 |
|
|
INLD retains 21 MLAs in first list
First list of 39 BJP candidates out
BJP open to poll pact with SAD
Battlelines drawn for Panipat seat
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political rallies galore in Haryana
Mange Ram Gupta in fray for seventh time
Haryana Police to launch Operation Catch
Youths to play vital role in poll
Arhtiyas oppose MLA’s candidature
53 booths declared
hypersensitive
Places earmarked for hoardings, posters
HUDA cancels auctions, draw of lots
No halt for nine express trains at Jagadhri
Police clueless on housewife’s murder
Youth Cong leader killed in mishap
Goods looted from factory
VHP deadline on uniform civil code
Woman killed in road mishap
Karnal schools to remain closed till Jan 8
|
|
INLD retains 21 MLAs in first list
New Delhi, January 4 Releasing the list, Mr Chautala, who is also the INLD chief, said that 21 sitting MLAs had been retained in the first list. Three changes have been made with sitting MLAs Dharampal (Nilokheri), Dina Ram (Kalayat) and Bhag Singh (Uchana) replaced by Rajender Singh Anjanthali, Pritam Singh Kolekhan and Desh Raj Nambardar, respectively. Mr Chautala will contest from his old constituency of Narwana. In Gharaunda, the INLD ticket has been given to a family member of the sitting party MLA. There are 11 youth, five women, eight persons belonging to backward classes, seven candidates from the Dalit community and four minorities in the list. Six candidates from the Punjabi community, one from the Rajput community, one from the Rode community and 19 from the Jat community figure in the list released today, Mr Chautala said. There are 17 new faces among the candidates announced today. The party has kept 43 names pending. “Efforts have been made to give all sections of the society adequate representation,” Mr Chautala said. He denied that any talks had taken place between the INLD and the BSP for a poll alliance. However, he said the INLD and the BSP were ideologically similar parties. “We will happy if there is an alliance. In case a tie-up is reached, there could be changes in this list,” he said. Asked if it was too late for a tie-up, Mr Chautala said such possibility cannot be ruled out in politics. He, however, said there would be no alliance with the BJP. Mr Chautala took exception to reported statement of BJP general secretary Shivraj Singh Chauhan in which he said that his party would not touch the INLD even with a “chimta”. Talking of a new district formed in the state, Mr Chautala said that his government had forwarded the panel of names for administrative postings to the Election Commission but had not heard from the commission yet. He said INLD manifesto was being drafted and would be released before the second list was out. On the issues for the elections, Mr Chautala said the party would assert its
commitment for the completion of the SYL canal. “We will work to bring SYL canal water to Haryana by the end of 2005,” he said. |
|
|
INLD, BJP announce candidates from Kalka
Panchkula, January 4
|
|
First list of 39 BJP candidates out
New Delhi, January 4 Mr Chauhan said the party is fielding five sitting MLAs, a former MP, Ms Sudha Yadav, who had represented Gurgaon in the 13th Lok Sabha and would now be contesting the Assembly seat from there. The party is putting up four women candidates, 15 farmers, 11 belonging to the Backward Classes and one representative of the media, he said. Refuting the charge of Mr Om Prakash Chautala that he had referred to the INLD as “untouchable”, Mr Chauhan said what he had meant was that BJP was not having alliance with the INLD as the state government was “steeped in corruption and it had done nothing for the welfare of farmers, poor people and weaker sections of society.” He said the party was not projecting anyone as its chief ministerial candidate in the three states going to the polls next month. The meeting was attended among others by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former party president M. Venkaiah Naidu, party vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, party spokesperson Sushma Swaraj, general secretary Arun Jaitley and Haryana unit president Ganeshi Lal. The BJP which currently has seven MLAs in the Haryana Assembly, including Mr Kartar Singh Bhadana who had joined the BJP prior to the last Lok Sabha elections, is trying to improve its tally. Another round of meetings of the central election committee is slated for January 8 and 9 for selecting candidates for the Jharkhand and Bihar Assembly polls, respectively, Mr Chauhan said. The candidate for the Rajasthan Assembly byelection for the Loni seat was also finalised. Mr Jagaran Patel will fight from there. Following is the list of BJP candidates and the constituencies in Haryana. Mr Shyam Lal Bansal (Kalka-1), Mr Kunwar Pal Singh (Chachrauli), Mr Rameshwar Chauhan (Jagadhri), Mr Ravi Saighal (Ambala Cantt-8), Mrs Veena Chibbar (Ambala-9), Mr Shashipal Mehta (Karnal-13), Mr Sanjay Bhatia (Panipat-17), Mr Gurdayal Singh Saini (Thanesar-22), Mr Balbir Saini (Pehowa-23), Mr Narsingh Dhada (Pai-27), Mr Naresh Malik (Hasagarh-28), Mr Manish Grover (Rohtak-30), Mrs Meena Chaudhary (Mehem-31), Dr Santosh Gochhi (Beri-33), Mr Mahavir Butana (Badoda-38-SC), Mr Om Prakash Nain (Uchana Kalan-46), Mr Shrinivas Verma (Jind-48), Mr Shamsher Singh (Julana-49), Mr Chandra Bhatia (Faridabad-51), Mr Krishan Pal Gurjar (Mewla Maharajpur-52), Mr Anand Sharma (Ballabhgarh-53), Mr Puranlal (Hasanpur-55-SC), Mr Kartar Singh Bhadana (Sohna-60), Mrs Dr Sudha Yadav (Gurgoan -61), Mr Om Prakash Mann (Mundhal Khurd-65), Col Mangal Singh (Tosham-67), Mr Nandram Dhania (Bawani Khera-69-SC), Mr Jitender Jog (Barwala-70), Mr Ramkumar Gautam (Narnaud-71), Mr Pradeep Kumar Chaudhary (Hansi-72), Mr Dayanand Bainda (Bhattukala-73), Mr Subhash Bharala (Tohana-76), Mr Laddu Bajigar (Ratia-77-SC), Dalbir Dhiranvas (Adampur-79), Mr Jaswant Singh (Bawal-85-SC), Mr Randhhir Kapdiwas (Rewari-86), Mr Rao Narvir Singh (Jatusana-87), Mr Ramvilas Sharma (Mahenedergarh-88), and Mr Kailaschander Sharma (Ateli-89). |
|
BJP open to poll pact with SAD
Karnal, January 4 Mr Bharat Bhushan Bharti, general secretary of the state unit of the BJP while stating this before mediapersons here this afternoon, said the SAD was their ‘natural and trusted’ ally in the NDA and it would be much better if the BJP and SAD contested the elections jointly. He said the BJP had already communicated its desire to the SAD leadership to contest the assembly elections jointly but so far no response had come. “The BJP will be happy even to share seats with the SAD in Haryana elections”, he said. The BJP was in favour of a separate gurdwara prabhandak committee in Haryana and will pass a legislation in this regard in the state legislative assembly if voted to power, he said in reply to a question. He further said that a few SGPC members and other senior leaders of the Haryana unit of the SAD had approached them for an alliance with the demand of extending support for a separate Sikh body to manage the affairs of gurdwaras in Haryana. “We cannot ignore to the demand of Sikhs living in Haryana who are already in minority in the state”, he added. |
|
|
My performance will help me win, claims Chibber
Ambala, January 4 Ms
Chibber, who is going to contest the Assembly election for the second consecutive time, today said her “good” performance as an MLA will help her in winning. “I have worked hard throughout my tenure as an MLA. People have seen that I have undertaken result-oriented development of different areas. I will seek the support of the people on the basis of my performance,” Ms Veena Chibber told Chandigarh Tribune. Ms Veena Chibber had won the Ambala City seat by a margin of more than 6000 votes in 1999. She had thrice been Municipal Councillor in Ambala City, in 1987, 1991 and 1994. In the first two terms, she was the sole woman councillor. “I have ensured that there are good roads in Ambala city and all major roads have been carpeted during my tenure. Drinking water pipeline have been laid and 17 tubewells have been dug to meet the water requirements. A public health centre has been opened at Panjokhra,” she said. She stated that she was instrumental in preparation of a major deep sewerage project for Ambala city. “The project is worth Rs 35 crore and the proposal has been forwarded to the Centre for approval. I promise to take up the project at the earliest, once I am elected back to power,” she said. Ms Veena Chibber's other plans include opening of a government girls college and starting of law classes. “I will strive to get better facilities in Apna Hospital,” she said. “I am confident that people will support me and I am in touch with the grassroots,” she added. To a query, Ms Veena Chibber said someday the BJP will have to walk alone since it is a national party. “We are confident of forming the BJP government in Haryana,” she said. She said besides the local issues, national issues like rise in prices of basic commodities will find mention in her campaign. “People are unhappy with the Congress-led UPA government and the steep hike in prices of fuel, LPG and other necessary goods will be a major poll factor,” she said.
|
|
|
Local issues will be my priority: Sehgal
Ambala, January 4 Talking to Chandigarh Tribune after learning that he has been given the BJP ticket this afternoon, Mr Ravi Sehgal said there were a host of issues which would be raised by him during his campaign. Mr Ravi Sehgal, who will be contesting the Assembly election for the first time, is nephew of former Ambala Cantonment MLA Bhagwan Das Sehgal, who passed away a few months back. Bhagwan Das Sehgal had won from Ambala Cantonment on a Jan Sangh ticket in 1969. "Issues concerning the nation as well as local issues will be highlighted by me. The residents of Ambala Cantt are unhappy with the present incumbent and they are looking for a better alternative. I have a rich political experience which will be useful for the local populace," he said. Mr Sehgal, who has thrice been elected municipal councillor in Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar, said he joined politics in 1975. "For the past 20 years, I have served the people as a municipal councillor. I have been elected from ward No. 7 once and twice from ward No. 24. My wife Veena Sehgal was elected after our ward was reserved as a woman ward," he said. He said the campaign strategy would be worked out according to the directions of the party high command. "I have just learnt that I am the candidate so I will be consulting the party leaders for future course of action," he said. Mr Ravi Sehgal stated that issues like land ownership in Ambala Sadar, Mahesh Nagar colonies, floods and Gudgudia nullah will find mention in his campaign. "We find that people of Ambala Cantonment have been ignored for compensation. This is an important issue," he stated.
|
|
|
Battlelines drawn for Panipat seat
Panipat, January 4 The BJP and INLD officially announced their candidates on Tuesday by naming the president of Panipat Municipal Council Sanjay Bhatia and the chairman of Panipat Improvement Trust Kasturi Lal Ahuja
respectively for the Panipat seat. While the Congress has not made any formal declaration of its candidate, highly placed sources confirmed that it had cleared the name of sitting MLA Balbir Pal Shah. Besides, former MLA Om Parkash Jain has already announced that he would try his luck on this seat again as an Independent. His candidature cannot be taken lightly as he was victorious as an independent in the 1996 Assembly elections polling 42.38 per cent votes. He won by a margin of 17615 votes over sitting Congress MLA Balbir Pal Shah, who could get only 31508 votes. Congress sources said the state election committee of the party cleared the names of 12 persons, including nine sitting MLAs. Former state Congress president and ex Haryana Minister for Transport Balbir Pal Shah is one of them. His name has been cleared on the ground that he had won three out of last four Assembly elections, sources said adding that the formal
announcement of his candidature would be made at the time of releasing the first list of candidates. Mr Balbir Pal Shah was elected from Panipat thrice in 1987, 1991 and 2000. He defeated his nearest BJP rival Mr Manohar Lal Suneja, by a margin of 14209 votes in the last elections in 2000. While Mr Shah polled 43514 votes, Suneja could manage only 29305 votes. Similarly, Mr Shah won the 1991 elections by defeating his nearest Independent rival, Mr Om Parkash Jain, by a margin of 8241 votes. Mr Shah got 32745 votes whereas Mr Jain could get only 24504 votes. Despite his victory in three out of four elections, it will not be easy for him to emerge victorious this time. Political analysists observed that the BJP candidate would give him a tough fight. All four candidates have already started their
campaigning. They have held a number of corner meetings in various parts of the constituency. While INLD candidate Ahuja and Independent candidate Jain are doing their best to make the fight four-corned, political analysts say the main contest will be between the Congress and BJP. According to them, the INLD does not have a base in urban area of Panipat and Mr Jain also does not have a base. However, they will play a decisive role. |
|
Political rallies galore in Haryana
Rohtak, January 4 All these rallies had several similarities. For one, these were staged days before releasing the list of respective party candidates for the forthcoming Assembly poll thereby ensuring the participation of all aspirants from every constituency. On an average every party has about six to seven aspirants for the ticket in each of the 90 Assembly segments. Understandably, all aspirants are eager to demonstrate their popularity with the voters by bringing in as many people from their constituencies as possible to impress their respective party leaders. This led to chaotic traffic conditions in the towns in which these rallies were held causing inconvenience to the public. This has added a new dimension to the parameters for estimating the size of the crowd – longer jams mean bigger crowds. This, however, is not entirely true. In most cases it was found that party supporters deliberately ensured haphazard parking of vehicles around the venue and on the main arteries in the towns to create traffic jams under the impression that the townsmen will be impressed by the show of strength. Secondly, the organisers also ensured pandemonium around the press galleries to impress the visiting media persons. Notably there were no such scenes at the public entry points or inside the grounds. At these points the crowd moved smoothly in and out of the ground. But the entries to the press gallery and the stage were crowded with party supporters ostensibly “to control the crowd”. The first indication of these designs came when press persons were contacted by the media managers of these parties asking them to come early as “there was a distinct possibility that they might not get entry because of unmanageable crowd”. This is the first time that such traffic jams have followed the culmination of political rallies. Over the years much bigger rallies have been staged in the state without hindering smooth flow of traffic. The main reason for adopting these tactics is that these rallies were meant to demonstrate the crowd-pulling capabilities rather than to convey the party’s political thinking or the issues they wanted to raise in the coming elections. At the INLD rally at Bhiwani, the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, merely doled out figures of money spent on development projects. He had nothing else to offer to the crowd. At the Hooda faction’s rally here yesterday, none of the speakers raised any burning issues or solutions to these problems they had in mind. While the second rung leaders projected Mr Hooda as the next Chief Minister, senior leaders only delivered meaningless harangues to the predominantly rural audience. Though the party leaders claim otherwise, the sizes of the crowd are no indication of their strength. Over the years the character of these rallies has changed. Till the early nineties the crowds came on their own mainly using tractor trailers. These days crowds are ferried in assorted hired vehicles mainly jeeps and buses. Tractor trailers are negligible in number. The organisers have also to arrange for packed food for the passengers. If the rally happens to be that of the ruling party, impounded school buses are used to ferry people. This has made attending a political rally a convenient and attractive preposition for the villagers who have a lot of time at hand. Barring diehard supporters of various parties, the others like to attend the rallies of all important parties thus making the size of the crowd meaningless in terms of party popularity. The next few weeks will see more such exercises in futility. |
|
|
Mange Ram Gupta in fray for seventh time
Jind, January 4 He has started his election campaign by addressing “nukkar” sabhas in the constituency. The Jind Assembly constituency is popularly known as the heartland of Jats. However, being a bania he is equally popular among the Jats. Interestingly, non-Jat MLAs have been representing this Assembly constituency regularly since the 1977, notwithstanding, moves by the Jat leaders of various parties to bring about a change. Mr Gupta first won the seat as an Independent candidate in 1977 by defeating Pratap Singh of the Congress when there was a wave in favour of the Janata Party across the country. He secured the support of 36.95 per cent of the electorate. In 1980, he joined the Congress and became the Local Bodies Minister in the Chief Minister Bhajan Lal’s government. He remained as minister till 1982. In the 1982 Assembly elections, he was fielded on the Congress ticket from this constituency but was defeated by the Lok Dal candidate Mr Brij Mohan, by a narrow margin. During this election, Mr Gupta got the support of 46.50 per cent of the electorate while the winning candidate secured the support of 46.75 per cent electorate. In the 1987 Assembly Elections, Parmanand a Lok Dal candidate defeated him. In this election, the winning candidate got the support of 53.11 per cent of the electorate while Mr Gupta secured the support of 42.17 per cent of the electorate. However, in the 1991 Assembly elections, Mr Gupta again won the seat defeating Janta Party candidate Tek Ram and became the Finance Minister in Chief Minister Bhajan Lal’s government. In the 1996 election, Brij Mohan who contested the elections under the banner of Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) again defeated him. But, in the last Assembly elections in 2000 he again won the seat on the Congress ticket defeating Gulshan Lal of the Indian National Lok Dal. |
|
Haryana Police to launch Operation Catch
Chandigarh, January 4 While stating this here today, Director General of Police, M.S. Malik said that Inspectors General of Police of all ranges and district Superintendents of Police had been directed to take necessary steps for peaceful conduct of elections and ensure availability of proper equipment, arms and ammunition and other materials. They would also carry regular patrolling and nakabandi during the campaign. Senior officers from police headquarters and the ranges would also monitor day and night patrolling as well as the progress of implementation of directions of Election Commission of India, which had already been circulated among all field units for ensuring prompt and timely action. He appealed to the holders of licensed arms to deposit their arms with the police. Steps would also be taken to arrest all those criminals who had overstayed their parole. He said that a list of anti-social elements would be prepared and it would include those involved in election related offences like booth capturing, intimidation and impersonation during the last two elections. Such lists would be prepared by each police station constituency wise. The record of
history-sheeters, proclaimed offenders and fugitive criminals would also be updated. Bail jumpers and proclaimed offenders would be apprehended and suitable action would be taken against the sureties to achieve desired results. He said that they had also been directed to ensure execution of all pending non-bailable warrants. He said that concerted efforts would be made to unearth illicit firearms and ammunition with emphasis to detect persons involved in supply of such weapons. The district police would launch a special campaign to detect illicit distillation and smuggling of liquor. Dr Malik said that a team comprised of Inspector Generals of Police, Law and Order and Crime, would carry out appraisal of the performance to ensure effectiveness of the campaign. They would collect an analysis the performance of various field units during the operation. Those performing well would be suitably rewarded. Senior police officers from police headquarters and ranges had been deputed to monitor and surperwise the operation. |
|
|
Youths to play vital role in poll
Panipat, January 4 Panipat district is also not an exception as young electors here will be a deciding factor in the ensuing elections. As much as 5 per cent electors have increased in the three constituencies Panipat, Samalkha and Naulatha of Panipat district as compared to the voters’ list on the basis of which Assembly elections in 2000 were held. Most of the voters have increased in the Panipat
constituency where nearly 9 per cent new voters have been enrolled this time Most of them are young voters who will be voting for the first time in the ensuing Assembly elections. According to the data procured by The Tribune, there were 4,41,364 voters in all three constituencies of Panipat district in 2000 Assembly elections, now their number had increased to 4,64,554. That is 23,190 new voters have been enrolled in the new voters’ list of the three constituencies of Panipat district. The number of voters in Panipat constituency has increased to 2,00,934 this time from 1,82,756 last time, followed by Samalkha constituency to 1,37,091 from 1,34,418 and the number of voters in Naulatha constituency has increased to 1,26,529 this time from 1,24,190 last time. As much as 18,178 voters are new in Panipat constituency, followed by Samalkha constituency with 2673 new voters and Naulatha constituency with 2339 new voters. |
|
Arhtiyas oppose MLA’s candidature
Karnal, January 4 Mr Brij Bihari Singla, president of the maha panchayat, while talking to mediapersons here this afternoon said the arhtiyas would meet senior leaders of the Congress at New Delhi on Wednesday and apprise them of the charges against the MLA. He said the Congress high command should give the party ticket to only those persons who had a clean image. Another arhtiya, Mr Vijendra Gupta said: “There is great resentment against the local MLA not only within the Congress but also among traders, who comprise the traditional vote bank of the Congress”. The strong opposition to the MLA has come at a time when it appeared that Mr Gupta would be a candidate of the Congress from the Karnal assembly constituency. It may be mentioned that Mr Gupta was first elected to the Assembly in 1991 on the Congress ticket and was included in the council of ministers as a Minister of State for Excise and Taxation in the Bhajan Lal Government. However, in 2000, he contested and won the Assembly election as an Independent. The other aspirants for the party ticket from here include Mrs Sumita Singh who is the president of the state unit of the Mahila Congress, Mr Suresh Gupta
Mandiwala, organising secretary of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) and Mr Suresh Gupta, district president (urban) of the Congress. Mr Gupta was framed under Sections 406, 420 and 120-B of the IPC read with Section 13(1D) of the Prevention of Corruption Act at police station of Indri (Karnal) in 2002 when he was a staunch supporter of the ruling INLD on a complaint by Confed for alleged irregularities amounting to Rs 92 lakh in his rice mill. The case is still pending in a local court. He is on bail at present. Many local arhtiyas had also jointly levelled charges against him for duping them of more than Rs 60 lakh. The investigation was entrusted to the local police by the Chief Minister. The Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) had served several notices on Jai Prakash Rice Mill allegedly owned by him and his family members to recover a pending electricity bill of Rs 31,13,475 (as on September 30, 2004). The case is pending in court. In September 2004, the Excise and Taxation Department had issued arrest warrants against Mr Gupta’s son Mukesh Kumar and brother-in-law Ramesh Kumar for not paying the purchase tax amounting to Rs 56.22 lakh pending against their firm ‘Makali Traders’ since the assessment year 1996-97. Later, the local police on a request by the E&T Department also registered an FIR in this regard. |
|
|
53 booths declared
hypersensitive
Kaithal, January 4 Elaborating further, he said that in Guhla constituency 16 villages, including Mahmood pur, Chaba, Arnoli, Bhatian, SheoMazra, Daban kheri, Pedal, Balbehra, Kharkan, Ladana Chakku, Kangthli, Kheri Gulam Ali, Siwan Ferozepur, Kawartan and Nauch are under the hypersensitive category and 13 villages: Azimgarh, Sarola, Tatiana, Bhagal, Kallar Mazra, Hari Garh Kingan, Augondh, Kakeor Mazra, Bhuna, Mazri, Pisol, Paharpur and Kakrala Anayat have been declared as sensitive. He added that in Kaithal Assembly constituency, Khurana, Keorak, Patti Afgan, Manas, Baba Ladana and Guhna have been declared hypersensitive and Barout, Teek, Kultaran, Rahrian, Silla Khera and Patti Dogar have been declared as sensitive. In Pundri, Sarsa, Pabnawa, Jajan Pur, Kaul, Faral, Teontha, Fatehpur, Rasina, Habri, Barsana, Hazwana have been declared hypersensitive and Bhainsi Mazra, Lohar Mazra, Khidarpur, Kamoda, Barna, Jadola, Dhand, Chuhar Mazra, Duliani Sakra, Ahon, Dussain and Sirsal have been declared as sensitive. In Pai Assembly constituency, Mundri, Mandwal, Chandana Harsola Jakholi, Sisla, Sismor, Nand Karan Mazra, Songri, Guliana and Rahra have been declared as hypersensitive and Serdha, Karora, Pai, Bakal, Kakot and Deoban have been declared sensitive. Mr Malik said that in Kalayat, Simla, Kole Khan, Kurar, Kharak Pandva Sajuma, BattaKalayat, Ram Garh Pandva and Dhakal have been declared hypersensitive and Balu, Matour, Kailram, Nand Singh Wala, Sanghan, Barsikri Kalan, Hari Pura, Sinad, Dubbal and Dhundwa as sensitive . |
|
|
Places earmarked for hoardings, posters
Panchkula, January 4 Besides, political parties have also been allowed to display their posters near bus stands, grain markets, sewing centres etc. Meanwhile, a meeting of various political parties was chaired by the Deputy Commissioner today, wherein she appealed to the representatives of various parties to go by the rule book for displaying election-related material. Representatives from the Congress, BSP, BJP, CPI and the CPM participated in the meeting. The representatives were told that they could not paste any poster on private buildings, and they can put up their stalls at a distance of over 200m from a polling booth on the election day. The DC also informed the representatives about the directives issued by the Election Commission of India.
|
|
|
HUDA cancels auctions, draw of lots
Panchkula, January 4 Well placed sources in HUDA inform that the draw of lots for residential plots in Sector 18 and 15 of Jagadhri have been put on hold in the wake of the model code of conduct for the general elections being in force. This means that the draw of lots which has already been delayed by four months, has been further delayed till March — till the time the election process in the state is complete. It may be noted that over 2,000 applicants have invested Rs 10.103 crore with HUDA for allotment of residential plots in Sector 18 and 15 at Jagadhri. However, 11 months after the housing scheme was floated, HUDA has failed to hold the draw of lots. The money, deposited as a fixed deposit in a bank, is getting HUDA a collective monthly interest of around Rs 6. 30 lakh (Rs 75. 68 lakh is the collective annual interest), or a daily interest of over Rs 21,000. Till date HUDA has netted a profit of Rs 69 lakh as interest on the earnest money deposited by applicants. The applicants are now crying fowl and demanding that HUDA pay the interest amount to them on the earnest money deposited with the authority for the past almost eleven months. The scheme for the two sectors in Jagadhri was floated by HUDA on February 12, 2004. As many as 18 residential plots in Sector 18, and 35 plots in Sector 15 were offered under this housing scheme, and 1161 applications have been received by HUDA for plots (of size 10 marla, six marla and four marla) in Sector 18, and 1014 applications have been received for plots (of size 1 kanal, 14 marla, 10 marla and six marla) in Sector 15. The draw of lots was initially delayed because the number of applications from the oustees for the 10-marla plots in Sector 18 was the same as the total number of plots on offer. The authorities could not hold the draw as no plot was available for applicants in the general category. Since HUDA has two reserve plots (of 10 marlas) available in Sector 18, Jagadhri, the authorities later decided to include these plots in the draw so that the 887 applicants in the general category could vie for the two plots. A decision in this regard was formally taken by the officials last month, and January 10 was fixed as a date for holding the draw. However, with the Election Commission announcing Vidhan Sabha elections in the state, and model code of conduct in force, the draw of lots now stands delayed till March. Other than this, HUDA had also decided to hold the auction of almost 100 commercial sites in various sectors of Panchkula in January. This auction, too, stands delayed till the time the election process is complete. Meanwhile, thousands of applicants who had applied for residential plots in Sector 57 of Gurgaon, have said that even after two months since the draw of lots was held, they have not been given their refund. Almost 1.77 lakh people had applied for the plots in Gurgaon, and an earnest money to the tune of Rs 1300 crore was collected. The draw of lots was held in November — almost nine months after the housing scheme was floated. The draw was delayed because HUDA authorities realised that large chunks of land they had earmarked for carving these plots had been released to private colonisers, and only 1300 plots were available from the 2953 plots they had advertised for. Ms Shakuntla Singla, a resident of Chandigarh, said that the delay in refunding the money was a breach of trust, as HUDA had itself taken over Rs 40 crore as interest on the earnest money, but was not ready to pay the interest to the applicants. “Only 50 per cent of the applicants have so far received the refund,” she alleged. |
|
No halt for nine express trains at Jagadhri
Yamunanagar, January 4 Industrialists too are facing problems in sending finished goods to other parts states because they could do the same only in passenger trains or Jodhpur – Haridwar Express. As per the rationalisation policy of the Railways (which came in force in last March), goods could be booked only in those express (or mail) trains, which have a stoppage of more than four minutes. None of the, express trains stop here for more than two minutes. The twin towns of Jagadhri and Yamunanagar are known for metal, plywood and paper industries. The industrialists or traders are forced to book their goods up to Delhi, Sharanpur, Meerut or Ambala in passenger trains. As per sources in the Railway Department, the revenue too has fallen sharply to about Rs 1.25 lakh from the earlier average of Rs 6 lakh a month. “The transportation via road is very costly as compared to the railways. For long distance bookings, the traders send their goods to Sharnapur or Ambala either by the passenger trains or road”, Mr Sunder Lal Batra, president, of the Jagadhri Metal Manufacturers Association, said. The traders complained that in the absence of proper sheds at the railway stations the goods get damaged in adverse weather conditions. Most of the migrant labourers working in various plywood and metal industries belong to Dewaria, Gorakhpur, Siwan, Darbhanga, Purnia, Betia, Motihari, Muzafarpur, Gaya, Patna, Varanasi, Johnpur, Bardwan, New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri. Besides thousands of labourers come to the area during the harvest season. Only 13 of the mail\express trains crossing from here stop at the station. According to the sources, everyday over 7,000 people, (including 1,000 commuters), board different trains from the station. The trains, which do not halt at the station, are: 3073\3074 – Himgiri Express – Hawarah – Jammu Tawi; 5087\5088 – Amarnath Express – Gorakhpur – Jammu Tawi; 5097 \ 5098 – Amarnath Express – Barouni – Jammu Tawi; 5651\5652 – Lohit Express – Guwahati – Jammu Tawi; 5653\5654 – Lohit Express – Dibrugarh – Jammu Tawi; 2317\2318 – Akaltakht Express – Sialdha – Amritsar; 4609\4610 – Hemkund Express – Haridwar – Jammu Tawi; 8103\8104 – Jalianwala Bagh Express – Tata – Amritsar; 3289\3290 – Archna Express – Patna – Jammu Tawi; 5933\5934 – Guwahati Express – Dibrugarh – Amritsar. |
|
Police clueless on housewife’s murder
Panipat, January 4 Shakuntala was murdered at her house on December 24 when she was alone. Her husband Sonpal, working as a technician in the thermal station was on duty and her four children had gone to their respective schools and colleges. She was murdered between 10.30 am and 12.30 pm. Her husband had left the house at 10.30. He had returned after two hours when he found her blood-stained body lying in the house. Some old newspapers were found scattered in the room. This indicated that she might have called some junk dealer to her house, who reportedly killed her in order to steal gold and cash, Sonpal said. He added that gold jewellery and cash was found missing from the house. She was hit thrice on her head. Most of their
neighbours did not see the killer as most of them were inside their houses there being dense fog on that day. When contacted, the Panipat SP, Ms Suman Manjri, said that the police was preparing a list of junk dealers of the area. Following this, those junk dealers who had a criminal background, would be questioned. Ms Manjri said that the murder was being investigated by three officers simultaneously by the SHO Matloda, the DSP HQ and the in charge CIA Staff. |
|
Youth Cong leader killed in mishap
Yamunanagar, January 4 Saini, whose name was reportedly shortlisted for the Jagadhri Assembly seat, was returning home after visiting his guru at Jammu when the accident took place. Several Congress leaders, including the working president of the HPCC, Mr Randeep Surjewala, expressed shock at the death of Saini. He was 39. As per information available, Subhash Saini and Dr Saini were returning home in a hired Tata Sumo when the vehicle collided with a stationery vehicle near Rajpura bypass. Subhash Saini and the driver, Baldev, reportedly died on the spot. Subhash Saini is survived by his wife and two children. His wife, Kiran Bala, is sarpanch of Mustfabad village. |
|
Goods looted from factory
Sonepat, January 4
All the injured security guards were rushed to the Community Health Centre at Bad Khalsa village for treatment. They were stated to be out of danger.
The police has registered a case after recording their statements. However, no arrest has been made in this connection. The injured security guards were identified as Mr Azad Singh of Mahra village, Mr Raj Kumar of Mehlana village, Mr Rajinder Singh of Nangal Kalan village and Manoj of Bad Khalsa village. The security guards told the police that they were tied with a rope and kept at a deserted place behind the factory. One of the miscreants contacted his accomplice’s on the mobile phone. Thereupon they brought a vehicle there and loaded all the goods in it and escaped after threatening them with dire consequences if they raised the alarm. |
|
|
VHP deadline on uniform civil code
Hisar, January 4 It said India should be declared a Hindu nation, adding that a check on the increasing Muslim population in the country was also needed. Stating this here today, VHP state secretary Vijay Sharma warned that if the government failed to take effective steps in the given time, the VHP would exhort the Hindus to have more children. Mr Sharma said it had been decided to honour the Hindu women having eight children if the government failed to address the issue. |
|
|
Woman killed in road mishap
Kaithal, January 4 The driver lost control over the vehicle when he tried to avoid collision with a rickshaw and a four-wheeler coming from opposite direction. Rukmani succumbed to her injuries on the way to hospital. While some women were admitted to hospital some others with minor injuries were discharged after first aid. |
|
|
Karnal schools to remain closed till Jan 8
Karnal, January 4 In an order under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, issued yesterday the DM ordered that all schools — Central schools, convent schools, schools affiliated to CBSE/HSEB, other recognised schools, ITI’s and other vocational institutes would not function from January 4 to January 8. |
|
One-day salary as relief
Chandigarh, January 4 |
|
Gopi Chand Gehlot resigns
Chandigarh, January 4
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
