Rohtak, October 8
The Union government’s vision to make public places free of smoking has failed to see the light of the day at least in the district, one year after the regulation of the Act, which had come into effect on October 2 last year. The Act imposes a fine of Rs 200 in case of violation at public places. However, no violation on official basis or imposition of fine on anyone has been reported in the district in the first year of the ban. The menace of smoking at public places is going unchecked without any legal action.

“Smoking is illegal, I have heard this for the first time,” quipped a middle-aged person, who was spotted smoking at the local bus stand by a local resident, Manoj Kumar, recently. When told that he could be fined, he replied that this way they would stop our social interaction.

This is not an isolated example of smoking at public places. “Many such incidents take place at every spot virtually everywhere in the city or villages of Haryana, where smoking had been a strong habit and the awareness level and protest against smoking in public had been very low,” claims Dr SL Verma, a physician here. The act regarding the ban seems to have gone unnoticed or up in smoke, claimed Verma. The experts contend that effect on a non-smoker inhaling fumes or the smoke while in company of a smoker could be equally dangerous to his or her health.

While the public places mentioned in the notification of the government regarding the ban include auditorium, hospital buildings, amusement centres, restaurants, judicial complexes, educational institutions, libraries, railway stations, bus stops, shopping malls, offices, cinema halls, refreshment rooms, discotheques, coffee houses, pub , bar, airport lounge etc, it is revealed that smoking is still rampant at many such places. Buts of ‘beeris’ and cigarettes can be seen lying in corridors and premises of the PGIMS hospital here. None of the violators have been punished so far, claimed an employee of the hospital requesting anonymity.

“People smoke freely at the all election meetings held in the rural and urban areas without having any inkling of the ban or about the inconvenience faced by the non-smokers,” said Raj Singh, a political activist. “Around 50 per cent drivers and conductors of the buses of the Haryana Roadways violate or flout the ban inscribed in the bus itself, making other smokers to follow the suit, claimed Pawan Bansal, a social activist here. The government has still to come out with special enclosures for the smokers,” he added.

Jhajjar, October 8
The Rohtak range police has recently felicitated two middle-aged women belonging to the Schedule Caste (SC) with cash reward and certificates, who had set an example of humanity in this materialistic world.

Both women had unsuccessfully tried to protect the life of a minor rape victim who was burnt alive by the accused with the help of his mother in her house. The women not only rushed the victim to the PGIMS, but also informed the police and her family members about the incident.

V. Kamaraja, IGP, Rohtak Range, said though the life of the victim could not be saved, the spirit of humanity shown by the women was a lesson for public, especially for all those who were present on the spot when the victim was crying for help but they did not come forward to help her.

Narrating the incident, the IGP said a youth, Sonu, allegedly raped a minor girl living in his neighbourhood at Tej Colony in Rohtak a few days ago after calling her to his house. After perpetrating the crime, he, along with his mother, went to the victim’s house and burnt her alive with an intention to remove the evidence.

After setting her on fire, the duo fled from the spot leaving the victim screaming in pain. The girl was crying for help so high that her voice could be heard at a fairly long distance. Consequently, a large number of people of the nearby areas gathered on the spot, but no one dared to go close and help her, said Kamaraja.

Thereafter, two women - Kanta and Kailash Devi - of the same locality came out from their houses and put a blanket on her for quenching the flames. They also rushed her to the PGIMS, Rohtak, and then informed the police and her parents who had gone to sell balloons and toys at a fair organised near Khanpur village in Sonepat district at the time of the incident.

Although the women could not protect the life of the victim, they succeeded in getting her statement recorded to the police before her death. Her statement not only disclosed the occurrence of the incident, but also provided an ample support to the police for lodging an FIR against the accused and his accomplice mother, the IGP maintained.

“I was in my house when the victim was screaming in pain. I immediately rushed to the spot but was shocked to see that a large number of people were witnessing the tragic scene. No one dared to help her. Then, I and Kailash brought a blanket from the victim’s house and covered it around the girl’s body for extinguishing the flames. After blowing out the flames, we hired a rickshaw and took her to the PGIMS where she died after some time,” said Kanta.

“On seeing the victim ablaze, once I got afraid, but I somehow went ahead to help the girl. I did my best to save her life, but unfortunately could not do so,” said Kailash while recollecting the incident.

Ambala , October 8
Students of various educational institutions and their parents are panicky these days as another student has died of swine flu. A sudden increase in the number of confirmed swine flu cases is also a cause of worry for the parents. The deputy commissioner has asked all government and private schools in the district remain close till October 13.

A 12-year-old student of Chaman Vatika Public School, Ambala City, recently died of swine flu at a private nursing home in Chandigarh. It is said the child died due to a delay in diagnosing the disease. Further, five more students of this school were tested positive.

A student of MM Medical College in Mulana, who is son of a doctor, has also been tested positive while another student of the college is reported to be suffering from swine flu-like symptoms. The college administration has closed all institutions of MM University till October 18. An infant who recently returned from a foreign trip, has also been tested positive.

Taking note of a rise in the number of patients, the health department has directed all civil hospitals in the state to make special arrangements to deal with the suspected swine flu patients. Only after the death of a student in Ambala, the administration took the matter seriously.

There are no arrangements of swine flu test at the civil hospital here and the doctors are sending swab samples of suspected patients to PGI which takes about two to three days for getting the reports.

Deputy commissioner Samir Pal Saro has directed the district education officer to medically examine students of all schools, especially the boarding schools. He has also directed the Ambala health authorities to open special isolated wards.

Ambala, October 8
District Unit of the Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) is hoping that these elections will bring a government that will address their long pending demand of abolishing VAT.

With the recession having affected the industry they are worried that the new government will bring more bad news in the form of implementation of VAT on all stock still lying in the units as on March 31.

“Earlier we were paying VAT on products sold, now the government has a proposal to charge VAT on the stock lying in the unit. This proposal got stalled due to the elections, we are however, worried that it will be implemented soon,” informs MS Tandan chairman, HCCI, Ambala.

The members of this unit, who are mostly into manufacturing scientific instruments, feel let down by the state government. “Which city gives its state a turnover of over Rs 300 crore annually?,” they question. The city boasts of around 1,000 units manufacturing scientific instruments, while around 100 units are large scale, 350 are small scale and the rest micro.

“We export around the world yet we have to pay VAT tax. Also, our neighbouring states like Delhi, UP don’t pay it,” states Anil Jain a well-known manufacturer of the region.

The units manufacture mostly scientific instruments like microscopes, optical instruments, mechanical appliances, engineering structures, etc, which are sold to schools, colleges and also to distributors, who further, sell it. These are also exported abroad.

The members allege that because of this reason a large number of buyers purchase instruments from them without a bill. “Our end product turns out to be more expensive,” informs Tandan.

In Ambala because of VAT the product becomes more expensive. The members in a bid to have their issues addressed even tried to organise an interaction with the contesting MLA’s but they were let down, with only two MLA’s turning up for the event. They are hopeful that the new government will not let them down.

The district unit also sought for upgrading a common facility centre which was started in 1980 under the United Nation Development Program. The centre helped in standardisation of the product. “These centres are not revenue earners, they assist the industry, maybe that is why the government has not upgraded it,” states Anil Jain.

Gurgaon, October 8
The Assembly elections, campaigning for which is in full swing, is going to be a litmus test for many political forces in the state.

While it’s a virtual battle of survival for the INLD and the HJC (BL), Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is also facing multifarious challenges at different levels.

The first and the foremost challenge for the Hooda camp is to repeat the excellent performance of the last elections to the state Assembly.

However, according to psephologists, it is not going to be an easy task for Hooda as last time, it was the anti-incumbency sentiment which made the voters go in for an aggressive voting against the Chautala regime.

This time, there is no such wave in favour of or against any given party, due to which coming back to power with a thumping majority would not be that simple for the Congress.

Then, apart from reclaiming the reins of power, retaining the CM’s post would also be an uphill task for Hooda, given the rampant factionalism in his party.

While Congress leaders like Birender Singh openly express their desire to become the Chief Minister, there are several others who have been nurturing the same ambition, albeit discreetly.

Needless to say, these leaders will go all out to realise their top-slot dream in case the Congress attains a majority in the Assembly.

Sensing the gravity of the situation for them in the event of the Congress coming back to power, the opposition parties, especially the INLD, are leaving no stone unturned to stage an emphatic comeback.

Nonetheless, the failure of the state opposition in forging a viable pre-poll alliance or effectively taking up issues of public interest can give some solace to Hooda and company.

Even the voters who are not much satisfied with the performance of the Hooda regime have limited options, especially if they want to come out of the Congress-INLD government cycle.

Rewari, October 8
There are nine candidates in the poll fray in Bawal, a reserved constituency of Rewari district, including Shakuntala Bhagwaria (Cong), Rameshwar Dayal (INLD), Jawahar Lal (BJP), Zile Singh (BSP), Sanjay Singh (HJC) and four others.

The above candidates are now in the thick of their election campaigns. However, a battle royal is fast emerging between Congress nominee Shakuntala Bhagwaria and her old rival, Rameshwar Dayal, of the INLD in Bawal.

Bhagwaria, a seasoned poll fighter who had won from Bawal four times in 1977, 1982, 1991 and 2005, is contesting the elections for the eighth time in a row.

Last time in 2005, when she was denied the ticket by the Congress high command, she contested the poll as an Independent candidate and came out victorious braving heavy odds. By successfully managing to secure the congress party ticked this time, she seems to have won the first round of the electoral battle, which is going to be a tougher one.

Her old rival, Rameshwar Dayal (INLD), too, is a combatant of several electoral encounters.

Since Rao Ajit Singh, a scion of Rampura House (a prestigious political house of the Ahirwal region) is now state vice president of the INLD, Rameshwar Dayal of the INLD is now an innate recipient of the enormous clout which Rampura House wields in the Bawal segment. To be precise, Rampura House exercises a lot of sway over the 45000 Ahir voters whose tacit support can tilt the balance in favour of its recipient.

It is noteworthy that in the 2005 assembly elections, Rao Ajit Singh had openly supported Bhagwaria, who had won even as an Independent candidate. But this time the situation has completely reversed and Rameshwar now stands to gain from the clout wielded by Rampura House.

Secondly, last time the Jat voters, who number about 28000, too had by and large voted for Bhagwaria. But this time while INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala was making all-out efforts to seek their massive support for his nominee, Rameshwar, the Jats seemed to be lukewarm towards Bhagwaria.

However, while the noticeable clout which Bhagwaria wields over women in particular and other male voters in general, is expected to be of substantial help to her, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda also brought cheer to her election campaign by addressing a largely attended election meeting at the New Anaj Mandi in Bawal on October 5.

Reports pouring in from various quarters of the constituency suggest that a neck-and- neck fight has now developed between Bhagwaria and Rameshwar and there is every likelihood of the Bawal seat going either way.

Samalkha (Panipat), October 8
Will Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s Samalkha visit on October 10 help in changing voters’ preference in Samalkha? This is the question which is doing the rounds in the political circles of this constituency, which is all set to witness a four-cornered contest between Congress’ Sanjay Chhokar, INLD’s Manoj Jorasi, HJC’s Dharam Singh Chhokar and BJP’s Anju Chhokar.

With none of the parties having a consolidated vote bank in this constituency, it is expected to unfold surprises for many in the upcoming elections.

Going by the records, the Congress has won this seat four times in 1968 (Kartar Singh), 1972 (Hari Singh), 1982 (Kartar Singh) and in 2005 (Bharat Singh), while the INLD bagged this seat only once in 2000 when Kartar Singh Badana contested on its ticket. According to political observers, contestants from Samalkha had made it to the state Assembly on their own as people do not vote for parties but individuals here.

This time, Manoj Jorasi and Dharam Singh Chhokar are riding the popularity charts. Sanjay Chhokar is expecting that Rahul’s visit would spin wheels in his favour. Whether Rahul will be able to charm the voters or not, it remains to be seen.

BJP candidate Anju Chhokar is struggling to overcome her turncoat image as she had quickly switched over parties in the recent past. After spending quite some time in the Congress, she joined the HJC, abandoning which she bagged the BJP ticket.

Former Rajya Sabha member Hari Singh Nalwa, who had represented this constituency after the 1972 and 1991 elections, is also in the fray from here. However, the age factor is not in his favour. Manmohan Bhadana is also contesting the elections on a BSP ticket and is hoping to cash on the newfound voters of the party.

There are more than 1.43 lakh voters in this constituency out of which 22,000 votes are of the Gujjar community, while 23,000 belong to the Jat community. Brahmin voters also hold a position of importance with more than 15,000 votes.

Kaithal, October 8
The pro-farmers policies of the Congress have brought smiles on the faces of farmers and helped them live with honour and dignity. This was stated by Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress candidate, while addressing a meeting during his campaign in villages of the Kaithal Assembly segment recently.

Surjewala said INLD leaders misguided the farmers not to deposit electricity bills and promised to waive the same on coming to power, leading to the accumulation of a huge amount of arrears. The INLD government never waived the bills, but the Congress government waived the bills of 2.7 lakh farmers amounting to Rs 1,600 crore. He said farmers could never forget the Kandela episode when 9 of their colleagues lost their lives in the police firing during the Chautala regime.

The Congress had launched various welfare schemes for the benefit of various sections of society. The interest on farm loans had been reduced from 15 per cent to 4 per cent. The UPA government, taking an historic decision, waived farm loans to the tune of Rs 70,000 crore which helped the farmers to come out of financial crisis. The minimum support price of farm produce had been raised. He said his father, Shamsher Singh Surjewala, had been raising his voice for the cause of farmers. During his tenure as MLA, the Kaithal area had witnessed development in all spheres. The state had seen unparalleled development during the past four-and-half years. The campaign of Randeep Surjewala got a boost when a number of INLD and BSP workers announced to join the Congress and extend their support to Congress candidate in some villages.

Kaithal, October 8
The district election officer, Kaithal, Amneet P. Kumar, has asked the magistrates on election duty in all four Assembly segments of the district to ensure strict compliance of the election code of conduct.

She also directed the heads of the police parties to intensify patrolling and deal strictly with those who violate the code of conduct.

She said it should also be ensured that no liquor was distributed to influence the voters and vehicles used by candidates carried valid permission from the ROs. Sandeep Khirwar, SSP, said special police parties headed by DSP rank officials would keep a watch on the situation in the four Assembly segments of the district. The observers, SR Umashanker in Kaithal, Dr Milind M Bhusari in Guhla, Dr A Ashok in Kalayat, Satyajeet Singh in Pundri, have asked the duty magistrates to impound the vehicles used by political parties without valid permission. The observers were asked to ensure that the voters were allowed to exercise their right to vote freely and there was no external pressure on them.

Ramesh Verma, returning officer in Pundri, Hawa Singh, returning officer in Kaithal, Baljeet Singh, returning officer in Guhla, GS Virk, returning officer in Kalayat, were also given instructions.

Sonepat, October 8
If we take into account the results of previous 10 Assembly elections held in five constituencies - Sonepat, Rai, Kharkhoda, Baroda and Gannaur - and 11 elections held in Gohana after the formation of Haryana in 1966, voters have given an edge to the Congress over the parties led by Devi Lal in different names.

Out of the 61 MLAs who represented these constituencies after the first elections to the state Assembly in 1967, people elected 21 candidates of the Congress, 17 candidates of Devi Lal, five candidates of the Janata Party, three candidates of the BJP/Jan Sangh, seven independents, three of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP), two each of the Vishal Haryana Party (VHP) and the National Congress (O) and one of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The best performance of the Congress had been in the Gohana Assembly constituency as the party candidates bagged this seat five times in 1967, 1968, 1972, 2005 and 2008. The Rai, Gannaur and Sonepat constituencies had also been represented by four times each.

The outstanding performance of Devi Lal-led parties was in the Baroda constituency where the party candidates won in 1982, 1987, 1991, 1996, 2000 and 2005. The Rai and Kharkhoda seats were also pocketed by these parties four and three times, respectively.

Interestingly, the BJP or the Jan Sangh won the Sonepat seat three times, but two wins in 1982 and 1987 were the result of the political alliance between the BJP and the Devi Lal parties.

The Gohana, Kailana and Sonepat Assembly constituencies have gone two times each in favour of Independent candidates, Ganga Ram and Kitab Singh Malik in the Gohana constituency in 1977 and 1991; Pratap Singh Tyagi and Rajinder Singh Malik in 1972 and 1982 from the Gannaur constituency and Dev Raj Devan from the Sonepat seat in 1996 and 2000.

Ram Dhari Gaur as the Congress candidate won from Gohana four consecutive times i.e in 1962, 1967, 1968 and 1972, but also lost four times from the same constituency in 1977, 1982, 1987 and 1991 as a candidate of different parties. Ramesh Khatak also registered three consecutive wins in 1991, 1996 and 2000 from the Baroda (R) constituency as an INLD candidate; but he was denied the party ticket in the 2005 elections.

Rewari, October 8
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s recent election meeting here proved a morale booster for Congress candidate Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, who is facing a number of opponents, including his two old rivals, Randhir Singh Kapriwas (BJP), Vijay Somany (BSP), in his own bastion of Rewari.

Party workers and supporters are enthusiastic over the impressive turnout at the meeting, which was held at Budana-Budani village, near here, known as the Jat-dominated belt of the Rewari segment.

Amid reports that residents of Budana-Budani, Malahera, Maheshwari and other such surrounding villages have no inclination towards the Congress, the meeting was held at the above place with deliberate calculations, insiders say.

Hooda appreciated Capt Yadav for his work towards the development of the Rewari region.

In a bid to efficaciously attract the residents of these Jat- dominated villages towards the Congress, the Chief Minister flayed INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala as well as the HJC patron Bhajan Lal for their alleged repugnance to the availability of its rightful share of the canal water to Ahirwal peasantry and also wondered how both leaders still wanted people to vote for their nominees.

Simultaneously, Hooda announced if voted to power again, he would ensure the flow of their legitimate share of the canal water into their fields under all circumstances.

Hisar, October 8
In the Hisar assembly segment, country’s richest woman Savitri Jindal of the Congress is making a bid to retain her seat, which she won in a byelection following the death of her husband Om Parkash Jindal in a chopper mishap in 2005.

A minister in the Bhupinder Singh Hooda cabinet, she is being opposed by 15 other candidates, including eight independents. Barring Jindal, no other candidate has ever won an assembly election.

The INLD has put up Hanuman Aren, a former chairman of the Hisar Municipal Council. Ram Niwas Rada, a councillor, is the HJC (BL) nominee. The BJP has nominated Ravi Saini - another greenhorn. Among the independents, Gautam Sardana is the only one who is seriously contesting the election.

This constituency has always witnessed high polling. The average voter turnout since 1977 has been between 62 to 69 per cent. That necessitates vigorous campaigning by serious candidates.

What goes in Savtri Jindal’s favour is that her late husband had won this seat in 1991, 2000 and 2005. She has inherited an experienced team of poll managers who go about their business in a much organised corporate style. This gives her an obvious edge over her greenhorn opponents.

Before Jindal came on the scene in 1991, this seat was bagged either by a Punjabi or a non-Jat local leader. Om Parkash Mahajan, a Punjabi won from here in 1982 and 1996. Hisar returned Hari Singh Saini in 1982. Prior to that Hisar was the pocket borough of Gandhian Balwant Rai Tayal.

Despite vigorous campaigning by the candidates, there are no local issues that could decide the poll outcome. Thus, campaigning is confined to the party and the candidate levels. Under the circumstances, the outcome will be decided by party loyalty and personal influence of the candidates.

Two neighbouring constituencies - Hansi and Narnaund - are witnessing close contests. In Hansi, the Congress has chosen Chhatarpal Singh over sitting legislator Amir Chand Makkar. Chhatarpal Singh had lost his constituency Ghirai to delimitation exercise and has managed a transfer to Hansi.

He is facing a stiff competition from Vinod Bhayana of the HJC (BL). The INLD has put up Dhara Singh and the BJP has chosen Maman Ram. Both are new to electoral politics.

Bhayana has a history of changing his loyalties in the recent past. He has contested as an independent in the past and then shifted loyalties to the Congress before going back to Bhajan Lal fold.

In Narnaund, Congress nominee Ram Kumar Gautam had won this seat in 2005 on BJP ticket. He remained close to the Chief Minister throughout his tenure and quit the BJP before the recent Lok Sabha polls and joined the Congress.

His main opponents are Capt Abhimanyu of the BJP and Saroj Mor of the INLD. Abhimanyu is a senior BJP leader and has shifted his political base to this area after failing to find a foothold against the Hoodas in Rohtak.

While Gautam is depending mainly on non-Jat votes, the Jat vote bank is being wooed by Abhimanyu and Mor. This constituency is also witnessing a close contest and is also known for high percentage of polling, which has varied between 68 and 78 per cent in the past elections.

Fatehabad, October 8
Out of the many folk arts of rural India, Sanjhi is a form that has been immensely popular in rural parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and ‘Brijbhoomi’ (mostly western Uttar Pradesh). It is, however, dying a slow death now.

The ritual involves women, especially girls, creating a replica of Goddess Sanjhi with mud and decorating it with colours on the walls of their houses.

Mud is collected from the dry areas of village ponds. Along with Sanjhi, the replicas of her maid ghuddu and barota are also made. The mural is embellished with the images of stars, moon, trees, sun, etc. Cow dung is applied to the walls to cleanse the area.

The Sanjhi (which means ‘shared by all’) is decorated with paint and Goddess Sanjhi is adorned with bangles, necklace, bindi, etc.

The Sanjhi is created on the last Shraadh (amavas) and is worshipped on all Navratras during the evening. Sanjhi is also known to be a ritual to worship Goddess Lakshmi.

To popularise the art among rural women, a Sanjhi-making competition was organised in Fatehabad recently by the Information and Public Relations Department.

The Sanjhi made by Shimla Devi of Bhodia Khera was adjudged the best and was rewarded with a cash prize of Rs 1,500. Sunaina Grover of MM College of Education and Sonu Rani got Rs 1,000 and Rs 750, respectively, for the second and third positions, respectively.

Gurgaon, October 8
It was an evening with a difference at a mall here last week. Over 50 dogs of various breeds walked the ramp, starting with medium and large breeds, followed by small breeds and ending with mixed breeds.

Reliance TimeOut in association with Big Home Video and Ambience Mall hosted the “Hotel for Dogs Fashion Show”, welcoming NCR’s stylish pups and dog breeds to strut their stuff on the “dog walk” along with their owners. Supported by Pet Club India.com, Heads Up for Tails, Scooby Scrub and Pedigree, this was the first of its kind event where owners had the privilege of walking with their pets legally inside a mall and participating in a fashion show.

The show gave a host of opportunities to win various prizes/hampers and dog accessories. Pet lovers were happy to attend the event and were ecstatic at this given opportunity.

Deepinder Kapany, head, Reliance TimeOut, said, “It was an opportunity to bring dog lovers at a common platform. This event was meant to showcase that pets are special”.

The event was adjudged by dog lovers and professional groomers and animal welfare workers.

Sirsa, October 8
Students of the JCD College of Engineering have won laurels in the National-Level Sports Fest “Abhigya 09”.

The fest was organised by the Mody Institute of Technology and Science, Lakshmangarh (Rajasthan), from October 1 to October 4, said Kuldeep Singh Dhindsa, director-general of the JCD Vidyapeeth.

Sharmila Beniwal of the college, who bagged 3 gold medals in various events, was declared the best athlete.

Dhindsa said the students of the Vidyapeeth won 8 gold medals, 2 silver medals and 5 bronze medals in the fest in which students of 15 Engineering Colleges from Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, UP and Uttarakhand participated.