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Saturday,
August 18, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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INLD’s moves to make dent in Ajit’s
bastion Foodgrain
procurement Chautala’s sop to UP Chautala meets Cong
MLA Health Dept launches drive against
foeticide MLA gets bail in murder
case |
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Anti-encroachment
drive in Rohtak CM exhorts rural people to progress
Dhingra’s memorial
soon: Chautala Two held for
seeking ransom Hisar SP (Vigilance)
shifted Mahila Cong to train women V.S. Nehra elected
MDUTA chief
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INLD’s moves to make dent in Ajit’s
bastion Gurgaon, August 17 The reason for the INLD’s new strategy is said to stem from its failure to prevent Mr Ajit Singh,son of former Prime Minister, the late Charan Singh, from getting a berth in the Union Council of Ministers. The development in favour of Mr Ajit Singh, considered to be a rival of Haryana Chief Minister and INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala for the leadership of the Jat community in the country, is due to the Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh. Also, Mr Ajit Singh not only outwitted Mr Chautala in the NDA circles at the Centre, but also reportedly successfully impressed upon a powerful section in the BJP to bridle the INLD leadership if it wanted a possible BJP-RLD alliance for the Uttar Pradesh election. Mr Ajit Singh, about a week back, at a joint meeting with the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K.Advani, and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Rajnath Singh, asserted that in case Mr Chautala continued to pour vitriol against him at his public meetings in western Uttar Pradesh, it was the BJP which would lose its credibility the most. The reason is that the INLD is a member of the NDA and also an ally of the BJP in Haryana. Mr Ajit Singh is reported to have mildly cautioned the Advani-Rajnath duo at the meeting that either the BJP should give up the idea of an alliance with his party or Mr Vajpayee rein in Mr Chautala with regard to his campaign against him in western Uttar Pradesh. Mr Advani is said to have conveyed the feelings of Mr Ajit Singh to Mr Vajpayee. The sources said Mr Chautala was aware of the development, hence the move for redrawing the INLD’s strategy to discuss the Uttar Pradesh issue in a meaningful way with Mr Vajpayee,should the matter crop up during his next meeting with him. According to analysts, Mr Chautala’s meeting last Friday with Mr Vajpayee, along with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu, for increase in the Centre’s minimum support price (MSP) for paddy, was basically targeted against Mr Ajit Singh. Although the motives of the other two Chief Ministers may have been different, Mr Chautala wanted to have the cake and eat it too. In case Mr Ajit Singh, who holds the Agriculture portfolio, hikes the MSP as a populist move before the election in his state, Mr Chautala will steal his thunder by giving the impression that he was among those who had pushed for it. In case the Centre does not do so, Mr Chautala could use it to label Mr Ajit Singh as “anti-farmers”. Mr Ajit Singh is considered to be having clout in western Uttar Pradesh, which comprises of about 120 Assembly seats. The BJP wants to ally with Mr Ajit Singh to do well in this belt of the state. Mr Chautala wants to make a dent in the bastion of Mr Ajit Singh. He has addressed a series of public meetings organised by his party in the past few months. |
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Foodgrain
procurement Chautala’s sop to UP Chandigarh, August 17 An indication about Mr Chautala’s strategy to endear himself to western UP farmers is provided by the decision the Haryana Government is understood to have taken to procure all stocks of paddy the UP farmers will bring for sale in the Haryana mandis during the ensuing procurement season which starts in September. While UP farmers are forced to sell their wheat and paddy stocks in their own state at prices much below the minimum support price due to a highly unorganised marketing system there, they will get MSP for their produce in Haryana. After high-level discussions, the government procurement agencies in Haryana are understood to have finalised this week arrangements for procuring over 31 lakh tonnes of paddy during the ensuing season. Last year, the state agencies had procured only 13 lakh tonnes out of the total arrivals of around 31 lakh tonnes of paddy. The remaining 18 lakh tonnes were bought by millers. Haryana farmers are expected to bring around 31 lakh tonnes of paddy, the same as last year, to the mandis this year. Millers may lift a substantial portion, though somewhat less than last year, because of the depressed prices of rice. The state agencies’ plan to procure nearly 150 per cent more paddy this year is based on the assumption that western UP farmers will bring large quantities of their produce for sale in Haryana. It is another matter that the government’s decision will further aggravate the storage problems Haryana has been facing due to the huge carryovers of the procured stocks of wheat and paddy. This will expose the exchequer to the danger of huge losses because paddy is more prone to damage than wheat due to the vagaries of weather. But political considerations seem to override economics. Ensuring the MSP for their produce is a potent weapon in Mr Chautala’s hands to please the western UP farmers. In his efforts to gain a foothold in UP’s Jat belt, Mr Chautala has already held more than six public meetings in western UP — the latest being at Agra on August 12 — raising the demand for a separate kisan state comprising western UP, a demand Mr Ajit Singh has also been making to strengthen his hold over the Jats. Mr Chautala has also been attacking Mr Ajit Singh describing him as an unreliable politician. The Haryana Government’s plan to procure all stocks offered by UP’s paddy producers is in sharp contrast to its last year’s attitude when it had virtually banned procurement of paddy brought from UP to the Haryana mandis. But after the Centre’s intervention, the state government had relented lifting restrictions on the procurement of UP stocks. Foreseeing the problems an unrestricted procurement of wheat will create, Haryana bureaucrats reportedly pleaded for a ban on procurement of UP wheat by the state agencies. But the ruling political leadership rejected their pleas. When the entire procurement infrastructure started collapsing under the weight of huge procurement with acute shortage of gunny bags and even open storage spaces besides other problems, the bureaucracy virtually forced the government to stop further procurement of wheat brought from across the state’s borders and even from within the state as it was feared that the stocks might be offered to the official agencies showing them as those belonging to the Haryana farmers. The result of politics overriding economics was that procurement of wheat in Haryana this year touched an unprecedented high level of 64 lakh tonnes, 19 lakh tonnes more than last year’s 45 lakh tonnes. Even after arranging CAP (cover and plinth) storage for an additional 25 lakh tonnes, some of the procured wheat stocks are said to be still lying in the open in some mandis. It is not without reason that Mr Chautala in his speeches at his public meetings in western UP makes claims about Haryana providing the highest and assured MSP for farm produce than what UP farmers get in their own state. The target obviously is Mr Ajit Singh. It is now to be seen whether the Union Agriculture Minister now occupying a key position in the NDA government will do something to ensure MSP for paddy for the western UP. Farmers in his own citadel to blunt Mr Chautala’s food weapon he is using to make inroads into the UP Jat leader’s support base. |
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Chautala meets Cong
MLA Chandigarh, August 17 Mr Chautala had gone to Yamunanagar to unfurl the National Flag on August 15. Since he reached the district headquarters on the eve of Independence Day, he preferred to spend his evening meeting people. Mr Chautala also went to the residence of Dr Sharma, who is a practising doctor. The INLD leader and the Congress MLA were together for about 45 minutes. Though Dr Sharma has described the meeting as not being of a political nature, those who know the mind of Mr Chautala say the Chief Minister never makes any move without some motive, hidden or otherwise. It is this perception about Mr Chautala which has given rise to speculation in political circles. Many wonder if by calling on Dr Sharma, Mr Chautala has sent a message to Congress leaders that if they tried to fish in INLD waters, he too will not be averse to the poaching game. In the past week Mr Chautala has on a number of occasions dared the Congress to topple his government. Though INLD circles are maintaining an enigmatic silence on the meeting between Mr Chautala and Dr Sharma, the Congress MLA says that Mr Chautala came to his house just to enquire after his health. He told TNS that while the Chief Minister was going in his motorcade on the road where his house was situated, the Chairman of the Haryana School Education Board, Dr M.C. Gambhir, who was accompanying Mr Chautala, pointed out the MLA’s house to him. The Chief Minister suddenly decided to have an unscheduled halt at his residence, Dr Sharma said. He said many officials were present at the meeting between him and the Chief Minister and there was no one-to-one meeting. He pointed out that he had not attended the Chief Minister’s programme of “Sarkar Aapke Dwar” organised at Yamunanagar after Mr Chautala had visited his house. |
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Health Dept launches drive against
foeticide Panipat, August 17 These steps have been taken to implement the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994, as directed by the Supreme Court. Presiding over the District Advisory Committee’s meeting that was held here on Thursday, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ms Suprabha Dahiya, said the sex determination test was an immoral and illegal act and anyone found undergoing such test could be imprisioned for three years without any provision of bail. Dr D.P. Arora, Civil Surgeon, informed that all clinics and nursing homes where ultrasound facilities exists had been directed to get itself registered with the health authorities. He said there were about 31 ultrasound clinics in the district and most of them had already applied for the registeration. Besides, the medical officers of the department had started checking the functioning of the genetic institutions. It was also decided that besides the publicising the Act through the print and electronic medias as well as hoardings, posters and other outdoor advertisements, the advisory committee would concentrate on involving prominent citizens, religious and voluntary organisations, non-government organisations and elected members of the Panchayati Raj institutions by organising seminars, public meetings and health awareness camps. |
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MLA gets bail in murder
case Faridabad, August 17 Mr Dalal’s arrest in the case had been stayed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In response to an application moved by Dalal’s counsel for regular bail, the District and Sessions Judge, Mr Pritam Pal, granted bail to him today on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 50,000. Four persons, including Mr Dalal, his brother Mehar Singh, his nephew Vedpal and his wife (Vedpal’s) Amrendu had been booked by the Palwal police under various Sections, including 302 of the IPC, on September 6, last year. While Mr Mehar Singh, his son Vedpal and daughter-in-law were arrested by the police after the registration of the case. The arrest of Mr Dalal was stayed by the High Court. Mr Mehar Singh was also given bail by the court on August 13. The case against these persons had been booked on a complaint lodged by kin of Savitri Devi, who they alleged, was murdered for property. Savitri has adopted Amrendu as her daughter, who was later married to Mr Vedpal. |
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Anti-encroachment
drive in Rohtak Rohtak, August 17 The demolition squad led by the SDM-cum-Estate Officer, HUDA, Mr Yashendra Singh in a seven-hour drive demolished the unauthorised commercial establishments in nearly 300 houses. According to official sources, the residents of these sectors were not authorised to convert their houses into commercial establishments. The sources said notices were issued by the HUDA authorities to the residents of new H.B. Colony on August 2 to clear the encroachments or commercial structures within a week. However, the residents took in casually. Meanwhile, the HUDA authorities would make announcements to clear the encroachments in Sectors 2, 3 and 4 on August 20. Mr Vidya Bhushan Aghi, president, Sector-1 Residents’ Welfare Association and the Janadhikar Raksha Morcha has appealed to the residents to take the official notices seriously and to cooperate with the HUDA authorities. |
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CM exhorts rural people to progress Sonepat, August 17 Addressing a gathering at Larsauli village, about 15 km from here, he said the face of the countryside would change only if the rural people shunned factionalism and litigation and devoted their time and energy to rural development programme launched by his government. The Chief Minister remarked that the Panchayat Raj institutions had done a commendable work in the villages and it was the duty of the panchayats to help to down trodden living in the villages. Mr Chautala reiterated that the state government would remove all encroachments and illegal occupation of public and panchayat lands ensure regular power and water supplies in both urban and rural areas. |
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Campaigning draws to a close Ambala, August 17 The candidates and their supporters took out padyatras in the ward. The candidates in the tri-cornered contest are Mr Narendra Bangali of the Vikas Parishad, Mr Pradeep of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Ms Chanchal Kumari of the Congress. Mr Pradeep is banking on the fact that BJP members are in strength in the Municipal Council with the President being Pandit Shankar Dass, so the ward members will acknowledge the party’s effort in development during voting. Mr Bangali, who has been a municipal councillor thrice, is hopeful of winning the seat this time on the basis of his past achievements and the support of the Vikas Parishad headed by Ambala cantonment MLA, Mr Anil Vij. He is stressing on the development work undertaken by the Vikas Parishad. On the other hand, Ms Chanchal Kumari is hoping to encash on the sympathy factor since this seat has fallen vacant following the death of her husband, municipal councillor Sanjeev Kumar. Ms Chanchal Kumari and her supporters have been telling the ward members of the efforts undertaken by Mr Sanjeev Kumar during his tenure and also of her efforts which she would make to bring significant improvements in the ward. |
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Dhingra’s memorial
soon: Chautala Kurukshetra, August 17 Announcing this at a state-level shaheedi divas samaroh organised by the Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra Samarak Samiti at Sector 17 grounds here today, the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, said there was a need to ensure that coming generations remembered our ancestors’ sacrifices. The building of the memorial would be a step in that direction, he added. Mr Chautala declared a grant of Rs 11 lakh from his discretionary fund. He said Rs 5 lakh mobilised for party funds by the Haryana Transport Minister, Mr Ashok Kumar Arora, was also being returned to the samiti for the construction of the ‘samarak’. Besides promising more funds to this account, Mr Chautala assured the organisers that the Haryana Government would allot land for the memorial on a condition that it had to be suggested by the Punjabi Samaj. Earlier, Mr Chautala laid foundation stone of the Shaheed Madan Lal Dhignra Government Polytechnic Institute Umri Village, 5 km from here, today. The institute will be established on 22 acres and the administrative block will be constructed at a cost of Rs 5 crore. |
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Two held for
seeking ransom Fatehabad, August 17 According to reports Mr Manjeet Singh, was sent to Slovakia by an agent Billa. The agent in that country had been keeping the victim under illegal custody for the last few days and had been threatening Manjeet’s family members to pay ransom for his release. The family members informed the matter to the police. Shivdev Singh and Ranjeet Singh, two brothers of Billa who had come to Rahanwali, residence of Manjeet Singh, to collect ransom money and were arrested by the police. The two were produced before the Judicial Magistrate who sent them to police custody till August 20. On the basis of their interrogation the police arrested two more persons Prem Singh and Singara Singh. The police has also received reports about the involvement of a police constable, Baldev Singh of Fatehabad in this case. |
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Hisar SP (Vigilance)
shifted Chandigarh, August 17 Advocates of the town had been on strike, demanding the suspension of the police officer. Mr Suraj Pal will replace Mr Sat Parkash Ranga, who goes as SP, Vigilance, Rohtak, in place of Mr Pirthi Singh, who goes to Hisar as such. Meanwhile, the Haryana Government has appointed a Sirsa-based journalist, Mr Vinod Mehta, Additional Press Secretary to the Chief Minister in New Delhi with immediate effect. |
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Mahila Cong to train women Sonepat, August 17 This was stated by Mrs Anita Yadav, MLA and president of the party, while addressing a press conference here yesterday. |
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V.S. Nehra elected
MDUTA chief Rohtak, August 17 Dr B.N. Singhal, Head of the Hindi Department and returning officer, said Mr Nehra polled 193 votes. Dr H.S. Ratnoo was elected secretary and nine members of the executive committee. |
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