H A R Y A N A

Parties gear up for Assembly poll
GURGAON, Jan 4 — All major political parties in Haryana have begun preparations for the ensuing assembly elections in the state.Although the ruling Indian National Lok Dal is in the process of finalising its talks with its ally, the BJP, for sharing of seats, it has decided to tone up its organisational network for the elections. The Congress, is concentrating on unity in the party.

BJP stakes claim to 40 seats
UKLANA (Hisar), Jan 4 — The state unit of the BJP has taken strong exception to the manner in which Indian National Lok Dal supremo and Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala has been announcing party candidates for the forthcoming assembly elections for various constituencies.

Picture of the sewage treatment plant (Left)Union Minister for Environment & Forest, Mr T. R. Ballu (Right) inaugurates a sewage treatment plant near Gurgaon .

Sewage treatment plant inaugurated GURGAON, JAN 4 — The Haryana Government will send a proposal to the Centre for setting up 10 sewage treatment plants in the state, according to Chief Minister Mr Om Prakash Chautala.

A year of chaos at MDU
ROHTAK, Jan 4 — Maharshi Dayanand University remained in the news throughout 1999, though not for right reasons. There is an administrative chaos in the university and the moot question before the employees is as to who is to be blamed for this — the Vice-Chancellor Lt Gen O.P. Kaushik (retd) or the Chancellor-Governor Mr Mahabir Prasad for his inaction.

MoD takes note of Major’s arrest
AMBALA Jan 4 — The dispute between the Ambala police and Army over the arrest of a Major has reached the court of seniormost officers of the Army and the police, while the Ministry of Defence has taken serious note of the incident and has inquired into the details of the incident.

REC approves 6 Haryana schemes
CHANDIGARH, Jan 4 — The Rural Electrification Corporation of India (REC) has approved six of the 26 new schemes worth Rs 30 crore of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and Dakshin Haryana Bilji Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) for energisation of tubewells in Haryana.

• Bank extension counter opens
• Chautala avoiding civic poll: Nehra
• Mill labourers end stir
• Market fee reduced
• R.L. Tiwari joins Congress
  
  
  
  

Parties gear up for Assembly poll
From Ravi S.Singh
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, Jan 4 — All major political parties in Haryana have begun preparations for the ensuing assembly elections in the state.

Although the ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) is in the process of finalising its talks with its ally, the BJP, for sharing of seats, it has decided to tone up its organisational network for the elections. The Congress, is concentrating on unity in the party.

While the INLD is organising a training camp for its workers from Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rewari, Mahendragarh and Jhajhar here on January 9, the general body meeting of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) has been convened tomorrow in Delhi. The INLD has divided the state into four zones for holding camps for its workers. The meeting of the Kurukshetra zone will be held in Kurukshetra on January 8. The camp here will be inaugurated by the former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal.

According to sources, plans are to invite at least 100 party workers from each of the assembly segments of the districts concerned in the zonal camps. Although, officially the camps are being organised to highlight the ideology and policies of the INLD, election related issues will be the main agenda.

The Chief Minister and the INLD chief Mr Om Prakash Chautala, is already in the thick of electioneering through his government’s “sarkar aapke dwar” programme,his public statements against this notwithstanding. In fact, Mr Chautala is sometimes presiding over three to four such programmes a day. This is in addition to programmes like hosting iftar party as he did in Nagina on January 2. There was an open invitation, for those who wanted, in all the four assembly constituencies in the Mewat areas of Gurgaon and Faridabad.

The Congress is likely to discuss poll related issues at the HPCC meeting. The focal point of the meeting is the likely presence of the leaders of all factions in the state unit of the party. The meeting will be followed by a lunch at the residence of the state president, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda. All factional leaders are likely to attend the luncheon party to send the message of unity in the party. The unity move is said to be under the express command of the central leadership of the Congress.

At a meeting organised at the residence of the former Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal, to condole the death of former President Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma, Mr Hooda had said in his public speech that he would go to the residence of any worker or leader to strengthen the party.

Also, the uncertainty in the Congress circles has been put to an end by the party President,Mrs Sonia Gandhi, by rooting in favour of the continuance of Mr Hooda as the state president. The central leadership did not concede to the demand of Mr Hooda’s detractors for his removal from the post. To restore balance in the organisation Mr Bhajan Lal, his bitter critic was honoured by making him an invitee to the central working committee. A former president of the HPCC, Mr Birender Singh, another critic of Mr Hooda has been made the convener of the election campaign committee for the assembly elections. The Election Committee is headed by Mr Hooda.

The BJP, led by its senior leader Prof Ram Bilas Sharma, has already organised a series of public meetings in the state. According to observers,the meetings of the BJP, however, have been organised with a view to proving its popularity to the INLD to enhance its claim in the INLD-BJP tie up.

BJP stakes claim to 40 seats
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

UKLANA (Hisar), Jan 4 — The state unit of the BJP has taken strong exception to the manner in which Indian National Lok Dal supremo and Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala has been announcing party candidates for the forthcoming assembly elections for various constituencies.

Addressing a press conference here today after a public meeting, the state BJP president Mr Om Prakash Grover said this was against the ethics of coalition culture for one.

As the BJP and INLD are alliance partners in the state, it is the duty of the INLD to take it (the BJP) into confidence, before announcing party candidates.

Mr Grover said, the BJP had a 'genuine' claim to 40 assembly seats in the state, given its performance in the Lok Sabha elections. He claimed the INLD-BJP alliance had swept the Lok Sabha polls only because of the Vajpayee factor.

The BJP leader, however, expressed optimism over an agreement between the two parties on seat sharing adding if all went well the performance of the 1987 assembly elections would be rejected. In 1987 the alliance had won 85 of the 90 seats.

Earlier, addressing a public rally in the local anaj mandi, the Union Minister of State for Home, Mr I.D. Swamy claimed, the INLD-BJP alliance was bound to repeat its Lok Sabha performance.

Mr Swamy said after the alliance returns to power the issue of Satluj Yamuna Link Canal will be its "top priority". He hoped that the Haryana and Punjab government would be able to resolve the issue amicably. However, if there was any hitch, the matter would be referred to the Prime Minister. Who would solve the problem, as he did the Cauvery water dispute.

The Union Minister preferred to steer clear of the controversy on announcement of candidates by Mr Chautala. He hoped the issue would be resolved in next few days.

The rally marked the launch of the BJP's campaign. The rally was organised with the intention of building pressure for its claim to the Barwala assembly constituency. Barwala is represented by Independent legislator Relu Ram Punia who is backing the Chautala government. There is also uncertainty over the BJP's claim to the Hisar assembly segment as Mr Chautala has hinted that the sitting Independent MLA and Health Minister Om Prakash was likely to be the INLD candidate from here.

The rally was attended among others by the senior BJP leaders Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, Bola Nath Chugh and Mr Rajinder Narang. Another public meeting was organised at Ratia.

A year of chaos at MDU
From Jatinder Sharma

ROHTAK, Jan 4 — Maharshi Dayanand University remained in the news throughout 1999, though not for right reasons. There is an administrative chaos in the university and the moot question before the employees is as to who is to be blamed for this — the Vice-Chancellor Lt Gen O.P. Kaushik (retd) or the Chancellor-Governor Mr Mahabir Prasad for his inaction.

The controversy started when the Governor-Chancellor on receipt of complaints from various quarters asked for comments from the Vice-Chancellor who persistently refused to give reply or was evasive. Not satisfied, the Governor-Chancellor ordered an inquiry on February 18, 1999, into 38 allegations levelled against the Vice-Chancellor.

The Governor-Chancellor also withdrew the functional powers of the Vice-Chancellor, though he was allowed to enjoy all perks and facilities during the period of inquiry. The allegations against the Vice-Chancellor included over-evaluation of certain papers of the daughter and daughter-in-law of Mr O.P. Kaushik in the M.Ed examination of 1998, the migrations allowed in violation of the MCI norms an ‘illegal’ appointments in violation of the reservation policy.

However, the Vice-Chancellor filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court which, on February 23, ordered an interim stay on the operation of Chancellor’s orders. The writ presently stands admitted and is unlikely to be decided before the term of the Vice-Chancellor expires on February 26.

After having obtained an interim stay from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Vice-Chancellor cared little about the authority of the Governor-Chancellor. The example was the appointment of Mr K.C. Dadhwal, a Deputy Registrar as Dean.

Although the Chancellor annulled the order under Section 9 (II) of the University Act, the Vice-Chancellor cancelled the order of the Chancellor and continued with the appointment of a Deputy Registrar as Varsity Dean. A show cause notice for wilful disobedience, insubordination, defiance of authority and use of intemperate language against the Governor-Chancellor was served on Lt Gen O.P. Kaushik (retd) on October 1, 1999, almost five months after the alleged act.

Though the Vice-Chancellor had submitted his defence in the case by withdrawing his earlier order and submitting his reply the office of the Governor-Chancellor is yet to take any decision.

Probably for the first time in the history of the university, an FIR against the Vice-Chancellor in person was registered by an affiliated college for causing "wrongful loss" to it by ordering migration of his nephew Kuber Sarswat without the payment of fees and obtaining a ‘no objection certificate’ from the college management.

The Vice-Chancellor has also been charged by the Chancellor with wilful, intentional and deliberate appointment of an ineligible person, Mr S.C. Arora, as member of the executive council a day prior to its 141st meeting.

Accordingly, for the first time in the university history, the entire proceedings of the executive council were annulled by the Governor-Chancellor under Section 9 (II) of the Act. It is worth mentioning that the executive council in this meeting had authorised the Vice-Chancellor to engage teachers on contract.

The Vice-Chancellor withdrew the powers of the Registrar, Dr Ashok Khemka, just a month after his joining the university on January 13, 1999. Reputed to be a stickler to rules, Dr Khemka had been insisting upon adherence of the University Act and statutes. His powers were restored after the Governor-Chancellor set aside the orders of the Vice-Chancellor.

However, the Vice-Chancellor again withdrew work from the Registrar on September 9, 1999, and again these orders were set aside by the Governor-Chancellor who held that the allegation levelled against the Registrar by the Vice-Chancellor were baseless.

The Chancellor has also ordered that in his capacity as Chief Administrative Officer of the university, the Registrar should exercise full control of all university, branches, including the establishment, accounts and finance branches.

The Vice-Chancellor, however, ordered that status quo should be maintained on the orders of the Governor-Chancellor as he was seeking "some clarifications" about the orders of the Governor-Chancellor.

This was perhaps for the first time that the Governor-Chancellor had intervened in university’s working but his orders were defied. This has set a bad precedent in other universities of Haryana.

MoD takes note of Major’s arrest
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA Jan 4 — The dispute between the Ambala police and Army over the arrest of a Major has reached the court of seniormost officers of the Army and the police, while the Ministry of Defence has taken serious note of the incident and has inquired into the details of the incident.

According to official sources, the Director-General of Police, Haryana, has written a letter to a senior officer of Western Command. “In view of the gravity of the incident and its likely effect, it is requested that the above matter may kindly be included in the agenda of ensuing Civil Military Liaison Conference, to be held on January 7, for discussion,” stated the letter.

Sources said this conference would be held at Chandi Mandir, the headquarters of Western Command. Besides DGP, Haryana, Home Secretary of the state and some officers of Commissioner rank would participate from the civilian side, while from the Army side, GOC-in-C, Western Command, and other senior Army officers would be present.

Army officers in Ambala held a meeting, in which they discussed the situation. The detail of the meeting could not be received, but sources said they had planned to meet the Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, before taking up the issue to higher level.

The Superintendent of Police, Ambala, Mr Navdeep Singh Virk, has written another letter to GOC-in-C, 2 Corps, Lt-Gen G.S. Sihota, in this regard. He has also sent the copy of the letter to DGP, Haryana, and IG, Police, CID, Haryana. Lower ranks of the Army were annoyed over the incident. Army sources said if the matter was not settled in proper manner, the dispute might lead to a confrontation between the Army and the police.

Sewage treatment plant inaugurated
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, JAN 4 — The Haryana Government will send a proposal to the Centre for setting up 10 sewage treatment plants in the state, according to Chief Minister Mr Om Prakash Chautala.

Talking to newsmen in Dhanwapur at the inauguration of a sewage plant by Union Minister for Environment and Forest, Mr T.R. Ballu, the Haryana Chief Minister said today that the Centre will help the state in setting up the proposed new plants. The plant, the first one to be commissioned in Haryana under the Yamuna Action Plan, has been constructed at a cost of Rs 15.92 crore. Plants have also been sanctioned for Jagadhari, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat, Yamuna Nagar, Chhachrauli, Radaur, Indri, Gharaunda, Gohana and Palwal. While works on the plants in Panipat, at Faridabad and Sonepat has been completed work on the other plants will be taken up in the second phase.

The Yamuna Action Plan launched under the aegis of the National River Conservation Directorate of Ministry of Environment and Forests, in 1993, is intended at preventing discharge of effluents into the river.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) is providing a soft loan of Rs 401 crore for the project.

Mr Chautala urged the Centre to provide liberal assistance for more plants for towns on the banks of the Yamuna, Markanda and Ghaghar.

Earlier Mr Chautala inaugurated a fire station,a higher secondary school and laid the foundation stone of a sports complex in Gurgaon.

UNI adds: Union Minister for Forests and Environment T.R. Bali urged other state governments working on the Ganga action plan to work with same zeal and speed with which Haryana had been implementing the Yamuna Action Plan.

He appreciated the developmental work being undertaken by Mr Chautala and said the proposals sent by the state government would be dealt with promptly so that sewage treatment plants could be executed expeditiously. Action would be taken on priority basis on the plans for the national capital region, he said.

8.88 cr for water, sewerage schemes
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Jan 4 — The Haryana Government has sanctioned 21 sewerage and water supply schemes worth Rs 8.88 crore for various villages and towns of the district. Six more schemes at an estimated cost of Rs 59.08 lakh are in the pipeline and sanction to these schemes is expected within a week.

This was disclosed by the state Finance Minister, Mr Sampat Singh while addressing mediapersons here today. He is on a two-day tour of the assembly segment to lay the foundation stones of new waterworks schemes at Dhani Dhaka, Hamjapur, Raipur, Chandrawal and Dhani Salemkhera villages.

Mr Sampat Singh said the INLD government headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala had given top priority to supplying drinking water to all. The government had set for itself a target of providing 70 litre per capita drinking water to all. New water-works were being installed and the existing waterworks were being augmented. New pipelines were being laid and boosting station were being installed where necessary.

The Finance Minister said the Chief Minister had committed to granting these new schemes during his visit to Fatehabad town last month and within seven days of the commitment, he had called a meeting of the Sanitary Board and sanctioned 21 projects at an estimated cost of Rs 8.88 crore.

Answering to a question, Mr Sampat Singh said the INLD and the BJP would contest the forthcoming assembly poll jointly. He said both parties would hold joint rallies once elections were declared. Asked whether he would contest the election from Fatehabad, his present constituency or from Bhattu Kalan which was his traditional constituency, Mr Sampat Singh said he would obey the directions of the party high command.

Mr Sampat Singh said all treasuries in the state were being computerised and the system would be streamlined soon. He said the state government would save Rs 100 crore every year with the computerisation of the accounts system.

Earlier, he laid the foundation stone of a waterworks at Dhani Dhaka village near here. The waterworks has been built at a cost of Rs 20 lakh. Residents of villages Dhani Issar, Dhani Chhatrian, Malhar besides Dhani Dhaka would be benefited from this project. He said after the completion of the project, water connections would be provided to all residents of the village. The minister also laid foundation stones of water works at Hamjapur and Raipur villages. Mr Mohan Lal Juneja, president of the block INLD, Mrs Krishana Poonia, president of the women wing or the INLD, and the Superintending Engineer (Public Health) Mr R.C. Bakshi, were present at the function.

DAV staff to get leave encashment
From Our Correspondent

GURGAON, Jan 4 — The DAV College Managing Committee has decided to grant leave encashment benefits to the employees working in DAV Public and Model Schools, which are affiliated to the CBSE and functioning in different states of the country. The benefit will be granted to the employees of the recognised schools in Delhi, in accordance with the Delhi School Education Act.

According to Mr M.L. Khanna, general secretary of the committee, this benefit will be effective from April 1 the date from which schools under reference will contribute to the creation of a leave encashment fund.

Schools will be required to contribute 3 per cent of the basic pay and DA of the eligible staff, every month to the leave encashment fund. The fund will be maintained at the head office of DAV College Managing Committee. The fund along with the interest incurred will be utilised for payment of leave encashment to eligible employees.

DAV Public Schools that do not fall in this category till April 1, may subsequently introduce leave encashment from the date they are granted affiliation by the CBSE. Mr Khanna said to be eligible for the same, a confirmed employee should have rendered atleast five years of regular service with DAV, but in case of invalidation or death of a confirmed employee, the period of service may be less than five years.

The scheme was approved by the managing committee, at meeting held in Delhi on Sunday, following the submission of a report by a sub-committee. The members unanimously re-elected Mr T.R. Tuli, Prof G.P. Chopra and Mr M.L. Khanna as president, senior vice-president and general secretary of the managing committee, respectively, for the year 2000.

Youth stoned to death
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Jan 4 — One person was stoned to death allegedly by another near the general bus stand here last night. The accused has also been reportedly injured and has been admitted to a hospital in a serious condition.

According to a complaint lodged by Ram Kumar, a rickshaw-puller, the accused identified as Vinod, had attacked the deceased Satbir Singh (41) with bricks and stones, which resulted his death on the spot. However, according to others both persons had a quarrel on some issues and after started throwing bricks and stones at each other. While Satbir died, the accused got injured seriously. The police has registered a case of murder against the accused Vinod in this connection.

Meanwhile, in another case three residents of local Kewalganj Chowk have been booked by the police in connection with manhandling and beating up an employee of the Telecom Department.

According to the FIR lodged with the police, Mr Mahabir Singh, a lineman, had gone to repair a line fault of a consumer in the area when he was allegedly assaulted by three youths identified as Rajesh, Vipin and Rishi, all residents of the same locality.

Kalka civic body in financial crisis
Tribune News Service

KALKA Jan 4 — “I had to cough up Rs 20,000 from my pocket in November so that employees could get part-payment of their salaries and illuminate their houses on the Divali day”, says Mrs Mohini, President of the local Municipal Committee.

“In December we realised arrears of house tax from the local residents and paid the salaries. From this month onwards we have no funds to pay to the staff,” Mrs Mohini adds.

The local municipal committee has plunged into deep financial crisis following the abolition of octroi in the state. The total annual income of the committee prior to the abolition of the octroi was Rs 35 lakh. The income from the octroi accounted for Rs 12 lakh. The remaining Rs 23 lakh was generated through house tax and rents from the shops.

The total salary bill of the staff per annum is Rs 35 lakh. Thus the committee will hardly be able to pay the salary of the staff by pooling all its resources. Since the income of the committee has gone down by Rs 12 lakh, how will the committee foot the salary bill? she asks.

Seeking anonymity, certain employees of the municipality reveals that the committee has not deposited its contribution of the provident fund to their account. This is a criminal act. If any employee files a case, the committee will be in deep trouble.

The committee owes lakhs of rupees by way of arrears of the street light bills to the Electricity Department. This payment has been accumulating for the past several months. There does not seem to be even a remote possibility of making this payment in the near future.

The members of the committee reveal that the municipality does not have enough staff even for maintaining cleanliness in the town. It has a total of 41 sweepers since 1968. During the interregnum as many as 15 new more colonies have spring up. This staff is not able to cop up with the increased work. The result is that herds of pigs move about freely in the surrounding area of this town.

To tide over the potable water problem a proposal to drill a tubewell was formulated. It could not be executed for want of funds. The residents will face an acute water problem in the next summer.

The only tractor-trolley at the disposal of the municipality for lifting the garbage was purchased exactly 40 years ago. It cries for replacement. Although the government has nodded the committee’s proposal to condemn it, it has not released funds for buying a new tractor-trolley. If this tractor is put to disuse, how will the committee lift the garbage from the street.

The government has also imposed a blanket ban on the recruitment of sweepers on daily-wages. This has created a problem for the municipality to get streets and roads cleaned during the rainy season.

Foundation stone of sub-station laid
From Our Correspondent

MAHENDRAGARH, Jan 4 — Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, Haryana laid the foundation stone of a 220 KV Sub-Station here last evening. The sub-station will be constructed by Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) at a cost of Rs 25.5 crore.

HVPN plans to spend Rs 45 crore to strengthen power transmission and distribution system in district Mahendragarh, through six new sub-stations and augmenting capacity of the six existing sub-stations.

Commissioning of the sub-station will reduce the load on the sub-station at Narnaul.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the new building of a central school at Raghunathpura constructed at a cost of Rs 1.35 crore. He also inaugurated a Bal Bhawan for Mahendragarh, to be built at a cost of Rs 15.26 lacs.

On the demand of the Bar Association of Mahendragarh, he said, a District and Sessions Judge would start working here at the earliest and a bar chamber would be constructed. He also sanctioned a three bed community health centre for Mahehdragarh.

He also ordered the district administration to fill all ponds with water and check pilferage of canal water so that water could reach the tail end. He said that plots in the grain market and subji mandi would be given at reserved price to licences.

Pension to be paid at new rate
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA Jan 4 — Ambala district will distribute around Rs 1 crore as old age, widow and handicap pension in the first month of the new millennium.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ram Niwas, said here today that old age pension would be paid at the increased rate of Rs 200, as announced by the Chief Minister. He said the Administration had launched a special campaign for the filling up of old age pension forms. Some special camps would be organised for this purpose.

He disclosed that all the new beneficiaries would get their old age pension shortly. In addition to this, the district Administration would distribute the pension among 10,784 widows and 1,793 handicapped persons.

Protect rights of Christians: forum
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Jan 4 — The Haryana United Christian Forum for Human Rights has expressed concern over the growing incidents of assault on Christian priests and the harassment of church workers in the state and urged the state government to protest the constitutional and civil rights of the Christians in the state.

The convener of the forum, Mr Isaac P. Mann, in a statement here today expressed concern about the manner in which these attacks took place when the community was taking part in religious celebrations.

Mr Mann said some members of a particular community had filed an application containing false allegations against a Christian organisation with the Deputy Commissioner prior to Christmas. He alleged that the application was filed with the intention of driving out the Christians living in the area.

The forum condemned the attack on the Father Lilit and Father Ashwin of St Mary's Church, Panipat, and church workers in Rohtak recently.

Bank extension counter opens
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA Jan 4 — An extension counter of Ambala Central Cooperative Bank was inaugurated at the Naraingarh road here yesterday.

The Managing Director of the bank, Mr J.C. Malik, the General Manager, Mr B.P. Arya, and the chairman, Mr T.P. Singh, were also present on the occasion.

Mr Malik said the bank had already its 13 branches and three extension counters in the district. He said the bank was paying higher interest than the nationalised banks.

REC approves 6 Haryana schemes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 4 — The Rural Electrification Corporation of India (REC) has approved six of the 26 new schemes worth Rs 30 crore of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and Dakshin Haryana Bilji Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) for energisation of tubewells in Haryana.

This was disclosed by Ms Meenaxi Anand Chaudhry, chairperson of Haryana Power Utilities, here today.

She said the remaining schemes were under the active consideration of the REC for sanction. The UHBVN and the DHBVN, in all had submitted 42 new schemes worth Rs 74.5 crore to the REC for replacing single-phase and three-phase meters, releasing domestic connections and energising tubewells as a whole.

The chairperson said under the schemes 2,40,000 single-phase meters and 20,650 three-phase meters, costing Rs 35 crore would be replaced. The 10 schemes were exclusively for the release of 47,800 domestic connections in the rural areas which would cost Rs 9.5 crore.

Chautala avoiding civic poll: Nehra
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, Jan 4 — "By avoiding elections to the local bodies, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has shown lack of faith in the Constitution and democracy", said a senior leader of the Haryana Pradesh Congress and ex-Minister, Mr Jagdish Nehra, here today.

Mr Nehra alleged that by deliberately avoiding the local bodies elections Mr Chautala was depriving the people of their democratic rights. He is, in fact, afraid of his defeat in these elections, he added.

While demanding President's rule in the state, during Vidhan Sabha elections, Mr Nehra cited an example of the Election Commission's directive to Mr Chautala not to enter the state on the poll day during Lok Sabha elections, which shows that free and fair elections are not possible in his rule.

Mill labourers end stir
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, Jan 4 — The 32-day agitation of the local Saraswati Sugar Mill Labour Union has been resolved.

In a press note here today, Mr Rohtash Jaglan, president of the union, said four leaders of the union who had been on fast since December 9, were offered a glass of juice by Mr Sunil Bedi, Deputy Manager (Administration) of the mill, yesterday.

He said due to the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner, a meeting was convened between the representative of the management and union leaders.

He said their main demand was that more casual labourers should be employed.

Market fee reduced
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Jan 4 — The Haryana Government has reduced the market fee from 2 per cent to 1 per cent on certain items, including maize, bajra, jowar, gram, pulses, edible oils, spices and gur, with immediate effect.

According to official sources, a circular to this effect has already been issued to all market committees in the state.

An official of the local market committee said here today that the order about the rural development cess was not specific and needed to be clarified. The market committees were charging a 2 per cent rural development cess on the items.

R.L. Tiwari joins Congress
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 4 — A former Haryana Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Roshan Lal Tiwari, today rejoined the Congress after expressing faith in the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi and the policies of the party.

The President of the Haryana Congress, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, assured Mr Tiwari, who represented the Kaithal constituency in the Assembly, of due recognition in the party.