H A R Y A N A

Bhajan Lal forms ‘shadow Cabinet'..
CHANDIGARH, April 25 — The Haryana Congress Legislature Party today formed the “shadow Cabinet” to keep a watch on the performance of the Chautala government, both inside and outside the Vidhan Sabha.

...denies INLD rebels met him

Red light, flag rule violated by vehicle-owners
AMBALA, April 25 — The unauthorised use of red light atop private vehicles by some influential and politically-linked people has not been checked in an effective manner even after repeated efforts of the police and the Administration in the state.

Women empowerment project, a ‘challenge’
CHANDIGARH, April 25 — A women empowerment project, which is slated to be executed in Sonepat, Jind and Bhiwani districts of Haryana, will be a challenging task, says Ms Dheera Khandelwal, Managing Director of Haryana Government’s Women Development Corporation.

Hooda condemns attack on nuns
CHANDIGARH, April 25 — The President of the Haryana Congress, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today criticised the assault on three Christian nuns in Rewari on April 22.

HSSC interviews on April 28
CHANDIGARH, April 25 — The interview for the post of Deputy Forest Ranger will be held by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) in its office on April 28.

Prices of milk products increased
ROHTAK, April 25 — Prices of milk and milk products have gone up in the town and nearby areas.

12 colonies getting impure water
YAMUNANAGAR, April 25 — More than 15,000 residents of various colonies in this district are being forced to drink contaminated water due to the alleged callousness of the Public Health Department.

MDU MA exams from May 1
ROHTAK, April 25 — The annual examinations of the postgraduate class M.A./M.Sc/M.Com of Maharshi Dayanand University will commence from May 1.

Shopkeeper shot dead
JIND, April 25 — Mr Ishwar Singh, a shopkeeper, was shot dead by two unidentified armed persons at Nagura village in the district today.

Bhajan Lal forms ‘shadow Cabinet’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — The Haryana Congress legislature Party (HCLP) today formed the “shadow Cabinet” to keep a watch on the performance of the Chautala government, both inside and outside the Vidhan Sabha.

Announcing the formation of the shadow Cabinet, the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the HCLP, Mr Bhajan Lal, said he would look after the General Administration, CID, Vigilance, Personnel and Training, Administration of Justice and Legislative Business Departments.

Incidentally, these are the departments which are usually kept by the Chief Minister with him in Haryana.

Interestingly, the Haryana Congress President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has been placed at the third position in the shadow Cabinet. He will look after the Agriculture, Marketing and Horticulture Departments.

Rao Inderjit Singh, who has been made number two, will be in charge of Development and Panchayat, Tourism and Sports.

Answering a question Mr Bhajan Lal said Mr Hooda had become the MLA for the first time and hence Rao Inderjit Singh was senior to him.

The “portfolios” of the other MLAs are Capt Ajay Singh (Revenue, Rehabilitation, Consolidation, Town and Country Planning and Urban Development); Mr Lachhman Dass Arora (Local Government and Housing); Mr Mange Ram Gupta (Finance, Planning, Institutional Finance and Programme Implementation); Mr Balbir Pal Shah (Transport, Printing and Stationery).

Mr O.P. Jindal (Industries, Mines and Geology, Labour and Employment); Dr Raghubir Singh Kadian (Cooperation, Non-Conventional Energy Sources); Mr Dharambir (Irrigation and Power and Parliamentary Affairs); Rao Dharam Pal (Forest, Wildlife Preservation, Environment and Public Relations);

Mr Jai Prakash (Home, Jail, Law and Order); Mr Chander Mohan (PWD-B&R and Architecture); Rao Narender Singh (Public Health, Elections, Science and Technology); Mr Sher Singh (Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Service Matters); Mr Zakir Hussain (Food and Supplies, Waqf and Fisheries); Mrs Anita Yadav (Social Welfare, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, Women and Child Development);

Dr J.P. Sharma (Health, Medical Education and Ayurveda); Rao Daan Singh (Education, Cultural Affairs, Archives, Archaeology and Languages); Mr Jitender Singh Malik (Industrial Training, Technical Education) and Mr Shadi Lal Batra (Prohibition, Excise and Taxation).

Mr Bhajan Lal said the shadow Cabinet had been formed after obtaining the approval of the high command.

Interestingly, the Congress shadow Cabinet has 21 members, while the Chautala ministry comprises 11 members.

Bhajan denies INLD rebels met him
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — The Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Mr Bhajan Lal, today denied that any of the dissident MLAs in the INLD had made any contact with him.

Talking to newsmen here Mr Bhajan Lal said though there was discontentment in the ruling party, no MLA from that party had made any contact with him so far. He also said it was too early to make an attempt to topple the Chautala government. The people had already started getting fed up with the government because it had failed to maintain law and order as well as to provide adequate power and water.

Mr Bhajan Lal said he would like to go for the kill when the people would be completely disenchanted with the Chautala government. “If the government is toppled now, Mr Chautala will get the public sympathy”.

The former Cheif Minister said after promising free power to the people the Chautala government was now threatening to recover the electricity arrears as arrears of land revenue. It was Mr Chautala who had instigated the farmers not to pay their electricity bills after the power tariff was revised in 1993. Therefore, it was the moral duty of Mr Chautala to waive off the arrears.

Mr Bhajan Lal said he was in favour of recovery of electricity dues. But the government must write off surcharge and interest. The principal amount should be recovered in instalments.

Red light, flag rule violated by vehicle-owners
From Suman Bhatnagar

AMBALA, April 25 — The unauthorised use of red light atop private vehicles by some influential and politically-linked people has not been checked in an effective manner even after repeated efforts of the police and the Administration in the state.

Meanwhile, a new trend of “posing oneself as VIP” has emerged by putting of party flag on the front side of vehicles, like the ministers and VVIPs having national flag on their vehicles. This seems to be becoming a status symbol for the second and third line leaders of different political parties.

Like fixing of red light on vehicles, there are certain guidelines for the use of party flag on private vehicles. According to directions issued by the transport authorities, a specific size of party flags can be used by party leaders and workers during the Assembly, Lok Sabha and Municipal Council elections. The flag on the flag rod on the front side of the vehicle is allowed only to the state chiefs of the political parties. No other office-bearers of the state units of the heads of the district or local unit are authorised to put the party flag on their vehicles.

According to a highly-placed officer of the Haryana Transport Department stationed at Chandigarh, apart from Governor, the Cabinet and State ministers, Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Chief Secretary, Financial Commissioners & Secretaries, DGPs, IGs (Police), DIGs, judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Lokayukta, Deputy Chairman, Haryana Planning Board, Chairman, Haryana Bureau of Public Enterprises, State Election Commissioner, Chairman, Haryana Public Service Commission, Leader of the Opposition and Vice-Chancellor of the universities are authorised to put national/official flags on their official vehicles.

When contacted on telephone, the Under Secretary, Haryana Transport Department, said the department had some specific guidelines for the use of non-official flags on private vehicles. He said everybody could not put flag of his own vehicle as this creates confusion among road users.

Sources in the department said there are a few IAS and IPS officers in the districts who have been authorised to put official flags on their vehicles. In the district, besides the District and Sessions Judge, the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendents of Police, Commissioner (range), Inspector-General and Deputy Inspector General of Police (range) are authorised to put the official flag on their vehicles.

Besides the ruling party, some leaders of the opposition parties too have put their party flags on their vehicles. The tri-colour Congress flag looks similar to the national flag from a distance. However, the symbols embossed on the duo are totally different. Many a time, the party flag put on the flag rod on the front of the vehicle gives the impression of VVIP to the general public even to the traffic police. An ordinary constable can not dare to check such vehicles, considering they may belong to some political influential person.

A few former MLAs in the state and a former state president of a political party have still been putting red lights and party flags on their vehicles while they are not entitled to these. Interestingly, some lower rank leaders of political parties who do not hold even any post in their party have also put the flag on their vehicles.

Putting brass plate of any designation on the front side of the car in large numbers also creates problems for the traffic police. According to official sources, except the Chairmen of government corporations and boards, no official of private companies or social organisation can put brass plates on their vehicles.

The Inspector-General of Police, Ambala range, Mr Hari Singh Ahlawat, said the district police had already issued the circular mentioning the designation of the officers authorised to fix the red light on their official vehicles. As far as the use of flags is concerned by political parties leaders, no specific guidelines had been circulated.

Women empowerment project, a ‘challenge’
By Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — A women empowerment project, which is slated to be executed in Sonepat, Jind and Bhiwani districts of Haryana, will be a challenging task, says Ms Dheera Khandelwal, Managing Director of Haryana Government’s Women Development Corporation. According to Ms Khandelwal, the World Bank funded project may create ripples in Haryana where patriarchy reigns supreme and any effort towards empowerment of women is considered to be a threat to the prevalent social structure.

The “challenge” was in fact evident in a workshop on gender sensitisation, held at Haryana Nivas here today. The Women Development Corporation plans to hold more such workshops in districts as well as in villages to cerate awareness about issues related to women’s empowerment, Ms Khandelwal said.

The workshop was conducted by Sutra, a non-government organisation, working for women empowerment. Ms C.P. Sujayya, a senior IAS officer from Himachal Pradesh, and Ms Soma Kishore Parthasarathy, who is attached as an adviser on gender issues with various government and non-government organisations, were the resource persons for the workshop.

Later, talking to TNS, Ms Soma Kishore, however, said the audience was receptive. On reactions on the issues of patriarchy, she said the issues thrown up were related to day to day life of the people, and the responses were not unexpected.

Interestingly, when the discussion moved on to the sphere of government and women issues, those, agitated by the earlier discussion, cooled down and participated in the debate in a more dispassionate manner.

“This is just the beginning, in course such workshops and awareness about gender issues is certainly going to increase,” said Mr Subhash Medhapurkar, who is also associated with the Sutra and who was one of the organisers of the workshop.

The inaugural speech at the workshop was delivered by Haryana Chief Secretary R.S. Verma. He said “we must come out of the shackles of patriarchy and accept women as equal partners”. Ms Deepa Jain Singh, Financial Commissioner in the Women and Child Welfare Department, Ms Dheera Khandelwal, as well as personnel from the education and health departments attended the workshop.

Hooda condemns attack on nuns
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — The President of the Haryana Congress, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today criticised the assault on three Christian nuns in Rewari on April 22.

In a statement issued here today, Mr Hooda said the nuns, who were going to attend Easter Mass, were attacked by unidentified scooter-borne youths. Sister Anandi suffered head in juries and was currently admitted to the intensive care unit of Holy Family Hospital in Delhi.

He said the attack on the Christian nuns was a clear proof of the fast deteriorating law and order situation in the state. He said the culprits should be immediately arrested.

HSSC interviews on April 28
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — The interview for the post of Deputy Forest Ranger will be held by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) in its office on April 28.

An official press note quoting the HSSC Secretary, Mr B.R. Chawla, said if any shortlisted candidate was yet to receive the appointment letter, he/she could contact the Secretary on April 27 during office hours alongwith original marksheets and proof of having deposited the requisite fee.

Prices of milk products increased
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, April 25 — Prices of milk and milk products have gone up in the town and nearby areas.

The rates of dairy milk and processed milk of the Haryana Dairy Development Board have been hiked up from Rs 1 to Rs 2 per litre, following shortage in the supply of milk. It is also learnt that while the demand for milk and milk products normally shoots up in summer, the supply dwindles due to low lactation in milch cattle. The half-litre pouch of Vita milk which was available between Rs 5 and Rs 6 is now sold between Rs 5.50 and Rs 6.50.

Similarly the dairies, including the private and commercial ones, have also hiked the prices of milk and milk products between Re 1 to Rs 3 in various parts of the town. The private dairies have been selling milk at a rate between Rs 15 to Rs 22 per litre, depending upon the area and the consumers. As the temperature soars, the price of milk in commercial dairies, which number around 400 in the town, may shoot up to Rs 30 to Rs 35 per litre.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Dairy Development Board has reported that the milk procurement by the various milk plants owned by it has reached up to 4.42 lakh litres per day. The plant at Rohtak has achieved the target of procuring 1.17 lakh litres per day.

12 colonies getting impure water
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, April 25 — More than 15,000 residents of various colonies in this district are being forced to drink contaminated water due to the alleged callousness of the Public Health Department.

According to information, the Kansapur area in this district, comprising about 12 colonies, including Shivpuri, Shivpuri-B, Geeta Colony, Ashok Vihar, Nagar, Rajiv Garden, Moti Bag, Bank Colony Buria Colony, Shiv Dyal Puri and Anand Vihar Colony, is not getting facilities from the Municipal Council, Yamunanagar. There is no provision for drainage in these colonies and these people get water mostly from hand pumps.

As much as 75 per cent of the water of hand pumps is allegedly contaminated and not fit for consumption. The residents are forced to drink this dirty water, resulting they have the stomach problems.

The residents claim that they have apprised the Deputy Commissioner and senior officials of their problem but no action has been taken as yet.

The Public Health Department sanctioned two tubewells for these colonies two years ago and money for these has also been allocated, but the work has not been completed as yet. Even the Haryana Vidyut Parsaran Nigam (HVPN) has already sanctioned the connection, but the work has not started yet.

The people sought the intervention of the Chief Minister, Mr O.P. Chautala, in the matter.

6 members of Momin gang held in UP
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, April 25 — The police has arrested six more members of the Sheikh Bangale criminal gang, popularly known as ‘Momin gang’ after a surprise raid conducted at their hideouts in Dehradun district of UP.

According to informed sources, they were brought here for interrogation and are said to be involved in cases of loot and dacoity in Karnal district.

The police, it may be recalled, had already arrested 17 members of this gang including one Sakreen alias Netaji, who had died in judicial custody. The police had reportedly solved about 200 cases of loot, dacoity, kidnapping and extortion of money after prolonged interrogation of the culprits.

The police has also launched a massive hunt for one Shabbir who is stated to be the ring leader of this gang and police parties have been sent to various places to arrest him.

MDU MA exams from May 1
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, April 25 — The annual examinations of the postgraduate class M.A./M.Sc/M.Com of Maharshi Dayanand University will commence from May 1.

According to a press release, the university has despatched roll number slips to all candidates.

The university has withheld the roll numbers of candidates who obtained inter-university migration certificates.

Shopkeeper shot dead
From Our Correspondent

JIND, April 25 — Mr Ishwar Singh, a shopkeeper, was shot dead by two unidentified armed persons at Nagura village in the district today.

According to a report received here, the two assailants came at the shop of Mr Ishwar Singh on a motorcycle and shot him dead.

They fled on their vehicle after the crime. The cause behind the murder is not yet known. The police has registered a case.