 |
| Wednesday,
July 26, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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BJP resolution
slams govt performance Haryana
concessions for traders Halwais,
bakers go on strike Cong
not to impose taxes: MLA
Ex-tehsildar arrested |
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Haryana
postings Residents
go without power for 9 hours More
paid LL.B seats in MDU Surender
Singh lashes out at govt Kanwarias
block road HPCC
supports bandh call Recommendations
of HPSC 20
injured as bus overturns
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BJP
resolution slams govt performance CHANDIGARH, July 25 — The Haryana BJP state executive, which met at Sonepat on July 21 and 22, made some severe observations about the Om Prakash Chautala-led government’s performance. The resolutions adopted in the meeting, which was held to review the situation in the state, are evidently an indication of the deteriorating relation between the INLD and the BJP. While the BJP, an alliance partner of the ruling INLD, counted the government’s stint from last February, when the Assembly elections were held, the saffron party undoubtedly wants to take the steam off from the government claims of its achievements during the one year (from July 24, 1999, when Mr Chautala became the Chief Minister following a split in the Bansi Lal-led HVP). According to the BJP, the crime graph in the state during the five months’ rule by the INLD has gone up alarmingly. Instances of crime against women has also increased. The push in crime rates has created a feeling of insecurity among the people.The resolution suggested the government to supply the police force with modern transport and communication facilities and also inspire the police personnel for fighting against crime. It also urged the government to adopt a humane approach for dealing with the victims of crimes. The BJP state executive also urged the government to improve its performance in the power supply sector. "The unannounced power cuts have been putting the farmers in lot of difficulties", observed the party. It also said that given the condition of southern Haryana, where the water level is going down, a farmer-friendly policy should be adopted for billing the farmers for the electricity dues. The new system of giving priority connection of tubewells to the farmers, who are able to shell out the necessary amounts of Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000, by ignoring the waiting list for tubewells, is a discrimination against the poor farmers, the state executive observed. It said that the same was true for the waiting list of Scheduled Caste farmers and urged the government to start ‘out-of-turn’ after the waiting list for tubewell connection was exhausted. The policy of increasing the load of the tubewells should also be reintroduced, the party observed. On the new education policy, the executive observed that there was a lot of confusion regarding its implementation. It went on to say that the government should first give black-boards to all schools before it supplies them with computers. It said the BJP was against making English a compulsory subject because it had been seen that maximum students in Haryana cannot qualify in examinations because they fail in English. The BJP state executive also opposed the various taxes imposed by the government and urged it to withdraw the Form 38 and 38 A to give relief to traders . It said that the local area development tax would drive away the industrialists resulting in unemployment, while it also urged the government to retain the old pattern of levying house tax. It said the government decision to ask resolution from the municipal committees for the reimposition of octroi was also giving wrong signals to the traders. The BJP state executive also urged the government to hold the elections for the post of chairman of Rohtak and Panipat municipal committees early. It urged the government to restore those municipal committees which were making profits. Meanwhile, sources here said Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, chief of the party’s Haryana unit, was yesterday asked by Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala to accompany him to Kaithal when the two met here in a function organised in connection with electrification of railway line between Ambala and Chandigarh. Mr Kataria, sources said, politely declined the offer. The state government function held at
Kaithal yesterday, it may be mentioned, was not attended by any
representative from the BJP. Sources said the BJP’s Rohtak office
received the invitation letter last Saturday, while the party MLAs
were also informed about it about the same time by the DCs of their
districts. Since the BJP MLAs and party leaders were not in a position
to mobilise their supporters in such a short notice, they decided
against attending the function, sources here said. |
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Haryana
concessions for traders CHANDIGARH, July 25 — The Haryana Government today announced some concessions for traders in the state. The Haryana Cabinet, which met here under the chairman of Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala, decided to exempt the traders from carrying the ST-38 challan in the case of transactions in goods on which no sales tax was being charged. The Cabinet also decided to reduce the rate of tax on tyres, tubes and flaps of motor vehicles, including tractors, to 8 per cent from the earlier rate of 12 per cent to bring it on a par with that in the neighbouring states so as to check the diversion of trade. It was also decided to exempt traders/manufacturers from the necessity of using the C form under Section 8 of the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956, in the case of inter-state sale of metal utensils and kitchenware, including milk cans. The Cabinet also decided to give the facility of lumpsum payment of Rs 1.5 crore as licence fee to the Haryana Tourism Corporation for opening bars in its complexes after obtaining due permission. The licence fee will be payable in four equal quarterly instalments. The Cabinet also decided to remove the anomaly in Rule 8(1) of the Haryana General Sales Tax Rules, 1975, which would now read as: "A retired person, who is appointed a member of the Tribunal, shall get the substantive pay drawn by him at the time of retirement or its equivalent in the revised scale of pay in force at the time of his appointment as a member of the Tribunal as may be decided by the Government less the amount of gross monthly pension." The pension of the Chairman and the members of the Haryana Public Service Commission has also been revised following recommendations made by a committee headed by the Chief Secretary. Now the pension of the Chairman of the HPSC will be Rs 375 per month instead of Rs 300 per month for each completed year of service and that of a member Rs 285 per month instead of Rs 250 per month for each completed year of service. This will bring the pension in uniformity with that provided for by the Union Public Service Commission. Under another decision, the new information technology policy was kept outside the Rules of Business of Government of Haryana, 1977, to ensure speedy implementation of the policy. According to the Rules of Business, the approval of the Finance Department and the Council of Ministers is mandatory for all administrative matters and policy considerations. But under the new IT policy, the government had constituted a high-powered committee headed by the Chief Minister to decide on the package of incentives for prestigious projects having an investment of Rs 30 crore and above with a view to attracting investment. Similarly, a state-level steering committee on IT headed by the Chief Secretary had been constituted to oversee computerisation and the application of information technology in the state. The Finance Secretary is already a member of these two committees. This decision will check procedural delays and duplication in administrative matters. However, it was also decided that in cases related to the creation of posts or those having financial implications, a week’s advance notice or agenda note must be given to the Finance Department. A policy decision was taken regarding the allotment of plots in each new grain market for charitable hospitals. Now such institutions will not have to buy plots at auctions as they would be allotted plots not exceeding 100 sq yd on the payment of the reserve price plus 35 per cent premium. The Cabinet amended the Haryana Dairy Development Group (C) Service Rules to raise the age limit for entry into government service to 40 years. The Cabinet also approved the Haryana Police Department (State Service Group D) Service Rules-2000. The annual administrative reports of the Haryana Technical Education and Cultural Affairs Departments for the year 1997-98 were also reviewed and approved by the Cabinet. As an austerity measure, the Cabinet decided that all luxury cars being used by the Chief Minister himself, his cabinet colleagues, the chairman of public undertakings and some officers would be withdrawn and replaced with Ambassador cars within a week. The Chief Minister said he would be the first to surrender his Mercedes Benz hitherto used by Chief Ministers of Haryana. It was also decided that new
Ambassador cars would be purchased and the necessary arrangements made
from the existing fleet of government cars. Previous Haryana
governments had added 35 new luxury cars to the ministers’ car
section and the Secretariat car pool, including Cielo and Contessa
cars, an official press note said. |
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Halwais,
bakers go on strike KARNAL, July 25 — The Halwai and Bakery Union today observed a strike in protest against the imposition of sales tax. Teastall owners downed their shutters to show their solidarity. Hundreds of halwais and bakers later marched through the streets of the city, demanding withdrawal of the sales tax. They also held a rally where halwai leaders termed the move as "unjust and unkind". Reports of strike by the halwais and bakery unions were also received from Gharaunda, Taraori, Nilokheri, Indri, Asandh, Nissing and other towns of Karnal. KURUKSHETRA: Halwais, confectionary and bakers went on a strike here on Tuesday in support of their demands which include withdrawal of sales tax on sweetmeats and ST. 38 form. The later assembled at the Moti chowk here where they held a rally and raised anti-government slogans. They criticised the government for burdening the public by imposing various taxes. Among those who addressed the rally were Mr Sahab Singh Saini, former MLA, Mr Rattan Lal Bansal, a BJP leader and Mr Gopal Krishan Garg, president, and Mr Vishwa Nath Sikri, vice-president, respectively of the local Halwai Union. YAMUNANAGAR: There was a complete strike in Yamunanagar and Jagadhri in protest against the government for imposing Form No. 38 on small and large business establishments. Thousands of traders, workers and manufacturers took out a procession. The protesters also broke the shutter of UCO Bank on the Yamunanagar-Jagadhri road. Mr Kewal Kharbanda, district president, Beopar Mandal, alleged that the strike was against the government’s anti-people policy. KAITHAL: Halwais,
bakers and dhaba owners observed a strike and organised a procession
here. They were protesting against the imposition of sales tax on
trade by the Haryana Government. |
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Cong
not to impose taxes: MLA YAMUNANAGAR, July 25 — "The Congress will not impose any taxes if it comes to power in Haryana", said Dr J.P. Sharma, local MLA and health minister in the shadow cabinet of Mr bhajan Lal, while talking to mediapersons here yesterday. He said if the Congress came to power, it would abolish all taxes imposed by the present government and octroi would also be introduced in Haryana. he lashed out at the state government for the "deteriorating" law and order situation. Dr Sharma said because of the newly introduced form no 38, business establishments in Yamunanagar and Jagadhari were on strike since the past 12 days. he said he had taken up the law and order issue with the Chief Minister who had assured him that effective steps would be taken in this regard. Dr Sharma said no grant had been
given to MLAs whereas special allocation had been made for panchayats.
He said an inquiry had been ordered against the erring officials of
the Town and Country Planning Department who had demolished a number
of houses in Yamunanagar. |
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Ex-tehsildar
arrested CHANDIGARH, July 25 — The Haryana State Vigilance Bureau today arrested Mr Ajit Singh, former Tehsildar and a close relative of former Chief Minister Bansi Lal, in a corruption case registered against him at the Gurgaon Vigilance Police Station. The case was registered against him under Sections 409, 420 and 120-B, IPC and Section 13(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. A spokesman of the vigilance bureau alleged that he had been arrested for misappropriation of huge government funds of over Rs 32.90 lakh in connivance with other officials of the Revenue Department at Gurgaon by misusing his official position. Mr Ajit Singh would be produced in the court tomorrow. Mr Ajit Singh was also reportedly an accused in three more cases registered against him with the vigilance bureau police station at Gurgaon. He was accused of fraud and using of forged documents to obtain gains for himself and causing loss to the state. While in one case challan had already
been sent to the court, the investigation in the remaining cases had
been completed. |
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Haryana
postings CHANDIGARH, July 25 — The Haryana Government today placed the services of Mr T.V.S.N. Prasad, an IAS officer, at the disposal of the Andhra Pradesh Government on inter-cadre deputation for a period of two years from the date he reports for duty there. The government also ordered the posting of seven HCS officers. Mr Kan Singh, who had been awaiting posting, will be the new Under Secretary, Administrative Reports Department, while Mr A.K. Satija, Manager Personnel, Haryana Warehousing Corporation, will take over as Under Secretary, Forest Department. Mr Krishan Kumar Soneja will be the
new Deputy Director of Industries, Mr Ranbir Singh Bhatia has been
asked to take over as Under Secretary, Transport Department, while Mr
Goverdhan Lal Gupta will be the Under Secretary, Planning Board. Mr
Birbal Prasad, Under Secretary, Industries Department, and Mr Mohinder
Singh, Under Secretary, Local government, will swap places. |
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Computer
courses raise college image FATEHABAD: Manohar Memorial College, Fatehabad, which was started in 1970-71 in the memory of a youth, Manohar Lal Batra, is all set to take shape as one of the best educational institutes in the area. The institution, which was merely a degree college imparting education in arts and commerce faculty till recent years, has started many vocational courses. Mr Khem Raj Batra, a local landlord and philanthropist, donated a sum of Rs 2 lakh to perpetuate the name of his son who had died in an accident. After the college was set up, more people came forward with donations. Starting as an arts college (Commerce faculty was added in 1972), Honours classes in English, Punjabi and Sanskrit were introduced in 1992. Subjects like home science, music (instrumental), geography and military science were introduced in 1995-96. The college, which started with a strength of 205 boys and girls, now has about 1600 students on the rolls. The college boasts of being one of the good affiliated colleges for its attainment in the field of academics, co-curricular and sports activities. Its students have been regularly earning university laurels, particularly in the commerce stream. The college took the first step in the direction of starting vocational courses in 1998-99 when it started a tax procedure and practice course with assistance from the University Grants Commission. In consonance with the latest trends, the college introduced BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications) under the management’s self-financing scheme. The college now plans to start MCA (Master of Computer Applications) and other vocational courses from the next academic session. According to its Principal, Dr A.P. Madan, the college has got an enthusiastic response from local residents. The college had applied for starting A level and O level courses in computers. The college would provide training for these courses to its students along with undergraduate studies. The college is also holding English-speaking classes for students of computer courses. Dr Madan said after the success of computer courses, the college planned to start MBA and MBE courses. Once these courses started the college proposed to start B Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy) course. For starting these courses, the Manohar Memorial Education Society had decided to float another institute on the college premises. Dr Madan revealed that the college was expecting a grant of Rs 45 lakh from the Ministry of Information and Technology, which under its employment generation training scheme for the North-East and SC/ST and OBCs, was distributing grants to educational institutions for O and A level courses, repair and maintenance of consumer electronic equipment and hardware, free reimbursement assistance, equipment and facility assistance. The college has applied for grants and was hopeful of getting them grants. Besides these, the college has met the long-standing demand of the people of the area by starting the science faculty. Science classes would be started up to the plus one level this year. The college has also started the
construction of a women’s hostel. The hostel will initially have a
capacity to house 30 inmates. It has received a grant of Rs 15 lakh
from the UGC for this purpose. |
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Residents
go without power for 9 hours ROHTAK, July 25 — Residents of HUDA Sector,1 Sector 14, some parts of Model Town and a few localities along the Sonepat road had to face hardship yesterday due to the suspension of power supply for nearly nine hours. The power supply to these localities remained suspended from 9 am to 11.30 am and from 7 pm to 1 o’clock at night. The HVPN authorities said the power supply was suspended due to repair work at a sub-station. However, residents
alleged that power supply to these areas often remained suspended in
the name of repair work while the supply to HVPN Officers’ Colony
was never suspended. |
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More
paid LL.B seats in MDU ROHTAK, July 25 — Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) has increased the number of paid seats for LL.B five-year course. In a statement here today, the head of the Law Department said admission to the paid seats would be made on first-come-first-serve basis from July 27 to 31 or till the seats were filled, whichever was earlier. He said in case of a tie, admission would be made on the basis of merit in plus two examination. The eligibility condition was 40 per cent marks in plus two examination for those who had appeared in the entrance test and 45 per cent marks for those who did not appear in the test. The selected
candidates would have to deposit an admission fee of Rs 2,000 in
addition to a development fee of Rs 30,000 on the spot. |
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Surender
Singh lashes out at govt REWARI, July 25 — Mr Surender Singh, a former MP and general secretary of the Haryana Vikas Party, said the increasing disenchantment of the people and the dwindling popular support towards the Chautala government clearly showed that, like the previous governments headed by Mr Devi Lal and his dummies, this government also would not be able to complete its full-term and it might collapse any time. Addressing a press
conference here today, he elaborated his assertion saying that the
alliance of Mr Devi Lal and the BJP got 77 out of 90 assembly seats in
1977 while in 1987 it secured 85 out of 90 seats. But on both the
occasions, the Devi Lal-led government could not complete its tenure.
Worse than this, Mr Devi Lal obtained a majority, but was deprived of
forming his government in 1982. So, apparently there was nothing which
would prevent Chautala-led government from being an exception. He
hastened to add that his own party did not believe in engineering
defections. |
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Kanwarias
block road GURGAON, July 25 — About 100 Kanwarias today blocked the Sohana-Nuh road at Rewasan village in Mewat for about an hour to press for the registration of a case against a woman for deliberately damaging the "kanwar" of one of the pilgrims. A group of Kanwarias, en route to Rajasthan from Hardwar, were passing through Rewasan village when a woman confronted with one of them and sought to personally see the contents in his "kanwar". The pilgrim refused leading to a scuffle and damage of his "kanwar". The group reported the matter to the nearest camp set up for the benefit of the Kanwarias. About 100 Kanwarias gathered at the site of the incident and blocked the road to press for the registration of a case against the woman. A police led by the DSP, Nuh, reached
the spot and defused the crisis. |
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HPCC
supports bandh call CHANDIGARH, July 25 — The Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today said his party supported the cause of the organisations which had given a call for a Haryana bandh for August 9. Mr Hooda, in a statement here, said
the people of Haryana would not tolerate the
"non-governance" of the Chautala government. He said that
traders had given a call for the bandh in protest against the
imposition of Form ST-38. |
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Recommendations
of HPSC CHANDIGARH, July 25 — The Haryana Public Service Commission today recommended persons with the following roll numbers for appointment as Medical Officers, HCMS II, in the Health Department. The commission had conducted interviews for these posts some time ago. General category: 919, 231, 567, 1239, 860, 240, 1439, 1533, 49, 204, 957, 84, 308, 466, 246, 465, 160, 124, 563, 426, 733, 842, 1087, 210, 1577, 230, 95, 1096, 312, 1294, 1359, 81, 166, 753, 1170, 43, 716, 718, 1420, 1671, 376, 688, 175, 789, 1209, 770, 173, 1588, 221, 507, 27, 1706, 306, 1246, 371, 100, 1566, 1104, 594, 726, 1124. Additional category: 2, 249, 849, 742, 263, 1166, 1674, 869, 300, 547, 345, 1557, 771, 1338, 1231, 268, 1260, 1282, 529, 396, 46, 1496, 1390, 720, 75, 722, 1621. ESM/DESM category: 93, 625, 208, 1380, 590, 1311, 1055, 511, 90. Additional category: 968, 1262, 776, 356. BC category: 481, 383, 857, 266, 428, 852, 294, 703, 911. Additional category: 382, 603. PH category: 514 (444 Addl.) SCA category: 1530, 1547, 469, 670, 1549, 762, 488, 259, 989. SC-B category: 845, 667, 651, 1128, 1352, 1204, 1487, 455, 531. Additional category: 763, 437, 1712,
1691. |
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20
injured as bus overturns JIND, July 25 — At least 20 passengers were injured, five of them seriously, when the Punjab Roadways bus in which they were travelling overturned on the Jind-Rohtak road near Jai-Jaiwanti village, about 20 km from here, yesterday. The five seriously injured were admited to the local general hospital while the remaining were discharged from the hospital after treatment. The accident took place when the
driver reportedly lost control over the vehicle. |
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