H A R Y A N A

INLD, Cong level ground in Mewat
GURGAON, Jan 13 — The Indian National Lok Dal(INLD) and the Congress in Haryana are focussing on the four Assembly seats in Mewat areas of the state for the ensuing Assembly election.

Development to be INLD poll plank
CHANDIGARH, Jan 13 — The Opposition charge that Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala is making phoney promises to the people to get their votes has triggered off a flurry of reaction from the INLD camp.

Rebels may cause trouble
HISAR, Jan 13 — Most mainstream parties in the state, including the INLD the Congress, are likely to face problems from rebel candidates. Although the election process is yet to start, many aspirants have already announced their plans to contest the elections as Independents.

CPI, CPM to contest jointly
PANIPAT, Jan 13 — The Haryana units of the CPI and the CPM have decided to contest the ensuing Assembly elections in unison.

University decisions await CM's nod
KARNAL, Jan 13 — Vital academic decisions relating to the Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, and Guru Jambeshwar University (Hisar) are awaiting the nod of the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and his cabinet.

INLD, Cong level ground in Mewat
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, Jan 13 — The Indian National Lok Dal(INLD) and the Congress in Haryana are focussing on the four Assembly seats in Mewat areas of the state for the ensuing Assembly election.

The Assembly segments of Nuh, Ferozepur Jhirka and Taoru in Gurgaon district and Hathin in Faridabad district have acquired special significance for the two parties as Mewat is dominated by the Meo Muslims. The forthcoming election would be a keenly contested battle and each Assembly segment would be of crucial importance. The fact that this area is traditionally against the BJP, has left the INLD and the Congress with open field to explore. The INLD is making a serious bid for the first time to outwit the Congress, which feels that it stands a good chance in the area.

In a bid to make a dent in the Mewat area, the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had recently hosted an Iftar party and invited one and all from the four Assembly segments. According to the INLD circles the attendance in the party was a proof of the INLD’s growing popularity in the area.

According to keen observers of Mewat politics, the selection of candidates would also play a major role in the performance of the two parties in the election. The two parties have already started the assessment of the prospects of the nominees. The Congress has more number of applicants than the INLD from the Assembly constituents in Mewat.

There are a number of aspirants for the Hathin seat from the Congress. The prominent among these are a former minister, Mr Hasan Mohammad, former MLAs, Mr Ajmat Khan, Mr Ramji Lal and Mr Hem Raj. This constituency has almost an equal number of members of Jat community and Meo Muslims. While the Jat community is divided during the election, the Meos, more or less, have a tendency of voting en bloc for one particular party. Mr Hasan Mohammad hails from a family of educationists and his supporters claim of him hailing from the dominant sub caste, Chhikraklot. Another strong contender, Mr Ajmat Khan, is a Bhajan Lal loyalist.

From the INLD, there is a strong possibility of Mr Bhagwan Shehrawat getting the party nomination.

In the Assembly constituency of Nuh, the sitting MLA, Mr Khursheed Ahmed, of the Congress, is all set to be renominated by the party. From the INLD, Mr Hamid Hussain, brother of the Agriculture Minister of Rajasthan, Mr Tayab Hussain is likely to be the party nominee. In Taoru, the sitting BJP MLA and a former minister, Mr Suraj Pal Singh is all set to be the INLD-BJP nominee. Whereas from the Congress, Mr Zakir Hussain, a former MLA and son of Mr Tayab Hussain, is a strong contender along with Mr Aftab Hussain, son of Mr Khursheed Ahmed.

In Ferozepur Jhirka, as many as seven persons have applied for Congress ticket. Prominent among them are a former minister, Mr Shakrulla, Mr Issac Mohaamad and Mr Hekmatulla Khan. For the INLD, Mr Illiayas Mohannad is most likely to be fielded from this constituency.

Meanwhile, Mr Shankar Pannu, a former Congress MP from Rajasthan, who is the party observer for short listing the candidates for the Assembly segments in Mahendergarh Parliamentary constituency, has commenced the exercise in this district. The Assembly segments of Gurgaon, Pataudi and Sohna, fall in the Mahendergarh Parliamentary constituency.

Development to be INLD poll plank
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 13 — The Opposition charge that Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala is making phoney promises to the people to get their votes has triggered off a flurry of reaction from the INLD camp.

The statements, issued by Mr Chautala's followers, attempt to say that the promises made by the Chief Minister are being fulfilled. One statement, issued here on Thursday by Mr Dharambir Singh, a trusted lieutenant of the INLD president, claimed that 6000 km of road had been repaired in the state already at a cost of Rs 15 crore. The statement refuted "the allegations being levelled by certain Opposition leaders that the announcement made by the Chief Minister were not being implemented".

Mr Dharambir Singh, who is also an Additional Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, had issued a similar statement a couple of days ago and criticised "the misinformation campaign launched by certain Opposition leaders". It listed "the development works" initiated by the Chautala-led government in various districts of Haryana following the Chief Minister's interaction with the local people through the 'Sarkar Aap ke Dwar' programme.

Mr Teja Singh, another Chautala aide, came out with a statement last week, and thanked Mr Chautala for "the populistic measures for the welfare of people". He, too, pulled up the Opposition for its "aim to mislead prople".

Since Mr Chautala became the Chief Minister of Haryana in last July, he had done extensive touring in the state and promised virtually everything to the people. The promises and the sops offered by the Chief Minister has attracted flak from both the Congress and the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP), the two principal opposition parties in Haryana, who have alleged that the `welfare measures' are politically motivated.

The Congress party submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission on "the unprecedented and arbitrary announcements being made by Mr Om Prakash Chautala".

"Mr Chautala has resorted to holding of a programme known as 'Sarkar Aap ke Dwar' (Government at your door step). With a view to bribing the voters, unprecedented announcements running into over thousand crores of rupees have been made by Mr Chautala from this platform with an eye on the poll", the memorandum said.

It added: "In fact, Mr Chautala has been announcing his candidates from this platform for the Assembly elections and has been asking people to vote for them".

Meanwhile, the INLD camp has given enough indication that it does intend to use the sops and the announcements as the launching pad for the party's electoral battle. The Finance Minister and senior INLD leader, Mr Sampat Singh, said development would be the INLD's poll plank.

The Town and Country Planning Minister, Mr Dhirpal Singh, said the INLD would focus on the achievements of the Chautala Government doing campaigning. The abolition of octroi, enhanced rates to farmers for their produce and maintaining supply of power to the state despite financial crunch were three major achievements of the INLD regime, he claimed.

A minister from Fatehabad district was more forthright in explaining how Mr Chautala's promises are expected to work on the voters' minds. While admitting that it would be difficult for Mr Chautala to implement the promises he had been making, the minister said the assurances would allure the voters to elect Mr Chautala for another term so that he could take care of the promises made by him.

Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the HPCC chief, said various sops announced by the Chief Minister, were basically to divert the people's attention from his failure to fulfil the INLD's promise of supplying power and water free of cost to the farmers. "We are certainly going to emphasise it in our campaigning that the INLD makes promises which it does not intend to keep", he said.

Rebels may cause trouble
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Jan 13 — Most mainstream parties in the state, including the INLD the Congress, are likely to face problems from rebel candidates. Although the election process is yet to start, many aspirants have already announced their plans to contest the elections as Independents.

The problem appears to be grave for the INLD and the Congress. At least 28 persons have applied for the Congress ticket for the two Assembly segments of Hisar and Ghirai. Some senior leaders aspiring for the ticket interviewed by Congress observer Satyajit Gaekwad have indicated that they will contest as Independents if the party does not allot them the ticket.

Hisar and Ghirai are not exceptional cases. Party sources say in some assembly segments as many as 20 candidates have applied for the ticket, making the selection process difficult. The sources say small-time workers with resources have grown ambitious and consider themselves as "best" and "winning" candidates.

Although the problem of rebel candidates is not new, more so for the Congress, this time the magnitude appears to be much more. Factionalism within the party is being cited as one of the reasons. The sources point out in each constituency there are persons owing allegiance to various factions who expect support and patronage from their respective leaders at the time of elections.

The problem is no small for the INLD either. While on the one hand it is facing difficulties in arriving at a settlement on seat sharing with the BJP, on the other hand it is faced with the difficult choice of candidates. In order to avoid pressure Chief Minister's son and Bhiwani MP is reported to have gone abroad.

In fact, the problem is more severe for the INLD and the BJP. As seat sharing is bound to annoy aspirants from each party in respective constituencies, they are likely to contest as independents. And they claim they have legitimate reasons for doing so.

For example, an INLD aspirant from Hisar, Mr Yeg Dutt Setia, who recently joined the party assuming that the Hisar constituency would go to the BJP, has announced his decision to contest as an Independent. He says he has been "forced by the people" to do so.

The INLD has another major problem — of accommodating HVP defectors who joined the party about six months ago. The party leadership is said to be in a fix. It is because of their support that Mr Chautala became the Chief Minister. But he has "sincere and loyal worker" in the constituencies represented by the rebels.

The problem may however, not be too severe for the BJP due to its limited base and worker network. Moreover, party leaders claim the "BJP is relatively more disciplined till now, at least in Haryana".

University decisions await CM's nod
From K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

KARNAL, Jan 13 — Vital academic decisions relating to the Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, and Guru Jambeshwar University (Hisar) are awaiting the nod of the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and his cabinet. The terms of the Vice-Chancellors of MDU and Kurukshetra University are ending on February 26 and February 25, respectively. The time for the Haryana Government for the appointment of new incumbents has already run out, in case the government goes by the amended Act.

The State Government during the regime of Mr Devi Lal had recommended the amendment of the Acts of both Kurukshetra University and MDU (Rohtak) as far as the appointment of the vice-chancellor was concerned. The amended Act related to sub-section (1) of Section II of the Kurukshetra University Act, 1986. The sub-section, which was substituted, stated, that, "The State Government shall constitute a selection committee consisting of one nominee of the chancellor and two nominees of the executive council, which shall prepare a panel of at least three names, in alphabetical order, from which the chancellor, shall appoint the vice-chancellor, on the advice of the State Government. The terms and conditions of service of the vice-chancellor, shall be determined by the chancellor, on the advice of the State Government."

This amendment was brought because the then Chief Minister, Mr Devi Lal, was keen on taking the appointment of the vice-chancellor out of the purview of the chancellor so that the powers that be could appoint a nominee of their choice as vice-chancellors in the universities of Haryana.

The amendment was duly passed by the State Assembly. But, the then Governor of Haryana, Mr H.A. Barari, had referred the amended Act for approval to the President of India. The President gave the assent, but by that time, the Devi Lal Government was toppled. The new Act could not be enforced.

Later, during the regime of Mr Bansi Lal, the amended Act was not notified by the state Government, as Mr Bansi Lal, was keen on appointing a military personnel as the Vice-Chancellor of MDU. It was only on January 6, 1998, that the Act was notified by the Haryana Government. Since then, it has become incumbent on the State Government to adopt new procedure while appointing any new vice-chancellor to the state universities.

It was because of this that Mr K.C. Bangar, could not be appointed permanently as the vice-chancellor of Guru Jambeshwar University by the Chautala Government as it needed the constitution of a search committee as per the amended Act. Mr Bangar was appointed officiating vice-chancellor during the parliamentary poll. This, however, did not draw the provisions of the code of conduct of the Election Commission. The matter has been resting there itself and Mr Bangar continues to be the officiating vice-chancellor.

In case of the MDU, the term of General O.P. Kaushik, would expire on February 26. The State Government or the vice-chancellor has not so far held any meeting of the executive committee to appoint a search committee for the appointment of the new vice-chancellor. Furthermore, no such Committee could be formed now as the proceedings of the last meeting of the executive council of MDU were rendered "null and void by the Chancellor". The only course open to the Government is to appoint the pro vice-chancellor as the acting vice-chancellor till a new committee for appointment was constituted and the new incumbent appointed. But the government would face a tricky situation here also as the term of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dr L.N. Dahiya, is ending on March 3. The pro vice-chancellor, thereafter, could not be given charge for a short period of a week. The State Government has the powers to appoint commissioner of Rohtak division to act as vice-chancellor till the new appointment. The Government should be aware that the varsity could not be kept without a vice-chancellor. The question of extension of term of the present vice-chancellor is ruled out by knowledgeable official sources as General O.P. Kaushik has had tense relations with the Government and the chancellor also.

The term of the Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, Dr M.L. Ranga, is due to end on February 25. In this case also, the Government has not appointed any search committee for the appointment of new incumbent. It is well knigh impossible for the Government to appoint such a committee as the chief minister is now heading a care-taker Government. Moreover, the executive committee of the university which was required to send two nominees for such a committee had already met on January 5. Any emergent meeting of the executive council for this purpose could not be called by the care-taker Government. Besides, at the last meeting there was no such item on the agenda. The next meeting of the executive council was unlikely before the appointment of new incumbent.

In such circumstances, the powers for appointment of the vice-chancellor, naturally, fall in to the hands of the Chancellor and Governor of Haryana, Mr Mahabir Prasad. The new Government in the state cannot be constituted before March 1, if the Election Commission poll schedule was adhered.

Besides, Kurukshetra University has achieved a new position in academic affairs. The varsity has been free from strikes in the past four years.

As the State government was not in a position to follow the amended procedure for appointing vice-chancellor. The chancellor is likely to fall back on the provisions of the university Act in such a situation. The Act stipulates that "the vice-chancellor shall hold office for a period of three years which may be renewed for not more than one term."

Haryana not to enforce new ST rates
By Shubhadeep Chaudhary
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 13 — The Haryana Government has decided not to abide by the National Implementation Committee's (NIC) directive to the states to issue notifications by January 15 on the implementation of the new sales tax structure based on the minimum floor rates fixed at the national level.

The reasons for the Haryana Government's unwillingness to enforce the minimum floor rates is believed to be primarily political.

More than 200 items including diesel, fertilisers and pesticides have been identified for the enforcement of the minimum floor rates.

There is no sales tax on fertilisers in Haryana now. But if the minimum floor rates are introduced, there will be 4 per cent sales tax on fertilisers. Similarly, prices of other items will also go up as a result of this policy. With Assembly elections round the corner, the Om Prakash Chautala-led Government, it is believed, cannot afford to initiate steps which will affect adversely the interest of the farmers.

Mr Chautala, it may be mentioned, is already facing criticism from his political opponents for his flip-flop policy, vis-a-vis, the BJP when it was in the saddle in the last Lok Sabha. Mr Chautala had at first withdrew support to Mr Vajpayee for the union government's "anti-farmer" policies, but subsequently the INLD again stepped in in Mr Vajpayee's favour when the Prime Minister was facing the crucial vote of confidence.

The official stance of the Haryana Government regarding the proposed tax structure is that the recommendations made by the NIC is being "considered" by the state government. Mr Raj Kumar, Taxation Commissioner of Haryana, told the TNS that even Chandigarh and some other states had not implemented the new tax structures. "Haryana is no exception. There are other states too who have not done it yet".

He added that since the Assembly elections were due in Haryana next month, the new elected government would take a decision regarding the implementation of the proposed ST structure in Haryana.

Significantly, the NIC, which was set up to enforce the new ST rates, has been assured by Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha that the Central Government would stop financial assistance to the defaulting states.

The NIC is slated to meet on January 16, and the states have been directed to submit copies of the related notifications issued by them at the meeting as proof.

Mr Raj Kumar, however, claimed that Haryana Government’s decision to not enforce the proposed tax structure in the state will not have any bearing on the state’s financial health. Neither there will be any flow of goods from Haryana to Punjab as a result of lower tax rates in Haryana, he claimed.

Applications for house allotment invited
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 13 — The Haryana Government has invited applications from its eligible employees for allotment of pool houses of higher as well as lower categories in Chandigarh.

The application in form ‘A’ alongwith form ‘D’ typewise should be collected by the heads of department and forwarded to the Secretary, House Allotment Committee of the Union Territory of Chandigarh by January 31.

The higher category of houses includes houses from Type 3 to 9 (old) and Type V and VI (new). Lower category of houses includes those from Type 10 to 13 (old) and Type 1 to IV (new).

The employee should be working on a regular basis in an eligible office or foreign service at Chandigarh, Panchkula or Mohali as long as he retains lien on a post in an eligible office of the Government of Haryana and Punjab and Haryana High Court located at Chandigarh or Panchkula.

The applications for allotment of Type V flat houses will be entertained in respect of the officers drawing emoluments (basic pay) Rs 4500 or above up to December 1995, Rs 12,750 (basic pay) or above from January, 1996, onwards.

The applications for allotment of Type 11 houses will be entertained in respect of the officials who are drawing basic pay between Rs 201 and 350 up to December 1977, between Rs 700 and Rs 999 up to December, 1985, and more than Rs 1600 from January 1, 1986 to January 1, 1988. The applications for allotment of Type III houses will be entertained in respect of the officials drawing emoluments (basic pay) between Rs 201 and Rs 350 up to December 1977, between Rs 700 and Rs 999 up to December, 1985, and more than Rs 1600 between January 1, 1986, and January 1, 1992.

In case of lower category of houses the date of eligibility that is on or before January 1 of the year up to which the applications are being invited would be 1986 for Type 13 (old), 1977 for Type 12 (old), 1988 for Type 11 (old), 1997 for Type 10 (old), 1990 for Type 1 (new),1980 for Type II (new), 1992 for Type III (new) and 1998 for Type IV (new).

The employee may apply for house lower than his entitled category, but he would be allowed this option only at the time of submitting the application and not thereafter. The preference of sector may be indicated in the application form. The official can apply only for one category of house. Therefore, not more than one application from an employee will be entertained. All those applicants who had earlier applied but were not allotted house may apply afresh.

HSIDC denies Bansi Lal’s charges
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 13 — The Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) has denied the allegations levelled by the HVP President and former Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, that the corporation had restored a plot of 17.75 acre at Gurgaon to the family of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in violation of norms of probity in public life.

A spokesman of the corporation said here today that the corporation held the Supreme Court in the highest esteem and had done nothing other than complying with the orders of their lordship.

He said the HSIDC had strongly contested its case at all stages and in all courts of law. The decision of the apex court was binding on every citizen of the country. He added that it was factually incorrect to say that the possession of the plot did not remain with the corporation till December 21, 1999. It was only after this day that the corporation delivered the possession to the allottee company in pursuance of the orders of the apex court.

He also clarified that Mr Mahavir Singh who, at an earlier point of time, was engaged as counsel by the respondents (the Badals), for reasons of propriety, was disassociated from the proceedings.

Meanwhile, two senior Akali leaders, Mr Zora Singh Mann and Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, a general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal have come to the defence of the party chief and Chief Minister, Mr Badal, and his son.

Both Akali leaders said Mr Bansi Lal was spreading disinformation about Mr Badal and his son about the Gurgaon entrepreneurial site. They said Mr Bansi Lal before throwing stones on others should have a sincere introspection on the role of his son, Mr Surinder Singh, and other members of the family in running liquor mafia in Haryana under the garb of his prohibition policy.

Tumult marks Cong observer’s visit
Tribune News Service

PANIPAT, Jan 13 — Tumultuous scenes marked the second visit of the Congress observer for Karnal and Panipat, Col (retd) Sona Ram, who was here yesterday evening. A large number of ticket aspirants and their supporters who had waited for hours to stake their claims for the party ticket from the Panipat, Naultha and Samalkha assembly constituencies showed their desperation when they mobbed the observer at the PWD rest house forcing him to leave the rest house and move over to a nearby hotel.

Many of the partymen were under the impression that the decision on ticket distribution would be taken on the spot, hence jostled with each other to press their claim and show their strength before the observer. Braving inclement weather, they had gathered at the rest house well before the scheduled time of the observer’s arrival.

About 44 Congressmen are in the fray for the ticket from the Naultha constituency while 23 are for the Samalkha seat. In comparison there are just nine contenders for the Panipat seat. The main ticket seekers for the Naultha seat are Mr Satbir Malik, Mrs Prakashwati Malik, Mr Jagvir Arya, Mr Khushiram Jaglan, Mr Kanwarpal Malik, Mr Mahavir Singh Dilwari, Dr Karan Singh Kadiyan, Mr Raj Singh Jaglan and Mr Bijender Singh Kadiyan. Mr Kadiyan is the sitting MLA and has recently joined the Congress.

Former MP, Mr Hari Singh Nalwa, Dr Virender Kaushik, Dr Pritam Singh, Mr Jagdev Singh Malik, Mr Suresh Chokkar and Mr Suresh Gupta are the ticket aspirants from Samalkha while Mr Balbir Pal Singh, Mr Kasturi Lal Ahuja and Ms Prem Sachdeva are seeking party nomination from the Panipat seat.

Three get life imprisonment
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, Jan 13 — A woman and her two accomplices were sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1000 each for the murder of her husband and his uncle.

According to the police, Harbans Kaur was married to Harnek Singh of Mansa, Punjab, who was a drug addict and had sold out all his property. Harbans Kaur’s brother got her married to Mohar Singh of Surtia village. Mohar Singh nominated his property in the name of Harbans’s two sons.

On October 6 Mohar Singh’s maternal uncle visited him and the next morning both were found murdered by Sukhpal, the daughter-in-law of Harbans. Jagdev, her son, lodged a complaint with the police and informed them that her mother had been away to her parents’ house for the past 20 to 22 days.

The police arrested Harbans, Chhota Singh, Sukhpal, Sukhminder and Amrik Singh and seized the weapon. Sukhminder and Amrik Singh were absconding after releasing on bail.

While the district police arrested three proclaimed offenders along with five others in different cases.

The police also arrested Mukesh Kumar of Nattar, Saroop Singh of Nathu Sari Kalan and Madan Singh of Kutana and seized illicit liquor. They were arrested under the Excise Act. The police also arrested Nayab Singh under the Gambling Act and Gulab Singh under the Arms Act.

CPI, CPM to contest jointly
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, Jan 13 — The Haryana units of the CPI and the CPM have decided to contest the ensuing Assembly elections in unison.

The decision was taken at a joint meeting of leaders of both parties here yesterday. The meeting, which was presided over by CPM leader Balbir Singh Dahiya, was attended by Mr Raghbir Singh, Mr Harnam Singh and Mr Satpal Singh of the CPI and Mr Shradha Nand Sholanki of the CPM.

It was resolved at the meeting that both parties would work for the construction of the SYL canal, remunerative prices for the farm produce and minimum wages for industrial and daily-paid labourers at Rs 2500 per month and 33 per cent reservation for women in legislative bodies.

Through a resolution it was demanded that the services of ad hoc teachers be regularised and salaries to teachers of private schools and colleges be paid immediately.

It was alleged that Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala had backtracked from his promise of rolling back the power privatisation programme started by the Bansi Lal government.

The communist leaders also criticised the BJP-led government at the Centre for its "anti-people policies" and for not taking any initiative to resolve the SYL issue.

Kidnapper arrested
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, Jan 13 — Raghubir Singh, an alleged kidnapper, of Lohari village in Baghpat (UP) was arrested by the residents of local Hanuman Colony and was handed over to the police.

The residents also recovered a four-year-old girl, Meenu, from his custody. The police have registered a case under Section 365 of the IPC against him.

According to available information, the mother of Meenu, Mukesh Devi, lodged a complaint with the police that Raghubir Singh, residing in Hanuman Colony had kidnapped her daughter.

In another incident, Attar Singh of Nanherra village was allegedly murdered by four persons — Nafe Singh, Surender, Om Prakash and Chuhar Singh — of the same village. Land dispute is stated to be the main cause of murder.

On the complaint of Attar Singh's brother, the police has registered a case under Section 302, 114, 120-B against the alleged murderers, but no arrest has been made so far.