Chandigarh,November 14
With a Gurgaon court ordering police to register an FIR against Sports Minister Sukhbir Kataria in the bogus votes case, the list of “tainted” Haryana legislators belonging to both the Congress and the INLD has gone up to 16.

Six of the legislators, including Leader of the Opposition Om Prakash Chautala, two former ministers Gopal Kanda and OP Jain and one former Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Zile Ram Sharma and two INLD MLAs, Ajay Chautala and Sher Singh Badshami, are cooling their heels in jail in various criminal cases.

While Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s Cabinet colleague, Kataria, is facing heat for his alleged role in making bogus votes, two of his CPSs, Ram Kishan Fauji and Ram Kishan Gujjar, are facing criminal charges. While the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently issued notice to Fauji for his alleged role in a murder case in Bhiwani, Gujjar is facing allegations of forcing journalist Pankaj Khanna to commit suicide.

Rao Narinder Singh, a minister in the Hooda Cabinet, and three CPSs, Vinod Bhayana, Jaleb Khan and Ram Kishan Fauji, are at the receiving end for allegedly demanding money for change of land use (CLU). Their video CDs and that of other MLAs Naresh Selvel, Ram Niwas Ghorela, Jarnail Singh and Sampat Singh (his son was allegedly shown demanding a bribe) were released by the INLD. The matter is under probe by the Lokayukta.

Meanwhile, state BJP president Ram Bilas Sharma demanded the resignation of the Hooda Government on “moral grounds” for the alleged involvement of several ministers and MLAs in criminal activity. "If the Hooda Government does not resign on its own, the Haryana Governor should dismiss it," Sharma demanded.

Chandigarh, November 14
Commuters continued to face a difficult time today on the second day of the strike by Haryana Roadways employees, protesting against the new transport policy intended to give 3,519 permits to private bus operators.

Haryana Roadways bus services remained affected on most routes throughout the state even though buses of private operators and other state roadways plied normally throughout the state.

The Haryana Roadways Employees Union announced its decision to withdraw the strike after having talks with Transport Minister Aftab Ahmed here today.

The minister said a joint committee comprising a group of ministers and leaders of employees would be set up to sympathetically consider the demands of employees and redress grievances in three months.

He said the committee would have three ministers and representatives of employees. The Principal Secretary, Transport Department, RR Jowel, was present in the meeting.

Sirsa: Passengers had to face inconvenience as bus services remained paralysed. Drivers and conductors sat outside the bus stand in protest. Employees’ leaders addressed the striking workers. The Sirsa depot suffered a daily receipt loss of Rs 13 lakh per day in the two-day strike.

Fatehabad: Haryana Roadways workers observed a complete strike on the second day of the two-day “chakka jam” agitation.

Kurukshetra: Haryana Roadways employees raised anti-government slogans. Supporting them, INLD state president and local MLA Ashok Arora demanded that the state government should fulfil their demands.

Ambala: The government made alternative arrangements and issued temporary permits to private bus and maxi-cab operators in view of the inconvenience to commuters. The Yamunanagar police pressed into service two of its buses to transport pilgrims to Kapal Mochan and Adi Badri to take a holy dip on the second day of the annual fair.

Sonepat: Striking employees locked the main gates of Haryana Roadways depots at Sonepat and Gohana. They threatened to proceed on an indefinite strike if the government did not accept their demands.

Karnal: Striking employees sat on a dharna, singing 'raginis' and Haryanvi folk songs. Commuters were forced to board overloaded private buses or travel by train to reach their destinations.

Rewari: Agitating employees organised a dharna outside the workshop here. They raised slogans against the policy to privatise Haryana Roadways.

Faridabad: Around 200 buses of the Faridabad depot remained grounded. Private bus operators did good business. Those operating three-wheelers and other commercial carriers made a quick buck.

Kaithal: Haryana Roadways employees organised a dharna in support of their demands. Passengers were forced to board overcrowded private buses or hire two-wheelers or taxis.

Gurgaon, November 14
Schoolchildren had a gala time as they were taken for a ride on Rapid Metro Gurgaon, which commenced commercial operations here today.

Rapid Metro Gurgaon is the first metro rail system of the country which has been fully financed privately. The Rapid Metro rail service was launched this morning. The service will be open from 6:05 a.m. till 12:20 (midnight).

The underlying idea behind starting of the Rapid Metro rail service is to connect the residents and commuters based/working at different points in Gurgaon with the Delhi Metro rail network.

Feeder bus service will begin next week to enable the commuters to reach the Rapid Metro stations. Five fully automated trains with a frequency of four minutes will be running between six (currently five) stations with each train carrying approximately 800 passengers on each trip. It is hoped that about 30 per cent of existing road traffic will shift to Rapid Metro.

Policemen have also been deployed at the Rapid Metro rail stations to ensure the safety and security of commuters, especially women.

The driving force behind the Rapid Metro Gurgaon is IL&FS Rail, which is a subsidiary of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (IL&FS), an infrastructure development and finance company. Phase I of Rapid Metro is being constructed at a cost of Rs 1,088 crore.

A rather wide gap between the metro train and the platform witnessed by newsmen during their maiden Rapid Metro Gurgaon ride yesterday may be a cause of concern.

Sanjiv Rai, MD and CEO, IL&FS Rail Ltd, who announced the start of commercial operation of Rapid Metro Gurgaon at a media interaction, however, denied that the gap was wide enough to pose any threat to the passengers' safety.

Chandigarh, Nov 14
The Haryana Government has revised the rates for dearness relief for its pensioners and family pensioners from 80 to 90 per cent with effect from July 1, 2013.

Finance Minister HS Chattha said here today that the dearness relief to pensioners and family pensioners would be admissible on the central pattern.

The government would spend Rs 10.57 crore per month on this increased DA relief.

The Finance Minister said this DA relief would put an additional annual liability of Rs 126.84 crore on the state exchequer. He said the government had also enhanced the DA for employees drawing pay in the unrevised scales from 166 per cent to 183 per cent with effect from July 1.

Hisar, November 14
The police has cancelled the FIR of rape against a youth. It has been decided to take action against the woman who lodged a false complaint on October 1.

The police said the complaint had been found false and the FIR against the youth and his sister and mother was cancelled yesterday.

Karnal, November 14
“Har andheri raat mein diya jalana kya mana hai” are the words of little genius Kautilya Pandit who is himself spreading light and motivating lakh of children worldwide. His message on the Children’s Day was clear and motivating that “every child is special but what matters is the upbringing and definitely, the exposure given by media makes the difference”.

Not only his treasure of astonishing knowledge but his “Sanskars” are also worth appreciation as he bows down and touches the feet of every elderly, address them as “Aap” and says “Mujhe beta kaho” (call me son).

“I often dream of meeting American President Barrack Obama as he is the most powerful man on earth,” says Pandit.

His father Satish Sharma says some NRIs have approached them to bring him to America in December and are trying to fix an appointment with the US President.