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| Thursday, December 14, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Tussle in Haryana
Congress Haryana reconsidering agreement with
WB DCs, SPs told to
check canal cuts Cashier held for circulating
fake currency Strike hits soldiers’
morale |
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Notice to Chief Secy,
Rathore in Ruchika case Strikers to beg in
public today 32,000 power thefts
cases detected Punjabi literary contest: date
extended Roads being relaid
for CM’s visit Have third child, lose post Electrification plan
approved Murthal tubewells
without power HUDA draw of lots
for Sonepat sectors ‘Women to blame for their plight’
Ambala cantt Air Force school adjudged best Drug trafficker
gets 10-year RI BJP leader
opposes samitis
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Tussle in Haryana
Congress GURGAON, Dec 13 — The ongoing tussle for leadership in the Haryana unit of the Congress is being keenly followed by the ruling Indian National Lok
Dal (INLD), its main opponent in the state. The BJP, the ally of the INLD, and
the HVP are also anxiously awaiting the outcome of the struggle for supremacy in the Congress. The INLD and the BJP have vested interests in the leadership of the Congress as it is considered to be having clout in the rural belt, the stronghold of the INLD, and in urban areas, claimed to be favoured spots of the BJP. The news emanating from the Haryana unit of the Congress is that a decision on the leadership will be delayed by a couple of days. The incumbent president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), Mr Bhpinder Singh
Hooda, is in the fray for the second term. His opponents led by a former Chief Minster, Mr Bhajan Lal, are opposing his moves. The supporters of Mr Hooda are in an upbeat mood and are sanguine about his getting the nod from the Central leadership of the party for continuing as the president. About 80 per cent of the delegates are considered to be Mr Hooda’s loyalists. So, when the situation would demand a showdown in terms of settling the issue by election, he has an edge. But, the indications are that the party President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, will decide the issue at her own level. The Hooda loyalists say that the trend in the states where leadership issue have been settled show that all those presidents having completed the first term were given a second stint. Only, Bihar is the notable exception where the party had compulsions to make a Muslim candidate the president in view of the politics of the state. The Hooda lobby has come out with statistical details in its favour saying that the Assembly elections fought under him in 1999 increased the tally of the Congress MLAs from nine (in 1996) to 21 MLAs and increased the popular vote from 20 to 34 per
cent. Conversely, the party had lost from more than 60 to 9 MLAs in 1996 assembly elections, a year before he took charge of the party. The detractors of Mr Hooda, however, say that there will be change of leadership in Haryana and the delay in the decision on the issue was indication of things to come. The INLD will obviously like a weak leader of the Congress. The INLD leadership was aware of anti-incumbency factor that generally creeps against any political party in power. If its arch rival’s march is halted, there is good chance for it to return to power again in the next Assembly election. The Congress’ agenda to launch a nation-wide agitation in support of the farmers has set about whisper campaign in the INLD circles. The Congress under the leadership of Mr Hooda has been trying to approach the farmers on various issues, in the past two years. Also, the large attendance in the “Kranti Rally” organised by the Congress under Mr Hooda’s leadership in Jind before the fall of the Bansi Lal government had surprised many. Also, the INLD would not like emergence of the Congress, especially in the background of the BJP blowing hot and cold at it. The BJP was focussing on Haryana, especially on farmers issues. In fact the newly constituted executive of the all-India Kisan Morcha of the BJP has decided to hold its first meeting in Gurgaon district. The BJP was going ahead with its move to win over the farmers in spite of the fact that the INLD leadership was opposed to its (BJP’s) pro-farmers moves. The HVP will also like to see the back of Mr Hooda as he was instrumental in withdrawal of the Congress support to the HVP government headed by Mr Bansi Lal leading to its final fall. The Congress had first supported the government after BJP withdrew support to it. The subsequent Congress’ support had ensured the government to survive on the floor of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. There were reports that a section of the Congress leaders were tacitly supporting the Bansi Lal government when Mr Hooda was working for the party’s withdrawal of support. According to observers, possible removal of Mr Hooda as the Congress chief and consolidation of the anti-Chautala elements in Haryana in favour of Mr Bansi Lal was
apparently on the agenda of the HVP in its efforts to come to the centre stage of the state’s politics. |
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Haryana reconsidering agreement with
WB CHANDIGARH, Dec 13 — The Haryana Government is reconsidering its agreement with the World Bank (WB) regarding the privatisation of the electricity distribution network in the state. Official sources said the issue would be decided after the preparation of the financial restructuring plan of the power sector in the first quarter of the coming year. The financial restructuring plan will take into account the proposed increase in tariff, reduction of line losses and the consequent increase in revenue and other such factors and make a futuristic projection of the financial position of the power sector in Haryana. The sources said that once the restructuring plan was ready, the state government would consider whether the distribution network should be privatised wholly or partially or the idea of inviting private parties for distribution should be given a burial. The sources said that the financial restructuring plan prepared in 1998 had become redundant as the previous government had failed to enhance tariff and fuel surcharge. Procrastination in the sphere of privatisation of the distribution network may put the next
instalment of the $ 600 million WB package to Haryana, for restructuring its power sector, in jeopardy. The state has already received the first instalment of more than Rs 250 crore from the WB and the latter is now insisting that Haryana should go in for the privatisation of the distribution network for obtaining the next instalment (APL 2). Last month a high-powered team from the WB, including officials from Washington, had visited Haryana to take stock of the reform process. State government officials reportedly told the WB team that they were awaiting the completion of the financial restructuring plan following which the process of privatisation of distribution would start. Officials, however, claimed that even if the state government decided against the privatisation of the distribution network, the WB might not discontinue its loan for power sector reforms. “Earlier only 85 per cent of the consumers were paying tariff. Now the figure has increased to 98 per cent. Besides, we have imposed fine of Rs 23 crore from April onward for the theft of electricity and recovered more than 50 per cent of the penalty. We have also collected more than Rs 450 crore as arrears from defaulting consumers”, the officials said, adding that in view of the “good performance” of the power sector companies in Haryana, the WB might continue to support the restructuring
programme. While clarifying that the state government had an “open mind” on the issue of the privatisation of the distribution system, the officials added that even if private parties were not invited for distribution, it would not mean a roll-back of the reform process. “ The Electricity Act proposed by the Union Government also envisages the splitting up of the state electricity boards
(SEBs) into corporations and the Government of India wants all states to follow these guidelines”, the sources said. The privatisation of the distribution network is long overdue in Haryana. Back in 1998, when Mr Bansi Lal was the Chief Minister, the state government had issued advertisements inviting tenders from private parties for the distribution of power. Nine or 10 parties had responded, out of which three were shortlisted by the authorities. However, the process could not take off due to political changes in the state which soon followed. The leadership of the ruling INLD is apparently apprehensive about handing over distribution to private parties fearing that these may insist on a thorough change in the tariff structure and upset its vote bank. While the tariff can only be increased with the approval of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission
(HERC), the distribution companies may convince the HERC to hike the tariff by the citing cost of purchase of power and other factors, an official said. |
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All set for Hooda’s re-election CHANDIGARH, Dec 13 — Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda is all set to become the President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) again in the wake of the party’s decision to choose the HPCC chief through elections. A press note released by the party said election of the President of HPCC would take place tomorrow, at the PCC office at Sector 9 here. The filing of nomination papers will take place between 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., scrutiny would be from 2 to 3 p.m., withdrawal of nomination papers would be from 3 to 4 p.m., and polling, if necessary, would be from 4 p.m., the schedule had been decided by Ms Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder, chairperson of the state Congress Election Authority. The press note urged all PCC delegates to participate in the election. Out of the 150 PCC delegates of Haryana — who comprise the electoral list for PCC President’s post — more than 80 per cent are believed to be Hooda loyalists which has made his re-election a certainty. Mr Bhajan Lal, CLP leader and an arch enemy of Mr Hooda, tried to prop up Mr Birender Singh against Mr Hooda. However, his gameplan did not succeed as the Congress high command decided to hold elections instead of nominating a new chief. Mr Hooda, who was three times MP and defeated INLD stalwart Mr Devi Lal on all three occasions, and now an MLA from the Kiloi constituency, first became the HPCC chief in March 1997 when he was chosen for the post by late Sitaram Kesri, who was President of the Congress at that time. In May 1997, election was held for the HPCC chief’s post and Mr Hooda became the elected president even as he was the only candidate to have filed his papers for the
post. This time too Mr Hooda is expected to be declared elected uncontested, party sources here said. When Mr Chandra Mohan, Mr Bhajan Lal’s son and an MLA from the Kalka constituency, was asked whether they would put up anybody to challenge Mr Hooda, he said that he was not even aware that the schedule for HPCC chief’s election had been announced. |
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Cashier held for circulating
fake currency JIND, Dec 13 — The police arrested Surinder Pal
Arora, an employee of Punjab National Bank, yesterday evening on the charge of circulating fake currency notes of Rs 500 denomination. The police recovered 185 fake currency notes from his residence. Stating this here to mediapersons here today, Mr Rajpal Singh, SP, said following a tip-off, a raid was conducted on the residence of Surinder Arora and recovered 185 fake notes of Rs 500 denomination. He said Surinder was working as a cashier at the Pillukhera branch of Punjab National Bank in this district. During interrogation, Surinder Arora told the police that he had received these notes from Harpreet Sharda, a resident of Ambala cantonment, for circulation. He said he had affixed a slip of PNB Pillukhera branch on the bundle of 100 fake notes to give an impression that the notes were genuine. He had circulated 15 fake notes, out of which he had given 13 to his landlord. The owner of the house has also been arrested. The police has conducted a raid on the residence of Harpreet Sharda in Ambala to know the source of the fake notes. A case under Sections 489-B, 489-C, 420 and 120-B,
IPC, has been registered. |
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Strike hits soldiers’
morale HISAR, Dec 13 — The strike by postal employees has begun to affect the morale of the defence forces stationed at the borders for whom the postal service is the only means of communication with their families. A senior Army officer told The Tribune on condition of anonymity that many of his men despite their training were showing symptoms of depression, having been cut off entirely from their families. “It is natural. They spend months together in remote and often inaccessible areas where letters from their families are the only things they look forward to. The messages from their family members bring them cheer and help keep their morale high”, he said. Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are among the worst affected as these states have large populations of traditionally martial races whose members join the defence forces by thousands every year. Members of the separated families, as they are known in Army parlance, are equally frustrated by the strike. An angry octogenarian former subedar and grandfather of a young Captain posted in Jammu and Kashmir said: “This does not happen in the armed forces but what if the Armymen too go on a strike for a day? Will the postmen then survive to collect their pay packets? Pakistanis will take over their jobs in ‘dak khanas’. I am not against their demands but they have a duty towards the nation too.” A Colonel belonging to the same village and now on annual leave said: “ If the families back home feel so bad about being cut off from their dear ones one can imagine the kind of blow that this strike is to the morale of my men out there in the deserts and killer mountains. Letters from home for us are like life-saving drugs. We can live without food, but not without letters from our families.” Scores of members of separated families have been making the rounds of the head post office here in the hope of finding a sympathetic employee who can forward their letters or sort out the mailbags for them. But in vain. For 10 days now, no mail has been cleared. All post offices have been locked since the strike began. “You civilians do not understand the gravity of the situation since you can always send mail by courier. But show me a courier who will take my letter to my son posted in Siachen area. Only the mailbag can take this letter to my son who still has three months to go before he can come home”, Mr Pritam Singh Brar, hailing from a village near Fatehabad, said as he angrily shoved a letter for his son in the pocket of a striking postal employee at the head post office. Inquiries from the rural areas reveal that the families are now trying to locate their wards’ colleagues who might be on annual leave and scheduled to report on duty shortly. “That’s easier said than done”, said the Colonel who is himself loaded with letters for several Army men hailing from nearby villages. “I can possibly not deliver these. But I don’t have the courage to tell this to desperate family members. So I am keeping all of these. I will see what I can do. For once, I want to be ‘dakia’,’’ he said as he threw a rucksack over his shoulder before leaving the village for somewhere in the northern sector to keep the enemy away. |
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No let-up in postal stir AMBALA, Dec 13 — Leaders of various postal employee’s unions today reiterated that the postal strike would continue till such time their demands were met. Among others, postal employees union leaders Mr Gopal Krishan Dhiman, Mr Raman Sharma, Mr Suresh Mehta, Mr R N Yadav and Mr Manjit Singh, stated that the strike had been a complete success. They said that right now, 170 parcel bags and 300 ordinary bags were yet to be sorted out in the RMS. Meanwhile, Chief Postmaster General, Haryana circle, Mr T R Sharma, said the department had made special arrangements for acceptance of greeting cards on the occasion of Christmas and New Year. These greeting mails would be accepted across the counter of all the head post offices and offices which were functioning in Haryana. These could also be posted in the office letter boxes of the head post offices and other offices which are functioning. Arrangements had been made to sort these out. People should, therefore, be assured of safe custody and delivery of greeting cards, a release said. Mr Sharma said arrangements had also been made to focus on the delivery of local ordinary mails particularly the admit cards, interview cards, appointment letters, invitation cards, legal notices and government mail. Efforts were also being made to obtain the services of NSS/NSC volunteers and also the Resident Welfare Assocations of the respective housing colonies. He requested people to approach their respective head post offices in case they were expecting any important mail. |
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DCs, SPs told to
check canal cuts CHANDIGARH, Dec 13 — The Haryana Governor today instructed all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to curb canal water theft and ensure water at the till ends of canals and distributaries as the state government was committed to provide water to farmers for rabi especially wheat crop. A spokesman of the Haryana Irrigation Department said the SPs had been instructed to depute police parties on every canal passing through their respective areas to patrol canals along with officials of the Canal Department to curb water theft. They also had been instructed to register cases under Section 430 and 379 of the IPC against those found stealing canal water, he added. The spokesman said the authorities of the Canal Department had also been asked to ensure water at the tail ends of all canals or distributaries passing through their areas. He added that the Deputy Commissioners had been asked to conduct “Thikri Pehras” along canals wherever necessary so that the canal water thieves could be nabbed. He said a control room had also been set up at the Haryana Police Complex, Panchkula, to receive reports of cases of canal water thefts from all district headquarters and these reports would be reviewed from time to time by senior officers. Strict action would be taken against those officials who did not abide by these instructions, he added. |
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Notice to Chief Secy,
Rathore in Ruchika case CHANDIGARH, Dec 13 — A Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi and Mr Justice N.K. Sud today issued notice to Haryana’s Chief Secretary, former DGP S.P.S. Rathore and the then SHO, Panchkula (posted there from September 1992 to August 1999) for January 22 to show cause why compensation should not be given to Ashu Girhotra, brother of Ruchika Girhotra, for registering false theft cases against him to harass him. Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill had last week taken a suo motu notice against Rathore and the then SHO for registering six theft cases against Ashu to intimidate and terrorise him so that his sister, Ruchika, may not pursue the molestation case against Rathore. Ashu was acquitted by the trial courts in four cases at the stage of framing charges. Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill, after reading newspaper
reports, had taken suo motu notice and directed the High Court registry to put up the case before a Division Bench after consulting the Chief Justice. The case was fixed before the Division Bench headed by Justice Sodhi who issued notices to the respondents for January 22. Ms Abha Rathore, wife of Rathore, who is an advocate, accepted the notice on behalf of her husband. In another case filed by Rathore against the decision of the Special CBI Judge, Ambala condoning the delay in filing the charge sheet by the CBI in the Ruchika case, Mr Justice Amar Dutt today issued notice to the CBI for December 19 to show cause why condoning of delay granted by the trial court should not be quashed. CBI standing counsel Rajan Gupta accepted the notice but did not guarantee the court whether he would be able to argue the case on January 19 submitting that the CBI may depute someone else from New Delhi to argue the case. The petition on behalf of Rathore was argued by Supreme Court counsel, Mr S.C. Dinesh, besides Rathore’s wife , Abha. |
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Strikers to beg in
public today CHANDIGARH, Dec 13 — Haryana Government employees belonging to the general category and backward classes, whose pen-down strike entered the 28th day of its second phase today, have decided to beg in public tomorrow to express their resentment against the government’s decision of not releasing their salaries on the principle of “no work, no pay”. The employees today again held a rally outside 30-Bays building in Sector 17, which was addressed, among others, by Mr Prithvi Singh Layal, who was earlier arrested by the Haryana police and was later bailed out. Another underground leader, Mr Ishwar Nath Sharma, also addressed the rally and pressed the demand for the implementation of the Supreme Court judgement in the Ajit Singh Janjua case. The leaders alleged that Ms Promilla Sharma, whose fast, they said, entered its 22nd day, was being maltreated in the hospital. They said Ms Raj Kumar, who was also removed to the hospital by the police, was also continuing with her fast. For reasons not explained, a disabled employee, Mr Dalip Singh Yadav, replaced Ms Meenakshi Sharma, who was on fast, today. He is an assistant in the Haryana Secretariat. |
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32,000 power thefts
cases detected CHANDIGARH Dec 13 — The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has detected at least 32,000 cases of power theft during the current financial year and imposed a penalty of Rs 23 crore on the erring consumers. Giving this information here today, a spokesman for the nigam said the number of theft cases detected during the past six months was more than in any single year in the past. He said a campaign to recover defaulting amount was fruitful under which arrears amounting to Rs 460 crore were recovered through persuation. Due to these efforts, the total revenue during November last had increased to about Rs 207 crore which was highest in a month and 28 per cent more as compared to the corresponding month of last year. |
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Punjabi literary contest: date
extended CHANDIGARH, Dec 13 — The Haryana Punjabi Sahitya Akademi today extended from December 15 to December 20 for the conducting a competition in essay-writing and poetry recitation in the Punjabi language among students of degree colleges to promote and encourage Punjabi among students of degree colleges and encourage Punjabi writers in the state. Director of the
Akademi, Major (Retd) A.S. Shergill, said purpose of the competition was to promote creativity among students and prepare them to be the future writers and literary persons of the Punjabi language. Every college could sponsor one student in each competition and the applications, duly certified, should be sent to the Akademi through the Principal of the college by December 15. He added that topics for essay-writing included “Hath Sarjan Haar Ne Taqdeer de”, “Qauman Jiyundian Nall Qurbanian De”, “Olympic Khedaan Ate
Bharat”, “Sadda Aadarsh Haryana”, “Pardooshan ate Aseen” and “Haryana Wich Punjabi Bhasha Da
Sathaan”. The essay should be between 300 to 400 words. The poem and essay should not hurt feelings of any religion or political party. The poem should be read in three to four minutes. He said prizes would be given to the winners. |
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Roads being relaid
for CM’s visit FARIDABAD, Dec 13 — The proposed visit of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to Sector 14 here tomorrow, has come as a “pleasant surprise” to the local residents, in form of improvement of condition of the roads. The district administration is working overtime to get the roads leading to the venue of function relaid or repaired. The Chief Minister will be the chief guest on the inaugural function of the All India Roller Skating Championship to be held on the premises of DAV School in Sector 14. Hundreds of workers and employees have been repairing the roads located in the vicinity of the school. While the roads are being spruced up, the employees of the municipal corporations have been working hard to remove the garbage lying on both sides of the roads in the locality. According to a resident, the visit of the Chief Minister had proved to be a blessing in disguise as the administration would not have repaired the roads. |
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Have third child, lose post FARIDABAD, Dec 13 — The district authorities are contemplating action against all those sarpanches, panches and members of local bodies like zila parishad and panchayat samities, who have more than two children. About 40 such cases have been reportedly identified in the district, of whom, three representatives, including a sarpanch, have been declared ineligible under the provisions of the Panchayati Raj Act. According to official sources, a detailed probe into complaints against 36 sarpanches and panches has been going on. It is reported that several complaints have been lodged in connection with alleged irregularities regarding fulfilment of the required conditions. It is learnt that some of the representatives have used bogus affidavits to save their membership. The sarpanch of Fatehpur Taga village of Faridabad block has been removed after he was found violating the provision. According to provisions of the Act, any person who was father or mother of three or more
children was ineligible to contest election to bodies like village panchayat, panchayat samities, zila parishad and municipal committee or council. Anyone found violating this provision even after his or her election was liable to be disqualified. Several complaints have surfaced in the district about the violation in this regard. It is reported that besides a sarpanch, two panches, one each at Tilpat and Nachauli villages have been disqualified, so far. Enquiry against as many as 36 sarpanches and panches has been on. A show-cause notice has been issued to several panches and sarpanches. About five representatives in Ballabgarh tehsil, 14 sarpanches and panches in Palwal sub division, 11 in Hodal sub division are facing a probe in this connection. One complaint has reportedly been lodged in Hathin subdivision. |
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Electrification plan
approved CHANDIGARH, Dec 13 — The Rural Electrification Corporation of India today approved the projects intensive electrification scheme of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) to release 68,050 domestic and non-domestic connections at a cost of Rs 21.88 crore in its 11 districts during the current financial year and the next year. A spokesman for the nigam said it had also planned to install and replace 11,698 distribution transformers of 25 kva and 63 kva capacity at a cost of Rs 46 crore in Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Ambala, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Panipat, Sonepat, Jind, Rohtak and Jhajjar district under an ambitious scheme approved by the Rural Electrification Corporation during the current financial year and the next year. The REC had also approved the installation of low transmission capacitors on these distribution transformers at an additional cost of Rs 6.76 crore along with the creation of 41 capacitor banks of 11 kv level at 33 kv sub-stations at a cost of Rs 2.23 crore. He added that three 33 kv sub-stations at Biana, Jahajgarh and Kwartan were under construction with the help of REC. Four 33 kv sub-stations would also be set up at Pada, Manujura, Khewra and Kyorak under the system improvement scheme. He said 33 heavily loaded of 11 kv would be bifurcated, trifurcated or augmented at a cost of Rs 19.42 crore. The process of inviting tenders for the completion of these works was already in progress, he
said. |
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HUDA draw of lots
for Sonepat sectors CHANDIGARH, Dec 13 — The Haryana Urban Development Authority will hold draw of lots for Sector 7 and 8 at Sonepat on December 18 in the office of the Estate Office there. A spokesman has said the registration cards had already been sent to the applicants. He added that in case of non-receipt of registration card, the applicants should contact the office of the Estate Officer of HUDA at Sonepat. He said HUDA would also hold the auction of commercial sites on free hold basis in Sector 17 of the Estate Officer of Jagadhari and the district
sub-centre at Yamunanagar on December 15 at the Estate Office of HUDA at
Jagadhari. |
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‘Women to blame for their plight’ FARIDABAD, Dec 13 — In the male-dominated society of today women were themselves responsible for their rise or fall. If the women have the will power they would transform the society to their benefit despite all odds. This was stated by Mrs Sheila Bhayan, Chairperson of the Haryana Mahila Ayog, while addressing a convention of the mahila mandals here today. She said take any social evil like dowry or female infanticide, the role of women was clearly evident and it was wrong to blame the male for all social evils. She termed the social evils like dowry, killing of girl child in foctus and child marriage as a black spot on the faces of women all over the country. She said the women should organise and educate themselves if they wanted to carve out a niche for themselves in the male dominated society. She regretted that though the Central Government had provided a lot of opportunities for women by giving 33 per cent reservation in the Panchayati Raj institution but illiteracy was coming in way of their success. Mrs Bhayan told mediaperson that the National Women Commission and the Haryana Women Commission jointly organised a lok adalat in which over 150 cases pertaining to women were settled through compromise. She said women were free to bring their cases to the commission before moving the court, and the commission would provide full justice to the aggrieved women. Speaking on the occasion Mrs Krishana Poonia, president of the district unit of the INLD, said the fact that the INLD government had set up a commission for women in Haryana was clear manifestation of the interest the government was taking in the welfare of women. |
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Ex-gratia cheques after verification AMBALA, Dec 13 — The ex-gratia cheques for those killed in the Rajpura train accident are to be prepared after the process of verification is complete, Sr Divisional Commercial Manager, Mr Sanjay Goel said here today. Mr Goel also said that the number of grievously injured train passengers now stands at 77 following the death of a injured passenger. |
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Ambala cantt Air Force school adjudged best AMBALA, Dec 13 — Air Force Public School, Ambala Cantt, has been adjudged the best school among Air Force public schools. Talking to newsmen here yesterday, the Senior Education Officer, Sqn Ldr Surinder Singh, said the best school in the Air Force trophy will be given by AOC-in-C, Western Command, Air Marshal Krishna-swamy to Station Commander V. R. Iyer in Delhi. Sqn Ldr Surinder Singh said Air Force Public School, Ambala Cantt, has been adjudged the best school out of 167 schools in the Air Force. “We have fully computerised computer lab with multi-media and Internet facilities. We also have GTO for youngsters who have been called for interview by the Service Selection Board. In essence, we are imparting quality education in this region,” he said. He said the school, right now, has 1500 students. “Air Force Public School has got two ‘feeder’ schools located in Pinto Line and Race Course where education is up to class IV. Then the students come to the main school,” he said. Principal of Air Force Public School, Sqn Ldr (Retd) R. C. Chhabra, said the pay scales of the teachers have been brought at par with the recommendations of the Fifth Pay commission. “The schools in the IAF come under the IAF educational and cultural society, headquartered in Delhi,” he said. Sqn Ldr (Retd) Chhabra said NCC air wing and NCC girls Army wing has also been introduced in the school. “As a matter of fact, our 22 students have gone for a camp to Ladwa,” he said. He pointed out that the school had exempted Poonam, a talented boxer from school charges. “Poonam has already represented Haryana. She has been selected at the national level. Besides making her education free, we have awarded her a scholarship and have issued boxing kit to her. We are bearing her expenditure,” he said. The projects in the pipeline include a 40-member pipe band, a 400 metre athletics track, a teacher’s workshop for the Western Command on December 22-23 and a school auditorium. |
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Drug trafficker
gets 10-year RI BHIWANI, Dec 13 — Additional District and Sessions Judge Shekhar Dhawan has sentenced Rajesh Kumar to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him Rs 1 lakh under the NDPS Act today. The police had arrested Rajesh Kumar of Manohi village under Bahadurgarh police station in Jhajjar district and seized 15 kg of chura post from his possession on October 13 last year. |
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Murthal tubewells
without power SONEPAT, Dec 13 — Most of the villages in Murthal subdivision of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) are facing difficulties for want of power to run tubewells. Panches, sarpanches and members of block samitis and the Zila Parishad told this correspondent here today that the authorities of the UHBVN were indifferent to their complaints. Instead, they were diverting the bulk power quota to certain select industries in a bid to make money. They also alleged that certain officials were in league with the owners of dhabas, restaurants and hotels between Murthal and Ganaur and were encouraging them to steal electricity, especially at night. A high-level inquiry into the scandal should be held to expose the misdeeds of the UHBVN officials, they added. BJP leader
opposes samitis HISAR, Dec 13 — Mr Ram Bilash Sharma, former president of the state unit of the BJP has demanded immediate suspension of the process of the constitution of gram samitis. Addressing mediapersons here yesterday, he said there was no provision of gram samitis in the Panchayati Raj Act. Since there were already panchayats there was no need of constituting gram samitis. |
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Factory worker
stabbed to death PANIPAT, Dec 13 — A factory worker Naushad of Nangal Kheri village was stabbed to death and robbed of cash by four persons in industrial area of Sector 29 here last night. The victim was returning to his house after taking his salary from the factory. According to information, Naushad was stopped by the miscreants and asked to handover the cash. When he resisted their attempt, he was stabbed with knives. They, then, escaped with the money. He succumbed to injuries on his way to the hospital. The incident has agitated the residents who blocked the GT road near HUDA turning here for half an-an-hour. A murder case has been registered in this connection. |
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Two die as truck
hits motor cycle BHIWANI, Dec 13 — Two persons were killed and one was reportedly injured in a road accident here last night. Raj Kumar of Kheri Bura village and Naresh Kumar and Krishan Kumar of Loharwada were travelling on a motor cycle to Charkhi Dadri when a truck hit it. Krishan and Raj Kumar died on the spot while Naresh has been admitted to civil hospital with serious injuries. The police has registered the case. In another incident, Kamal Singh received injuries in a clash near the railway station here today. He was allegedly attacked with a lathi by his neighbour. The police is investigating. |
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