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| Thursday, December 21, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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No abatement in Cong infighting VDCs extra-constitutional:
Cong MLAs becoming computer
savvy CM tells staff to check power
theft Sonia’s ‘disrespect’ to
National Anthem! Speaker booked in land dispute
case |
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BJYM to hold ‘padayatras’ Need to improve scientific instrument
industry Brave soldier cremated Shopkeepers begin indefinite dharna Dangi case hearing on January 5 HVP youth leader dies in mishap 36 students injured
as bus overturns 6.4 quintal of poppy husk seized
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No abatement in Cong infighting CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — If the Congress managers thought that infighting in the Haryana unit would subside after Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s election as the AICC President and subsequently the re-election of Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda as the chief of the state unit, they are in for a big disappointment. The faction led by the former Chief Minister and Leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party, Mr Bhajan Lal, is as belligerent as ever. According to informed sources, the Bhajan Lal faction has virtually decided not to cooperate with Mr Hooda. The faction may even decide to boycott the agitational programme being drawn up by Mr Hooda to revitalise the party. Mr Hooda is believed to have prepared a blueprint of holding demonstrations, first at the district level and then at the block level, followed by a state-level rally to be addressed by Mrs Gandhi. The state-level rally may be held next month or in February, 2001, at Rohtak. Mr Hooda has constituted a 37-member committee, which includes all party MPs and MLAs, besides other senior leaders, to plan a strategy to implement a programme given by Mrs Gandhi to woo the farmers. The first meeting of the committee will be held here on December 26. While Mr Hooda is the chairman of the committee, Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, a former Haryana Congress president, is the convener. The sources say Mr Bhajan Lal today held a meeting with various MLAs and other partymen at his official residence here allotted to him as the Leader of Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha. Among those who attended the meeting were the Deputy Leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav; the president of the Haryana Mahila Congress and MLA from Salhawas, Mrs Anita Yadav; of former Finance Minister and MLA from Jind, Mr Mange Ram Gupta; a former Excise and Taxation Minister and MLA from Sirsa, Mr Lachhman Dass Arora; the MLA from Yamunanagar, Dr J.P. Sharma; and the MLA from Jullana, Mr Sher Singh. Though it is not exactly known who said what, barring Mr Gupta most of the MLAs are believed to have advised Mr Bhajan Lal to wait for a couple of months before taking any precipitate action. The sources say Mr Bhajan Lal,however, was categorical that he would not participate in any of the programmes organised by Mr Hooda, particularly in the districts of Rohtak and Sonepat. A supporter of Mr Bhajan Lal said his leader had taken this decision because for him (Mr Bhajan Lal) it was a case of “once bitten twice shy”. He was referring to a public meeting addressed by a former AICC President, the late Sita Ram Kesri, at Gohana in 1997 where Mr Bhajan Lal was humiliated allegedly by supporters of Mr Hooda. To avoid a repetition of such an incident, the supporter said, it was better if Mr Bhajan Lal avoided attending the programmes organised by Mr Hooda. When contacted, Mr Bhajan Lal refused to say anything about his future plans. He said:”Wait and watch”. However, he ruled out the possibility of his quitting the Congress. Mr Bhajan Lal had staked his prestige on the issue of the re-election of Mr Hooda as the Haryana Congress president. He was dead set against Mr Hooda and had tried his best to convince the party high command that it would be in the interest of the Haryana Congress if a person other than Mr Hooda was asked to lead the party. The sources say when it became clear that the party high command would not ignore Mr Hooda, Mr Bhajan Lal wanted to swap places with his bete noire. He proposed that while Mr Hooda should become the leader of the Congress Legislature Party, he (Mr Bhajan Lal) would become the party president. However, there was no taker for the proposal. Meanwhile, supporters of Mr Hooda will hold a civic reception in his honour at Rohtak tomorrow. |
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VDCs extra-constitutional:
Cong CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — The Congress today said that the village development committees (VDCs), set up by the INLD regime in Haryana, were extra-constitutional bodies and threatened to take the issue to court. Talking to newspersons here, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, chief of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), said there was no statutory provision for the VDCs in the Constitution. Mr Hooda said that the Congress was considering filing a PIL in the high court challenging the Om Prakash Chautala-led government’s decision. “ We will also fight it at the popular level by mobilising public opinion against the VDCs”, he said. The HPCC chief, who was reacting to the state government’s announcement yesterday about the constitution of 97 per cent of the VDCs , said that by entrusting funds to the VDCs, the government would be giving public money to people who were not democratically elected. The move would lead to the weakening of panchayati raj institutions and make panchayats and zila parishads redundant, Mr Hooda said. He added that instead of the decentralisation of power, it would lead to the concentration of power in the hands of the Chief Minister. He alleged that the real motive behind the constitution of the VDCs was to “accommodate” INLD supporters on these committees. The job of the gram sewaks, who would be recruited by the VDCs and get a salary of Rs 2,500 per month, would also be given to INLD supporters, the HPCC president alleged. Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, Deputy Leader of the CLP, who was also present with Mr Hooda, alleged that the INLD regime was indulging in the systematic destruction of institutions. He said the state government had so far not called a single meeting of legislators for the distribution of funds under the decentralised planning schemes. “The Chief Minister is distributing these funds in whatever way he thinks fit”, Captain Yadav said. Also, due to the unavailability of ministers, who were the presidents of the District Grievance Committees, the Deputy Commissioners had started presiding over the meetings of these committees, which was against the norms, he said and cited this as another instance of the weakening of institutions by the INLD regime. The Congress leaders also alleged that a drought-like situation was prevailing in southern districts of the state even as the government was turning a blind eye to the problem. Mr Hooda said that while the farmers of Punjab were offered a package by the Centre to compensate for the distress sale of paddy, no such package could be obtained by the Haryana Government for the state’s farmers, who, too, had sold paddy at below the minimum support price. Mr Hooda also criticised the government move of closing down some cooperative sector undertakings and downsizing of the Employment Department. Even when the government had made a commitment about accommodating the employees affected by the closures in other government departments, it was being done in a very haphazard manner, he alleged. |
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MLAs becoming computer
savvy CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — A training programme for operating computers launched by the Haryana Government for its Ministers and MLAs has turned out to be a great success. Launched two weeks ago, the programme, called the basic computers appreciation course, has been attended by almost everybody who is anybody in the present power structure in the state, including the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, his ministerial colleagues and MLAs belonging both to the ruling as well as the Opposition parties. However, some of the notable absentees so far have been the former Chief Ministers, Mr Bansi Lal and Mr Bhajan Lal. But Mr Chautala has been to the programme more than once. He is said to have insisted on attending the programme along with other ministers and MLAs in the Civil Secretariat instead of availing himself of the training facilities offered to him at his residence. The others who have been attending the programme include Mr Satbir Singh Kadian, Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Mr Sampat Singh, Finance Minister, and Mr Dhir Pal, Minister for Town and Country Planning. The programme, a Haryana first, has already drawn appreciative comments from the Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, and the visiting Speaker of the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha, who feel that similar training should be available to legislators in their states as well. “We think the programme has been a great success”’ said an officer overseeing the conduct of the programme. “We did not expect much response when we began. But the response has been overwhelming....” Mr Sanjeev Kaushal, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Director, Public Relations, Haryana, said that in view of the success of the programme, the government had now asked the “E-Governance Centre” to develop a software module for the Chief Minister which would enable him to keep a tab on developmental programmes in the state. The programme is being conducted at the swank, newly built “E-Governance Centre”, on the ninth floor of the Haryana Civil Secretariat. On three days a week, Ministers and MLAs are trained in four batches beginning at 10 in the morning and ending at 5 in the evening. The programme is designed to train Ministers and MLAs in the use of computers in the day-to-day functioning of the government. This includes the monitoring of the Chief Minister’s announcements, development works and assembly questions. It also trains them in the use of the Internet, sending and receiving e-mail, downloading of files, video conferencing, use of the Internet explorer, website browsing and getting Internet connections. |
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CM tells staff to check power
theft FARIDABAD, Dec 20 — The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has directed officials and employees of the Power Department to check power theft seriously and warned strict action against the staff found indulging in these thefts in the state. Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stones of three new sub-stations here today, Mr Chautala said a nexus between certain officials of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) and industrialists had been
responsible for maximum power thefts in the state which were generally shown as line losses. Mr Chautala said he had got sanctioned permission and help from the Union Power Ministry to start work on at least two major power generation plants at Yamunangar and Hisar. He said the third unit of the Faridabad Gas project was likely to be commissioned very soon. Regarding the recovery of pending bills, he said his government had been able to recover an amount of Rs 500 crore so far through persuasion and cooperation. Mr Chautala said his government was committed to provide adequate power to all sections of consumers in the state and arrangements were being made to get power from all the available sources. The Chief Minister also listened to the complaints of the residents of the NIT Assembly segment at Municipal Corporation auditorium here under the “Sarkar Apke Dwar” programme. Regarding the shortage of teaching staff in the state, he said all vacancies of teachers in government schools will be filled in the next few months and the state government would follow the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding upgradation of schools in the state. He said the required norms would be followed while considering the upgradation request. He said on approval and certification by the District Education Officers (DEO) concerned, the state government would have no objection in upgrading the schools. Regarding the formation of gram vikas samitis (GVS) in the state, the Chief Minister reiterated that it was a process of decentralisation of power which aimed to strengthen the panchayati raj system. |
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Sonia’s ‘disrespect’ to
National Anthem! ROHTAK, Dec 20 — The Haryana Vikas Party supremo and a former Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Bansi Lal, yesterday alleged that the AICC chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, was not aware of the constitutional responsibility to honour the National Anthem. Addressing newspersons here yesterday Mr Bansi Lal said that Mrs Gandhi kept sitting on a “sofa” during the National Anthem while the other dignitaries, including, the President, Mr K.R. Narayanan, were standing at an official function held at the residence of the Naval chief Admiral Sushil Kumar, on December 10. He also showed a photo that appeared in a newspaper. The HVP leader cautioned the Union Government against the “threat” to the local industries on account of entry of Chinese products in the Indian market at much cheaper rates. He warned that China would spoil the economy of the nation if anti-dumping measures were not taken by the government. Describing the charge sheet filed against the senior BJP leaders, Mr L.K. Advani and Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, as unjustified the HVP leader alleged the step was taken under the pressure of the then Prime Minister, Mr Narasimha Rao. Commenting on the setting up of Village
Development Councils he said they were not only spoiling the environment in the villages but also were unconstitutional. He reiterated that the party would contest on its own in the next Assembly election. |
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Speaker booked in land dispute case PANIPAT, Dec 20 (PTI) — The Haryana police has registered a case under various sections of the IPC against 18 persons, including Speaker of state Assembly Satbir Singh Kadian in connection with a land dispute in Madloda village, official sources said. The FIR was registered on the directions of Judicial Magistrate (first class) Gangandeep Kaur on the complaint of Tara Chand who alleged that on the pressure of Mr Kadian around 12 persons harvested forcibly his standing crop early this year. Even though he was in possession of the land for past 35 years. Mr Tara Chand in his “istgasa” (complaint) charged the Madloda police with not entertaining his request for the registration of the case against the persons who forcibly harvested his crop. The magistrate directed the Madloda police to enquire into the complaint, register a case and submit the report in the court tomorrow. The case was registered yesterday under various sections of the IPC relating to unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy and robbery. Mr Kadian could not be contacted at his residence in Chandigarh. Panipat SSP Kuldip Singh was not available for the official version despite repeated attempts while Madloda Station House Officer (SHO) Dalbir Singh told PTI in Chandigarh that the police was investigating the matter. The SSP be contacted for details, he added. Local Deputy Commissioner M.R. Anand neither confirmed the registration of case nor denied it saying it was for the SSP to give the version. Law and order is fully under control, he
added. The court has also issued a contempt notice to Madloda SHO returnable by February 2. |
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BJYM to hold ‘padayatras’ HISAR, Dec 20 — The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, youth wing of the BJP, has expressed its dissatisfaction over the deteriorating law and order situation and paucity of water and power in the state. Addressing mediapersons here today, Mr Subhash Barala, state president of the morcha, said the law and order situation was unsatisfactory. He said crimes like kidnapping and looting were on the increase in Haryana. However, the government was not taking any steps to check crime. He said that there was an acute shortage of water and power and farmers were protesting against the government on these issues in various parts of the state. Mr Ajay Chautala, son of the Chief Minister Mr Om Prakash Chautala, himself had accepted this at the nearby Kanwari village recently. There was great resentment among the public on these issues, he added. Mr Barala said his party had extended support to Chautala government on issue basis and the morcha would raise these issues before the state leadership of the party. He said the morcha had decided to organise padayatras in different parts of the state from January 1 to apprise the public of the achievements of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre. He said these yatras would start from Kalesar (Yamunanagar), Talwara (Sirsa), Kalka (Panchkula), Hodal (Palwal) and Nangal Chaudhari (Mahendergarh) and conclude at Gohana in Sonepat district on January 12. At the conclusion of the yatras, a rally would also be held at Gohana on that day. He claimed the Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, had taken many decisions in favour of farmers and youth of the country in a short span. The Prime Minister’s had doubled the amount of loan under the Prime Minister Employment Scheme and implemented the crop insurance scheme for farmers. |
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Need to improve scientific instrument
industry AMBALA Mr S.K. Wadhawan, general secretary of SIMDA, stressed the need of a an active role to be played by the government agencies mainly the CSIO, Chandigarh, and the IDDC, Ambala, for uplifting the quality standards and to promote production of instrument industry. The association identified various areas for technical assistance, including design and development of optics, dies and moulds and to offer guidance to the industry in adopting advance technologies. The industrialists present in the meeting were of the view that job work facilities, including testing and calibration should be provided and all attention should be paid for the development of latest prototypes for production. The industry also wanted assistance and guidance in material science and for accordance of international quality standards like CE/ISO-9000 for their products. Mr Luxmi Sagar, president of INDOSAW, appreciated the role played by CSIO in the past and highlighted their contribution in the field of technology development. Mr R.C. Jain, MD, Topgem Instrument Engg, urged Dr A.K. Aggarwal, a known scientist in holography, to apprise the Ambala industry about this technology. He said that Ambala industry largely comprised of small and tiny industries and could not afford the heavy cost of technology transfer or sales potential survey. Brave soldier cremated FARIDABAD, Dec 20 — Sepoy Mritunjay Kumar of Rajputana Rifles, who sacrificed his life fighting insurgents in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir recently was cremated with state honours at his native place in the district yesterday. The 19-year-old, Mritunjay was recruited in Army two years ago. He died in a landmine blast, while moving in a column in connection with routine patrol duty. He was bachelor. He was cremated at Gonchi road here. His parents live in Sector-23 here. City Magistrate S.S. Dalal, SDM, Faridabad Jitender Dahiya, SDM Ballabgarh and a large number of residents attended the funeral. |
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Shopkeepers begin indefinite dharna HISAR, Dec 20 — Shopkeepers of Ganesh Market and Red Square Market started an indefinite dharna near the old railway overbridge here today in protest against sale of meat in the markets. Mr Madan Lahoria, president of the Hariom Samaj Kalyan Samiti, Mr Yashveer Goyal and Mr Sushil Jain, municipal councillors, were among those who staged dharna today. In a joint press note, they alleged that many meat shops had opened in the markets. Customers had begun to avoid visiting the markets due to the meat shops. They said in the evenings the meat shops were frequented by drunkards. They also alleged that though the shopkeepers had represented to the authorities many times, they had failed to take any action against he illegal sale of meat. They said the dharna would continue till the closure of the shops. |
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Dangi case hearing on January 5 ROHTAK, Dec 20 (PTI, UNI) — A Special CBI court here today adjourned to January 5 for arguments the bail application filed by former Haryana Minister and Congress leader Anand Singh Dangi, who was arrested for his alleged involvement in a land deal. Special CBI Judge Shiva Sharma adjourned the case on a request of Dangi’s counsel, who sought time to argue on the bail application. He had surrendered in the court on December 4 as per his undertaking given in the Supreme Court on December 1. The state Vigilane Bureau had registered the case against Dangi some time back. The case was adjourned on the request of Dangi’s counsel, who sought time to argue the bail application. |
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HVP youth leader dies in mishap KURUKSHETRA, Dec 20 — The Haryana Vikas Party (Youth Wing) district president, Mr Narinder Chaudhary (26) was killed in a road accident at the local fly-over last night. He was returning home on his motor cycle after canvassing for the local Bar Association elections scheduled to be held on December 22 this month. The work at the Bar Association here remained suspended. The deceased was the only son of his parents and the only brother of his five sisters. |
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36 students injured
as bus overturns KAITHAL, Dec 20 — Nearly 36 students of Ishwar Singh Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Dhand, were injured when the college bus in which they were travelling overturned last evening. According to sources, the bus was on its way to Sakra village when it overturned near Chandlana village. Many farmers working in the nearby fields rushed to the accident site and helped in the rescue operation by pulling out the injured after breaking the window panes. The injured were rushed to government dispensary there. Later the DSP visited them. The police is investigating into the cause of the accident. |
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6.4 quintal of poppy husk seized JIND, Dec 20 — The police has recovered 32 bags containing 6.4 quintal of poppy husk from a truck on the Jind-Narwana road near Uchana yesterday. The police has arrested four persons in this connection. Mr Rajpal Singh, SP, said here today that the police had received information that a large quantity of poppy husk was being taken to Hans Dehar village in a truck via Jind. A police party put up a naka and stopped the truck. Seeing the police, two of them managed to escape. Those arrested have been identified as Rajbir, Narinder, Balbir and Gurmel. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against them. |
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Career guidance week from Jan
8 CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — All vocational guidance units at the Employment Exchanges and University Employment Information and Guidance Bureaux in Haryana will organise a career guidance week from January 8 to January 12 next year to apprise school, college and university students of the guidance facilities available at the Employment Exchange. The students will also be given information to help them plan their careers. |
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Police postings,
transfers CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — The Haryana Government today appointed Mr Paramjit Singh Ahlawat, on appointment to the IPS, Superintendent of Police, Sonepat, vice Mr A.S. Chawla.Mr Subhash Yadav, on appointment to the IPS has been posted as Superintendent of Police, Rohtak, vice Mr P.K. Agrawal. Mr M.S. Ahlawat, SP of Narnaul, and Mr Sat Parkash Ranga, SP of Rewari, will swap places.The posting orders of Mr AS Chawla and Mr PK Agrawal will be issued later. |
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INLD president’s
car burnt KAITHAL, Dec 20 — Some miscreants partially burnt the car of Mr Prem Chand
Jain, president of the urban unit of the INLD, here yesterday. According to a complaint lodged with the police, some burning substance was kept under his Maruti car parked outside his residence. A major tragedy was averted as the fuel tank did not catch fire. The police has registered a case and started investigation. |
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