The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	CM pampering Muslims: BJP Tribune News Service Rohtak, April 27 Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party, chief Ganeshi Lal today accused Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of pandering the Muslim community in the Mewat district at the cost of other communities. Addressing a press conference here, he said by creating a separate district for Muslims the government had helped Pakistan’s ISI to establish a base there for creating disturbances in Haryana. He said more than 70 per cent of the households there had acquired illicit firearms and Hindu families were migrating to other areas considered safer for them. Warning that unless immediate action was taken, Haryana would become another Bihar, he said his party would call on the Haryana Governor to apprise him of the situation. The BJP leader said the Butana Canal project initiated by the Hooda government was a ticklish issue taken up without proper appraisal and homework. He said the farmers were not taken into confidence and the related inter-state issues were not addressed by the government. He also accused the UPA government at the Centre of creating a 1947-like situation in the country by appeasing the Muslims. He said the violent protests in India in the aftermath of the cartoon controversy in Denmark were indicative of the changing face of the community in the country. Mr Ganeshi Lal said it appeared the country was “without a Prime Minister” since the PMO and the ministers were working at cross-purposes. Citing an instance, he said while the Prime Minister had declared that wheat imports were unnecessary, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had sanctioned huge imports of wheat. Likewise, he said Union Ministers, Mr Kapil Sibal and Mr Kamalnath, had publicly opposed Mr Arjun Singh’s plans for further reservations in premier educational institutions. He said such issues had made the Manmohan Singh government “visionless”.
	Inside Babudom Will Chief Secretary get extension? Shubhadeep Choudhury Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 27 The question whether the Chief Secretary, Ms Meenaxi Anand Chaudhry, will get an extension in service or not is haunting the bureaucracy in Haryana. According to one school of thought, the story will reach its climax tomorrow. Ms Chaudhry is slated to retire on April 30. But April 30 is Sunday and as Saturday,too, is a holiday in Haryana, it is believed that Ms Chaudhry will have to relinquish charge tomorrow if she fails to get an extension. Others say there will not be any hassle even if Ms Chaudhry quits on Sunday. The all-important communication from the Centre regarding the state government's request for her extension will have to come on or before April 30, they say. The issue of giving extension to the Chief Secretary entails the involvement of the Cabinet Secretary, the Union Home Minister and the Prime Minister. However, it is the Prime Minister, who also heads the Personnel Ministry, who is in a position to give extension to Ms Chaudhry. A source said the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today spoke to the Prime Minister and requested him to consider giving extension to Ms Chaudhry. Earlier, Mr Hooda said the government had recommended extension to Ms Chaudhry because “she was a good officer”. The Chief Minister, however, played down the government proposal and said that her extension had been sought for a “very small duration only” . The state government had last month written to the Central Government urging that Ms Chaudhry should be given six months' extension in service. While Mr Hooda is playing down the proposed extension to Ms Chaudhry, the other contenders for the post do not think that giving her extension for six months is a small thing. Ms Chaudhry, the first woman Chief Secretary of Haryana, recently played an important role in defusing the crisis arising out of the withdrawal of the free bus travel facility to police personnel.
	HAU security officer shifted Tribune News Service Hisar, April 27 The Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) authorities have shifted security officer Balbir Sihag to Ramdhan Singh Seed Farm of the university. This was stated by the HAU Registrar, Dr M.S.Kuhad, here yesterday. The decision has been taken following the recent attack on an HAU professor, Dr S.S.Bisla, at his residence on the university campus. Dr Bisla was shot at and injured by two unidentified youths who came in a Bolero car. The HAU Teachers Association, the Non-Teaching Employees Association and students staged a dharna in front of the administrative block to register their protest against the attack. The Vice-Chancellor, Dr J.C.Katyal, said security at the university would be tightened. “The security patterns adopted by various universities will be studied and a suitable and effective arrangement put into place on the HAU campus,” he maintained, adding that a committee had been formed for the purpose.
	Kidwai’s call to NGOs on special children Tribune News Service Sirsa, April 27 Haryana Governor Dr A.R. Kidwai has stated with economic growth rate of 8.6 per cent, the state was on the top in the country. The nation’s growth rate was 8 per cent, he said, adding if growth continued, no educated person would be unemployed in the country by 2010. Dr Kidwai was addressing students, faculty and officials of Chaudhary Devi Lal University here after inaugurating girls’ hostel built in memory of Kalpana Chawla today. The hostel has been constructed at cost of Rs 2 crore. The Governor, who is also Chancellor of the university, gave away prizes to 28 toppers and released first issue of “Expression” — university magazine. Addressing the gathering, Dr Kidwai observed that if we utilised our manpower and other resources in a judicious way, the country would emerge as a powerful global economy. The Chancellor also discussed problems of different departments with their representatives and assured them effective steps before the beginning of the new session. Earlier, university’s Vice-Chancellor and Hisar Division’s Commissioner, R.R. Fuliya welcomed the Governor. Deputy Commissioner Vimal Chandra, Senior Superintendent of Police, Sultan Singh, and Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Registrar of the university, Pankaj Yadav, were also present. The Governor also visited the R.K.J. Welfare Centre for hearing and speech impaired children and distributed fruits among children. Dr Kidwai said the NGOs play significant role in the rehabilitation of challenged children.
	PGIMS students hold protest Tribune News Service Rohtak, April 27 Students of the local Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) today held a demonstration against the proposal for reservation of seats for postgraduate courses. They handed over a memorandum against the proposal to Deputy Commissioner R.S. Doon. The protesters raised slogans against Human Resource Minister Arjun Singh and described the move as politically motivated.
	Eve-teasers protest against rustication Tribune News Service Hisar, April 27 In a glaring instance of rising indiscipline and tendency to protest for undue demands, some students of Guru Jambheshwar University (GJU) here staged a dharna today. The protesters were demanding reinstatement of the four students who had been rusticated by the university authorities for misbehaving with girl students and beating up other students and a lecturer. The students of the Department of Applied Psychology had organised a fresher party on February 23. Anurag, Rakesh, Yogesh and Mudit, all students of B.Tech printing technology, forcibly entered into the party and started misbehaving with the girl students. Students of applied psychology objected to this. However, the four engineering students, who were allegedly in an inebriated condition, attacked the host department students. An Applied Psychology lecturer, Mr Rakesh Behmani, who tried to stop them from doing so, was also beaten up. The matter was referred to the proctorial board of the university. The board found the four engineering students guilty and rusticated them from the university for two years. The rusticated students requested the university authorities to withdraw the punishment. Following this, the board reduced the period of rustication to one year. However, the students, with the help of some anti-social elements, today went on the rampage and damaged university property. They also staged a dharna in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office and raised slogans against the university administration. The GJU Vice-Chancellor, Dr R.P. Bajpai, met the students and assured them that a positive approach would be adopted regarding the matter. In view of the volatile situation, the police had also been called on the university campus to prevent the occurrence of any untoward incident.
	Road contractors’ main demand met Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 27 Conceding a major demand of road contractors, the Haryana Government has decided that in all the future contracts, they will be compensated if the prices of bitumen and emulsion are increased by the petroleum companies. The contactors, who recently formed an association, Haryana Hot Mix Plant Association under the presidentship of Mr K.C. Gupta of Panchkula, had been demanding that in view of frequent and unprecedented hike in the prices of bitumen, emulsion and other raw material like cement and steel, in the past few months, they should be duly compensated. A similar demand was made in Punjab, which had accepted it as far as bitumen and emulsion is concerned. However, their demand for compensation for the increase in the prices of cement and steel still remain unresolved. The price of bitumen, which was over Rs 10,000(exclusive of taxes) per tonne about three months ago, has now crossed Rs 15,000 per tonne. This has badly affected the road construction. A spokesman of the PWD said here today that the decision had been taken because the frequent price rise had created uncertain conditions for the contractors. Now the rate of bitumen and emulsion at the refinery-head on the date of the receipt of the tender would be considered as the base rate. During the execution of the works, if the rate of bitumen or emulsion increased or decreased at the refinery-head, the difference in the cost would be adjusted on the production of original bills issued by approved refineries by the contractors. However, this facility would be available only during the original time schedule for completing the work.
	Woman Police Inspector attacked Our Correspondent Sonepat, April 27 Police Inspector, Sushila Rana had a narrow escape when she was attacked by five armed gangsters at her residence here on Mission Road last evening. One of the gangsters, identified as Satish, was overpowered and caught by a group of persons who had assembled after hearing the shrieks of the Inspector. Ms Shushila Rana, who is the Station House Officer at Panipat, was alone in her house when five armed persons in a car reached her house. Presuming that they might be known to her husband, Kulbhushan Rana, asked them to sit inside the house. However, they started abusing her husband, who was not in the house at that time. Three of them took out revolvers, while two of them allegedly tried to overpower her. However, she managed to escape and raised an alarm after coming out of the house. The police have recovered a loaded pistol and cartridges from the arrested gangster.
	Assailant surrenders HISAR: Mahavir, a son of Ram Mehar of Rohad village in Rohtak district, today surrendered in the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sukarm Pal, here today. The court remanded Mahavir in judicial custody. According to police sources, a police remand would be sought for him tomorrow. — TNS
	XEN held for graft Sonepat, April 27 Anand Kumar Jangra, Executive Engineer (XEN) in the Irrigation Department at Gohana, was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a farmer and Congress leader, Mahender Singh Malik of Bhainswal Kalan village by a Vigilance team last evening in his office after working hours. He was arrested after a case was registered against him. Mr Malik lodged a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner, alleging that the XEN was demanding a bribe for installing pipes in his fields to dewater rain water. On the directions of the DC, Ms Neerja Shekhar, a Vigilance team, headed by the SDM Gohana, was formed to conduct a raid. After office hours at around 6 p.m., Mr Malik, as per the plan, handed over Rs 10,000 to the XEN in his office and after receiving a signal from Mr Malik, the team raided the place and recovered the amount. — OC
	Man kills father Rewari, April 27 A 70-year-old farmer, Mohan Lal Yadav, was allegedly strangled to death by his son at Nimoth village, 28 km from here, in the early hours on Tuesday. The accused, Ranbir Singh Yadav, later sprinkled kerosene on his father and set him on fire in a bid to cover up the heinous act. It is stated that a heated altercation between the accused and his father followed after the latter decided to dispossess the son from his land. This infuriated the son to such an extent that he resorted to the most abominable act after which he left the house immediately. On a complaint made by a neighbour, Om Prakash Yadav, the police has registered a case of murder and destruction of evidence of offence against the accused, who is reportedly absconding. — OC
	Central university status sought for MDU Tribune News Service Rohtak, April 27 The executive council of Maharshi Dayanand University today passed a resolution seeking central university status for the varsity. The Vice-Chancellor, Dr R.S. Dhankar, said the council decided to refer the issue to the Haryana Government for further action Notably, on assuming office last year, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had stated that he would seek central university status for the MDU. Thereafter, the government had made its intentions in this regard known when the matter was included in the Governor’s address to the Vidhan Sabha last year. The MDU resolution today clears the decks for its upgrdation as a central varsity.
	SAD leaders to meet PM on gurdwara panel Tribune News Service Karnal, April 27 Issuing warning to Hooda-led Congress government against any attempt to create separate gurdwara management committee, SGPC senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk said a delegation of the SAD, headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, would again meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Talking to The Tribune, Karnal-based Mr Virk, also a SAD leader, said the party delegation had already met the Prime Minister last year to ask the Haryana Government not to interfere in the religious affairs of the Sikhs. The first senior vice-president of the SGPC from Haryana, Mr Virk said the date for the next meeting was not finalised yet. The delegation would remind Dr Manmohan Singh about the pact between late Jawahar Lal Nehru and late Tara Singh in April 1959. He said the Hooda government was trying to violate the pact, which said no new gurdwara management committee would be set up without the approval of the SGPC. It may be recalled that the Congress had stated in its manifesto, issued during the last Assembly elections in Haryana, that if came to power it would create separate gurdwara committee. Reacting sharply against the officer-bearers of the ad hoc HSGPC, Mr Virk said they were misleading the Sikhs of the state. Mr Virk said the Miri Piri Institute of Medical Sciences, inaugurated by Mr Badal at Shahbad in Kurukshetra district recently, was the biggest project of the SGPC. As much as Rs 113 crore was being spent on the project and the 300-bedded hospital would be developed on the lines of AIIMS in phased manner, he added. In reply to a question, he termed the allegation of the HSGPC office-bearers baseless that the project was cleared after demand of separate committee by them. Mr Virk said the project had been cleared in 1993 itself when there was no such demand. At the same time, he said the completion of the project was delayed as the SGPC got lease deed of the land in 2000. He further said income from seven historical gurdwaras of Haryana was Rs 90 lakh per annum, whereas the SGPC was spending crores for the gurdwaras and other institutions in the state.
	Somvir Singh clarifies Chandigarh, April 27 Mr Somvir Singh, MLA and a son-in-law of the former Chief Minister, the late Mr Bansi Lal, has denied that his statement before a Delhi Magistrate suggested that he wanted to grab the property of the late Mr Surender Singh, a former Haryana Minister. In a statement issued here today Mr Somvir Singh said nowhere in the statement he claimed the ownership of the house(9/5, Sarvpriya Vihar, Delhi) under dispute. He and his certain family members had only demanded its possession, that too because their valuables were inside it. He said without possession of the house, they could not take out their valuables. He said the statement had been signed, among others, by Mrs Vidya Devi, widow of Mr Bansi Lal, also, who inherited one-third share in Mr Surender Singh’s property. “If it had been our intention to grab Mr Surender Singh’s property, Mrs Vidya Devi, who has willed her share to Ms Shruti, her grand-daughter, can change her will anytime,” he added. — TNS
	Meeting on HC for Haryana Yoginder Gupta Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 27 Things have started moving in the direction of setting up a separate high court for Haryana, one of the favourite projects of the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The Haryana Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution last year demanding a separate high court for the state at Chandigarh. A similar resolution was passed by the Assembly when the Chautala Government was in power. But it was turned down by the then NDA-led Central Government. According to informed sources, the Union Law Ministry has decided to send a team of senior officers to Chandigarh to discuss the issue with the Haryana Government. The team led by the Additional Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Ravi Kamal Bhargava, will come here on May 2. He will be accompanied by the Joint Secretary in the ministry.
	Road row: vigilance team takes samples Tribune News Service Ambala, April 27 A vigilance team today collected samples of different roads in Ambala Cantt following complaints from Municipal Councillors of Ambala Sadar. A section of councillors had alleged that substandard material was used in construction of roads. Councillor Omkar Nathi said the vigilance team, which collected samples of the road, were accompanied by one X.EN and two JEs. The team collected samples from Alexander Road, Kabadi Bazar, near Phoenix Club, cement road in ward no.9 near Bhagwati Mandir and Babyal road in ward no. 10. Municipal Council Ambala Sadar president Neelam Sharma said some councillors had complained of substandard material being used for construction of roads. She said she had already given in writing that contractors would be reimbursed their money only after it was ascertained that the work had been carried out as per the requisite standard. She said written orders had been forwarded to the EO stating that technical persons must ensure that proper quality of work was done. Incidentally, Ambala Cantt MLA DK Bansal had formed a team comprising Omkar Nathi, Vikas Bhateja, Harsh Ratra, Satish Saini, Kamal Jain, Umesh Sahni, Gagan Dang, Virender Gandhi and Babu Kanojia. The team had collected samples from different spots and they had opined that the work was not up to the standard. Some Municipal Councillors had even offered to tender their resignation over the matter. They had submitted their resignation letter to the D.K. Bansal. They had said inquiry should be conducted into the development works which had been carried out under Neelam Sharma. They had stated that if there was no improvement in the quality of work, then their resignation letters should be accepted.
	One held for cheating Tribune News Service Ambala, April 27 One person has been nabbed after it was found that he was cheating a housewife by claiming that her gold ornaments were being polished. The incident took place in Subhash Colony. Sangeeta was approached by three youths who claimed that they could polish her gold ornaments. She handed over her ornaments to them. In the meantime, hHer husband, Ramesh, returned home to find them polishing the gold ornaments. The ornaments weighed 49 grams and when Ramesh weighed it again, it was found that these were seven grams less. Two youths managed to run away but the third youth, Subodh of Bihar, had been nabbed.
	Mill manager held, arms recovered Tribune News Service Ambala, April 27 Shahzadpur Sugar Mill general manager Hem Raj was arrested today. A cache of arms and ammunition was seized from him. Ambala SP Amitabh Dhillon said Hem Raj was arrested following an FIR registered against him by sugar mill owner B.S. Kang. Mr Dhillon said six weapons and a large number of live cartridges were seized from his possession. “Hem Raj is being questioned in this regard,” he said. A sum of Rs 24.79 lakh was also seized from his residence. His residence is located on the mill complex. The police has recovered a single-barrel gun, two .315 bore rifle, a .32 bore revolver, a .25 bore pistol and a double-barrel gun. Around 1,200 cartridges were also seized. Mill owner B.S. Kang has complained to the police that Hem Raj had allegedly forged his signatures and clandestinely operated a bank account. He said Hem Raj had withdrawn cash from the account. Mr Kang has also claimed that trees on the mill complex were cut and sold off for Rs 9 lakh. An FIR was registered under Sections 406, 420, 468 and 471 of the IPC.