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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Monday, August 9, 1999 |
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Ministerial
berths Differences between INLD, HVP (D) GURGAON, Aug 8 — Sharp differences have arisen between the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Haryana Vikas Party (D), partners in the coalition government headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, over ministerial berths. HVP (D) MLAs will ‘campaign’ for Cong ROHTAK, Aug 8 — The Haryana Congress chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today said the party was preparing to contest assembly elections along with the Lok Sabha poll as the ‘unstable’ Chautala government might collapse at any time. |
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'No party will get majority' BHIWANI, Aug 8 — The BSP supremo, Mr Kanshi Ram, today predicted that no party or alliance would get absolute majority in the ensuing elections and the country should be prepared for another round of elections next year. Resentment
over renaming of KU More
contribute to welfare funds Samajwadi
Party finalises names for 6 seats BSP
clears 3 names in Haryana Rohtak
seat: Vajpayee to decide candidate Lyngdoh
visits Rohtak today Residents
of 9 villages to boycott LS poll |
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Ministerial berths GURGAON, Aug 8 — Sharp differences have arisen between the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Haryana Vikas Party (D), partners in the coalition government headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, over ministerial berths in the possible expansion of the Haryana cabinet. The rigid stand of the HVP (D) MLAs for the inclusion in the Council of Ministers is said to be the reason for the delay in the expansion of the Cabinet. The expansion was tipped to take place this week. Now plans are to go in for the expansion next week in case the Chief Minister succeeded in ironing out the differences on the issue. According to sources, all HVP (D) MLAs who were left out in the present Council of Ministers, had put pressure on Mr Chautala for ministerial berths. But six the HVP (D) MLAs had so far been included in the Council of Ministers. The problem of the INLD leadership has been accentuated by their demand of being made Cabinet ministers. Majority of the HVP (D) MLAs were ministers in the Bansi Lal government which they toppled by splitting the legislative wing of the HVP. They had formed the HVP (D) after the split. The Chief Minister is said to be having reservations on accommodating the HVP (D) MLAs as he is understood to be facing pressure from his own INLD MLAs, who were either ministers during the earlier governments headed by him and Mr Devi Lal. A section of the INLD MLAs is said to have taken offence at Mr Chautala ignoring their claims for ministerial berths and his efforts to mollycoddle the HVP (D) members. Mr Chautala is understood to be in a dilemma. He has compulsions to expand the cabinet to rejuvenate the INLD’s vote bank in the state and also keep the support of the HVP (D) MLAs to his government intact in view of the Lok Sabha elections. However, it will be an apparently "unpopular" move to include a section of the INLD MLAs and all remaining HVP (D) legislators along with one independent in the next expansion. But there is a real threat of dissident activities by the HVP (D) MLAs in case they are ignored during the election campaign. The INLD also faces threat of lacklustre approach to the elections by its supporters in the areas if a section of the MLAs were ignored. The INLD leadership also
faces problem on another count. Various lobbies in the
HVP (D) also want that someone from them should be given
the post of the Deputy Chief Minister. |
HVP (D) MLAs will ‘campaign’ for Cong ROHTAK, Aug 8 (FOC) — The Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said the party was preparing to contest assembly elections along with the Lok Sabha poll as the ‘unstable’ Chautala government might collapse at any time in view of the ‘resentment’ among HVP (D) MLA’s. He was speaking at a press conference at Meham, 30 km from here, after launching the parties election campaign. He asserted that assembly elections would be held just after the Lok Sabha poll and the party had directed its workers to be prepared. He claimed several ministers and MLA’s of HVP (D) would openly canvass for the Congress in the forthcoming Lok Sabha poll. He declined to name these leaders saying the public would in the ensuing election about who stood with whom. The HPCC chief said the names of Lok Sabha candidates in the state could not be announced so far as party president Sonia Gandhi had been out of Delhi. He hoped that the announcement would be made by August 10. He admitted that no agreement had been reached on the Sonepat, Hisar and Ambala Lok Sabha seats while candidates for Rohtak, Bhiwani, Mahendragarh, Faridabad, Sirsa, Kurukshetra and Karnal seats had all but been selected and only a formal announcement in this connection was to be made. Describing the BJP as an opportunist, power-starved party he said it shared equally in the corruption and various irregularities during the three-year tenure of the Bansi Lal government and had now extended support to Mr Chautala. Earlier, Mr Hooda
inaugurated the party election office at Meham and
addressed party workers. Besides Mr Hooda, Mr Anand Singh
Dangi and Mr Raghubir Singh Kadian (both former
ministers) also addressed the gathering. |
BJP-INLD pact on rocks? KARNAL, Aug 8 — The stiff posture adopted by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to nominate an Indian National Lok Dal candidate for the Rohtak seat, is likely to wreck the poll pact between the BJP and the INLD. Sources said today that Mr Chautala was unlikely to barter away his party's claim to the six Lok Sabha seats in Haryana. A meeting between him and BJP stalwarts, including Mr Narendar Modi and Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, had given a clear indication that Mr Chautala would not settle for less than six seats. While the INLD was pressing hard for its claim on the Rohtak seat, inside sources pointed out that ultimately Mr Chautala might put an INLD candidate from the Karnal Parliamentary seat if the BJP leadership insisted on the Rohtak. The Congress camp and lobby of Haryana's former Chief Minister , Mr Bhajan Lal, were agog with talks that there was some tacit understanding between Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Chautala with regard to the Karnal and Bhiwani seats. Mr Ajay Chautala, elder son of the Chief Minister, would once again contest from Bhiwani against Mr Surinder Singh, son of HVP chief Bansi Lal. Both Mr Chautala and his son were keen to ensure an INLD victory from Bhiwani. In fact, sources claimed the family's honour was at stake as the Chief Minister was of the view that during the last Parliamentary poll, misuse of official machinery by the then powers that were responsible for Ajay's defeat. The Chief Minister was acutely aware of the fact that this time Mr Ajay Singh's victory in Bhiwani was not possible without the active proxy support of Mr Bhajan Lal. Mr Bhajan Lal 's home constituency Adampur falls under the Bhiwani Parliamentary seat, where he wields a strong influence on Jats, Bishnois and other voters. In lieu of his support to Mr Chautala's son, Mr Bhajan Lal would expect soft pedalling by the INLD voters in Karnal. Two senior Congress leaders of Haryana, on condition of anonymity, hinted at the possibility of such a tacit understanding. Both the senior leaders were very close to Mr Bhajan Lal. They argued that both Mr Chautala and Mr Bhajan Lal needed each other. And if the BJP leadership insisted on the Rohtak seat, the INLD chief would show his cards about the Karnal seat so that Mr Bhajan Lal could be bailed out. In the last Parliamentary poll, the INLD had put up Mr Umed Singh, husband of former dacoit Ms Phoolan Devi, from Karnal. Allegations were rife then also that Mr Umed Singh was a weak candidate. It was pointed out after the poll that Mr Ajay Chautala had polled maximum votes from the Adampur Assembly segment. The Congress circles also admitted that Mr Bhajan Lal was panicky this time and the timely help of the Chief Minister was needed by him to swim ashore. This was so as the BJP's likely nominee, Mr Ishwar Dayal Swami, had consolidated his position at the grass roots level after the last Parliamentary poll. Mr Swami had all along a strong hold in rural pockets of the constituency because of his fair image and responsiveness for the cause of his constituents. He had kept constant contact with his voters by frequently visiting his constituency. This was an overriding consideration with the voters along with the BJP's national agenda. In the last election Mr Swami had lost only by 50,000 plus votes, not a big margin if the political stature and innings of Mr Bhajan Lal in politics were kept in view. Since then Mr Bhajan Lal had lost much of his hold in Karnal because of a coterie of not very popular workers who used to surround him during his visits there. Mr Bhajan Lal took another 'ruinous' step today by admitting two HVP workers of Karnal in the Congress. This has led to resentment among genuine Congress workers as one of the HVP activists is known for his 'dishonest' dealings in public life. This has affected the party's image. In such a situation, Mr
Bhajan Lal would be naturally be keen that the INLD put
up a weak candidate from Karnal in exchange for his
services in Adampur. |
'No party will get majority' BHIWANI, Aug 8 — The BSP supremo, MrKanshi Ram, today predicted that no party or alliance would get absolute majority in the ensuing elections and the country should be prepared for another round of elections next year. Launching the election campaign of HVP candidate, Mr Surinder Singh, jointly with former Chief Minister Bansi Lal, the BSP leader claimed that his party would emerge stronger in terms of votes and seats after the coming elections. He said the politics of the alliance governance had failed because it was dominated by selfish people. Although all legislators belonging to the HVP were present on the dais, but the BSP activists appeared more enthusiastic. Leaders of the BSP flayed the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala. Mr Surender Singh announced that if elected to Parliament, he would vote in the Lok Sabha jointly with the BSP. Both Mr Kanshi Ram and Mr Bansi Lal indicated that the HVP-BSP alliance would not be a temporary arrangement but a lasting one. Addressing his first public rally after quitting as Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal blamed the Congress and the BJP for the fall of his government. Both these parties, he alleged, were in league with each other in pulling down his government. Mr Bansi Lal said the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had also played an active role in bringing down his government. The dissident HVP MLAs had stayed at Mr Badal's residence before marching to the Raj Bhavan to announce their defection, he added. He charged the BJP with betraying him and said the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, appeared determined in dismissing his government. "I preferred to be betrayed than betraying others", he said. Referring to the Kargil episode, Mr Bansi Lal said never in the 50-year history of free India, the Pakistani had gone so deep into our territory as during the tenure of BJP-led government. While the Prime Minister was feasting with the Pakistan Prime Minister in Lahore, Pakistan-backed intruders were going deep into the Indian territory, he said. The Prime Minister, he said, did not realise the sufferings of the families of the Kargil victims. The country had to pay a heavy price in terms of men and money for the failure of the Vajpayee government on this front, he added. Describing the
construction of SYL canal as a major issue confronting
Haryana, Mr Bansi Lal asked Mr Chautala to get it
completed immediately as he had a very friendly Chief
Minister in Punjab and Prime Minister at the Centre. He
also asked Mr Chautala to fulfil his promise of providing
free power and water. |
Resentment over renaming of KU KURUKSHETRA, Aug 8 — Residents of Kurukshetra in general and Kurukshetra University in particular seethed with resentment over the announcement made by Haryana Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala, at a rally at Ludhiana yesterday declaring that Kurukshetra University will be renamed Guru Gobind Singh University to commemorate tercentenary of the founding of the Khalsa. A wide range of intellectuals, who were contacted said that they were shocked to learn the announcement and felt hurt. They said that Mr Chautala might have forgotten his promise made during the tercentenary celebrations at Anandpur Sahib. They claimed that Mr Chautala on that occasion promised to get Guru Gobind Singh Chair established at Kurukshetra University and contrary to this he did not promise to rename the Kurukshetra University. Moreover, a Chair in the name of Guru Gobind Singh had already been set up at Kurukshetra University during his predecessor, Mr Bansi Lal’s regime. They say that Mr Chautala should not repeat the mistake made at the behest of the former Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal when he was the Union Defence Minister. The then former Congress Chief Minister, Mr Banarasi Das Gupta, renamed Kurukshetra University as B. N. Chakravarty University in 1976 in the name of late Mr B. N. Chakravarty, former Chancellor of Kurukshetra University and the then Governor of Haryana. At that time too, this move was resented vehemently by the people in general and intellectuals in particular all over the country and after the 1977 General Election when Mr Devi Lal, father of present Haryana Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala, became the Chief Minister of Haryana, then he (Mr Devi Lal), accepting the public demand, restored the original name of Kurukshetra University. Similarly, the name of Karan Lake near G.T. road, Karnal which was also renamed Chakarvarti Lake, was again restored to its original name as Karan Lake. Reacting sharply to the announcement, a Kurukshetra University Prof, who remains to be unidentified said "it is most unfortunate that Haryana leaders are too short-sighted to be changing the name of universities on any pretext that comes their way; Kurukshetra name itself carries long history and civilisation which is enough for the name to remain what it has been. Unfortunately, we have to swallow everything. There are many more things which could be named after the great Guru, if at all, naming is the only way to commemorate the tercentenary", he added. Prof Emeritus and and convener, UGC Panel in Chemistry, Prof S P Singh said that, "the name Kurukshetra symbolises the Indian Culture throughout the world and in a fitting tribute to the historicity of the city, Kurukshetra University was established in 1956. The reported move of the government to change the name of the University is most unfortunate", he added. When contacted, Mr Sat Prakash Rosha, in charge, District BJP, Yamuna Nagar and Kurukshetra said that "if Mr Chautala wants to name a university after the name of Guru Gobind Singh in Haryana, he should establish a new university in Guru Gobind Singh’s name instead of renaming the Kurukshetra University, because Kurukshetra’s name is a world famous due to its historical and religious importance". On the other hand, some
of them have suggested that the decision of renaming of
Kurukshetra University should be reconsidered in view of
the fact that Kurukshetra being a religious and cultural
centre has its own historical importance and associated
with our cultural past related to Mahabharata and text of
Shrimadbhagwad Gita. Moreover, keeping in view these
facts, this university was established as a Sanskrit
University and thereafter it was named as Kurukshetra
University, they add. |
More contribute to welfare
funds SONEPAT, Aug 8 — Contributions continue to pour in for the Haryana Chief Minister’s War Heroes’ Relief Fund, set up to help the families of the martyrs killed in Jammu and Kashmir. Osram India Limited has contributed Rs 1 lakh, students, teachers and employees of Hindu Senior Secondary School contributed Rs 60,000 SM Hindu Senior Secondary School contributed Rs 56,500, Hindu Girls College Rs contributed 46,000 and Hindu College, contributed Rs 44,675, towards the fund. However, teachers and students of Hindu Girls Senior Secondary School have contributed Rs 36,000 and Hindu College of Pharmacy and Supreme Enterprises have contributed Rs 11,000 each towards the fund. Gold Plus India Liwaspur
village, Jai Shree Agro Industries Kemline India Limited
have contributed Rs 10,000 each towards the fund.
Similarly, Lohia Metal Limited, Haryana Plywood, Advance
Ventilation Limited, Kundli, Gopi Industries, Om Aerehant
Lable, Safari Plymates and R.K. Gold Storage, Kundli,
have donated Rs 5,100 each towards the fund. |
Samajwadi Party finalises names
for 6 seats GURGAON, Aug 8 — The Samajwadi party headed by former Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has finalised its nominees for the Mahendragarh, Karnal, Faridabad, Kurukshetra, Sonepat and Rohtak seats. The president of the Haryana unit of the Samajwadi Party, Mr Manohar Lal Saini, told TNS that while he would contest from Mahendragarh, Ms Harpreet Kaur, an electronics engineer would contest from Karnal. Ms Kanta, president of the women's wing of the party, would contest from Rohtak and Mr Randhir Singh Dhul from Kurukshetra. The president of the youth wing of the party in the state, Mr Sanjay Lather, had been nominated for the Sonepat seat and Mr Daulat Singh Khatana for the Faridabad seat. The nominees for the remaining four seats in the state would be finalised soon, he said. According to him, his
party had decided not to align with any political party
in Haryana for the Lok Sabha elections as it wanted to
build up its own base in the state. |
BSP clears 3 names in
Haryana PANIPAT, Aug 8 — The general secretary of the state unit of Bahujan Samaj Party, Mr Pradeep Chaudhary, said in Haryana the BSP would field party's candidates in all those Parliamentary constituencies where the Congress was not in a strong position to challenge the BJP-INLD alliance candidates. However, in the Bhiwani constituency, the BSP would support the HVP candidate, Mr Suridner Singh. Mr Chaudhary was talking to mediapersons here last evening. He said the party leadership had already cleared the names of three candidates — Aman Kumar Nagra from Ambala, Raghu Yadav from Mehandergarh and Pradeep Chaudhary from the Karnal Lok Sabha seat. He held former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal responsible to Mr Om Parkash Chautala becoming Chief Minister and said in Karnal Mr Bhajan Lal was not in a strong position. He claimed that the BSP's alliance with the Jat Mahasabha in Rajasthan would improve its chances in the northern states and that the BSP would win about 55 seats, including 4 in Haryana, 7-8 in Rajasthan and a substantial number in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The party would also open its account in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Bihar. Later, he addressed a
meeting of party workers form Panipat, Naultha and
Samalkha. |
Rohtak seat: Vajpayee to decide
candidate ROHTAK, Aug 8 — The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Lok Dal have authorised Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to decide allotment of the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat after both parties failed to reach a settlement on this. Both parties would honour the decision of Mr Vajpayee in this regard, according to highly placed sources. Announcement regarding the allotment of seat is likely to be made on August 10 and Mr Vajpayee will reportedly details with the Haryana BJP and INLD leaders before announcement. The Election Committee of the state BJP would meet in Delhi on August 9 and would present its point of view to the party's Central Election Committee on August 10. The BJP and the INLD
have reached an agreement in connection with rest of the
nine Lok Sabha seats in the state. Per agreement the INLD
would field its candidates from Bhiwani, Hisar, Sirsa,
Kurukshetra and Sonepat while the BJP candidates would
contest from Mahendragarh, Karnal, Ambala Faridabad. The
INLD has already announced its all five candidates while
the BJP would make an announcement in this connection on
August 10. |
Lyngdoh visits Rohtak today ROHTAK, Aug 8 — The Election Commissioner, Mr J.M. Lyngdoh will visit Rohtak and Bhiwani districts on August 9 to review arrangements made by the district administration for the Lok Sabha election, scheduled to held on September 5. According to sources, Mr Lyngdoh will address the returning officers and assistant returning officers during his visit. Later, he will visit Bhiwani to review arrangements there also. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has identified 31 sensitive and 70 super sensitive villages in Rohtak parliamentary constituency. As many as 1,368 polling
stations will be set up in the constituency which include
131 at Hasangarh, 146 at Kiloi, 166 at Rohtak, 168 at
Meham, 139 at Kalanaur, 149 at Beri, 153 at Salhawas, 165
at Jhajjar and 151 at Badli village. |
Residents of 9 villages to boycott
LS poll SONEPAT, Aug 8 — Residents of nine villages — Kanwali, Turkpur, Mandora, Mandori, Nahra, Nahri, Chhatehra, Bhadurpur, Halalpur and Katlupur today announced their decision to boycott the forthcoming Lok Sabha election if their problems were not solved by political parties and their candidates before the polling date. According to a report, they have pasted posters on the walls of their houses in their respective villages in this regard. Residents also held panchayat on their own in their respective villages and took unanimous decisions of boycotting the Lok Sabha elections. They also appealed to
all political parties and their candidates not to come to
them for seeking votes in their favour before the removal
of the problems. |
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