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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Friday, July 24, 1998 |
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Opposition corners government CHANDIGARH, July 23 — The Treasury Benches were successfully cornered by the Opposition on the floor of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha today on the issue of withdrawal of certain criminal cases by the State Government...
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 MC threatens to revoke accord with HUDA FARIDABAD, July 23 — The Faridabad Municipal Corporation has threatened to revoke the 1991 agreement with the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) under which its sectors were handed over to the civic body for maintenance... |
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MLA seeks more funds for desilting canals CHANDIGARH, July 23 — Resuming the debate on the Budget proposals on the third day of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha's Budget session, the HLD (R) leader, Mr Dhir Pal Singh, today said an allocation of Rs 2 crore for desilting of the Bhakra Canal and the Narwana Feeder was totally inadequate... Haryana staff court arrest CHANDIGARH, July 23 — On the first day of the jail-bharo agitation, as many as 109 members of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana, courted arrest at the Sector 17 roundabout here this afternoon... Panel to redress problems of staff CHANDIGARH, July 23 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, today informed the House that the Cabinet had approved the creation of an organisation of the government and employees on the pattern of the Whitley Council of Britain to redress the grievances of the employees... Cases registered against quacks ROHTAK, July 23 — The district administration has registered cases against 26 quacks operating in the city following a directive by the Punjab and Haryana High Court... Several nurses rejoin duty 3-wheeler drivers go on strike Traders go on strike Bid to smuggle bricks foiled Official acquitted of bribery charge SP's plea to sarpanches  |
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| Opposition corners government Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 23 — The Treasury Benches were successfully cornered by the Opposition on the floor of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha today on the issue of withdrawal of certain criminal cases by the State Government. The issue was raised first by Capt Ajay Singh and Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala (both Congress) yesterday while participating in the debate on the Budget. When the two MLAs alleged that the government had withdrawn criminal cases, including those registered under Section 302(murder), IPC, sending a wrong message to criminals, the Home Minister, Mr Mani Ram Godara, emphatically denied that any case under Section 302 had been withdrawn. However, he had to cut a sorry figure when Mr Surjewala read out a list of the cases withdrawn by the government. The Opposition got another opportunity to raise the issue today during question hour when a question relating to various crimes committed in the state came up. During supplementaries, Prof Sampat Singh (HLDR) said the government had withdrawn criminal cases even against hardened criminals who were arrested in other states for crimes committed after the withdrawal of the cases. Mr Godara, a traditional political rival of Prof Sampat Singh, said these criminals enjoyed patronage of the HLDR. The Opposition immediately seized the opportunity to demand the resignation of the Home Minister. The Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, tried to bail out his senior-most colleague in the Cabinet by saying that Mr Godara had come to know about the antecedents of the persons only now. The Opposition again clean-bowled the government when it asked why no enquiry was held into their antecedents before the withdrawal of the cases. Finding themselves in a tight spot the Treasury Benches shouted out the Opposition. In protest the HLDR members staged a walkout. The House again witnessed a heated discussion between the Speaker and the Opposition when the former ruled that since the member "concerned, Mr Ram Pal Majra (HLDR), had read out the number of his question, he would pass on to the next question. The Opposition insisted that Mr Majra had called the number. Later, the Speaker checked the record of the House and allowed the member to ask the question on the gifts given by the cooperative institutions of the state to the VIPs during the past 10 years. The Cooperation Minister, Mr Narbir Singh, said since there were more than 1700 cooperative institutions in the state, the time and labour involved in collecting and compiling the requisite information would not be commensurate with the benefit likely to be obtained. The Speaker did not allow even Mr Majra in whose name the question stood to put supplementaries, leading to a loud protest by the entire Opposition. Mr Birender Singh (Cong) led the entire Opposition in staging another walkout. He said if the members were not to be allowed to seek information from the government, what was the use of their sitting in the House. |
| Strengthening the police From Jatinder Sharma Tribune News Service ROHTAK, July 23 — Haryana has decided to strengthen its police force in the districts adjoining the Union Capital, which is grappling with the spiralling cases of crimes. The government has decided to set up new police stations in Faridabad and Gurgaon and provide them with extra policemen. The police posts situated in Sector-7, Saran and Chandhut in Faridabad are being upgraded to the status of full-fledged police stations. In Gurgaon, two new police stations are being set up in Udyog Vihar and DLF Colony by curtailing the area of the Sadar police station. The new districts are likely to become operative by the end of August. As a result, both these districts would get approximately 500 policemen, in addition to their present strength. The DIG Gurgaon range, Mr Paramvir Rathee, told TNS that four more police stations would be set up at Mandkola, Tigaon, Sector 28 and Surajkund in Faridabad and three at Badshahpur, Manesar and Rajendra Park in Gurgaon district in the next year. Analysing reasons for a sudden spurt in the crimegraph in the Union Capital, Mr Rathee said it could not be tackled effectively unless the policing in the National Capital Region was upgraded and brought at par with the Delhi police. Moreover, the police was functioning under strain because of the pressure of the Human Rights Commission and judiciary. Mr Rathee suggested the creation of a separate cell for policing in the National Capital Region for controlling crime in the Capital and its adjoining areas. He stressed for devising a permanent system and said the Centre should include policing as one of the components of the National Capital Region. Mr Rathee disputed the claim of the Delhi police that the persons who had been indulging in smuggling of liquor during the prohibition days in Haryana had now resorted to other crimes. "This is not of such a magnitude as is being projected by the Delhi police," he said. Meanwhile, the Faridabad police has busted an inter-state gang of criminals which have committed burglaries in the Union Capital and Haryana. The SSP, Faridabad, Mr Mohammad Akil, said a member of the gang that committed dacoities in farmhouses in Mehrauli (Delhi) had been arrested today. The other members of this gang were based in Delhi and the Hodal areas of Haryana. Four members of another gang, based in Delhi and UP, who committed dacoities in Delhi and Faridabad industrial units, have also been arrested by the Faridabad police. The Faridabad police has also arrested three members of a gang that committed burglaries in the shopping complexes in Delhi. |
| MC threatens to revoke accord with
HUDA Tribune News Service FARIDABAD, July 23 — The Faridabad Municipal Corporation has threatened to revoke the 1991 agreement with the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) under which its sectors were handed over to the civic body for maintenance. The dispute between HUDA and the corporation arose after the civic body found it difficult to maintain the sectors in view of high costs which HUDA is not prepared to share. An urgent meeting of the general house of the corporation has been convened on July 27 to take a final decision, according to Subedar Suman, Mayor. Subedar Suman told Tribune News Service that against Rs 1.80 crore revenue realised from the sectors from taxes the civic body was spending Rs 7 crore annually on street lights, roads, parks and sanitation. The corporation was unable to bear the high cost of maintenance. If HUDA did not agree to bear the cost of maintenance of its sectors, the civic body would be left with no alternative but to return the control of the sectors to HUDA. The Mayor alleged that the 1991 agreement entered into with HUDA by the then officials of the corporation was faulty. They failed to foresee its repercussions. On the one hand, HUDA had earned crores of rupees from the sectors, on the other it was not prepared to bear the cost of maintenance. The financial position of the corporation had deteriorated as it was spending more than its income. It was high time the agreement was reviewed. A retired administrator of the corporation said he had opposed the agreement. Subedar Suman said that HUDA also owed Rs 16.67 crore to the corporation which it was not paying. Yesterday, the corporation also served a notice on the Central Government offices complex in NH-4 to immediate pay Rs 49 lakh as overdue taxes otherwise all the facilities extended both in the offices and residential areas would be withdrawn. Meanwhile, it is learnt that HUDA has sought permission from the state government to pay Rs 2.02 crore to the civic body. |
| MLA seeks more funds for
desilting canals Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 23 — Resuming the debate on the Budget proposals on the third day of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha's Budget session, the HLD (R) leader, Mr Dhir Pal Singh, today expressed surprise that the State Government was depending excessively on World Bank loans for its development programmes. Mr Dhir Pal asked how long this process of getting World Bank loans would go on. While on the one hand, the government had presented a "tax- free budget" on the other it had no resources to implement its programmes. He said an allocation of Rs 2 crore for desilting of the Bhakra Canal and the Narwana Feeder was totally inadequate. He also pointed out that overspeeding and overloading by private jeeps carrying passengers to and from had proved to be a major cause of accidents in certain areas, besides causing loss to the Haryana Roadways. Mr Nirmal Singh (Ind) evoked noisy scenes when he described the current police recruitments on merit unlike those of the times of Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Om Parkash Chautala. He said there were times of "sattar hazari and tees hazari recruitments." While he claimed that power position was likely to be better, he expressed the hope that with adequate provisions in the budget for repairs the condition of roads in the state would improve. He said Mr Bansi Lal should be commended for his courage of conviction as he had withdrawn prohibition on its failure in the state. He also contradicted reports about suicide by farmers. He said the Haryana farmers were brave enough to face all situations. Mr Chander Mohan (Cong) said in spite of misuse of official machinery the ruling parties had fared miserably in the by-elections. He also highlighted the poor condition of roads and demanded restoration of the practice of putting certain development funds at the disposal of the Vidhan Sabha members. Mr Anil Vij (Ind) congratulated the government for presenting a development-oriented Budget which he felt would be a great relief to the people in the midst of rising prices. He suggested that people paying high taxes to the government should be honoured or rewarded as those who did not pay taxes were penalised. Mr Jai Singh Rana (Cong) referred to a press report in The Tribune which had highlighted the death of 38 children on account of wrong administration of medicine. He wanted the government to take speedy action in the case. While Mr Bhagi Ram (HLD)(R) walked out in protest against denial of an opportunity to express his views today, among others who spoke were Mr Jagdish Nayar (HVP), Mr Ashok Kumar (HLD)(R) and Mr Somvir Singh. |
| Haryana staff court arrest Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 23 — On the first day of the jail-bharo agitation, as many as 109 members of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana, courted arrest at the Sector 17 roundabout here this afternoon. Employees, belonging to Hisar district, will continue to court arrest until their demands are met by the Haryana Government. Mr Sher Singh, president of the Sangh, said instead of coming to the negotiating table, the Bansi Lal government was throwing them into jails and framing them in "false" cases. The authoritarian rule of the government had belied all electoral promises made by the Chief Minister. As many as 1.5 lakh employees were victims of the unrevised pay scales, he added. Mrs Jasbir Kaur, president of the Nurses Federation, said 55 MPs had signed a letter asking the Chief Minister to solve the impasse between both parties. Meanwhile, Mr J.S. Berwal, zonal secretary of the sangh, along with Mr Balwinder Singh Sandhu and Ms Suman Yadav, senior leaders of the sangh lodged in the Burail Jail, have condemned the dismissal of 100 nurses in the state. In a statement they said the jail-bharo agitation would continue and that they would start a fast unto death inside the jail. As many as 214 employees are lodged in the jail. |
| Panel to redress problems of
staff Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, July 23 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, today informed the House that the Cabinet had approved the creation of an organisation of the government and employees on the pattern of the Whitley Council of Britain to redress the grievances of the employees. Intervening during zero hour after the Speaker rejected an adjournment motion moved by the HLDR on the employees agitation, Mr Bansi Lal said the constitution of the council was held up by the problem of giving representation to the employees who had several organisations. He said the moment this ticklish issue was resolved the government would set up the council. Earlier raising the issue the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, said the working of hospitals and offices was disrupted due to agitation of nurses and employees. Mr Jai Singh Rana (Cong) touched the raw nerve of the BJP when he raised the issue of absence of two dissident BJP MLAs, Mr Chander Bhatia and Mr Anand Sharma. The Education Minister and Leader of the BJP Legislature Party, Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, who rose to answer Mr Rana, diverted the issue by highlighting the Pokhran nuclear blasts as a big achievement of the Vajpayee Government. Under constant needling from the Opposition Mr Sharma informed the House that the two MLAs would be attending the session shortly. |
| Cases registered against quacks Tribune News Service ROHTAK, July 23 — The district administration has registered cases against 26 quacks operating in the city following a directive by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The high court has reportedly directed the state medical authority to submit a report in this connection by August 3. There are 256 doctors in the town, according to a survey conducted by medical authorities in December 1997, which include 86 allopathic doctors, 78 BAMS/GAMS ones, 30 registered medical practitioners (RMPs) of Haryana and Punjab, 16 homoeopathic and 46 unregistered medical practitioners (UMP). The district administration has launched an special campaign against the last category of "doctors". During the campaign launched by the SMO, Dr R.K. Chaudhary, and the district drug inspector, Mr Manmohan Taneja, cases were registered against them under Article 15(2), and 15(3) of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. Some of these "doctors" have reportedly gone underground. Several nurses rejoin duty Tribune News Service FARIDABAD, July 23 — A large number of striking nurses today rejoined duty in Badshah Khan Civil Hospital in Faridabad. An official spokesman claimed that out of 93 staff nurses 66 had returned to work and out of 23 nursing sisters 13 had rejoined duty. The services of four nurses had already been terminated. |
| 3-wheeler
drivers
go on strike ROHTAK, July 23 — While the campaign to challan three-wheelers in the town is still on, drivers of several of these vehicles have gone on strike in protest against the "action" taken by the authorities against them. According to official sources, more than 500 three-wheelers, which are the main mode of local conveyance here, have already been challaned or impounded by the district administration on charges of violating traffic rules or pollution norms during the past six days. It is reported that a fine up to Rs 2500 has been imposed on the defaulters. The officials claim that engines of several vehicles impounded had been illegally converted from petrol to diesel ones and some of them had been even running on a mixture of kerosene and diesel. While there are more than 3,000 such vehicles, a large number of them had been plying in violation of the required norms. On the other hand, a spokesman of the striking three-wheeler drivers alleged the authorities had been unnecessarily harassing them. He said the only motive behind the campaign was to "terrorise" them. Drivers staged a demonstration outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner here last evening. They demanded framing of proper guidelines and norms to regulate the operation of three-wheelers. Traders go on strike From Our Correspondent FATEHABAD, July 23 — Shopkeepers of the local grain market observed a strike today against the anti-encroachment drive launched by the administration here today. According to reports, officials of the local market committee led by its secretary, Mr Nachhatar Singh Malhan, went to the grain market today and started demolishing the unauthorised structures constructed by shopkeepers in their verandahs. The officials were accompanied by a police force. Shopkeepers of the local grain market registered the move and raised anti-administration slogans. They organised a demonstration and held a rally. The traders put their shutters down. They have threatened to resist any move to demolish the structures. The SDM and administrator of the local market committee, Mr Phateh Singh Dagar, when contacted said the shopkeepers had already been served notices personally and through the press to remove their encroachments. He said the administration was committed to remove the unauthorised constructions and it would not be cowed down by any threats. |
| Bid to smuggle bricks foiled From Our Correspondent SONEPAT, July 23 — The Kharkauda police has foiled two attempts of brick kiln owners to allegedly smuggle two trucks, loaded with first quality bricks, from here to Delhi during the past 24 hours. The Superintendent of Police, Mr K. Selvraj, said here today that the police had impounded the truck loaded with bricks belonging to M/s Dev Brick Kiln Company of Nahri village in this connection. The driver of the truck Shanker, had been arrested under the Essential Commodities Act, the police added. A case has been registered against Devinder Azad and Satya Narian, owners of the brick kiln. The second truck, belonging to M/s R.B.C Brick Kiln Company of Sayadpur village, in the district had also been impounded. The police has arrested its driver, Banwari. A case under the Essential Commodities Act has been registered against the owners of the brick kiln, Raj Singh and Jagdigh. |
| Official acquitted of bribery
charge Tribune News Service FARIDABAD, July 23 — Mr P.L. Goyal, Additional District and Sessions Judge, has acquitted Miss Madalsa Rani, District Town Planner (Enforcement), on the charge of accepting a bribe. According to the prosecution, she had taken Rs 30,000 as bribe from Surender Kumar Verma on January 11, 1993. But the judge believed the defence version that she was falsely trapped by offering the money in a paper box under the pretext that it contained "prasad". Mr Goyal said that the criminal liability could not be fastened on a public servant unless the guilt was established to the hilt. |
| SP's plea to sarpanches From Our Correspondent JIND, July 23 — To prevent crimes in the district, Mr Ranbir Sharma, SP, on Thursday appealed to the sarpanches and members of the municipalities of the district to organise "thikri pehra" and appoint watchmen in their respective villages and wards of the towns. He said it was obligatory for them to do so as provided under section 39/40 of the Cr.P.C. If any sarpanch or the member of the municipality failed to do so, action under Section 176 Cr PC and Section 202 of the IPC would be taken against him. Mr Sharma further appealed to the public to inform the police about criminals. The informer's name would be kept secret, he said. Information about criminals could be given at police posts, police stations and at the police control room on telephone. |
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