Hisar, March 7
The Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti, whose members have been blocking the Hisar-Rewari rail track at Ramayan village near here since yesterday, has decided to intensify its agitation.

Hawa Singh Sangwan, president of the Haryana unit of the samiti, said here today that members of the Jat community would stop the Hisar-Ludhiana passenger train tomorrow at Gajuwala village in this district at 9 am in support of its demand for reservation for the community in government jobs.

He also demanded that the Bhupinder Singh Hooda Cabinet should pass a resolution in favour of reservation for Jats and submit it to the Centre. He said Hooda’s claims of having written to the Centre in this regard was not enough and the Chief Minister must actively support the demand.

The samiti also decided to boycott former minister and Congress legislator Sampat Singh for suggesting that reservation should be made on an economic basis. Sangwan said Sampat Singh had changed his stance on the issue after joining the Congress.

Meanwhile, rail traffic on the Hisar-Rewari section remained suspended today as Jats squatted on the track. More than 2,000 persons slept on the track last night. They have started a langar near the rail track for the protesters. The National Highway No. 10, however, remained open to traffic.

As a precautionary measure, the Haryana Roadways avoided the highway and its buses used alternative routes to Delhi and Rohtak.

Eleven activists of the samiti began an indefinite fast from today to press for their demand. The samiti has decided to continue the rail track blockade at Ramayan village till 4 pm tomorrow. Yesterday it had asked its activists to block the track till 3 pm today. 

Chandigarh, March 7
Chaos and pandemonium reigned the Haryana Assembly with the Opposition, particularly, the BJP, making attempts to raise the issue of Hondh-Chhillar killings in the House. The Opposition staged three walkouts in the first two hours of the proceedings over different issues, one during question hour.

Immediately after question hour, Speaker Kuldeep Sharma allowed Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala to make a statement, even as the leader of the BJP Legislature Party, Anil Vij, tried to know the fate of his adjournment motion.

Surjewala said the government had constituted a commission of inquiry under a former judge of the Allahabad High Court to look into the massacre of Sikhs in 1984. “The commission will submit its report in six months.The need for a commission of inquiry was felt following a demand from various quarters, including the SGPC delegation which met the Chief Minister,” he said. But Vij rushed to the well of the House, saying he must be told about the fate of his adjournment motion. The INLD, too, joined the “protest”, raising slogans after which Sharma announced that the motion had been “disallowed”.

Vij continued his rhetoric, seeking to know how the government could make an announcement outside when the House was in session, an obvious reference to the commission of inquiry constituted by the government on March 6.

The issue was lost in the din following the Speaker’s decision to disallow the adjournment motion, even as the INLD and BJP staged a walkout. Peace was restored after the Speaker asked INLD’s state president and MLA, Ashok Arora to proceed with his call attention on lack of power in dhanis and deras around villages.

Immediately after the issue was discussed, Vij was again on his feet. Surjewala maintained that since a commission of inquiry had been constituted on the matter, it could not be discussed in the House.

“How can an ‘admitted’ motion be disallowed? This reeks of a conspiracy. Why was the minister allowed to make a statement in the House,” Vij questioned repeatedly. Surjewala intervened to state that the matter could be discussed once the inquiry report was tabled in the House.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda observed that Vij’s behaviour amounted to questioning the Speaker’s decision. At this, Sharma issued a warning to Vij after which the BJP and the INLD staged a walkout.

Though the proceedings opened on a cordial note, the INLD first staged a walkout during question hour over the inability of Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal to give a satisfactory reply to the “wastage of money” on the department’s Edusat programme. Questions on water, roads and power were also discussed. 

Chandigarh, March 7
The Treasury Benches had come well prepared to the Haryana Assembly today anticipating allegations to be levelled by Leader of Opposition Om Prakash Chautala while speaking on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his Address to the House.

Even before Chatuala spoke, Venod Sharma, Congress MLA from Ambala City, who had moved the motion, defended the state government’s land acquisition policy, which, he said, had been acclaimed as one of the best in the country. Extensively quoting from past record, Sharma highlighted how land used to be acquired for a pittance during the INLD regime, while the present government had enhanced the compensation manifold.

Condemning the killings of Sikhs at Hondh-Chhillar village in Rewari district in 1984, Sharma appreciated the government’s decision to order a judicial inquiry into it. When Chautala alleged that the government had been acquiring farmers’ land and giving it to private builders, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Surjewala challenged him. They said let there be a probe into Chautala’s allegations by a committee of the House. If the allegations were proved, they would quit the House, or Chautala should resign.

The INLD leader did not accept the challenge, but suggested that a committee should be formed to go into allegations of corruption against all those who remained the Chief Minister of the state since its inception.

Surjewala contradicted Chautala’s claim that the government was first imposing Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, and then releasing the land after its owner sold it to private builders. He said the land release policy was discontinued in the state on August 13, 1996. However, it was reintroduced by the Chautala Government in January 6, 2000, when the Cabinet decided the land could be released after Section 4 had been imposed and housing licences could be given.

On March 7, 2000, the Chautala Government decided that since HUDA had no resources to carve out residential plots, the private sector should be encouraged to invest in this sector.

Surjewala said on March 4, 2004, the Chautala Cabinet decided that land could be released even after Section 6 if the owners entered into a collaboration agreement with a “well reputed developer”, provided the land was contiguous. Just one month later, the condition of contiguity was also removed.

The INLD benches did not react to what Surjewala said.

The newly elected Speaker, Kuldeep Sharma, conducted the proceedings in a manner which left even the Opposition dumbstruck. Ostensibly, he was helping Chautala to speak without interruptions, but repeatedly put questions to Surjewala to know if he felt that the Leader of Opposition was misleading the House. If yes, then how? This would give ample opportunity to the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to defend the government and to put the Opposition in the dock. With the Cricket World Cup fever on, a wag described Sharma as “the man of the match” today. Truly, Sharma proved that he was a “witty Dabang” and the ruling party had made no mistake in proposing his name for the Speaker’s post.

Chandigarh, March 7
The memorandum submitted by the INLD to the Governor, which purportedly sought his sanction to prosecute Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for being allegedly involved in certain “land scams”, did not contain this request.

INLD leaders had given an impression after submitting the memorandum that their party had sought the Governor’s sanction to prosecute Hooda on the pattern of Karnataka. When Raj Bhawan sources were contacted to know what action Governor Jagannath Pahadia was contemplating on the INLD’s “request” for sanction to prosecute the Chief Minister, they said no such request was made in the INLD memorandum.

The sources said the memorandum did mention some cases, which it described as examples of the INLD allegations that the government was using its land acquisition policy to help private property developers. However, all that the signatories to the memorandum requested the Governor was to probe the cases mentioned in the memorandum and punish the guilty.

The sources said the Raj Bhawan had forwarded the memorandum to the government as was the usual practice. On its part, the government has collected the details of the cases mentioned in the INLD memorandum. It is, however, not known if it is planning to convey these details to the Governor yet.

Two of the allegations in the INLD memorandum pertain to the land to be acquired at Manesar and Kundli for houses for industrial workers.

A notification under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act was issued for 912 acres at Manesar in 2004, when the INLD was in power. However, it was found that the change of land use (CLU) had been allowed with respect to 208 acres even before Section 4 was imposed. Some land adjoining these 208 acres was also to be released. Another 70 acres had residential structures and had to be released as per the state’s policy.

As many as 150 writ petitions were filed opposing the acquisition of land. The court stayed the dispossession till the pendency of the petitions.

The HSIIDC, which was to develop the residential complex for the industrial workers, found that under the circumstances it was not possible to undertake an integrated project.

At Kundli, Sectors 58, 59, 60 and 61 were designated as a residential zone in 2003. The Urban Estates Department notified 664 acres in November, 2001, under Section 4. However, when compensation was decided in November 2004, it was only for 443 acres; the remaining land had been released. Developers like TDI and Omaxe group were given licences to develop their colonies.

In 2005, the Industries Department notified 885 acres. However, the Town and Country Planning Department, meanwhile, granted licences to develop colonies on 603 acres. Obviously, it was a glaring lack of coordination between the two departments!

Ultimately, the Industries Department could acquire only 169 acres for the industrial workers.

Another major allegation was regarding land given to DLF in Gurgaon. The project was initiated in 2003 for “development of a recreation/leisure project and other public utility”. Section 6 was notified in 2004. Even HUDA, which earmarked 75 acres in Sector 47 for group housing societies, was forced to merge this land with the land meant for the recreational project by the then government.

It was also decided at that time to call for international bidding for this land. The Hooda government, of course, implemented those decisions; and the DLF turned out to be the lone bidder to qualify in the international bidding.

Chandigarh, March 7
A ping-pong match is on between the Haryana Government and the Environment Department over AS Chahal’s continuation as Chairman of the Haryana Pollution Control Board.

On Jaunary 29, 2008, Chahal was appointed to the post for three years. However, the government, keen on retaining him, said that his term would be counted from the day the board was notified about it (ie November 2008).

The Finance and Environment Minister, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, “unhappy” with Chahal’s working and pressing for his ouster, had held that Chahal must deposit all the emoluments and benefits he had enjoyed from January to November 2008 till the board was notified about the appointment, if the government’s viewpoint was to be considered.

However, the Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, had over-ruled the minister.

Yadav is now learnt to have sent back the file yet again, urging the Chief Minister to reconsider his decision, mentioning the hue and cry being raised on the increased levels of ammonia in the water flowing out of Haryana and into Delhi to express his dissatisfaction with Chahal’s working. Yadav is also learnt to have mentioned that the ban on polythene was only on paper and the Chairman has failed to implement it.

Over two months back, the Environment Department had first moved Chahal’s case, maintaining that his term ended on January 29. While the government initially wanted to give him an extension, it later stated that Chahal’s term would end in November this year.

Yadav turned down the proposal to extend Chahal’s tenure, arguing that he was way above the “admissible” age limit. He pointed out that the upper age limit for Chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board was 65 years while Chahal was already 75.

Yadav, later, maintained that if Chahal’s term was to be counted from the day of the notification, he must deposit all the emoluments and benefits he had enjoyed from January to November 2008.

He also sought to know from the government if the decisions taken by Chahal in the corresponding period were valid or not.

Fatehabad, March 7
As many as 18 poor families from Ekta Colony, whose houses have come under the land acquired by Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) for development of Sector 9 and 10, staged a demonstration and raised slogans against the authorities today.

Women members of the families, who have been sitting on dharna outside the mini-secretariat for the past 15 days, said they had been facing the threat of being rendered roofless.

Sulochna, an agitating woman, maintained that all families being uprooted by the authorities eke out their living through manual labour and had constructed these houses with great difficulty.

“We have registered sale deed in our favour and had brought this fact to the notice of the authorities concerned at the time of notification for the acquisition of land. However, the authorities released the land of the rich, where they had constructed their houses and acquired the houses of poor labourers,” alleged Sheela.

The women alleged that their children had not attended their schools for the past 15 days. The residents also handed a memorandum to the authorities concerned.

Ram Kumar Bahbalpuria, president of the Khet Mazdoor Union, alleged that the authorities concerned were insensitive to the cause of the poor.

“Two private townships have been carved out in the town in the past two years. As a policy of the government, the colonisers have to offer 20 per cent of the total plots to the economically weaker sections (EWS), but not a single plot has been offered to the poor in these townships,” alleged Bahbalpuria.

However, spokespersons for both Soma Township and Alpha Township maintained that they had left the provision for plots for the EWSs in their townships. A spokesperson for Soma Township said a committee comprising the Deputy Commissioner, the District Town Planner and a representative from their company was to decide about the allotment of these plots.

He said they were waiting for the authorities to take action in this regard. DC Vijay Singh Dahiya said the matter of Ekta Colony pertained to the HUDA and he had already written to the HUDA authorities in this regard.

Regarding the plots for the EWS in the private townships, he said he would look in to the matter. Sujan Singh, Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) of the HUDA, however, said Ekta Colony’s matter was too old. He said nothing could be done to release the houses of these people under the Land Acquisition Act at this stage.

Sirsa, March 7
Two FIRs have been registered against a Kalanwali-based transporter and his men in connection with yesterday’s incident in which three people sustained bullet injuries and two cops of the Punjab Armed Police, 6th India Reserve Battalion, were also hurt.

The Kalanwali police has registered a case under Sections 148, 149, 332, 353, 186, 506, 342 and 395 for rioting, obstructing, deterring and criminal assault on public servants, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation against the transporter, Sanjiv Kumar from Kalanwali, another person, Bitta, from Doomwali in Punjab and four of five other unidentified persons.

A police spokesperson said the FIR had been registered on a complaint of Assistant Sub-Inspector Balwant Singh of the PAP, 6th Battalion, Sangrur (Punjab), who alleged that he and his subordinates were manning an excise post near Kanakwal village yesterday, when a truck came from the Kalanwali side.

He further alleged in his complaint that when Amandeep, a constable, got onto the truck to stop it, the driver sped away the vehicle towards Kalanwali, where the accused beat up Amandeep as well as the other cops, who reached Kalanwali chasing the truck to rescue their colleague.

Balwant Singh has alleged in his complaint that the accused persons also snatched a service weapon belonging to the cops.

Meanwhile, officials of the Excise and Taxation Department have also lodged an FIR against the transporter and some others in the Rama Mandi police station in Punjab.

The transporter’s brother, Bal Krishan, nephew Yogesh and driver Pal Singh, who sustained bullet injuries, allegedly fired by Punjab cops during the incident, are still undergoing treatment.

The police spokesperson said their statements could not be recorded because doctors had not declared them fit to give their statements.

After the incident yesterday, the transporter had alleged that the Punjab cops had come to his office in mufti and had tried to loot a truck at gunpoint.

He had alleged that the cops opened fire, when the driver, Pal Singh, resisted their attempt. He had maintained that they were rescued by local people, who allegedly beat up the two Punjab cops.

Sonepat, March 7
The Sarvjatiya Sarvkhap Dahiya Khap Mahapanchayat at Sisana village today adopted as many as 30 resolutions for solving social and education-related issues prevailing in society. The participation of women was seen for the first time in the mahapanchayat.

The mahapanchayat was convened by the Dahiya Khap to commemorate the completion of the first century of the mahapanchayat held on March 7, 1911, at Barona village.

Representatives from 165 khaps and organisations participated in the mahapanchayat held today.

The resolutions included formation of village, tehsil, district and state-level social committees to resolve social issues, curb on marriage expenditures, strengthening of social amity, eradication of social evils like foeticide, dowry and drug addiction, strengthening of common heritage of 36 biradari, solving marriage-related disputes and amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act for preservation of traditional gotra customs.

Presiding over the mahapanchayat, Dahiya Khap chief Pratap Singh urged the representatives to implement the resolutions at their level. He said the need of the hour was to restore the dignity of the khap panchayats that had played key roles on many occasions.

Women speakers, including vice-president of the Haryana Women’s Commission Chander Prabha, Assistant Professor in KUK Santosh Dahiya and Principal of Kharkhoda Women College Suresh Bura, said honour killing and foeticide were social crimes and should be condemned at all levels.

Dahiya said she had launched a signature campaign against female foeticide. So far, she has obtained 15,000 signatures. Dahiya Samriti Pustak written by Suraj Bhan Dahiya was also released on the occasion.

Hisar, March 7
Adviser to the Union Ministry of Earth Science Dr LS Rathore said in the era of rapid industrialisation and globalisation, they needed to have a better understanding of the earth processes, alternative energy systems and pollution control.

Delivering a lecture on “Multidisciplinary Approach in Frontier Areas of Environmental Science & Engineering” in the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering of Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology here recently, he said several urban areas in India were already on the threshold of tolerance to several pollutants like ozone, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and respirable particulate matter. He said the linkage between air and water was through wet and dry deposition and continuing acidification of this deposition was becoming a matter of concern especially in those areas which were neutral to acidic soils.

Prof SC Jain, an eminent environmental biotechnologist, said burning of fossil fuels was a major source of industrial greenhouse gas emissions, especially for power, cement, steel, textile, fertiliser and other industries, which relied on fossil fuels. These emissions increased the atmosphere’s ability to trap infrared energy and thus affected the climate.

Ambala, March 7
The Haryana SME Pharma Association has written to the Prime Minister demanding scrapping of the proposal of barcoding. It has said if the proposal is implemented, it will increase the prices of medicines and hit exports of the Indian SMEs.

The Director-General of Foreign Trade has issued instructions for barcoding for exports. The aim was to prevent spurious drugs even as barcoding served no purpose because even fake and poor quality drugs could have barcodes, the association added.

President of the Haryana Chapter of Pharma Association Vinod Gupta said here today that the brand name trademark of a company was registered to prevent the use of the same name by others. However, 90 per cent brands were not registered in India.

The DCGI is neither concerned nor empowered to insist on the registration of brand names. The use of barcode would serve no purpose unless it became mandatory to register all brand names. Sources said labels on many medicines, including Zentel and Tetanus Toxoid, were so small that even legal mandatory information on ingredients, schedule with warning, batch number, price, name and address of the manufacturer could not be accommodated even if it were to serve any useful purpose.

Hisar, March 7
The Haryana State Farmers’ Commission will now function out of the Haryana Agricultural University campus here. The VC, Dr KS Khokhar, formally inaugurated the office of the commission here yesterday. Dr RS Paroda, chairman of the commission, was present at the occasion.

The office of the farmers’ panel is located in the building of the Directorate of Human Resource Management of the university. Paroda said with its headquarters on HAU campus, the commission would have easy an access to farm scientists as well as farmers. — TNS