Chautala rules out support to Central govt
AMBALA, April 11 — The Indian National Lok Dal chief; Mr Om Parkash Chautala, today ruled out any possibility of supporting the Vajpayee regime as well as joining hands with the Congress to form an alternative government.

• BJP appeals to INLD for support

University staff threaten stir
ROHTAK, April 11— The teaching and non-teaching staff seem to be up in arms against the non-acceptance of their demands.

Judicial custody for 18 miscreants
FARIDABAD, April 11 — Mr S S Dalal, City Magistrate today remanded 18 persons, who were arrested yesterday for inciting a mob to indulge in stone throwing, to judicial custody for 12 days.

Teachers to suspend evaluation work
ROHTAK, April 11 — Various teachers' associations affiliated to the Haryana Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations have decided to 'suspend' marking answer sheets of undergraduate classes from April 19 to April 25 in protest against the 'delay' in the implementation of revised UGC grades in the state.

• Two injured in accident
• Dharna against police inaction
• Cheating case against teacher
• Scuffle between villagers, cops

• Cash award for cashier's kin
• Acute water shortage
• Docs ask govt to review decision
• Congress to stage dharnas, rallies

University staff threaten stir
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, April 11— The teaching and non-teaching staff seem to be up in arms against the non-acceptance of their demands, including the withholding of salaries for the past one month.

Resentment prevails among 1600 non-teaching and about 400 teaching staff members of the university who have not received their salaries for March. It is learnt that the university is not in position to pay salary to its staff as it does not have the required funds. The varsity offers have only about Rs 50 lakh while the salary per month amounts to about Rs 1.30 crore.

University officials claim that the position has arisen due to the non-release of government grants of about Rs 3.25 crore which lapsed on March 31. On the other hand there are several teachers and employees who believe that the financial crunch has been the result of lavish spending by the authorities.

Members of the Maharshi Dayanand University Teachers Association (MDUTA) feel that a large amount of money was invested simultaneously in several big projects and the convocation held last year without ensuring that overall financial position of the varsity would not be affected. The MDUTA has even demanded the issuing of a 'white paper' by the authorities in this regard.

The Non-Teaching Employees Union has already announced that it would stick to the principle of "no pay, no work", rule till their salary was released. The non-teaching staff had observed a strike on April 7 and April 8 and had threatened to start an indefinite agitation in this connection. Teachers on the other hand have also decided to boycott the marking of the answersheets in protest against the non-implementation of the revised grades as recommended by the UGC.

BJP appeals to INLD for support
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, April 11 — The BJP has appealed Mr Om Parkash Chautala, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) supremo to extend his party's support to Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee in the interest of the nation.

Mr O.P Grover, President of the state unit of the BJP addressing a press conference at Kalesar, 45 km from here, today stated that the four INLD MPs should take a lead and save the Vajpayee government. He said the party support to Mr Bansi Lal might depend on future circumstances although there was no danger to the Haryana Government at present.

He, however, said the BJP was satisfied with the working of the Chief Minister.

Mr Kailash Chand Sharma, Deputy Chairman, Planning Board, Haryana, and General Secretary of the BJP, at a working committee meeting, it was decided that the BJP would contest municipal corporation, municipal council and zila parishad elections on its own.

Mr Grover said a representation of Haryana BJP leaders would meet the Prime Minister soon to resolve the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue.

The BJP leaders said it had also been decided to withdraw the 1 per cent market fee by the Haryana Government.

Chautala rules out support to
Central govt

AMBALA, April 11 (PTI) — The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief; Mr Om Parkash Chautala, today ruled out any possibility of supporting the Vajpayee regime as well as joining hands with the Congress to form an alternative government.

Mr Chautala, however, said all four MPs of the INLD would support any non-confidence motion against the BJP-led government even if it is brought by the Congress as "we want the fall of the Union Government at every cost.

"We want to keep equal distance with the BJP and the Congress and if the Vajpayee government falls the INLD would not support the Congress to form the government at the Centre," Mr Chautala told reporters here.

He said if the AIADMK withdrew its support to the government before the Lok Sabha resumed its sitting on April 15, the BJP-led government should seek a vote of confidence to prove its majority instead of waiting for the Opposition to move a non-trust motion.

He also felt that in the event of the fall of the Vajpayee government new equations would emerge in politics and efforts should be made to avoid a mid-term poll.

Panel set up for Nanda's birth anniversary

KURUKSHETRA, April 11 (UNI) — An all-India level function on the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Gulzari Lal Nanda will be organised here. A committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Mr Murli Manohar Joshi in this regard.

This was stated by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, at a press conference at Pipli, near here, today. He said the birthday of Gulzari Lal Nanda falls on July 4 and the ongoing work on his "samadhi" will be completed by then.

A memorial would also be constructed at Kurukshetra in the memory of the former premier. The Chief Minister said he himself went to see the site of the memorial last evening and found the place quite appropriate.

The Chief Minister said today there was no village or town left in the state where the government had not done any development works after it assumed power in May 1996.

Replying to a question on the inter-state disputes with Punjab, Mr Bansi Lal said there was a solution to every problem and he was making all efforts to resolve the disputes amicably and peacefully.

On being asked about the power tariff, the Chief Minister said now the fixing of power tariff did not come under the purview of the government. A regulatory commission had been constituted for this purpose.

The commission would give advertisements in newspapers before raising the power tariff and it would also invite suggestions from consumers.

Judicial custody for 18 miscreants
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, April 11 — Mr S S Dalal, City Magistrate today remanded 18 persons, who were arrested yesterday for inciting a mob to indulge in stone throwing, to judicial custody for 12 days.

The incident had led to police firing in the air and lathi charge after the mob threw brickbats at official of the civic body engaged in the demolition of unauthorised structures in NH-1.

Among those who had been sent to judicial lock up in Rohtak included Amarjit Singh and Ashwini Dutta, are stated to be Congress workers.

Bhajan contacting MPs for support
Tribune News Service

HISAR, April 11 — Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhajan Lal today claimed that the Congress was likely to form a government at the Centre under the leadership of Ms Sonia Gandhi. He expressed the confidence that Vajpayee government's fall was a certainty.

Speaking at 'meet the Press' programme organised by the Hisar Press Club, here today, the former Chief Minister said, once the Congress formed the government at the Centre, it would last full term.

Mr Bhajan Lal pointed out that no secular party was going to support the BJP, which he alleged, was pursuing a communal agenda. Asked whether the Congress should form the government, he said, this was the best time for the Congress to form the government.

He admitted that he was in touch with several Lok Sabha MPs for their support, in case the Congress formed the government and needed their support.

Mr Bhajan Lal sought to downplay his differences with the Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda. He said the Congress was a big party, and difference of opinion among various leaders was natural.

Teachers to suspend evaluation work
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, April 11 — Various teachers' associations affiliated to the Haryana Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations (HFUCTO) have decided to 'suspend' marking answer sheets of undergraduate classes from April 19 to April 25 in protest against the 'delay' in the implementation of revised UGC grades in the state.

At an emergency meeting held here today, these organisations including The Haryana College Teachers' Union (HCTU), The Haryana Government College Teachers' Association (HGCTA) and the Maharshi Dayanand University Teachers' Association, (MDUTA) resolved to criticise the inordinate, delay in the release of the revised scales for the university and college teachers.

These organisations have decided to hold a dharna outside the office of the Vice-Chancellor, on April 29, in protest against the 'unusual' attitude and behaviour of the VC towards the elected representatives of the teachers.

Two injured in accident
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, April 11 — Two persons were seriously injured in an accident on the Barnala road last night.

According to information received here today, the accident occurred when a matador collided with a tractor trailer. The driver of the matador, Ram Bahadur and another a Kamal, who received serious injuries were admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

Cash award for cashier's kin
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, April 11 — The Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal has ordered the payment of Rs 10,000 as 'bravery award' to the bereaved family of Khem Chand Rathi, a cashier of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam, who was allegedly shot dead by three persons at Ganaur in this district on April 9.

According to official sources, the Chief Minister also sanctioned a reward of Rs 5,000 for Mr Balbir Singh, an A.L.M. who was accompanying him at the time when the incident occurred and expressed his sympathy with the bereaved family.

Dharna against police inaction
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, April 11 — Members of the Ambala Cantonment Swarnkar Sangh, the Swarnkar Sabha and the Sarafa Bajar Association, staged a dharna today, demanding the arrest of Mangi who had allegedly kidnapped a minor girl.

Mr Rakesh Verma, Mr Shispal Bhola and Mr Swarn Singh who led the agitators alleged that the police was not arresting the boy under political pressure although a case had been registered in this connection on March 16.

The agitated shopkeepers held a procession, observed hartal and raised slogans against the police. They carried black flags as a mark of protest.

The dharna was lifted after an assurance by a senior police official that the boy would be arrested soon.

The mother and sister of the boy have been detained, the police said.

Acute shortage of water in Sonepat
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, April 11 — The entire city of Sonepat with a population of nearly two lakh has been facing acute shortage of drinking water for the past one week following the curtailment of water supply without any prior information by the authorities of the Public Health Department. No reason has, however, been given by the authorities concerned in this regard.

People, particularly women, were seen carrying pitchers on their heads and fetching water from distant places to meet the requirement. Many people allege the water supply is erratic and the pressure is always low. Their complaints in this regard to the officials concerned have fallen of deaf ears.

Many residents blame tubewell operators and boosting stations as well as keymen for the water crisis as they never turn up for duty on time. Representatives of the Residents Welfare Association and the Sonepat Citizens Council have urged the district authorities to take serious note of the public complaints in this regard and punish all those responsible for the water crisis.

Cheating case against teacher
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, April 11 — The Rai police has registered a case of cheating and forgery against Mr Kamal Sachdeva, a teacher at Government Primary School, Bahupur village, and a resident of Model Town, Sonepat. A probe has begun following a complaint filed by the Block Education Officer, Rai, against her.

The Superintendent of Police, Mr K. Selvraj, told mediapersons here today Ms Sachdeva was posted as a JBT teacher at Government Primary School in Thana Khurd village on September 18, 1963, but her service book was not prepared by the end of 1996.

The Block Education Officer (BEO) had directed her a number of times to present the certificates of matric and JBT, the appointment letter, the posting letter and the relieving letter for verification. When she presented all these documents they were found to be forged.

Mr Selvraj also disclosed the BEO had alleged she had worked on basic pay between 1963 and March 1997 which was illegal.

Docs ask govt to review decision
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, April 11 — The Residents Doctors Association of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences here has reiterated its demand for the implementation of the facility of the internal advantage to students and doctors of this institute in postgraduate courses.

In a statement issued here today, the General Secretary of the association, Mr J.B. Jatain, said the result of the MD/MS examinations which was declared recently had indicated that the withdrawal of the advantage to the internal candidates had benefited the outside students. He claimed that about 40 per cent of the total seats in the postgraduate courses had been bagged by the outsiders.

The association has urged the state government to review its decision and provide the facility which was offered by all institute to its students.

Scuffle between villagers, cops
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, April 11 — Tension prevails among residents of Balali village under Charkhi Dadri subdivision of this district after a scuffle took place between them and Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam and police officials when the latter tried to confiscate a transformer yesterday.

According to reports a transformer was lying burnt at the village for the past three or four months. When the residents urged the HVPN to replace it, reportedly refused to do so until pending bills were paid.

The residents then called a technician and got the transformer repaired. On receiving this information, an SDO with the help of the police attempted to confiscate the transformer. The residents threw stones and damaged a vehicle of the HVPN and forced the officials to flee.

The authorities have registered cases against villagers under various sections of the IPC but no arrest has been made so far.

Congress to stage dharnas, rallies
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, April 11 — Mr Arun Agarwal, spokesman of the DCC said here today that the general secretary of the AICC, Mr Oscar Fernandes and the HPCC had directed all party units to highlight programmes of the Congress and expose failures of the Vajpayee Government on all fronts.

Talking to reporters, Mr Agarwal said dharnas, demonstrations, protest rallies and seminars would be organised in the district. A memorandum would be given to the Deputy Commissioner on April 12.

The spokesman said the BJP Government had shown a total lack of governance and bungled on all fronts.

Mr Agarwal reiterated the demand of his party for the setting up of a joint parliamentary committee to go into the allegations levelled by Mr Guruswamy and Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat.