Slogans don't fill stomachs: Khanna
ROHTAK, Aug 29 — Senior Congress leader, Rajesh Khanna accused the Bhartiya Janata Party of resorting to slogan-mongering while ignoring vital issues.


CM’s directive on power supply
SONEPAT, Aug 29 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, has directed officials of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) to either ensure round-the-clock power supply or face disciplinary action after three days.

Film star seeks votes for Kataria
YAMUNANAGAR, Aug 29 — Film actor Shatrughan Sinha reached a public meeting at Jagadhri three and half hours late. Despite this coming late the turn-out was impressive. Mr Sinha apologised by saying that "Behari Babu, despite busy schedule reached you".

Release of grants sought
AMBALA, Aug 29 — Dr D P Asija, President of the Principals’ Association of Haryana non-government Colleges, has urged the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, to order immediate release of grants to affiliated colleges so that salaries to the employees could be paid.

HVP to support Cong in Sirsa
HISAR, Aug 29 — The Haryana Vikas Party has decided to extend its support to Mr Om Prakash Keharwal, Congress nominee from Sirsa parliamentary seat.

HAU teachers seek ICAR scales
HISAR, Aug 29 — The Haryana Agriculture University Teachers Association has expressed concern over the dilatory tactics of the Haryana Government for grant of ICAR pay package to HAU teachers.

Slogans don't fill stomachs: Khanna
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Aug 29 — Senior Congress leader, Rajesh Khanna accused the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) of resorting to slogan-mongering while ignoring vital issues. Addressing a well-attended election meeting in support of Congress candidate from the Rohtak Parliamentary constituency Bhupinder Singh Hooda here today, Rajesh Khanna dubbed the BJP an "issueless party" that had been using slogans to attract public and media attention.

Explaining his point, he pointed out that in the past the BJP raised the mandir-masjid controversy which was followed by such issues as the nuclear explosion and the Kargil conflict. All this sloganeering had nothing to do with the common man who was still poor and hungry.

He accused the BJP-led government of allowing the situation in Kargil to assume alarming proportions before launching the offensive to drive out Pakistani intruders. Ridiculing the claim of the BJP on India's victory in Kargil, Khanna said driving out the thief which had intruded into your house could not be regarded as a victory.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, he said the former, being unmarried, could not feel the pain and agony of the martyrs' families. On Sonia Gandhi he said Sonia came to India as a 'bahu' and she was the 'bhabhi (sister-in-law) of the youth of this country. Also as per the Indian Constitution, Sonia was as good as any other citizen of India who was born here.

The BJP was trying to divide the people of different communities he alleged, adding that the country would be engulfed by flames if the BJP, which had forged unprincipled alliances with various parties in different states, was voted back to power. Making an emotional appeal to the electorate to vote in favour of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) President and party nominee from this parliamentary constituency Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the cine star said in chaste Punjabi," Hooda mere jigar da tukra hai, panj tarikh nu apna-apna vote pa ke unhanoo kamyab banao".

Meanwhile, the Haryana unit of the Laloo Prasad Yadav led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Party have announced their support for the Congress candidate. Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Leaders of the state and district units of the RJD and Janata Party, in separate statements said, the decision to support the Congress was taken in the national interest as the party could provide a stable and secular government.

Mr Surajmal Gangana of the Janata Party and Dr Laxman Singh of the RJD said Mr Hooda was the only leader in Haryana, who could end the discrimination in development going on for the past 32 years.

Mr Hooda himself addressed public meeting at Model Town, DLF Colony, Tilak Nagar, Prem Nagar, Indira Colony, Jagdish Colony, Janata Colony, Arya Nagar and Housing Board Colony today.

CM’s directive on power supply
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Aug 29 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, has directed officials of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) to either ensure round-the-clock power supply or face disciplinary action after three days.

Addressing an election rally in favour of the BJP nominee, Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, at Gohana town, 35 km from here, yesterday, he took serious note of complaints about the erratic power supply, frequent power breakdown, trippings and low voltage and warned that the guilty officials would face action.

He announced that the state government was committed to ensuring regular power and water supply to the urban and rural areas and he would not hesitate to take stern action if any official of the HVPN was found guilty.

Mr Chautala accused the Congress of thrusting the mid-term Lok Sabha elections on the nation. He warned that if the Congress returned to power, there would be chaos in the country.

He appealed to voters to defeat the Congress so that Mr Vajpayee could again become the Prime Minister.

Mr Chautala also said the Congress and a former Chief Minister and the HVP chief, Mr Bansi Lal, were in league with each other and their candidates were not in a position to seek votes.

He made a scathing attack on the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi.

Mr Chautala claimed that the INLD-BJP nominees in Haryana would win all 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana.

Wartime heroes’ kin live in penury
From Bijendra Ahlawat

ROHTAK, Aug 29 — While the Kargil conflict undoubtedly highlighted bravery and sacrifices of Indian soldiers in pushing back the infiltrators and the need of looking after the kin of the martyrs, the welfare of the soldiers and their dependants in general, does not seem to be on the priority list of the authorities concerned in many cases.

Mrs Kitabo Devi, widow of Sepoy Rajinder Singh of Sanghi village of Jind district, has been driven from pillar to post for the past about two and half years, to get family pension or compensatory employment, but so far her appeals and requests have gone unheeded. Even her appeal to the Prime Minister made in May last year, failed to elicit favourable response. Sepoy Rajinder Singh who had been serving in the Defence Service Corps (DSC) died of cancer, while he was in service at Command Hospital, Pune. He left behind his wife, three teenaged daughters and a mentally retarded son aged 14 years. While the family moved to village after his death they had no landed property. The poor widow had to go back to her parents house at Kila Zafargarh village in order to survive. The widow had to pay Rs 12500 for bringing the body of her husband to his native village. She applied for getting the special family pension equal to the last salary drawn by her husband, a compensatory employment and the refund of the transportation charges. But it is 30 months, the authorities have failed to provide any succour to the family head of which had died while serving the nation. The widow did receive an acknowledgement from the Prime Minister’s office on May 10 last year which stated that her letter had been received by the PM office and the application had been forwarded for action to the Secretary, Ministry of Defence. But she complains that she had got no intimation in this connection so far.

Another widow facing the similar situation is Sumita Devi, wife of Naik Jagmal Singh. Her husband who had been serving in the 65 Field Regiment died in a rail accident, while travelling in a special military train in December 1996. She filed a claim petition with the Railway and Defence authorities but failed to get any family pension or any ex-gratia. Nk Jagmal Singh belonged to nearby Mokhra village but the widow is now living with her parents at Dighal village with two sons aged 9 and 12 years. Besides these there are several other cases of ex-servicemen who have been denied ‘Disability pension’ after they were invalidated out of the service for varying degree of disability they got while in service. According to Captain (retd) Zile Singh, a resident of Sheetal Nagar here, who has been pursuing such cases with the authorities for the past few years, as many as six cases of claim of disability of soldiers had been taken up by him, but the authorities had not been showing any response for settling the claims at the earliest. He said ex-Hav Ranbir Singh of Signals, Ex-Gunner Krishan Kumar of Artillery, Ex-Sub Subhash Chander of AMC, Ex-Sep Babu Ram of the EME and Ex-Recruit Om Prakash of BEG wing of the Army had been a few of the examples whose cases of claim of disability pension are pending for the past several years. He said he had written to the Chief of the Army Staff and the Prime Minister in this connection, but had been awaiting reply in this regard.

Chautala promises water, power free
of cost
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Aug 29 — The Congress is having difficult time in Haryana and most of its leaders are worried to save their seats. Even the Congress President Mrs Sonia Gandhi is facing difficulty for her seat. Mr Om Parkash Chautala, Chief Minister, Haryana stated this at Naggal village, 20 km from here, while addressing a rally in support of the BJP-INLD alliance candidate for Ambala Lok Sabha seat today.

He said the Congress was a power- hungry party and it could not remain without power. He blamed the Congress for playing power politics. He urged the people to defeat the Congress .

He said that at the Pachmarhi camp the Congress had accepted in principle to give 33 per cent reservation to women in Assembly and parliamentary elections. But in Haryana the Congress had not fielded even a single woman candidate while the BJP and the INLD fielded two women candidates in Kurukshetra and Mahendergarh.

Mr Chautala cleverly reiterated his promise of providing free power and water to farmers. He said that law and order would be the first priority of his government. The leader of the BJP Legislature group in Assembly Mr Ram Bilas Sharma criticised former Chief Minister Bansi Lal and termed him anti-farmer, anti-employee and anti-trader.

Mr Sukhdev Singh Gobindgarh, President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Haryana unit, Mr Raj Kumar Saini, a minister in Chautala’s government also addressed the rally. About 24 local leaders of the BSP, the Congress and the HVP announced to join the BJP and the INLD in the rally.

Film star seeks votes for Kataria
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, Aug 29 — Film actor Shatrughan Sinha reached a public meeting at Jagadhri three and half hours late. Despite this coming late the turn-out was impressive. Mr Sinha apologised by saying that "Behari Babu, despite busy schedule reached you".

He appealed to the people to vote for Mr Ratan Lal Kataria BJP-INLD candidate from the Ambala Parliamentary constituency. He urged the people strengthen the hands of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, who had emerged "undisputed" leader of the nation. He spoke for 10 minutes, blamed the Congress for midterm poll. He said the Congress did nothing to eradicate poverty and unemployment, even in 45 years of its rule.

He was accompanied by Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, leader of the BJP of Haryana Vidhan Sabha and many others.

Haryana Vikas Party leader Puran Mahandru decided to join the BJP on the occasion.

Release of grants sought
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Aug 29 — Dr D P Asija, President of the Principals’ Association of Haryana non-government Colleges, has urged the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, to order immediate release of grants to affiliated colleges so that salaries to the employees could be paid. In most of the colleges salaries for the past three months have not been paid.

Dr Asija appealed to the government that a mechanism should be devised so that salaries could be paid regularly and in time.

According to Dr Asija, the government ordered an upward revision of the non-teaching staff. Their bills of arrears had also been approved but on account of non-release of grant these bills remained unpaid.

HVP to support Cong in Sirsa
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Aug 29 — The Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) has decided to extend its support to Mr Om Prakash Keharwal, Congress nominee from Sirsa parliamentary seat.

This decision was taken by the Bhattu constituency unit of the HVP at its meeting held in Nadhari village under the presidentship of Mr Krishan Kumar Jakhar, Vice-President of the youth wing of the HVP, today.

Mr Mange Ram Kirmara, a spokesman of the party, stated here that as no candidate of the HVP-BSP alliance had filed its nomination, the party had decided to extend its support to the Congress on policy matters.

Addressing the workers, Mr Mani Ram Godara, former Home Minister of Haryana, said the Chautala government would fall soon as all MLAs who recently joined the INLD were rejected by the people. He said the HVP was not ready for the Lok Sabha elections therefore the party did not field its candidates. He added that the party would be reorganised after the elections.

HAU teachers seek ICAR scales
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Aug 29 — The Haryana Agriculture University Teachers Association (HAUTA) has expressed concern over the dilatory tactics of the Haryana Government for grant of ICAR pay package to HAU teachers.

Dr R.C. Dogra, Vice-President, and Dr H.K. Verma, Secretary of the association in a statement here today alleged that the postponement of meetings fixed by the Chief Secretary to Haryana Government for this purpose had given the impression that the matter of revision of pay-scales, based on ICAR recommendations, was being delayed deliberately.

This they said had created frustration and disappointment among the faculty.

The Executive Committee of the association at a meeting yesterday decided to wait, under protest, till the Lok Sabha elections were over i.e. September 5 and thereafter take up the matter for the implementation of pay-scales.

The executive committee resolved that in case there was no positive response, an agitation would be launched against the government.