Thursday, February 3, 2000,
Chandigarh, India




THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
H A R Y A N A
ASSEMBLY POLL
282 file papers in Haryana
CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — Chief Minister of Haryana Om Prakash Chautala, former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, HPCC chief Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the Speaker of the Haryana Assembly, Mr Ashok Kumar Arora, were among 282 aspirants who filed their nomination papers today for the assembly poll in the state on February 22.

Stay on dissolution of civic body
CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the dissolution of the Shahbad Markanda Municipal Committee which had been ordered by the Haryana Government.

Faridabad DCC office-bearers quit
FARIDABAD, Feb 2 — All the office-bearers of the urban unit of the Faridabad District Congress Committee (DCC) yesterday sent their resignations from posts to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, President, AICC.

Admn gears up for Chait Chaudas Mela
KURUKSHETRA, Feb 2 — The Haryana Government has appointed Mr Gurmeet Singh, SDM, Pehowa, as Mela Administrator and Mr N.K. Malhotra, Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Pehowa, as Mela Officer for the three-day Chait Chaudas Mela scheduled to be held at Pehowa, 25 km from here, from April 2.

MDU gets Rs 1.75 cr as grant-in-aid
ROHTAK, Feb 2 — The state government has released an instalment of Rs 1.75 crore as grant-in-aid to Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU).

77 civic bodies superseded
SONEPAT, Feb 2— The Haryana Government has ordered the supersession of 77 out of 80 municipal councils and municipal committees in the state with immediate effect.

Two get life term for murder
FARIDABAD, Feb 2 — Mr P.L. Goyal, Additional District and Sessions Judge, yesterday sentenced Izaz of Sector 19 and his paramour Mamta of Baselwa Colony to life imprisonment for killing Abida, wife of Izaz, on June 8, last year.

Minor abducted, raped
ROHTAK, Feb 2 — A Teenager was allegedly abducted and raped by a youth in the Kachi Garhi locality here last night. The suspect was reportedly helped by his brother in the act.

Training camp for Haj pilgrims
CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — The Haryana Haj Committee has appealed to those willing to go for Haj pilgrimage to deposit Rs 59,735 for first class journey and Rs 53,850 for second class, in addition to already paid Rs 5,000, through a bank draft drawn in favour of the Chief Executive Officer, Central Haj Committee, Mumbai.

Auction of 15 shops today
AMBALA, Feb 2 — The District Olympic Association has decided to construct shops in the War Heroes Memorial Stadium in the Ambala Cantonment and auction the rent. The money generated will be utilised to construct a hostel for sportspersons over the shops.



YOUR TOWN
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Kaithal
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282 file papers in Haryana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — Chief Minister of Haryana Om Prakash Chautala, former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, HPCC chief Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the Speaker of the Haryana Assembly, Mr Ashok Kumar Arora, were among 282 aspirants who filed their nomination papers today for the assembly poll in the state on February 22.

At least two ministers of the Chautala-led caretaker government also filed their papers today as Independent candidates. They were Mr Akram Khan and Mr Ram Sarup Rama from the Chhachrauli and Ratia constituencies, respectively. Ms Kartar Devi, leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), former HVP minister Karan Singh Dalal and former PCC chief Dharam Pal Singh Malik were the other prominent candidates who filed their papers.

Mr Chautala, who had filed his papers from Rori earlier, today sought election from Narwana as well. Mr Bhajan Lal filed his papers from his traditional stronghold of Adampur, even as his son and sitting MLA Kuldip Bishnoi filed his papers from Adampur as the covering candidate for him. Mr Hooda, PCC chief, filed his papers from Kiloi, while Mr Arora sought re-election from Thanesar.

The infighting among BJP functionaries got a fillip today with Mr Nirmal Kumar Vij, leader of the BJP from Ambala, filing his nomination from Ambala City, thereby, challenging the party's official nominee. From Indri, Mr Tejinder Pal Singh filed his papers as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) nominee. Mr Bhim Sain Mehta, a minister in the Chautala Cabinet, also filed his papers today from Indri as an Independent.

The nominations will close tomorrow and the scrutiny will take place the next day.
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RSS brokers peace in Haryana
By Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — The RSS has taken upon itself to iron out the differences between the ruling Indian National Lok Dal of Mr Om Prakash Chautala and the Haryana unit of the BJP.

The two parties are contesting the coming Assembly elections in the state in an alliance. The INLD and the BJP were able to reach an agreement on the number of seats to be contested by each party after the intervention of the Union Minister, Mr Pramod Mahajan, who is considered to be a camp follower of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in whom Mr Chautala had expressed full confidence.

However,serious differences still remain between the leaders of the two parties. According to informed sources, the RSS felt that if the differences were not sorted out between the INLD and the BJP at the earliest, the poll prospects of the alliance could be affected adversely. The RSS, which normally keeps itself aloof, at least publicly, from the electoral politics, is taking extraordinary interest in the Haryana Assembly poll.

The RSS is believed to have played an active role in the selection of the BJP candidates in Haryana. At many places the BJP ticket has been given to old RSS men, including Sanghchalaks, who are direct functionaries of the RSS, the parent body of the BJP.

The sources say Mr Bajrang Lal Garg, secretary of the Haryana RSS, who keeps a benign eye on the functioning of the BJP in the state, held a joint meeting with Mr Chautala and Mr Om Prakash Grover, president of the Haryana BJP, last night.

The meeting was held at the residence of Mr Garg in Sonepat.The sources say Mr Chautala accepted the demand of the Haryana BJP that all those members of his ministry who had filed their papers as Independent candidates from those constituencies, which are in the BJP quota, would have to quit the ministry.

The Haryana BJP, it may be recalled, had written to its Central leadership yesterday that Mr Chautala should be asked to take action against such ministers as their continuation in the ministry was sending a wrong signal to the electorate.

It may be recalled that Mr Chautala had met Mr Garg during the period when the relationship between the INLD and the Haryana BJP had reached its lowest ebb. The INLD supremo has been in regular touch with Mr Garg for several months. Mr Garg and the former Chief Minister and president of the HVP, Mr Bansi Lal, never shared a warm relationship.

The sources say Mr Chautala may like to wait till the last date of withdrawal before asking his recalcitrant colleagues to quit his ministry.
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2 nominees claim to be ‘official’
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Feb 2 — The Congress seems to be heading for a crisis in the Hisar Assembly segment here as two party leaders, Mr Om Prakash Jindal and Mr Hari Singh Saini, are claiming to be the ‘official’ party candidate from the segment.

"There is nothing official about it", remarked Mr Saini about filing of nomination by Mr Jindal as the party candidate from the segment. Mr Saini claims he is as ‘official’ as Mr Jindal, who is also claiming to be the‘official’ party nominee from here.

The Congress appears to have lost the first round of the February 22 elections, by its inability to decide about the party candidates on time. While only one more day is left, for filing of nominations none of the candidates is sure whether he will be an "official" or a "rebel" candidate at the end. One Congress aspirant remarked rather derisively. "While the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have already reached an understanding, our leaders are yet to reach at a similar arrangement", He was referring to the ongoing feud between two main groups within the Pradesh Congress Committee, one led by Mr Bhajan Lal and the other led by Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

There is a general apprehension among Congress workers that the inordinate delay by the party to announce its candidates will reflect upon the poll outcome. They feel that the traditional Congress voters, particularly the urban middle class, might look for other options, as the Congress has not been able to produce even a semblance of unity.

While it is believed that the Congress has delayed announcement of candidates to prevent rebellion, this has instead boomeranged on the party. The delay appears to have created more rebels than it would have, otherwise. Because, indecisiveness on part of the Congress high command has emboldened ambitious people, a senior party leader observed.

On the basis of the Antony committee recommendations which came in the after math of severe poll debacle of the Congress in Lok Sabha elections, the party was supposed to name the candidates for various Assembly segments, at least one month before the date of elections. While only 20 more days are for the day the party is yet to select its candidates.

The general feeling among the Congress workers is that the high command has failed the party at a crucial time, when it could have capitalise on the differences within the INLD and the BJP alliance. Moreover, the party had so much ammunition to "expose" the Chief Minister, as his government, during the past six months, had hardly done anything practical except for making promises. But now, the Congress will have to go on ‘defensive’. The party’s priority will now be to project a "unified and united" command to convince the voters. Only then it can touch other issues.

On the other hand the party also lost a chance to forge alliance with other parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party or the Haryana Vikas Party. Notwithstanding their public gestures, the two parties were not averse to an understanding with the Congress. But when it was itself unable to strike a semblance of unity among its warring factions, it was quite unexpected of it, to reach at an understanding with others.Top

 

HVP releases third list
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Feb 2 — Mr Kanwal Singh, chairman of the Parliamentary Board of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) headed by Mr Bansi Lal today released the third list of 16 candidates for the Assembly elections slated for February 22. Earlier, he had released two list of 45 candidates.

The party has nominated Mrs Kamlesh Beniwal from Bhattu Kalan seat, Mr Hawa Singh from Kalayat, Mr Om Prakash from Asandh, Mr Om Prakash Nain from Uchana Kalan, Mr Ram Sarup from Jundla, Mr Babu Ram Kashyap from Gharaunda, Mr Ranbir Singh from Guhla, Mr Mani Ram from Kaithal, Mr Harish Kataria from Panipat, Mr Sita Ram Saini from Jagadhari, Mr Krishan Hooda from Kiloi, Mr Surender Singh from Hasangarh, Mr Sahab Singh from Yamunanagar, Mr Nirmal Singh Malik from Keilana, Mr Chander Bhan from Baroda and Mr Shari Jogi from Safidon.Top

 

Stay on dissolution of civic body
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the dissolution of the Shahbad Markanda Municipal Committee which had been ordered by the Haryana Government.

Taking up a writ petition preferred by Mr Harish Kwatra, president of the Municipal Committee, Mr Justice K.K. Srivastava and Mr Justice J.S. Kher, issued notice to the Haryana Government and its Director of the Local Bodies for February 17.

In his petition Mr Kwatra stated that the Director of Local Bodies issued a letter on November 9 last year saying that under the Haryana Municipal Act the term of the elected members of municipal committees was five years from the first meeting of the Municipal Committee. Elections to municipalities in Haryana were held in December, 1994.

The Haryana Government asked Deputy Commissioners to send it information about the date on which election of the presidents of the municipalities took place and the date on which the first meeting of the elected members took place.

On January 21, the Director of Local Bodies issued another letter saying that the term of municipal committees of elected members, except the municipalities of Bahadurgarh, Mandi Dabwali and Pinjore, would expire on February 2, as per provisions of Section 2 (1) of the Haryana Municipal Act, 1973. The letter said it should be ascertained that Presidents, Vice-Presidents and members of the municipal committees and Municipal Councils left their offices in the afternoon on February 2, did not hold any meeting and adopted any resolution.

In case any member of municipalities had taken a loan from the committee or council fund, it should be recovered from him.

Counsel for the petitioner contended that the Haryana Government order was illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional because the five-year term of the municipal committee would be taken into account from the date it held its first meeting. Every municipality, unless dissolved earlier, would continue in office for five years from the date of its first meeting.Top

 

29 file papers for 5 Kaithal seats
From Our Correspondent

KAITHAL, Feb 2 —As many as 29 candidates have filed their nomination papers for the Assembly constituencies of Kaithal, Pai, Pundri, Kalayat and Guhla falling in the district till this evening.

Mr Leela Ram (INLD), Mr Dharam Pal Chhot (Independent) and Mr Ashok Seth (BSP) have filed their papers for the Kaithal seat.

In the Pai constituency, of the nine nominations filed, Mr Tejender Mann, a former minister, and his son Mr Vijender Singh (covering), filed their papers as candidates of the Congress. Mr Ram Pal Majra, Chairman, Haryana Public Enterprises Bureau, as the INLD candidate, Mr Nar Singh Dhanda, a former minister, and his wife, Ms Kamlesh (covering), as HVP candidates. Mr Bhagwan Singh filed his papers as a BSP candidate. Besides, Mr Ramesh (NCP) and Mr Chela Ram and Mr Krishan Lal (both Independents) also filed their papers.

From the Pundri constituency, Mr Narender Sharma, a former minister, who was denied a ticket by the INLD, filed his papers as an Independent. His wife, Ms Usha, is the covering candidate. Mr Bhag Singh Arya filed two sets papers, one as a candidate of the Congress and the other as an Independent. Mr Raghbir Singh filed papers as a BSP candidate and Mr Jitta and Mr Jai Singh as Independents.

From the Kalayat (Reserve) constituency, those who filed papers are Mr Dina Ram (INLD), Mr Natha Ram, (BSP) and Mr Hawa Singh (HVP).

From the Guhla (Reserve) constituency, Mr Dillu Ram (Congress), Mr Amar Singh Dhande and his son Mr Naresh (covering) (INLD), Mr Dharam Singh and Mr Pritam Singh also as INLD candidates have filed their papers besides two Independents.
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Chautala files papers from Narwana
From Our Correspondent

JIND, Feb 2 — Mr Om Parkash Chautala, Chief Minister of Haryana and the INLD candidate from Narwana Assembly constituency filed his nomination papers at Narwana today. Later, he addressed a public meeting here and appealed to the people to vote for the INLD-BJP alliance candidates in the coming Assembly elections.

Earlier, while addressing a public meeting here Mr Chautala highlighted the achievements of his government. He said during a short period of about five months his government had worked for the welfare of all sections of society.

While criticising the Congress, Mr Chautala said during 45 years of its rule the Congress had ignored backward classes and Scheduled Caste people. He said his government had set up an Artisan Board to provide more employment opportunities to the people of these castes.Top

 

A show of strength by candidates
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, Feb 2 — With just a day left for the last date for filing of nominations for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Haryana, 18 persons today threw their hat in the electoral ring for the five Assembly segments falling within Ambala.

The filing of nomination papers was turned into a show of strength by the candidates, who took out long processions. A large number of supporters of the candidates turned up and the mood was festive with the beating of dholaks. The supporters shouted slogans in support of their candidates and the candidates were garlanded several times on their way to file nominations.

The Bharatiya Janata Party received a setback to the electoral prospects of its candidate after local BJP leader and President of Ambala City Municipal Council, Mr Nirmal Vij, filed his nominations. Mr Nirmal Vij declared that he was going to contest the election as he has been let down by the party.

“My decision to fight the elections is a voice against dictatorship of the party high command. During the last elections, I was not made the party candidate but I was assured at that time that during the next assembly elections, I would be made the party candidate. But this time too, they have not made me the candidate, despite having worked hard for the party over the years,” Mr Nirmal Vij told The Tribune.

According to the District Electoral office, five persons filed their nomination for the Naraingarh assembly segment. The candidates are Mr Ashok Kumar of the HVP, Mr Man Singh of the BSP, Mr Sukhbir Singh, Independent, Mr Sundar Singh, Independent, and Mr Ajmer Singh.

Two persons, Mr Satpal, Independent, and Mr Vinay Kumar of the NCP, today filed their nominations for the Mullana assembly seat. For Ambala Cantonment, Mr Anil Vij, Independent, and Dr K.D. Sharma of the BJP filed the nomination papers.

Seven persons filed their nominations for Ambala City assembly constituency. The candidates are Mr Ramesh Kumar of the INC, Mr Dharam Pal Kalia of the INC, Ms Kailash Bhatt of the INC, Mr Nishit Bhatt of the INC, Ms Kiran Bala Jain of the INC, Mr Rantej Pal Jindal of the INC and the rebel candidate and local BJP leader, Mr Nirmal Vij.

In the Naggal assembly seat, Mr Nirmal Singh of the INC and Ms Naib Kaur of the INC filed their nomination papers.

The filing of nomination papers looked more like a celebration as motorcades of candidates wove through the streets of Ambala. For instance, in Ambala Cantonment, cavalcades of Mr Anil Vij, Independent, who is seeking a second consecutive term, and Dr Kabir Dev Sharma of the BJP went through the area amidst slogan shouting. Mr Anil Vij was also weighed in coins in front of the Government College. While Mr Anil Vij is laying thrust on his achievements during his tenure, Dr K.D. Sharma has promised that Ambala Cantonment will progress if he comes to power. Top

 

Opposition to Veena getting ticket
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, Feb 2 — Several BJP leaders and municipal commissioners of the constituency have opposed the giving of party ticket to Ms Veena Chibbar, National Secretary of the women’s cell of the BJP and local municipal commissioner.

Mr Nirmal Vij, a senior leader of the local BJP and President of the Municipal Council, Ambala city, announced here today that he would contest as an Independent candidate from Ambala city. He would file his nomination papers on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, several sarpanches and panches of the Ambala city Assembly constituency have expressed their concern for ignoring the sitting MLA, Mr Faquir Chand Aggarwal, for allotment of ticket.

In a statement issued here today, they said they had supported the BJP in the last Lok Sabha elections following the development works done by Mr Aggarwal in their area. They said that Mrs Veena Chibbar, whom the party has allotted the ticket, was not even familiar to them.

They urged the party high command to review its decision.

Meanwhile, INLD leader Naresh Bansal said here in a statement that the ticket from the constituency should have been allotted to INLD candidate Rameshwar Aggarwal.Top

 

BJP, HVP candidates file nominations
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Feb 2 — The candidates of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Haryana Vikas Party, Mr Sham Lal Bansal and Mr KP Singh, respectively, filed their nomination papers at the office of the Returning Officer, here today.

The entourage of the BJP candidate came in a long procession from their election office in Sector 16. With orange and green flags fluttering atop the cars and trucks accompanying the procession, the candidate on a matador supported a scarf typical of the BJP along with badges of the party.

Raising slogans, beating drums and dancing, the supporters announced their support for the candidate while party workers and others joined in the revelry. Before entering the office of the Returning Officer, Mr Shubh Ram Vashisth, they burst crackers even as Mr Bansal got off to file his papers.

Accompanying the procession was the General Secretary of the Indian National Lok Dal, Mr Pradeep Chaudhary, with some of the party workers and office bearers of the district committee of the party.

While Mr Bansal was in the process of completing the formalities of filing his papers, the HVP candidate made his appearance at the office of the Returning Officer. Some of his supporters carried their party flag which distinguished them from the BJP counterparts.

Close to the heels of his arrival and before Mr Bansal could make an exit, another candidate, Mr Bal Krishan Sarwan, the Bahujan Samaj Party (Ambedkar) candidate, also came to file his nomination papers. For sometime they were diverted to the adjoining ground where they danced to their heart’s content before settling down and waiting for their turn. The police had a tough time managing the many who had suddenly descended upon the secretariat.

However, in the end only Mr Bansal and Mr Singh succeeded in filing their nominations. The documents of the third candidate, Mr Sarwan, were found wanting. Mr Vashisth informed that Mr Sarwan would file his papers tomorrow as an independent candidate since his party was registered but not recognised.Top

 

Faridabad DCC office-bearers quit
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Feb 2 — All the office-bearers of the urban unit of the Faridabad District Congress Committee (DCC) yesterday sent their resignations from posts to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, President, AICC.

This action had been taken to protest against the decision of the high command to allot the party ticket to Mr A.C. Chowdhary, a former minister, to contest the Vidhan Sabha election from the NIT constituency of Faridabad.

Among those who had signed the resignation letter, which has been faxed to the AICC office, included Mr B.R. Ojha, president of DCC.
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Admn gears up for Chait Chaudas Mela
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, Feb 2 — The Haryana Government has appointed Mr Gurmeet Singh, SDM, Pehowa, as Mela Administrator and Mr N.K. Malhotra, Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Pehowa, as Mela Officer for the three-day Chait Chaudas Mela scheduled to be held at Pehowa, 25 km from here, from April 2.

Stating this here yesterday, the Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Jyoti Arora, said a meeting of the officers in charge of the mela arrangement from Pehowa and Kurukshetra was held here on Monday. She said the various departments, including police, electricity, health, public health, transport, PWD (B and R), development, public relations and religious as well as social organisations had been intimated to complete the tasks assigned to them by March 25.

Talking about the restoration work going on at the banks of Saraswati Tirath at Pehowa, the officer concerned told the meeting that the construction of the ghat for women would be completed before the commencement of the mela, while the ghat for men, the construction of which would not be completed before April 2, would be maintained in a manner to enable the male pilgrims take the holy dip there.Top

 

MDU gets Rs 1.75 cr as grant-in-aid
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Feb 2 — The state government has released an instalment of Rs 1.75 crore as grant-in-aid to Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU).

The Tribune had highlighted on Sunday last that university was on the verge of financial collapse due to the "casual" attitude of the state government towards releasing grant-in-aid to the university.

The university had received an amount of Rs 4.5 crore in the form of grant-in-aid as against the allocated amount of Rs 11 crore.

When contacted the university sources said after the release of this instalment the university was in a position to disburse salaries to its employees for the month of January last.
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77 civic bodies superseded
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Feb 2— The Haryana Government has ordered the supersession of 77 out of 80 municipal councils and municipal committees in the state with immediate effect.

According to official sources, it has taken this step under the Haryana Municipal Act 1973 after the expiry of the term of these institutions. The municipal council of Bahadurgarh and the civic bodies of Mandi Dabwali and Pinjore have not been superseded so far.

The state government has also ordered the presidents and vice-presidents of these institutions to relieve themselves from their respective posts and hand over the charge to either the Executive Officers or the Secretaries immediately. The state government has also asked them to also hand over all the documents and cash etc to these officers.

This order has caused widespread resentment among the members of these institutions and they were critical of the state government’s action at a time when the Assembly elections were in progress in the state.Top

 

Two get life term for murder
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Feb 2 — Mr P.L. Goyal, Additional District and Sessions Judge, yesterday sentenced Izaz of Sector 19 and his paramour Mamta of Baselwa Colony to life imprisonment for killing Abida, wife of Izaz, on June 8, last year.

According to prosecution, Izaz had developed illicit relations with Mamta which was resented by Abida. On June 7, Abida followed her husband to the house of his paramour where after an altercation Mamta poured kerosene on Abida , and Izaz set her on fire. She was taken to hospital where Abida died the next day.

Mr Goyal believed the prosecution version and observed that although the manner in which Abida was done to death was reprehensible, the case did not fall under the category of the rarest of rare cases which might warrant death penalty.Top

 

Minor abducted, raped
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Feb 2 — A Teenager was allegedly abducted and raped by a youth in the Kachi Garhi locality here last night. The suspect was reportedly helped by his brother in the act.

According to a complaint lodged by the victim, aged about 15, she was allegedly abducted by the suspects, Vinod and his brother Jai Bhagwan, while she was sleeping in her jhuggi at about 11.30 p.m. The victim was taken to their house by the suspects and allegedly raped by one of them.

A case has been registered under Section 376, 366, 452, 342 and 506 of the IPC.Top

 

INLD worker dies in mishap

KURUKSHETRA, Feb 2 (UNI) — A group of INLD supporters, who were returning after accompanying Speaker of the dissolved Haryana Vidhan Sabha Ashok Kumar Arora to file his nomination today, met with an accident, which killed one person and injured 17.

The mishap occurred when their tractor-trailer tilted near the railway flyover here after being hit a vehicle, the police said.

Mr Ved Prakash of Jyotisar village was declared dead at the hospital where he was admitted. He was crushed under the tractor-trailer.

The condition of two others — Mr Buchna Ram and Mr Roshan Lal — were reported critical. The former was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, the police added.Top

 

Training camp for Haj pilgrims
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 2 — The Haryana Haj Committee has appealed to those willing to go for Haj pilgrimage to deposit Rs 59,735 for first class journey and Rs 53,850 for second class, in addition to already paid Rs 5,000, through a bank draft drawn in favour of the Chief Executive Officer, Central Haj Committee, Mumbai.

The Haj panel has authorised Markan Tile Bank, Mumbai, for the exchange of foreign currency.

The Haryana Haj panel will organise a training camp for residents of Faridabad on February 7 at Sector 6 of Faridabad and for Gurgaon residents at Badkali chowk, Nagina (Gurgaon) on February 9.

All necessary information regarding Haj will be given at these camps and the passengers will be vaccinated for brain fever, etc.

The committee has appealed to all those who want to go to Haj to attend the camps.Top

 

Auction of 15 shops today
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, Feb 2 — The District Olympic Association has decided to construct shops in the War Heroes Memorial Stadium in the Ambala Cantonment and auction the rent. The money generated will be utilised to construct a hostel for sportspersons over the shops.

The auction of the 15 shops being constructed inside the stadium complex will take place tomorrow. The shops being constructed face the main road. The stadium is located at the Football chowk, which not only sees a heavy traffic flow but is also very close to the main markets.

Talking to The Tribune, the District Olympic Association President, and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ram Niwas, said the idea behind constructing shops and auctioning the rent was to ensure that we build a sports hostel over the 15 shops. “This is a totally self-financed project as the money to be deposited by the winning bidders would be used to construct the shops as well as the sports dormitory”, he said.

He observed that there was a need for a sports hostel as the local association had to incur heavy expenditure on account of keeping the sportspersons from other areas in different hostels. “The annual rent from the shops would not only help in maintaining the sports hostel on the first floor of the shops but would also help in improving the health of the corpus of the District Olympic Association”, he said.

Mr Niwas said the expected cost of the project was Rs 35 lakh. He said Rs 2 lakh would be taken as advance on auction basis. “This project would go a long way in improving the sports infrastructure in the district”, he said.

The auction for the shop rent which supposed to take place at an earlier date on January 27 had run into rough weather owing to a particular clause. A clause in the earlier list of undertakings by the shop owners stated that if there was any need for the District Stadium Committee to have the shop vacated, then it would do so with a month’s notice.

This clause was objected to by the local shopkeepers who were keen to take the shop on rent. Following this, the auction date was changed to February 3. The particular clause was subsequently amended and it now states that if any shopkeeper violates any of the clauses from 1 to 24, then the shopkeepers will be asked to vacate the shop with a month’s notice.

The District Olympic Association President pointed out that with the construction of the sports hostel on the shops, they would be able to provide better facilities to the sportpersons.Top

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