6-hour duty must for college teachers
By Poonam Batth
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 28 — Teachers in government, privately managed and aided colleges of the city are in for tough times as they are now required to make themselves available for at least six hours daily in the colleges.

The DPI ( Colleges), Mr K.A.P. Sinha, in a circular issued last week to the principals of all colleges, reiterated that the UGC instructions already issued by the Education Department with regard to the work-load of college lecturers be implemented in "letter and spirit''.

Officials of the department had in a meeting held earlier with the principals pointed out that these instructions were not being observed meticulously. Hence, vide this circular they have been asked to "implement these instructions in right earnest. Any deviations from these instructions by any college lecturers would of course attract disciplinary proceedings against the lecturers concerned .''

According to the UGC guidelines, "The workload of the teacher in full employment should not be less than 40 hours a week for 30 working weeks (180 teaching days) in an academic year. As per this, a teacher is required to be present in the college premises for nearly six hours and 40 minutes a day. However, the guidelines stipulate that it is necessary for the teacher to be available for at least 5 hours daily in the college for which necessary space and infrastructure should be provided.

The UGC regulations stipulate fixed 16 direct teaching hours in case of lecturer/senior lecturer/lecturer(selection grade). Besides this, additional time should be provided for practicals, field work, library and utilisation of library facilities. These activities should not be less than 10 hours per week.

The regulations further specify that the time-table on all working days shall be so drawn that all facilities provided in colleges are adequately utilised.

While most of the colleges have already displayed the circular in the staff rooms, a few principals have also convened staff meetings or informal meetings with the heads of departments to chalk out the calendar of activities to meet the 40 hours' workload in a week. Major D.P Singh, Principal of Government College, Sector 46, has chalked out a plan to engage his staff in taking extra classes for weak students, promoting youth activities and maintaining general discipline. He has also asked the heads of department to organise at least two seminars in their subject during the week, besides tutorials every fortnight. To ensure better utilisation of 40 hours, he also proposes to organise seminars of educative value for the staff to broaden their horizon.

The lecturers in most of these colleges will now be required to mark their attendance twice — once when they come to the college and once before they leave. The authorities will monitor the UGC guidelines by way of surprise checks from time to time and take a strict view of the defaulters.

Another principal of a government college is of the view that longer stay of teachers in the college would bring about a qualitative improvement in education as teachers will be readily available to help the students with their difficulties. Their stay will also ensure better utilisation of the library for preparation of various lecture topics and projects.With regard to space and infrastructure, the lecturers can make use of the department rooms, reference section of the library and staff rooms. Certain remedial courses can be started for the weaker students, for which the UGC makes payment to the teachers.

Meanwhile, a committee constituted by the Syndicate at its meeting held on March 17 to discuss the revised regulations of UGC (December 1998) had recommended that teachers should stay for at least five hours daily in the colleges. However, its recommendations with regard to direct teaching hours are the same as mentioned in the UGC guidelines. These recommendations are yet to get the approval of the Syndicate.

Keeping in view the resentment that prevails among a section of the teachers about these guidelines and the problems it may create for students, it remains to be seen whether it is practical and feasible to implement these guidelines. Some teachers have expressed apprehension whether wives of senior bureaucrats working in these colleges would abide by these regulations. However, a few others are of the view that the authorities have every right to expect them to follow these guidelines for the handsome salaries they are paid.

B.Ed general seats filled
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 28 — All the seats in the general category for admissions to B.Ed courses in 14 colleges affiliated to Panjab University, eight colleges affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and two colleges affiliated to Punjabi University, Patiala, were filled on the second day of the counselling at Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, today.

Parents and wards have alleged that admissions to various categories in Government College of Education, Sector 20, have been made arbitrarily and in violation of the regulations of the National Council for Teacher Education by the college principal.

According to reliable sources, the Principal of this college had allegedly not sent the details of bifurcation of seats allotted under various categories to the Joint Admission Committee for approval by August 26. Sources further said that the Principal should have compiled all seats in non-medical, medical and mathematics categories of the science group while making divisions for seats in the reserved category. Accordingly, two seats should have been reserved for the defence quota, but the Principal had excluded the medical group from this quota.

The Syndicate in its meeting held on August 10 had decided that any student opting for any of the these subjects — physics, chemistry, mathematics, botany, zoology and computer science — would be considered to be from the science group. The college Principal, Ms S. Tangri, has denied these allegations.

According to the Coordinator of Admissions, Ms Satinder Dhillon, counselling session for admitting wards of ex-servicemen would be held on September 3. Counselling for those belonging to the backward tribes, border forces etc would be done on September 4 alongwith the counselling session for admission to computer science course in arts and science. Admissions for seats in the B.Ed (yoga) course would also be held on September 4.

Counselling session for admissions to all seats in the general and reserved categories for medical courses would be held from August 29 to 31.

155 ITBP recruits join force
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 28 — It was a big day for 155 recruits, including five women, of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), who formally joined the force at an impressive passing out ceremony at the Basic Training Centre, Bhanu, near Panchkula, here this morning.

The recruits, attired in their ceremonial dress, marched past the podium. The audience applauded their induction. The two-and-a-half hours-long ceremony was watched by senior officers, personnel and their families.

Preachers of various religions, carrying their scriptures, passed in front of the recruits as they were being administered the oath of allegiance to the country and the force.

Addressing the recruits, Mr Gautam Kaul, Director-General, ITBP, said the recruits had a hard task ahead and would have to prove themselves worthy of the force. It would be a constant endeavour to keep the glorious traditions alive. Highlighting that they were the defenders of some of the coldest and desolate frontline areas, he said there was no need to feel isolated as the force was one big family and they would take care of each other. It was up to them to keep the frontiers of this great country secure and if needed, make the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

He earlier inspected the parade and took the salute. Prizes were given to the recruits who excelled in various fields.

The prize winners were Constables Pradeep Kumar and Devendra Sunar (best in drill), Constables Abakash Kahal Singh and Sanjay Borogon (best in firing), Head Constable Manbar Singh and Constable Ayodhya Prasad (best in weapon handling) and Head Constable Manbar Singh and Constable Karna Lal (best in PT).

Head Constable Manbar Singh and Constable Suresh Kumar also got prizes for overall best performance.

Earlier, Mr S.C. Nayar, ADIG, BTC, Bhanu, highlighted the force's achievements in various fields.

So far, 121 batches of recruits of general duty cadre and 56 batches of recruits of condensed course have passed out. They underwent training in drill, weapon training, firing, judo, unarmed combat, map reading and battle craft, besides minor operation of war, field engineering, administration and law.

Mr I.S. Negi, Commandant (Training), highlighted the force's achievements in various fields and proposed a vote of thanks.

Meanwhile, 250 men donated blood at a camp organised on the occasion. This was the third such camp. So far, 779 personnel have donated blood.

The trainees presented a mass PT display and other training demonstrations. A colourful cultural programme will be held for the personnel at the centre tomorrow evening.

Illegal quarrying in Nadha nadi
Tribune News Service

NADHA (Kharar), Aug 28 — Illegal quarrying on a large scale in the Nadha nadi (Patiala Ki Rao) close to this village has been brought to light by local residents who allege involvement of certain influential persons in this activity.

The residents fear that the large-scale quarrying being done in violation of a Supreme Court ruling regarding restrictions on sand quarrying in the forest land in the area had threatened their agricultural land. They cite several cases where agricultural land has been washed away when the nadi changed its course due to illegal quarrying.

Mr Gurbaksh Singh, a resident of Nadha, lamented that last year illegal quarrying was checked by the police authorities. This year the unscrupulous elements again started their illegal activity around August 25.

Sources said forest officials had written to the police to take action against the persons responsible for quarrying. Villagers allege that the police was dragging its feet in the case.

The Conservator of Forests, Shivalik Circle, Mr H.S. Gujral, said when the Block Forest Officer, Mr Bhadhur Singh, and his staff visited the site on August 26, he was manhandled. A complaint in this regard had been lodged with the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ropar, and the Superintendent of Police, SAS Nagar.

The Superintendent of Police, SAS Nagar, Mr B.S. Randhawa, when contacted, said the Forest Department had only demanded police protection to its staff. An inquiry was on, he added.

A number of affected villagers in a signed statement said that the persons engaged in the illegal quarrying in the nadi had threatened them with dire consequences if they raised their voice.

Sacked employee seeks probe
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Aug 28 — A terminated employee of the Punjab School Education Board, Mr Ram Lok Singh, has sought a fair inquiry by the vigilance or any other independent agency into the charges levelled against him and his wife on the basis of which their services were terminated in May this year.

The services of Mr Ram Lok Singh, a senior assistant with the board, were terminated for allegedly tampering with the result sheet of his wife to improve her division in the matriculation examination. His wife, Darshna Devi, a clerk with the board, was also terminated.

The senior assistant, who had filed an appeal before the board management against the decision of the Chairman, has alleged that the inquiry conducted by the board officials was one-sided. He claimed that a wrongly typed roll number on the 14-year-old result sheet of his wife was cited as the reason for their termination of service.

While alleging that somebody had intentionally erased the entries on the result sheet of his wife, he claimed that the award list of his wife, which should have been the basis of any action, was not available with the board authorities. He said that the total marks on the result sheet remain unchanged in spite of the erasing of some entries.

The couple have alleged that their appeal before the management was not taken up at the board meeting on July 5.

The Vice-Chairman of the board was not available for comments.

Harness solar energy: experts
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 28 — There is need to harness solar energy as petrol, natural gas and coal have a limited lifespan at the present rate of consumption, said Dr S.K. Sharma, Director of Energy Research Centre in Panjab University, in a workshop and seminar on the commercialisation of thermal services in Panjab University here today.

Dr Sharma said that the lifespan of petrol, natural gas and coal was 25 years, 50 years and 100 years, respectively. Solar energy, if harnessed, could be the fountainhead of all sources of energy. He said that apart from other shortcomings, the commercial sources of energy were eating up precious raw materials essential for basic industries like pharmaceuticals, fertilisers and petro-chemicals.

Dr I.B.S.Passi, Dean University Instructions, while inaugurating the seminar stressed the need for a large-scale use of non-conventional energy sources. He said extensive use of conventional energy sources had led to global warming which had emerged as the biggest threat facing the world.

In his presidential address, Mr Manmohan Singh, President of the local Restaurant Association, said solar energy can satisfy the extending need of the restaurant business. Transportation, which consumed a large amount of the available energy, needed an immediate alternative route.

Mr S.S. Bedi, Director of the regional office of the MNES, highlighted the role of the ministry in promoting the use of non-conventional sources of energy. Mr R.K.Vimal, Manager (solar energy), Indian Rural Energy Development Agency, reviewed the soft loan schemes promoted by the agency. Dr R.K. Wanchoo proposed the vote of thanks.

Contests mark Founders Day
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Aug 28 — To commemorate its Founders Day, the Youth Hostel Association of India (YHAI) organised student competitions at the Youth Hostel in Sector 3 here today.

Over 300 students from various local schools participated. These schools included Blue Bird Model School, Hans Raj Public School, Satluj Public School, Haryana Model School, Chaman Lal DAV School, DAV School, Sector 8, DC Model School, Jainender Gurukul Public School, Government Senior Secondary School and some schools from Barwala and Kot-Billa.

The contests included painting, model-making, chart-making and poem recitation. The main objective of the function was to induce a sense of nationalism among children. The programme stressed upon the need to preserve ecological balance.

The painting competition was divided into three age groups. The focus was on topics relating to environment and pollution, health and hygiene, and solidarity towards Kargil martyrs. The poem recitation competition also had patriotism and nationalism as the main topics.

Ms Veena Joshi, Deputy Commissioner, Income Tax, gave away the prizes to the winners. The warden of the hostel appreciated the role of the District Administration in making the programme a success.

Protected lizard species seized
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Aug 28 — The Haryana Wildlife Department has arrested two members of the Sansi tribe for allegedly possessing three male monitor lizards, a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act.

The Deputy WildLife Warden, Mr T.P.Singh, said during routine checking at Sadora in Yamunagar, the officials of the department seized the protected species from the members of the sansi tribe, which consumes its meat. The skin of the monitor lizard is sold off to people engaged in making leather items.

Later, the live animals were freed in the wild. The arrested persons have been remanded in judicial custody by the Environment Court, Hisar, till August 30.

Allegations mark interaction
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Aug 28 — The Panchkula Press Club organised an interaction with the principal candidates from the Ambala parliamentary constituency at the Red Bishop Tourist Complex here today.

The programme, titled "Ru-ba-ru", focussed on the vital issues concerning the constituency. Mr Aman Kumar Nagra (BSP), Mr Phool Chand Mullana (Congress), and Mr Rattan Lal Kataria (BJP) elaborated their party policies and manifestos.

The programme was marked by allegations and counter-allegations by the three candidates. Mr Mullana claimed that only the congress could form a stable government at the centre. "The country has witnessed lot of political instability over the years caused by coalition governments", he added. Kargil represented the victory of the Indian armed forces and a failure of the BJP government to frame adequate defence policies, he said.

Referring to the issue of the foreign origin of Ms Sonia Gandhi, Mr Mullana said she was the daughter-in-law of the nation and had the constitutional right to be the leader of the nation. He promised a system free from corruption and inequalities. He highlighted the issue of amendment of the Periphery Act and promised proper representation of the people from the constituency in the Lok Sabha.

Mr Kataria criticised the Congress for de-stablising the country and forcing the elections on the people. He accused the Congress of corruption and alleged that the Congress, which had ruled the country for so long, had made the country bankrupt. India was counted among the most corrupt nations of the world, he stated.

Mr Kataria lauded the policies of the BJP, especially the international support it received on the Kargil issue.

Mr Nagra criticised the Congress and the BJP for promoting individualism and favoured the doctrine of democratic socialism propounded by Dr B.R. Ambedkar. He highlighted his party's contribution in his tenure of 13 months as MP from the Ambala parliamentary constituency.

Mr T. Ambreesh, Bureau Chief of Rastriya Sahara, Chandigarh, presided over the function. He said the electorate should draw parameters to judge their leaders on the basis of the works of general welfare undertaken by them. Several questions were raised from the audience, which were tactfully answered by the party leaders.

Mr Amar Gawri, Managing Director of Amar Syntex Private Limited, Panchkula, was the chief guest. The President of the Panchkula Press Club, Mr P.P. Verma, concluded the programme with a vote of thanks.

Congress unstable says Shatrughan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 28 — Launching a scathing attack against the Congress, Shatrughan Sinha, the BJP's star campaigner, alleged that the Congress, which has not tired dubbing the BJP and its allies government as unstable, was not stable itself which was why it had struck alliances with different parties in different states.

Shatrughan, who was roped in by the BJP to garner the vote and support of the sizeable migrant labourers living in different colonies and villages of the UT, addressed the crowd in the Sector 22 Nehru Park through a mixture of Bhojpuri and Maghi languages and in return was able to raise slogans of "Bihari Babu Zindabad".

Criticising the Congress for forcing elections on the people by hatching a conspiracy against the Vajpayee government, he said the Congress' rhetoric that the BJP government was not able to govern the country effectively held no water. Instead, the former had been mired with "instability" and "insecurity". "You can sense their insecurity from the fact that they have gone in for a poll alliance with a person like Laloo Prasad Yadav, despite recent statements that he had no ethical right to rule the state.

On the Congress criticism of the BJP's performance he asked what the Congress had done about a number of problems, such as poverty, extremism, and insurgency, faced by the country during its 45 year long "stable" rule. "Can the Congress tell the people why 38 percent population is still living below the poverty line? Or why 38000 square kilometre of Indian soil was still occupied by the Chinese? Or why India had the largest number of sick persons in the world? If it had not been able to solve these problems during the past 45 years, has it now found the proverbial "Lukman ka Nuskha" to solve these overnight?

He alleged that the Congress had a one point programme — to acquire power by any means, and for that it had pulled down the governments of Deve Gowda, Chander Shekhar, and I K Gujral.

Launching a counter attack on congress, which had been questioning the BJP on its alleged intelligence failure in Kargil, Mr Sinha said the country had got back its territory, though 400 soldiers had to sacrifice their lives for that. The Congress should tell why 1200 of our soldiers got killed when Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) were sent to Sri Lanka, or who was responsible for training to Tamil tigers in India? "On the other hand, during our brief 13 month tenure we launched a number of development schemes, including crop insurance and free education for girls upto graduation." Mr K.L. Sharma, the BJP candidate, Mr Satya Pal Jain, former MP, Mr Kewal Krishan Addiwal, the mayor also addressed the gathering.

Poll a referendum on UT: Dhawan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 28 — "Every vote cast by residents of the city this time will be a referendum on the future status of the city. Since the alliance partner of the BJP has demanded that Chandigarh should be given to Punjab, the votes that their party polls will ensure that the city remains a Union Territory".

This was stated by Mr Harmohan Dhawan, a former union minister, at the first formal press conference held by him with his supporters after he joined the Congress just before elections were announced.

Spelling out the reasons for joining the Congress at this juncture he said he has studied the results of the previous elections and had concluded that he was bagging the votes of the secular community and in the process was undermining the winning prospects of the Congress. Moreover, the city has never been a traditional BJP seat.

Basically there are only five parties — the Congress, the BJP, the SJP, the Akalis and the CPI and CPM which can win. Past victories show that the city has never been a BJP seat and whenever they have won it it has been because of support from the Akalis.

"I have joined (Congress) as I want that the communal forces should be routed in the country and the Congress was the only choice. I must be frank in admitting that I would not have won on my own steam but have now infused a new sense of life in the rank and file of the local Congress brightening the chances of winning this seat. The support extended by the left parties would be of immense value", he added.

Claiming that the Congress would win the seat by a margin of more than 70, 000 votes he came down heavily on the BJP candidate, Mr K L Sharma. "What does he know of local issues and problems. I want to ask him whether he, during his years as a parliamentarian, ever raised the problems of the city or has taken part in any agitation to get the demands of the residents accepted?"

Commenting on the view that claims and counter claims were burying the basic issues facing the city, he said it was important for the people to know that how a person who cannot vote in the constituency he would be representing would be able to tackle these basic issues? It is hard to believe that a person whose claim to belong to this city rests on a working telephone and that he was an election incharge of a previous MP, could be a fit candidate of this predominantly literate constituency?

Claiming to have brought together some of the senior leaders who were not happy with the way the local unit functioned, Mr Dhawan said he and his party candidate, Mr Pawan Bansal, would be campaigning separately to reach out to the maximum number of people from tomorrow onwards.

SNIPPETS

'Few politicians can be statesmen'
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 28 —Rarity of statesmen and abundance of politicians was central to a debate organised in Vivek High School here today.

Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, A. B. Vajpayee and I. K. Gujral were largely appreciated as great statesmen while Laloo,Mayawati and even Mamata Banerjee did not get favourable remarks from speakers.Statesmen were clearly identified as separate,gifted and important personalities while politicians by and large were at the receiving end.

The participating schools in the annual inter-school debate were Mount Carmel, DAV , St Kabir, St Ajit Karam Singh School, Tender Heart,Shivalik Public School,Sacred Heart and Lawrence School, Sanawar.

St Kabir School lifted the prestigious trophy.Two other schools in the front ranks included Vivek High and Carmel Convent.Arush Chopra and Sachit Grover from St Kabir School stood first and second, respectively.The third position was won by Mehar Shergill from the host school.

A participant said while everyone found faults in "hawala", fodder scandal and several others, few bother about fields where India had excelled.

The opinion that every statesman could be a politician but not vice-versa was greatly appreciated.The Kargil issue and its political implications also received due attention.

Quiz contest results out
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 28 — The results of a written quiz contest held on July 28 were declared here today. As many as 9,000 children from 30 schools of Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula had participated in the contest.

The following are the students who have secured first, second and third positions, respectively, in each category:

Group A (classes XI and XII): Jashanjot Kaur Sidhu, Sakshi Wadhwa and Megha Wats from Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16.

Group B (classes IX and X): Kohitish Balhota (GMSSS-16), Karan Clair and Vijay Kumar of DAV Public School, Sector 8.

Group C (classes VII and VIII): Nikhil Dhar and Shiv Anant (St Kabir Public School) and Mukul Chhabra (St Stephen's School).

Group D (classes V and VI): Gagandeep Singh (St Stephen's School), Ankita Soni (Blue Bird School) and Abhishek (St Stephen's School).

Group E (classes III and IV): Stuti Sharma (St Anne's Convent School), Zarmina (Bhawan Vidyalaya) and Nikhil Ahuja (Mount Carmel).

Group F (classes I and II): Sanaa (Bhawan Vidyalaya), Hario Moran (New Public School) and Abhishek Sood (Hansraj Public School).

In each category, 10 winning and 20 consolation prizes will be given.

Fashion contest by engg, medical students
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 28 — Students of engineering and medical colleges in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana presented a fashion contest 'Al Fresco-99' at the Press Club, Sector 27, here today. These students, who formed an association — 'Patriots' — dedicated the show to Kargil heroes and announced that the proceeds of the show would be contributed to the Army Central Welfare Fund.

Various rounds were held, based on formal wear, casual wear, 'funky wear' and 'defence wear'. The programme began with saraswati vandana, followed by the national anthem by students of Bal Niketan, Sector 2, Panchkula.

The first team on stage was of Government College of Men, Sector 11, which presented the 'Summer Zebra Collection', which had men in shirts and jeans sporting zebra-like lines on their faces. This was followed by a round of traditional dresses, an open category, in which girls and boys wore saris, lehngas and achkans.

The casual wear round — 'Twinkling Stars' — having an all-women team in casuals, got the best response. The mini-skirts had almost all the audience applauding.

Six-year-old Manika Ahuja presented a Rajasthani dance on an Ila Arun number.

The music, arranged by Sudhir Sharma, was foot-tapping. The judges for the contest were Ms Anjana Chatterjee, Mr Charanjit Ahuja, Ms Protima Sharma, Dr Ashok Kumar Aggarwal and Ms Veena Gupta.

Maha Panchayat to back SAD nominee
From Our Correspondent

ZIRAKPUR, Aug 28 — The newly formed Maha Panchayat of 18 villages around Zirakpur, Kharar and SAS Nagar has decided to extend support to the Shiromani Akali Dal candidate, Mrs Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, in the Ropar parliamentary constituency.

The decision was taken by the sarpanches and panches of Bhabat, Zirakpur, Alipur, Jheorheri, Kandala, Seao, Mattran, Bakarpur, Nandiali, Jagatpura, Kambali, Dharamgarh, Safipur, Bari, Pappri, Kandala, Rurka and Chhachu Majra villages who formed the Maha Panchayat on August 7 under the chairmanship of Mr Jaspal Singh.

They complained that the political leaders had not fulfilled the promises made before the elections from time to time.

They alleged that all these villages lacked basic amenities which they were assured by leaders of different parties at the time of elections.

Awareness seminar organised
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Aug 28 — The Inner Wheel District 308 organised an awareness seminar on the ''district rally focus" at Hans Raj Public School in Sector 6 here today.

The seminar highlighted the issues concerning population control, family welfare, care for the girl child, etc. The seminar was attended by 142 members from 20 clubs, mostly from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh.

Dr Neena Puri, President of the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI), explained the increasing role of women in population stabilisation.

Ms Pushpa Khanna, district chairperson, highlighted the various social, economic and biological issues concerning women.

Environmental issues and their impact on population were also discussed. A project fair on girl child, education and planned parenthood was also organised.

Essay writing competition
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 28 — Build India Group will organise an essay writing competition for school children from Chandigarh, Panchkula and SAS Nagar at the State Library, Sector 34, here tomorrow.

According to the President of the organisation, Mrs Meenakshi Saxena, the class V to XII students would be divided into three groups for the contest.

Hans launches poll campaign
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 28 — Mr Ram Pal Hans, candidate of the New Congress Party for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat, started his election campaign by addressing a rally in Sector 37 here yesterday.

He called upon the electorate to be aware of their rights and duties and maintained that the Congress and the BJP never fulfilled the promises they made earlier to the people.

He criticised the newspapers and others for projecting only the candidates of big national parties.

Mr Hans also addressed a rally in Ram Darbar.