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| Thursday, March 2, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Haryana BJP must blame
itself |
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| Forum orders arrest of two
officials SIRSA, March 1 — The District Consumer Forum here ordered the arrest of two Public Health Officers. According to information received today, Mr Vinod Kumar of Arniawali village had complained to the forum on February 3, 99 regarding the non-supply of drinking water by the Public Health Department. Check population growth: doctor KAITHAL, March 1 — Dr S.K.S. Marya, noted surgeon and former Principal and Head of the Department of Surgery, Medical College, Rohtak has expressed concern over the increasing population and called for immediate and all-out efforts to check its growth. Civic poll: DCC meeting inconclusive FARIDABAD, March 1 — The District Congress Committee (Urban) yesterday failed to take a decision whether the forthcoming elections to the Faridabad Municipal Corporation would be contested on the party basis or not. Dewan’s
victory procession
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Town bedecked for swearing in KURUKSHETRA, March 1 — This historic town, where Lord Krishna had delivered the immortal message of Bhagawadgita, has been bedecked for the oath taking ceremony of the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and his Cabinet colleagues. The town has virtually been converted into a police cantonment with security being tightened. From the Pipli bus stand upto the Kurukshetra University campus — a distance of 8 km gun-totting and lathi-wielding policemen can be seen at all chowks and Strategic points. Tight security can also be seen at the university guest house, where the Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, Mr Chautala and his Cabinet colleagues would have lunch alongwith 1000 VIP invitees. Commandos of the Haryana police have also been deployed for the purpose. There is heavy police "bandobast" all around the Dronacharya Stadium — the venue of the oath-taking ceremony. The police has erected barricades on all entry points to Kurukshetra and roads leading to the university to control traffic. Trained police dogs from Madhuban have also been brought here. Metalling of roads is being done for the occasion. Dozens of gates have been erected flags are fluttering on all the main chowks. Four helipads have been
kept in readiness for landing of VIP helicopters. Two of
these are in Kurukshetra University and one each in
Regional Engineering College and the Police Lines. Swearing in live on Jain TV CHANDIGARH, March 1 — Jain TV will telecast ‘live’ the swearing in ceremony of Mr Om Parkash Chautala as Chief Minister of Haryana and his cabinet to be held at Kurukshetra on March 2 at Daronacharya Stadium, Kurukshetra.The Haryana Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, would administer the oath to the new cabinet.
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Farooq to attend Chautala’s
swearing in NEW DELHI, March 1 — A medley of National Democratic Alliance leaders — State Chief Ministers, Union Ministers and party functionaries — will descend on Kurukshetra tomorrow when Mr Om Prakash Chautala is sworn in as Chief Minister of Haryana. Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah will be there. Himachal Pradesh’s BJP Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, will not be attending (a possible barometer of the prevailing undercurrents of tension between Mr Chautala and Mr Dhumal’s partymen in Haryana). The galaxy of Union Ministers will be led by the BJP’s P.R. Kumaramangalam, Mr Sunder Lal Patwa and Mr Subhash Meheria, Shiv Sena’s Mr Suresh Prabhu, DMK’s Mr Murasoli Maran and Mr T. Balu, Akali Dal’s Mr S.S. Dhindsa and Mr Ram Jethmalani and Mrs Maneka Gandhi. Vice-Chairman of the
Minorities’ Commission, Mr Tarlochan Singh, who
enjoys Minister of State rank and in whose appointment Mr
Chautala played a role, will also attend the swearing-in. |
Haryana BJP must blame itself HISAR, March 1 — No party's performance in the recently concluded Assembly elections has been as poor and dismal as that of the BJP. A party that claimed to be the largest party in the state after the Lok Sabha elections has been humbled down by its own doing. The BJP which bagged more than 29 per cent votes in the Lok Sabha elections only four months back, could not cross even 10 per cent this time. It was literally a tragedy of ambition for the party which tried to bite more than it could chew. While to some extent, the BJP may blame its alliance partner for the debacle, but to a major extent the party has only itself to blame. Oblivious to the ground situation the party tried to grab maximum seats at the cost of INLD. However, the INLD leadership proved to be too shrewd to concede even a bit extra. Notwithstanding the claims of the INLD, the party had given tacit support to Independence at places like Jind, Hisar, Narnaund, Jhajjar and Gurgaon against the official BJP candidates. The INLD played its cards to deftly leaving little scope and space for the BJP to protest. In the process it also lost all bargaining power, with a handful of MLAs, against absolute majority of the INLD on its own. Quite naturally the rank and file of the party appears to be demoralised. a number of party workers stressed the need for encouraging new and younger leadership. Nor is there much appreciation for the role of the National General Secretary, Mr Narinder Modi. In fact it was Mr Modi, who "guided" the central leadership of the party for assertion for extra seats before the elections. The BJP leaders have realised that in case the party had contested lesser seats, it might have performed better. Because, it would have enjoyed the goodwill of the entire INLD rank and file. On the other hand there is resentment over the marginalisation of popular and assertive leaders. A local BJP leader emphasised the need for new approach and change in mindset of the party. He pointed out, there was an urgency for thorough introspection, as why the party could not retain influential leaders like Mr Anil Vij and Mr Karan Singh Dalal. While Mr Vij won as an Independent candidate from Ambala, Mr Dalal won on ticket of Republican Party of India from Palwal. Mr Dalal had joined the party a few months before the elections and wanted to contest on the party ticket from Palwal. But the BJP could not negotiate for the seat and it went to the INLD. The defeat of Mr Ram Bilas Sharma from both Hasangarh and Mahindragarh is, too, embarrassing for the party. Mr Sharma, who had nourished the ambitions of Deputy Chief Ministership is now being blamed for the party's poor performance to a great extent. While the BJP laments,
Mr Om Prakash Chautala has all reasons to rejoice. He
already enjoys an absolute majority with 47 MLAs and
atleast five more Independents on his side. Mr Chautala
has always been apprehensive of the BJP's expansionist
agenda. Although he did not react, but it was no secret
that he had not liked the assertions of the BJP leaders
that the party wanted to stand on its own. Mr Chautala
has shown the BJP its place without giving any reason to
the party to protest. |
Voters' verdict against BJP: CPM ROHTAK, March 1 — The Haryana unit of the CPM has claimed that the Assembly elections in Haryana, Bihar and Orissa have "exposed" the double standards of the BJP, as the voters have given a verdict against the present policies of the party. In a statement here yesterday the general secretary of the party, Mr Inderjit Singh, said the BJP had been surviving on alliances with other parties. He said if the BJP had contested independently, then it would have known its ‘popularity’. He said in Haryana, although the INLD-BJP combine got an absolute majority, but the vote percentage had declined by about 20 per cent. He said if the BJP had gone alone in election, it would not have won even the present number of seats. Alleging that the BJP had been a opportunistic in its approach, he said its alliance with Chautala's INLD may not last long. Regarding the Budget, the CPM leader apprehended that the Union Government might not spare the common man, especially the farmers, this time. He asked the INLD leader, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to reconsider his party's support to the Vajpayee Government, in case the government withdraw the subsidy on fertilisers, LPG, diesel and other agricultural inputs. He claimed that the
proposal of introduction of tax on farming was example of
the ‘anti-farmer’ attitude of the Vajpayee
Government. |
Chautala seeks more funds for
power CHANDIGARH, March 1 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala , has urged the Centre to immediately withdraw the proposed hike of 15 per cent in urea price and 7 per cent in the price of DAP fertiliser in the Union Budget. In a statement here, Mr Chautala said that such an increase would be detrimental to the interests of the farming community and it would adversely affect an agrarian state like Haryana. The Chief Minister said that the Budget proposal was against the spirit of the green revolution, and added that it would force the nation to import grains from abroad. The Haryana Chief Minister also demanded that the power and irrigation sectors should have been allocated more funds as these two areas were crucial for all quarters. Even as Mr Chautala welcomed the increase of 29 per cent made in the share of states in the Central taxes, he pointed out that there was a lot of scope to further enhance the share of the states. Recalling the demand made by the Haryana Government to the 11th Finance Commission, Mr Chautala said that the share of the states should have been increased to at least 33.3 per cent and eventually it should be raised to 50 per cent. "The devolution of Central taxes had been important for the State Government for financing infrastructural development," he said. Mr Chautala, however, lauded the Budget proposal of doubling the allocation of PDS items for people below the poverty line, which, he said, would give relief to the commonmen. He also expressed his satisfaction at the priority treatment given to human resource development through programmes and policies in the areas of education, health and other social services with emphasis on the poor and weaker sections of society. He also added that extension and strengthening of schemes like financing rural infrastructure projects through RIDF, help the self-helf groups to develop micro enterprises, Kisan Credit Card scheme, recapitalisation of RRBs, provision of 25 lakh dwelling units in rural areas, newly introduced Janshree Bima Yajna, the provision of Rs 2500 crore funds for launching a nationwide programme of constructing rural roads etc would provide some succour to people living in the villages. The Haryana Chief Minister also hailed the Budget proposal of phasing out unviable public sector undertakings and restructuring those which were potentially viable.
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Latest technology-studded EVM AMBALA March 1 — Hartron, a leading electronic development corporation, has designed and developed an improved version of the Electronic Voting Machine with additional features, including connectivity with computer by using the latest technology without adding to the cost. The improvised EVM is likely to be demonstrated by Hartron before the Election Commission of India soon. According to General Manager of Hartron, Mr N K Jain, Hartron is engaged in a number of activities in various technical fields, including information technology, electronics, opto-electronics, bio-medical instrumentation, quality control infrastructure and human resource development in and around Haryana. “In the recent Assembly elections, Haryana State Electronics Development Corporation trained and deputed 70 technical experts in all the 45 assembly segments in Haryana for checking, testing and imparting training on the operations of EVMs to polling staff and to ensure the smooth functioning of EVMs, to be used in these segments,” Mr Jain said. The improved Electronic Voting Machine developed by Hartron at the Instrument Design Development and Design facility at Ambala cantonment incorporates several new features, including tender votes, interface with PC, mixing, duration of poll, compact rugged cord and less number of components used. The operations of Hartron’s EVMs would be same as of the existing machine except that one ‘tender button’ is provided which is required to be pressed only when the ‘tender’ vote results are to be obtained. If the ballot button is pressed for about 10 seconds, then ‘TE’ will be displayed on the display panel, and after releasing the button, sound ‘beep’ of one second will come. Thereafter the ballot unit would be ready for tender vote. The vote cast will go in separate memory than the normal vote and would be counted separately. During counting, the tendered results can be obtained by pressing tendered button ‘TE’. The candidate-wise tender result will be displayed in a serialised manner. In interface with computer operation of the Hartron EVM, the PC switch is provided on the left-hand side of the control unit. On pressing this button, EVM is ready for communication with the PC. One connector has been provided on the left-hand corner of the backside to connect the unit with PC. In this mode, the results can be read on the monitor of the computer. In computer connectivity with Hartron EVM, there will be two types of data — standard data and special data. For standard data, the display will be number of polls, number of candidates, total number of votes, total number of tendered votes, duration of poll and the votes polled to each candidate sequentially. In special data, the order of votes in the polling booth and the votes cast to specific candidate. This facility is required only in case of tender votes. On mixing of votes, the special feature of the interfacing the EVM with PC is that the mixing of votes can also be done of any number of EVMs to maintain the secrecy of voters and the consolidated results can be obtained in the printed form. The comprehensive results can also be obtained. The information on duration of poll will be displayed on pressing the total button and it will tell the duration of polling conducted in hours and minutes. The first two digits indicate the hours and the last two digits, the minutes. The Hartron EVM utilises nine-wired rugged chord and a nine-pin connector.The nine wired cable is flexible, compact, properly sleeved, rugged and convenient to handle and store and the nine pin connectors are more sturdy, rugged, unbreakable and easy to connect to the unit. By hooking the Hartron Electronic Voting Machine with PC, the results can be stored and can be made available in printed form. During counting, comprehensive results can be obtained of all machines and the counting time will be reduced. In case of discrepancies, the result of the any desired EVM would be rechecked instantaneously. Another additional advantage of the EVM developed by Hartron is that it is Internet-ready for instantaneous transmission of results to the control room. The total information
and results of all machines of each constituency can be
stored in a CD-ROM and the CD-ROM can be sealed instead
of sealing all units. |
Bansi not happy with Budget CHANDIGARH, March 1 — Former Defence Minister, Bansi Lal feels that the allocation for the defence sector is still not enough. “With wars knocking at our doors and a hostile neighbour trying to usurp our territory, the Army needs total modernisation and upgradation of technology. This enhanced allocation would not be enough”, he said. Mr Bansi Lal, who till recently was the Chief Minister of Haryana, also found much fault with the budget. He told TNS: “Price of urea would crush the farmers. It is already not a very profitable occupation. Farmers are under heavy debt and the Centre has imposed another burden without realising the grave dangers. Agriculture sector is showing signs of stagnation. Farmers need debt relief and there should be no cut subsidies”, he said. He said the government had increased surcharge on income tax and thereby burdened the lower and middle classes. “I am against high rate of income tax. And now we have also reduced the interest rate on general provident fund. This would hit the salaried classes hard. There is an attempt to deprive these sections of whatever they have got by way of the Fifth Pay Commission”, he added. Mr Bansi Lal urged the
Centre to reconsider these proposals. He also wanted
higher allocation for agriculture and education and was
against the selling out of the public sector units.”
This is sheer squanderomania and the government could as
well as sell itself to the multinationals and rich Indian
companies”, he added. |
Dutch
envoy
visits industrial township GURGAON, March 1 — Mr PFC Koch, Ambassador of the Netherlands, visited the industrial model township, popularly known as the IMT at Manesar, near here. This township of international standard is being developed by the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) about 17 km from Gurgaon on the national highway linking Delhi with Jaipur. The Ambassador was received at the complex by Dr Harbakhsh Singh, MD, HSIDC. He explained the salient features of the township to Mr Koch. He was informed that the infrastructure at the site was being developed by private agencies of international repute for the first time in Haryana. Mr Koch was taken around this integrated township by senior officers of the HSIDC. He also visited some units which are already in operation at the IMT. The Ambassador said the IMT's proximity to Delhi and Gurgaon would make this township an ideal destination for Dutch investors. He said he would recommend the potential Dutch investors to set up their new industrial projects in Haryana, particularly in the IMT, Manesar, and Bawal because of the standard of infrastructure and the law and order situation in the state. Japanese and Korean
Ambassadors have already visited the site during the past
two months. A multimedia presentation in the IMT was also
made yesterday during a special session of the
Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industries held at
Delhi. |
Forum orders arrest of two
officials SIRSA, March 1 — The District Consumer Forum here ordered the arrest of two Public Health Officers. According to information received today, Mr Vinod Kumar of Arniawali village had complained to the forum on February 3, 99 regarding the non-supply of drinking water by the Public Health Department. He had been paying regularly water bills. The Forum had ordered the department to ensure immediate water supply. The complainant again appealed to the Forum on December 15, 99 on the issue. The SDO, Mr O.P. Mittal, attributed the reason of non-supply to illegal water connections, which the consumer court rejected and directed the department to comply with the earlier orders and personally report in the court on January 31. The court also ordered personal appearance of the officials concerned. The Department ignored
this notice issued Under Section 25 of the court. The
consumer court comprised Chairman S.L. Jangra, members
Mrs Raj Mehta and Mr Tej Bansal directed the S.P. to
arrest the SDO and Xen U/S of the Consumer Protection Act
and produce them in the court on March 10. |
Check population growth:
doctor KAITHAL, March 1 — Dr S.K.S. Marya, noted surgeon and former Principal and Head of the Department of Surgery, Medical College, Rohtak has expressed concern over the increasing population and called for immediate and all-out efforts to check its growth. He has said that persuasive rather than coercive methods should be adopted to achieve the targets of family welfare schemes. He was speaking at a seminar on “no scalpel vasectomy — it’s advantages and techniques” organised by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) here last night. He replied to a number
of queries raised by doctors attending the seminar. Dr
Raj Rani Garg, president of the IMA Kaithal unit,
presided over this function The IMA’s secretary Dr
Ms Surender Kaur Chhatwal, presented vote of thanks. Dewan’s victory procession SONEPAT, Jan 1 — Thousands of people, mostly from the rural areas participated in the victory procession organised by the supporters of Mr Dev Raj Dewan, newly-elected MLA from the Sonepat Assembly constituency here yesterday. The procession was
considered a show of strength of Mr Dewan a large number
of cars, scooters, motorcycles and other vehicles were
part of the procession. The massive procession led to
traffic jams at various crossings. |
Civic
poll:
DCC meeting inconclusive FARIDABAD, March 1 — The District Congress Committee (Urban) yesterday failed to take a decision whether the forthcoming elections to the Faridabad Municipal Corporation would be contested on the party basis or not. Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, President of the Haryana Congress, on Monday authorised the DCC to take a decision on the issue reversing his earlier directive to contest the election on the party basis. Divergent views were expressed at the meeting of the DCC office-bearers yesterday also attended by a representative of defeated candidates in the Lok Sabha elections. Most of the participants wanted the civic poll be fought on the party lines. This was opposed by the defeated candidates on the ground that the rout of the party in the Lok Sabha elections would also have an adverse impact in the civic poll if it was contested on the party lines. Mr B.R. Ojha, President of the DCC, said he would inform Mr Hooda of the views of the partymen and ask him to take a decision.
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Hospitals sans psychiatrists AMBALA, March 1 — The deficiency of psychiatrists in various district-level civil hospitals in Haryana has been causing great difficulties to patients. Only seven such hospitals have the services of psychiatrists, while more than 12 do not. According to a senior psychiatrist, the number of the psychiatry patients has been increasing rapidly, especially in the age group of 17 to 22. Generally, in rural
areas villagers initially prefer to contact tantriks to
get rid of the disease, and only later, when the case
becomes complicated they rush the civil hospital. |
Sadhus
looted AMBALA March 1 — A
group of sadhus at a temple near Shahbad Markanda river
were looted late last night.The sadhus were tied up and
then robbed off a gold ring, Rs 2,600 cash and other
goods. One sadhu of the group managed to escape and he
called the police. In the scuffle, a policeman was
injured and he was referred to Civil Hospital,
Mullana.While one person was nabbed, the rest of the gang
managed to make a get away. |
Class IV staff threaten dharna AMBALA March 1 — The Class IV Employees Union of the Haryana State Animal Husbandry Department will stage a dharna on March 7 to protest against the setting up of a board at Hisar. At a meeting held here, the union members strongly protested the setting of the board and demanded that the government must put a stop to ‘anti-employee’ policies, a release said. The union members
demanded that the board must be disbanded and a Budget
must be granted to improve the conditions at the Hisar
farm, the release stated. |
Principal’s denial on record
fabrication CHANDIGARH, March, 1
— Dr S.R. Madan, Principal of Shri L.N. Hindu
College, Rohtak, today contradicted the news item
published on the February 11 in The Tribune under the
heading “C.J. told to probe record
fabrication”.In a letter Mr Madan claimed that the
Supreme Court had not “at all directed the Chief
Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to probe the
alleged fabrication of the records. It is also wrongly
reported that because of the fabrication of the records,
the appeal of the management was allowed.” |
Blankets
price revised CHANDIGARH, March 1
— The Haryana Government has revised the minimum
cost of blankets being given to its class IV employees.
The minimum rate has been fixed at Rs 162 per blanket
instead of the present rate of Rs 100 per blanket. |
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