Chandigarh, August 12
The BJP is facing unexpected odds within the party, forcing the central leadership to snub its leaders to concentrate on the poll preparation rather than fight over who would lead the party into the elections.

Sources in the party have indicated that the high command is unhappy over the manner in which some senior BJP leaders were trying to project themselves as the chief ministerial candidate. Both Modi and Shah are believed to have told Haryana BJP leaders in no uncertain terms to “focus on the elections and leave the rest to the high command”.

They have also indicated that performance of the leaders will determine who would be the Chief Minister. No names have been considered yet.

Over the past few months, there have been several claimants to the chief ministerial berth, especially after the BJP high command indicated that they would like to go into the elections after anointing the chief ministerial candidate.

The Haryana BJP is facing a problem of plenty with no obvious faces that would fit the slot. All names of “probables” that are doing the rounds are second-rung leaders who have either lost election after election over the years or those who have never contested any election.

There is a feeling among some central party leaders that the Minister of State for Defence, Rao Inderjit Singh, could be a good choice to lead the party. But there is opposition to his name from some who feel that the Chief Minister’s slot should go to someone who is a party cadre. Former Congress MP from Gurgaon, Rao Inderjit, had quit the party to successfully contest the seat on the BJP ticket.

Rao Inderjit’s claim to the top post is that he had joined the BJP before the parliamentary elections, much before the “Modi wave” swept the nation. He, therefore, wishes to be separated from others who can be branded as “opportunists”.

There are other names doing the rounds for the Chief Minister, leading to rivalry in the party. Some of them are Monohar Lal Khattar, Anil Vij, Capt Abhimanyu, Ram Bilas Sharma and OP Dhankar.

This “problem of plenty” has made state BJP leaders overambitious. They do not want any outsiders to join the party as the new entrants would dim their chances of ministerial berths.

The position will, however, become clear after the announcement of the poll schedule, in most likelihood, after the Modi’s rally in Kaithal on August 19.

Chandigarh, August 12
The BJP today said it could form the government on its own after the upcoming Assembly elections, fuelling speculation that it was ready to dump its alliance partner, the HJC.

“The BJP is clearly in a position of form the government on its own (without anybody’s support),” national spokesman Capt Abhimanyu said here today, hinting at dumping of alliance partner HJC that is led by Kuldeep Bishnoi.

He, however, hastened to add that his party wanted the BJP-HJC alliance to continue for the bigger challenge of throwing out the corrupt Congress. “Bishnoi should understand the changed political conditions and not insist on the pre-Lok Sabha seat-sharing formula of 45:45 seats,” Abhimanyu said.

The BJP-HJC alliance hit a rough patch after the HJC lost both Lok Sabha seats and the BJP-led won seven of the eight seats and led in 52 Assembly segments in the recent parliamentary elections. With several senior leaders from other major parties, including the Congress, making a beeline for the BJP, the saffron party seems confident of a good showing in the Assembly elections even without the HJC, sources said.

Even as the war of words between senior leaders of the BJP and the HJC has intensified in the recent days, HJC supremo Kuldeep Bishnoi shot off a letter to the BJP chief Amit Shah wanting clarity on the nature of the alliance. The BJP is yet to respond to the letter.

Jind, August 12
The organiser of the BJP chief Amit Shah’s Jind rally has shifted the venue to a ground on the outskirts of the city on the Safidon road.

The August 16 rally was planned to be held in a historical ground in the city but, owing to space constraints, the Yuva Shaktri Badlao Ki Aur (YSBKA) decided to change the venue.

The exact number of participants for the rally is not confirmed. But local BJP leaders expect nearly 5 lakh people since Congress rebel Birender Singh wanted to make it a big event.

Sources close to Singh said other “disgruntled” leaders of various parties, who enjoyed good relations with him, might join the BJP on August 16.

These days, Singh is touring the state, meeting his supporters and asking them to ensure maximum participation for the rally.

“The rally will show who the real leader of Haryana is. Several leaders think have the misconception that by having middlemen and bureaucrats by their side, they have become big leaders. Big leaders are only those who have a mass base and I will prove it (at the Kaithal rally),” said Singh, who refused to reply whether or not he would join the BJP at the rally. All he said was he would disclose his plans during the event.

Sources in the BJP said since the party senior leadership wanted to assess the political potential of “brand” Birender during the proposed rally, it has not directed any of its leader from the state to organise the rally. Though BJP leaders would participate in the rally, they will come as “guests”.

“We will attend the rally. Since it’s the YSBKA rally, we (state leaders) are not involved at any level. We have told the organiser to approach in case they need any help,” said BJP district president Dr OP Pehal.

Thanesar, August 12
This constituency has little to flaunt in the name of development other than sprucing up of facilities at the world-famous Brahma Sarovar.

While the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) state chief and sitting MLA Ashok Arora is confident of retaining his seat, but many believe that he has not been able to concentrate on the constituency as he has been busy with the party work.

He candidly accepts that he doesn’t have an impressive report card and accused the Hooda government for the situation. “I belong to INLD, the party which has always taken a stand against the wrong policies of Congress and that’s the prime reason that the state ignored the issues raised by me. This constituency hasn’t seen any major development over the last five years,” he admits. He was the transport minister in the INLD government from 2000 to 2005.

Demands and issues

Arora said, “I asked for a government college for Thanesar but it went to Pehowa as Hooda was of the view that since there is Kurukshetra University here it doesn’t need a government college. There were few other demands - upgradation of civil hospital, an amusement park near Brahmsarovar to boost tourism, industries for generating employment - but all remain unfulfilled.

“The state government has always adopted an indifferent attitude towards this region. The local MLA being an INLD person is one thing but the other is that three Congress MPs, Dr Ramprakash and Choudhry Ishwar Singh, both Rajya Sabha members, and Naveen Jindal too didn’t bring any big project for the region,”Surjit, a local resident remarked.

“Arora enjoys the confidence of his party workers and has a clean record. Being a non-jat leader, he attracts many communities. Many issues regarding Kurukshetra university and other employee associations have been raised by him time to time though his efforts are yet to deliver results”, Dr Avensh Verma, secretary, KUTA said.

“The constituency has many projects but remain only on paper. The development that the region has seen is solely because of its presence in world map for its religious importance, said Mohinder Singh, a businessman.

The constituency has favoured the Congress which won the seat five times since 1967. The INLD and the LKD won twice each while the JNP and the SAP once each.

In the name of development, all government did was spruce up facilities at Brahma Sarovar.

Local issues

The city has poor drainage system. Traffic jams are common due to the railway line that divides the town. Negligence at the Civil Hospital, no industries, incomplete flyovers, no efforts to boost tourism and poor law and order are others issues of concern.

Segment scan

Karnal, August 12
To garner support for the Jind rally on August 16, Congress rebel Birender Singh reached the city today and interacted with his supporters at Jat Dharamshala.

He hit out at Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for “lopsided development”. “Due to CM’s petty politics, anger prevails among people of the state and this will be reflected with a huge turnout at the Jind rally,” the Rajya Sabha MP said while addressing his supporters.

“The rally will pave the way for good governance and progress for the state. The petty politics of the government will end and a new chapter will be added to the state politics, resulting in overall development of the state,” he said.

He alleged that the Congress had become Hooda’s personal turf. “This attitude will lead to the party’s debacle in the state. No action has been taken by the central leadership even after this issue has been brought to their notice. The Congress will lose ground in Haryana, as it did in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.”

“I was associated with the Congress for 43 years. But seeing the sorry state of affairs in the party, I have to decide on other option. I have not committed to join any party. The decision will be taken at the Jind rally,” he added.

‘Bishnoi should be realistic about alliance’

Singh suggested Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) chief Kuldeep Bishnoi to be realistic on the number of seats it wanted to contest. “Bishnoi will suffer the most if the HJC-BJP alliance breaks,” he said. On becoming the Chief Minister, Singh said that if given the responsibility, he would surely like to be the Chief Minister. “The desire never ends,” he added.

‘Hooda focussed on Rohtak alone’

Kurukshetra: Disgruntled Congress leader Birender Singh on Tuesday said it was time to change the political structure in the state. Addressing his supporters here, he alleged that Chief Minister Birender Singh focused on the development of his son’s constituency, Rohtak, while the rest of the constituencies were ignored. “Seventy per cent of the government jobs were given to the people of Rohtak,” he said. Later, talking to the media, the Rajya Sabha MP said: “I will distribute sweets if the Congress manages to touch double digits in the Assembly elections.” 
— Nitish Sharma 

Sonepat, August 12
INLD leader Abhay Chautala has said if his party comes to power in the state, loans amounting to Rs 2 lakh of farmers and people from other sections of society will be waived off.

He stated this while addressing a meeting of party workers of the Rai Assembly constituency today.

He also announced that electricity connections for tube wells would be given free of cost and round-the-clock power supply would be provided to ensure that crops were not damaged for want of irrigation. Promising pucca houses for the poor and two-wheelers for school and college-going girls, Abhay said state government employees would be given pay equal to the employees of the Punjab Government. He said farmers had been at the “receiving end” during the Congress rule in Haryana. 

Karnal, August 12
As the poll code deadline looms, the Hooda government is in a frenzy to inaugurate a series of projects. Following this pattern, Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda today inaugurated college classes for commerce and arts from a government school after cutting a ribbon in Assandh.

Though, this was a long pending demand of the local residents, and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had made the announcement in a rally at Assandh around 15 days back. At that time the CM also announced to start the classes within 20 days.

As per sources, the college would be operated only from five rooms, but INLD candidate Yashvir Rana and BJP ticket aspirant from here Bakshish Singh Virk called it as a mere eye wash to fool the public.

While addressing a gathering, the MP claimed, “It is an achievement as the government has opened the college in record time.”

Meanwhile, he called upon party workers to attend the ‘Vijay Sankalp Rally’ to be held on August 24 in Panipat and counted the achievements of the Hooda government during his regime.

Ashok Tanwar, state unit president, claimed the Congress government would come to the power for a record third time and the remaining work of the state would be done thereafter.

‘Include students’ union poll in party’s manifesto’

Kurukshetra: Giving consent to inclusion of students’ union election in the party’s manifesto put forward by Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda, Congress state chief Ashok Tanwar, said “Elections should take place and I will put this demand before the manifesto committee.”

Deepender Hooda and Ashok Tanwar were at Kurukshetra University to attend NUSI’s state-level meeting. In his address, Deepender said, “The ban was imposed on the students’ union elections in Haryana during Bansi Lal’s government. In view of the unruly and violent behaviour of the students group, it was considered appropriate to ban students’ union polls at that time. But a lot of time has passed since then and circumstances have changed. For the last two years, the demand has been raised; I hope that in future, student groups will try to influence the students with their views and not violence.”

Fatehabad, August 12
Deputy Commissioner DK Bahera on Tuesday said the Election Commission had fixed a limit of Rs 28 lakh for poll expenses for every candidate. “Any candidate found to be exceeding the limit will be disqualified. If a candidate is declared a winner, but his election expenditure exceeds Rs 28 lakh, he or she will be disqualified to become the MLA,” Bahera told representatives of parties in a meeting.

He said as per the Election Commission’s orders, new votes can be made till the last day of filing of nominations. 

Chandigarh, August 12
The Haryana Cabinet today decided to allow mixed land use of industrial plots and sheds in industrial estates in existence in the state as on November 1, 1966, the day the state came into existence.

Industrial estates to be additionally covered under this are those of Hisar, Gurgaon, Ambala City, Barwala (Hisar), Pinjore, Kohand (Karnal) and Fatehabad (see box).

The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, also approved the rates of conversion charges for plots and sheds in these industrial estates and industrial colonies. These would be effective for the calendar year 2014.

The Cabinet said the conversion of industrial plots for non-industrial uses should be permitted only in respect of plots situated on external and internal circulation roads with a right of way (RoW)) of 18 metre and above keeping in view the congestion likely to be created on account of increased intensity of traffic and parking related issues.

However, in case allottees whose industrial plots are situated on internal circulation roads with less than 18 metre RoW voluntarily agree to leave or contribute so much of area from their plots so as to meet the minimum RoW condition, the same may be allowed. It was also decided that the floor-area ratio of 1.25, as allowed for the general industry, be kept intact for non-industrial uses keeping in view infrastructure constraints, especially qua the RoW of the internal circulation roads.

The conversion rates for different non-industrial land use and those proposed now in respect to additional estates or colonies will be revised every year (effective from January 1 to December 31) at the rate of 10 per cent with annual compounding.

Regularisation policy

The Cabinet today decided to modify the Regularisation Policy issued on June 16 and 18, 2014, for Group B, C and D employees and workers to the extent that the concerned employee and worker should have completed three years of service on contract basis against a sanctioned post on June 30, 2014, instead of May 28, 2014.

The Cabinet also approved that in case of Haryana Power Utilities, 50% of the 605 vacant posts of different categories would be filled up through M/s PGCIL/NTPC by taking these posts out of the purview of HPSC/HSSC.

Sportspersons’ appointments

The Cabinet decided to appoint two outstanding sportspersons as constables under sports quota in Haryana Police. Yoga player Anil Kumar and body builder Anand would be appointed as constables. Sportsperson Seema Antil would be promoted as Inspector while Dharmender Dalal would also be promoted to the next appropriate position.

Land allotted

The Cabinet approved a proposal to provide passage to the Punjabi Samaj Sabha, Kurukshetra to its dharamshala here.

It also approved allotment of land measuring three kanal three marla to Shri Arorvansh Mahasabha, Ratia for construction of a dharamshala on lease basis for 99 years. It also approved the proposal to allot land measuring 10 kanal to Punjabi Sabha, Ratia, for construction of a dharamshala on lease basis for 99 years.

Gurudwara commissioner

The Cabinet decided to appoint Justice Iqbal Singh as the Commissioner of the Gurdwara Judicial Commission.

Chandigarh, August 12
The Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here today, approved the revised toll policy to reduce the high toll under the 2008 Toll Policy of the Government of India for road users of national highways in the state.

The new policy will be effective from August 15. Now, the toll at Dighal on NH-71 would benefit residents of 92 villages in Jhajjar district and 78 villages of Rohtak district.

In case of NH-71-A, the toll at Makraulikalan would benefit residents of 74 villages in district Rohtak and two in district Jhajjar and 33 villages of Sonepat district.

Similarly, in case of the toll at Dahar on NH-71A, residents of 92 villages from Panipat and Sonepat districts would be benefitted. In case of NH-71, the toll at Gangaycha Jat, would benefit the residents of 224 villages in Rewari. In case of NH-2, for the toll at Palwal, residents of 222 villages would be benefitted.

It was decided that in case of local passes to be issued to car and jeep owners residing in a radius of 20 kms from the toll point at Palwal, the facility would be admissible to both having the registration number Haryana or other states. The state government will give 75% subsidy on local passes.

In case of car and jeep owners residing in a radius of 35 kms from four toll plazas of Dighal, Makraulikalan, Dahar and Gangaycha Jat, the government would bear 75% of the expenditure for issuing monthly passes. Also, in case of owners of light vehicles (Tata 407), bus and JCBs residing in a radius of 30 kms from these tolls, the government would bear 50% of the expenditure in issuing monthly passes.

Rewari, August 12
Days after Governor and Indira Gandhi University (IGU), Meerpur, Chancellor Kaptan Singh Solanki stayed the recruitment of teachers following allegations of irregularities, authorities have decided to appoint teaching staff on deputation basis. The new academic session began on August 1.

The varsity has sought the services of three professors, four association professors and eight assistant professors from Central and other universities of the state for geography, Hindi and law courses. “Since the LLB course has been introduced from this academic session, we don’t have a teacher to conduct the classes. Though we have initiated the process to appoint teachers for the LLB course on regular basis, but this has been stayed by the Chancellor. So, we are seeking services of teaching staff on deputation,” said Indira Gandhi University Vice-Chancellor Mahender Kumar. The guest faculty for Hindi and geography would continue to work as usual.

Two professors — Dr Nikhilesh Yadav and Dr Subhash Chander Sharma — filed a complaint to the Chancellor against the recruitment process and demanded a high-level probe. Acting on the complaint, the Chancellor sought a reply from the university.

As per the varsity’s schedule, the academic session began on August 1, but admission to the Master of Computer Application (MCA) course is open. Admissions to LLB, MBA, MCom, MSc (math and geography) courses were completed by the second week of this month.

Karnal, August 12
After three years, the Karnal police on Monday nabbed the fourth accused in a three-year-old honour killing incident, which took place at Gagsina village on the intervening night of June 12 and 13 in 2011.

The accused Surat alias Surta of Gagsina village was arrested from the same village. Three other accused including the father of the deceased girl, paternal uncle and another man have been arrested. Gharaunda SHO Yogesh Kumar said Neha of Gagsina and Sandeep of Chana in Jind fell in love and absconded from their house on the intervening night of May 20 and 21 in 2011.

Later the police traced them from Vrindavan in UP on June 1, 2011, and handed over Neha to her family. The SHO said Bijender, Neha’s father along with Narinder, her uncle, and Sukhrampal killed her, while Surta accompanied them to cremate and dispose off her ashes.

The SHO said they arrested Surta from his house after they were tipped-off by reliable sources. — TNS

Ambala, August 12
BSNL mobile services in the Ambala circle remained suspended for more than four hours after being hit by a technical snag on Tuesday.

According to sources in the BSNL, the main exchange of the BNSL, which provides power to mobile exchange, developed some problems at 10.30 am after which the services were affected and more than 3 lakh consumers could not use the services till around 2.30 pm.

Telecom engineers restored the services after rectifying the fault. However, landline and internet consumers were not affected by the problem and they continued to use the service. — TNS

Gurgaon, August 12
Aiming at making city crime free, the Gurgaon police have joined hands with the Management Development Institute (MDI) signing an MOU for developing two projects with one specifically aimed at dealing with crime against woman.

The first project is about creating a crime index which will be helpful in assessing the crime rate scientifically. "With the creation of crime index, one will be able to analyse whether the crime rate has increased or decreased in Gurgaon. For this, MDI faculty will conduct a basic survey of incidents of crime in Gurgaon. It is an exercise to develop an ability to predict the occurrence of crime in advance so that preventive measures can be taken," said Police Commissioner Alok Mittal. — TNS