Bhajan gives Chautala 6 months
‘Haryana bachao’ rally at Bhiwani tomorrow
T.R. Ramachandran
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 2
Sensing widespread resentment against the Indian National Lok Dal government of Mr Om Prakash Chautala in Haryana, senior Congressman and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Mr Bhajan Lal, is emphatic that his party will be in the saddle in the next six months.

As an old war horse, Mr Bhajan Lal, who has held the reigns of leadership in Haryana for a dozen years is eager to send Mr Chautala packing. He begins his campaign against what he describes as the “inept” Chautala regime from Bhiwani on Sunday where he is holding a “Haryana bachao (save Haryana)” rally.

Mr Bhajan Lal said there was no need for him to take Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s permission to hold a rally in Bhiwani. “We have kept her posted about the rally and the pathetic state of affairs in Haryana.” At the same time there are advertisements that Mrs Sonia Gandhi has given him permission for holding the rally in Bhiwani.

He dares his detractors, including Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda or any other leader, to hold a parallel rally. People, he explains, desperately want a change because of the worsening economic situation coupled with the dictatorial attitude of the Chautala administration and the alleged misuse of official machinery for personal gains. Law and order has collapsed creating abject fear among the people, especially women.

Acutely aware of the prevailing political environment and widespread discontent among the legislators in Haryana, Mr Bhajan Lal categorically rules out a mid-term poll as the Chautala government has just completed a year in office.

It was inherent in Mr Bhajan Lal’s observations that legislators of other parties in Haryana are waiting to switch loyalties. In his opinion, these legislators are looking to a “strongman of the state” to take the lead as it were. This is where Mr Bhajan Lal believes he needs to step in.

Clearly, the Leader of the Opposition and former Union Minister is banking on the “aya Ram, gaya Ram” brand of politics which Haryana has unabashedly given to the country. He is not unduly worried about the Congress high command putting a spoke in the wheel when it comes to the leadership stakes.

He said Mr Chautala had not fulfilled any of the promises made to the people like providing free water and electricity. Not one new industry had come up in Haryana in the past one year. Besides, the Chautala government had taken some “unjustified decisions” which had caused untold misery to the people.

Mr Bhajan Lal agrees that the Congress organisation needs to enthuse its rank and file and infuse confidence among the people. He acknowledges that the Congress is in the dumps in both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal where Assembly elections are due in May.

Move to hand over schools opposed
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, March 2
The proposal of the Haryana Government to hand over the functioning of primary and middle schools to gram panchayats and zila parishads, respectively, seems to have caused alarm among the teachers. The teachers of these schools, who are opposed to the proposal, have started uniting to lodge a protest.

While the government is still to come out with a final plan in this connection; which includes details about the limits within local bodies will administer these schools, a majority of teachers have opposed the proposal.

Describing the move as ‘regressive’ members of the Haryana Rajkiya Adyapak Sangh affiliated to the Sarva Karamchari Sangh (SKS) and Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh staged a demonstration outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner here yesterday and today.

They submitted a memorandum to the education authorities through the district officials, saying that such a decision, if implemented, would prove detrimental for the education sector as it would empower the panchayat and local politicians to intervene in school affairs. It would also lead to politicisation of education, teachers pointed out.

They asked the government to seek the views of all those concerned before taking any step. The members of the Rajkiya Adhayapak Sangh and other organisations have launched a signature campaign in this connection.

The proposal of handing over these schools is likely to be implemented from the next academic session (April 1) and senior officials of the Education Department are reportedly busy studying and finalising the scheme. It is learnt that a delegation of the Education Department had visited Madhya Pradesh recently to study the pros and cons of the scheme, which is already being implemented there.

According to Mr S.C. Kathuria, president of the district unit of the Adhyapak Sangh (HKM), the sangh has decided to hold a state-level rally in this regard at Chandigarh or any centrally located name in the last week of March. He claimed that teachers hailing from other organisations had also contacted him in this connection. There are about 3500 primary and over 1000 middle school teachers in this district.

The sangh leaders claimed that the move to hand over the primary and middle schools to panchayats was only a ‘stunt’ to appease political workers. It asked the government to settle various issues and demands concerning teachers on a priority basis. The demands include regularisation of the services of ad hoc teachers, removal of anomalies in Fifth Pay Commission structure, promotions, allowances and avoiding non-teaching work (assignment) to teachers. 

Teachers’ panel opposes report
Our Correspondent

Hisar, March 2
The Guru Jambheshwar University Teachers Association has opposed the Ambani-Birla report on a policy framework for reforms in education submitted to the Prime Minister’s Council on Trade and Industry.

Dr Narsi Ram Bishnoi, president of the association said here today that Mr Mukesh Ambani and Mr Kumarmanglam Birla, noted industrialists, had in the report suggested that higher education should be opened to private financing while primary and secondary education should continue with the government.

Terming the report as a “charter of plunder of the education system in India,” Dr Bishnoi said it was unfortunate that the Centre had quietly begun implementing the report without any debate in Parliament or public.

He said the implementation of the report would close the doors of higher education to students from economically weaker sections and for meritorious students too. The report clearly encouraged privatisation of higher education and placed the burden of primary and secondary education on the government. He said privatisation had encouraged commercialisation of education with teaching shops flourishing all over the country without qualified teachers or proper infrastructure.

Dr Bishnoi said this was a gameplan of a handful rich persons to deprive the common India student of higher education. Mr Ambani and Mr Birla had made no secret of their intentions when they Wrote in their report that private universities should handle only money-making disciplines and the rest could be handled by the government, he pointed out.

He said the Ambanis had already set up an institution at Gandhi Nagar and were planning to establish another at Jamnagar in Gujarat while other subjects like philosophy, sociology, Sanskrit, Punjabi and Hindi, which were not popular or not in demand, were left for the state government to manage.

Dr Bishnoi said education should meet societal requirements but at the moment the education system was directed at meeting the market needs. The entire process of generation of ideas, logic and reason would be enslaved to the market. The market could not be the determining factor for higher education as it catered to a variety of social needs.

He appealed to students, parents and teachers to oppose the report.

Dangi’s bail plea rejected
Jatinder Sharma

Rohtak, March 2
The Additional Sessions Judge, Bhiwani, Mr Raj Kumar Tiwatia today rejected the bail application of former Revenue Minister Anand Singh Dangi, who is facing the charge of misuse of official position while allotting land to displaced persons on the basis of bogus power of attorneys.

The contention of counsel for Mr Dangi was that the allotment was made by quasi judicial authorities under the Displaced Persons (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Act, 1954. All orders were appealable and revisable, the counsel argued. It was claimed that after the present government came to power, Mr Dangi was booked in false cases on account of political rivalry and enmity with the present Chief Minister.

Mr Tiwatia in his order said that it was not disputed that the anticipatory bail application of Mr Dangi had already been declined by the High Court and the Supreme Court and that the present bail application had been filed on similar allegations.

The Additional Sessions Judge further ordered that in view of the directions of the Supreme Court, it was clear that the investigating officer would only interrogate Mr Dangi in prison where he has been lodged.

The apex court had on February 19 ordered that “for completing the evidence as early as possible, it would be open to the investigating officer to interrogate Mr Dangi in prison itself, where he is lodged”.

As such, Mr Tewatia said, the request of the investigating officer to interrogate Mr Dangi at the place of his choice could not be allowed as the petitioner was already in custody. Under the present FIR also, the investigating officer could investigate Mr Dangi in Rohtak jail only, the order said. Mr Dangi had moved the Supreme Court through a special leave petition (SLP) praying that the three FIRs registered against him be transferred to an independent agency like the CBI. He had also prayed that the respondent state be directed to carry out any interrogation in connection with the FIRs registered at Ambala, Hisar and Ambala City in the district jail, Rohtak. Passing orders on the SLP, the Supreme Court ordered on February 16 that “the Judicial Magistrate concerned is directed not to grant police custody of the petitioner in respect of FIR or FIRs of alleged misappropriation or misuse of powers, till further orders”.

Chiranji Lal deputed to resolve tussle
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 2
The All-India Congress Committee (AICC) has taken serious note of the ongoing tussle between the President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and a former Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal, and reportedly deputed Mr Chiranji Lal Sharma, a former MP and a veteran Congress leader of Haryana, to intervene and solve the issue for ever.

According to the party sources, on the directive of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, AICC chief, a former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Motilal Vora, and a former General Secretary of the AICC, Mr Oscar Fernandes, called on Mr Sharma and asked him to make concerted efforts to end the stalemate. Mr Sharma, it is stated, has agreed to start negotiations between Mr Hooda and Mr Bhajan Lal in a bid to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, Mr Bhajan Lal is reported to have arrived at the residence of Mr Sharma here yesterday and invited him to take part in his rally on March 4 at Bhiwani. Both are reported to have discussed the issue of party faction and resolved to end it shortly. Thereupon, Mr Sharma agreed to participate in the Bhiwani rally and claimed that it was a party rally and not linked with any group. Mr Bhajan Lal, he said, had also invited Mr Hooda to participate in it. If Mr Hooda joins this rally, it will be presided over by Mr Hooda himself.

Mr Sharma disclosed that the HPCC would organise a state-level rally at Panipat during t he last week of this month and it would prove successful in ending the factionalism in the HPCC. The date for this rally would be announced shortly, he added.

CITU workers flay Budget
Our Correspondent

Sonepat March 2
On a call given by the Haryana Committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), hundreds of party workers held a procession here today in protests against the Central Budget proposals.

Carrying placards and raising anti-government slogans, they marched through the main streets of the city. The procession was led by Mr S.N. Solanki and Mr Howa Singh, President and Vice-President respectively, of CITU.

A rally was also held and it was addressed by the union leaders who criticised the Central Government’s Budget proposals and termed them as anti-farmer, anti-employee and anti-people and announced that they would mobilise people against these proposals. They also urged the Central Government and the state government to desist from pursuing the anti-people policies.

Later a memorandum listing the demands of the union was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner.

The memorandum opposed the reducing of the rate of interest on PF and small savings deposits by 1.5 per cent and enhancement in postal rates.

The memorandum also criticised the proposal for enhancing the rate of levy sugar and handing over the responsibility of the government of foodgrains and public distribution from the Centre to the state governments.

It also demanded the imposition of ban on lock-outs, lay-offs and retrenchments in the industry.

HC notice on plea against Chautala sons
Our Legal Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 2
In a petition making serious allegations against sons of Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Justice V.M. Jain of the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued notice of motion to the Advocate-General for March 12.

The petition has been fled by Mr Joginder Singh, a resident of Mandi Dabwali (Sirsa), who had sought a CBI inquiry into the incident when about 50 persons accompanied by SHO Mohinder Singh Sethi of Dabwali city police station attacked the house of the petitioner.

It is alleged that all these persons were armed with different weapons and this was done at the instance of Mr Ajay Chautala and Abhey Chautala, both sons of Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala.

The petitioner was informed by attackers that his property had been purchased by Ajay Chautala and Abhey Chautala as benami through Mr Dharam Veer. The petitioner had purchased the property in 1984 and 1985 through registered sale deeds and even mutation in respect of the land was entered in the revenue records. Thereafter, the petitioner constructed four shops and a house on the land in 1987. The property is worth nearly Rs 70 lakh.

The petitioner stated that he had given representations to the SSP, Sirsa, on January 24, and February 9, but no action was taken by the SSP against the sons of the Chief Minister, who were involved and had pressurised the local administration.

Send troops to Fiji, teachers urge govt
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, March 2
The Democratic Teachers’ Front of Haryana appealed to the Indian Government and the UNO Secretary General to intervene in the affairs of Fiji and send troops to restore the duly-elected government of Mohindra Chaudhary.

The president of the Front, Mr Tirath Singh Arya, said in view of the decision of the appeal court of Fiji to restore the multisocial constitution of 1997 in that country, the Indian Government should intervene with the help of military to restore the dismissed Mohindra Chaudhary’s government.

He appealed to the Secretary, Commonwealth Secretariat in Prague, to come forward and save democracy in Fiji by asking the interim government there to resign and make a way for Mohindra Chaudhary to become the Prime Minister.

Literati 2001 opens at Kurukshetra
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, March 2
While inaugurating Literati 2001, a national-level technical students symposium at the Jubilee hall of Regional Engineering College, Kurukshetra, here today, former UGC, Chairman, Prof Yash Pal, cautioned that technical skill, craft and agriculture had not been properly connected with our education system.

He advised the students that they should develop cheaper and better design of items such as rickshaw, diesel engine and vehicle, etc depending upon the needs of the area.

Prof Yash Pal emphasised that there should be structural adjustment, market economy, free trade and greater freedom in society like ours. There should be no exploitation. We should simultaneously be a producer and a consumer.

He was of the opinion that there should not be a separate institute of information technology as the engineering students might need mechanical and electrical expertise along with knowledge of physics, chemistry, biology and economics, etc.

Wishing the students a bright future, Prof Yash Pal said there was a lot to be done in India.

The Principal, Dr N.P. Mehta, stated that the college had been awarded ISO 9002 certificate for three years in the Department of Electronics, Communication and Computer Engineering by the Ministry of Information and Technology, Government of India. The Indian Society of Technical Education (ISTE) had presented this college the Best Student’s Chapter Award for 2000. There was 100 per cent placement of our students this year, Dr Mehta claimed.

In the afternoon session a seminar on “Remote Sensing” was addressed by Mr S. Adiga, Director, National Remote Sensing Centre, Bangalore.

Papers on various engineering subjects would be presented and seminars would be organised. Executives from various companies such as Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro, etc would also take part.

Students from various managements and engineering institutes in the country are participating in the symposium. 

‘Fatwa’ on idols: UN asked to act
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, March 2
The vice-president of the Buddhist Society of India, Dr Lal Singh, has expressed concern over the “fatwa” of the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan to destroy idols of Buddhists and Hindus there.

The society has appealed to the United Nations and Buddhist countries of the world to intervene and stop the Taliban Government from doing so.

In a statement issued here today, Dr Lal Singh said the invaluable pieces of art and cultural heritage facing destruction include the 175-feet tall statue of Lord Buddha which is not only the oldest but the tallest standing statue in the world.

He said this statue was carved out from a mountain about 2000 years ago.

He said the destruction of such piece of heritage would not only deprive the students of history and research of valuable information, but also create a negative impact of the Taliban Government in the world.

He said each and every person who believe in religion and tolerance should lodge a protest and try to stop Taliban rulers from doing so.

Live grenade causes concern
Tribune News Service

Ambala, March 2
A live grenade recovered from a dreaded criminal of Uttar Pradesh has brought into focus the availability of dangerous explosives by anti-social elements.

The Ambala police had nabbed Budhu alias Kala, last week and recovered a live grenade, a firearm and several rounds of ammunition. The grenade, HE-36, recovered by the police is being used by the defence forces.

Superintendent of Police, Mr Sandeep Khirwar, said that the live grenade was HE-36, which was recovered from Budhu, However, an army official claimed that it was not a live grenade.

The police team, which arrested Budhu, consisted of Inspector Ranvir Singh, ASI, Fateh Singh, ASI, Ram Chander, HC, Randhir Singh, HC, Suresh Pal, HC, Malkit Singh, HC, Surjit Singh and Constable Amrik Singh.

A police official said that Budhu had procured the grenade from Roorkee. “The gang leader, Rohtash, had helped Budhu procure the live grenade. Even Rohtash is believed to have a similar live grenade,” he said.

Lt Col (Retd) B.N. Bali, Vice-President of Zila Sainik Board, Ambala, said that an HE-36 grenade can be use in two ways. The first is to lob it by hand and the other is through firing it by rifle. “These grenades are extremely useful in flushing out anti-national elements from their hide-outs and bunkers. During the Kargil war, the troops used to crawl up to the enemy bunkers and use the grenades to neutralise them,” he said.

He said that the hand grenade has a short fuse and the grenade through a rifle has a comparatively longer fuse. “A grenade has a killing radius of about nine yards and a danger zone of about 200 to 300 yards,” he said.

Haryana to amend RoW policy
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 2
The Haryana Government would incorporate certain amendments in its existing policy of Right of Way (RoW) for basic service licensees for laying of communication backbone in Haryana. This was decided in a meeting of the state Cabinet here today.

According to the amendments, each infrastructure provider will have to provide connectivity in accordance with the roll out conditions prescribed by the Department of Telecommunication or any other competent authority as per basic service license for Haryana circle. The government has already decided in principle to provide reliable connectivity to all villages.

The state Cabinet also decided that for obtaining RoW permission under the policy, basic service licensee desirous of providing telecom services in the state, will incorporate a separate company as an infrastructure provider-I or infrastructure provider-II so as to lay the communication backbone infrastructure. The infrastructure laid by the infrastructure provider will accordingly be leased or rented or sold to the basic licensee for operating telecom services in the state.

Accordingly, the free RoW will be provided to any basic service licensee through an infrastructure provider company on non-exclusive basis. The period of validity of RoW permission will be co-terminus with the validity of license or registration with the Department of Telecommunication as the case may be.

The Haryana Government today changed the name of its Local Government Department. Henceforth, the new name of the department will be Urban Development Department in English and ‘Nagar Vikas Vibhag’ in Hindi.

The decision to change the name was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala.

The opinion expressed by official was that the existing name did not adequately reflect the scope of work and range of functions being performed by the urban local bodies or expected to be performed in future as per the provisions of the constitution. The scope of work of municipalities had been enhanced substantially after 74th Constitutional Amendment thus making them virtually responsible for all round development of urban areas.

The state Cabinet, also decided to grant exemption from the envy of stamp duty on issue of bonds to National Hydro Electric Power Corporation by the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam against the loans amounting to Rs 300 crore.

IT to link up Haryana Govt departments
Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 2
The Haryana Government has drawn up a comprehensive plan to link up government departments in the districts by information technology. The programme, christened as District Minimum Agenda Programme (D-MAP), which would be operational by April, would make Haryana the first state in the north having district administrations equipped with IT, highly placed sources told TNS.

The objective of the D-MAP are to implement IT applications in districts so that services to the masses can be delivered effectively, strengthen the back office operations for timely availability of information, provide consolidated information for effective decision making for deputy commissioners and strengthen intra-district communication backbone for timely availability of information.

It has been decided that the first step for carrying out the plan will be by identification of IT applications running successfully in various districts and their conversion on to Windows platform. Subsequently, there will be replication of identified applications in all districts after their conversion. Side by side there will be identification of existing hardware and software resources in districts and their utilisation plan for implementation of application packages will be worked out. To give final touches to the plan, additional hardware and software requirements for the Deputy Commissioner’s office will be identified, it is learnt.

Cheque for 12.3 lakh given to Chautala
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 2
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, was presented with a cheque for over Rs 12.30 lakh by Dr K.S. Danti, Director, Animal Husbandry, for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund as contribution of the employees of the Animal Husbandry Department for the earthquake victims of Gujarat.

Mr Chautala was also presented with a cheque of over Rs 2.07 lakh by Mr Ram Singh Shehrawat, Director of the Prosecution, and Mr O.P. Godara, President of the Haryana Attorney Association, and employees of the Prosecution Department for the victims of the Gujarat earthquake.

Similarly, the employees of the Legal Remembrancer Department donated a sum of Rs 21,450 to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund as their contribution.

Life term for 3 in dowry death case
Our Correspondent

Panipat, March 2
The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr Raj Rahul Garg, has sentenced the husband, mother-in-law and brother-in-law of Kamlesh, who was allegedly hanged to death, to life imprisonment in a dowry death case yesterday.

According to the prosecution, Kamlesh of Karnal, was married to Mahender Singh of Raja Kheri village in the district on April 20, 1998. But the in-laws allegedly started harassing her for more dowry soon after the marriage. On November 18, 1998, she died under mysterious circumstances in her in-law’s house.

A complaint was lodged by Kamlesh’s brother, Tara Chand, alleging that her husband, mother-in-law Rajo Devi and brother-in-law Shamsher used to beat Kamlesh for not fulfilling their demand of a scooter, fridge and television. A case under Section 304-B of the IPC and 428-A of CrPC was registered.

13 murder case accused acquitted
Our Correspondent

Narnaul, March 2
Mr K.K. Chopra, Additional Sessions Judge-I, Narnaul, last afternoon acquitted Bhim Singh (20), a resident of Pali village (Mandi village), Babu Lal (24), Dharender, alias Babu Lal (21), Ram Singh, alias Singha (18), Deepak (23), Anil Billu (22), Naveen (18), Manjeet (19), Kuldeep Tiger (23), Amit of Narnaul (18), Manoj (20) Vinod Thawer Singh (24) and Sudhir (24) in a murder case. They had been booked for allegedly murdering Raj Kumar Raju, of Neerpur village, Narnaul, on December 20, 1999.

On December 12, 1999, Raj Kumar was going on his motor cycle towards his house in Neerpur village. When he reached Kaushik transport Rewari road, he found that a Commander jeep and Tata Sumo were following him. Anil, Thawer, Babloo, Bhim, Tiger and Deepak were travelling in the commander jeep, while Pawan along with three more boys were in the Tata Sumo (HR-35-A-5555). They all gheraoed Raju, who abandoned his motor cycle and fled to the house of one Rama Devi through Kailash Nagar.

Raj Kumar climbed on the roof of Rama Devi’s house, but the assailants chased him there and beat him up. The remaining suspects also caused injuries to him. When Raj Kumar fell down he was thrown from the roof. The victim was shifted to Government Hospital, Narnaul, where he succumbed to his injuries.

On the basis of the statement of Pradeep Kumar, the driver of Anil’s jeep, an FIR was recorded at Narnaul and a case under Sections 148/452/302 and 120-B of the IPC was registered.

Attack on doctor condemned
Our Correspondent

Jind, March 2
The local branch of the Indian Medical Association and the National Integrated Medical Association, at a meeting here today, condemned the attack on Dr Subhash Arya, a private medical practitioner of the local Patiala Chowk area. It may be recalled that Dr Arya was shot at and injured by two car-borne armed youths near his clinic yesterday.

The meeting demanded that the administration should take steps to prevent such incidents in future. The meeting was presided by Dr R.K. Sethi, president of IMA, Jind.

Meanwhile, Mr O.P. Singh, SP, said the police had nabbed one of the assailants near Kheri Chopta village in Hisar district. The assailant has been identified as Subhash of Jajwan village in Jind district. 

Recruitment of constables put off
Our Correspondent

Bhiwani, March 2
In the wake of ensuing examinations of schools and colleges the Haryana Government has postponed the recruitment of constables.

Disclosing this in a press statement here yesterday the SP said the physical test of the candidates which was earlier scheduled for March 15, would now be held at police complex, Madhuban in Karnal on May 14. Physical tests for 1600 male constables now would take place from May 21 at the district level instead of March 18, she said.

The SP said the physical test to be held for 85 female constables had now been fixed for June 3 and the date of receipt of applications had now been extended by April 30.

Bus drivers resent students’ action
Our Correspondent

Panipat, March 2
Protesting against the stoning of a roadways bus on the G.T. Road and beating up of its bus driver by students of local ITI yesterday bus drivers blocked traffic for more than an hour on the G.T. Road.

According to report A Kaithal depot bus No HR-56-0907 was coming from Delhi on reaching near the ITI the bus was stoned and made to halt by students who have been waiting for a lift to reach the general bus stand. When the bus driver protested he was also reportedly beaten up by students.

After this the driver parked the bus in the middle of G.T. Road halting traffic and it led to complete blocked on the G.T. Road.

The SDM, Mr Kulwant Kalsan, the DSP and Mr Arun Nehra, reached the spot and urged the roadways drivers to lift the traffic jam. They also promised to take action against guilty students.

A complaint has been registered in Chandni Bagh police station. The ITI is about 4 km away from the Panipat bus stand and hardly any bus stop there.

Sangharsh Vahini meeting
Tribune News Service

Ambala, March 2
A meeting of Sangharsh Vahini was held here in which it was decided that if a bandh call was given by the two major vyapar mandals, then a bandh would be observed in Ambala. The meeting, which was attended by representatives of different organisations, was coordinated by Mr Hira Lal Yadav. The speakers at the meeting said that the number of taxes had gone up considerably. It was decided in the meeting that 10 more members could be added to the present 11-member committee to deliberate upon the bandh call, a release said.

Kerosene meant for PDS seized
Our Correspondent

Kaithal, March 2
The police today raided a factory near sugar mill here and seized huge quantities of kerosene, which was meant for sale under the Public Distribution System (PDS). The factory owner, Mr Romesh Chand, HUDA colony, was arrested and booked under the Essential Commodities Act.

According to reports received the police has sealed 10,000 litres of kerosene lying in the tanks and seized 5,600 litres of processed oil filled in 28 drums.