Villagers sore over power situation
FATEHABAD, July 14 — Residents of Karian, Dhani Issar and Hinjrawan Kalan villages have been facing an acute power crisis for the past 15 day. The villagers have been running from pillar to post for the redressal of their grievance, but in vain. During the past 15 days these villagers have met several administrative and power board officials in this connection.

Threat to commit self-immolation
ROHTAK, July 14 — Mr Vidya Bhushan Aghi, president of the HUDA Sector-1 Residents Welfare Association, has threatened self-immolation on Independence Day if certain "corrupt" officials of the local HUDA office are not punished by then.

Cong stand on Haryana ‘confusing’
By Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 14 — The carefully crafted statement of the AICC General Secretary, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, about the future status of his party with the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) has left the opposition parties confused about the real intention of the Congress behind the statement.

At the same time HVP ranks are happy with Mr Mukherjee’s statement, which they feel does not amount to the withdrawal of support to the government on the floor of the House where the 12 Congress MLAs had voted in favour of Mr Bansi Lal.

Mr Mukherjee said in Delhi today that since Mr Bansi Lal had not agreed to the wishes of the AICC President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, regarding the dissolution of the state Assembly, the Congress "had decided that it would have nothing to do with the Bansi Lal government and his party in Haryana hereafter."

The Congress leader did not say if the party will be writing to the Governor about its decision to withdraw support from the Bansi Lal government.

Though the former Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal, who had been against any relationship with the HVP told TNS that Mr Mukherjee’s statement was as good as the declaration of the withdrawal of support, he did not clearly answer if and when the party would give in writing to the Governor.

Mr Bhajan Lal was the first political leader to call upon the Governor today after Mr Mukherjee’s statement. He remained with Mr Mahabir Prasad for about half an hour. He described the meeting as a courtesy call.

It is believed that Mr Bhajan Lal urged the Governor to dismiss the Bansi Lal Government since the Chief Minister had lost the majority support in the Vidhan Sabha after the withdrawal of support by the Congress.

The main opposition party, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), and the BJP seem to be waiting if the Congress will take its "dissociation" with the HVP to its logical end will it take shelter behind the well-crafted statement of Mr Mukherjee without doing anything concrete to disturb the current political arrangement in the state.

A senior leader of the INLD, Mr Sampat Singh, said by supporting the Bansi Lal government in the Assembly on June 25 the Congress owned the "sins of Mr Bansi Lal" and now to save its face before the public, from which the party had been completely isolated by its action, it had taken refuge behind the machination of "dissociation".

If the Congress was sincere, he said, in atoning for its crime of saving Mr Bansi Lal on June 25, it should immediately give its letter of withdrawal of support to the Governor.

INLD-BJP tie-up likely in Haryana
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, July 14 — The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) can have an alliance with the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha poll in Haryana. This was stated by Mr Om Parkash Chautala, the INLD supremo, who was here today to attend the cremation of a Kargil martyr, Mr Parminder Singh, of Tejli village. He made it clear that the INLD could join hands with any party except the Congress and the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP).

Mr Chautala said his party would also contest in other states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and UP as it had a strong following in these states.

He said the Congress' double standards had been exposed. Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, had earlier extended his party's support to the HVP and bailed out the Bansi Lal Government, but now the Congress wanted to withdraw support.

The people of Haryana, he said, would not forgive the Congress and, in the coming elections, the party would be wiped out in the state. He said he had announced the names of five party nominees — Ms Kailasho Saini from Kurukshetra, Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan from Sonepat, Dr Sushil Indora from Sirsa, Mr Ajay Chautala from Bhiwani and Mr Surinder Singh Barwala from Hisar.

Mr Chautala did not rule out the possibility that the INLD, the BSP and the BJP could join hands to give a befitting reply to the Congress and Mr Bansi Lal. He said the nominees for the other five seats would be declared soon.

Mr Chautala praised Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's handling of the Kargil conflict and the diplomatic triumph India had scored globally.

He said a third front would emerge in the country very shortly, but predicted a hung Parliament. Nobody, he said, would be able form a government without the support of the INLD.

If the Congress withdrew support from the HVP, then, according to the Constitution, there could be another vote of no confidence, he said.

Convalescing jawans in high spirits
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, July 14 — Victory over Pakistan in the world cup cricket match made jawans fighting to Kargil so enthusiastic that on the night of June 8 jawans of 18 Grenadiers made third major attack to recapture Tololing peak. It was disclosed by Lance Naik Inderjit Singh under treatment in Army hospital here after multiple injuries in the attack. Inderjit said that earlier two attempts were made on June 27 and July 3, in which 25 jawans and some officers had sacrificed their lives. He said that as soon as the jawans got news of victory of Indian cricketers then felt encouraged and immediately attacked the enemy and recaptured the peak.

He disclosed that one of his colleagues, a fan of Sachin Tendulkar, who laid down his life in this attack asked the other jawans, "attack the enemy, this day is India's day of victory". Inderjit feels proud that he participated in all three attacks to recapture the Tololing. "I wish to go to Kargil again", he added.

YAMUNANAGAR: Thousands of men and women bade adieu to the soldier who had laid down his life for the nation. Parminder Singh son of Mr Sahi Ram resident of village Tejli in Yamunanagar district had joined Indian Army, about two years back in 3rd Rajputana Rifles, as Rifleman. Today morning the villagers including men, women and children gathered at the cremation ground and shouted slogans "Parminder Singh Amar Rahe", Jab Tak Suraj Chand Rahega, Parminder Tera Naam Rahega" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" when the pyre was lit by his 12-year old brother Vikram. Naib Subedar Ramesh Chander said that on July 10,99 morning at 8 a.m. there was firing between Pakistani intruders and the Indian soldiers at Rampur area in Uri sector in J&K resulting he received bullet injuries and soon succumbed to his injuries. His body wrapped in Tri-colour was received last night.

Mr Rajiv Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Yamunanagar laid a wreath on the body on behalf of the Governor of Haryana and Mr Subash Choudhry Environment Minister, Haryana also placed a wreath on behalf of the Chief Minister of Haryana. Mr Om Parkash Chautala working president of the INLD, Dr Kamla Verma an MLA, Mr Rajesh Sharma, MLA, Mr Aman Kumar Nagra and Mrs Kailasho Devi both former MPs and Lieutenant Colonel A S Ojla also laid the wreaths on the body. Tejli village will be named after Parminder Singh as stated by Mr Subhash Choudhry Environment Minister Haryana, Mr Chautala also visited the family of Parminder Singh and assured them that the party would provide all help. Parminder Singh was unmarried and had joined duty on July 3, 99.

BHIWANI: A former student of Halwasia Vidya Vihar here who at present is a Captain in the Indian Army has done Bhiwani and his school proud fighting against Pakistani intruders in the Dras-Kargil sectors. Captain Satinder Sangwan lost right foot in a mine blast on June 29. In a letter written to Mr Narendra Jit Rawal, Principal of Halwasia Vidya Vihar from base hospital Delhi cantonment, where he is undergoing treatment. Captain Satinder lauded his alma mater for the qualities and courage attributed from it.

Captain Satinder has thanked Principal and teachers for all qualities of courage and grit.

Captain Satinder has expressed the desire to meet the Principal and his school teachers when he visited Bhiwani.

2.26 cr spent to prevent floods
From Our Correspondent

JIND, July 14 — The district administration claims to have made arrangements to control and prevent floods during the current monsoon season at a cost of Rs 2.26 crore.

Mr Tarun Bajaj, Deputy Commissioner, said here today that 31 new drains had been dug for draining out flood water. As many as 117 permanent pump houses had been set up in which 304 pumpsets had been installed. Besides, a sum of Rs 10 lakh had been spent on the repair of ring bundhs in the district, he said.

A sum of Rs 35 lakh had been spent on the digging of the Nai nullah drain in Safidon subdivision. This drain passes below the Hansi branch canal near Anta village. The villages of Anta, Titokheri and Karsandhu can be completely saved from floods by this drain, he claimed.

The water table had risen considerably in Safidon and Jullana blocks. To tackle this problem, drains were being dug in Ludana, Dhartana Padana and Hadwa villages. This would cost about Rs 35 lakh and about 80 per cent of the work had already been completed. The Hadwa-Gangoli drain had been reconstructed and Rs 27 lakh spent on the construction of drain and bridges across it.

Facilities for proper drainage of flood waters had been provided by digging the Jamni, Rajana, Dhatrath, Ritoli, Muana, Asandh, Chabri, and Chitang nullah drains in Safidon subdivision. A sum of Rs 10 lakh had been spent on the construction of these drains.

The construction of a temporary drain to save Nandgarh, Sirsakheri, Lijwana Khurd, Butani and Kharak
Gagar villages in Julana block was going on a war footing. A sum of Rs 4 lakh would be spent for this. The construction of Lijawana-Pouli drain in this block was being done with the financial help of NABARD. It would cost around Rs 1 crore. Seventy per cent of this project was complete. Thousands of acres in Hathwala and Pouli villages could be saved from floods by this drain.

The task of repairing 102 pump sets for draining and lifting out flood water from Jind and Safidon blocks had been completed. The total capacity of these pumps was 815 cusecs. A sum of Rs 8 lakh had been spent on this work.

Surbra drain had been constructed at a cost of Rs 2.30 lakh in Narwana subdivision to save Sunderpur, Surbra, Mangalpur and Tohanakhera villages from floods. Work on the construction of Danoda drain to save Danoda Kalan and Danoda Khurd villages from floods would soon be completed at a cost of Rs 2 lakh.

A flood control room had been established at the district level in the office of the District Revenue Officer here. In this control room, the flood situation would be monitored round the clock. Control rooms had also been set up at subdivisional headquarters of the district.

Villagers sore over power situation
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, July 14 — Residents of Karian, Dhani Issar and Hinjrawan Kalan villages have been facing an acute power crisis for the past 15 day. The villagers have been running from pillar to post for the redressal of their grievance, but in vain. During the past 15 days these villagers have met several administrative and power board officials in this connection.

A group of at least 100 farmers of these villages came to the office of the Deputy Commissioner here today to make him aware of the situation. The villagers said they had met the Deputy Commissioner earlier also and he had set up a committee comprising the Block Development Officer, the Naib Tehsildar and the Sub Divisional Officer of the HVPN. The villagers alleged that the team had visited their village but no action had been taken to solve their problems.

Talking to mediapersons here today, the villagers alleged that the power board authorities had not been able to enforce effectively the shift system of supplying electricity to the villages. The farmers said as power was supplied to the villages in alternate shifts of eight hours in the morning and eight hours in the evening, it was the failure of the board officials to implement it effectively which was causing problems. The farmers alleged that the power board officials supplied power to influential persons even when their shift was over. This had led to increase in the load and hence frequent power failures. The villagers also alleged that the authorities concerned had failed to take any action despite several requests made by them.

Threat to commit self-immolation
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, July 14 — Mr Vidya Bhushan Aghi, president of the HUDA Sector-1 Residents Welfare Association, has threatened self-immolation on Independence Day if certain "corrupt" officials of the local HUDA office are not punished by then.

Mr Aghi has gone from pillar to post to seek justice. He has submitted representation to the President, the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Chief Minister and the Chairman and the Chief Administrator, HUDA, but to no avail.

The aggrieved leader has now decided to intensify the agitation by contacting leaders of various HUDA welfare associations in different districts till August 15. He would also request Lokpal I.P. Vasisht to investigate his case and punish the culprits.

Mr Aghi alleged that certain local HUDA officials, including an HCS officer, had harassed him in giving a no-dues certificate for his house and attacked him in the office. He lamented that no FIR had been registered in this connection so far.