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Friday,
November 1, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Surjewala,
Mann court arrest Haryana
farmers submit memo to Chautala Hike in LADT to hit
Haryana industry Japanese
fever claims one more life in Siwan village Lynched
Dalits’ families depose |
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Order on complaint Chandigarh, October 31 On an application filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, Mr Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel of the High Court on Thursday directed the handing over of the original complaint to the premier investigating agency in a case regarding alleged rape and sexual harassment of female inmates by the head of a Sirsa-based religious organisation. Bansi to
challenge
casino Bill Police
remand for dera functionary Swami
unveils martyr’s statue Law
studies for school students
VB launches awareness drive Lok
Adalats in Haryana Chautala to lay foundation
stone KU wins
overall trophy Tributes
paid to Indira Gandhi
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Surjewala, Mann court arrest Chandigarh, October 31 They were protesting against the Chautala government’s move to open casinos in the state, the killing of five Dalits at Dulina village in Jhajjar district and the subsequent inaction of the government in apprehending the guilty and inadequate drought relief. Addressing the activists before courting arrest, Mr Surjewala said the casino culture being sought to be promoted by the Chautala government would weaken the moral fibre of the state. He alleged that the INLD supremo, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had a vested interest in opening the casinos. Referring to the Dulina killings, Mr Surjewala alleged that the Chautala government was guilty of not taking action against the guilty policemen. Alleging that the Chautala government had “betrayed” the farming community, Mr Surjewala said today’s agitation was merely a specimen of things to come in future when the people would come out in streets in all towns and villages. Mr Chautala and his ministers, he said, would not be allowed to go to their constituencies. Mr Mann said it was strange that the ruling party had 16 Dalit MLAs but no one of them had put pressure on the Chief Minister to take action against the guilty. He alleged that Mr Chautala was visiting foreign countries repeatedly for vested interests. A former minister, Dr Kirpa Ram Punia, claimed that all sections of society were unhappy with the performance of the Chautala government. A former Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Ran Singh Mann, said the successful rallies of Mr Bhajan Lal and today’s agitation were an indication that the people of Haryana were fed up with the Chautala government. Mr Sat Pal Kaushik, general secretary of the samaj, and Mr Roshan Lal Arya, a former MLA, highlighted the alleged irregularities being committed by the mining mafia in Yamunanagar district. Among others who spoke were Mr Phool Chand Mullana, a former minister; Mr R.D. Goel, Vice-President of the Haryana Congress; Ms Sunita Chohan, general secretary of the party; and Mr Satwinder Singh Sandhu, President of the Haryana Youth Congress. The activists, who courted arrest, were taken in CTU buses by the Chandigarh Police to Sector 17 police station, where the SDM, South, Ms Madhvi Kirti, remanded 116 activists, including Mr Surjewala and Mr Mann, to judicial custody till November 3. The others were released. Before courting arrest, Mr Surjewala had announced that he would not seek bail before Divali. |
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Haryana
farmers submit memo to Chautala Chandigarh, October 31 The representatives of the Chaubisi who met Mr Chautala and his Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh demanded immediate action on these issues. They also decided to meet Union Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh to press for the acceptance of these demands and a quick action on them. The march was conducted as part of a resolution at Chaubisi and was organised by the Yuva Shakti, a Rohtak-based organisation. The marchers included farmers from Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, who had already sown genetically modified seeds of mustard as part of four-year government-sponsored trials. |
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Hike in LADT to hit Haryana industry Chandigarh, October 31 The Amendment Bill, which will come into force from tomorrow, provides that the maximum limit of LADT be increased from 4 per cent to 10 per cent. The statement of objects and reasons appended to the Bill said: “In certain circumstances, it may be advisable to levy the tax at the higher rate. It is, therefore, proposed to increase the maximum rate. Interestingly, yesterday a notification of the Excise and Taxation Department was placed on the table of the House providing that a “prestigious unit” could be granted exemption from payment of the Sales Tax and or purchase tax “where any commitment has been made by or on behalf of the government to such a unit, provided the MOU containing such commitment has been signed on or before April 30, 2002.” The industry fears that the increase in the LADT on selected items would be applied in a “pick and choose” manner and may also be used to “punish” “inconvenient” industrialists. Official sources, however, do not agree and say the tax rate has been increased in the interest of the state. Despite a serious financial crunch facing the state (as has been admitted by the official resolution moved in the Assembly today on the Supreme Court judgement for grant of additional facilities to the judges working in Haryana), the Assembly passed the Haryana Legislative
Assembly (Facilities to Members) Amendment Bill, 2002, which increased the house building advance admissible to the MLAs from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 12 lakh each. The East Punjab
Molasses (Control) Haryana Amendment Bill, 2002, was passed to provide imposition of “administrative charges”, which may go up to Rs 25 per quintal on the export of molasses outside the state. The other Bills passed by the Assembly today were the Haryana General Sales
Tax (Amendment) Bill and the Punjab Excise (Haryana Amendment) Bill. |
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Japanese
fever claims one more life in Siwan village Kaithal, October 31 Reena, of Siwan village, 10 km from here, who was admitted in the civil hospital here a few days ago and later referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, died yesterday. Two girls of Siwan village had died earlier of Japanese fever and this fever has claimed the lives of some more children in the past few days in Karora, Rasina and Pabnawa village. The administration has taken steps to check the spread of the disease. On instructions from Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anurag Aggarwal, the health authorities have started fogging of affected villages and made arrangements at Primary Health Centres of the affected villages and in the civil hospital here to attend to the patients suffering from this disease. The DC has directed Chief Medical Officer, Dr N.K. Dhawan, to monitor the situation and make medical staff and medicines available round the clock for the patients suffering from this disease. The DC, however, informed that no case of dengue had been reported in the district.
UNI |
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Lynched
Dalits’ families depose Rohtak, October 31 The contents of the statements recorded at the district headquarters town of Jhajjar yesterday were not known as the proceedings were held in-camera, official sources said here today. The fathers of three victims and brother of fourth victim appeared before Mr Banswal, who has been directed to complete the probe within a month. The sources said that Rattan Singh, Budhram and Ramphal, fathers of Virender, Dayanand and Raju, respectively and Sri Bhagwan, a brother of Tota Ram recorded their statements. Some other persons, including sarpanches and panches, accompanied the persons. Meanwhile Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala told reporters in Chandigarh this afternoon that the four had filed affidavits before the Commissioner. “If any of the family members of the deceased families make a request for probe by the CBI or any other agency it will be considered”, he added.
PTI |
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HIGH COURT
Chandigarh, October 31 In its application, CBI had claimed that copy of the orders, along with an inquiry report in the matter, had been received by the Director’s office, but the original complaint, had not been received. Pronouncing the orders, the High Court had earlier directed the CBI to submit its finding within six months. It may be recalled that an anonymous complaint regarding alleged sexual exploitation of female inmates had earlier been sent to the Haryana Chief Minister and
others. |
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Bansi to
challenge
casino Bill Chandigarh, October 31 Talking to newsmen here he said if his party came to power in the state, it would immediately repeal the Act. Mr Bansi Lal said even if the owners of the casinos sanctioned by the INLD government obtained stay orders from the courts, his administration would regulate the entry to the casinos in such a way that they would be rendered unprofitable. He said the Bill was in violation of the Central laws which prohibited direct foreign investment in gambling and lottery business. He said since the State Government had no policy on the opening of casinos when an MoU was signed in this regard with a London-based party, the possibility of bringing the Bill to favour this particular party could not be ruled out. Referring to the Dulina killings of five Dalits, he said he had “heard that the Dalit MLAs of the ruling party were not happy with their government on the handling of this issue.” |
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Police remand for dera functionary Sirsa, October 31 The other two arrested earlier in the case, who were sent in police custody until yesterday, have been remanded in judicial custody for two weeks. Krishan Lal was named by the two accused as a conspirator and he had surrendered in the court at Ferozepore on October 29.
UNI
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Swami unveils martyr’s statue Kaithal, October 31 A large number of people paid their homage to the martyr and others who sacrificed their lives for the country. Mr Swami also unveiled a statue of the martyr and paid tributes to Suresh Kumar, a jawan, another martyr of Francewala village of this district. He said withdrawal of troops did not mean that the Army was being withdrawn from Kashmir. He said the government would continue to foil the attempts by Pakistan to carry on its proxy war against India. Mr Baljeet Rai, former DG (BSF), and Mr Kuldip Sharma, Congress leader, among others were present on the occasion. |
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Law studies for school students Chandigarh, October 31 Talking to the media, Mr Justice V.K. Bali of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, also the Executive Chairman of the Legal Services Authority, disclosed that the objective behind the move was to create legal awareness among the students so that they could act as torch-bearers for showing the legal path in their houses, neighbourhood and villages. Legal awareness would be created regarding certain important aspects including the evils of dowry, environmental pollution and communal strife. Mr Justice Bali added that offers from school management and principals would be welcomed in evolving guidelines for such a campaign. Mr Justice Bali further added that the students and institutes achieving spectacular success in the literary campaign would be presented with monetary awards and commendation certificates. |
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VB launches awareness drive
Ambala, October 31 Talking to mediapersons here today, the SP, Mr Sandeep Khirwar, said they would be reaching out to people during the week. “We will be organising functions in schools and colleges till November,” he said. “A vigilance manual is being compiled,” he added. “We will not only be stepping up raids against the corrupt public servants, we are also going to further activate our information channels. Also, we are going to help different departments in curbing unfair practices. For instance, checking will take place on roadways buses to ensure that there is no ticketless travel,” he said. During the function they will inform people about the nature of corruption, the types of complaints and whom to approach. He said posters and boards would be put up to help people in approaching the vigilance personnel. The Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, Mr D.D. Gautam, today administered oath to employees stressing on honesty and transparency. |
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Lok Adalats in Haryana Chandigarh, October 31 According to Member Secretary R.S. Virk, Mr Justice Bali will visit Rohtak on November 16, Jagadhari on November 23 and Ambala on November 30. He added that cases involving injuries and deaths, besides cases under the Hindhu Marriage Act and recovery suits, will be taken up. Mr Virk further disclosed that Mr Justice Bali will also be visiting Panchkula on December 7 and Panipat on December 14 for inaugurating the Adalats. |
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Chautala
to lay foundation stone Chandigarh, October 31 It will be constructed at a cost of Rs 10 crore and will be completed within one year. Poor students from rural areas will be imparted training in the HCS, the IPS and the IAS. The centre would be run on the no-profit no-loss basis. It will have a hostel, a conference hall, and residential accommodation for the trainees besides a reputed faculty to train the students. |
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KU wins overall trophy Kurukshetra, October 31 Haryana Governor Babu Parmanand gave away the prizes. The festival was organised by the university’s Youth and Cultural Affairs Department. As many as 1500 youth from colleges affiliated to the university participated. |
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Tributes paid to Indira Gandhi Ambala, October 31 |
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Training
camps for Haj pilgrims Chandigarh, October 31 |
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Chief Architect Midha retires Chandigarh, October 31 |
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