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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Saturday, July 3, 1999 |
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22 vehicles set on fire Bansi-Sonia meet fixed for July 5 |
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Cong
leaders decry support to HVP Department of paddy transplanter
held People's hopes belied BJP’s denial on split HVP calls it a ‘baseless
report’
Resentment among MMC students 2 cops killed in accident
Acute shortage of drinking water Projects on KVIC’s negative
list Eunuchs castrate youth |
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22 vehicles set on fire SOHNA (GURGAON), July 2 — A violent mob today set ablaze 20 dumpers (trucks) and two buses of Rajasthan Roadways and damaged 20 vehicles on Gurgaon Sohna road. The provocation was the running over of waiting passengers near the local octroi post, killing three on the spot and injuring three others. Those killed were identified by the police as Tej Singh of Abheypur village, Dhanraj and Lal Chand of Damdama. The condition of the injured was reported to be critical. Immediately after the incident, residents from surrounding villages converged on the spot. Till the time the mob became restive, the police had sent two bodies for post mortem. The mob became furious at the time of removal of the third body. The Station House Officer (SHO), Mr Randhir Singh, who took charge a couple of days ago, told newspersons that the mob thrice tried to douse him with kerosene. "Each time saner elements in the mob dissuaded the unruly ones from torching saying I was not Captain Singh, my immediate predecessor", he said. The mob pelted stones at the police when it tried to intervene. Dayaram, a Head Constable and Ram Kishan, an Assistant Sub-Inspector were injured in the incident along with the SHO. According to eyewitnesses, as many as 10 police personnel were seen running for cover with the mob giving them the chase. Later the Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, Mr Krishan Kumar and the District police chief, Mr Navdeep Singh Virk, who arrived on the spot, had to face the fury of the mob. The DSP, (headquarters), Mr Banwari Lal and the SHO said the mob pelted stones on the DC and the SP had to leave the spot. According to eyewitnesses the window panes of the DC’s car were shattered. The DC and the SP returned with police reinforcement. At least eight fire engines were pressed into service to douse the fire. Initially the mob resisted the Fire Brigade personnel. Most of the vehicles set on fire including the buses of Rajasthan Roadways, were completely destroyed. Some vehicles, according to initial reports, were still on fire. Among the vehicles caught in stone pelting were a DTC bus and a Haryana Roadways bus. The tyres of the Haryana Roadways bus were also deflated. Reports have it that several private vehicles were also damaged in the incident. The Gurgaon-Sohna road remained blocked for over two hours. The dumper, which ran over the passengers, was carrying construction material. It was the first vehicle to be set on fire. The main bazaar of Sohna town remained closed in protest against reckless driving of the dumper. According to the police the driver had been arrested. No arrest had been made in connection with the arson. Those killed and injured by the dumper were from the nearby villages. According to observers, the incident reflected the inadequacy of the district authorities. Although, the DC and the SP reached the spot, many wonder how the police failed to protect so many vehicles. However, a senior police official said the loss of property could have been on much larger scale. In another incident a
mob today held demonstrations and blocked the
Gurgaon-Alwar road near Badhkal Chowk under Nagina police
station, about 50 km from here. The road block was in
protest against the alleged failure of the police in
arresting a culprit in connection with a murder of a
person in village Samshabad Aterna in Punhana, a few days
ago. |
Bansi-Sonia meet fixed for
July 5 CHANDIGARH, July 2 — The much-awaited meeting between the AICC President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, has been finally fixed for July 5 in Delhi. This will be the first meeting between the two leaders after the Congress bailed out the beleagured Bansi Lal in the Assembly on June 25 when the 12 MLAs of the party voted for the confidence motion moved by Mr Bansi Lal following the withdrawal of support by the BJP. The July 5 meeting is viewed with anxiety in political circles of Haryana because only after Mrs Gandhi and Mr Bansi Lal have met the future shape of cooperation between the Congress and the HVP will be decided. The two AICC observers Mr Ahmed Patel and Mr Anil Shastri, who had visited Chandigarh on June 25 to persuade the party MLAs to support Mr Bansi Lal had told newsmen that the Chief Minister had given a commitment to abide by the "directions" given by Mrs Gandhi in verbatim and he would visit Delhi soon after the vote on the confidence to call on the Congress supremo. The same sentiment was expressed by Mr Bansi Lal in the Assembly when he said that he would do whatever he was told to do by Mrs Gandhi. He repeated what he had said in the House on June 25 when five Congress MLAs met him at his residence the next day. The MLAs had gone to him to ask for their share in police recruitment, which was later postponed. A number of possibilities about the future relationship of the Congress and the HVP are being discussed by political observers, who do not rule out the possibility of a merger between the two parties. Mr. Surender Singh, general secretary of the HVP and political heir of Mr Bansi Lal, is believed to be keen on the merger because he sees his political future in the Congress. Moreover, certain HVP leaders feel that the merger between the two parties would help in the stabilisation of the Bansi Lal Government which, of late, had been rocked by dissidence in the ruling party itself. With the party strength going up from 35 to 47, the magic number required to split the party would also shift up from 12 to 16. However, in case of merger the question would remain about the leadership of the unified legislature party. In both the Congress and the HVP there are certain MLAs who have reservations about the merger. These HVP MLAs feel that the future is black for them in the Congress because already their Congress rivals in their respective constituencies are too strong to be denied the ticket in the next elections. Many Congress MLAs want a change in the leadership after the merger. They feel that by doing so the Congress would not have to carry the burden of anti-incumbency factor in the Lok Sabha poll. Then there are more than one claimant for the post of Chief Minister within the Congress. The HVP leaders, on the other hand, say even after the merger the leader of the unified party should belong to the constituent which has the majority support of the MLAs. They also point out that in 1980 when a vast majority of the Haryana Janata Party MLAs had joined the Congress, the latter had allowed Mr Bhajan Lal to continue as Chief Minister. The same precedence should be followed now. To overcome these difficulties, the possibility of the Congress supporting the HVP from outside, with or without a change in the leadership of the HVP Legislature Party, can also be discussed by Mrs Gandhi and Mr Bansi Lal. The third possibility is the Congress joining the HVP Government either under the leadership of Mr Bansi Lal or somebody else. Mrs Gandhi may ask Mr Bansi Lal to take certain steps immediately so that a positive message about the Congress influence on the HVP Government goes out to the people of the state. The tasks Mr Bansi Lal may be asked to do may include restoration of grant to the Agroha Medical College. The Chief Minister has already announced an ex-gratia grant of Rs 5 lakh to each bereaved family of the Kargil martyrs, irrespective of their ranks, as demanded by the Haryana Congress chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and the party MLA from Rewari, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav. Certain leaders, including former Haryana Congress President Birender Singh, want that the Assembly should be dissolved immediately so that the Assembly poll could also be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections. The HVP is believed to be opposed to the suggestion for the dissolution of the Assembly. Its leaders feel that now when their efforts to bring about radical improvements in various sectors like power and road are about to bear fruits, the dissolution of the House would be counter-productive. They say it would be worthwhile to wait for three months to six months at least to judge the reaction of the people of the improvements. Meanwhile, Mr Surender
Singh has said that the July 5 meeting would lay at rest
all speculations and rumours about the political future
of the state. |
PM to open Nanda memorial KARNAL, July 2 — Feverish activity is on at the banks of sacred Brahama Sarovara at Kurukshetra to give final touches to the memorial of late Gulzari Lal Nanda. The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, is scheduled to inaugurate the memorial on July 4. The Prime Minister is the Chairman of the Gulzari Lal Nanda Centenary Celebrations Committee. A visit to the site of the memorial showed that the memorial is a befitting tribute to the "Karamyogi" as Nanda was known in Kurukshetra for his valuable services to renovate the historic tanks and other "teerthas". The samadhi of Nanda, which has been constructed with granite stone, has been patterned on the style of Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi at Rajghat. The samadhi has been built in front of the statue of Nanda on the banks of the Brahama Sarovara. A four-lane road, which has been recently carpeted, separates the samadhi from the statue. Official sources say the total cost of the Nanda samadhi complex is estimated to be about Rs 2.20 crore. The Human Resource Development ministry has already released a grant of Rs 1.75 crore to complete the project. The Haryana Government's share comes to Rs 45 lakh only. The Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) has provided a four acre plot for the Nand memorial. The Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, visited the site of the samadhi and memorial yesterday to ensure that the work was completed in time. Mr C.L. Dhawan, Executive Engineer, In charge, said the memorial complex had been completed in 30 days. Both, the Prime Minister and Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal, would plant saplings at the site of the samadhi before inaugurating it. The Prime Minister would also visit the nearby Brahama Sarovar and is likely to perform "pooja" there.The Prime Minister would also address an August gathering at Bhagwadgita Sadan of the university. Dr M.L. Ranga, Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, said all the arrangements with regard to the visit of the Prime Minister to the campus had been completed. Mr. Vajapayee would land at a specially constructed helipad at the University Sports Complex ground. In view of the Prime Minister's visit, the road from the university to Gurdwara Cheeween Pathshahi is being four-laned at war footing but in a haphazard manner. All electric poles along the road are being given fresh white coating. But the administration
has woken to the realities of the situation very late.
Works relating to the Prime Minister's visit has been
taken in hand very late. This has led to inconvenience
and residents are facing water and power shortage. The
police has put barriers on the road from the old bus
stand to the university. Consequently, visitors to the
town and students are facing inconvenience. Everyone
talks about the unimaginative planning of the police to
barricade the main road three days before the visit of
the Prime Minister. |
Cong leaders decry support to
HVP BHIWANI, July 2 — Congress leaders of the district have started criticising the support by the Congress Party to the Bansi Lal government in a press statement these leaders said that the Congress Party for the past three years had been opposing the anti-people policies of the Bansi Lal government and was agitating against its wrong policies. Signatories to the statement said that when the Congress Party was in a position to win election of the Lok Sabha on its own strength, its alliance with the Haryana Vikas Party would prove harmful to the Party. Merger of Haryana Vikas Party with the Congress party will demoralise honest Congress workers. These leaders termed Mr Bansi Lal an opportunist and autocrat. These Congress leaders alleged that Mr Bansi Lal was power hungry and achieve his end he could betray anybody. Telegrams opposing the merger of the Haryana Vikas Party in the Congress has been sent by these leaders to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, Congress President and Mr Pranab Mukherjee in charge of Haryana Congress affairs. Signatories to the
statement are, Mr Jangbir Singh ex-MP ex-MLA Mr Dharam
Pal Sangwan (Charkhi Dadri), Mr Shiv Kumar Aggarwal,
former, President, Yuva Pradesh Congress Committee, Mrs
Vinod Bala Chairman, Badhra Block Samiti, Mr Jagdish
Mandoliwala, president, District Backward Cell of
Congress, District panchayat Cell, president, Mr Hoshiar
Singh. |
Department of paddy transplanter
held KURUKSHETRA, July 2 — The Department of Agriculture and Krishi Gyana-Vigyan Kendra, Kurukshetra, jointly organised a demonstration of Engine-Operated Paddy Transplanter at Bagthla Village 15 km from here on June 30 evening, under the supervision of Mr J.K. Verma, Joint Director Agriculture Engineer and Prof K.L. Banga Senior Cordinator Krishi Gyana Kendra Kurukshetra were keen to know how to operate the machine. Dr S.R. Aggarwal, Director, Extension Education CCS, Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar, hoped that the paddy transplanter would be of use to paddy growers as trials conducted in 1998 had indicated an increase of 15 to 25 per cent in productivity of rice by the use of these transplanters. Dr Aggarwal called upon the farmers to form cooperative societies and purchase this machine keeping in view the high cost of the machine as this machine could be given to the members of the cooperative society as well as other farmers on hire basis. Mr J.K. Verma, Joint Director (Agriculture Engineer) Haryana, revealed that such demonstrations were being held in 33 villages of paddy growing districts of Haryana State with the help of the transplanter costing approximately Rs 1.1 lakhs Explaining salient features of the transplanter, the Senior Coordinator, Krishi Gyan Kendra, Kurukshetra, Prof. K.L. Banga said that this machine plants eight rows at a time with a row to row distance of 23 cm. while the plant to plant distance can be adjusted from 10 cm to 14 cm. This machine is mounted on a four HP diesel engine. This machine can transplant four to five acres per day with the help of only two labourers besides operator for the machine. Dr D.P. Kataria, Dean,
College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, CCS
HAU, Hisar said that mechanisation of paddy transplanting
would help save time. |
People's hopes belied FARIDABAD, July 2 — Hopes of people generated by repeated assurances of the Haryana government that round the-clock electricity would be made available after June 30 seem to have been belied. What to say of the 24-hour supply, electricity continues to play hide and seek with repeated breakdowns and unscheduled cuts. The situation has arisen despite the fact that the NTPC’s gas based plant at Mujedi near here has started generating electricity. The hot and humid weather with rains nowhere in sight has added to the woes of people. When the transformer on the Mohna road caught fire, linemen ran away from the spot. The Municipal Corporation’s Fire Brigade and the police reached the scene in a few minutes as soon as they were informed, but officials of the Electricity Department were nowhere to be seen for several hours. Repeated attempts to contact senior officials of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam failed. A journalist who lives in Ballabhgarh rang up the Superintending Engineer on his mobile phone. He was told by a child who picked up the phone that he was not at home. When he rang up again, nobody responded. Although the fire was put out within half an hour, the transformer had not been replaced till the afternoon. The reason for the burning of obsolete transformers is stated to be capacity lower than the load in the area. The cables are also very old. A senior district official blamed the nigam for not improving the distribution system. The situation is worse
in villages. In Siha Khatela there was no power for six
hours last night. Similar was the case in Khera Bhopani
across the Agra Canal. In Kulena near Palwal, Ankhir and
Sagarpur, fans, coolers and tubelights could not function
due to low voltage. |
BJP’s denial on split FARIDABAD, July 2 — Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, leader of the BJP group in the Haryana Assembly, today denied reports in a section of the Press suggesting a split in the party. Media reports today spoke of a move by the Haryana Vikas Party to woo some BJP MLAs to join the ruling party headed by Mr Bansi Lal. Talking to reporters here, Mr Sharma claimed that the 11-member BJP group in the assembly supported the high command’s decision to sever all links with the HVP. There was no question of any MLA leaving the BJP. He said the BJP would enter into an understanding with like minded parties in the coming Lok Sabha poll. But no agreement had so far been reached with any party or group. Mr Sharma also visited Faridpur village to condole the death of sepoy Har Prasad who was killed in the Naushera sector in Jammu and Kashmir. He announced that all 11 party MLAs and chairmen of board’s and corporations belonging to the BJP would donate one month’s salary to the Shaheed Rahat Fund. A delegation of the BJP
would meet the Haryana Governor on July 5 to demand a
similar grant for martyrs, irrespective of their rank. |
HVP calls it a
‘baseless report’ CHANDIGARH, July 2 — The Haryana Vikas Party General Secretary, Mr Rajeev Jain, today termed as baseless and politically motivated a report appearing in a section of the Press that the party was trying to split the BJP. Mr Jain said certain leaders with vested interests were spreading misinformation under a well-planned conspiracy. A few days ago, Mr Bhajan Lal, a former Chief Minister, and Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, a former Education Minister, had met and chalked out a strategy to use the print media for grinding their own axe. But the people of the state were well aware of their misadventures. He said the HVP president and Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal had always practised politics based on strong principles. Such misinformation had
been spread to cover up the humiliating defeat of the BJP
during the vote of confidence on June 25 in the Haryana
Assembly, he added. |
House looted, woman raped ROHTAK, July 2 — A woman was allegedly raped and jewellery worth several thousands was looted at a gunpoint by a group of robbers who broke into a house near Samargopalpur village in the district recently. According to police sources, the incident took place on Tuesday night. At least two persons scaled the wall at 1.30 a.m. They found family members sleeping at the rooftop. One of them brandished a weapon and directed an adult male to stand on one side. His hands were tied and the woman was told to hand over the money and jewellery to them. One of the robbers raped the woman and threatened to kill her and her family if she told about the incident to others or the police. A case has been registered in this regard. Meanwhile in another
incident a 15-year-old girl was abducted from her
Chhuchhakwas village in Jhajjar district on Wednesday.
The suspect identified as Rajender Singh is reported to
be a teacher in the school in which the girl was a
student. A case has been registered in this regard. |
Resentment among MMC students ROHTAK, July 2 — Resentment prevails among several students of the Distance Education course of the Master of Mass Communication (MMC) run by the Guru Jhambheswar University, Hisar over the datesheet of the examinations announced by authorities. Some of the students of this one-year course alleged here yesterday that the examination dates had been announced without ensuring that students were given adequate time for preparation and study after the time when the study material was sent to them. They said while they had not been given adequate study material, the last despatch of the study material had been given to them just a month ago. They alleged that the time given between the study material and the datesheet had been too short and it was not possible for them to prepare for the annual examination in this period as most of them had been employed or engaged in some professional work. The students added that
moreover the authorities had not given any holiday
between the dates of the examination which was improper
and unacceptable to most of them. Some of them had even
suggested the organisers to give at least two days
holiday between each date of the examination, but they
claimed that the authorities had decided arbitrarily the
dates and the decision to hold the examination on
continuous dates. These students have decided to send a
representation to the Vice-Chancellor of the G.J.
University and also to meet the authorities concerned in
this connection very soon. |
2 cops killed in accident FARIDABAD, July 2 — Two policemen were killed and one was seriously injured when their gypsy was hit by a truck near Hodal last night. The killed were identified as Rathan, a Head Constable, and Bijender, a constable. Ibrahim, who was seriously injured, was admitted to a Faridabad hospital. The truck driver had
been arrested and the vehicle impounded. |
Uniform ex-gratia for all Kargil
martyrs CHANDIGARH, July 2 — The Haryana Government today announced its decision to provide an ex-gratia grant of Rs 5 lakh each to the bereaved families of the martyrs of all ranks, irrespective of their status, who have laid down their lives defending the country's frontiers in the Kargil conflict. Earlier the family of a commissioned officer was being given Rs 5 lakh, JCO Rs 4 lakh and other ranks Rs 3 lakh each as ex-gratia grant. The remaining amount of
revised ex-gratia would be paid to the families of all
those martyrs who had received the ex-gratia amount as
per the earlier decision, a government spokesman said. |
Acute shortage of drinking
water SIRSA, July 2 — A case under Sections 283/566/341/148/149, IPC, was registered against more than 10 residents of the town on Thursday who were agitating in support of their demand of adequate supply of drinking water in the town. According to informed
sources, residents of New Housing Board Colony and MC
Colony had been facing acute shortage of drinking water
and had complained against it a number of times but no
action was initiated by the authorised concerned to
provide adequate drinking water to the colonies
protesting residents of these localities blocked the G.T.
Road and the Barnala road and did not allow traffic to
ply on these roads. They also raised slogans against the
government. They also alleged that the police resorted to
mild lathi charge against the protesting residents. |
Projects on KVIC’s negative
list FARIDABAD, July 2 — The Khadi and Village Industries Commission has decided not to give financial assistance to any project which deals in the manufacture and sale of intoxicants and meat. This has been conveyed by the commission to all state governments. The list of projects which had been put on the negative list of the commission include any business connected with meat, beedi, pan, cigarette, tobacco, hotels and dhabas serving liquor and tapping of toddy for sale. Finance will also not be
available for manufacture of polythene bags and other
items which cause environmental problems. |
Eunuchs castrate youth HISAR, July 2 — A group of eunuchs allegedly castrated a 27-year-old youth of Hansi town, 26 km from here, the police said today. A case under various sections of the IPC has been registered against three eunuchs. No arrest had been made, the police said. The victim, Sunder of the Mandi Malian locality, complained that the eunuchs came to his house and took him along on the pretext of attending a religious function at their house. He alleged that he was castrated after being administered some intoxicant in tea. Sunder said he fled from the custody of the eunuchs after regaining consciousness. The police said he was
admitted to Hansi hospital. |
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