Wednesday,
January 17, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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BJP-INLD discontent reaches flashpoint Encroachments by farm houses to be demolished Army
beefs up security in cantonment Cong men protest power tariff hike Centre has betrayed farmers: Hooda Governor’s advice to dist officers Judge: Dangi’s kin must not
be harassed |
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Shorewala’s pre-arrest bail plea rejected Population panel to streamline medicare Lawyers get 14-day
judicial remand Rural development
top priority: Swamy HVP submits memo to Governor Youth
stabbed to death Rs 9.25
lakh looted, jeep commandeered GRP
constable shot at College girl,
truck driver die in mishaps Panel seeks end to
female foeticide Chautala, Hooda
mourn Prasada’s death Residents block
traffic Boy crushed
to death
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BJP-INLD discontent reaches flashpoint AMBALA, Jan 16 — The simmering discontentment between the state unit of the BJP and the INLD in Haryana seems to have reached a boiling point. BJP state unit President, Mr Ratan Lal Kataria, today made it clear that the party was determined to go ahead with its outreach programme despite Mr Om Prakash Chautala’s critical comments on the resolutions passed at the BJP’s recent Gohana rally. Talking to The Tribune, Mr Kataria said the first trailer of the “big film” would be seen on April 6. “On the “sthapna divas” we are going to organise public meetings all over the state. Our effort will be to cover every village”, he said. Mr Kataria observed that the “big film” would be ready within a year. People would come to know within a year and there was a likelihood of significant changes which entails “dhruvikaran” in the state politics, he added. He said the comments by Mr Chautala could be termed as “reactionary” in nature. “People ask us that the panchayat, which is a constitutional body, is being undermined by the gram samitis. They also ask us of the increase in the power tariff. We have to answer to the people”, he said. The state unit president pointed out that there is still no coordination committee. “We learn about announcements through the media,” he said. He emphasised that the “jan jagran abhiyan” launched by the state unit would continue. “We have already reached out to 1300 villages and our efforts will continue,” he said. |
Encroachments by farm houses to be demolished FARIDABAD, Jan 16 — The authorities of the municipal corporation here have decided to demolish all encroachments and illegal constructions by farmhouse owners in the district. According to sources, the authorities had recently removed encroachments by about 25 farmhouses. A penalty of Rs 35 lakh had been imposed on the violators. The corporation, after a survey, found that nearly 37 farmhouse owners had violated the norms and regulations regarding construction. Some of them had even extended boundary walls beyond the permissible limit. It is reported that the authorities have preferred a plan to take action against 70 more farmhouse owners in the district. Most of these farms are situated on the Pali-Sohna road. The total number of such farmhouses has risen to 107, according to the list prepared by the corporation officials. The move would also help the corporation to strengthen its sources of income. It is reported that in majority of cases, the farmhouse owners had either not got maps of new construction passed from the municipal corporation or had not acquired change of land use from the authorities. |
Army
beefs up security in cantonment AMBALA High security and constant checking in the cantonment area has had a positive impact on the traffic within the cantonment with a significant drop in rash driving by motorists, who do not have a driving licence. At
the nakas set up by the Army at the entry to cantonment area,
motorists are stopped and told “Licence dikhao”. Although the main
purpose of seeking the driving licence is only for the purpose of
identification, Army men have observed that the number of people
driving in the cantonment without driving licences has come down.
Also, overspeeding and driving after having drinks has witnessed a
downward trend. The Army men manning the nakas are maintaining a constant vigil and flagging down vehicles for checking. The nakas are expected to serve the dual purpose of ensuring that entry into the cantonment is monitored, specially with Republic Day round the corner, and in case, anti-national elements do manage to sneak in and strike, the nakas will effectively cut off any getaway. This is crucial keeping in view the incident in the Red Fort where the militants managed to escape after striking within the Army, area in the guarded fort in Delhi. For
the Army men on duty at the nakas, it is a cold vigil. “We have to
be constantly alert and vigilant so that no ‘wrong’ person slips
in. The job during the day is comparatively better. But during the
cold nights, it poses difficulties, specially with fog setting in,”
an Army man said. He explained that thick fog poses a
problem because the possibility of a person disembarking before a
naka, taking a route and again getting back into a vehicle cannot be
ruled out. “We are doing our best,” he added. The
Army man regretted that people sometimes feel “insulted” if asked
for identification. “We are polite but people feel insulted if asked
to prove their identity. They don’t understand the difficult job
which we are doing and the constant danger which we are facing,” he
said. A retired Army officer, who has counter
insurgency experience, said that people should themselves volunteer to
prove their identity. “In CI operations, there is a danger that the
person whom you are asking for identification, may suddenly whip out
of a gun and start firing,” he said. He stated that a
jawan who is on duty at a naka has to be prepared all the time, which
proves to be a major strain. “Those who feel insulted on being asked
for identification should spend a night with Army men at a sensitive
area. Then they will fully comprehend the tension and threat to one’s
life”. |
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Cong men protest power tariff hike JIND, Jan 16 — Hundreds of Congress workers led by Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, former President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, took out a march in the town and held a demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here today to protest against the hike in power tariff. Earlier, Congress workers assembled at the old bus stand here and marched towards the mini-secretariat through the main bazars of the town raising slogans against the Haryana Government. Later, they held a rally at the mini-secretariat. Speaking at the rally, Mr Surjewala alleged that the Chautala government was pursuing anti-people and anti-farmer policies. He said the hike in power tariff would badly hit all sections of society. He said the farmers of the state were already suffering losses due to the distress sale of their crops and now with the power tariff hike their losses would increase, he added. Mr Surjewala said Mr Chautala had promised free power and water to the farmers before the assembly elections. But after coming to power the state government, instead of providing free power and water to the farmers, enhanced power rates, he said. The Congress workers submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the district authorities in this regard. |
Centre has betrayed farmers: Hooda CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — The Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) has reacted to recommendations of the Agriculture Cost and Prices Commission for reducing the minimum support price of wheat by over Rs 60 per quintal. In a statement issued here today, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, HPCC chief, said the NDA government at the Centre had betrayed the interest of the farmers despite their effort to make the country self-sufficient in foodgrains. He said the NDA government’s policy did not auger well for the country particularly at a time when the Indian farmers were going to face global competition. The Central Government had charted a destructive course instead helping the farmers to improve the quality and quantity of their produce. He accused the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, of being silent on the problem of the farmers. Referring to Mr Chautala’s statement that power tariff would be reduced, if theft of power could be stopped, Mr Hooda said the Chief Minister should first stop the officials of the power utilities who were hand in gloves with those who indulged in stealing power. |
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Governor’s advice to dist officers JIND, Jan 16 — Haryana Governor Babu Parmanand exhorted all district officers to perform their duty with devotion and dedication without resorting to the evils of corruption, indiscipline and red tapism. The Governor was addressing the District Officers at DRDA hall, Jind today on his first visit here. He said that all officers should avoid unnecessary delay and expenditure while disposing of various kinds of cases. The Governor asked them to follow the ideals of truth, sincerity, discipline and equality while dealing with the matters of public interests. Babu Parmanand said that the main purpose of holding this meeting was to get comprehensive information regarding different developments and welfare schemes of the state government being implemented in this district. The Governor advised the officers to implement all announcements being made by Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala during his new programme “Sarkar Aapke Dwar”. This will add to the dignity of the state government and the district administration in the public. The Governor also had an inter-action with some officers who were dealing with core sectors such as power, drinking water, social welfare, irrigation, education, health etc. Welcoming the Governor at the meeting the Deputy Commissioner, Mr H.S. Dhankhar highlighted various achievements in agriculture, irrigation, power, DRDA, employment, health, social welfare, poverty allevation programmes etc. The Deputy Commissioner also assured the Governor that all officers of this district would act on Governor’s suggestions, directions and guidelines while disposing of the cases of public interest. They would perform their duty sincerely and honestly to make the administration transparent and effective, he added. |
Judge: Dangi’s
kin must not be harassed ROHTAK, Jan 16 — The Special Judge, Mr Shiva Sharma, today directed the Superintendent, District Jail, to allow family members of Mr Anand Singh Dangi, a former minister presently in judicial custody, to meet him in a dignified manner. The mother, wife, brother, daughter and sons-in-law of Mr Dangi had complained to the judge that the jail authorities were creating obstructions in their meeting with Mr Dangi. They complained that the jail authorities kept them waiting for hours before allowing them to meet him. They alleged that there was no privacy and CID personnel kept standing nearby. The complainants said this was a violation of human rights. Allowing the applicants to meet Mr Dangi today, the judge directed the jail superintendent to arrange a meeting of the applicants with Mr Dangi in privacy as may be permissible. The applicants should not be made to wait unnecessarily and should not harassed. |
Shorewala’s pre-arrest bail plea rejected CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — Mr Justice Amar Dutt of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today rejected the anticipatory bail petition of Mr Charan Dass Shorewala, a former Minister, seeking anticipatory bail in a case under F.I.R. No. 302 dated July 9, 2000, registered against Anil Kumar, son of Mr Shorewala and in F.I.R No. 320 registered on August 1, under Section 13 (1) (D) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and under Section 420. The second F.I.R. was registered during the pendency of his petition under the earlier F.I.R. No. 302, in which he was not named. Mr Shorewala stated that earlier he had been elected as MLA on the Samta Party ticket of which Mr O.P. Chautala was leader. Thereafter, he was expelled from the Samta Party and he joined the party lead by Mr Bansi Lal, in whose Cabinet he was Finance Minister. He submitted that after becoming the Chief Minister, Mr Chautala, sought to victimised the petitioner by registering false cases against him. In F.I. R. No. 302 registered at police station Kaithal it was alleged that the ex-minister’s son had accepted Rs 1.5 lakh from a candidate for getting him recruited as a patwari. But, he was not appointed despite Anil Kumar’s acceptance of the money. In the same F.I.R. Mr Ashok Bishnoi SDM of Kaithal, had inquired into the allegations of corruption in recruitment of 12 class IV employees in the District Treasury containing approval of the Finance Minister. Three more persons were recruited and the recruitment was allegedly made for extraneous considerations. The Judge observed that some allegations of abuse of power had been made when the petitioner was working as Finance Minister. It is necessary both for restoring his political image and of the office he held that an inquiry is allowed to be conducted. When public interest requires that any shadow of doubt is cast upon the integrity of an elected representative, an opportunity should be given for investigation., said the Judge, who added that no restriction could be placed by this court on the right of investigation agency to interrogate the petitioner while in custody. |
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Population panel to streamline medicare PANIPAT, Jan 16 — To streamline medicare in the state, a Population Commission under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala has been set up in Haryana. Nearly 50 members from different sections of society, including voluntary organisations journalists, health organisations, are included in this commission and its first meeting may be held in the first week of February. The Minister of State for Health, Haryana, Dr M.L. Ranga, disclosed to mediapersons here today. He disclosed that the European Commission had adopted 21 districts in India for the improvement of medical facilities and three of these districts Ambala, Karnal and Faridabad were in Haryana. He disclosed that the state government had planned to set up two trauma centres in the state. A sum of Rs two lakh has been sanctioned for Karnal trauma centre, whereas the other centre is likely to be set up near Dharuhera on the Delhi-Jaipur national highway. The government has also pressed into service 15 mobile vans to provide immediate medical aid to the accident victims particularly on the national highways. Each van will be stationed on almost every 30 km distance on the national highways. Dr Ranga said that the health institutions of state government had increased up to 3000 which included 49 civil hospitals, 60 community health centres and 421 Primary Health Centres. The per capita expenditure on health services had gone up to Rs 144 during the regime of Mr Om Prakash Chautala in comparison to Rs 68 to Rs 75 during the periods of earlier governments. He also disclosed that the government had also planned to set up cancer treatment units at Bhiwani, Ambala, Sirsa and Faridabad. Each unit would cost around one crore, he added. Earlier, the Health Minister inaugurated a blood donation camp organised by the District Red Cross Society and Lions Club, Panipat. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said blood bank facilities had already been provided in 17 of the 19 districts of the state. In remaining two other districts Jhajjar and Fatehabad this facility would be provided at the earliest. Stressing the need to create awareness among the ruralites about blood donation, the minister asked the health authorities and voluntary organisations to concentrate on organising blood donation camps in the villages. He pointed out that blood requirements had been increasing and hence more and more volunteers should be motivated to donate blood. He also disclosed that to check migration from rural areas, the government has decided to increase health and education facilities in the villages. |
Lawyers get 14-day
judicial remand FARIDABAD, Jan 16 — Seven lawyers practising in the local courts have been sent to 14 days’ judicial custody by the Chief Judicial Magistrate. They were arrested on charges of ‘misbehaviour’ and using abusive language against one of the judicial officials here. Those arrested have been identified as O.P. Sharma, L.N. Prasher, S.R. Jakhar, R.K. Sharma, Dheeraj, Anil Prasher and Surender. A case has been registered against them under various sections of the IPC on a complaint lodged by a judge. It is alleged that the accused disturbed the functioning of the court by their misbehaviour and used abusive language. One of the accused is the president of one of the Bar associations here. Lawyers
strike work KURUKSHETRA, Jan 16 — Following
suspension of work by lawyers, the work in all the courts here today
remained paralysed. According to the newly-elected District Bar
Association President, Mr Amar Singh, the court work was suspended
today in protest against the arrest of seven advocates, including
President of the District Bar Association, Faridabad.
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Rural development
top priority: Swamy PANIPAT, Jan 16 — Addressing public meetings at six villages in the district, the Union Minister of State for Home, Mr I.D. Swamy, said the Vajpayee government was giving priority to rural development and 60 per cent of the budget for these schemes had been given by the Central Government to state governments. Mr Swamy said funds for rural development schemes announced by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, at “Sarkar Aapke Dwar” programmes were being provided by the Centre. He criticised the Congress for “neglecting” rural development work, alleging that only 16 per cent of the budget had earlier been spent for this purpose. During the visits, he announced grants for various rural development schemes in
Dhansoli, Sanoli, Jhamba, Nawada, Pathargarh and Jalalpur villages. |
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HVP submits memo to Governor BHIWANI, Jan 16 — The Haryana Vikas Party submitted a memorandum against the anti-public policies of the INLD government here yesterday to the Governor through the Deputy Commissioner. Earlier, addressing a meeting at the Mini-Secretariat, the general secretary of the party, Mr Surender Singh, criticised the state government for not fulfilling its election promise of free power and water. On the contrary, it had increased the rates of electricity twice a year. He alleged that agriculture and domestic sectors were being deprived of electricity. He said the villages had to start agitations like road-blocking just to get canal water. The water table had gone down 100 feet due to wrong distribution of canal water in several places. He demanded a CBI inquiry into the procurement of paddy crop by the government agencies and alleged that the farmers received paddy price from Rs 280 to Rs 450 in connivance with the government agencies and middlemen while the government agencies procured the same crop at the rate of Rs 540 per quintal through middlemen. Stating unconstitutional the recently constituted Gram Vikas Samitis by the INLD government he said that these would prove disastrous for brotherhood in villages. |
Youth
stabbed to death PINJORE The body of the 23-year-old Rattpur Colony resident was found near Rampur Seuri village near here today. According to the information available, about five unidentified persons took the youth, Ashok Kumar, out with them on the Monday evening. Ashok, father of three children, did not return home that night. The body, with marks of sharp-edged weapons all over it, was found on the bank of the Ghaggar by the sarpanch of a village today. He, then, informed the police. Sources said Ashok Kumar, used to run a barber’s saloon in the HMT Market here. Sources in the police, suspect the involvement of two youths of the same colony in the crime. However, the police officials were tight-lipped when they were asked about the incident.
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Rs
9.25 lakh looted, jeep commandeered ROHTAK, Jan 16 — Three cases robbery at
gun point have been reported in the neighbouring Jhajjar and Sonepat
districts in the past 24 hours. Nearly Rs 9.25 lakh a Marshal Jeep and
other valuables were looted. According to police sources, Mr Ramesh Jain, an authorised dealer to ‘beeri’ in Bhiwani and its surrounding areas, was going to Jhajjar in his Marshal Jeep (HR14-2203) after collecting the payments from different traders last evening. An unnumbered Maruti car intercepted the vehicle near Jahajgarh Majra village in Jhajjar district and three occupants of the car commandeered the vehicle and robbed the amount at gun point. The robbers drove away in different directions after the incident. In a separate incident, three unidentified youths robbed a liquor shop of Rs 4200 at Kathura village in Gohana subdivision last night. The robbers reportedly arrived at the liquor shop in an unnumbered Maruti car and took away the amount along with a box of liquor bottles. A case in this connection has been registered at Baroda police station. In another incident, two unidentified persons robbed a motorcyclist of his valuables on the Daboda-Dehkaura road in Bahadurgarh subdivision last evening. Jagroop of Dehkaura village said in his complaint that two persons forcibly stopped him and snatched his gold chain, wrist watch and cash and shut him in a room. |
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GRP
constable shot at FARIDABAD, Jan 16 — A constable of the
Government Railway Police (GRP), Haryana, was seriously injured when
he was shot at by a passenger of the Chhatishgarh Express near Palwal
station in the district. The accused has absconded, but the police has rounded up his family in his home town in Madhya Pradesh. The Constable has been admitted to a hospital in a critical condition. According to police sources, the incident took place in the train while it was going towards Faridabad from Agra. It is learnt that Constable Ajit Singh and the accused got in to an altercation over the checking of luggage. The accused reportedly took out a revolver and shot at the Constable. The victim was hit on head. The accused fled after jumping from the train, which was stopped by some passengers. The accused is reportedly a transporter hailing from Durg in Madhya Pradesh. Meanwhile, Pradeep (12) a school boy, ‘died’ after he was hit by a Tata 407 vehicle on the NH-3 locality of Nit area. The boy succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. |
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College girl,
truck driver die in mishaps ROHTAK, Jan 16 — Two persons, including a college-going girl, were killed in different road accidents in the district today. Sunita, a student of B.A.(III) and resident of Guru Nanakpura locality here, was run over and killed by a Haryana Roadways bus at Sukhpura Chowk here. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. In another incident, a truck driver was crushed to death by another truck at Kharawar village. According to police sources, a truck (HR 57-0348) hit a tractor trailer parked on the road due to the fog. Both the drivers alighted from their vehicles and started exchanging hot words. Just then another truck (HR 39-7139), whose driver could not notice them standing on the road, ran over Shailendra, driver of the truck, who died on the spot. The offending driver fled the spot leaving behind the vehicle. The police has registered a case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A of the IPC in this connection and the body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. |
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Panel seeks end to
female foeticide SIRSA, Jan 16 — The Chairman of the Haryana Women Commission, Mrs Sheela Bhayana, said here today that sex discrimination and female foeticide should be stopped. She was speaking at a meeting of the Sirsa Mahila Mandal at the local Panchayat Bhavan. Mrs Bhayana called upon the women to be aware of their rights. Condemning dowry as a social evil she again held men responsible for victimisation of women and stressed women’s role in overcoming this evil. |
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Chautala, Hooda
mourn Prasada’s death CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda have condoled the death of Mr Jitendra Prasada in separate messages. In a message here Mr Chautala said Jitendra Prasada was a seasoned politician who strived hard for the welfare of the weaker sections of the society. He also conveyed his sympathy to the members of his family. Mr Hooda in his message stated that Jitendra Prasada was a gentleman to the core, a veteran politician who was devoted to the Congress. He was a stalwart and the void created by his death could not be filled easily, Mr Hooda said. He conveyed his heart-felt condolences to the family of the deceased. |
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Residents block
traffic KAITHAL, Jan 16 — Residents of Cheeka Mandi blocked the traffic at the Udham Singh chowk for about four hours today and broke window panes of two buses. It was only when the SDM, Mr Rajeev Mehta, and Mr Amir Singh, DSP arrived that the crowd lifted the blockade. The residents were demanding stern action against two eve-teasers, which were in police custody. An assurance was given in this regard by both. Meanwhile, the S.P., Mr A.S. Chawla, said criminal cases might be registered against those who broke the window panes of the buses and blocked the road. |
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Boy crushed
to death REWARI, Jan 16 — Satya Pal, a student of Class 12 was crushed to death while boarding a Narnaul-bound Haryana Roadways Bus at Kund barrier, 23 km from here, yesterday. His foot slipped from the pedestal and he fell down and was crushed to death as the bus started abruptly. The incident infuriated the villagers and other students, who blocked the Rewari-Narnaul road at several places. The blockade was lifted only after Mr Ashok Kumar, DSP, Kosli and Mr R.S. Dhankar, District Revenue Officer, here pacified the irate crowd. |
Pension arrears CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — The Haryana Government has decided to pay the balance of the arrears of revised pension and family pension of pre-1986 and pre-1996 pensioners in January. A notification to this effect was issued today by the Haryana Finance Department. |
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