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| Thursday, February 17, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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PM
to intervene in SYL issue: Mahajan Kidnapped
boy returns home |
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| ICAR DG regrets teachers' attitude HISAR, Feb 16 — The Director General, India Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Dr R.S. Paroda, today had a dig at teachers in the agricultural universities who were resorting to strikes and dharnas to get enhanced salaries. Livestock bring glory to Haryana HUDA
allotment set aside Railways’
no to halt station
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Expulsions galore in Haryana CHANDIGARH, Feb 16 — Expulsions are on the rise in Haryana on the eve of February 22 elections to the Assembly as several candidates are contesting as Independents against official nominees. The Congress has expelled 28, the BJP two and the Indian National Lok Dal one so far. All the expulsions have been for six years, and the reason being anti-party activities. One of the prominent persons in the list is the Congress's Rao Narbir Singh. He was elected in 1996 from Sohna in Gurgaon district on the Haryana Vikas Party ticket. He, however, deserted his mentor, Mr Bansi Lal, along with 16 others which led to the fall of the HVP Government on July 21 last. He joined the Indian National Lok Dal led by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, who assumed office three days later. But within weeks, the "honeymoon" was over and Mr Narbir Singh with three others joined the Congress in a bid to get the party ticket. But that did not materialise. He entered the poll fray from Gurgaon to oppose former minister Dharambir Gauba, a member of the dissolved House. As warnings failed, the Pradesh Congress chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has ordered expulsion of Rao Narbir Singh and 27 others, a party press note here said. Dr Om Prakash, Mr Kitab Singh Malik, Mr Dev Raj Dewan, Mr Mohinder Pratap Singh, Mr Shri Krishan to name a few, who changed loyalties time and again also figure in the expulsion list of the Congress. Though there are half a dozen rebels from the INLD, party supremo, Om Prakash Chautala has taken the drastic step only against Mr Gulshan Lal, who has been allotted the party symbol of 'Spectacles' from Jind. From Jind, the BJP, an
ally of the INLD, has Mr Rameshwar Dass. The BJP has
expelled former general secretary of the party's youth
wing Ashok Sharma and former Ambala city Mayor Nirmal
Vij, who are contesting against official candidates from
Yamunanagar and Ambala city, respectively. |
More educated people joining
politics HISAR: While the Hisar Assembly segment has the largest number of contestants in Haryana, there are five doctors also in the fray from here. They include Dr Kamal Gupta from the BJP, Dr Virender Pangal from the Janata Dal (U), and Dr Ved Prakash Mehta, Dr Inderjeet and Dr Satbir Singh Dalal (all Independents). This reflects the growing trend of more and more educated people joining politics. Notwithstanding the fact whether these people stand any chance of victory or not, the trend has generally been welcomed. Dr Satbir Dalal is a doctorate in political science. He runs a chain of educational institutions. He is of the opinion that more and more educated and well-qualified people should join politics. Politics has so far remained a family legacy or only the people who are unable to perform in other fields join it. He argues for a change in this trend. “In our country, politicians by virtue of being members of the state legislatures or Parliament are law-makers, besides being policy-planners. This makes it all the more necessary that they should be educationally well qualified for this job; he points out. His opinion is shared by Dr Ved Prakash Mehta, a scientist at CCS Haryana Agricultural University. He has over 10 years’ experience in politics. He was till recently a confidant of Mr Om Prakash Mahajan, who is also contesting as an Independent candidate from here. Dr Mehta pointed out that even a senior member of the Constitution Review Committee, Justice R.S. Sarkaria, had suggested a minimum qualification for legislators. Supporting the argument, he says while for an ordinary job, a minimum educational qualification is required, why the same criteria should not be adopted for such important jobs as that of ministers. There are so many legislators who are unable to read or write. “What can be expected from them”, he asks. Dr Inderjeet, a practising physician has been associated with several social and cultured organisation. He feels that qualified and educated people in politics have greater acceptability. It is necessary for bringing reforms in the system. He says the younger generation is looking only for such people. He foresees major changes in the composition and constitution of all political parties, with more educated people joining these outfits. The profiles of these parties will change. Dr Kamal Gupta, also a practising surgeon, is contesting as the INLD-BJP alliance candidate. He contested in 1996 also. He claims his party has been encouraging such people, who are well qualified and have good knowledge in their respective fields, citing the examples of Mr Arun Shourie, Mr Arun Jaitely, Mr Jagmohan, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and others. He feels that this is not only in the interests of the party but also the system and the country. Dr Virender Pangal, is a
doctorate in animal sciences from HAU. He claims that he
has been getting a “tremendous response” from
the public and people have great expectations from the
young and educated. |
Elaborate arrangements in Haryana CHANDIGARH, Feb 16 — elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure a free and fair poll for the assembly elections for constituting 10th Vidhan Sabha in Haryana on February 22. The state Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Bhaskar Chatterjee, said voters could exercise their franchise without any pressure or fear. The voters will be casting their voters between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for electing 90 members of the Legislative Assembly. Out of this, 17 constituencies have been reserved for the Scheduled Castes. Mr Chatterjee said of the 90 constituencies, electronic voting machines (EVM) would be used in 45 constituencies and in the rest the old method of casting votes would be applied. As many as 15,451 polling booths would be set up of which 1,216 would be in the localities of socially weaker sections. One presiding officer and three to four polling officers would be appointed for each polling booth. As many as 70,000 government personnel would be on election duty on that day besides 50,000, paramilitary forces, Home Guards and SPOs to maintain law and order. Orders have been passed to all the District Magistrates and superintendents of police to maintain law and order in their respective areas. they have also been directed to keep vigil on the state boundaries so that anti-social elements from outside may not enter the state. He also appealed to the residents that in case they found any unusual object in their vicinity, they should immediately inform the police. Mr Chatterjee said the state government had issued photo identity cards to the voters on government expense in 1994. Under directive from the Election Commission of India, for the first time photo identity cards will be used in these elections. In order to ensure that every voter could exercise his franchise, the government had decided to allow the voters not having photo identity cards to establish their identity through driving licence, passport, pass-book of bank or post office, kisan pass book, ration card, electricity bill, chulla tax or the identity card issued by the Government of India, state government, local self government or an industrial house. He complimented the
Haryanvi public on extending cooperation in the smooth
conduct of the Lok Sabha poll in the recent past and
appealed them to extend similar cooperation for the
conduct of the Assembly poll. |
Naidu to address meetings
today CHANDIGARH, Feb 16 — The Chief Minister of Andhra, Mr N Chandrababu Naidu, will address a series of public meetings in Haryana tomorrow along with INLD supremo, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, in support of the INLD and BJP candidates for the Assembly poll scheduled for February 22. The office secretary of the INLD, Mr Dharambir Singh, said here today that the public meetings would be held at Bahadurgarh, Gohana, Meham, Dadri, Uklana (Barwala) and Kaithal. Mr Naidu, who is also
the president of the Telugu Desam Party, had deputed the
members of Parliament representing his party to
coordinate the meetings. They are Dr Alladi P Rajkumar,
Mr M Rajaiah, Dr M Jagannath, Mr S Ramachandra Reddy and
Mr Gutta Sukhender. It may be recalled that the founder
of the Telugu Desam, the late N T Rama Rao, had also
campaigned vigorously in favour of Mr Devi Lal in Haryana
in 1987. |
Parties turn to 'stars' for
campaigning HISAR, Feb 16 — Cine star turned politician and MP Vinod Khanna today called upon people here to vote for the INLD-BJP alliance candidates in Haryana for a good government. Addressing a well-attended public rally organised in support of the BJP candidate, Dr Kamal Gupta, Vinod Khanna accused the Congress of pushing the country into a political and economic crisis by way of corruption and mismanagement. He said, "If you want that funds from the Centre should be properly utilised, vote for the INLD-BJP candidates, as you did in the Lok Sabha elections". It was probably the glamour of the film star that attracted a few thousand people, in the otherwise low-profile campaigning. Mr Khanna waived to the crowd, which responded with raised hands. It was a good moral booster for the BJP candidate Dr Kamal Gupta, who is facing an uphill task in a four-cornered contest. Particularly so in absence of positive support form the INLD cadre. The Congress candidate,
Mr Om Prakash Jindal, is organising a public meeting
tomorrow, which is expected to be addressed by Mr Rajesh
Khanna. |
Badal to address
Haryana voters He will address meetings in Tohana, Pehowa, Ratia, Nathusuri, Chopta, Rania and other villages and towns on February 18 and at Fatehabad, Safidon, Assandh, Rambha and Nilokheri the next day, a SAD press note said. Eunuch in fray Candidates visit
Doon area Mr Chander Mohan held a number of meetings with villagers and told them that all developmental work, which had come to a standstill during the previous regimes, would be resumed immediately if he was voted to power. Meanwhile, Mr Chander Mohan got a boost in his campaign when two factions of the Kalka Railway Union, namely the Northern Railway Men Union (NRMU) and the Uttari Railway Mazdoor Union, announced their support for him. In ward no. 10 and 11 of the Railway Colony, Surinder Joni, Secretary, Gurbaksh Singh, President of NRMU, and Mahavir Rana, General Secretary and Rakesh Toni of URMU urged the workers to support Mr Chander Mohan. Also M.A. Farooqi, President, Muslim League, Kalka, Samuel Barnard of Christian community, Balmiki Sabha, Himachal Kalyan Sabha and the Northern Railway Women Welfare Organisation announced to support the Congress candidate. The common candidate of the BJP and the INLD. Sham Lal Bansal, also visited about 15 villages of the Doon area. During his election campaign in these villages, District Lok Dal chief Ram Gopal Mehta, District Secretary Dwarka Dass, Vijay Kalia, General Secretary of the Bhajpa Mandal (BJP), accompanied Mr Bansal. 2 EC Observers
reach Ambala Any candidate or voter can meet the observers at the PWD rest house at Ambala City or contact them on the phone number 552804, a release said. While Mr P.D. Thomas and Mr Ashok Ranjan Mohanty will send their report to the Election Commission after taking stock of the election scenario in the five Assembly segments of Ambala City, Ambala Cantonment, Naggal, Naraingarh and Mullana, Mr A.C. Tikadar will take stock of the expenditure by the candidates. Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, Ram Niwas said the electronic voting machines (EVMs) were being used for the first time at Ambala City and the electorate had been made aware of these. If any person is keen to know more about the EVMs, then he/she can go to the women’s ITI at Ambala City, the release added. Mr Ram Niwas added that from February 20 to 22 and from February 25-26, all liquor shops will remain closed. ‘BJP has
lost credibility’ He said that the party’s credibility was lost since it had joined hands with a party they had criticised when they were in alliance with the Haryana Vikas Party. The spokesperson, Mr Ravinder Rawal, stated that Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, a former Chief Minister of Punjab, would address a public meeting in Sectors 9 and 5 tomorrow. She along with Mr Bhajan Lal, a former Chief Minister of Haryana, would address meetings in the Kalka constituency on February 18. Curbs on
movement of vehicles The orders, under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, will be enforced from 8 p.m. on February 21 and will remain in force up to the midnight on February 22. The orders have been issued keeping in view the apprehension of incidents of intimidation of voters, booth capturing or injuring or obstruction to person lawfully employed or to cause danger to human life. The movement of vehicles
used for essential services, those being used by the
police, paramilitary forces and other government officers
on election duty, public transport carriers, vehicles
transporting sick or disabled, press vehicles,
goods-laden trucks in non-convoy mode is not banned. |
PM to intervene in SYL
issue: Mahajan PANCHKULA, Feb 16 — Justifying the stand of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the issue of no free electricity, Mr Pramod Mahajan, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Information Technology, said that there existed a vast difference between promises made to ‘‘please the public'' and concrete public welfare programmes which were actually feasible. Free electricity was not one of the feasible schemes which could be assured to the populace. Mr Mahajan said that the implementation of the Electricity Regulation Act was the only answer to the electricity problem in the state. He said that each state must ensure that consumers paid the electricity tariff. ‘‘However, if a state chooses to subsidise or provide free electricity to a section of the people, the state government should pay the balance out of its own pocket rather than shifting the burden of the tariff to the electricity boards,'' he added, while stating that only a couple of boards were profitable while the others were in the red. Mr Mahajan was addressing a press conference after addressing a rally in Sector 16, here today. ‘‘There is a need to build up the culture of paying for the services rendered by the consumers,'' he stated. Referring to the Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, Mr Mahajan said that the Prime Minister would intervene in the matter and help solve it on the same lines as the Cauvery water dispute. However, he was non-committal about spelling out whether any spade work had been done in this direction, especially after Mr Parkash Singh Badal contested the claims of Mr Narendra Modi, General Secretary of the BJP, stating he had got no intimation about this issue. Treading cautiously, Mr Mahajan said that the efforts would definitely be made in this direction while adding that the union government was in no position to impose its decision on the two state governments. ‘‘The issue will be resolved once the new Chief Minister takes charge. We will wait and watch and then the two states can also work out their problems in the tribunals for the purpose,'' he said. Incidentally, the SYL canal is a priority item on the manifesto of the BJP and the leaders and candidates have reiterated time and again that the Prime Minister has promised to resolve the problem. Also, he mentioned that information technology was a global concept and all states could create their own projects befitting the times.‘‘The initial problem we will be required to redress is to change the mindset of the people, especially that of the MPs, 98 per cent of whom are educated and yet not computer savvy,’’ he informed. Mr Mahajan refused to comment on the expected ‘‘harsh’’ Budget as well as the controversy dogging ‘‘Water’’. Replying to a question on why Ms Sushma Swaraj figured nowhere in the campaign by leaders of the party in the state to which she belonged, Mr Mahajan informed that she was not keeping good health and had been advised not to exert by the doctors. Earlier, addressing a rally in Sector 16, Mr Mahajan advised the audience to cast their vote in favour of the BJP to usher in an era of progress and development. He said the five elements for uplift of the state were roads, water, electricity, education and health and these could be brought under control once the voters brought in political discipline among the parties and cast their vote in favour of honest politicians. He said that the progress in the state would be assured only if the BJP-INLD alliance was voted to power. ‘‘With the BJP government at the Centre and the Chautala-led government in the state, progress will be assured to the masses. However, if the Congress government is voted to power, while the Vajpayee-led government pulls the country to the ideas floating in the 21st century, the Congress was bound to pull the state back to the 16th century traditions,'' he said. He flayed the Congress for raking up issues with little relevance. ‘‘We had promised to review the Constitution in our election manifesto. If implementing that is an indication that we have a hidden agenda, the Congress is wrong. Also, the Congress has time and again moulded the Constitution and its laws according to its need,'' he said. He highlighted the achievement of the BJP-led government in the Centre and said that it was the first time in 22 years that the President of the USA had showed an inclination to visit India to see the progress which was an achievement in itself. The BJP-INLD candidate from the Kalka Assembly segment, Mr Sham Lal Bansal also spoke on the occasion. Others who addressed the gathering included Mr Pradeep Chaudhary, INLD General Secretary of the state and the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Board, Mr R.S. Chaudhary.
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Kidnapped boy returns home KURUKSHETRA, Feb 16 — Mystery surrounding the kidnapping of Harsh (13), a class VII student of Aggarsain Public School yesterday, was solved and the residents heaved a sigh of relief when Harsh was released by the abductors today. Narrating the sequence of kidnapping, Dr H.K. Sobti told The Tribune that his son Harsh who was feeling drowsy had told his parents that the kidnappers wrapped him in a blanket, blindfolded him, put a tape on his mouth and tied his hands and legs with a rope. He could not tell where he was taken, Dr Sobti added. After midnight, when he woke up his legs were untied and he was told by the kidnappers that he would be left near the railway station from where he might go home on a rickshaw. Dr Sobti said contrary to this, the kidnappers left the boy at about 4 a.m. in Sector 7, HUDA, here today and Harsh himself untied his hands and removed the tape from his mouth. He said Harsh reached the Agriculture Office and tried to contact parents on the telephone which was out of order. He sought the help of a retired person, who informed his parents on the telephone. The district police chief, Mr Des Raj Singh said although a ransom of Rs 15 lakh was demanded by the kidnappers, yet no money was paid. He said the police had set up nakas in the city to prevent the kidnappers from fleeing. The police had so far succeeded in tracing all telephonic calls of the kidnappers and the place where the kidnapped boy was kept, had also been identified, he added. Over 10 persons have been apprehended and are being interrogated. Meanwhile the DGP, Mr S.P.S. Rathore, addressing a press conference at Parakeet Restaurant, Pipli, 5 km from here said today that the kidnappers seemed to be Haryanvis and would be arrested soon. He said the kidnappers were four in number when they lifted Harsh and pushed him into a white Maruti car having black glasses. Harsh was kept in a rice sheller. Mr Rathore said the
kidnappers made telephone calls from a P.C.O. at Ambala
cantonment and demanded Rs 15 lakh as ransom at the
second class reservation counter at Ambala cantonment
railway station. He said that although, Dr Sobti with
police protection was sent to Ambala cantonment to meet
the kidnappers, yet before reaching the railway station,
he had to return to Kurukshetra because he got a call on
his mobile phone from his residence here that the boy had
reached home. |
ICAR DG regrets teachers'
attitude HISAR, Feb 16 — The Director General, India Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Dr R.S. Paroda, today had a dig at teachers in the agricultural universities who were resorting to strikes and dharnas to get enhanced salaries. Speaking at a workshop at the College of Home Sciences (HAU) after inaugurating a hostel building, Dr Paroda regretted that highly educated people like professors and scientists were resorting to pressure tactics for getting their demands accepted. He pointed our that teachers and scientists were best paid in the country, and yet most of them were not satisfied. Dr Paroda went to the extent of saying, "I feel that I am getting paid more than I deserve after the last pay revision". Referring to the uplift of women in the country, he said, the ICAR had set up national centre for women in agriculture to disseminate new technical know-how to women in agriculture and also to promote their allround welfare. The centre he said would implement a number of projects for women in agricultural universities all over the country. The ICAR chief said, in view of the contribution of women in agriculture and livestock farming their was a need to provide all out support to them. He also stressed the need to revise and update the course curriculum of home science to meet the emerging challenges. The Vice-Chancellor, Mr Vinay Kumar, acknowledged Dr Paroda's generosity for the cause and welfare of university employees and students. It was due to his personal interest that the issue of cut-off date under merit promotion scheme for the teachers of the university could be resolved so quickly, he added. He revealed that the ICAR had sanctioned a grant of Rs 1169.78 lakh for the year 1999-2000 for various schemes and projects to HAU. Besides, Rs 116 lakh had also been released for the renovation of laboratories and hostels during the current financial year. However, he lamented the considerable decline over the years in the ICAR's share in the total budget of the university. Earlier in her welcome address, the Dean, Dr Indu Grover, apprised the ICAR chief about the decline in admissions to B.Sc (Hons) Home Science programme despite excellent infrastructure and capable faculty available in the College of Home Science. Seeking his intervention, she said, presently, students were being admitted to this course after the plus two examination through an entrance test. More so, only students from science stream were eligible. Dr Grover disclosed that professional electives, like pre-school management, mass communication and journalism, bakery and confectionery, interior decoration and fashion designing started at the college would ensure employment to home science graduates. Director Students'
Welfare, Dr Jit Singh and the Chief Engineer Mr Nihal
Singh also spoke. |
Livestock bring glory to Haryana CHANDIGARH, Feb 16 — The livestock of Haryana has once again proved its excellence as 112 cattle that participated in the third National Livestock and Poultry Exhibition in Delhi recently won 123 prizes in different contests, making their owners richer by Rs 1,92,500. The prizes won by Haryana are the highest for any state participating in this exhibition. In all 115 head of cattle had participated from Haryana. A Murrha buffalo-bull owned by Mr Rajiv Khurana of Rohtak district won the Best Bull Prize whereas his Tharparker bull won the best bull award. Again it was his Lalsindhi bull which clinched the Breed championship. Mr Khurana's Sahiwal cow got the Best Milch Cattle award and was declared the best cow among the Indian breed. The other prize winners are Mr Iqbal Singh of Rasida village in Jind district Mr Surenderpal Singh Chatha of Dera Fatehe Singh in Kurukshetra district, Mr Bihari Singh, Mr Ishwar Singh, Mr Satbir Singh, Mr Jita Ram, Mr Rajbir Singh, Mr Chamel Singh and Mr Kuldeep Singh of Dadupur village in Karnal district. A number of entries were also from the goshalas of Haryana. Adarsh Goshala of Gurukul, Jhajjar won the Breed championship. A stallion horse of Livestock Farm, Hisar, was awarded the breed championship and declared the best of the show in the competition for horses.
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HUDA allotment set aside FARIDABAD, Feb 16 — Mr P.L. Goyal, Additional District and Sessions Judge, today set aside the allotment of residential quarters built by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) for its employees residing here made in favour of other state government employees. The Judge held that the allotment of HUDA houses to employees of other departments was in contravention of rules under which residential quarters could be given to the others only when no application of HUDA employees was pending. The rules were mandatory in character and the allotment committee comprising of the Administrator, Estate Officer and Superintending Engineer of HUDA cannot make allotments in violation of the rules. Mr Goyal delivered the verdict in the litigation moved by the Karamchari Sangathan of HUDA.
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Railways’ no to halt station ROHTAK, Feb 16 — The Northern Railway has declined to provide halt station at Civil Lines on the Rohtak-Gohana section as the proposal would cost it Rs 134 per day. The Residents Welfare Association, Mansrover colony, has been since 1994 demanding such facility for passengers. The proposal, if implemented would attract passenger traffic from Punjab and various cities of Haryana besides generating substantial revenue for the Railways. After examining the proposal the General Manager, Northern Railway informed the Association that the proposal if implemented would mean a loss of Rs 0.49 lakh per annum to the Railways. (The loss of Rs 49,000 per annum comes to Rs 134 per day). The Association has now
urged the Union Railway Minister, Ms Mamta Banerjee, to
re-examine the proposal in the light of her announcements
that various schemes would be introduced for improving
the facilities provided to the passengers. |
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