• Sites earmarked for pasting posters, pamphlets
• INLD opportunist, says Amar Singh
• 5 BJP office-bearers quit posts

• Notice issued

Karnal, April 21
Mr Chiranji Lal Sharma, a senior Congress leader and four-time member of the Lok Sabha from the Karnal constituency, and his son, Mr Kuldip Sharma, who was an aspirant for the party ticket from here, today raised the banner of revolt against the party candidate, Mr Arvind Sharma.

Thousands of supporters of Mr Chiranji Lal Sharma gathered here today and expressed their solidarity with the Sharma family. Addressing the gathering, Mr Kuldip Sharma announced that he would contest the elections as an Independent candidate from Karnal against Mr Arvind Sharma.

Lashing out at Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhajan Lal and the party high command, he said the Congress had morally lost the political battle in Haryana as the choice of the candidates in most of the constituencies was against the wishes of the local people.

He said, “There is no political future of Mr Bhajan Lal in the Congress as he has failed to get his son’s ticket from Faridabad”. Sending his son to Bhiwani by the party high command to contest against Mr Ajay Chautala and Mr Surinder Singh seems to be “death blow” to Mr Bhajan Lal, he said.

In a bid to gain the sympathy of Sikh voters, he said Mr Bhajan Lal was communal “by nature”. He said, “Bhajan Lal was directly responsible for the anti-Sikh riots in Haryana”.

Regarding Mr Arvind Sharma, he said the people of Karnal and Panipat would never accept an outsider. Mr Kuldip Sharma appealed to the people of the constituency to boycott Mr Arvind Sharma in the elections.

Mr Chiranji Lal Sharma, who was also present at the rally, exhorted the people of Karnal and Panipat not to waste their votes in favour of Mr Arvind Sharma. “Real Congress men should come forward and favour my son, who has been denied the party ticket due to dirty politics”, he said.

Later, the Sharmas led a procession that passed through many parts of the city. Interestingly, the procession was without any party flags or banners.

Nuh (Gurgaon), April 21
A Meo panchayat organised by supporters of two former ministers of Haryana Tayab Hussain and Khusheed Ahmed — today decided not to vote for the Congress in the parliamentary election.

The two leaders had quit the Congress a couple of days ago in protest against ignoring of the claims of the Muslim community and giving party ticket to Mr Avtar Singh Bhadana for Faridabad parliamentarty constituency. Mr Bhadana, a Gujjar leader, was a Congress MP from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha. He has also represented Faridabad constituency.

The two leaders were ministers in the Haryana Government and both had represented the Faridabad parliamentary seat.

The two urged the people of Mewat not to vote for the Congress. However, the panchayat failed to take a decision in favour of any political party or candidates in the fray for the Faridabad seat. The two leaders further said in case the people of Mewat wanted to field their own candidate they had time till April 23, the last day for filing of nomination papers in Haryana. Mr Zakir Hussain, a Congress MLA from Taoru and son of Mr Tayab Hussain, was also present on the occasion.

The nominee of the ruling INLD, Mr Illiyas Mohammad, came to the venue and urged the gathering to support him.

Four of the nine Assembly segments — Hathin, Taoru, Nuh and Ferozepore Jhirka of Faridabad constituency comprises Mewat area. While Hathin is in Faridabad district the remaining are in Gurgaon district. Meo Muslims are in majority in Mewat area, which has traditionally been considered a stronghold of the Congress.

HVP candidate Aman Kumar files nomination papers in Ambala on Wednesday. — Photo by Neeraj Chopra

Ambala, April 21
Congress candidate Kumari Selja and Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) candidate Aman Kumar Nagra filed their nomination papers for the Ambala Parliamentary constituency today.

Confusion prevailed during Ms Selja’s movement from Ambala cantonment to Ambala City for filing of nomination at the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Congress workers had been asked to gather at Congress Bhavan in Ambala cantonment, but Ms Selja addressed a worker’s meeting at the residence of former minister Nirmal Singh.

The cavalcade began from Mr Nirmal Singh’s residence at Allenby Lines even as the workers had to wait patiently at Congress Bhavan. The cavalcade reached its destination nearly two hours behind the schedule.

After passing through Ambala Sadar, the cavalcade went to Ambala City. A group of workers were waiting near the ITI chowk. They saw that the cavalcade was not following the designated route and rushed to catch up with it.

A number of her supporters had come from Sirsa, who said that she should have contested the elections from the Sirsa Parliamentary constituency.

In her affidavit, Ms Selja has stated that she has Rs 30,000 cash in hand. Her bank deposits include Rs 2,08,759 in Canara Bank, Rs 87,671 in Standard Chartered Bank and Rs 38,837 in the State Bank of India.

Other assets included IDBI bonds for Rs 2,700, UTI Master Gain for Rs 10,000 and UTI Master Plus for Rs 10,000. She pays a premium of Rs 7,676 for a LIC policy and owns a old disposal military jeep worth Rs 15,000. She has jewellery worth Rs 80,000.

Ms Selja owns agricultural land inherited from her father, comprising 1/6th share value of Rs 63,000 and agricultural land acquired under family settlement measuring 37 kanals and 15 marlas, estimated at Rs 9 lakh per acre. She also owns agricultural land in Alwar, Rajasthan, worth Rs 3.50 lakh.

She owns two plots in DLF, Phase III, Gurgaon, measuring 215 square yards with an estimated value at the rate of Rs 6,000 per sq yard, besides a residential plot at Urban Estate in Hisar acquired under family settlement. She also owns half share of land at a village in Gurgaon, which is worth Rs 5 lakh, and half share in Ballabhgarh, worth Rs 20,000. Ms Selja owns a flat at Safdarjang Enclave in New Delhi worth Rs 22 lakh.

Haryana Vikas Party candidate Aman Kumar Nagra turned up at the Returning Officer’s office with a number of supporters. A public meeting was held near Vijay Cinema, addressed by Mr Surinder Singh. Thereafter, Mr Nagra filed the nomination papers.

Earlier in the day, Mr Nagra inaugurated the election office in Ambala cantonment. He exhorted party workers to work together and strengthen the party.

Chandigarh, April 21
Twentynine more candidates filed their nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections in Haryana today, raising the total number to 86.

Two candidates, Kumari Selja of the Indian National Congress (INC) and Mr Aman Kumar of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) filed their nomination papers from Ambala.

In Kurukshetra, Mr Gurdayal Singh of the BJP, Mr Naveen and Mr Ramesh Kumar (both INC), Mr Jitender Singh and Ms Charanjeet Kaur (both HVP) and Mr Mona Ram (BSP) filed their papers.

In Karnal, the four candidates who filed their papers were Mr Rajbir Singh (Haryana Raksha Party), Mr Ashok Kumar and Mr Sarda Ram (both BSP) and Mr Ram Mehar Singh (Ind).

From Sonepat, Mr Kishan (Ind), Mr Sugan Chand (BSP), Mr Dharampal Singh Malik and Ms Sudha Malik (both INC) and Mr Satbir and Mr Shamsher (both Ind) filed their papers.

Mr Dilawar Singh and Mr Satinder (both Ind), Mr Bhupinder Singh and Mr Krishan (both INC), Ms Bimla Kadyan (Bharatiya Republican Paksha Party), Mr Bharpoor (Rashtriya Lok Dal) and Mr Ajay Kumar (Ind) filed the papers from Rohtak.

Mr Raghu of the Samajwadi Party filed his papers from Mahendergarh.

Mr Mahaveer Prasad of the BJP filed papers from Sirsa and Mr Kuldeep Bishnoi and Mr Dharambir, both of the INC, filed their nomination papers from Bhiwani.

Bhiwani, April 21
The Congress candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha poll, Mr Kuldip Bishnoi, filed his nomination papers before the District Election Officer here today.

Earlier, addressing an election meeting, which culminated in a rally at the mini-secretariat, former Chief Minister and father of the Congress candidate, Mr Bhajan Lal, said the Congress would win all 10 LS seats in this election.

Rohtak, April 21
The Congress nominee for the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said here today that the parliamentary poll would determine the direction in which Haryana’s politics would go in the next decade or so.

Addressing his supporters before filing his nomination papers he said this election would not only bring about a change at the Centre but would also decide which party would form a government in the state after the next Assembly poll.

Gurgaon, April 21
Mr Ved Parkash Vidrohi, former Haryana state Janata Dal (United) president, today announced his decision to join the Congress.

Ambala, April 21
Shiromani Akali Dal, Haryana, which recently disassociated itself from SAD (Badal), has begun to make its political presence felt.

For the first time, SAD, Haryana, is fielding its candidate from Ambala seat. Party leaders opine that the filing of nomination by Mr Raunaq Singh for the Ambala (reserved) Lok Sabha seat yesterday is a step in the right direction. “We are definately making our presence felt among the electorate,” a leader said.

Mr Ranbir Singh Fauji, a senior leader of SAD (Haryana), said the interest of the Sikhs has never been taken up by successive governments in the state. “We have been ignored despite the fact that we had extended support to them during previous elections,” he said.

He stated that `Punjabiyat’ has been put in the cold storage by different governments in Haryana. “People from different walks of life are supporting us in our endeavour,” he said.

Mr Fauji said despite lack of finances, they are working hard to ensure victory for their candidate. “We are reaching out to people and we are receiving a good response. It is a beginning which we have made and it will bear desired results in the long run,” he observed.

Mr Raunaq Singh, who is also referred to as Master Raunaq Singh since he has retired as a teacher, said he would strive hard for `Punjabiyat’. “Since, I have been a teacher, I will ensure that the anomalies in the pay commission are immediately corrected,” he said.

Raunaq Singh is not a political greenhorn since he is contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the second time. He had earlier contested in 1996.

Mr B.S. Bindra, general secretary of the Kendriya Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee, said “Our contribution was never taken into account and we were always sidelined. Haryana leaders were never taken into confidence even when decision pertained to Haryana,” he said.

In his affidavit, Mr Raunaq Singh stated that he has Rs 15,000 cash while his wife has Rs 20,000 cash in hand. His bank deposits stand at Rs 10,798 and he owns Kisan Vikas Patras worth Rs 75,000.

Mr Raunaq Singh has a Bajaj Chetak scooter. Gold jewellery owned by him is worth Rs 30,000 while the jewellery of his wife is worth Rs 72,000.

Chandigarh, April 21
The BJP candidate from the Sonepat Lok Sabha constituency, Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, fears that his nomination papers may be rejected by the D.C.-cum-Returning Officer of Sonepat, Mr M.R. Anand, on “some trumped-up and frivolous ground”.

In a letter to the Election Commission of India today, Mr Sangwan said the scrutiny of the papers should be held in the presence of the election observers appointed by the commission for the Sonepat constituency. He demanded that in case of a dispute, the final decision on his papers should be taken by the Returning Officer only after getting the clearance of the commission.

He said Mr Anand was posted as DC of Sonepat a few days before the code of conduct came into force. He alleged that the antecedents of Mr Anand would show that he “was not capable of discharging his duties as the Returning Officer in a fair and impartial manner”.

He claimed that a court of law had found Mr Anand to be “unfit” to act as the Presiding Officer over judicial cases.

Rohtak, April 21
The mindless race among candidates to paste election posters at every conceivable place has resulted the in the defacement of a structure raised in memory of the BSF Commandant Rajendra Singh Ahlawat, who laid down his life fighting Jaish-e –Mohammed militants in the Kashmir valley in 2001.

Residents of the Preet Vihar Colony here this morning were shocked to find posters of the BJP nominee Capt Abhimanyu Singh pasted on both sides of the structure raised as a memorial to him near the colony.

Describing the defacement as an insult to his son, Major Raghbir Singh Ahlawat (retd), father of the martyr, who lives in the same colony, said the candidates should spare memorials to martyrs. He said he had approached the district administration for ensuring that such incidents were not repeated during the campaign. He said the incident hurt him more since the BJP nominee happened to be a former army officer.

Sirsa. April 21
“No one else but Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be the next Prime Minister”, claimed Central Food and Rural Development Minister Sangpriya Gautam here today. He was addressing a rally of the BJP at the local Nehru Park before Mr Manaveer Prasad, candidate from the Sirsa reserved parliamentary constituency went out in a procession to file his nomination.

Speaking on the occasion, the BJP leader said if the star campaigner of the BJP in Haryana, Mr Ranjeet Singh succeeded in getting victory for BJP in Sirsa, it would be a win in the state as Sirsa was the home constituency of the Chief Minister and INLD supremo, Mr Om Prakash Chautala.

Rewari, April 21
The HVP nominee for the Mahendergarh parliamentary seat, Mr Anil Rao, on Monday filed his nomination papers and used the occasion to display the popularity of his party, much to the discomfort of the commoners in the city.

Fatehabad, April 21
The District Election Officer yesterday earmarked certain places in the district where the political parties contesting the parliamentary polls could affix their posters or pamphlets. Affixing of posters or pamphlets at any other site would amount to violation of the model code of conduct and attract action under the rules, a press note issued here said.

Hisar, April 21
Five office-bearers of the Hisar mandal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party today quit their posts in protest against the allotment of the party ticket to Mr Jaibir Godara from the Hisar Lok Sabha constituency.

Ambala, April 21
The Director-General of Police, Haryana, Mr B.R. Lal, has said that ensuring free and fair poll was the top priority of the police.

Addressing police officers and personnel at Police Lines, here yesterday, Mr Lal said voting was a right under democracy and the police was duty-bound to protect its exercise. He directed police personnel to take stock of polling booths in their areas and keep an eye on anti-social elements.

Mr Alok Joshi, Inspector General of Police, Ambala Range, said the Haryana police had always discharged its duties well during elections.

Mr Mohd Akil, SP, Ambala, said preparations for the elections were complete. He said the district had been divided into different beats. All beat in charges had been provided with beat books, containing complete details of the area.

Chandigarh, April 21
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed a public interest petition challenging the Election Commission’s order to transfer Haryana Director General of Police, Dr M.S. Malik.

In his PIL, the petitioner, Dr B. Singh, had said that the order of the EC asking the Haryana Government to shift Dr Malik as his wife is the nominee of the ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) for the Sonepat Parliamentary constituency was illegal and arbitrary. He had said that the DGP’s transfer could not have been ordered as his wife had still not filed her nomination for the seat.

Yamunanagar, April 21
The fourth power station of the Western Yamuna Canal Hydro Electric Project has started generating power. Mr G. C. Aggarwal, Chief Engineer of the project, said here on Monday that the first unit of the 7.2 MW power house was synchronised on April 16. It was generating about 1 lakh units every day, he added. He said the unit was functioning satisfactorily. The second unit would be commissioned by the month-end.

He said the three already existing power stations were generating about 4.5 lakh units every day. Their maintenance had already been completed.

Mr Aggarwal said construction of the fourth power station was started in August, 2000, by Haryana Power Generation Corporation.

Fatehabad, April 21
Due to poor lifting of wheat being brought here for government procurement, the local grain market is witnessing a glut of wheat. The authorities attribute this glut to the sudden arrival of wheat in a short period.

According to figures provided by the local market committee office, 7.97 lakh quintals of wheat had arrived in the grain market till Sunday evening. However, the quantity of procured wheat lifted was 5.62 lakh quintals. As the bags used for filling wheat are of 50 kg denomination, around 4.70 lakh bags of wheat are still lying in the grain market, making difficult for people to move around. Bags full of wheat are also lying on the adjoining SBI road.

The arrival of wheat this year has been lower than those in previous years. Against 12.15 lakh quintals procured last year in this grain market, the authorities are not expecting the arrival of more than 10.50 lakh quintals. Farmers hold the early hot conditions this year as the reason for the lesser yield. They maintain that due to an early summer, their wheat crop has ripened prematurely, resulting in smaller grains.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Mahtab Singh Sehrawat, confirmed that there was a glut of wheat in various grain markets of the district but attributed this to the arrival of larger quantities of wheat in a shorter period of time. He claimed that the district administration had made adequate arrangements for the procurement and lifting of wheat in all grain markets of the district but while the arrival of wheat was scattered over a period of almost 45 days last year, it had been concentrated in the first fortnight of the procurement season this year.

Yamunanagar, April 21
Forests are precious as they fulfil many needs of the people and therefore must be protected from fire, said Mr D.S. Dhesi, Commissioner and Secretary, Forests, Government of Haryana, while presiding over a state-level forest fire protection week at Darpur village, 40 km from here, today.

Mr Dhesi gave prizes to those persons and village forests societies which had contributed significantly for the protection and upkeep of forests. Winners of painting and quiz contests organised on the occasion were also given prizes.

He exhorted the people to contribute significantly towards the protection and preservation of trees and grow herbal plants.

Mr J.P.L. Srivastava, Principal Chief Conservator, Forests, announced that societies contributing towards controlling forest fires would be given special prizes.