H A R Y A N A

Haryana appoints 2,500 cops despite ban
Chandigarh, January 12
Downsizing of the Haryana administration is becoming a farce with the state government adopting a contradictory approach. On the one hand, the government’s ban on recruitments continues and steps for reducing the employees’ strength are in the pipeline.

21 killed in road accident
Bhiwani, January 12
In a shocking accident at least 21 persons died and several others were injured in a head-on collision at Badhra, 50 km from here, today. The ill-fated persons were going to Hadodi village in a Tata 407 vehicle.

YAMUNANAGAR BYELECTION
Sharma not among BJP probables
Chandigarh, January 12
Even as speculation was rife that Mr Rambilas Sharma of the BJP could be the party’s candidate in the byelection to Yamunanagar, his name did not figure in the list of probables sent by the BJP’s state Election Committee to the party’s high command.

• BJP to announce candidate on Jan 15

National youth festival opens
Hisar, January 12
Tension on the Indo-Pak border and the issue of terrorism cast a shadow on the inaugural function of the national youth festival here today. Speeches of senior political leaders were marked by pointed references to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and the need for national unity.

KU zonal youth festival results
Kurukshetra, January 12
The three-day Kurukshetra University zonal youth festival concluded here last evening at the university auditorium. Mr Satbir Singh Kadiyan, Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, who was the chief guest, observed that such programmes gave an opportunity to student artistes to show their talent.

KUTA approves demand charter
Kurukshetra, January 12
The Kurukshetra University Teachers Association, at its general body meeting held under the chairmanship of its president, Dr Pradeep Chauhan, at the teachers’ club premises on the university campus here yesterday, approved a 29-point charter of demands to be submitted to the university administration.

One identified in shoot-out case
Ambala, January 12
The district police is believed to have identified one of the two assailants who shot dead a history-sheeter at point-blank range yesterday. Two youths escaped on a motorcycle after shooting Ramesh Duggal in front of Annapurna snack bar and billiards room near Indra Chowk.

Farmers’ training camp held
Fatehabad, January 12
The Agriculture Department organised a farmers’ training camp here today in which at least 1,200 farmers participated. The Additional Agriculture Director, Haryana, Mr Ziledar Singh, was the chief guest on the occasion. He called upon the farmers to be prepared for competition in the world market.

Annual function of school
Kalka, January 12
Hindu Girls Senior Secondary School today observed its annual function with enthusiasm. Mr Chander Mohan, MLA, was the chief guest, while Mr Ashok Kumar, president of the managing committee of the school, presided over the function.

Haryana appoints 2,500 cops despite ban
B.K. Chum

Chandigarh, January 12
Downsizing of the Haryana administration is becoming a farce with the state government adopting a contradictory approach.

On the one hand, the government’s ban on recruitments continues and steps for reducing the employees’ strength are in the pipeline. On the other, recruitment, particularly in the police force, is continuing and departments are being asked to send requisitions for filling vacant posts.

The total strength of government employees in Haryana is about 3.25 lakh, including 40,000 police personnel, apart from those working in the government boards and corporations.

Last year, the government had announced that in order to introduce efficiency in its functions steps would be taken to ‘‘rightsize’’ the over-staffed administration. Chief Secretary L.M. Goyal had sent a letter in this regard to various departments.

Consequently, a process for winding up or merger of a number of boards and corporations was initiated. Steps were also initiated for reducing the strength of the staff of various government departments. Steps are now in the pipeline to surrender vacant posts and reduced the surplus staff in various departments, including technical education, higher education, finance and irrigation.

In the Irrigation Department alone out of over 25,000 posts, nearly 4,800 are lying vacant. These are proposed to be surrendered. Besides, at least 4,000 employees are estimated to be surplus.

Even as the process of reducing the number of employees is continuing, the government is making new recruitments. Though, recruitment of technical staff is essential for filling the posts of social and technical services with the prior approval of the Chief Minister as provided in the original ban orders. What is, however, intriguing is the large-scale recruitment of policemen. In the past few months, over 2,500 police personnel have been recruited. Ministerial circles do not rule out the possibility recruiting more policemen in coming months.

Political observers describe recruitment in the police force as a reflection of the ruling INLD leadership’s mindset. Observers suspect that most of them would be favourite of the ruling party leaders

What is even more intriguing are reports that the Chairman of the Haryana Public Service Commission, an appointee and a confidant of the Chief Minister, is asking various departments to send requisitions for filling the posts lying vacant in their departments. Opposition parties have been alleging large-scale corruption in recruitments, appointments and transfers.

21 killed in road accident
Our Correspondent

Bhiwani, January 12
In a shocking accident at least 21 persons died and several others were injured in a head-on collision at Badhra, 50 km from here, today. The ill-fated persons were going to Hadodi village in a Tata 407 vehicle.

According to a report the Tata vehicle and a truck returning from Delhi collided head-on at about 10.30 a.m. Around 38 persons were travelling in the Tata vehicle.

The police from Badhra reached the spot and with the help of villagers, rushed the injured to the Civil Hospital here.

It is informed that there was no power at Hadodi village for the past three days and the villagers had gone to Badhra substation in this regard.

A PTI report identified the killed HBVN employees as Rati Ram, Rohtash Kumar, Rai Singh and Nand Kumar. The other deceased are Sunil, Dalbir, Ran Singh, Om Bir, Attar Singh, Dalip, Ram Beer, Om Prakash, Chhaju, Vazir, Hawa Singh, Karan Singh, Randhir, Bijender, Jai Singh, Ram Narain and Prithvi.

All bodies have been handed over to families of the deceased.

Education Minister Bahadur Singh, Mr Ranbir Singh Mandolla, MLA, Shashi Parmer, MLA and Dharmbir Singh, visited the injured at hospital.

YAMUNANAGAR BYELECTION
Sharma not among BJP probables
Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 12
Even as speculation was rife that Mr Rambilas Sharma of the BJP could be the party’s candidate in the byelection to Yamunanagar, his name did not figure in the list of probables sent by the BJP’s state Election Committee to the party’s high command.

“Mr Rambilas Sharma is not interested in contesting from Yamunanagar. The party also wants to put up a local candidate for the seat”, a senior BJP leader told TNS today. He said six names had been sent to the party’s highcommand and one of them would be chosen to contest from the constituency.

The list, which was sent following a meeting of the BJP’s state Election Committee at Karnal on January 9, contains the names of Ms Kamla Verma, Mr Ghanasyam Das, Mr Karnesh Sharma, Ms Uma Sharma, Mr Tyagi and Mr Kalra, the BJP leader said.

The by election, slated to take place on February 21, has been caused by the death of Congress member, Dr J.P. Sharma on October 31, 2001. Dr Sharma, had won the Assembly election in February, 2000, by defeating his nearest rival of the HVP, Mr Sahib Singh, by about 20,000 votes. Ms Kamla Verma, who is an aspirant for the BJP ticket this time and represented the constituency twice in the past, came third in the February poll.

The ruling INLD, an ally of the BJP, initially seemed keen to put up its own candidate from Yamunanagar, and the BJP is yet to enter into a formal agreement with the INLD regarding the Yamunanagar seat.

BJP sources, however, claimed that Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, president of the state unit of the BJP, would shortly meet the Chief Minister Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and clinch the issue of obtaining INLD’s support for the Yamunanagar seat.

While the BJP sources maintained that the party would finalise its candidate by January 15, the faction ridden Congress had authorised Ms Sonia Gandhi to decide the candidate. Names of four aspirants, Ms Krishna Pandit (widow of Dr J.P. Sharma), Mr Raj Kumar Tyagi, Mr Rajesh Sharma and Mr Satpal Kaushik, are at the top of the list of Congress probables and one of them, it is believed, will get the ticket from Yamunanagar.

The sources close to the HPCC Chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, however, claimed that fight for the Yamunagar ticket had narrowed down to two aspirants, Mr Raj Kumar Tyagi, DCC president, and Ms Krishna Pandit.

The HVP has already announced it candidate and its general secretary, Mr Surinder Singh, son of former Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, has started touring the constituency.

With notification for the election to be issued on Wednesday, Yamunanagar, a predominantly urban constituency with over 1.60 lakh voters, has a 45,000 strong Punjabi voters who hold key to the elections for the seat. These voters have either been electing the Congress or the BJP from this seat since 1977.

BJP to announce candidate on Jan 15
Our Correspondent

Yamunanagar, January 12
The BJP will announce its candidate for Yamunanagar byelection on January 15. Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, state BJP president, while talking to newsmen here today announced that a joint candidate of the BJP-INLD alliance would be fielded.

Mr Kataria said he would meet the INLD supremo and Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, soon. He said he had a telephonic conversation with Mr Chautala last night. He was quiet sure that the BJP-INLD candidate would win the election, he added.

Mr Kataria said the alliance government in Haryana would complete its tenure of 5 years. He said the ticket would be given to a local candidate. He also addressed workers of the Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha at DAV Senior Secondary School during the Vivekanand Jyanti function here today.

National youth festival opens
Our Correspondent

Hisar, January 12
Tension on the Indo-Pak border and the issue of terrorism cast a shadow on the inaugural function of the national youth festival here today. Speeches of senior political leaders were marked by pointed references to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and the need for national unity.

The Vice-President, Mr Krishan Kant, who declared the festival open, however, refrained from naming Pakistan in his speech. Only towards the end of his speech he referred to the issue of terrorism and underlined the need for unity. He ended his speech by exhorting the crowd to join him in raising the slogan — Hum Bharatiya ek kutumb (We Indians are one family).

Others were more strident in their tones. Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala took the lead by declaring that Pakistan was creating mischief to divert the attention of its countrymen from Pakistan’s internal problems. He declared that if Pakistan waged war or continued to perpetrate terrorism it would get a befitting reply.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Uma Bharti said the biggest challenge facing the country and its youth was that of terrorism. Foreign agencies were misguiding youths in Kashmir and North-East. Now it was for the youth to take up the challenge and root out terrorism once and for all. Haryana Governor Babu Parmanand also devoted his speech to the border situation and terrorism.

Mr Krishan Kant said the Indian youth had always been inspired by good leaders. It was, therefore, imperative for leaders to set example for the youth. He also asked Ms Bharti to help set up a sports university in Haryana and if possible at Hisar only.

Earlier, Mr Krishan Kant presented individual and institutional youth awards. The awardees were: Bharati Chakrabarti. (Tripura), B. Shanthana Lakshrni (Tamil Nadu), Ganesh Anant (Karnataka), Mantkyala Rao (Andhra Pradesh), Goparaja Deepti Sharma (Delhi), Gauri Balapura (Madhya Pradesh), Hanuman Ram Chowdhary (Rajashthan), Jai Ram Gupta (Sikkim), Kanchan Handa (Haryana), Kulwinder Singh (Punjab), Manoj Kumar Tripathi (Orissa), Dr Milind Bhoi (Maharashtra), Niranjan Nath (Tripura), Parvat Singh Kushwa (Madhya Pradesh), Phool Kumar Kadiyan (Haryana), K. Gnanaskaran (Tamil Nadu), Sanjay Kumar (Haryana), Sanjeev Baigra (Jammu and Kashmir), Saroj Kumar Padhy (Orissa), Sobha H. G. (Karnataka), Sushil Kumar Sharma (Uttar Pradesh) and Dr. Syeda Reyze Mobeen (Andhra Pradesh). Besides, Anoop Kumar of Punjab would also receive his pending youth award for the year 1999-2000. The Bahumukhi Krishi aur Samaj Kalyan Samiti, a voluntary organisation of Noornagar, Assam, will get the National Youth Award for 2000-2001.

The function was followed by a colourful cultural programme presented by artistes of all states.

KU zonal youth festival results
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, January 12
The three-day Kurukshetra University zonal youth festival concluded here last evening at the university auditorium.

Mr Satbir Singh Kadiyan, Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, who was the chief guest, observed that such programmes gave an opportunity to student artistes to show their talent. He called upon the students to take keen interest in such activities alongwith their studies.

In his address, the Agriculture Minister, Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, said cultural programmes were part and parcel of student life. Mr Sandhu announced a sum of Rs 21,000 for the host, University College, Kurukshetra. He also announced a prize of Rs 2100 for the team from DAV College, Pehowa, for its excellent performance. Mr Kadiyan also announced a sum of Rs 2100 for this team.

Results: DAV College (Pehowa) Ist and GN Khalsa College (Yamunanagar) and RKSI College (Kaithal) 2nd. Indian classical music: University Teaching Department and DN College (Kurukshetra) Ist and Bhagwan Parshu Ram College 2nd. Mime: MLN College (Yamunanagar) Ist and RKSD College (Kaithal) and MDN College (Radaur) 2nd. Mimicry: MLN College (Radaur) Ist and GNK College 2nd.

Acting competition (single): RKSD College (Kaithal) Ist and University College (Kurukshetra) 2nd. Folk song (Haryanvi): University Teaching Department (Kurukshetra) Ist and BPR College (Kurukshetra), RKSD College (Kaithal), MLN College (Radaur) and BAR Jantal College (Kaul) 2nd. Folk instrumental (Haryanvi): BPR College (Kurukshetra) and RKSD College (Kaithal) Ist and University Teaching Department (Kurukshetra) 2nd. Indian orchestra: DN College (Kurukshetra) Ist and Haryanvi orchestra: RKSD College (Kaithal) Ist and University Technical Department (Kurukshetra) 2nd.

Classical dance: University Teaching Department Ist and IG Women College (Kaithal) 2nd. Group song (general): University College (Kurukshetra) and IG Women College (Kaithal) Ist and University Teaching Department and Education College 2nd. Group song (Haryanvi): RKSD College (Kaithal) and University College (Kurukshetra) Ist and Kanya Mahavidyalaya (Dhand), DAV College (Pehowa) and IG Mahila Mahavidyalaya (Kaithal) 2nd. Haryanvi dance (women): RKSD College (Kaithal) and University College Ist and DAV College (Pehowa) 2nd. Haryanvi dance (men): RKSD College (Kaithal) Ist and University College 2nd. Western group song: University Teaching Department Ist and MLN College, (Yamunanagar) and RKSD College (Kaithal) 2nd. Western song (single): MLN College (Yamunanagar) Ist and GNK College (Yamunanagar) and University Teaching Department 2nd.

One-act play: MLN College (Yamunanagar) and University College Ist and BPR College 2nd. Haryanvi ‘Hasya Natika’: RKSD College (Kaithal) Ist and University Teaching Department 2nd. Sanskrit Natak: DAV College (Pehowa) and IG Mahila Mahavidyalaya Ist.

KUTA approves demand charter
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, January 12
The Kurukshetra University Teachers Association (KUTA), at its general body meeting held under the chairmanship of its president, Dr Pradeep Chauhan, at the teachers’ club premises on the university campus here yesterday, approved a 29-point charter of demands to be submitted to the university administration.

Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, Dr Chauhan said the teachers were upset due to the delay in career advancement scheme (CAS) interviews. He said they also expressed their resentment over the abolition of about 76 posts.

Their other demands included implementation of UGC package in toto, filling up of vacant posts.

One identified in shoot-out case
Tribune News Service

Ambala, January 12
The district police is believed to have identified one of the two assailants who shot dead a history-sheeter at point-blank range yesterday.

Two youths escaped on a motorcycle after shooting Ramesh Duggal in front of Annapurna snack bar and billiards room near Indra Chowk. Investigations by the police led to a youth who had earlier been nabbed in a robbery case.

Sources said that one of the assailants was suspected to be a youth who was arrested last year in a robbery case. The other associate was still to be identified. The two youths were not the customers of the billiard room.

SP Sandeep Khirwar, said that police was hopeful of solving the case soon.

Ramesh Duggal (38) was shot at point range when he was standing outside the billards room.

His son was present with him at the time of the incident. He died on away to the PGI, Chandigarh.

Farmers’ training camp held
Our Correspondent

Fatehabad, January 12
The Agriculture Department organised a farmers’ training camp here today in which at least 1,200 farmers participated. The Additional Agriculture Director, Haryana, Mr Ziledar Singh, was the chief guest on the occasion. He called upon the farmers to be prepared for competition in the world market. He said the need of the hour was to produce foodgrain, fruits and vegetables of high quality.

Mr Rattan Singh Narwal, a Joint Director in Haryana Agriculture University, who presided over the camp, said 90 per cent of our population was dependent on agriculture. He said if agriculture scientists and farmers worked sincerely, the Indian agricultural products could definitely make a mark in the world market.

Dr Ram Kumar Yadav, Dr N. K. Thukral, Dr S.S. Punia, Dr A.S. Rana and Dr Sant Lal Saini, all from Haryana Agriculture University, also spoke.

The Deputy Director, Agriculture, Mr Lal Chand Godara, replied to the queries of the farmers and advised them to keep on changing the crop cycle to get better yield of crops.

Annual function of school
Our Correspondent

Kalka, January 12
Hindu Girls Senior Secondary School today observed its annual function with enthusiasm. Mr Chander Mohan, MLA, was the chief guest, while Mr Ashok Kumar, president of the managing committee of the school, presided over the function.

Students presented a number of cultural programmes, which included dramas in Hindi and English, fancy dress competition, Haryanvi dance and bhangra. The students with distinctions in different spheres during the year were honoured by the MLA.

Mr Chander Mohan announced a grant of Rs 5,000 for providing computer facility in the school.