|
|
|
|
|
Sehajdhari Sikhs seen voting in SGPC poll
Nod to withdrawal of ex-HPSC chief’s prosecution
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Result to impact state, central politics: Chautala
Hisar
Byelection
Delay in draw of lots costs HUDA applicants dear
Changing family relationships
DLF barred from selling Gurgaon tower
OPEC price of crude ‘up by 265 pc’
Ginners’ stir puts cotton growers in trouble
Death in Police Custody
Girl, lover held for murder
CPS takes exception to delay in pension
Teachers threaten stir over demands
10 hurt in clash at Sirsa hospital
Police rescues 2 Mining Dept staffers
|
||||||||||
|
Sehajdhari Sikhs seen voting in SGPC poll
Karnal/Kurukshetra, September 18 Sehajdhari Sikhs, supporting turbans, and even children were spotted casting votes at many polling stations by The Tribune team but the polling staff on duty was helpless as their names figured in the voter lists in the two districts of Karnal and Kurukshetra where future of presidents of both factions of HSGPC Jagdish Singh Jhinda and Didar Singh Nalvi is at stake. In Karnal, 62 per cent out of 68,000-odd voters casted their vote while Kurukshetra, with 58,000 electorate, recorded 66.49 per cent polling. In Kurukshetra, a maximum of 96.80 per cent votes were polled at Government Senior Secondary School, Ajrana Kalan village, while minimum votes were polled at Dayanand Kanya Mahavidyala, Salarpur road, Kurukshetra (40. 08 per cent). However, Sumedha Kataria and MK Pandurang, returning officers for Kurukshetra and Karnal, respectively, said polling was completely peaceful and no reports of bogus voting by Sehajdhari Sikhs had been received. When pointed out that reports of Sehajdari voters casting votes have been received from some places, they said once the name of the voter is in the voters list, the presiding officer cannot object to his eligibility. However, in case the votes are challenged, the proper procedure of “challenged vote” would be followed. They said additional cops were deployed at “sensitive and hypersensitive” polling booths. Didar Singh Nalvi, who is being opposed by Apar Singh of the Jhinda group, and Harbhajan Singh Masana of the SAD alleged that the polling officers did not have the manual of gurdwara elections and polling was held as per the normal election rules. “I pointed out clean-shaven Sehajdari Sikhs at polling booths but nothing was done,” he claimed. Jinda is facing Dider Singh Habri, backed by the Nalvi group, and Bhupinder Singh Assandh of the SAD, making it a keen triangular contest in both constituencies. 60 pc polling in Ambala
Attar Singh adds from Ambala: Polling for the SGPC elections for two seats in Ambala district passed off peacefully with an estimated 60 per cent of voters exercising their franchise. Sameer Pal Srow, Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, said no untoward incident was reported from any part of the district. He said 10 duty magistrates and 12 supervisors had been appointed to ensure smooth polling. Srow said 550 police personnel and 190 home guards had been deployed to ensure peaceful polling in Ambala district. Seven policemen each had been deployed at most sensitive polling booths and five policemen each at sensitive ones. Ashok Sangwan, Deputy Commissioner, Yamunanagar, said polling went off peacefully in all 43 booths in the district.
Dinesh Yadav, ADC, Yamunanagar, said a whopping 67.6 per cent of voters had exercised their franchise in the SGPC elections in a largely peaceful poll except for minor skirmishes at one or two places between supporters of the two leading parties. No incident of poll malpractice, including booth capturing, violence or breach of law and order was reported from any part of the district, said Dinesh Yadav. 70 pc turnout in Sirsa, Fatehabad
Sushil Manav adds from
Sirsa/Fatehabad: Nearly 70 per cent voters exercised their votes for the SGPC elections in Sirsa and Fatehabad.
Voters from Sirsa district will elect two members, from Sirsa and Dabwali, while Fatehabad, which is a part of the Hisar seat, will elect a male and a female member for the SGPC. The voting was peaceful in both districts, where enthusiastic people started queuing up to cast their votes from the morning itself. Exchange of hot words between the agents of rival candidates was witnessed in Bhima village of Rori block in Sirsa, when a woman went to the polling booth with her son to help her in casting her vote. However, the issue was resolved soon. Nanuana village in Rania block witnessed high polling, where 78 per cent Sikh voters cast their votes. In Kussar village, the polling remained quite low at 58 per cent. In Kariwala village in Sirsa, a 90-year-old woman came to exercise her right to franchise. Reports from Tohana said that nearly 80 per cent voters came out in the rural areas, while 60 per cent cast their votes in the town.
Ashok Meena, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Fatehabad, and returning officer for the Hisar seat said the compilation of votes was being done today, while the final results would be declared on September 22. |
|
Nod to withdrawal of ex-HPSC chief’s prosecution
Chandigarh, September 18 In 1993, the commission was forced to scrap the HCS examination; then chairman Kataria had to quit and a presidential reference was made to remove a member, who had allegedly tried to get his nephew selected. The State Vigilance Bureau had registered a case under Sections 420, 487, 488 and 471, IPC, and Section 7/133 of the Prevention of Corruption
Act in the matter on January 8, 1998. Both Kataria and the state of Haryana had moved the high court, seeking the quashing of the order dated March 18, 2008, against the dismissal of the application moved by the prosecution under Section 321, CrPC, for withdrawal of prosecution. Taking up Kataria’s petition filed by counsel JS Bedi, Justice Sabina asserted: “Admittedly, Parvin Mittal, co-accused had faced the trial and he has been acquitted by the trial court vide judgement dated February 22, 2010. “The trial court held that the prosecution had failed to establish its case against accused Parvin Mittal. Counsel for the petitioner has submitted that since the main accused, Parvin Mittal, through whom the petitioner was to get the money in question, has been acquitted by the trial court, the prosecution case was liable to fail against the petitioner also”. In her detailed order, Justice Sabina added: “The petitioner had appeared before the trial court during trial, but prosecution witnesses Pawan Kumar Gupta, and Kuldip Gupta had failed to identify the petitioner as an accused. “As per the annexure, prosecution witnesses Brij Bhushan, Pawan Kumar Gupta and Kuldip Kumar (complainant) had stated before the trial court that they had no objection if the prosecution was withdrawn qua the petitioner…. “Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the present case, it would be just and expedient to allow the petition”. Before parting with the order, Justice Sabina ruled: “Accordingly, these
petitions are allowed. The impugned order dated March 18, 2008, is set aside. Consequently, the application moved by the prosecution under Section 321, CrPC. for withdrawal of prosecution against the petitioner is allowed”. |
|
|
Hike in petrol prices
Ambala, September 18 The BJP legislator, Anil Vij, said here today that the Congress-led UPA government’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had failed on every front, including price rise and corruption, in the country. He suggested that the Prime Minister must quit immediately. Terming the hike in petrol prices as "anti-people", Vij demanded their rollback as this measure was against the interests of the common man. He added that the government's argument that inflation was going up due to growth had fallen flat as the prices of essential commodities were going up. Vij said the UPA government was least bothered about looking into public grievances and its caretakers were only interesting in “robbing” the country and were becoming more and more wealthy. He further said that this was betrayal of the nation, reeling under the impact of a severe price rise. He said the prices of essential commodities had already witnessed about 72 per cent increase during the tenure of the UPA government and the graph was rising continuously. The BJP would up keep its fight against such policies of the government. |
|
Result to impact state, central politics: Chautala
He claimed that the bypoll result would indicate as to what type of leadership the people of country wanted in future. Chautala said after Anna Hazare’s agitation for the Jan Lokpal Bill, Indians were perturbed over corruption and wanted a change in polity. When his attention was drawn to Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal’s statement calling upon voters to cast their franchise in favour of those who give an undertaking that they would support the Jan Lokpal Bill, Chautala said the INLD was the only party in the country to have backed the Bill and the party had already given this in writing. He claimed that his party had even proposed passing the Bill in the state Assembly, but the Congress did not support it. He added that the UPA government’s stand on corruption was clearly exposed when the government used force to disperse a peaceful agitation of Baba Ramdev and then putting Anna Hazare
in jail. “Had the people of country not risen to the government’s action, and not gathered outside Tihar Jail in large numbers, Anna Hazare would not have been released from jail,” he maintained. Chautala castigated the UPA government for the recent hike in the prices of petrol and alleged that the government had raised the prices of petrol and diesel at least 10 times during its tenure. Terming the government as anti-farmers, Chautala alleged that the prices of DAP fertiliser had been raised by over Rs 200 at a time when farmers needed it the most. However, the former Chief Minister was all praise for Gujarat Chief Minister Narender Modi and congratulated him on his “sadbhavna fast”. |
|
Hisar
Byelection
Chandigarh, September 18 Dhuli Chand, a 1978 batch IRS officer, who retired as Commissioner, Customs and Excise Tribunal, said his newly floated “Lok Parivartan Party” would contest the October 13 Hisar byelections. “The reason I have decided to enter electoral politics is because common man does not count despite all struggle and toil he puts in as corruption, muscle and money power rule the roost,” Chand said here, adding the party was granted recognition by the Election Commission on September 15. He invited people with a “clean image and having background of social service” to come forward and support his party. “Our party will enlighten the masses about their legitimate rights in governance, public distribution system and development activities,” Chand said.
— PTI |
|
|
Delay in draw of lots costs HUDA applicants dear
Rohtak, September 18 Thousands of applicants who had applied through bank loans are at the receiving end with the banks asking them to deposit interest for the delayed period immediately. The consumers face the risk of incurring the same burden as the matter is pending in the Supreme Court due to litigation by a resident over the ownership of land on which the residential sector has been proposed to be built. "The last date for applications for allotment of the plots in the sector was January 5 and the draw was expected to be held by June-end. But a petition filed by a local resident against the draw in the apex court, however, held up the process," claimed an official of the department concerned. While the exact number of applicants has not been stated officially, it is estimated that the number of applicants could well be over 100 times of the available plots. "I applied by procuring a loan from a nationalised bank and had paid around Rs 10,000 to apply for a 10-marla plot. The amount paid was six months' interest for the application amount. Now, over two and a half months have passed since the due date of draw and my bank has sent me a notice to deposit an additional interest amount of Rs 5,510. The banks have offered the option of withdrawing the application but for this the applicant will have to send a request to HUDA. "This appears to be a case of high- handedness and 'cheating' on the part of the authorities concerned as they should not have invited applications till they had a clear title of the land," claimed Virender Singh, a local resident. The rate of interest paid by the department in such cases will be half of the interest rate charged by the banks from the applicants, he added. |
|
Changing family relationships
Inspired by his father, Jagjit Singh, who was here to perform in a live concert at “Noor Mahal” was disturbed over the changing relationships between the parents and the children. He lamented that the craze among the youngsters to focus only on career and their future prospects was weakening the bonds of love and affection and the plight of the parents, left to fend for themselves, had become miserable“Unfortunately, children have forgotten that their parents gave birth to them, brought them up and made them capable of achieving their goals.” Expressing his indignation over the flurry of reality shows on TV channels only for making money, Jagjit Singh said budding talent was being exploited on the pretext of promoting them and the huge money earned was not being utilised for education and training. “Why are NGOs fighting against child labour silent on exploitation of children in reality shows, which create stars, use them for earning profits and then find a new face giving the previous ones a silent burial. Melody, poetry and lyrics, which were the essence of music, were being pushed to the background and replaced by abuses and vulgarity especially in film music, but this was a temporary phase as any music lover would prefer to take home a CD of melodious songs. Ghazals and Sufi music would always score over item numbers like “Munni Badnam Hui”, he added. Recalling that his album, “The Unforgettable”, released in 1976, gave him his identity and “Ahista Ahista” was one of his all-time favourites, Jagjit Singh said that his best was yet to come. |
|
DLF barred from selling Gurgaon tower
Chandigarh, September 18 The directions by Justice RC Gupta came after GlaxoSmithKline, filed an appeal in the matter . The pharmaceutical organisation has thrown a challenge to the orders of the District Judge, Gurgaon, declining stay on alienating or creating third party rights in the property. It is estimated that the cost of the tower is within the range of Rs 118 crore. Currently, both the parties, DLF and GlaxoSmithKline, are in arbitration. Senior advocate ML Sarin argued before the court that GlaxoSmithKline entered into an agreement to purchase an 11-storey tower, initially known as the "City Centre". As a part of the agreement, Rs 18 crore as 10 per cent of the cost was paid to DLF. During the period, the property prices registered a rise; and DLF unilaterally decided not to proceed with the "City Centre" project. The appellant claimed the developer also illegally returned the cheque following which GlaxoSmithKline initiated arbitration proceedings and consequently moved the District Judge, Gurgaon, seeking an ad-interim injunction. It was argued that during pendency of these proceedings, DLF advertised the same project under the name of "Horizon Centre", at a much higher price. Against the District Judge's order, Sarin sought directions for restraining DLF from creating third party rights during the pendency of the matter before the arbitral tribunal. Before parting with the case, the High Court accepted the prayer and restrained DLF from selling or creating third party rights in the property during pendency of the appeal. |
|
OPEC price of crude ‘up by 265 pc’
Sirsa, September 18 The Congress MLA from Nalwa agreed that the latest hike in petrol prices had pinched the poor and the middle-class consumer, but the opposition parties, he added, should consider the price of crude oil in international market before resorting to protests. Citing figures on the price of crude oil in the international market, he said the rates rose from $21.77 on October 8, 1999, to $29.55 per barrel on April 9, 2004, during the NDA regime, making it a total increase of only 35.73 per cent. However, the OPEC price of crude oil rose from $29.55 per barrel on April 9, 2004, to $108 on September 18, 2011, during the tenure of the UPA government --- the total increase being more than 265 per cent. Sampat Singh said when the Congress assumed power at the Centre in 2004, the price of petrol was Rs 33.76 per litre as compared to Rs 67.24 per litre at present, showing an increase of 99 per cent as compared to the OPEC price increase of crude oil by 265 per cent during the same period. On the other hand, during the NDA’s rule, when the INLD was in power in Haryana, the price of petrol increased from Rs 23.94 per litre to Rs 33.76 per litre, an increase of 41 per cent as compared to only 35 per cent increase in the OPEC price of crude oil during the same period. While the price of diesel increased from Rs 8.89 per litre in 1999 to Rs 21.58 in April 2004, i.e. an increase of 142.75 per cent as compared to the increase of 35 per cent in the OPEC price. The price of diesel increased from Rs 21.58 per litre in April 2004 to Rs 40.07 on September 18, 2011, an increase of 85.68 per cent whereas the OPEC price of crude oil increased 265 per cent. He claimed that in a similar fashion, the increase in prices of the LPG and kerosene was much higher during the NDA government than during the UPA’s regime. He claimed that the Congress government in Haryana was the only state in the country to take lead in waiving VAT on the LPG and kerosene, and reducing VAT on diesel to 8.08 per cent. VAT is 24.07 per cent in Gujarat, 23 per cent in Madhya Pradesh, 18.36 per cent in Bihar, 14 per cent in Himachal Pradesh and 16.05 per cent in UP, Sampat Singh added. |
|
|
Ginners’ stir puts cotton growers in trouble
Sirsa, September 18 "We have picked some of our crops and stored it in the hope that the prices will increase in the coming days. However, there are many who want to sell their crops for financial needs, but have no options," said Dr Vinod Batra, a farmer at Fatehabad. The present market rate this time is Rs 3,600 per quintal, while last season the prices varied between Rs 3,500 (lowest) and Rs 7,000 (highest). Farmers from the areas of Sirsa and Fatehabad bordering Punjab have sold their crops in Punjab mandis of Sardulgarh, Mansa and Bareta, though the quantities are not substantial. If the strike continues, the farmers will have no other option but to carry their produce to Punjab or Rajasthan mandis in the coming days. On a call given by the Haryana Cotton Ginning Industries Association (HCGIA), the ginners throughout the state are on a strike and have decided to keep their units closed till the government fulfilled their demand of reduction in the market fees. The state government has levied 4 per cent taxes (2 per cent market fees and 2 per cent HRDF) on the procurement of cotton in the state. Sushil Mittal, state president of the HCGIA, said the tax was much higher than what was being charged in the neighbouring states - 1.6 per cent in Punjab and 2 per cent in Rajasthan. The ginners are demanding that the government should reduce the market fees to 1 per cent to avoid tax evasion and better business. |
|
|
Death in Police Custody
Panipat, September 18 Amarjit Singh was rounded up by the police after his wife Lalitesh had called up the control room and sought help. She had told the police that her husband, who had been in an inebriated state for the last five days, was beating her up along with their children. Following this, the police had sent two constables to Amarjit’s house, who tried to get hold of him. However, Amarjit got aggressive and attacked the policemen. The constables immediately called for help and two more policemen reached the spot and rounded up Amarjit. His family had alleged that Amarjit was badly beaten up by the policemen, who repeatedly hit him in his chest, which had resulted in his death. The victim’s brother, Kamaljit Singh, said doctors had found more than 20 injury marks on Amarjit’s body. Pankaj Nain, District police chief, had on Thursday stated that given the sensitivities involved in the incident, a judicial probe had been sought into the incident and the matter had also been reported to the National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC). |
|
|
Girl, lover held for murder
Karnal, September 18 The deceased, Ashok, who had gone to the water tank for taking a bath along with his friend, Ravindra, was stabbed to death by three persons on
September 16 and the accused fled. After preliminary investigations, the police interrogated Priyanka of Khera Chhapra village. She allegedly confessed that she was having an affair with Vikram
but Ashok was playing the villain of the piece, the police said. She said she called up Vikram who came along with two of his friends and they stabbed Ashok, who sustained multiple injuries and died. The police arrested Priyanka and Vikram yesterday and produced them in the court today. The police also seized the mobile phone of
the girl. |
|
|
CPS takes exception to delay in pension
Sonepat, September 18 He asked them to accelerate work on projects like a bypass linking Rohtak road with Sonepat road around Kharkhoda, a sports stadium, community centre and a fire station in
Kharkhoda . He also reviewed the irrigation, drinking water and electricity supply in villages of his constituency and directed officers of the Irrigation Department to ensure discharge of rain water accumulated in low-lying fields in a number of villages of the constituency. Taking serious note of irregularities and delay in disbursement of social security pension, he said inconvenience to the
beneficiaries would not be tolerated. |
|
|
DUSU president Ajay Chikkara felicitated
Bahadurgarh (Jhajjar), September 18 Congratulating Chhikara on his victory, MP Deepender Singh Hooda, who was the chief guest of the function, said students from Haryana, no doubt, had played a vital role in Chikkara’s victory as a large number of students from Bahadurgarh, Rohtak, Sonepat, Gurgaon and Faridabad studies in Delhi University. Later, Deepender participated in a felicitation function held at Asoda village to honour Rajnish, who won the gold medal in a wrestling competition held in Australia. |
|
Teachers threaten stir over demands
Kurukshetra, September 18 In a memorandum addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, the HCTA said the rule made for the permanent teachers to appear in an entrance test for admission to Ph.D was discouraging and detrimental to the interests of teachers. Rajbir Parashar, HCTA president, said the university had not so far evolved the API system and demanded that teachers should be consulted while finalising the system. The HCTA has also urged the university authorities to double the remuneration for all examination duties, make all payments on the spot and declare the results of examinations before the next semester. |
|
10 hurt in clash at Sirsa hospital
Sirsa, September 18 It was only after the ambulance driver sounded the siren of the vehicle that the attackers left the hospital, mistaking it for a police vehicle’s signal. Two groups from the community had clashed over a piece of land at Ratta Khera village last evening. Five persons were injured and they were shifted first to the government hospital in Ellenabad and then to the local General Hospital. The police has registered an FIR in this connection. |
|
Police rescues 2 Mining Dept staffers
Gharaunda (Karnal), September 18 The police rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area to stop the accused from fleeing and got the employees released. Three members of the mafia were taken into custody and their tractors were impounded. A case has been registered against three accused. — TNS |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Sirsa, September 18
Karnal, September 18