Cong will set agenda for INLD: Hooda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 21
“Henceforth, the Congress will set the agenda and Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala will follow it.” Asserting this here today the outgoing Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, virtually declared the manifesto on which the Haryana Congress will contest the next Assembly elections.

Mr Hooda told newsmen that since Mr Chautala had lost the moral right to govern after the humiliating defeat of his party in the Lok Sabha elections, he should quit and seek a fresh mandate from the people. He said Mr Chautala and his father, the late Mr Devi Lal, professed to be staunch advocates of the maxim, “Lok Raj Lok Laaj Se Chalta Hai”. It was more a reason why he should have resigned after his party could lead only in 10 of the 90 Assembly segments. Mr Chautala himself had made a similar demand after Mr Bansi Lal’s party suffered a setback in the 1998 Lok Sabha elections.

He said on coming to power the Congress would raise the retirement age of government employees from 58 years to 60 and they would be paid all allowances admissible to the Central Government employees. Power to the poorest of the poor would be highly subsidised. He defined the “poorest of the poor” as a consumer using one bulb and one fan. Those consumers who used three bulbs and three fans would get power supply at a flat rate. Farmers would get power supply on the Andhra pattern. Reconciliation committees would be set up to sort out the issue of power arrears of farmers, who would not be burdened more than their capacity to pay. The Bharatiya Kisan Union would be taken into confidence on this issue. The sedition cases framed against BKU leaders would be withdrawn.

The Congress would undo the increase in power tariff and retrenchment of employees. The old house tax policy would be restored. It would double the old-age pension. A uniform price would be paid to canegrowers. The rate of interest on cooperative loans would be brought down to that of the nationalised banks.

No farmer would have to pay interest more than the principal amount. A provision to provide housing loans in villages would be made. The value-added tax would not be imposed in the state in isolation. Stamp duty would be reduced to 5 per cent on the pattern of Punjab. The Kargil package would be restored for all martyrs.

Mr Hooda, who was unusually aggressive today, said the Congress would launch a campaign against corruption. “While in Punjab only one Sidhu was arrested, in Haryana several Sidhus would be arrested and prosecuted,” he said, adding that Mrs Sonia Gandhi had given an honest PM to the country and she would also give an honest CM to Haryana.

He said despite his election to the Lok Sabha, he would continue to be a claimant for the post of Chief Minister. The Chief Minister, he said, would be selected by Mrs Gandhi and members of the Congress Legislature Party. 

Varsity expert says UGC budget limited
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, May 21
On the second day of the three-day round table of vice-chancellors and directors on university management today, eminent specialists presented their papers.

Presenting his paper on the ‘Internationalisation of Indian Higher Education,’ the Secretary-General of the Association of Indian Universities, Prof Dayanand Dongaonkar elaborated on the general principles of internationalisation, advantages of internationalisation of higher education and internationalisation in India. He also suggested measures for facilitating the students.

Prof Rajiv K. Saxena, Rector, Jawaharlal Nehru University, presented a paper on ‘University Finances: Available Alternatives.’ He pointed out that University Grants Commission (UGC) has a limited budget and it cannot provide all genuine infrastructural and other requirements of the Universities. He was of the opinion that a nationwide “Higher Education Loan Programme” (HELP) should be introduced. He also stressed the need of a clear policy for enrolling foreign students in Indian universities.

Mr Mangla Rai, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, presented a paper on ‘Cooperation Between Agricultural and Traditional Universities.’

Mr Rai observed that cooperation not only between agricultural and traditional universities but also among institutions of higher learning in all disciplines was the need of the day. He maintained that a change in the existing traditional pattern of education was required so that it became more sensitive and responsive to the internal and external pressures faced by the country.

Dr R.K. Chauhan, Additional Secretary of the UGC, talked about various UGC schemes for providing financial assistance to universities and maintenance of standard of higher education.

Prof K.L. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, said that the UGC should have friendly relations with the state universities. He also pointed out various shortcomings in the UGC schemes. 

2 burnt alive in truck-tanker collision

Rohtak, May 21
The driver and cleaner of a truck were burnt alive when their vehicle caught fire following a collision with a tanker carrying inflammable material at the Jhajjar chowk on the Sampla bypass on National Highway No 10, this morning.

The deceased have not been identified. The three occupants of the tanker, sustained minor burn injuries.

A truck carrying potatoes to Delhi and a tanker filled with a chemical collided in early morning today. Both the vehicles caught fire following the collision.

While tanker driver Pargat Singh and cleaner Harjit Singh, both from Amritsar in Punjab, and an occupant of the truck, Rakesh of Mathura in UP, jumped out of the burning tanker with minor burn injuries, the truck driver and the cleaner got trapped and were burnt alive.

A fire engine from Rohtak extinguished the fire.

The injured were discharged after treatment at the Civil Hospital. — UNI

Rowdyism at condolence meeting
Our Correspondent

Bhiwani, May 21
A meeting convened to pay homage to late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 13th death anniversary was marred by rowdyism and had to be ended abruptly.

The meeting organised by the District Congress Committee, started around 7 a.m. at Tilak Bhavan. All was going on well, but the scene changed when the district president of the DCC (rural) Mr Sandeep Singh, entered. He paid tributes before a picture of Rajiv Gandhi and started criticising holding of the condolence meeting without his permission.

He went on to say that he had not been sacked. Mr Sandeep Singh said Mr Bhajan Lal had issued him a show cause notice but had not sacked him from the post. He warned the present Congressmen that Tilak Bhavan would remain under his personal custody till his presidentship continued.

14-yr jail for smuggling

Sonepat, May 21
Additional Sessions Judge of Sonepat Dharamvir Singh yesterday convicted opium smuggler Lal Chand, rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

The court ordered that in case of default in payment of fine, he would undergo further rigorous imprisonment for 14 months in a case registered against him in the Railway police station on March 8, last year. — PTI

Army clears encroachment
Tribune News Service

Ambala, May 21
The Army cleared encroachment on its land near Shivala Mandi early this morning.

A team of personnel razed a tenement constructed by one Sumer Chand. A police contingent accompanied the Army team to ensure there was no untoward incident.

An official said notice had been served on the person to clear the encroachment. Necessary action would be taken against those who encroached upon Army land, he added.

Youth's body recovered
Tribune News Service

Ambala, May 21
The body of a youth was found near the periphery of Circuit House in Ambala Cantonment.

The youth's body was found with its face down. The deceased was wearing a blue jeans and yellow T-shirt. He was said to be about 30 years.

The exact cause of the death was not yet known. The body has been sent to the PGIMER, Rohtak. A police official said it seemed that the youth might have died 3-4 days ago. Investigations were on.