

Mr Jogpal said that polling would be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the counting of votes for gram panchayats would be taken up soon after.

Counting of votes for panchayat samitis and zila parishads would be taken up at 8 a.m. on March 23 for the first phase and on March 30 for the second phase, he said.

Truck driver shot
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Feb 26 — Two persons, including a truck driver, died in two separate incidents in the district in the past 24 hours.

A truck driver was reportedly killed after he was allegedly shot at by a policeman at northern bypass here last night.The truck driver, belonging to Rajasthan, was intercepted by the police while he was driving his truck from here.

According to sources, the policeman at duty and the driver had an argument over the payment of ‘entry fee’. The driver was then allegedly fired at by the policeman with his service weapon. The victim died on the spot.

Meanwhile, in another incident Karan Singh of a nearby village here was allegedly beaten to death by his own son Malkiat Singh in the village.

Factory owners 'exploiting' workers
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Feb 26 — Mr S.N. Solanki, president of the Haryana Committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) told mediapersons here today that many workers had been sacked on flimsy grounds but the Labour Department was reluctant to take any action despite complaints. He urged the state government to intervene and direct the managements of such factories to reinstate all workers.

Mr Solanki also alleged that provisions regarding overtime work and immediate payment for it in cash at double the normal rate were not being implemented in many factories.

He also demanded immediate imposition of ban on the lockouts lay-offs and retrenchments of workers and urged the state government to fix Rs 3,500 per month as the minimum salary.

Eligibility to MCA relaxed
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Feb 26 — Guru Jambeshwar University has started admissions to various MBBS and diploma courses being conducted by Pt Bagwat Dayal Sharma Medical College, Rohtak. The notification to this effect was issued on February 25.

The Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.C. Banger, said the application forms could be submitted till March 20. Besides, this the varsity has been authorised by the government to conduct entrance test to various ayurvedic colleges in the state. The university constituted a central admission cell for the purpose, which would be headed by its Registrar.

In a major policy decision the university has also relaxed the eligibility for the MCA. Now B.Com candidates with 50 per cent marks will also be eligible for the admission.

The Vice-Chancellor said the academic council of the university, which met here, finalised the qualifications for various posts of professor, reader and the lecturer. The university also authorised various departments to conduct Ph.D.

Over charging by kiln owners flayed
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Feb 26 — Representatives of various political parties, voluntary organisations and trade unions at a joint meeting here today adopted a resolution urging the district administration to take immediate steps to check malpractices by brick kiln owners who sold bricks at rates higher than those fixed by the district authorities besides exporting bricks to Delhi in violation of the ban on exports.

The meeting also expressed grave concern over the sale of adulterated petrol and petroleum products by petrol pumps.

It also demanded steps for streamlining the public Distribution System (PDS) which, it alleged, had collapsed.

It also demanded immediate removal of dairies from the city.

School celebrates annual day
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, Feb 26 — Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, Ambala cantonment, celebrated its annual day today.

The Assistant Commissioner of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan Chandigarh region, Mrs Manju Lata Saxena, gave away the prizes to meritorious students and teachers who showed 100 per cent results in the board examinations.

Tanushree Sharma of class XI got the first prize, in English story telling, English poem recitation and Hindi poem recitation. Sanjay Kumar and Tanushree Sharma got academic prizes for securing the first position in the CBSE Exam-1999. Ankur Bareja secured the first position in class XII.

Among the juniors, Shivani Sharma was adjudged the first in English poem recitation, Hindi poem recitation and English story telling.

Students also presented a colourful cultural programme on the occasion.

The Principal of the school, Dr O. D. Sharma, read the annual report.

Tension in village following murder
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Feb 26 — Tension prevailed in Maura village and adjoining areas following the murder of two residents of the village, 10 km from here late last night.

Residents of the village, led by a Congress leader and the recently defeated Congress candidate from Naggal constituency, Mr Nirmal Singh, blocked the GT road near Shahpur village for three hours today.

The traffic could be restored only after the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police.

According to police information, last night Gurnam Singh and Satpal were allegedly stabbed to death by a resident of the same village, reportedly identified as Jassi. Nirmal Singh claimed that the victims were his supporters.

The police had registered a case against Jassi.