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Haryana’S shame
MNC supplying fungicide washes its hands off controversy
Grants-in-aid: Charity begins at home for ministers
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CPM top leaders slighted at CM’s hometown
90-year-old Jat joins fast for quota
Elderly couple found dead at Jind village
Close shave for labourers
Jailed for raping employee’s wife
Murder accused held
Girdawari of rain-hit Rabi crops ordered
HCS officers shuffled
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50-yr-old kin held for raping minor
Tribune News Service
Yamunanagar, March 15 Three days ago, he took the girl to a room and raped her. He even threatened her not to tell anyone about the incident. He again tried to rape the girl on the next day and when the girl objected, he thrashed her badly. The girl then told her mother about the incident following which her father lodged a complaint with the police last night. The police then got a medical examination of the girl conducted, which confirmed that she had been sexually exploited. Following this, the police registered a case against the accused, who was arrested while he was trying to escape from the village. 5 booked for abduction, rape
Jind: A case has been registered against five persons for abducting and raping a married woman at Intel Kalan village. While the main accused is already in custody of the Kaithal police in connection with some other case, the police is yet to arrest the remaining accused, which include the kin of the main accused. The 24-year-old victim, who is married to a resident of the village, was befriended by a youth identified as Monu (25) residing in her neighbourhood. Monu took her to some place a few weeks ago and raped the victim on the promise of remarrying her. Police sources said the accused, who was adamant on marrying her despite the fact that she was already married, reached the house of the woman’s parents in Kaithal and after an altercation opened fire on the victim’s brother. Though none got injured, Monu was overpowered by the family members and was handed over to the police. The woman, who came back recently at her in-laws’ house at Intel Kalan, lodged a complaint with the police that she was abducted and raped by a youth and his kin and a friend. |
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MNC supplying fungicide washes its hands off controversy
Chandigarh, March 15 In his reply to the Haryana Seeds Development Corporation
(HSDC), he has said that the company provides recommendations in line with the registered usage of its products. Raxil 2 per cent DS (brand name of
tebucanazol) has a label claim for use on wheat as seed treatment to control loose smut and flag smut. "Bayer Crop Sciences has shared that two agricultural universities have recommended this product against Karnal bunt. This does not indicate our recommendation. In order to verify the control of Karnal bunt, one needs to refer to the results of trials conducted by these universities," he said. Over the past two days, The Tribune has been highlighting in its news columns how the Haryana government has mandated the use of the fungicide for the treatment of three diseases, including Karnal bunt, when this fungicide,
tebucanazol, is not even registered to cure the disease. The fungicide was recommended with its brand name by the high-powered purchase committee of the state government. The cost of Raxil is reimbursed out of public funds, to suppliers of certified wheat seeds produced and sold in Haryana. The state has reimbursed almost Rs 60 crore out of public money in the last three years, for purchasing 450 tonnes of Raxil for three years, for treatment against loose smut, flag smut and karnal bunt. The Ministry of Agriculture, through its secretary, Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee
(CIBRC), too, has claimed that the fungicide is not registered to cure the Karnal bunt disease of wheat seeds. Not only is the fungicide not registered to cure Karnal bunt, but also the state government has allegedly been buying it at a much higher price than the existing market price of the fungicide, or the price at which this was sold to other government agencies. The price difference (per kg ) of the fungicide (from the rate at which it was sold in Haryana and to other government agencies) is Rs 373-Rs 473 per kg. The Haryana Agriculture Department, however, insists that the difference in prices is because it was buying the fungicide in smaller packings of 40 grams each, while the other state governments were purchasing in bulk
packings, which made their costing less. Clarification from CEO sought
Ashok
Khemka, managing director of HSDC, had sought urgent clarification from Liam Cordon, CEO of Bayer Crop Sciences, Germany, on how the company was selling the fungicide for treatment of Karnal bunt disease in wheat seeds. In his letter to the company CEO, Khemka said, "It is not lawful in India to sell any insecticide without registration with the Central Insecticides Board, indicating disease, crop and dosage under Insecticides Act. The Haryana government has spent Rs 60 crore on Raxil 2 per cent DS from October 2010 till today on the understanding that Raxil controls three diseases of wheat crop-- loose smut, flag smut and karnal bunt. I request a clarification from the company whether the fungicide can control the disease of Karnal bunt on wheat crop?." Audit demanded
After receiving the company's reply today, Khemka has demanded that a thorough audit be done on the basis of the CCS Haryana Agricultural University
(HAU) recommending Raxil for controlling Karnal bunt; the basis for the Agriculture Department acting on the recommendation of the extension wing of the university in its package of practices, when even the manufacturing company is not claiming that the fungicide can treat Karnal bunt; and misuse of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana funds to purchase the fungicide at rates much higher than which it was supplied to other government agencies. In a letter to the Financial Commissioner, Agriculture, Khemka today demanded that a case be registered under Section 29 of Insecticides Act for promoting the sales of the fungicide on the "false claim" of controlling Karnal bunt disease, and check in overbilling in the past three years. He has also asked the officer to direct the HAU to supply all field test reports on the basis of which the university recommended this fungicide. He has also said that he would not be able to purchase the fungicide, as directed to him by the principal secretary, industries, till the matter is resolved. Fungicide saga so far
— Joerg Rehbein, Bayer Crop Sciences country head |
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Grants-in-aid: Charity begins at home for ministers
Chandigarh, March 15 The latest report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG), which scrutinised the records of the discretionary grants of nine state fuctionaries, including the ministers and the chief parliamentary secretaries, for the year year 2009-10 reveals that the ministers distributed 82 to 100 per cent grants in their home districts. To top it, 69 to 97 per cent grants were disbursed to the beneficiaries in their own assembly constituencies. Besides, in clear cases of irregularity, the same institiutions were given multiple grants by different ministers, resulting in "undue" benefits to the beneficiaries. The report states that 381 grants worth over Rs 19 crore were given to 131 beneficiaries. Of this, 250 grants worth nearly Rs 13 crore were repeatedly given either for the same work/scheme or after slightly changing the purpose. As many as 33 grants worth Rs 1.61 crore were released to eight "financially sound" institutions which is against the spirit of the Punjab Financial Rules (PFR), as applicable to Haryana.
During the preparation of the report, CAG test-checked 3,664 grants involving expenditure of Rs 77.21 crore (46 per cent of the total expenditure of Rs 169.34 crore) disbursed during 2007-12 by the executing authorities in eight selected districts. Besides, 152 (44 per cent) of the 343 beneficiaries receiving grants of Rs 5 lakh and above were physically verified. And with an eye on the vote bank politics, an amount of Rs 5.17 crore was released to the institutions constituted on "caste and region basis", which is against the spirit of policy guidelines.
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CPM top leaders slighted at CM’s hometown
Gurgaon, March 15 This was stated by senior CPM leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Brinda Karat while speaking to newspersons here today. Karat, who is leading a Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha from Amritsar to Delhi, was in Gurgaon to address a public meeting on the way. Elaborating on the episode, CPM state secretary Inderjeet said three rooms at the Circuit House in Rohtak had been duly booked in the names of Hannan Mollah, Brinda Karat and former MLA Harpal Singh. But when party leaders reached the Circuit House last evening, they were abruptly told that the bookings had been cancelled. Terming the episode disgraceful, Inderjeet demanded an inquiry to fix responsibility for it and strict action against those responsible for the disgraceful conduct. Later, addressing the public gathering, Karat maintained that while crores of tonnes of foodgrains were rotting away in the country’s godowns, a large number of the country’s children continued to grapple with malnutrition. Terming the proposed Food Security Bill an eyewash, Karat asserted that if the Union Government wanted to ensure food safety, it should provide 35 kg foodgrains to each family in the country per month at Rs 2 per kg. The CPM leader also lambasted the government for its alleged anti-employee policies like outsourcing and contractual appointments. “What to speak of labour laws, even the basic human rights of the workers are being trampled by the employers who are backed by government officials as well as leaders,” she maintained. The organisers said the Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha was an attempt to mobilise the masses on certain critical issues of general concern like provision of land and food for all, sufficient employment opportunities, quality education and healthcare, corruption and social justice. All-India Democratic Women Association (AIDWA) vice-president Jagmati Sangwan and CPM leaders Rajender Sharma, Surender Malik and Satbir Singh were also present.
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INLD knocks at House door to meet Chautalas
New Delhi, March 15 Raising the issue during Question Hour in the presence of chairman Hamid Ansari, Parjapati claimed that despite being an MP he had not been allowed to meet the jailed leaders by the authorities concerned. And not just him, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was also meted the same treatment and turned back. Parjapati found active support from RJD’s Prem Chand Gupta, who called it a violation of MPs’ rights and demanded that the government make its stance clear on the “unfortunate situation”. Parjapati later told The Tribune that the Chautalas were being “deliberately cut-off” from political friends and supporters “to aid the Hooda government retain power in Haryana”. “The Congress does not want their message to reach the masses. I am not discussing the merits of the case against them, but the two senior leaders should at least be allowed the courtesy of meeting friends and the MPs. They are both former members of Parliament. The deliberate political alienation is a collective handiwork of the Centre and the state government to retain power in Haryana,” he said. The INLD MP said he had also been assured support from the BJP, Akali Dal and JD(U) and the Shiv Sena and on Monday, he along with Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena, would approach the Home Ministry in this regard. Interestingly, just a few days ago there were allegations of Ajay Chautala addressing a party rally in Sonepat district from jail using his mobile phone. A probe was ordered into the allegations. Tihar law officer and spokesperson Sunil Gupta was later quoted as saying: “We have checked the records and it has been found that he was having a personal conversation with his son, who happened to be in a political rally”. |
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90-year-old Jat joins fast for quota
Fatehabad/Hisar, March 15 Meanwhile, Lakshmi Devi Sangwan (36), a woman, who sat on a fast unto death at Mayyar in Hisar on March 7, ended her fast yesterday after she was taken ill and was shifted to the General Hospital here. Later, her family members from Bhiwani took her to their home. “She has two school going children, who
needed their mother with them. We, too, were feeling uncomfortable, as we do not have any arrangements for women’s stay during nights here at the dharna site. It was her dedication to the cause that motivated her to sit on the fast, though others were not in its favour,” said Mohinder Singh Poonia, stage secretary of the AIJASS (Mayyar). Meanwhile, the condition of other five agitators continues to deteriorate. The AIJASS has announced to start another dharna at Dhanana in Bhiwani from March 17. Ram Bhagat Malik, a spokesperson of the AIJASS, said this would be the third dharna in Haryana after Mayyar and Dhani Gopal. |
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Elderly couple found dead at Jind village
Jind, March 15 The police suspects that the couple has committed suicide by consuming poison when they were alone at their house last night, as it recovered a note from the pocket of the man having names of some persons, who were blamed for making their lives a hell. But according to the victims’ kin and the police, the couple did not leave any suicide note on the spot. The police is investigating the matter and will be taking action against the persons named in the note if found guilty.
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Close shave for labourers
Kaithal, March 15 The victims were buried under the transformer and poles, but they were rescued by their colleagues, local residents and shopkeepers who were present in the vicinity of the accident site.The seriously injured labourers were immediately rushed to a local multi-speciality hospital. It is learnt that a team of workers deployed to install the transformer and their two other colleagues climbed the poles while others extended help to them. The transformer had been nearly installed and the workers were finishing the job when the poles, which were installed on a muddy land tilted and the transformer poles along with installed equipment fell on the ground. There was hue and cry, but lives could be saved by timely rescue operation.
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Jailed for raping employee’s wife
Fatehabad, March 15 On August 31, 2010, the 22-year-old wife of one of his employees lodged a complaint with the police, accusing him of raping her. The woman had alleged that Ved Prakash used to come to her house with
her husband. She alleged that on July 5, 2010, he came to her house without information, when she was taking a bath. She alleged that he filmed her nude video surreptitiously when she was bathing
and then raped her by threatening to kill her and make the video public. She alleged that after raping her on July 5, the accused came to her house again on July 21 and attempted to rape her under duress. However, she threatened to raise the alarm, forcing him to flee. The victim alleged that she brought the incident to the notice of her husband. However, when her husband questioned Ved Prakash about his conduct, he allegedly started threatening him. The victim, later, approached the police with her husband and the police lodged an FIR under
Sections 292, 376 and 506 of the IPC. |
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Murder accused held
Rewari, March 15 He was produced in a local court today, which remanded him to 14-day judicial custody. The police is yet to arrest the main accused, Hukam Singh, who had been on the run for the past few days. Satish’s arrest has followed a protest held by the victimised Dalit family, which had refused to cremate the body of slain Tody Devi at Asalwas village on February 14 while seeking immediate arrest of both murder accused Hukam Singh and Satish. They had performed the last rites only after a senior police official had given them an assurance on February 14 that the accused would be arrested soon. It is note worthy that Dhani Ram (26), younger brother of Hukam Singh, who had allegedly made a bid to outrage the modesty of a Dalit widow, Tody Devi’s daughter-in-law, at Asalwas village on the night of February 9, was later arrested and remanded in judicial custody by a local court on February 12. Infuriated Hukam Singh went to the widow’s house on the night of February 12 and allegedly forced them to withdraw the case. But when they reportedly refused to oblige, the duo allegedly threw Tody Devi violently on the ground, which resulted in her death. Consequently, both Hukam Singh and Satish were booked for Tody Devi’s murder on a complaint filed by the daughter-in-law of the deceased. |
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Girdawari of rain-hit Rabi crops ordered
Fatehabad, March 15 As per the initial reports, mustard and wheat crops in over 40 villages had been badly hit by the hailstorm that lasted for more than 15 minutes. In some villages, vegetables had also suffered an extensive damage. As per the government rules, a special girdawari is ordered when loss to crop is 25 per cent or more. The DC said the tehsildars, patwaris and other revenue officials had been asked to assess the loss at the earliest so that a detailed report could be sent to the government. Meanwhile, Nishan Singh, district president of the INLD, Swatantar Bala Chaudhary, a former MLA from Fatehabad and Nihal Singh Matana, a senior HJC leader, have demanded compensation for farmers in view of the heavy damage caused to their crops.
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The district police has arrested a 50-year-old man for raping a nine-year-old girl, who happened to be distantly related to him.
The police said Mangal Singh of Roorkee was charged with raping a nine-year-old daughter of his sister-in-law’s son, who resided in Mamidi village in the district. The police said as Mangal worked in a local factory and was distantly related to the family, the girl’s parents had allowed him to stay with them.
The irregularities detected in the disbursement of the grants-in-aids are just the tip of the iceberg. "If all grants sanctioned by ministers are test-checked, the magnitude of the irregularities would be much larger than that detailed in the CAG report," Onkar Nath, Haryana Principal Accountant-General (Audit), Haryana, told The Tribune.