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HVP to support ‘viable’ Opposition candidate Petition filed against 6 Independent MLAs Dalal files reply on disqualification plea Haryana reeling under power shortage Haryana to buy
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Move to reduce humanities’ seats worries students Youth commits suicide Kiln owner’s son kidnapped, let off Most wanted criminal held
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HVP to support ‘viable’ Opposition candidate Chandigarh, June 15 The support of the two-member HVP has emerged as a key factor for deciding the fate of one of the two Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana. While the victory of the ruling INLD in one of the seats is assured, the two rival formations in the state are evenly poised for the other. The Congress scored a coup of sorts yesterday when six Independent legislators joined the party, taking its strength in the House to 27. If it gets the support of two HVP legislators, it can win one of the RS seats in the state. The INLD, meanwhile, called a meeting of all its party MLAs here today, apparently in an attempt to keep its flock together. Three Independent MLAs — Mr Gopi Chand Gahlot, Deputy Speaker, Mr Anil Vij and Mr Ram Bhagat — who are still supporting the INLD regime, also took part in the meeting. Though Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala, who underwent a surgery yesterday, could not attend the meeting, his two sons — Ajay and Abhey — were present. Earlier, Mr Bishan Lal Saini, who won the election from Jagadhari on the BSP ticket said that he would vote for the INLD in the RS elections. A senior BJP legislator confided that the BJP and the INLD could reach an understanding for electing a candidate not belonging to the INLD. Mr Tarlochan Singh, Chairman of the Minorities Commission, could be the candidate to be supported by the INLD - BJP combine and the four MLAs having allegiance to Mr Chautala. As many as 29 votes are required for the victory of a candidate on the basis of the first preference votes. The INLD, having 47 MLAs, will be left with 18 MLAs who could cast their first-preference votes in favour of the second candidate backed by the party. If the six-member BJP, the three Independent legislators supporting the government and the BSP legislator vote in favour of that candidate, he would secure 28 votes, one vote less than the total number of votes of the Congress and the HVP. The Congress, however, is facing a problem as two of its recently inducted MLAs have been served with disqualification notices by a ruling party MLA. If Mr Karan Singh Dalal and Mr Jagjit Singh Dalal are unseated before the RS elections, they will not be able to vote unless they obtain a stay on the decision from the High Court. |
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Petition filed against 6 Independent MLAs Chandigarh, June 15 Sources in the Vidhan Sabha say the Speaker will take notice of the petition tomorrow. It may be recalled that the Speaker is already holding hearing on two similar petitions filed against Mr Karan Singh Dalal and Mr Jagjit Singh Sangwan. |
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Dalal files reply on disqualification plea Chandigarh, June15 The petition has been filed by INLD MLA Jasbir Singh Malour under the anti-defection law. Mr Kadian, who is virtually holding the hearing on a day-to-day basis, adjourned the hearing till tomorrow. Mr Malour has also filed another petition against Mr Jagjit Singh Sangwan, who split the NCP to merge his newly formed party with the Congress. Mr Sangwan was also asked by Mr Kadian to appear before him tomorrow along with his advocate. Mr Sangwan had sought a four-week adjournment as he wanted to engage a senior advocate but was unable to do so because of the vacations in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In his reply and oral arguments, Mr Dalal, who appeared in person, said the petition had been filed under section 2 of the 10th Schedule (anti-defection law), relating to a person who voluntarily quits his party. However, his case was covered under Sections 3 and 4 of the Schedule, which provided for a split in a party and the merger of two parties. Mr Dalal contended that it was immoral on the part of the Speaker to continue with the hearing after the Rajya Sabha elections had been notified. Accusing Mr Kadian of acting at the behest of the ruling party, Mr Dalal alleged that the Speaker had already made up his mind to disqualify him so that he could not vote against the ruling party candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections. He also informed the Speaker that the party formed by him was duly recognised by the Election Commission of India. The RPI, which should have been the aggrieved party, had objected neither before the Election Commission nor had filed any petition against him before the Speaker. He also pointed out that the complainant had neither filed any affidavit in support of his petition nor had produced any witnesses or any other evidence before the Speaker, whereas he (Mr Dalal) had filed an affidavit in support of his reply. |
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Dalal alleges irregularities in HUDA auctions Chandigarh, June 15 In a letter written to the Governor, Babu Parmanand, Mr Dalal said the irregularities were being committed by senior officers of HUDA under the patronage of politicians ruling the state. He alleged that musclemen present at the auction site did not allow a fair auction and ensured that the successful bid was given by the favourites of these politicians. Mr Dalal alleged that during the auction of a 4.20-acre five-star hotel site in Gurgaon in February, the bid of Rs 28.60 crore was accepted against the reserve price of Rs 26.50 crore. The market price of the site, he said, was about Rs 50 crore. The bid was accepted in the names of Gopal Tandon, Jitender Singh Chopra and Siddarth Nath Singh of A-7, Gulmohar Park, New Delhi. A formal receipt (No. 26670 dated February 11, 2003, was issued in favour these persons. Surprisingly, the allotment letter (No. EO. (G) 2001/580 dt 16-6-03) was issued to Inter Globe Enterprises, 66-Janpath, New Delhi. How did this company come into picture was a mystery and smacked of a conspiracy, he said. Earlier, he said, the successful bidders deposited over Rs 2.86 crore and the remaining 15 per cent was to be deposited within 30 days, which they failed to do. Instead of cancelling the auction and forfeiting the earnest money, the party was allowed to deposit the money 14 days after the deadline. Mr Dalal claimed that to the best of his
knowledge Inter Globe Enterprises was a fake firm. HUDA later reallotted the site to Iris Hotels Private Limited vide letter No. 6252 dated May 4, 2004. In another incident, he said, a huge loss was caused to the state exchequer while auctioning a 9.5 acre commercial plot in Sector 29 of Gurgaon. The reserve price was Rs 106.65 crore against the market price of Rs 250 crore. The site was sold to certain favourites of the ruling party for Rs 111.1 crore. Many sites were sold the same day in a similar manner, he alleged.
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Haryana reeling under power shortage Panchkula, June 15 As against the estimated daily power requirement of 650 to 700
LUs, the power available to the state from various sources is 525 to 550 LUs each day. The state has resorted to overdraws of power from the Northern Grid (whenever there is under-drawl by other states), and has even achieved a new record of power supply by supplying 721.37 LUs yesterday. The states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal and the Union Territory of Chandigarh are not drawing their full share of power from the Northern Grid (under-drawl by these states is because these states have contracted power by bilateral arrangements). Well-placed sources inform that Delhi’s withdrawal of power was 112. 66 LUs less than its share yesterday, Rajasthan’s was 36.44 LUs less, while Uttar Pradesh’s was 32. 71 LUs less than its share. Thus Haryana and Punjab were able to draw more power at good frequency (around 50 Hertz), and without paying much penal rate for overdraws (155.56 LUs by Haryana and 76.63 LUs by Punjab) yesterday. However, whenever demand in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal increases, Punjab and Haryana will be in a tight spot. Power regulations imposed on the urban and industrial consumers in the two states will also become more stringent. Senior officials in Haryana Power Utilities (HPU), say that with the tie-up the HVDC line between Northern Grid and North Eastern Grid being switched off since May 24 for maintenance, Haryana is unable to get 350 MW of power each day. Though the HPU had made an alternate arrangement to meet this shortfall by getting 100 MW power from Eastern Grid via the Southern Grid and Western Grid, this alternate link was also broken. The capital maintenance of Unit V of Tau Devi Lal Thermal Plant, Panipat, has also led to a shortfall of 210 MW . Because of a rotor problem, the revival of the unit will take almost a month, and the unit is likely to be made operational by July 10. Other than this, power supply from the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) has been discontinued from June 1, while the power availability has been reduced from the Nathpa Jakhri project, due to rains in catchment area and reduced inflow in the Sutlej. The state was getting 65 to 145 MW from the HPSEB last fortnight. The Bhakra Beas Management Board has also reduced water releases from the Bhakra Dam from an earlier level of 20800 cusecs to 15000 cusecs, thus reducing Haryana’s share from Bhakra Beas Power Houses by eight lakh units a day. However, HPU authorities assure that the situation would improve by the beginning of July, when the HVDC link between Northern and North Eastern and Eastern Grids is restored by June 27, and the Unit V of thermal power plat at Panipat is made
operational." The alternate link between the Northern Grid and the Eastern Grid, via the Southern and Western Grids will be restored by June 18, and we will get 250 MW power, which we are getting at a costlier rate,” informs a senior HPU official.
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Haryana
to buy extra power Chandigarh, June 15 Power availability in the state had been affected by the planned shutdown of Sasaram high-voltage direct current
(HVDC) link between the eastern and northern regions since May 24 and a reduction in power generation by hydroelectric stations. With a view of meeting the power shortage, the Power Utilities had decided to regulate power supply to the urban and rural areas as a temporary measure. Farm tubewells, however, would continue to get assured power supply for eight hours a day. In addition, efforts would be made to provide two-phase lighting load in the rural areas.
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A racketeer with strong will power Karnal, June 15 According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Devinder Singh Yadav, Kanwar Singh Yadav joined as a social studies teacher at Darauli in Rewari district in 1993 and remained there till 1999, when he was suspended from service. From 1996 to 1998, he remained president of the district unit of the teachers union and during this period, he developed contacts with officials of the Directorate of Education (Secondary) and the teaching community. He often visited the Directorate of Education at Chandigarh to know the working system of the Education Department. The first-ever criminal offence masterminded by him came to light in 1997 when it was alleged that he leaked mathematics paper of class X. An FIR was registered against him at the Kanina police station in Mahendragarh district. During his suspension period, he fraudulently prepared fake appointment letter of Naresh, son of Raghuvir, a resident of Lesan village in Rewari district, and managed to get him joined as a class IV employee in a government school but soon a criminal case was registered against him. Later, he changed his name to Balwant Singh and fraudulently prepared his own appointment letter on this name and joined as a social studies teacher at Government Senior Secondary School (Sabji Mandi), Yamunanagar. He worked here for 14 months and even drew salary on this name, besides claiming the half pay following his suspension from Rewari. When the state government lifted the ban on transfers, he prepared his fake transfer letter from Sabji Mandi School (Yamunanagar) to Sahlepur village school. He prepared his own fake transfer orders on fake name and joined Government Senior Secondary School at Laha village in Naraingarh sub-division (Ambala). He remained here till January 2004. During the period of his fake postings in Yamunanagar and Ambala, he also changed his name as Rajesh and prepared another fake appointment letter. He even simultaneously joined at Bitna village in Panchkula district as social studies teacher and claimed salary from all his postings, Rewari, Ambala and Panchkula. Once again, he prepared his fake transfer order from Bitna (Panchkula) to Government Higher Secondary School, Sidharawali village (Gurgaon), on his new fake name but did not join there as two criminal cases of masterminding fake transfer orders were registered against him at the Naraingarh police station. Fearing his arrest, he fled to Jaipur.
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Move to reduce humanities’ seats worries students Sirsa, June 15 Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that at a recent meeting held last week, the Secretary, Education, Mr M.L. Tayal, has proposed to cut down the strength from the existing 1850 seats to 1200 seats from the coming academic session. Government National PG College has sent a letter in this regard to Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa, for its approval, with whom it is affiliated. Besides, the department has also mooted a plan to discontinue the evening college, quite popular among working and traders community of the district. Interestingly, this is the only government college in the district, and the proposed move may have far-reaching results. The Principal, Mr B.S. Dahiya, confirmed the move and said they were waiting for the confirmation from the university for the implementation of the orders. He said the State Education Department would give a new shape to the academic atmosphere by increasing seats in the commerce and science streams instead of traditional arts courses. Meanwhile, reliable sources in the Education Department revealed that though the department has planned to increase seats in the science and commerce seats, the college is short of the faculty. At present, the college has 160 seats for commerce and 360 in science streams. A proposal has been sent for the increase in the quota. Sources in the college fear a dismal education scenario in the district. Out of 1850 seats (1450 in regular and 400 in evening classes) 1750 seats (1400 in regular and 350 in evening classes) were filled in the co-educational college. The students may suffer due to new policy of the Education Department. In fact, there are a few takers for the science and commerce and may have termed the proposal as a blind and haste move. The college also offers postgraduate degrees in humanities in seven different subjects. Sources said the college had no sociology faculty member for the last two years. |
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Youth commits suicide Panipat, June 15 He had an affair with a girl living in the Rajnagar area here. The fact came to light when the police found certain letters from the youth’s pocket. He was found dead in his room. He had committed suicide by hanging. Pandey was from Sikandera village at Jumai district, Bihar, and was working in a textile factory here. Pandey committed suicide late night yesterday when he came to know that his beloved was getting married with somebody. |
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Kiln owner’s son kidnapped, let off Kaithal, June 15 The accountant of the Jawala brick-kiln, 6 km from here, said Vipin (22), son of Naresh Bansal, brick-kiln owner, was sitting in the office when at about 5 pm yesteday five youths came to the office in a Maruti Zen car. They enquired from Vipin about the rates of bricks. After having a round of the brick-kiln, they tried to push the victim into the car. When Vipin resisted their attempt another youth forced Vipin into the car at gunpoint. |
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Most wanted
criminal held Hisar, June 15 District police chief Attar Singh Ahlawat told mediapersons here today that Pradeep was mainly responsible for attacks on doctors of Hansi. His four gang members had already been arrested, he added. Pradeep smuggled liquor in huge quantities to Haryana from other states during the prohibition period. Later, he took to other crimes also. |
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to enrol pension beneficiaries Chandigarh, June 15
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Cash award for student Ambala, June 15
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Bicycles sought for students
Ambala, June 15 Mr Ravinder Singh said the local school had classes up to class V. He said the girls had to go to Rampur Sarsehri village as there was no middle school in his village. He said the state government had recently announced that bicycles would be provided to the girl students who have to travel to nearby villages. TNS
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