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| Tuesday,
April 17, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Devi Lal’s ashes scattered over
fields New house tax policy ‘biased’
SC turns down Dangi’s
plea 2 more bodies found from
canal
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Kalka farmers break stones Rain delays harvesting MC ex-chief in Vigilance
net 2 held for forging vehicle
papers Gang of car thieves busted, 4
arrested Yadav included in memorial
panel Stop subsidy to
Hajis: VHP Haryana staff panel hold protests MD University extends
date Teachers’ posts: new applications
invited Wheat loan to staff
increased
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Devi Lal’s ashes scattered over
fields Rohtak, April 16 Despite rain and inclement weather thousands of people came on the road to pay homage to the Tau. Men and women of all ages were seen standing in the rain in front of their respective houses at Kalanaur to pay homage to the departed leader. Almost every resident of Ballambha village, one of the biggest villages in the Meham Assembly constituency, waited for more than four hours for the urn in the pouring water. The village has a population between 15,000 and 18,000 persons who were considered staunch supporters of Devi Lal. The inhabitants of Ballambha had never defied the dictates of the Tau. When during the “nyaya yudh” Devi Lal gave a call for chakka jam, these villagers did not allow even a cycle to ply on the roads. Incidentally, when an aeroplane was seen flying over the village on that day the villagers gathered outside the village and started pelting stones on the aeroplane. Though it was near midnight when the urn containing the ashes reached Bainsi, the Punjabi dominated village, people, including women, were seen lining both sides of the road that passed through the village. Many women were seen carrying children in their arms despite the inclement weather. The scene was not different at Lakhanmajra. The urn containing the ashes was taken to Gurdwara Manji Sahib where ardas was performed for the eternal peace of the departed soul. Incidentally, these villages form part of the Meham Assembly segment which the Tau had represented in the Vidhan Sabha from 1982 to 1985, 1985 to 1987 and 1987 to 1989. Mr Devi Lal did not contest elections to the Vidhan Sabha after 1989. Fruits and langar were served to the people accompanying the urn at almost every place. The scene was equally touching when the urn reached the historic Chaubisi Chabutra, the place from where Devi Lal had launched many agitations. The motorcade carrying the urn and the persons accompanying reached Rohtak, Chandi, Indergarh, Bhagwatipur and Sunderpur villages at about 12.30 at night. Passing through Mata Darwaja, the motorcade reached Gurdwara Tikana Sahib where people in large numbers have gathered to pay homage to Devi Lal who was first elected to the Lok Sabha from here in 1989 to become Deputy Prime Minister of the country and brought laurels to the state. Shriman 108 Mahant Paramjit Singhji and Mr Iqbal Singh Kochhar were among those who paid homage to the departed leader. Langar was also served to the persons accompanying the urn. From there, the ashes were brought to the state headquarters of the INLD here on the Sonepat road by Mr Abhay Singh Chautala, MLA and grandson of Devi Lal. It was from here that the Tau had guided the “nyaya yudh” launched against the Rajiv-Longowal accord in 1985. Residents of Rohtak district bade farewell to their leader with tearful eyes and sorrowful faces. Besides, Mr Abhay Singh Chautala, others who accompanied the urn included Mr Sultan Singh, former Governor, Haryana minister Dhir Pal, Capt Inder Singh, MP, Mr Balwant Singh Maina, Mr Balbir Singh Bali, Ms Sarita Narayan, MLA (BJP), Mr Inder Singh Dhull, Chairman, HAIC, Ms Viraj Kalra, Member, Haryana Staff Selection Commission, Mrs Anita Chaudhary, Commissioner, Rohtak division, and Mr Rajesh Khullar, Deputy Commissioner. The urn later reached Sampla ‘via Kheri Saadh, Kharawar, Ismaila. From there it headed towards Delhi from where the ashes were taken to helicopters and scattered in the fields of Haryana today. |
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New house tax policy ‘biased’ Karnal, April 16 In a number of cities like Shahabad, the Municipal Commissioners have threatened to resign. The position of the Chairmen of the Municipal Councils and committees of the above said cities have been challenged as most of them owe allegiance to the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). Nowhere have they been able to convince their colleagues of the “genuineness” of the government move. It is not without reason that in a number of cities, sangarash samitis have been formed to oppose the imposition of the new house tax policy. In some cities live Shahbad, Kurukshetra and Karnal, residents had organised dharnas also. Hartals by traders in Shahbad and Karnal were also observed. But surprisingly, both the government and the opponents of the move have not been able to find a meeting ground. The government’s plea to impose the new policy is based on the premise that the old policy was “discriminatory”. It was tailored by the staff of the civic bodies to appease the influential and rich. They used to pressurise the municipal staff to assess house tax at a low level and not reasonably on the basis of the rental value of the property. Furthermore, some of the rich businessmen and influential politicians as well as bureaucrats influenced the assessment by doling out favours to the low-paid municipal staff. To end this menace of low assessment, the state government had constituted a committee to suggest a suitable formula for proper assessment. The committee’s formula was circulated to the civic bodies and a survey for assessment of the property was launched in the above said cities. Unfortunately, the survey teams met with a stiff opposition in almost all cities and the residents refused to co-operate and provide the needed information to such teams. In a number of cities like Panipat, Sonepat etc., private contractors were hired by the civic bodies to carry out the survey work. There are instances when teams of the contractors were not allowed to enter their premises by the citizens. Despite the claims of the government that the new policy was not against the urbanites and was aimed at “rationalising” the house tax formula, there are no takers of the government’s claim and the house owners remain unconvinced. A sangarsh samiti formed in Karnal under the chairmanship of Dr.Nirmal Tej Singh Sodhi has rebutted the arguments advanced by the government in favour of the new policy point by point. The Panjabi Ekta Manch- a newly formed body at its state level meeting here today, not only opposed the policy but demanded its immediate abrogation. Some speakers of the manch even alleged that the new policy smacked of “anti-urban bias” of the Om Parkash Chautala government. Although, the members of the newly-formed Manch do not enjoy popular credentials, yet by raising the issue they have provided it new dimensions. The voice of the manch has provided an opportunity to the Urbanites for an united stand on the issue. The manch was of the view that by implementing the new policy, the government wanted to add to the tax burden of the urbanites. It regretted that the development in the cities was not commensurate with the taxes levied by the government. The municipal councils and committees hardly spent about 1 per cent on providing civic amenities to the house owners while the tax collected was mostly used for meeting the establishment expenditure by the committees. |
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SC turns down Dangi’s
plea Chandigarh, April 16 Mr Justice M.B. Saha and Mr Justice S.N. Veriava, however, directed that the petitioner should not be handed over to the investigating agency for one month from today and no police remand be granted against him. All further investigations against him would be conducted at the District Jail, Rohtak. Mr Dangi, in his SLP had prayed that all three FIRs filed against him should be investigated by any independent central agency, preferably the CBI, as the Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, was opposed to him for a number of reasons, including the Meham episode. Mr Dangi also maintained that the Haryana Vigilance Bureau, which was under the state government, might not be fair to him. He also prayed that all three cases should be handed over to one Special Judge for trial. Three FIRs were filed against Mr Dangi on April 8, June 10 and July 6 last year on charges of various irregularities committed in the allotment of land to displaced persons. More than 1,000 acres of land was alleged to have been “irregularly allotted” by the Department of Revenue when Mr Dangi was the Revenue Minister in 1995-96. The state government had asked Mr Bhagwat Dass, Commissioner, Ambala Division, to conduct an inquiry into allegations of “irregularities in allotments”. The issue also figured in the state assembly. The present INLD government decided to file FIRs on the basis of the inquiry committee report. Mr Mahabir Singh, who represented Haryana state in the apex court, however, opposed the prayer of Mr Dangi maintaining that challans had already been filed in the courts of the Special Judges at Hisar, Ambala and Rohtak. After the registration of FIRs against him, Mr Dangi moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court to pray for the transfer of the investigations to the CBI. The high court, however, held that the state Vigilance was an independent department and Mr Chautala had not been made a party and, hence, dismissed his petition. The apex court also turned down Mr Dangi’s plea for clubbing all three cases and putting them before a Special Judge for trial. The court held that for this Mr Dangi could move a petition before the appropriate forum. Mr P.P. Rao appeared for Mr Dangi. The Bench held that it could not go beyond the prayer made before the court as Mr Rao argued for the clubbing of the other FIRs against the petitioner. |
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2 more bodies found from
canal Hisar, April 16 The two bodies were seen enmeshed under a railway bridge on the canal, about 20 km from here, by the villagers. These, however, could not be extricated immediately since darkness had fallen. Seven bodies had been recovered from the Talwandi Rana distributory day before yesterday by residents of Migni Khera village, near here. Although a DSP has been asked to probe the recovery of bodies, no headway has been made. Police sources said since no missing person reports were filed in the Haryana areas through which these canals flow, they believe the bodies had flown into the state from Punjab where a large number of such bodies had been found last week. However, the police has found no conclusive evidence of bodies having been immersed in canals after natural death by certain communities of Punjab like the Rai Sikhs since the tell-tale accompanying matkas and other such material was not recovered. What has cast further doubt over this theory is the fact that most of these bodies were fully clothed. Normally, communities which immerse the bodies of their dead in canals, remove clothing before doing so. In fact, the sex of seven of the bodies was determined on the basis of their clothes. There have been no reports of any community in Haryana immersing their dead in canals. Therefore, the police believed the bodies flowed in from Punjab when water was released into the canals after more than three weeks’ closure for major maintenance work in both Punjab and Haryana. Many irrigation experts, however, do not subscribe to the immersion theory on two counts. First, they say it is highly unlikely that more than 60 deaths took place in a small community that lives in a small pocket in Punjab. Had deaths taken place in such large numbers over a short period, the matter must have come to light immediately, they opine. Secondly, they say these bodies should have been recovered during maintenance operations spread over three weeks during which the canals beds were mostly completely dry. The police here said the Punjab police had been informed and efforts were on to find out if any missing person reports were pending in the police stations of the Punjab areas through which the canals that feed the Balsmand and Talwandi Rana distributories of Haryana flow. The sources said though the bodies had been sent for post mortem examination to Rohtak there was no possibility of any clues emerging since the bodies were totally decomposed and unidentifiable. Meanwhile, residents of villages situated on the banks of major canals in the area have been alerted so that at least these bodies can be cremated decently after completion of legal formalities. However, there is a catch in this well intended move. Leaders of different communities question the right of the state to cremate these bodies when their families of the dead had immersed these in keeping with their traditions. A senior police officer, however, maintained that the law provided for proper disposal of unclaimed bodies. If the religion of a body could not be determined, it was cremated by the local bodies staff in accordance with the law. |
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Kalka farmers break stones
Kalka, April 16 Employed alongside is 64-year-old Chhote Ram. Fate has doled out the same unkind hand to him, the crop having failed and a family of five to feed. He can do little but break his back working for a small-time stone contractor. Put in a tight spot in view of the non-advent of rains, farmers in over 50 villages are virtually eking out an existence and no help seems to be coming. They can take solace in the fact that the district administration has declared Panchkula drought-hit. However, that does feed the hungry mouths, they claim, the only alternative being employed as a daily-wager. “We bought 45 kg chanas at Rs 19 a kg to sow in our fields. Costing us over Rs 850, we invested most of the earnings in this crop as we usually do. Only this time was different because we have got no returns. We did not need to buy from outside, the produce being enough for the family. Now there is no produce and we have lost the money invested in the crops”, rued Daler of Pipalgari village. While the government is yet to announce compensation for them, the farmers claim it is usually of no help with hardly anything reaching them. “The actually troubled farmers are somehow never spotted by the distribution agencies and have to tide over the time with great difficulty till the next crop is ready for harvest. Loans are the only answer to this as earnings from employment usually find their way into procuring ration for the family”, claims Sant Ram of Naggal village.
Pulling out an inch long paddy plant, Meham Singh of Baad Godam, says, “This is all the earth produced this time round. I have begun pulling these out to make way for planting tomatoes in my field. Lack of irrigation is a problem we have learnt to live with”. Villagers go on to add that in the face of paucity of water for want of rain, the government must work out alternative arrangements for irrigation, especially since they know water for fields is chronic problem and will not go away with wishful thinking. While survey work to establish the extent of damage has been completed by the two SDMs through their officials, a second report was sought by the administration to ensure no villages in the district were left out. After the report is finalised, the matter of compensation would be taken up. |
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Rain delays harvesting Kaithal, April 16 The harvested crop at a number of places in the district cannot be thrashed as it has become wet and highly moisturised following rains. According to reports, the wheat brought to different mandis by the farmers has also suffered partial damage and is not fit to be packed in bags and lifted by the procurement agencies to be sent to
godowns. Due to the choked sewer system and blocked drains, water accumulated in the Old Anaj Mandi area after last night’s heavy rains. Commission agents had pointed out to the authorities about the problem and expressed apprehension about the flooding of the mandi in case of rains, but to no avail. The ADC, Mr J.P.
Kaushik, visited the affected area and instructed its immediate dewatering. |
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MC ex-chief in Vigilance
net Fatehabad, April 16 The Special Court of the bureau has issued arrest warrants of the two and a brother of Ashok Mal in a case related to property fraud. According to sources, a team of the bureau came to the town in search of the three accused but had to return empty-handed as the accused had gone underground. The bureau had lodged an FIR in Ambala, naming former Revenue Minister Anand Singh Dangi and 17 others as accused in the scandal. The names of Jug Lal Tuteja, Ashok Mal and his brother Sham Lal also figure in the list of accused. It is learnt that the special court had issued the arrest warrants on March 27, and the SVB team had raided the places of the accused in compliance with the court orders. Meanwhile, a local court has issued notices to Mal and three others in a case of fraudulent allotment of land after submitting a false affidavit. The Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Mr Mewa Singh, has directed the three to appear in his court on June 8 in this regard. The SVB, it may be called, had lodged an FIR in Hisar against Mal, a retired naib tehsildar, Didar Singh and Delhi resident Ramesh Kumar. The three were accused to have submitted wrong statement on oath in order to fraudulently allot a piece of land. |
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2 held for forging vehicle
papers Sonepat, April 16 Mr Paramjit Singh Ahlawat, SP, told mediapersons here today that the arrested persons had been identified as Jai Bhagwan, a clerk at the SDM’s office, Gohana, and Jai Bhagwan of Bhainswan Khurd village. The police, he said recovered a Tata Sumo (No. HR 11-A/3750) from Jai Bhagwan. Giving the details of the arrests, the SP disclosed that the police got an information about the preparation of fake registration documents for stolen vehicles at the office of the SDM (Licensing Authority) and plying of these at Gohana town itself. Thereupon, the police started checking vehicles and arrested Jai Bhagwan with the Tata Sumo, he added. The SP disclosed that Jai Bhagwan during interrogation, told the police that the Tata Sumo belonged to Bijender Singh, a gunman who had brought it from his relative Sanjay of Boopnia village. Jai Bhagwan disclosed the names of other persons as Baljit of Ahulana village, Raj Singh of Gohana, Bijender, a Head Constable, Shamsher of Kathura village, Krishan of Kheri Damkan village, Satya Narain, Rohtas and Satyavan, who he said, were engaged in preparing fake documents for stolen vehicles. According to the SP, the police had worked out at least 12 cases of fake registrations of vehicles. |
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Gang of car thieves busted, 4
arrested Rohtak, April 16 Those arrested are Rakesh Fauji, Shishpal, Vasudev, alias Vashu, and Virender Kumar, alias Billu, all from Hisar. Eight Maruti cars, along with forged documents, have been recovered from them. Stating this, Mr M.S. Malik, DGP, said the gang members used to steal cars from Delhi and its surrounding areas and sell them in Haryana, Delhi and Nepal by preparing forged documents. He said that on tip-off, the Jhajjar police bid a naka on the Gurgaon-Jhajjar road and spotted two unnumbered Maruti cars in the wee hours. The suspects were arrested and during the interrogation, they admitted their involvement in scores of crimes committed by their gang. Describing the modus operandi of the gang, the DGP said the thieves used to break open the lock of a car and then drive it away with a master key. They used to sell these stolen cars at a rate of about Rs 35,000 per car to middlemen who used to prepare forged documents of various car dealers, he said. He said a section of the gang used to get the stolen vehicles registered with the connivance of officials of the registration staff and then sell these as new vehicles. |
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Yadav included in memorial
panel Chandigarh, April 16 The committee includes veteran freedom fighters, the presidents of various political parties, a former Chief Secretary, a former Director-General of Police, a retired Chief Justice, a former Army chief, the Vice-Chancellors of various universities of Haryana and President of the Press Club, Chandigarh. |
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Stop subsidy to Hajis: VHP Sonepat, April 16 “If the subsidy for Haj Pilgrims is not stopped immediately, Hindu organisations will demand similar subsidy for Kailash Mansarovar, Amarnath and holy shrines of Jammu and Kashmir”, VHP acting President Ashok Singhal said at a public reception here yesterday. On the Ram temple, he said it would “positively” be constructed at Ayodhya. “The construction work of the “chabutra” has begun and the work for the construction of Ram Mandir will be started after March next year”, he said. Mr Singhal said VHP’s Dharam Sansad had already given the deadline to the Central Government to remove all impediments in the construction work of the temple. He stated that the VHP planned to build similar temples at Kashi and Mathura.
PTI |
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Haryana staff panel hold protests Faridabad, April 16 The employees owing allegiance to the SKS held meetings at Faridabad, Ballabgarh, Palwal and Hodal towns simultaneously. Addressing one of the meetings, the state vice-president and the district unit chief of the SKS, Ms Asha Sharma and Mr Subhash Lamba, respectively, criticised the policies and programmes of both the Central and state governments in this regard. Alleging that everything was being done under pressure from the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO, they said privatisation and ‘closure’ of government undertakings and corporations would render thousands of employees jobless in a short period. |
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MD University extends
date Rohtak, April 16 He said the forms could be submitted with a late fee of Rs 500 from May 5 to May 10. The entrance examination for admission to this course in the 15 affiliated colleges of education would be held on June 10, he added. |
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Teachers’ posts: new applications
invited Chandigarh, April 16 While stating this here today, a spokesman of the directorate said the applications for the posts submitted in 1999 had been cancelled. The last date for the submission of fresh applications was May 15. |
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Wheat loan to staff
increased Chandigarh, April 16 Prof Sampat Singh, Finance Minister, said the advance would be recoverable in 10 equal monthly instalments. |
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Kalka, April
16
