THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
H A R Y A N A

HVP plans chargesheet against Chautalas
Chandigarh, November 23
The Haryana Vikas Party will submit a “chargesheet” against the Chautala government listing its various acts of “omission and commission” to the President of India next month.

Ekta Shakti launches ‘dharamyudh’
Nissing (Karnal), November 23
The Ekta Shakti, a newly formed political party today launched ‘dharamyudh’, an awareness campaign in northern Haryana, in a bid to create a dent in the political supremacy of the ruling Indian National Lok Dal, Congress and Haryana Vikas Party.

Hooda wants 5,000 per acre relief for paddy growers
Chandigarh, November 23
The Leader of the Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has demanded a compensation of Rs 5,000 per acre for paddy growers in the state in view of the sharp fall in the prices of non-levy varieties of paddy.

Father approaches court for girl’s custody
Faridabad, November 23
The District Court is likely to decide the fate of a 14-year-old minor girl from Assam who was rescued form the clutches of traffickers in June last on November 25. The father of the victim with the help of an NGO here has approached the court to seek the custody of his daughter lodged at Mahila Ashram, Karnal.

Importance of inclusive education stressed
Kurukshetra, November 23
Prof John Elkins, Professor Emeritus, University of Queensland, observed that inclusive education was aimed at including children with disabilities in mainstream schools. He expressed these views at a seminar on inclusive education, organised by the Department of Education, Kurukshetra University, at the faculty lounge here yesterday.


Stories from Haryana towns falling in the National Capital Region are put in NCR Tribune.


YOUR TOWN
Ambala
Chandigarh
Faridabad
Kaithal
Kurukshetra
Karnal


EARLIER STORIES

 

Chandigarh hub of technology innovation, says IT Director
Ambala, November 23
A seminar on ‘Recent trends in computer application’ was organised at the Shri Atmanand Institute of Management and Technology here yesterday. Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, MP, was the chief guest while Prof P. K. Suri from the MCA Department of Kurukshetra University was the guest of honour.

Police files revision plea in Barwala case
Kaithal, November 23
The police has filed a revision petition in the court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Manjeet Singh, here seeking police remand of MLA Jai Parkash Barwala. This petition has been filed by the police as its earlier request of seeking police remand of the MLA had been turned down by the court of Judicial Magistrate first class Shashi Bala Chauhan two days ago.

Punjab farmers visit dairy institute
Karnal, November 23
As many as 40 farmers from various districts of Punjab yesterday visited the National Dairy Research Institute here to gain knowledge about the latest transferable dairy technologies developed by the institute.

Haryana, UP to discuss border disputes
Karnal, November 23
The chief secretaries of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will meet on November 29 in New Delhi to discuss the border disputes adjoining the Yamuna belt between the two states.

College celebrates foundation day
Karnal, November 23
The local Guru Nanak Khalsa College today celebrated its 34th foundation day. An inter-school shabad competition, rangoli competition and a blood donation camp were organised during the three-day celebrations that ended today.

Dance contest marks ‘Quami Ekta’ week in GRSD school
Ambala, November 23
A dance competition was held at GRSD Senior Secondary School, Ambala City, yesterday. The Principal of the school, Mr S. Kashyap, said the competition was organised by a social organisation, Avantika. He said the competition was held to mark the Quami Ekta week.

Reduce monthly pass rates, demands sangh
Ambala, November 23
The Dainik Yatri Seva Sangh, Haryana, demanded that the rates of the monthly pass between Ambala and Chandigarh should be reduced. In a memorandum submitted to the Station Superintendent yesterday the sangh pointed out that they should be charged on the basis of 46 km as the expense was less between Ambala and Karnal.


Top




 

HVP plans chargesheet against Chautalas
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 23
The Haryana Vikas Party will submit a “chargesheet” against the Chautala government listing its various acts of “omission and commission” to the President of India next month.

Announcing this here today, the Secretary-General of the HVP, Mr Surender Singh, said when his party would come to power, this “chargesheet” would be the basis on which the HVP government would take action against Mr Om Prakash Chautala and members of his family for allegedly amassing assets disproportionate to their known resources of income.

Mr Surender Singh alleged that the Chautalas were far ahead of the Badals of Punjab in amassing ill-gotten money. He said his party’s government would bring the Chautalas before a court of law on the pattern of what Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had done in the case of the Badals. However, he said, there would not be any doubt about the authenticity of the action taken by the HVP government against the Chautalas who, he said, would be “politically wiped out” of the state after the next assembly elections.

Mr Surender Singh said he would contest the Lok Sabha election against Mr Chautala or any of his sons if they contested from anywhere in Haryana. He challenged the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, to also contest against Mr Chautala or his sons if they contested from Rohtak or Sonepat. He said if Mr Chautala was sure of his popularity, he should make a public commitment that his elder son, Ajay, would recontest the Bhiwani Lok Sabha seat.

Quoting several instances, the HVP leader alleged that an “atmosphere of terror” had been created by the Chautalas in the state. Any voice of dissent was crushed. Denying that the prohibition imposed by his father, Mr Bansi Lal, had led to the birth of a crime mafia in the state, which was responsible for a surge in the crime rate, Mr Surender Singh alleged that whenever the Chautala family ruled the state, the crime mafia had always raised its head. He said Mr Bansi Lal had never patronised any criminal, whereas the Chautalas, he alleged, went to the extent of keeping company with known criminals. He said the INLD had given the ticket to a brother of a known criminal who is lodged in a Haryana jail in the ensuing assembly elections.

He said during the rule of the Chautalas, the farming community was the worst sufferer. The dual-price system for sugarcane was now prevalent in the state. While the cooperative mills were paying the price fixed four years ago before Mr Chautala had to face the elections, the private mills were paying a price which was much lower than the state advisory price. Similarly, he said, the paddy growers were not getting remunerative prices because commission agents were deducting the tax to be paid by them under the value-added tax (VAT) from the price paid to the growers. He said VAT had adversely affected the trader as well as the farmer.

Mr Surender Singh said his party would contest the next elections on its own. He claimed that the HVP would win at least 70 of the 90 assembly seats.

Criticising Mr Hooda, Mr Surender Singh said now the Congress leader was talking of launching a “Jal yudh”, whereas it was his father, Mr Ranbir Singh, who was a force to reckon with in the Hindi-speaking areas of joint Punjab. The HVP leader said it was Mr Ranbir Singh who did not protect the interests of southern Haryana when the Bhakra canal was dug.

Having a dig at the BJP, which had withdrawn its support to the HVP government in 1999 leading to its fall, Mr Surender Singh said the only good thing Mr Chautala had done was to “cut the BJP to its size”.
Top

 

Ekta Shakti launches ‘dharamyudh’
Tribune News Service

Nissing (Karnal), November 23
The Ekta Shakti, a newly formed political party today launched ‘dharamyudh’, an awareness campaign in northern Haryana, in a bid to create a dent in the political supremacy of the ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Congress and Haryana Vikas Party (HVP).

While addressing a rally here this morning, Virendra Verma, president of Ekta Shakti, lashed out at the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, senior Congress leader Bhajan Lal and president of HVP Bansi Lal for misleading the people of the state and said they had rotated the power among themselves from the past 37 years.

The IAS-turned politician, Mr Verma called upon the people of Haryana to teach these three politicians a lesson in the next Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections. The people of Haryana, particularly northern region had suffered atrocities at the hands of political mafias and state police during their rule in the state from time to time, he said.

Speaking in chaste Haryanvi he said corruption and criminal activities in the state had witnessed a steep rise in the past couple of decades. “Interestingly, no inquiry has ever been initiated against these three politicians and that clearly shows that there are cordial relations between the three,” he added.

He reiterated that northern districts of Haryana particularly, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal and Panipat had become a ‘minting machine’ to earn money by unfair means by these politicians. “Nothing has been done so far to remove unemployment from these areas as it is quite obvious from the recent appointments of 400 commandos in the state police, 32 public prosecutors and seven scientists that not even a single person has been selected from these areas”, he said.

He reminded the farmers of Nissing of the days of Bhajan Lal’s rule when the local police was ordered to fire at them. In a challenging tone he said the farmers of this area would give a befitting reply to the Congress leader in the next elections. He demanded that the farmers should not be arrested for delay in paying the installments of their loans.

He promised the gathering that if voted to power in the next elections he would scrap the law that allows the arrest of farmers for non-payment of the installments of loan, VAT would be abolished, old age pension would be increased to Rs 500 per month, a special law to regulate the services of private medical practitioners and educational institutes would be formulated besides providing totally free medical aid in the government hospitals.
Top

 

Hooda wants 5,000 per acre relief for paddy growers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 23
The Leader of the Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has demanded a compensation of Rs 5,000 per acre for paddy growers in the state in view of the sharp fall in the prices of non-levy varieties of paddy.

In a statement here today, Mr Hooda said the basmati was now selling at about Rs 1,000 per quintal against over Rs 2,300 per quintal it fetched last year. As a result of the fall in the prices of paddy the growers were unable to discharge their loan commitments.

Accusing the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, of being apathetic towards the fate of farmers, Mr Hooda said Mr Chautala’s love for the farming community was seen only during the election year. He said last year he tried to mislead the farmers of Uttar Pradesh, while this year he was trying the same tricks on Rajasthan farmers. Earlier, Mr Hooda said Mr Chautala had paid compensation to drought-hit farmers which in several cases was as low as Re 1 per acre per farmer.

Mr Hooda alleged that middlemen enjoying patronage of the INLD were purchasing bajra from Rajasthan at Rs 250 per quintal and selling it in Haryana at Rs 500 a quintal. He also alleged that Mr Chautala was misusing the official machinery to work for his party in Rajasthan. Officers posted on the border of Rajasthan, he said, were being forced to make stay arrangements for INLD workers campaigning in the desert state. Still Mr Chautala’s party, he said, would draw a blank in Rajasthan as it did during the UP elections.
Top

 

Father approaches court for girl’s custody
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, November 23
The District Court is likely to decide the fate of a 14-year-old minor girl from Assam who was rescued form the clutches of traffickers in June last on November 25.

The father of the victim with the help of an NGO here has approached the court to seek the custody of his daughter lodged at Mahila Ashram, Karnal.

After the Social Welfare Department of Haryana ‘failed’ to rehabilitate or send back the five girls from Assam and West Bengal, the NGO, Shakti Vahini, which had helped rescue these girls, contacted the father of one of the girls, residing in Kamrup district of Assam.

The President of Shakti Vahini, Mr Ravi Kant, said after the appeals of the victim’s father, Abdul Hassan, went ignored, he decided to send a team to Assam.

He said Mr Hassan accompanied the NGO team to this place and approached the court. He said the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr R.S. Virk had directed the police and other officials to produce the girl and the two accused arrested earlier in the court here on November 25.

The victim’s father has requested the custody of his daughter, so that he can take her back with him. According to Hassan, he had married his daughter to a youth in April this year, but he sold her to a trafficker instead in Hathin. He was hopeful that court would come to his aid.

Meanwhile, it is reported that a police team from West Bengal raided a village in Mewat area yesterday and rescued two girls, aged 15 year.

The police arrested two persons, Idris and Ramphal on charges of kidnapping and abduction. According to Shakti Vahini, Idris sold one of the girls for Rs 18,000 to the other accused.

The NGO has asked the police at Tauru to book the accused. While the total number of minor girls rescued in Faridabad and Gurgaon district since June last has gone up to seven, one of the main accused in the racket is still untraced.
Top

 

Importance of inclusive education stressed
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, November 23
Prof John Elkins, Professor Emeritus, University of Queensland, observed that inclusive education was aimed at including children with disabilities in mainstream schools. He expressed these views at a seminar on inclusive education, organised by the Department of Education, Kurukshetra University, at the faculty lounge here yesterday.

Professor Elkins said education should be non-discriminatory. He said inclusive education was also aimed at seeking social justice and removing differences. He also threw light on the role of the task force of inclusive education.

In his presidential address, the Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, Dr A.K. Chawla, said such seminars helped to increase awareness that disabled children had the right to education.

He said the government was trying to reach out to such children through the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. He said international forums had also realised the importance of inclusive education.

Dr R.S. Yadav, Director, Academic Staff College of the university, proposed a vote of thanks.

Meanwhile, Prof Richard Buttney of Syracuse University delivered a lecture at a seminar organised by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication to the university here today.

Professor Buttney observed that communication played a vital role in social relationships. He said social reality was shaped through communication in a cultural context.

Answering questions of students, Professor Buttney stressed the need for the media to become impartial and unbiased. He also opposed sensationalisation of news and objected to yellow journalism.

Dr Chawla stressed the need for academic and research-related collaboration between Indian and foreign universities. The Vice-Chancellor stated this after discussions with Professor Buttney.
Top

 

Chandigarh hub of technology innovation,
says IT Director
Our Correspondent

Ambala, November 23
A seminar on ‘Recent trends in computer application’ was organised at the Shri Atmanand Institute of Management and Technology (AIMT) here yesterday. Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, MP, was the chief guest while Prof P. K. Suri from the MCA Department of Kurukshetra University was the guest of honour. A large number of professionals, academicians and delegates of various universities and institutions attended the seminar.

Mr Vivek Atray, Director, IT, Chandigarh Administration, was the key note speaker. He said that the Chandigarh was becoming the hub of technology innovation. He said the city had the infrastructure to support the industries and had registered rapid growth as a number of companies like Quark were developing near Chandigarh. Chandigarh was also among the cities which had a software technology park, he added.

Dr Shashi Khanna, Head of the Training Department of Hero Mindmine, remarked that in a deflationary economic environment, every manager was focusing on reducing expenditures. A cost-cutting economy, increasing globalisation, Internet infrastructure and e-business applications were rapidly converging to facilitate a new business mega-trend, she said. She further said Internet had made the world smaller and smaller.

The Managing Director of Drish Infotech, Mr Vijay Kumar, shared his views on issues related to emerging business models in the Internet economy. Ms Madhulika Kak, Director, Vizinoz, Chandigarh, talked in depth on the call centre industry and job prospects in it. Prof Rajesh Bhatia of the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, talked on recent trends in software engineering. He said computer software had become a driving force.

Mr Inderpreet Singh Cheema, senior engineer with Spice Telecom, said the telecom industry had been revolutionised by the applications of computers. He said computers were being extensively used for basic processes like billing and service provisioning to much-evolved value-added services like mobile gaming, unified messaging and location-based information services.

Mr Manish Verma, Technical Executive, Tata Infotech, shared his views on e-governance. He said the concept had fast emerged with the times and one could easily see it grooming. Mr Hemant Saraf, security consultant, threw light on the key challenges in the information security adoption process and the latest developments in security. The Chairman of the AIMT Managing Committee, Mr Kuldeep Jain, and the Director of the host institution, Mr B.P. Gupta, also spoke.
Top

 

Police files revision plea in Barwala case
Our Correspondent

Kaithal, November 23
The police has filed a revision petition in the court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Manjeet Singh, here seeking police remand of MLA Jai Parkash Barwala. This petition has been filed by the police as its earlier request of seeking police remand of the MLA had been turned down by the court of Judicial Magistrate first class Shashi Bala Chauhan two days ago. The court has fixed November 25 as the next date for hearing arguments on the police plea.

In another development an application was filed in the court of the Additional Sessions Judge Mr J.R. Chauhan, seeking regular bail in a case in which Jai Parkash is on judicial remand till December 2 next. This application has been filed as the plea seeking regular bail was turned down.

Meanwhile, a dharna being staged by Congress men on the Mini Secretariat premises to protest against the arrest of Mr Barwala continued today also.
Top

 

Punjab farmers visit dairy institute
Tribune News Service

Karnal, November 23
As many as 40 farmers from various districts of Punjab yesterday visited the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) here to gain knowledge about the latest transferable dairy technologies developed by the institute.

The farmer’s visit was organised by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, as part of an extension programme. The farmers visited the cattle yard of the institute which has been developed with latest technology and houses an experimental fodder farm having the latest varieties of improved fodder. The farmers showed keen interest in the machine-milking process and in the newly developed breeds of cattle and ‘murrah’ buffaloes.

Earlier, Dr Ram Chand, Principal Scientist and Head of the Division of Dairy Extension, NDRI, delivered a lecture to the visiting farmers on “Breeding, feeding, management and health care practices”.

He said the farmers should start keeping newly developed breeds of crossbreed cattle and ‘murrah’ buffaloes to enhance the milk production. He emphasised the need of adopting the latest dairy practices to increase revenue.
Top

 

Haryana, UP to discuss border disputes
Tribune News Service

Karnal, November 23
The chief secretaries of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will meet on November 29 in New Delhi to discuss the border disputes adjoining the Yamuna belt between the two states.

Many disputes have arisen between natives of the two states regarding the proprietary rights of land on the border. Violent incidents were reported between natives living near the border adjoining Yamunanagar, Karnal, Faridabad and Panipat districts early this month.

As per information available, the main focus of the meeting will be on the dispute over the proprietary rights of land on the border in Faridabad district. However, disputes of other areas will also be discussed.

A case pertaining to the land dispute in Faridabad district is pending before the Supreme Court, which has fixed December 11 as the date for hearing.
Top

 

College celebrates foundation day
Tribune News Service

Karnal, November 23
The local Guru Nanak Khalsa College today celebrated its 34th foundation day.

An inter-school shabad competition, rangoli competition and a blood donation camp were organised during the three-day celebrations that ended today. Twentyone students were given awards for academic and sports achievements.

Bibi Harminder Kaur and Bhai Satinder Pal Singh performed kirtan.

Mr Tara Singh, a former MP, who is the president of the governing body of the college said the college had produced several national and international sportspersons during the past over three decades.

Dr DS Dhaliwal said more than 1,500 students were enrolled in the college during the current academic session for various graduate and post-graduate courses.
Top

 

Dance contest marks ‘Quami Ekta’ week
in GRSD school

Tribune News Service

Ambala, November 23
A dance competition was held at GRSD Senior Secondary School, Ambala City, yesterday. The Principal of the school, Mr S. Kashyap, said the competition was organised by a social organisation, Avantika. He said the competition was held to mark the Quami Ekta week. “We also distributed uniforms to the needy students,” he said.

Ambala City MLA Veena Chibber was the chief guest while Mr Des Raj Batra presided over the function. Ms Chibber said such competitions gave an opportunity to the students to show their talent and Avantika was doing well by encouraging the students.

As many as 12 teams from different schools participated in the competition. Harjot of Dayanand Public School was first, Manpreet Kaur of GRSD Senior Secondary School came second while Manharpreet Singh of PKR Jain Public School came third. The consolation prizes went to Pooja and Kritika Bhandari.

Avantika gave away prizes to the students for excellence in academics. Six gold medals and an equal number of silver and bronze medals were also given. Among others, Mr Sanjeev Gupta and Mr Atul Kumar were present.
Top

 

Reduce monthly pass rates, demands sangh
Tribune News Service

Ambala, November 23
The Dainik Yatri Seva Sangh, Haryana, demanded that the rates of the monthly pass between Ambala and Chandigarh should be reduced.

In a memorandum submitted to the Station Superintendent yesterday the sangh pointed out that they should be charged on the basis of 46 km as the expense was less between Ambala and Karnal.

They demanded that the passenger train No. 1 UC should have five additional coaches between Ambala and Chandigarh. This train should also stop at platform No. 1. Himalayan Queen should have a stoppage at Dhulkot, the memorandum stated.

The memorandum states that the passenger train from Panipat to Ambala Cantonment should be linked with 1 UC passenger train for the convenience of passengers going to Chandigarh.
Top

 

Bank employees threaten stir
Our Correspondent

Ambala, November 23
Mr C. Venkatachalam, Secretary, All-India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), has said bank employees would go on an indefinite strike if the Union Government did not defer its decision to introduce the bank privatisation Bill in the forthcoming winter session of Parliament.

Inaugurating the 40th conference of the Central Bank of India Employees Union (Punjab) at here today, he said the government had been encouraging the foreign banks in the country, which would neither benefit the consumers, nor the industries.

Top

 

Illegal colony razed
Tribune News Service

Ambala, November 23
An unauthorised colony being developed behind Pooja petrol pump was razed to the ground today.

The drive against the unauthorised colony, comprising parts of Pooja Vihar, began this morning. A team headed by the DTP and Duty Magistrate, Mr GR Rohilla, began razing the roads which had been constructed. Houses under construction were also razed demolished.

The officials gave a warning that no construction should be carried out in the area. A posse of policemen was present to ensure that there was no untoward incident. In the afternoon, another colony coming up near Babyal was also razed to the ground.
Top

HOME PAGE | Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Opinions |
| Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | National Capital |
| Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail |