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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Sunday, January 17, 1999 |
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Jindal to launch party
today
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Kidnapped
man's body found Registrar
changed to rein in VC? Proposed
house tax hike to be cut Powers
of civic bodies curtailed Haryana
to absorb surplus staff |
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Jindal to launch party today GURGAON, JAN 16 — Industrialist-turned politician O.P. Jindal, will announce conversion of his Haryana Sarvajatiya Morcha (HSM) into a political party tomorrow at its public meeting in Gohana in Sonepat district. This was disclosed to TNS today by the patron of the HSM and scion of a publishing house, Mr Ashwani Chopra. The name of the new political outfit will be Haryana Sarvajatiya Party with Mr Jindal as its president and Mr Chopra as its patron. The HSM was floated more than a month ago after Mr Jindal quit the ruling Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) after differences with Chief Minister Bansi Lal. The party will forge an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party of Mr Kanshi Ram and field nominees in all the constituencies in the next assembly elections in the state. The announcement of the new party was to be made in the HSM’s "Mahapanchayat" at Rewari on January 14, but could not be done as leaders wanted to know Mr Kanshi Ram’s plans. According to observers, a tie-up of the HSM with the BSP is a foregone conclusion. A member of the national executive of the BSP, Mr Raghu Yadav, was secretary-general of the HSM and the bulwark of its campaign in south Haryana. The "Mahapanchayat" in Rewari was virtually Mr Yadav’s show. Also, Mr Jindal’s strong espousal of the cause of the Harijans and the downtrodden in his speeches is another straw in the wind. Mr Jindal and Mr Chopra’s political moves have evinced keen interests in political circles. Because of their alleged moves to rope in dissidents in other political parties. Mr Jindal’s claims of close links with a number of leaders of the HVP, have further muddied the political waters. A statement made by Mr Jindal in Rewari at the HSM’s Mahapanchyat that Prime Minister Vajpayee and senior leaders of other political parties had personally expressed their willingness to have an association with the HSM has added new dimensions to the puzzle. The Congress, bidding to bounce back to power in Haryana, is also monitoring the HSM efforts to make a dent in non-Jat votes bank. Sources in the HSM said that the organisation considered the Congress as its main threat on account of the party’s acceptability among all sections of voters under the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Also, the HSM leaders are credited with the view that the president of the Haryana unit of the Congress, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, had acceptability among Jats and the non-Jats. There is apparent buoyancy in the HSM camp on account of the alleged success of its public meetings and workers’ meetings at the district headquarters, the calculation being that the state is heading for a midterm election. HSM leaders feel that their new political outfit should be "fighting fit" in couple of months for a possible snap poll. As part of its strategy
HSM leaders would like to stop public meetings after the
one in Gohana. They are inclined to visit the district
headquarters to complete the process of organising
district units of their new political party. They will
also watch the public response to the Congress’s
state-wide padyatra starting from February 1 and the
party’s subsequent rally at Jind on February 13. The
HSM leadership will now shift its focus from south
Haryana to other parts of the state. |
BJP leader's kin killed in
accident ROHTAK, Jan 16 — Vishal Goyal (29) grandson of a prominent state BJP leader, Mr Hukam Chand Goyal died on the spot when a tanker hit his scooter on Hisar road here today. Vishal, according to family members was going to his factory located on the Hisar road when a speeding tanker hit the scooter and crushed his head. The tanker driver made an attempt to flee from the scene but was chased down. Vaish educational institutions, civil road market and shops in the Naraina Complex were closed as soon as news of the death of Vishal fled. The local MP and HPCC
president, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, state BJP general
secretary Mr Manohar Lal Khattar, district BJP chief Mr
Pardeep Jain and former municipal committee president, Mr
Sunder Lal Sethi have mourned the death and expressed
sympathy with the bereaved family. |
1 held for violence at rly
station ROHTAK, Jan 16 — The police has arrested one person in connection with the violence and rampage at the railway junction here on Thursday. According to railway police sources, the accused, identified as Krishan Deo, of Vijay Nagar locality, was one of those allegedly involved in the violence which resulted in damage to railway property. The Station House Officer of the government railway police station, Mr Ajmer Singh, said about five-six persons had been identified and would be arrested soon. The accused who was produced in the local court was remanded in police custody up to January 18. Meanwhile, the railway
police also arrested a 17-year-old girl on charges of
immoral trafficking at the railway station. The girl, a
resident of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, was remanded in
judicial custody up to January 18. |
Kidnapped man's body found JIND, Jan 16 — The body of Balbir Chand who was kidnapped from Narwana was found in a water course near Bhatla village in Hisar district. Balbir Chand was allegedly murdered and his body was brought to Narwana yesterday for cremation. The victim, a businessman was kidnapped on January 6 from Birbal Nagar in Narwana. The police had registered a case under Section 364 of the IPC. Traders of Narwana had observed a strike on January 11 in protest against the kidnapped and an ultimatum was given to the administration to trace Balbir Chand before January 15. Mr Shamsher Singh
Surjewala, President, Bharat Krishak Samaj, Haryana,
condemned the kidnapping and murder of Balbir Chand. |
Registrar changed to rein in VC? ROHTAK, Jan 16 — The replacement of the Registrar of Maharshi Dayanand University here is believed to be the first move of the state government to tighten its control over the affairs of the varsity. The government is reportedly annoyed with the functioning of the university authorities. The decision of replacing the registrar was reportedly taken recently as the state government was not satisfied with his reply to an explanation sought by it over some appointments made by the university during the ban period. It may be recalled that while the government had put a blanket ban in August last year the university had made some appointments on contract and partime basis stating that such recruitments were necessary to cope with academic demand and for ensuring completion of the syllabus. But a section of teachers, including some teacher union leaders, had alleged that the appointments and promotions made during the ban period were totally illegal and improper. They submitted several memoranda to the Chief Minister and the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the varsity, to intervene in the matter. The government has now appointed Mr Ashok Khemka, IAS, as the new Registrar. He replaces Mr Srikant Walgad, IAS, who has been made Additional Deputy Commissioner of Jhajjar district. Mr Khemka, according to campus watchers, is believed to be an honest and upright officer and very strict in his functioning. He earlier served as Registrar of Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), and Guru Jambeshwar University, both at Hisar and reportedly locked horns with the authorities there on matters relating to functioning of these varsities. According to sources while the government seems in no mood to take any direct action against the Vice-Chancellor, perhaps due to political reasons, the appointment of a registrar of its choice is the best possible way to keep a check on him. It is reported that the state government had taken very serious view of the items on the agenda of the Executive Council (EC) whose meeting to be held on December 22 last, was postponed indefinitely on the directions of the state government. The government was annoyed with the attempt of the university authorities to take up items regarding appointments and promotions for approval of the council. A former president of
Maharshi Dayanand University Teachers Association and
convener of the Haryana Federation University and College
Teachers Organisations (HFUCTO), Mr Wazir Singh Nehra has
welcomed the appointment of the new registrar. He said
that the academic atmosphere was likely to improve now.
The MDU Teachers Association (MDUTA) has reportedly
written a letter to the Chief Minister recently demanding
a probe into various decisions taken by the
Vice-Chancellor during his tenure so far. |
Proposed house tax hike to be cut FARIDABAD, Jan 16 — The Haryana Government has agreed to reduce the proposed increase in house tax by the Faridabad Municipal Corporation in the face of strong opposition from the public. A meeting was held at Chandigarh on January 14 under the presidentship of Mrs Kamla Verma, Local Bodies Minister. In this meeting it was decided to increase tax by 25 per cent on houses constructed on 100-yard plots, 50 per cent up to 250 yards and cent per cent for the rest. Earlier, the civic body had proposed to increase the tax ranging from seven times to 14 times. The three MLAs
representing Faridabad city, the Mayor and the
Commissioner of the Local Bodies Department and the
Deputy Commissioner of Faridabad were present in the
meeting. |
Powers of civic bodies curtailed ROHTAK, Jan 16 — The Haryana Government has deprived all civic bodies of their administrative power to spend up to Rs 2 lakh on development work. The power has reportedly been diverted to the respective Deputy Commissioner. Earlier, the civic bodies had enjoyed the authority to spend up to Rs 2 lakh on development works by getting a resolution passed at municipal councillors' meeting. According to sources, the Financial Commissioner and Secretary (Local Bodies) had recently directed the authorities concerned that no development work should be carried out without taking the approval of the Deputy Commissioners. Registering their protest against the decision, a majority of the municipal councillors alleged that it was against the democratic set-up. Several Congress councillors said they had been demanding administrative and financial powers for the past four years, but instead of conceding their demands, the government had curtailed their powers. The sources claimed that
under Rule 4(2) of the Haryana Municipal Working Rules,
1976, the Deputy Commissioner was the only competent
authority to approve development works up to Rs 2 lakh.
The sources said the government took the decision because
the development works were not being carried out in a
proper way. |
Haryana to absorb surplus staff CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — The Haryana Government has decided not to retrench any of the safai karamcharis who were recruited during the nearly three-month-long strike by the safai karamcharis all over the state in Haryana in 1996-97. The new decision means a virtual ban on direct recruitment of safai karamcharis or their equivalent in order to first absorb the surplus staff. As a result of the quick recruitment done to improve the deteriorating sanitary conditions in the State during the strike period, the government had in fact declared that the striking employees would not be taken back and instead their posts would be filled by those recruited during that emergency situation by persons who came to the government's rescue and municipal committees' rescue. In order to ensure cleanliness in the municipal areas, the Municipal Councils, Municipal Committees and the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad, had recruited hundreds of safai karamcharis through various recruiting channels. As many as 2,060 safai karamcharis had become surplus after the final negotiations with the strikers' leaders which also meant taking back of all the striking workers. The strike which had begun in December, 1996, had ended in March, 1997. In view of the assurances given by the government to the newly recruited persons, all those surplus employees had been retained in service. This also meant increased financial burden on the government/local bodies. Only a few days ago Mr M.K. Miglani, Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Local Government, had made some suggestions to the government with regard to the surplus karamcharis who were taken "temporarily" but kept on regular basis. The largest number of these surplus karamcharis exists in the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad. These suggestions by and large have been accepted as such by the government. Mr Miglani had suggested that all these surplus workers should be absorbed by various departments against regular posts created for such workers from time to time. In order to adjust the
surplus safai karamcharis, the Financial Commissioner and
Secretary, Local Government, has created a surplus pool
in the Local Government Department and all other
departments have been asked to give their requirements to
the Local Government Department against sanctioned posts.
They have been told if any appointment to the post of
safai karamchari is to be made, it should be done after
taking persons from the surplus pool or after obtaining a
non-availability certificate from the Financial
Commissioner, Local Government. |
24 INLD workers rounded up AMBALA, Jan 16 — Twentyfour workers of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) were rounded up by the police today when they tried to stage a demonstration before the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, near Manav Chowk here. The INLD workers were demanding a slab system for tubewells, electricity charges, resurvey of those below the poverty line and abolition of octroi. The police had to resort to a lathi charge to disperse them. Talking to newspersons, Mr Bansi Lal said there was no threat to his government and it would complete its full term. He said the second instalment of the Rs 1100-cr loan from the World Bank for the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam would be released by February-March next for strengthening the power infrastructure in the state. The Chief Minister, earlier, laid the foundation stones of a home for senior citizens and a new judicial complex and inaugurated a surgical block of Apna Hospital in the city. He directed Deputy Commissioner, Navraj Sandhu to chalk out a plan for laying the sewerage system in the city. The Chief Minister also
directed officials to find a suitable piece of land for a
park. |
Furnace fined Rs 53.5 lakh YAMUNANAGAR, Jan 16 — Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam, imposed a penalty of Rs 53.5 lakh on a furnace after a surprise raid. According to official sources, Executive Engineer of Vigilance Department Metering, and XEN Operation, Jagadhri, jointly raided the premises of a furnace at Chhachhrouli on Thursday and detected theft of power. A complaint was lodged by
SDO, Ranbir Singh Sagwan at Chhachhrouli police station.
A case has been registered under Section 39 of
Electricity Act against the proprietor of the factory. |
Fraud case against 2 bus drivers SONEPAT, Jan 16 — The Rai police has registered a case of fraud and preparation of fake documents relating to the registration of auto vehicles and payment of passenger tax against two drivers of private buses. It has also launched a hunt to apprehend the two after they escaped at the time of checking by Excise and Taxation officials on the G.T. road near Bahalgarh village in this district. The Superintendent of
Police, Mr K. Selvraj, told mediapersons here today that
the duo had been identified as Pawan Kumar and Suresh of
Bapraula village in the Najafgarh area of Delhi. The
police had impounded their buses which were on their way
from Katra (Jammu) to Delhi. |
Poor made aware of pulse polio BHIWANI, Jan 16 — The Bhiwani Youth Welfare Club has started a campaign in colonies of poor and backward classes so that they can get pulse polio drops administered to their children (below five years) tomorrow at booths set up by the Health Department. Mr Dalsher Panghal, President of the club, said members of the club would persuade the people to get their children immunised to polio. A function would also be organised in this connection at the Improvement Trust market here tomorrow. Meanwhile, a rally was organised by students of Bal Bhawan Public School, Government Girls Senior Secondary School and Government Boys Senior Secondary School, to create awareness about the drive. Mr K.S. Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, said in the second phase of the programme, 1,75,685 children in the age group 0-5 would be given polio drops. He said 693 booths had been set up for this purpose. He said special teams had
been deputed at railway stations, bus stands, brick kilns
and labour colonies, to administer the drops. |
Public help 'must' to check crime SONEPAT, Jan 16 — Mr K. Selvraj, SP, exhorted the people to extend their cooperation to the police in the investigation and detection of crime. Inaugurating a police station at Mohana village, 19 km from here, yesterday, he said, "If the people begin to realise that it is their duty to tell all facts about criminal cases to the police, then most of the difficulties in tracking down criminals can be removed". He also said although scientific methods were being used to detect crime, public cooperation was most essential for the conviction of the criminals. He said the tendency to earn more money without labour was responsible for the increase in crime. He said 28 villages had
been linked with this police station. |
Mill workers' stir continues YAMUNANAGAR, Jan 16 — The agitation by the Saraswati Sugar Mill Labour Union entered its third day today, when 10 employees sat on a 24-hour relay fast. Mr Satpal Kaushik, President of the district unit of the Haryana Krishak Samaj, addressing the employees, extended support to the demands of the employees. He said if the demands of the employees were not accepted, the agitation would be intensified. Mr Naresh Kumar,
spokesperson of the Haryana Sugar Mill Workers
Federation, said the employees of all sugar mills of the
state would also extend their support if the demands,
which include regularisation of services of those
employees, who had completed three years of service and
retrenchment of those appointed in 1996-97, were not
accepted. |
2 die as mill-stone breaks HISAR, Jan 16 — Two persons were killed when a moving mill-stone broke in Tewen village, about 15 km from here, today. According to information,
the two were working near the mill-stone. They were
identified as Rajinder and Om Prakash, both the residents
of village Muklan. |
Remove encroachments: Bansi KAITHAL, Jan 16 — Haryana has decided to ban use of polythene bags in the State after January 30 as these choke the sewers and spoil the health of the soil, besides littering the environment. The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, told mediapersons here today, that he had directed the district administration to remove all encroachments. He also sought strict action against officials who made false electricity bills. To check corruption at high places, the Government had appointed a Lok Pal under whose purview even the Chief Minister, ministers and bureaucrats came. Mr Bansi Lal said that the Sarv Jatiya Morcha had no existence in the State. On being asked about the annoyance of former MP, Mr O.P. Jindal, he said that Mr Jindal first demanded the Bhiwani Parliamentary seat then Rajya Sabha seat. Coming heavily on Mr Chautala, he alleged that Mr Chautala even during his own tenure used to fell trees and damage Government property. He said that Haryana would provide 24-hour uninterrupted power supply to its consumers after June 30 this year, which was the first priority of his Government. The second priority of the Government was the maintenance and construction of roads. The Government had decided to take up repair and construction of roads in a phased manner. In first phase, State highways would be taken up and thereafter, major district roads and the link roads. Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated the newly constructed Mini-Secretariat, built at a cost of nearly Rs 4.21 crore. He also inspected the construction work of adjacent Judicial Complex being built at a cost of Rs 3 crore. He also planted a sapling in front of the Mini-secretariat. Later, Mr Bansi Lal addressed a largely attended public meeting at the local Anaj Mandi, where he recounted his Government's achievements. He said that his Government had fulfilled almost all the election promises made to the people. He said that there was a complete unanimity in the ruling HVP-BJP alliance. The Finance Minister, Mr
Charan Dass Shorewala, the Health Minister, Mr O.P.
Mahajan, the Minister of State for Power and Public
Relations, Mr Attar Singh Saini, the Chairman, Haryana
State Agriculture Marketing Board, Mr Ved Pal, and the
Chairman, Hafed, Mr Narender Sharma also spoke on the
occasion.
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