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| Wednesday, May 24, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Petrol dealers, police on warpath Farmers to jam wheels 26 cr for health programme Chautala wants Centre to raise Fiji issue INLD terrorising
Rori voters : CPM Direction on
filing IT returns INLD man is
Karnal civic body chief |
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Dalal’s charge against Krishan Jakhar Rice mills’ issue
left to Markfed
Board of Directors
2 cr earmarked for voluntary bodies Wheat output
increases in Kaithal Talk on
endangered animal species Special team to arrest Army deserter
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Petrol dealers, police on warpath KARNAL, May 23 — The Haryana Pump Owners Association and the local police are on a confrontation course. The situation has already reached a flashpoint with neither side ready to backtrack from its stand. The association has already announced its intention to go on an indefinite strike throughout the state against the “attitude” of the police and the arrest of association president Ranjit Singh Chauhan and his sons Prakash Vir and Rajvir. If the association goes ahead with its strike call, the public would suffer immensely. Already the association is being supported by the Tanker Operators Association of Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat and others. The tankers association has already stopped lifting petroleum products from the Panipat refinery. So far the impact of the strike is not visible as the petrol pump dealers had a reserve stock for two-days. Both sides are engaged in trading charges and counter-charges. While the police version is that Mr Ranjit Singh and his two sons were arrested on May 19 in a case registered against the three persons on December 25, 1997 under Sections 148/149/452/285/323/324/286/506 at the Sadar police station, Karnal. According to the district police chief, Mr A.S. Ahlawat, the case related to a dispute involving seven acres of land between Mr Ranjit Singh and Mr Ram Kishan of Uchani village. Both parties had clashed on December 25, 1997, while trying to take possession of the disputed land. The police chief stated that Ranjit Singh continued to evade arrest. Meanwhile, Mr A.S. Singhal, an engineer of the national highway, also got a case registered against Mr Ranjit Singh under Section 332/353/186/506 of the IPC which is under trial in the court. The police chief said another case was also pending against Ranjit Singh in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He maintained that keeping in view the difficulties being faced by the public, the police had written to the petroleum authorities to cancel the licence of Ranjit Singh. The police had arrested Ranjit Singh on May 19, but the next day he was released on bail by the court. The police again registered a case against him under the Essential Goods Supply Act, following a complaint made by the DFSC, Karnal. Ranjit Singh and his two sons were rearrested and sent to judicial custody. The association alleges that Ranjit Singh and his two sons were physically tortured by the police and after that Ranjit Singh was admitted to the Civil Hospital. The police alleges that the Ranjit Singh was inciting the petrol pump owners to go on strike for his personal ends. The association alleges that the state police owes crores of rupees to the owners and Ranjit Singh has been raising the issue of payment time and again. This has upset the police. Another allegation of the association is that the police and a section of official of the DFC were keen to extract monthlies from the petrol dealers. The president of the All-India President of the Petroleum Traders Association, Mr Ashok Badhwar, is also scheduled to arrive here to announce future course of action. Later in the evening, the petrol dealers decided to withdraw the call given for the strike following an agreement reached with the police. |
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Farmers to jam wheels GURGAON, May 23 — The Kisan Sangharsh Panchayat Samiti, spearheading an agitation against the
government, today decided in favour of “chakka jam” on the national Gurgaon-Jaipur national highway to press for exemption from recovery of money from the farmers which was given to them in the form of enhanced compensation by the lower court in connection with
acquisition of their land by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). The affected farmers of about 17 villages, falling in Gurgaon sub-division, earlier staged a dharna outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, Mr Apoorva Kumar Singh, in connection with their demand. They expressed annoyance at what they alleged was the Deputy Commissioner’s “adamant” attitude not to meet them. The leaders of the samiti claimed that in retaliation, the farmers “gheraoed” the office of the Deputy Commissioner. But this was rebutted by official circles. The officers further said that the Deputy Commissioner suggested to the agitationists that their delegation could meet him in his office. The samiti took the stand that the district chief must come out of his office and address the farmers. They were not obliged. The lower court had enhanced the compensation to the farmers relating to their land acquired by HUDA for developing sectors. The Punjab and Haryana High Court, however, reduced the compensation money. Before the high court gave its verdict, the farmers were paid enhanced compensation at the intervention of the lower court. Those who availed the enhanced compensation had to furnish sureties. A large number of the beneficiaries had roped in the services of their relative and friends to stand surety for them. According to Mr Raj Nirbhik, leader of the samiti, the cases relate to the land acquired by HUDA for the past about 10 years. The total amount paid in the form of
enhanced compensation was over Rs 400 crore. He said that the farmers had not anticipated the verdict of the high court and had spent the money. A large number of the farmers did not have any source of income and they did not have agriculture land in their name as they had been acquired by HUDA. The samiti has been agitating on the issue for the last one year. Mr Nirbhik alleged that although the leaders of the INLD, including Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, who were then in the Opposition, had supported its demand, were now showing apathy after assuming power. He said that a delegation of the samiti had met Mr Chautala twice after he assumed power, besides the affected farmers meeting him individually on the issue. Now the samiti had decided not to meet him any more. The samiti had served an ultimatum to the government to consider the case sympathetically by June 9, failing which it would go ahead with its call for “chakka jam” on June 10. 26 cr for health programme CHANDIGARH, May 23 — More than Rs 26 crore has been earmarked for the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Programme during the current financial year to provide better health care facilities to women and children in Haryana. Stating this here today, the Minister of State for Health, Dr M.L. Ranga said that under the World Bank aided programme, Rs 72.69 crore had so far been spent. He said that the main concept of RCH was to provide need based services to the beneficiaries. He said that this time special emphasis would be laid on urban slums, tribal population and on adolescents. He said that under the programme, a sum of Rs 10 crore would be spent for repair of district hospitals, community health centres, primary health centres and sub-centres. Dr Ranga said that a sub-project of Rs 6.18 crore had been initiated at Bhiwani under this programme and another sub-project of Rs 7.83 crore had been started at Faridabad. Transport preferal money was also being given to the needy pregnant women for coming to hospitals for delivery. |
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Chautala wants Centre to raise Fiji issue CHANDIGARH, May 23 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today expressed concern over the attempt to topple the Fiji Government and urged the Union Government to mobilise world opinion against it. Talking to newsmen here today Mr Chautala said the Fiji Government led by Mr Mahendra Chaudhry had been democratically elected. His government was being toppled only because Mr Chaudhry had Indian origin and ethnic groups had not liked it. He said he was not speaking for Mr Chaudhry only because the Fiji Prime Minister had roots in Haryana but because it was necessary to protect democratically elected governments. Urging the Union Government to take a firm stand against Fiji coup leaders, Mr Chautala said when a similar attempt was made to topple the Government of Maldives, India had intervened and restored the legally constituted government of that country. He said the Indian Government should hold talks with the other countries to come out in the support of the Chaudhry Government. He also urged the UN Secretary-General to intervene. Mr Chautala, who made his first public appearance after being discharged from the PGI yesterday where he had undergone a minor surgery, was cheerful and at his fighting best. He evaded inconvenient question by being counter-offensive to those who asked such questions. Mr Chautala said the Rori byelection, from where his younger son is contesting on the INLD ticket, would be a referendum on the policies of his government. He said the voters would endorse his government’s decision to remove encroachments from public land, recovery of power bills and possible increase in power rates and all those policies which the Congress criticised. Referring to the apprehension expressed by the Congress that the Rori election would be rigged, Mr Chautala said he had no objection to whatever measures the Election Commission wanted to take in Rori. He said no minister, no INLD MLA or any other party office-bearer would visit the Rori constituency on the polling day. He invited the press to visit Rori on the polling day to see if the election would be fair. He said if the press complained of any irregularity on even a single booth, he would ask his party nominee to seek re-election. Mr Chautala said the government had issued strict action to evict encroachers from about 20,000 acre in the State which were under illegal occupation. He denied the allegation levelled by the RPI MLA, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, that a land mafia was active in the State and enjoyed the patronage of the ruling party. |
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INLD terrorising
Rori voters : CPM ROHTAK, May 23 — The CPM has charged the ruling INLD with resorting to tactics of terror, intimidation and coersion to ensure the victory of its candidate Mr Abhey Singh Chautala from the Rori assembly constituency, the election to which is slated for May 26. The state secretary, Mr Inderjit Singh, said the state secretariat of the party held a meeting here today to discuss the reports of various instances of high-handedness being resorted to by the ruling party to create terror to manipulate the voters in favour of Chief Minister’s son. The party has urged the Chief Election Commission (CEC) to intervene and ensure free and fair elections in the Rori assembly constituency which is a part of Sirsa, the home district of Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala. Mr Inderjit Singh said according to reports available the CEC has so far not made adequate arrangements to ensure impartial election though only two days were left for polling. The state secretariat, by another resolution has strongly condemned the methods being used by the INLD to forcibly control the local bodies in favour of ruling party candidates. The CPM alleged that the administration, the police and anti-social elements have been grossly used by the INLD in favour of its candidate for the posts of chairpersons of block samities, zila parishads and municipal committees. The elections to these posts were being conducted or postponed in gross violation of the democratic spirit of the Panchayati Raj Act, Mr Inderjit Singh alleged. The dissenting members, he said, have not been allowed to cast their votes through a secret ballot despite persistent pleas to that effect. The CPM has described these elections of a total farce. The party said the claims of decentralisation and strengthening of Panchayati Raj institutions by the Chautala government were nothing but a bogus propaganda. The CPM has called upon the people to defend the
grassroots democratic institutions in the long term interests of parliamentary democracy. The state secretariat of the CPM, by still another resolution, has paid tributes to
veteran Marxist leader and freedom fighter Vinay Kumar Chaudhary and Prime Minister of Vietnam Phan Vam Dong who had died recently. |
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Direction on
filing IT returns CHANDIGARH, May 23 — The Haryana Chief Secretary has directed all the officers and officials of State Government and public sector undertakings posted at Chandigarh and Panchkula to file their returns of income tax to the Chief Commissioner, Income Tax, Panchkula. The Central Board of Direct Taxes, New Delhi ,has vested this power with the Chief Commissioner, Income Tax, Panchkula. The Chief Commissioner, Income Tax, Panchkula has further vested this jurisdiction with Joint Commissioner, Income Tax, Deputy Commissioner, Income Tax and Assistant Commissioner, Income Tax and Income Tax Officer, Ward No 3, Panchkula. In cases where the income or loss is above Rs 10 lakh, the jurisdiction with Joint Commissioner, between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 10 lakh with Deputy Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner and up to Rs 2 lakh with Income Tax Officer, Ward No 3, Panchkula. The Drawing and Disbursing Officers of the departments, corporations and cooperative societies have been advised to deposit tax deduction at source (TDS), advance tax, self-assessment tax and regular tax only with the approved banks at Panchkula or any other place in Haryana. The Chief Commissioner has nominated Mr R.K. Gupta, Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Panchkula ,as liaison officer and if any corporation, cooperative society, officer or official requires any information, assistance or guidance, they may contact him at his phone No 585652 or in his office located at room No 23, Aayakar Bhawan, Sector-2, Panchkula. |
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INLD man is
Karnal civic body chief KARNAL, May 23 — The BJP today suffered a humiliating defeat when its nominee, Mr Baldev Chawla, was defeated by the INLD candidate, Mr Gian Singh Chawla, in the election for the Presidentship of the Karnal Municipal Council. Mr Gian Singh Chawla, who enjoyed active support of the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, polled 21 votes as against 11 polled by the BJP candidate. The BJP had claimed that 13 Municipal Councillors were elected on its symbol for the council. It has further claimed the support of four more independent candidates who were supported by the BJP but did not contest on its symbol. But the ultimate polling result indicated that even two of the 13 Councillors who were elected on the BJP symbol, had polled in favour of the INLD candidate. The Haryana Chief Minister was so keen for his INLD candidate that he personally contacted a number of Councillors. According to official sources one vote was rejected. Both Mr I.D. Swami, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and Mr Jai Prakash Gupta, an independent MLA from Karnal, also cast their votes. Mr Gupta’s group enjoys a solid support of six Councillors in the Municipal Council. All of them voted
en block in favour of the INLD candidate. Hailing the victory of the INLD in the Municipal Council election. Mr Gupta said the victory indicated the love of the city people for Mr Om Prakash Chautala and his policies. In the race for Vice-Presidentship, Mr Mukesh of the BJP was elected defeating his nearest rival Mr Yogesh Gupta by three votes. Mr Mukesh polled 18 votes while 15 were polled in favour of Mr Yogesh Gupta. It seems that in the election for Vice-Presidentship, two Councillors either from the INLD group or from the Congress had defected to the BJP. |
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Dalal’s charge against Krishan Jakhar CHANDIGARH, May 23 — When it comes to making corruption charges against the ruling INLD of Haryana, Mr Karan Singh Dalal’s one man party has been much more effective than the larger Opposition formations., The lone Republican Party of India (RPI) MLA from Palwal today hurled yet another allegation of appropriation of land by a person who is related to the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. Mr Chautala, however, when asked by presspersons about the series of allegations made by Mr Dalal, said today that instead of grabbing lands, his government was engaged in freeing government lands from encroachers. “About 20,000 acres of government land in Haryana is under occupation of encroachers, we will get them back and initiate action against the guilty persons”, he said. Mr Dalal also accused one Mr Krishan Jakhar, who, according to Mr Dalal, is “closely related” to Mr Chautala, and who allegedly runs a trust called the Jan Sewa Trust, which has constructed a building in violation of laws and amassed huge amounts for the trust after the INLD came to power. While addressing a press conference here the RPI legislator circulated a written statement alleging that land valued at more then Rs 7.50 crore at Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon (plot no 249-G) was given to the trust by the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) in exchange of land worth only about Rs 20 lakh. While the area of the HSIDC plot was 5000 sq metres, the plot it got in exchange from the trust was about 5000 sq yards only, Mr Dalal claimed in writing. According to Mr Dalal’s statement, the HSIDC had no authority to exchange such undeveloped land with a prime plot without even charging the development expenses. The trust, Mr Dalal’s statement said, had also got other plots (448 to 451) at Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon, where a building was being planned. The building plan was recently sanctioned and the HSIDC allowed construction of double storey basement, which was against the bye-laws and for the first time in the history of the HSIDC, it granted such a permission, the statement alleged. The RPI MLA further alleged that the trust had amassed cash worth crores after the INLD came to power. “ The architects for the construction of the building have been contracted for Rs 4.50 crore”. Mr Dalal told reporters that he was raising three questions and he wanted their answers from the State Government. His first question was why the plots were exchanged. “Next, why permission for double storey basement was given and third, the receipts of the trust must be made public”, Mr Dalal demanded. However, reacting to Mr Dalal’s allegations, a government spokesman told the TNS that it was long standing policy of the HSIDC to exchange plots and even the previous government had done it. In the case in question, the HSIDC got 7,500 sq metre land from the trust (Mr Dalal said the plot was only 5000 sq yards) and also obtained 25 per cent of the price of land towards its development charges, the spokesman said. He also refuted Mr Dalal’s allegation about violation of the building laws by the trust and said that there was nothing in the laws preventing construction of double storey basement. |
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Rice mills’ issue
left to Markfed
Board of Directors CHANDIGARH, May 23 —Political and diplomatic pressure on the Punjab Government has finally made the Minister for Cooperation, Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, to leave the decision of setting up six rice mills to the Board of Directors of Markfed. According to information available here, a high-level meeting taken by the Minister clinched the issue. In other words, Markfed now will be in a position to install the mills as already its Board had approved the decision in this
connection. The machinery for the mills is to be provided by a private company from South Korea. Earlier, because of a controversy regarding the efficiency of the machinery of these mills, Mr Brahmpura had stopped the installation process and ordered an inquiry. The operative part of the inquiry was to find which is the competent authority to decide about the setting up the mills. The inquiry officer reportedly came to the conclusion that the Board of Directors is the competent authority. Mr Brahmpura told all the concerned at the meeting, according to sources, that as the Board of Directors was the competent authority, it should decide whether to go ahead with the setting up of the mills or not. The Korean Government had taken up the issue of stopping of installation of mills with the Punjab Government through the Union Ministry of External Affairs. |
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2 cr earmarked for voluntary bodies CHANDIGARH, May 23 — The Haryana Government has earmarked a sum of Rs 2.47 crore for voluntary organisations working for the welfare of handicapped persons, orphans, destitutes and delinquent and neglected juveniles. Stating this here today, the Minister of State for Social Welfare, Mr Risal Singh, said that cut of the total amount, Rs 1.29 crore would be given to voluntary organisations, who were engaged in welfare of handicapped persons. The remaining money would be provided to voluntary organisations engaged in the welfare of orphans, destitutes and delinquent and neglected
juveniles. |
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Wheat output
increases in Kaithal KAITHAL, May 23 — Kaithal district has attained second position in wheat production after Karnal in Haryana registering an increase of 30 per cent during the current year to 5,50,664 MT as against 4,20,920 MT. This was stated here today by the Deputy Commissioner while addressing a press conference. Different government agencies have procured 5,21,600 MT as against 4,16,713 MT last year, he added. Giving details of the flood preventing measures, the DC said the work to desilt the Kasan and Pundri Drain No. 2 would be completed by June 30. A new inlet channel on the Ghaggar was being constructed. He said a new bye-pass connecting Khanauri road to New Anaj Mandi and another road from Gaushala to Patiala bye-pass would be constructed shortly. |
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Talk on
endangered animal species HISAR, May 23 — Dr Alex Tinson, founder of the Herry’s Endangered Friends (HEF) Foundation of Australia-based in the United Arab Emirates, has said that camel would play a much greater role in the times to come because of global warming, expanding deserts and decreasing water resources. Delivering a lecture on “Worldwide endangered animal species” at the College of Veterinary Sciences of HAU here yesterday he expressed concern over the decline in population of camels the world over. He said there had been a drastic fall in the population of the wild Bedtrian camel — the only true two humped camels in the world. He said toxic mining and hunting were the main causes for this. Dr Tinson, who is an internationally renowned expert on camel embryo transfer technology, said the HEF Foundation was collaborating with India and the UAE in saving the endangered species of horses, tigers and the Arabian
oryx. |
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Special team to arrest Army deserter HISAR, May 23 — The district police has set up a special investigation team to
apprehend Subhash, an Army deserter and notorious criminal who was freed by a mob from police custody after ransacking a police post a few days ago. A press note released by the
police here yesterday the team was headed by the DSP (City), Mr Jagdish
Chander. Other senior members of the team were Mr Sajjan Kumar, Inspector, CIA, and Mr Jagdish
Chander, SHO (City). It also has two Sub-Inspectors, two Assistant Sub-Inspectors and four head constables as members. It said the team would also investigate seven cases pending against the wanted criminal in the Hisar Sadar police station and the Adampur police station. Besides, Subhash, the team was also looking for his accomplice and namesake who is a resident of Devan village, near here. The press note denied that Balsmand village had been converted into a police camp following the attack on the post. |
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