INLD rout a boost for Bansi Lal
ROHTAK, Nov 30 — The loss of the Indian National Lok Dal in the elections to the Delhi and Rajasthan assemblies, is the gain of the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal in Haryana.

Take Gita's message to masses: Prasad
KURUKSHETRA, Nov 30 — The Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, here today regretted that the sacred message of the Bhagwadgita had not been taken to the common man. He asked intellectuals and scholars to take this message to the grassroots level for the benefit of humanity.

• HVP leader quits, joins Jindal
• PDS yet to be streamlined

INLD rout a boost for Bansi Lal
From Jatinder Sharma
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Nov 30 — The loss of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in the elections to the Delhi and Rajasthan assemblies, is the gain of the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal in Haryana.

This is how political analysts sum-up the fallout of the just concluded assembly elections to four states, including Delhi and Rajasthan, on Haryana.

The INLD, which had entered into an electoral alliance with the BJP in Delhi and Rajasthan, had suffered humiliating defeats in both states ( as also the BJP). The party suffered its worst defeat in Sangria (Rajasthan) where its candidate, Mr Abhey Chautala was humbled at the hustings and got only the third position.

The defeat of Mr Abhey Singh is considered a big setback for the INLD as the prestige of its supremo, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, and the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, were at stake in this Jat and Sikh-dominated constituency bordering both Haryana and Punjab. Besides, Mr Devi Lal, and Mr Om Parkash Chautala, the Punjab Chief Minister, his wife and son, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union Minister of State for Industries had actively campaigned for Chautala.

Mr Om Parkash Chautala had entered into this electoral alliance in the hope that none of the rival parties, the Congress and the BJP, would get an absolute majority in Delhi and Rajasthan. In that event, if the INLD won a couple of seats in both these states, his bargaining power would increase vis-a-vis the BJP leadership in Haryana. But his gameplan appears to have misfired with the defeat of INLD candidates.

Political analysts believe that the BJP, which has been weakened after these elections, may now have to think twice before withdrawing from the government in Haryana. The party would not like to send the wrong signals to its allies at the Centre by withdrawing support to the Bansi Lal government. The post-poll scenario has thus proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Chief Minister.

The defeat of the INLD candidates in the two states has also dispelled the impression that its supremo, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, enjoyed considerable influence and support in the Jat belt of Rajasthan and Delhi. Whether the performance of the INLD candidates in the neighbouring states will have any impact on its support base in Haryana will only become clear when elections are held in the state.

The exit of industrialist-turned politician, Mr Om Parkash Jindal from the ruling Haryana Vikas Party, too, will not have an immediate impact in Haryana. The political parties in the state are watching his activities very closely. But the set of leaders projected by Mr Jindal in his Sarvjatia Morcha, has not inspired the people.

Even Mr Jindal's community has not yet rallied behind him with no MLA or minister of his community turning up at the meeting convened by Mr Jindal to discuss the affairs of Agroha Medical College. Even his close relative and Urban Development Minister, Mr Sri Kishan Dass has not so far supported the actions of Mr Jindal.

Violence scares industry
From Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, Nov 30 — A spate of robberies and violent incidents in the recent past has set alarm bells ringing in this industrial township with a cross-section of industrialists saying this trend could hurt investments in Haryana.

During the past week alone, the township has witnessed a major robbery in the showroom of an industrial house and three murders.

These incidents go against the assertion of the Haryana Chief Secretary on November 25 that the law and order situation in the state was better than in other states. The Chief Secretary last Tuesday asserted that Haryana was the safest destination for investors.

Industrialists, however, feel that the law and order situation is far from satisfactory.

Some of them alleged that the government was not sensitive to the security concerns of industry circles.

Some unidentified armed persons looted a Pasco showroom of Rs 13 lakh in cash and Rs 14 lakh in assets and a cheque in broad day light. Two persons were murdered in Sector 31, followed by another murder in Sector 4 yesterday.

According to reports employees coming out from the industrial area with their salaries were assaulted and robbed around Pace City and on Khandsa road both centres of industry. Employees coming out of banks after drawing money have also been attacked on several occasions.

One entrepreneur said that like in Faridabad and other industrial cities, a trend of Diwali gift related violence was taking root in Gurgaon.

The management of Speciality Coatings and Laminations Ltd are said to be facing violence from a group of workers for not being given Diwali gifts as per their specifications. Even employees not supporting the agitational programme on the issue have been waylaid and assaulted.

The development has been brought to the notice of the police, but no action was taken so far. The workers are alleged to have been instigated by outsiders.

While production in some of the units has slowed on account of the violence, the deteriorating law and order situation has created a scare among industrialists.

One entrepreneur, who had recently set up a unit here said that with the industry already hit hard by the overall recession and by the state government’s policy to hike power tariff at regular intervals, the pathetic law and order situation was proving the proverbial last straw.

A section of the industry is also facing violence from cartels of truck operators, who have formed a union and harass industrialists if their trucks are not used for transportation of goods from the factory premises. There have been a number of violence incidents against firms refusing to hire the local carriers. The problem is acute as these cartels fix rates at whim.

These truck operators are generally locals and a large section of industrialists are from far off places. One captain of industry said that hiring of local trucks was not possible in the case of export transactions as buyers abroad lay down certain specifications, one of which is the method of conveyance of goods for transportation to the final destination.

Some captains of industry said that they had dropped the idea of expanding their business till conditions became more conducive.

Take Gita's message to masses: Prasad
From K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

KURUKSHETRA, Nov 30 — The Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, here today regretted that the sacred message of the Bhagwadgita had not been taken to the common man. He asked intellectuals and scholars to take this message to the grassroots level for the benefit of humanity.

The Governor was addressing the concluding session of the three-day symposium on the "Scope of the Bhagwadgita in religion and politics" at the Senate Hall of Kurukshetra University last evening.

Mr Prasad stated when the message of the Bhagwadgita would be prevalent amongst the masses at the grassroots level, it would lead to ending of "casteism, linguism, regionalism, chauvinism and even terrorism." The message of the sacred book would also lead to social justice in society. The Governor wanted that the basis of social justice and society should be patterned on the principles as enunciated in the Bhagwadgita.

Mr Prasad asked Kurukshetra University Vice-Chancellor, Dr M.L. Ranga, to undertake the work of preaching the message of Bhagwadgita amongst the masses with the help of the Sanskrit Department of the university.

The Governor was upset that the principles of equal justice to all had not been properly understood. He even went on to say that even the scope of the religion and its true meaning as described in the sacred text of the Bhagwadgita had not been understood. Had it been so, there would have been no religious conversions in the country?

The Governor regretted that even after 50 years of Independence, the message of the Bhagwadgita had not become all-pervasive. Even the country had failed to carry ahead what Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Vinoba Bhave and Dr S. Radha Krishnan, had taken out of the Gita to preach for the benefit of society and humanity as a whole.

Mr Prasad was upset that the 5,000-year-old heritage of India had not been well understood and preached. He asked the scientists to understand the progress of information technology even in those days when Sanjay described every detail to blind king Dritrashtra about the happenings in the battlefield at Kurukshetra.

Dr M.L. Ranga, Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, said the Bhagwadgita was "essence of the four Vadas". The religious text was full of mystery. That was why Adi Shankracharya had described it as "Gitashastra".

Dr Ranga stated that the Bhagwadgita was based on true values of life which catered to the welfare of humanity. He said that truth was the basis of this message which was full of "humanism and made no difference of varnas".

Mr Ashok Yadav, Chief Executive Officer of the Kurukshetra Development Board, assured the Governor that from next year the symposium will keep "Bhagwadgita and religion" as one of the apt topics for the symposium.

About 28 scholars in Sanskrit drawn from all over the country participated in the three-day deliberations of the national symposium.

Mewat Mela to focus on women’s rights
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, Nov 30 — In an effort to make members of the weaker sex of the Mewat area more aware of their rights, the Haryana Government plans to focus on the issue at a five-day "Mewat Mela" commencing in Nuh from December 7.

The mela, held under the auspices of the Mewat Development Agency (MDA), will organise a convention of women of Mewat, the hinterland of Gurgaon, on the occasion. The chief of the MDA and the Commissioner, Gurgaon division, Dr G. Prasanna, told mediapersons today that more than 10,000 women from all six blocks of the Mewat area, from Gurgaon and Faridabad, were expected to participate in the convention.

The mela, second in the series after the one held in Punhana last year, was devised as a concept to bring the people of Mewat on one platform and expose them to the functioning of various departments of the government. This would be done by exhibitions, displays, demonstrations and seminars on various issues closely related to the lives of the common man.

The occasion will be used to educate the people of Mewat about the various welfare plans of the government.

Rate of literacy, economic status and the standard of living in the Mewat area is below as compared to other parts of the state. The Meo society, which allegedly abets and perpetuates the insulation of the womenfolk, is dominated by a minority community.

Dr Prasanna said the mela would be used as an opportunity to educate the people of the area, especially the women, on ways to enhance their economic status by opting for self-employment ventures. Experts from various fields and officials from almost all departments would be available to make them aware of the schemes of the government. This included trade in floriculture and handicrafts.

There is a proposal to felicitate all women graduates — about 12 identified so far — from Mewat at the mela.

The mela has provision for seminars on various issues, including agriculture. Scientists from Hisar Agriculture University have been roped in to give counsel to the participants on the latest technology and techniques of farming.

A major role by the non-government organisations — already active in Mewat — will be one of the salient features of the coming event. The MDA, as a matter of policy, has decided to confine its role to that of regulating and coordinating the activities.

'Create awakening against AIDS'
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 30 — The Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, and the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, have urged the health authorities, educationists and philanthropists to create an awakening among the masses to prevent the spread of AIDS. They said that we must protect the younger generation from this disease.

In his message issued on the eve of the World AIDS Day, the Governor expressed his concern over the fact that nearly 45 per cent of the registered positive HIV cases were in the age group of 15-25 years and the largest number of such cases had been registered in India and China.

Mr Bansi Lal said the State Health Department would organise special functions tomorrow to make the people conscious of this disease, which was posing a serious threat to mankind. He said that competitions in slogan writing, on-the-spot painting and poster making besides rallies of youth would be held to involve the youth in this drive.

Farm machine gets good response
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 30 — The Haryana Agriculture Department has introduced multi-benefit "zero-till seed-cum-fertiliser drill" machine for sowing of wheat and its working was demonstrated on a sizeable areas of the State during this rabi season.

This scientific measure aimed at enhancing foodgrain production was taken to honour the Prime Minister's call for doubling the foodgrain production over a period of 10 years, said the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mrs Krishna Gahlawat, here today.

She said that the machine would save ploughing of land after harvesting of paddy resulting in net saving of Rs 600 to Rs 800 per acre. Other benefits of the machine included saving of pre-sowing irrigation as seedling would be done in residual moisture of paddy, restricting the menace of phalaris minor increasing fertiliser use efficiency as phosphatic fertiliser would be placed near the seed and sowing in lines would improve aeration and light distribution.

The Minister said that trials of this machine conducted over an area of 100 acres during the last rabi season were very encouraging. There had been a tremendous response from farmers in Karnal, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Kaithal and Jind districts.

Sangh criticises shifting of office
From Our Correspondent

JIND, Nov 30 — The district unit of Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana (headquarter Kurukshetra) at a meeting here today condemned the proposal of the Haryana Government of shifting the offices of the Minor Irrigation and Tubewell Corporation from Jind to Kaithal in the middle of the financial year. It said shifting of the office at this stage would cause great hardship to the employees of the corporation and their children.

The sangh urged the government to shift the offices at the beginning of the next financial year.

The sangh also demanded implementation of the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission for all categories of employees and removal of anomalies.

The sangh will decide its future course of action at a state-level convention to be held at Kaithal on January 3,1999.

Hooda's charge ‘baseless’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 30 — Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, the Lok Dal candidate from the Sangaria Assembly constituency in Rajasthan and the younger son of Mr Om Prakash Chautala, President of the party, has denied that he had forfeited his security deposit in the recent elections.

The Haryana Congress President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, had claimed here yesterday that Mr Chautala had forfeited his security deposit in that constituency.

In a statement issued here today, Mr Chautala alleged that Mr Hooda had lost his mental equilibrium and was making baseless and irrational statements. Reacting sharply to the statement of Mr Hooda, the Lok Dal leader said that it seemed Mr Hooda had developed phobia about Mr Chautala's name.

Seeking an apology from Mr Hooda, Mr Chautala said if it was proved that he had forfeited his security deposit in Sangaria, he would quit politics.

HUDA considering MC demands
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Nov 30 — The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) which is engaged in a dispute with the local Municipal Corporation over the maintenance of residential and industrial sectors is considering prepare the "just" demands of the civic body.

The general body meeting of the corporation, presided over by the Mayor, had passed a resolution on November 10 seeking a review of the agreement with HUDA by which the sectors were handed over to the corporation for maintenance in 1993.

The resolution said that either HUDA should pay the arrears amounting to Rs 29 crore or take back the sectors. It said as the previous agreement was "faulty" a new one should be made. The civic body was spending much more on the maintenance of the sectors than the revenue earned from them.

The resolution had already been sent to the Haryana Government for approval, but no decision had been taken.

HUDA sources said they were examining whether any amount was to be paid to the corporation. It had already been decided in consultation with the corporation to execute the "original" works as sought by the civic body. About 100 HUDA employees whose services were transferred to the corporation had also been taken back and absorbed in various HUDA offices in Haryana.

Jain elected National Commissioner
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 30 — Mr L.M. Jain, at present Principal Secretary to the Haryana Chief Minister, has once again been elected National Commissioner of Bharat Scouts and Guides for three years. He defeated Mr S.S. Raghav of Madhya Pradesh in a straight contest by polling 167 votes against 63.

Mr Jain (58) has held senior positions in the organisation, both at the national and international levels. A committed scout since his school days, Mr Jain has been State Chief Commissioner of Haryana for several years. He was International Commissioner of Scouts and Guides and member, Asia Pacific, from 1992 to 95. He has won several awards and is counted as one of the pioneers in the scouting movement.

Meanwhile, Mr Rameshwar Thakur, another prominent member of the Bharat Scouts and Guides was unanimously elected President of the organisation. His only rival, Mr B.K. Biswal, Deputy Chief Minister of Orissa, withdrew from the contest. He replaces former Union Home Minister, Mr S.B. Chavan who has held that assignment for 15 years.

1.25 cr to be spent on repair of roads
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Nov 30 — The Haryana Government has prepared a Rs 1.25 crore plan for the maintenance and repair of roads in the city which had been damaged during the monsoon this year.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr P.K. Mahapatra told mediapersons here today that the work had already been started by the PWD (B&R) and the Market Committee.

The entire road network, he said, would be covered under the plan and the work would be completed by the end of the current financial year.

He claimed that official agencies had already spent Rs 35 lakh on the repair of the roads which was being done on a war-footing.

Giving the details of the road development programme in the city, the Deputy Commissioner disclosed that the district had six state highways. The state government, he said, would strengthen the 185-km portion of the roads.

He said the work on the 3-km-long stretch of the Panipat-Rohtak road was going on.

Five killed in accidents
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Nov 30 — Five persons were killed and more than 12 injured in different accidents in Rohtak and Jhajjar districts in the past 24 hours.

According to police sources, a school matador rammed into a truck near Bhagwatipur village on the Rohtak-Jind road last night. Three persons were killed on the spot and nearly 12 students of Government High School, Jind injured.

The deceased were identified as Mahipal, Swarna Singh and Ram Bhaj.

In a separate accident, a Nigerian youth was killed and another injured when their car collided with a mini bus near Bahadurgarh bus stand last evening.

In another accident, Krishan Kumar of Hasangarh village was killed on the spot when a jeep rammed into his tractor near Sampla on the Rohtak-Delhi road yesterday.

The police found the boy of a youth on the Sampla-Kultana road today.

HVP leader quits, joins Jindal
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Nov 30 — Mr Gajanand Soni, state vice-president of the backward class cell of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) has quit the party along with hundreds of his supporters and joined the newly formed Sarvjatiya Manch floated by Mr OP Jindal, a former MP.

In a statement issued here today Mr Soni accused the Bansi Lal government of not fulfilling promises made to the people of the state. He said the HVP-BJP coalition had also failed to provide a clean administration.

PDS yet to be streamlined
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Nov 30 — Ration card holders in the city and other parts of the district are still awaiting the streamlining of the public distribution system (PDS). Levy sugar and other rationed commodities are of poor quality despite government claims to the contrary.

The supply of kerosene oil is also inadequate with depot holders tending to divert the supplies instead of selling these to ration-card holders.

The state government has also failed to introduce a voluntary disclosure scheme which allows anyone holding a bogus ration card to surrender it.