H A R Y A N A

Shadow Cabinet activates Congress
CHANDIGARH, May 25 — Mr Bhajan Lal’s move to form a Shadow Cabinet to assert his seniority over arch rival and HPCC chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has an unusual fallout. Rather than demoralising the Congress chief, it has resulted in stepped up activity in the HPCC.

Meeting on education policy on May 29
CHANDIGARH, May 25 — The Haryana Government will convene on May 29 a meeting of representatives of the Haryana Private Colleges Teachers’ Union, the Haryana Private Colleges Principals’ Association, the Haryana Government College Teachers’ Association and the Management Association and Teachers’ Union to ascertain their views before finalising its education policy.

Cops protest against court judgement
KAITHAL, May 25 — The atmosphere in the District Courts premises became tense here today when about 100 policemen, many of them in uniforms, raised slogans and protested against a judgement passed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr N.P. Dewet, indicting six policemen, including a DSP, in a criminal case yesterday and sentencing them to five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 13,000.

Bhajan stays away from Rori
GURGAON, May 25 — Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhajan Lal making himself unavailable to campaign for his party nominee in the byelection in the Rori Assembly, scheduled to be held tomorrow, has invited frowns in political circles.

Civic body’s first meeting put off
ROHTAK, May 25 — Erroneous gazette notification issued by the government and deliberate absence of the municipal councillors forced the adjournment of the first meeting of the newly constituted civic body scheduled for today to elect the president and other office-bearers.

Transport Dept collects Rs 42 cr as revenue
CHANDIGARH, May 25 — The Haryana Transport Department today claimed to have collected a revenue of Rs 42.55 crore in the shape of driving licence fee, registration fee, composite fee road tax and other taxes during the last financial year as against Rs 35.72 crore during 1998-99.

• Health campaign from June 1
• Train derailed

Shadow Cabinet activates Congress
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 25 — Mr Bhajan Lal’s move to form a Shadow Cabinet to assert his seniority over arch rival and HPCC chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has an unusual fallout. Rather than demoralising the Congress chief, it has resulted in stepped up activity in the HPCC.

Soon after the formation of Shadow Cabinet, Mr Hooda, who had earlier refused to accept the post of the Shadow Agriculture Minister offered by the CLP leader and former Chief Minister Mr Bhajan Lal, announced three months programmes starting from next June for all the front organisations and the various cells of the party.

Subsequently, a meeting of the DCCs was held here on May 18 and the DCC chiefs were told to organise protest marches and sit-in demonstrations in the district headquarters on various issues, including the alleged deterioration of law and order situation in Haryana and institution of cases against Congress workers. The DCCs were also asked to fully cooperate with the cells and front organisations for the programmes being organised by the latter.

While, how much the Congress party succeeds in swinging the popular mood against the INLD government remains to be seen, these programmes undoubtedly have more to do with the internal rivalry between Mr Hooda and Mr Bhajan Lal. The HPCC chief, his supporters admit, wants to send it across to people as well as to the party’s central leadership that it is the HPCC which is raking up issues against the State Government while Mr Bhajan Lal and his Shadow Cabinet are not doing anything.

“The Shadow Cabinet has been proved to be a non-starter, nor it has the support of all the MLAs who are part of it”, said a Hooda loyalist.

Talking to TNS from Hisar, Mr Bhajan Lal, however, said that the Shadow Cabinet had the blessings of the Congress high command. “Mr Motilal Vora told at a press conference at Sirsa that the Shadow Cabinet had the approval of the high command”, the CLP leader said. Asked about the activities of the Shadow Cabinet, Mr Bhajan Lal said that the Shadow Ministers were submitting reports to him regarding the departments assigned to them.

While INLD camp is not worried about the HPCC’s programmes, its reaction to the Shadow Cabinet has been one of amusement. “The Shadow Cabinet is essentially an attempt by Mr Bhajan Lal to belittle Mr Hooda”, said an INLD leader.

Mr Hooda’s supporters are, however, hopeful that by taking a belligerent approach toward the current regime, they will be able to achieve the double objectives of turning the tide against the INLD and sidelinging of Mr Bhajan Lal who has been allegedly conspicuously silent towards various “misdeeds” of the Chautala-led government.

Meeting on education policy on May 29
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 25 — The Haryana Government will convene on May 29 a meeting of representatives of the Haryana Private Colleges Teachers’ Union, the Haryana Private Colleges Principals’ Association, the Haryana Government College Teachers’ Association and the Management Association and Teachers’ Union to ascertain their views before finalising its education policy.

A spokesman for the Higher Education Department said the proposed meeting would be chaired by the Finance Minister, Mr Sampat Singh, and the Minister of State for Education, Mr Bahadur Singh.

He said the government had decided to review the existing education policy with a view to assigning education a positive interventionist role and to introduce such changes in the policy as would link education with the work and also help in multi-dimensional growth of all sections of society.

Cops protest against court judgement
From Our Correspondent

KAITHAL, May 25 — The atmosphere in the District Courts premises became tense here today when about 100 policemen, many of them in uniforms, raised slogans and protested against a judgement passed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr N.P. Dewet, indicting six policemen, including a DSP, in a criminal case yesterday and sentencing them to five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 13,000.

Mr Justice K.S. Kumaran of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who was on an official visit, was present in the court premises. As the District and Sessions Judge, Mr C.R. Goel, came out to apprise himself of the situation, some policemen allegedly tried to misbehave with him. Mr Shamsher Singh Kundu and Mr Dharamvir Bhola, both lawyers intervened and in the ensuing scuffle Mr Kundu received minor injuries.

The SHO, Mr Dalbir Singh Yadav, who took charge last night, is reported to have intervened and saved the situation from getting aggravated. The protesters left after the incident.

The President of the District Bar Association, Mr Janeshwar Dass, has condemned the incident and termed it as “great indiscipline” on the part of the policemen. The cops sentenced by the court were granted bail by the Additional District and Sessions Judge.

Meanwhile, Mr Justice Kumaran said here the posting of independent District and Sessions Judges at every district headquarters was essential to improve the administrative efficiency and sorting out problems relating to lawyers and litigants at the earliest. He was addressing members of the District Bar Association. He assured the lawyers that he would urge the authorities concerned to expedite the construction work of the judicial complex.

Bhajan stays away from Rori
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, May 25 — Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhajan Lal making himself unavailable to campaign for his party nominee in the byelection in the Rori Assembly, scheduled to be held tomorrow, has invited frowns in political circles.

The talking point in Congress circles is not the result of the election in Rori, but Mr Bhajan Lal’s alleged apathy to campaign for the party’s nominee. If the mood of Congress leaders who returned after the deadline of electioneering ended last evening, was any indication, factionalism in the party is sure to become bitter after the election result.

Already a whispering campaign is underway in a section in the Haryana Congress that the Rori by- election was another instance of “tacit understanding” between Mr Bhajan Lal and Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala. Similar allegations were made against him by his party colleagues when Mr Ajay Singh, son of Mr Chautala had won from the Adampur assembly segment defeating the Congress nominee by over 50,000 votes in the 1998 parliamentary election in Haryana. Mr Ajay Singh was INLD nominee for the Bhiwani Lok Sabha seat, which encompasses the Adampur Assembly segment. Adampur is considered to be the stronghold of Mr Bhajan Lal and his family. In a subsequent byelection in the Adampur assembly, Mr Kuldeep Bishnoi, son of Mr Bhajan Lal, who contested as the Congress nominee reversed the trend, defeating his nearest rival from the INLD camp in the process. Then the allegation was that the INLD had deliberately put up a weak nominee against Mr Bhajan Lal’s son. Many in the Congress had pointed about the development in Adampur to a committee, set up by the All-India Congress Committee (AICC), to probe into the factors relating to the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Haryana.

In Rori, Mr Abhey Singh, younger son of Mr Om Prakash Chautala is in the fray as INLD nominee.

There are several reasons why many in the party are worked up on Mr Bhajan Lal skirting a visit to Rori constituency to join his party leaders in electioneering. Mr Bhajan Lal is a leader of the Congress in the Haryana Assembly. Also, by virtue of the Congress being the second largest block in the House, he is the Leader of the Opposition. Also, Mr Bhajan Lal’s home district is Fatehabad, which is part of the Sirsa parliamentary constituency. Rori also falls in the Sirsa parliamentary constituency. The visit of Mr Bhajan Lal could have given boost to the party’s electioneering.

What has surprised Congress circles is the fact that Mr Bhajan Lal went to Sirsa on May 17 to take part in workers’ meeting. He chose not to go to Rori. The other leaders of the party, however, left for Rori after the meeting to give thrust to the party’s campaign.

According to observers,even the choice of Congress nominee for the Rori election has political subterfuge. The developments seen together gives a dominant impression as if things were manipulated to ensure smooth sailing for Mr Abhey Singh. It is reliably learnt that initially three new faces in electoral politics figured on the panel for the selection of nominee after Mr Ranjit Singh declined to contest. Then the offer was made to a former minister, Mr Jagdish Nehra who also declined. The three faces, who later figured in the panel, were finally ignored in favour of Mahant Baldev Dass, who is also contesting Assembly election for the first time.

It may be recalled that Mr Ranjit Singh, brother of Mr Om Prakash Chautala, was the Congress nominee in the last Assembly election in Haryana. Mr Chautala had contested simultaneously from Narwana and Rori and won from both the places. He later chose to keep the Narwana seat causing vacancy in Rori, leading to the byelection.

Civic body’s first meeting put off
From Jatinder Sharma

ROHTAK, May 25 — Erroneous gazette notification issued by the government and deliberate absence of the municipal councillors forced the adjournment of the first meeting of the newly constituted civic body scheduled for today to elect the president and other office-bearers.

The state government, vide a gazette notification issued on May 13, had nominated the MP from Rohtak, Mr Inder Singh, and the local MLA, Mr Shadi Lal Batra, as members of the newly constituted municipal committee. It, however, failed to nominate the MLAs from Hassangarh and Kiloi assembly constituencies to the municipal committee although parts of the city fall under these assembly segments also.

Confusion also prevailed as to whether the nominated MLAs and the MP have the right to vote in the elections for the post of president and other office-bearers.

As per Section 9(I) of the Municipal Act, the nominated members cannot vote, but the Director, Local Bodies, has in a letter to Deputy Commissioner, Fatehabad (copy endorsed to all DCs in Haryana) said that, according to an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, these nominated members can vote in these elections.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajesh Khullar, told The Tribune that the matter has been referred to the government for directions.

The elections to the 31-member municipal committee were held on April 2 and the newly elected members were administered oath of office on April 25 last month. The government took the maximum permissible time to fix the first meeting of this municipal committee for electing president and other office-bearers.

The newly elected members reportedly boycotted the meeting though 27 of them assembled at the Tilyar Tourist Complex to arrive at a consensus about the new president, Sr vice-president and vice-president. The President, Zila Parishad, Mr Dharampal Singh, a former minister, Mr Subhash Batra, and Mr Munish Grover, mandal president, BJP, were also present at this meeting.

Since the members failed to arrive at a unanimous decision, they reportedly preferred to stay away from the meeting. The Returning Officer, Mr Subhash Katyal, City Magistrate, arrived at the meeting place sharp at 11 a.m. and waited for the members till 11.30 a.m. before adjourning the meeting without fixing any future date.

Transport Dept collects Rs 42 cr as revenue
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 25 — The Haryana Transport Department today claimed to have collected a revenue of Rs 42.55 crore in the shape of driving licence fee, registration fee, composite fee road tax and other taxes during the last financial year as against Rs 35.72 crore during 1998-99.

The Transport Minister, Mr Ashok Kumar, said the enforcement wing of the Transport Department challaned over 65,000 vehicles during the last financial year and recovered a composite fee of Rs 8.80 crore as against challenging 58,509 vehicles and recovering Rs 8.56 crore during the corresponding period in 1998-99. He said the Transport Department contributed a sum of Rs 52.83 crore to the coffers of the State during the last year.

Rori ready for byelection
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 25 — The stage is set for the Rori Assembly byelection, in Sirsa district of Haryana. Nine candidates are in the fray for the election slated for tomorrow.

About 115,000 voters would decide the electorate fate of ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) nominee Abhey Chautala, younger son of Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala, Baldev Dass (Congress), Kalu Ram (BSP) and six Independents.

The authorities have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure peaceful, fair a free polling at all the 170 polling stations set up by the Election Commission for the byelection for which electronic voting machines will be used. The polling will begin at 7 a.m. and continue up to 5 p.m.

The byelection has been caused by the resignation of Mr Om Prakash Chautala from the Rori seat, who kept the Narwana seat. Mr Chautala had won the Rori seat by a margin of more than 22,000 votes during the February poll, defeating his nearest Congress rival and younger brother Ranjit Singh.

Counting of votes will start from the morning of May 29 and the result is expected to be declared by afternoon that day.

HUDA to resort to draw of lots
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 25 — The Haryana Government will henceforth sell plots developed by Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) in high potential zone by way of draw of lots instead of public auction.

The Town and Country Planning Minister, Mr Dhirpal Singh, said earlier HUDA used to sell plots in developed sectors of Faridabad, Gurgaon and Panchkula, falling under the high potential zone, through auction.

He added that the government reversed the policy of the previous regime keeping in view the hardships faced by people. He said more than 1000 plots available in these urban estates would be allotted by draw of lots.

He said it would be easy for the people to have plot through draw of lots on easy instalments. It would also help HUDA generate more funds as the available plots would be sold in one go.

Hooda concerned over Fiji situation
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 25 — The Haryana Congress chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today expressed anxiety over the recent developments in Fiji where 42 per cent population is of Indian origin.

In a statement here Mr Hooda also expressed surprise that a legitimately elected government was overthrown in a coup since the Prime Minister of that country was of Indian origin. Mr Hooda appealed to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to take up the matter urgently with the Commonwealth Secretary General as this was a clear violation of principles of Harare declaration.

12 ring bundhs in Faridabad dist
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, May 25 — Twelve ring bundhs are being repaired at a cost of Rs 8 lakh to prevent floods in the district during the coming rainy season.

The ring bundhs are at Banchari, Malasingh, Sheikhpur, Sunhari ka Nangla, Bhambu, Rajpur, Bagpur, Bholda, Bojtpur, Bhood, Piru ka Nangla and Kheldi.

Stating this, Mr Anand Mohan Sharan, Deputy Commissioner said that all the repair work would be completed by June end.

Sanjeev Jindal is CJM, Jhajjar
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, May 25 — Mr Sanjeev Jindal has been promoted and posted as Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Jhajjar. He was earlier posted at Dabwali in Sirsa district.

Mr Chander Bhan has been appointed Subdivisional Judicial Magistrate at Bahadurgarh and Mrs Poonam Sujeja as Civil Judge (Junior Division) at the Subdivisional Headquarters.

Mrs Madhu Khanna has been transferred from Palwal and posted as Civil Judge (Junior Division) at Rohtak. Mr Sanjay Sudhir has taken over as Sub-Judge (Junior Division) at Meham.

The District and Sessions Judge, Mr R.S. Madan, administered the oath of office to the newly appointed Civil Judge (Junior Division), Mrs Rajni Yadav, here today.

Reward for arrest of criminal
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, May 25 — The local police has announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for the arrest of a criminal Subhash, alias Fauji, who was freed by a mob from the Balsamand police post near here a few days ago after an attack on policemen who had arrested him.

Subhash is wanted in several cases of looting, dacoity and murder. A police spokesman said here that he was suspected to be hiding in the Hisar area. The police had set up a special investigating team on Monday to apprehend him and its accomplices.

Health campaign from June 1
Tribune New Service

CHANDIGARH, May 25 — The Haryana Government today claimed that nearly 60 lakh people between the age of 15 and 49 years were expected to benefit from a fortnight-long state-wide family health awareness campaign to be launched in the State from June 1.

Train derailed
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, May 25 — A train was derailed near here resulting in disruption of traffic on the Yamunanagar-Saharanpur highway for more than four hours.