Sunday, January 30, 2000,
Chandigarh, India




THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
H A R Y A N A

BJP gets only 2 seats in Karnal
KARNAL, Jan 29 — The BJP has been able to get only two seats out of the nine in Karnal district.

Chautala befooling people: Bansi
PANIPAT, Jan 29 — Former Haryana Chief Minister, Bansi Lal, today accused the Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala, of making false promises to befool the people of the state. He said Mr Chautala stands exposed as he was yet to honour his commitment of providing free power and water for agricultural purposes.

Bansi Lal for free hand to Army
KAITHAL, Jan 29 — The former Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, addressing a press conference here yesterday said the government should give a free hand to the Army and other para-military forces to tackle the ISI-sponsored terrorism.

HVP releases list of candidates
HISAR, Jan 29 — The Haryana Vikas Party today released its first list of 38 candidates for the Haryana Vidhan Sabha elections slated for February 22.

Kin of martyrs honoured
AMBALA, Jan 29 — The families of soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice while upholding the territorial integrity of our nation were honoured here today.

MDU faces financial collapse
ROHTAK, Jan 29 — Due to 'casual' attitude of the state government towards releasing grant-in-aid, Maharshi Dayanand University is on the verge of financial collapse. According to university sources, salaries for the months of January, February and March will not be disbursed if the grants are not released by the government.

Suspects in RDX case truck drivers
GURGAON, Jan 29 — Aas Mohammed and Mohammed Ismail Khan, arrested by the special cell of the Delhi police for allegedly transporting RDX, are both truck drivers and have been living in the Muslim-dominated area of the district for the past more than 20 years.

Misuse of red lights atop vehicles
ROHTAK, Jan 29 — Misuse of red lights and VIP sirens on vehicles seems to have become the order of the day in the region. The authorities, despite being aware of the growing problem, have not been able to curb it.



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Karnal
Panipat
Rewari
Rohtak


 

Ranga to work for the poor
REWARI, JAN 29 — The former Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, Dr Muni Lal Ranga, the INLD nominee from the Bawal Assembly reserved constituency in this district for the ensuing elections in Haryana, said yesterday that he would stress on setting up vocational institutes in South Haryana.

Dalal to contest as Independent
FARIDABAD, Jan 29 — Mr Karan Dalal, former Haryana Minister, will contest the Haryana Assembly elections from Palwal as an Independent candidate, after being denied the BJP ticket. This was stated today by Mr Dalal himself.

39 aspirants file papers
CHANDIGARH, Jan 29 — A total of 39 aspirants filed their nomination papers today for 28 constituencies for the Assembly poll in Haryana on February 22.

Ballabhgarh ticket for Brahmin sought
FARIDABAD, Jan 29 — The Bhagwan Parasuram Brahmin Mahasabha, Faridabad, has demanded the nomination of a Brahmin from the Ballabhgarh constituency.

EVM working shown
AMBALA, Jan 29 — Secretary of the Election Commission of India, Mr C.R. Brahmam, today explained the functioning of the electronic voting machine in detail to Returning Officers and Supervisors of Ambala, Panchkula, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar and Kaithal.

91.4 p.c. of Rohtak voters have photo identity cards
ROHTAK, Jan 29 — Over 91.4 per cent of the voters in this district have been issued photo identity cards, which have been made compulsory for polling in the ensuing Assembly poll on February 22, Mr Rajesh Khullar, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer, said.

Mongolian team in Haryana
CHANDIGARH, Jan 29 — A high-powered delegation of the Government of Mongolia headed by the Minister of Agriculture and Industry, Dr Prof Ch-Sodnomtseren, visited Haryana.

Oppose privatisation, parties urged
ROHTAK, Jan 29 — The Haryana Roadways Workers' Union affiliated to the Sarv Karamchari Sangh has appealed to all political parties to oppose the privatisation policy of the government.

Youth run over by car
ROHTAK, Jan 29 — Twelve armed assailants run over their car over a youth at Saini Anandpura here last evening.

Shopkeepers observe strike
BHIWANI, Jan 29 — Shopkeepers of the town observed a complete strike yesterday in protest against the death of Anand, a ghee-dealer at the old Anaj Mandi here. Top




 

BJP gets only 2 seats in Karnal
From K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

KARNAL, Jan 29 — The BJP has been able to get only two seats out of the nine in Karnal district.

According to highly placed sources, the BJP high command last evening announced the candidature of Mr Satish Kalra from Karnal and Dr Manohar Lal Suneja from Panipat.

In Karnal, Mr Kalra has been fielded in place of the sitting BJP MLA and foamier Industry Minister, Mr Sashipal Mehta. In the previous assembly elections, Mr Mehta had defeated Mr Jai Parkash Gupta of the Congress.

Mr Kalra is a trader and is associated with the RSS. Dr Suneja is also a RSS functionary in the Panipat area.

The BJP had been demanding four seats in Karnal district and these included Gharaunda and Nilokheri besides Karnal and Panipat.

The BJP had to forsake its claim on the Gharaunda seat following the verdict of the Supreme Court, which unseated its candidate, Mr Romesh Kashyap, accepted the claim of the INLD candidate, Mr Romesh Rana, on the seat.

The BJP had also set its sights on the Nilokheri seat as its nominee, Mr Shiv Ram Verma, had been twice returned from the constituency as the erstwhile Jan Sangh candidate. Mr Verma had later switched loyalties to the Congress by joining Mr Bhajan Lal. However, the INLD chief, Mr O.P. Chautala, had unilaterally declared Mr Dharam Pal as his party nominee for the seat.

Allocation of only two seats to the BJP in Karnal district, where it has a sizeable following, indicates that it is in for a tough bargain with Mr Chautala.Top

 

Chautala befooling people: Bansi
Tribune News Service

PANIPAT, Jan 29 — Former Haryana Chief Minister, Bansi Lal, today accused the Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala, of making false promises to befool the people of the state. He said Mr Chautala stands exposed as he was yet to honour his commitment of providing free power and water for agricultural purposes.

Talking to newspersons here today, Mr Bansi Lal, ridiculed the INLD and the BJP for blackmailing each other on the matter of seat sharing.

He said the development of the state would be the issue on which the HVP would fight the byelections.

He said he was not in the favour of providing free power and water. "I had taken up the task of restructuring the power sector and promised round-the-clock power supply. Had my government stayed till now this would’ve been achieved."

Ruling out a tie-up with any of the parties, Mr Bansi Lal, said the HVP would field its candidates from 89 constituencies for the coming Assembly poll.

Launching an attack on the BJP, the former Chief Minister said the Vajpayee government had proved to be an inefficient one.

Mr Bansi Lal said Mr Vajpayee was in the habit of betraying people. "We had a pact with the BJP. Mr Vajpayee betrayed me by bringing it down in three years.

He expressed apprehension that the government would impose heavy taxes on the people in the coming Union Budget. The Budget was usually tabled on February 28 and that’s why the government was going for Assembly poll before February 28, Mr Bansi Lal added.Top

 

Bansi Lal for free hand to Army
From Our Correspondent

KAITHAL, Jan 29 — The former Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, addressing a press conference here yesterday said the government should give a free hand to the Army and other para-military forces to tackle the ISI-sponsored terrorism.

He accused the government of taking some unwise decisions including import of wheat and sugar, when there was sufficient stock of these commodities in the country.

Criticising the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Mr Bansi Lal said that he had failed to fulfil the promise of free power and water. He said announcements made by Mr Chautala in open darbars can't be fulfilled.

Mr Bansi Lal said, Mr Chautala had bungled in the purchase of paddy in the State causing huge losses to the farmers. The former Chief Minister said Mr Chautala had miserably failed on the power front.

He addressed election meetings at Siwan and Pai. Mr AR Dahiya, organising secretary, HVP, and Mr Nar Singh Dhandha, former Haryana minister, also addressed the meetings.Top

 

Kin of martyrs honoured
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, Jan 29 — The families of soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice while upholding the territorial integrity of our nation were honoured here today.

A ‘Badge of Sacrifice’ and ‘Certificate of Honour’ were presented to the family members of the soldiers who laid down their lives in various operations between 1947 and 1970 by the Commander of Headquarters, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh (Indep) Sub Area, Brigadier Satnam Singh.

These tokens of gratitude and recognition of the sacrifices of the brave soldiers have been instituted by the Army for the first time since Independence.

The next of kin (NoK) of the soldiers who have been killed in operations from 1947 to 1999 are entitled to ex gratia grants from their respective regimental record offices through zila sainik boards.

The families of soldiers who were honoured today from Ambala include Sep Prem Singh, 10 Sikh, Sep Ram Sarup, Rajput, Sep Tegh Singh, Rajput, Sep Ram Singh, Punjab, Nk Amar Singh, Sikh LI, Sep Pritam Singh, Sikh LI, Gdsm Ram Pal Singh, Guards, Dfr Chaman Lal, 2 Lancer, Cfn Baldev Singh, 601 EME Bn, Sep Puran Singh, LAD 16 Cav, Sep Bhagwan Singh, Sikh, Sep Mohinder Singh, Sikh, Nk Piara Singh, Sikh, Sep Gurbachan Singh, Sikh, Sep Dayal Singh, Sikh LI, Sep Mela Singh, Punjab, Sep Mohinder Singh, Punjab, Nk Des Raj, Punjab, L/Nk Bahadur Singh, Punjab, Sep Seo Ram, Punjab, Sep Puran Singh, Punjab, Sep Mehar Singh, Punjab and Sep Joginder Singh, Punjab.

The families of soldiers hailing from Jind include Sigmn Ran Singh, 3 Inf Div Sig Regt, Gdr Nafe Singh, Grenadiers, Sep Ram Kala, Jat Regt and Sep Hari Singh, Jat Regt.

Those from Panipat include Sep Laxmi Chand, Jat Regt, Sep Zile Singh, Jat Regt, Sep Raghubir Singh, Jat Regt, Sep Sube Singh, Jat Regt, Sep Ranbir Singh, Jat Regt, Nk Ram Kishan, Jat Regt, Sep Gobardhan Sharma, Kumaon, Sep Raghubir Singh, Rajput and Gdr Akhe Ram, Grenadiers.

The families belonging to Kaithal include Sep Gurdial Singh, Jat Regt, Sep Karnail Singh, Jat Regt, Sep Ram Chander, Jat Regt, Sep Mithia, Jat Regt, Sep Kehar Singh, Rajput, Sep Sia Ram, Rajput, Cfn Nafe Singh, 1008 Tpt Wksp, Ptr Muni Ram, Para and Sep Ram Chander, Jat Regt, and from Kurukshetra include Nk Tara Singh, Punjab, Gdsm Pirthi Singh, Guards and Cfn Bachan Singh, 4 Sikh.

The families of soldiers from Yamunanagar include L/Nk Krishan Lal, 119 Inf Wksp Coy, Sep Joginder Singh, Sikh, Sep Mohinder Singh, Punjab, Sep Joginder Singh, Sikh LI, Nk Mangal Singh, 4 Sikh LI, Sep Munsha Singh, Punjab and Nk Dharam Singh, Punjab.

The families of soldiers from Karnal include Sep Moman, Jat Regt, Sep Ram Dia, Jat Regt, Sep Arjun Singh, Jat Regt, Sep Shamsher Singh, Jat Regt, Sep Labh Singh, Sikh LI, Sep Pritam Singh, Sikh LI, L/Nk Mohan Singh, Punjab and Sep Man Singh, Punjab.Top

 

MDU faces financial collapse
From Vipin Sharma

ROHTAK, Jan 29 — Due to 'casual' attitude of the state government towards releasing grant-in-aid, Maharshi Dayanand University is on the verge of financial collapse. According to university sources, salaries for the months of January, February and March will not be disbursed if the grants are not released by the government.

It is learnt that the university administration requires Rs 21 crore per annum as grant-in-aid. However, Rs 11 crore was allocated by the government for 1999-2000. The corresponding amount was Rs 12 crore for 1997-98. Moreover, an instalment of Rs 4.5 crore only has been released by the government even though 10 months of the year have gone by the year.

The university has no money in its account, according to the sources. It has stopped the payment of various bills. The construction work, including that of an auditorium, staff quarters, DDE building, VIP guest house, has already been stopped for want of funds.

The sources revealed that the university earned Rs 16 crore from internal sources, almost double of that in the previous years. A large amount of the collection was spent on paying salaries to the employees. The arrears of the revised pay scales are yet to be paid to nearly 2,500 employees. The non-teaching employees have already adopted an agitational path in support of their demand for payment of arrears. Their eight-day-old strike in this connection was called off on Thursday after an assurance by the Vice-Chancellor. The sources said the university required Rs 2.08 crore for payment of arrears to the non-teaching staff. The university administration sent an audited statement in this regard to the state government nearly two months ago but has not got any response so far.

This is not for the first time the university is facing a financial crunch. Earlier, the university authorities had to raise a bank loan of Rs 2.5 crore to pay salaries to its staff in April and July due to the non-release of grants. The university was in a position to earn a sufficient amount by selling prospectuses for different courses and forms at the start of the academic year.

The Vice-Chancellor, Lt-Gen O.P. Kaushik (retd) admitted that the university was facing a financial crisis. He said he had requested the government and the Chancellor-cum-Governor to release the due grants totalling Rs 6.5 crore immediately.Top

 

Suspects in RDX case truck drivers
From Our Correspondent

GURGAON, Jan 29 — Aas Mohammed and Mohammed Ismail Khan, arrested by the special cell of the Delhi police for allegedly transporting RDX, are both truck drivers and have been living in the Muslim-dominated area of the district for the past more than 20 years.

Aas Mohammed, alias Aasu, along with his wife and 11 children lives in Silkho village, with a 2000-strong Muslim population, located around 50 km from the city.

Around 65 km from Silkho village is Bhadas village, situated on the Gurgaon-Alwar road where Mohammed Ismail Khan lives with his family. The sarpanch of the village, Khuda Baksh, said that of the total population of 7000 in the village, only 1000 were Hindus.

Chatbi, 65, mother of Mohammed Ismail, informed that one of his daughters was married in Silkho village and this might have brought Mohammed Ismail and Aas Mohammed together.

According to the relatives of Aas Mohammed and Mohammed Ismail, both accused were illiterate and had been unemployed for more than six months.

Police sources said that while working as a truck driver in November last year, Aas Mohammed sold off the goods which he was supposed to deliver at Sirsa in Haryana. He had taken the goods from Madhya Pradesh. The Madhya Pradesh police had lodged an FIR against Aas Mohammed and gone to Silkho village to arrest him, but he had escaped.

However, the Station House Officer of Taoru police station said that no FIR had been lodged against Aas Mohammed in his police station.

Kamrudin, 22, son of Aas Mohammed, said that his father had left the house six days ago. The family runs a floor mill and lives from hand to mouth. "My father might have fallen to the prey to the militants who intends to destroy the peace of the country. He cannot think against Hindustan", Kamrudin claimed. He added that his father's sisters lived in Pakistan and visited them every year.Top

 

Misuse of red lights atop vehicles
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Jan 29 — Misuse of red lights and VIP sirens on vehicles seems to have become the order of the day in the region. The authorities, despite being aware of the growing problem, have not been able to curb it.

Although a limited number of vehicles of VIPs, including the member of Parliament, MLAs and senior district officials, including Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, are entitled to use red lights and VIP sirens, there are hundreds of vehicles in the district which have been using red lights and sirens illegally. Activists of the ruling party and relatives of several VIPs have also been flouting the rules blatantly.

The situation could be judged from the fact that even some of the taxi operators have been using red lights and sirens to evade police checking on the main roads. Recently a Contessa car which met an accident with another car on a Delhi road here had a red light atop it. It was later found out to be a private car being used as a taxi.

It is learnt that drivers of such vehicles which often use these as taxis on a hire basis keep red lights inside the vehicle and use when they feel it necessary.

Even two wheelers have been seen using various types of sirens and musical horns which are not allowed. Similarly a large number of vehicles in the district have been found using the word "Press" unauthorisedly.

The SSP, Mr P.K. Aggarwal, when contacted said since the town had a strategic location, it was not possible to check every vehicle using a red light. He claimed that he had not received any complaint regarding the misuse of red lights.Top

 

Ranga to work for the poor
Tribune News Service

REWARI, JAN 29 — The former Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, Dr Muni Lal Ranga, the INLD nominee from the Bawal Assembly reserved constituency in this district for the ensuing elections in Haryana, said yesterday that he would stress on setting up vocational institutes in South Haryana.

Dr Ranga told newsmen that he had never aspired to be part of party politics but the Chief Minister and president of the INLD, Mr Om Prakash Chautala persuaded him to be his party nominee. Dr Ranga, who said he was now looking forward to the new development as a challenge. His term as the Vice-Chancellor was to come to an end on February 25, but the government had given him an extension for three years.

He said he had put in his papers yesterday and had been relieved by the Chancellor of the university.

This was the first public appearance of Dr Ranga after tendering his resignation from the post of Vice-Chancellor. He said he was satisfied with his stint as head of the university. He had been the youngest VC of the country. He had started his career as a primary school teacher in Kurukshetra in 1979. He said he has had enough of glamour and trappings of power and would now work sincerely for the uplift of the poor and the downtrodden.

Addressing persons from Bawal, who had gathered here to felicitate him,he said: "I had gone to Kurukshetra with a "kachchha" and a "baniyan". Now I finally return as a nominee of the INLD. The Chief Minister came to my house and handed over the nomination papers to me. This is a great honour to the people of Bawal." He recalled the day when he was on his way to Kurukshetra when he was waylaid by anti social elements. He saved his life by fleeing from the site of the incident.

He said Mr Chautala was successful in his present stint as Chief Minister.He was paying equal attention to all sections of the society.

Referring to the former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, he said he had regard for Tau because of his concern for welfare of the peasantry,artisans and labourers.Top

 

HVP releases list of candidates
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Jan 29 — The Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) today released its first list of 38 candidates for the Haryana Vidhan Sabha elections slated for February 22.

The names of these candidates were finalised at a meeting of the parliamentary board of the party held here yesterday under the chairmanship of Mr Kanwal Singh, president of the board.

According to the list, Mr Bansi Lal, former Chief Minister will contest the Tosham seat. The list includes the name of all HVP members of the dissolved Assembly.

The following is the list:- Mr Bansi Lal (Tosham), Mr Chhattar Singh Chauhan (Mundhal), Mr Narpender Singh (Badhra), Sombir Singh (Loharu), Ram Bhajan Aggarwal (Bhiwani), Mr Satpal Sangwan (Dadri), Mr Kanwal Singh (Ghirai), Mr Harsh Kumar (Hathin), Mr Attar Singh Saini (Hansi), Mr Jagbir Singh Malik (Gohana), Mr Shri Kishan Dass (Rohtak), Mr Narain Singh (Pataudi), Mr Jai Prakash Chauhan (Naraingarh), Mr Arjun Singh (Chhachhrauli), Mr Balbir Pal (Indri), Mr Priti Lal (Radaur), Mr Jatender Singh (Thenasar), Mr Nar Singh Dhanda (Pai), Mr Jai Singh (Kalanaur), Mr Kultaj (Beri), Mr Devender Singh (Sahalawas), Mr Lal Chand Mehta (Jhajjar), Mr Rajiv Jain (Sonepat), Mr Kanwal Singh (Rai), Mr Abdul Razak (Ferozpur Zhirka), Mr Dharamvir Dagar (Taoru), Mr Mukesh Sharma (Gurgaon), Mr Pehlad Singh (Darba Kalan), Mr Karnail Singh (Ellanabad), Mr Het Ram (Dabwali), Mr Prem Sharma (Sirsa), Mr Bharat Lal Mehta (Rori), Mr Sher Singh (Shahbad), Mr Madan Singh (Mohindergarh), Mr Naresh Verma (Jatusana), Mr Tarif Singh (Meham).Top

 

Dalal to contest as Independent
From Our Correspondent

FARIDABAD, Jan 29 — Mr Karan Dalal, former Haryana Minister, will contest the Haryana Assembly elections from Palwal as an Independent candidate, after being denied the BJP ticket. This was stated today by Mr Dalal himself.

In the last Assembly elections, Mr Dalal was elected as an MLA from Palwal on the Haryana Vikas Party ticket and later defected along with a large number of MLAs.

Mr Sita Ram Singla, state Vice-President of the BJP, in a press conference here said today that under an agreement with the INLD yesterday, the BJP would contest 30 seats against 60 to be contested by the INLD.

He said in seven Assembly segments of Faridabad district, the BJP would contest three seats which included Faridabad (NIT), Ballabgarh and Mewala Maharajpur and remaining four seats — Palwal, Hodal, Hassanpur and Hathin would be contested by candidates belonging to the INLD.Top

 

39 aspirants file papers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 29 — A total of 39 aspirants filed their nomination papers today for 28 constituencies for the Assembly poll in Haryana on February 22.

Those who filed their papers today included Mr Rambilas Sharma, Leader of the BJP in the dissolved Assembly; and Mr Dheerpal Singh, an INLD leader and the Town and Country Planning Minister in the caretaker ministry headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala.

While Mr Sharma is seeking re-election from his old constituency, Mahendragarh, Mr Dheerpal Singh filed his nomination for the Badli seat, which he represented in the dissolved House.

Mr Jagdish Yadav, Transport Minister, who was earlier in the HVP, also filed his papers today for Jatusana. He is one of the three former HVP members whose names have appeared in the first list of 48 INLD candidates released today.

Mr Suraj Pal, the BJP nominee for Taoru, also filed his papers.

With 39 aspirants filing their papers today, the total number of nominations filed since last Thursday has gone up to 99.Top

 

4 file papers
Tribune News Service

PANIPAT, Jan 29 — The Tourism and Education Minister, Mr Om Prakash Jain, Yesterday filed his nomination as an Independent candidate from the Panipat assembly seat. Mr Jain had won from Panipat as an Independent in 1996.

Among others who filed their nominations today were a retired IPS officer from Haryana, Mr Rishi Prakash Sharma, who filed his papers from the Samalkha assembly constituency as an Independent candidate and Mr Janeshwar of the National Loktantrik Party who too filed his nomination for the Samalkha seat.

Comrade Zile Singh of the Socialist Unity Centre of India filed his nomination from the Kiloi assembly segment today.Top

 

Ballabhgarh ticket for Brahmin sought
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Jan 29 — The Bhagwan Parasuram Brahmin Mahasabha, Faridabad, has demanded the nomination of a Brahmin from the Ballabhgarh constituency.

In a message to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Mr Jainarain Vashistha, chief of the sabha, said as Brahmin voters numbered more than 30,000 in Ballabhgarh, the chances of the Congress winning the seat were bright if a Brahmin was given the ticket.

He reminded the Congress that in the last Vidhan Sabha elections, the seat was lost because a non-Brahmin was nominated by the party.Top

 

EVM working shown
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, Jan 29 — Secretary of the Election Commission of India, Mr C.R. Brahmam, today explained the functioning of the electronic voting machine in detail to Returning Officers and Supervisors of Ambala, Panchkula, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar and Kaithal.

Mr Brahmam said that the process of voting through the EVMs was simple and there it left no doubts about the vote cast, according to a press note issued here.

He said, "Besides Delhi, the EVMs have been used successfully in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The EVMs were also used during the Parliamentary elections in Haryana, Rohtak and Karnal. During the February 22 election in Haryana, EVMs will be used in 45 of the 90 constituencies here. The results can be speedily declared through these machines."

Mr Brahmam said an EVM could accommodate 16 candidates and if the number was more than this, another EVM could be added.

He said the voter was required to press the button, which would be followed by a sound, indicating that the vote had been cast. "Then, the officer on duty will press a button on the controlling unit which will enable the next person to cast his vote," he said.Top

 

91.4 p.c. of Rohtak voters have photo
identity cards
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Jan 29 — Over 91.4 per cent of the voters in this district have been issued photo identity cards, which have been made compulsory for polling in the ensuing Assembly poll on February 22, Mr Rajesh Khullar, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer, said.

The district had 5,23,109 voters spread over the five Assembly segments of Hassangarh, Kiloi, Rohtak, Meham and Kalanaur. Of these, 4,78,132 voters had been issued photo identity cards.

Mr Khullar appealed to the remaining voters to get themselves photographed arrangements for which had been made at the local Zila Parishad hall and Luxmi Photo Studio. If these voters got themselves photographed by February 9, the administration would issue them photo identity-cards before the polling day.

The Deputy Commissioner said there had been a marginal increase of 4, 523 voters since the last Lok Sabha elections held in September, 1999.

Sensitive and hyper-sensitive seats would be identified after the announcement of candidates for the respective constituencies by major political parties.Top

 

Mongolian team in Haryana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 29 — A high-powered delegation of the Government of Mongolia headed by the Minister of Agriculture and Industry, Dr Prof Ch-Sodnomtseren, visited Haryana.

The other members of the delegation were Mr Oidov Nyamdavaa, Ambassador of Mongolia to India; Mr Nyamma Bataa, Chairman, Strategic Planning United Policy, and others.

The delegation paid a visit to Radha Nutrients Ltd, a small unit located near Saha chowk on Jagadhari-Ambala road in Ambala district.

Mr Naseem Ahmed, Commissioner and Secretary to the Haryana Agriculture department, welcomed the members of delegation on behalf of the government and farmers of the state.

He gave a brief account of achievements made by the state in field of agricultural production.Top

 

Oppose privatisation, parties urged
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Jan 29 — The Haryana Roadways Workers' Union affiliated to the Sarv Karamchari Sangh has appealed to all political parties to oppose the privatisation policy of the government.

In a statement here, Mr Bhim Singh, general secretary of the union, said a two-day convention of the All-India Road Transport Workers' Federation, North Zone would be held at Karnal on March 4 and 5. The national president of the federation, Mr Mohammad Ameen a West Bengal minister and Mr K.K. Diwakaran, general secretary, would address the convention and discuss the strategy against the privatisation policy of the government.

Mr Bhim Singh criticised the state government for not accepting their "genuine" demands. He alleged bonus had not been paid to the employees for the past four years. He expressed resentment over the illegal plying of nearly 40,000 vehicles, causing a huge loss to roadways and a cut in overtime and other allowances.Top

 

Youth run over by car
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Jan 29 — Twelve armed assailants run over their car over a youth at Saini Anandpura here last evening.

The injured has been admitted to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences here.

According to information, the attackers came on motor cycles and a car. Reportedly armed assailants trooped into a house to attack Raj Kumar and Hawa Singh. But both of them managed to escape. The assailants then caught hold of Sanjay, who had come to intervene, and beat him up. Later, they dragged him out of the house and ran over their car over him.

The police has registered a case against Kishan Lal and his two sons, Malkhan and Rinku and Deep Chand, a teacher, all residents of Indira Colony.

A delegation of nearly 200 persons of the affected locality led by Mr Rajbir Saini, General Secretary, District Congress Committee, and a municipal councillor, met the SHO concerned and appealed him to arrest the suspects.

The police has arrested Malkhan and Deep Chand in this connection while the other two suspects were absconding.Top

 

Shopkeepers observe strike
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, Jan 29 — Shopkeepers of the town observed a complete strike yesterday in protest against the death of Anand, a ghee-dealer at the old Anaj Mandi here. He was stabbed on January 17 in front of his shop while he was getting ready to go home. Certain persons tried to snatch his money bag. In the scuffle he was stabbed. One of the culprits was nabbed by the people while the other two managed to escape. The shopkeeper succumbed to his injuries yesterday.

The shopkeepers of Hallu Bazar closed their shutters yesterday as soon as they received the news of the death.

The Beopar Mandal today held a protest meeting at the Ghanta Ghar Chowk and condemned the police inaction.Top

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