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| Sunday,
March 25, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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MSP brings relief to official circles Tehelka a non-issue,
says Chautala Cong rally to focus on expose Govt targetting religious institutions Haryana to have Lok Adalats in all
dists |
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7 of family get life term for murder Phone services disrupted in
Sirsa Additional charge for 3 IAS officers Cruel joke on farmers: Hooda 668 dealers lose
licences Clarification on meters
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MSP brings relief to official circles Chandigarh, March 24 Interestingly, an official press note released here yesterday, shortly before Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar made the announcement on the MSP and other crops, quoted the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala as saying the MSP “might be announced by the PM” at the March 25 rally. Expressing satisfaction at the rate of the MSP, official sources said bonus, which the Chief Minister had announced to the farmers in case the MSP was not enhanced by the Centre, would have created problems. It would have attracted grain from the neighbouring states to Haryana mandis if a similar package was not announced by these states. Besides, payment of bonus to farmers would have neutralised government gains from collection of purchase tax and other taxes during the procurement operation. The sources said while earlier the bulk of the wheat produced in Haryana was purchased by private traders, the scene had undergone a transformation over the years. Given that the rate of wheat in the market was low in the current year, it was expected that more wheat would be brought by the farmers to the mandis for procurement by official agencies. For the procurement season commencing from April 1, arrangements for 42.50 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat was being made by the state procurement agencies. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) was making arrangements for the purchase of 7.50 LMT in accordance with their 15 per cent procurement share. Thus, the total procurement of wheat in Haryana by the state agencies and the FCI was expected to touch 50 LMT. The Haryana Government, the sources said, was working on the assumption that the MSP of wheat would be somewhere around Rs 610 per quintal and accordingly it had sought Rs 4692 crore as loan from the RBI in the form of CCL (cash credit limit). The amount included Rs 2476 crore carryover from the CCL obtained by the Haryana Government last year. This money could not be returned by the state government to the RBI as a result of the FCI inability to lift grain from the Haryana godowns. The RBI is also charging 12.05 per cent interest on the loan money. However, as the amount is ultimately recoverable from the FCI, the state government is not too worried about it being held up. As a matter of fact, the FCI was yet to pay Haryana Rs 550 crore for the rice lifted by it from various state agencies. The FCI reportedly could not make the payment as its own CCL was exhausted. The sources pointed out that 92 per cent of the rice procured by the state agencies in Haryana had been delivered to the FCI, this was a sort of an achievement for the state government. However, despite the despatch of more than 90 per cent of its rice stock, the storage of wheat may not be an easy task, the sources said. Till last month, more than 39 LMT of grain was lying with the state agencies, most of it being wheat. |
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Tehelka a non-issue,
says Chautala Ambala, March 24 Talking to mediapersons after a sarkar apke dwar programme at Naggal, Mr Chautala said there was no alternative to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. “We continue to extend full support to the NDA,” he said. He said “tehelka” was not an issue but a conspiracy to darken the future of the nation. Mr Chautala said the case of Mr V. George was being investigated by the CBI. “We are definitely against corruption,” he said. He was confident that the minimum support price (MSP) would go up. “Farmers will not have to worry as the government is looking after their interest. They may be concerned about the WTO but the Centre could impose duty on imported agricultural produce which would safeguard the interests of the farmers,” he said. He said although the MSP was not as high as was demanded, “but the nation is facing economic problem. We belong to that category of people who work hard in the fields and today we have reached such a situation that our granaries are full,” he said. He said the farmers would not face any problems since all arrangements had been made. He said the power situation would improve when the sixth 210 MW unit at Panipat started on March 31 and gas-based units at Faridabad, Hisar and Yamunanagar became operational. Mr Chautala heard the grievances of representatives from 128 villages. He said steps had been taken to control floods and drains were being cleaned, besides paying the Punjab Government for strengthening the embankment of a canal. He said all encroachments would be removed and schools which had three acres of land and 10 rooms would be upgraded. From middle to high school, five acres and 16 rooms were needed and to upgrade a high school to senior secondary school, six acre and 20 rooms were required,” he said. |
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Cong rally to focus on expose Gurgaon, March 24 Alarmed at the events following the Tehelka
expose, the INLD has initiated moves to blunt any advantage that may accrue to the
Congress, which is its main opposition. A former union minister, Mr K.K.
Tewari, who has been appointed observer for Haryana regarding the Congress agitation, told TNS that the party’s “lalkar” rally would raise the issue of corruption and mobilise support against the NDA government and the Prime Minister. According to Congress
insiders, the move to highlight the Tehelka episode. Indications are that the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) wants no let-up on focussing against the NDA government. Apart from directing its attack on the Prime Minister and the NDA
government, the Haryana Congress will criticise the INLD government in the state. Issues pertaining to the farmers will also be raised in a major way. With regard to politics in
Haryana, the Congress plans also to halt the rejuvenation of the Haryana Vikas Party led by former Chief Minister Bansi
Lal. The HVP has been trying to project itself as an alternative to the INLD. Meanwhile, the INLD is abiding by the decision of the Haryana Chief Minister and party
supremo, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to work for the success for the NDA public meeting to be held in Delhi tomorrow on the Tehelka issue. |
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Govt targetting religious institutions Rohtak, March 24 Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Aditya Nath alleged that religious institutions had become the target of the government. He said the ashram of ‘Yug
Purush’ Swami Permanand at Faridabad was demolished by the administration nearly six months ago. Later, he alleged, the government took no action in connection with the slaughter of more than 100 cows in
Mewat. Besides, he alleged a part of ashram Jagadguru Swami Sudharshanacharya at Faridabad was demolished nearly three months ago in the name of clearing encroachments. He further alleged that Mahant Chand Nath of the math was “implicated” in a murder case by the police at the behest of the government. Averting the question as to why no social or religious organisation or political party has extended support to the math authorities, the BJP MP said he would seek intervention of the Union Government in this connection and would also raise voice in the Parliament if need be. Mr Nath alleged that Mahant Chand Nath was victimised by the government as the latter had supported political rivals of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala in the last assembly elections. Meanwhile, Yogi Rakesh Nath, secretary, of the Shri Baba Mast Nath Sanskrit Shikshan
Sansthan, alleged that the CIA staff of Sonepat Police took Dr Markandey Ahuja, in charge of the Eye hospital of the institute, along with it today for interrogating him regarding the murder of Baba Azad Nath who was allegedly eliminated by Mahant Chand Nath and his gunman at Sonepat in 1997. |
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Haryana to have Lok Adalats in all
dists Yamunanagar, March 24 This was disclosed by Mr Justice V.K. Bali, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court and Executive Chairman of the Haryana State Legal Services Authority, who was here to inaugurate the 7th Lok Adalat at Jagadhri Judicial Complex. Talking to newsmen, he said the aim of the Lok Adalat was to provide a statutory forum to the people to resolve disputes amicably, speedily, without any expenditure and without having to go to the courts repeatedly. As per the provisions of Section 20 (I) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 if the parties to a case to refer the case to the Lok Adalat or if the court itself deems it appropriate to refer the matter to the Lok Adalat, case can be decided by the Lok Adalat. He said that six such permanent and continuous Lok Adalats had already been established in six districts of Haryana — Ambala, Panchkula, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Hisar and Bhiwani — by appointing six retired judicial officers as Presiding Judges thereof to enable the courts in the districts to refer more contentious matter to Lok Adalats. In the remaining districts and sub-divisional level courts of Haryana, serving judicial officers are holding permanent and continuous Lok Adalats on rotational basis. He agreed to a newsman’s suggestion that dowry cases should also be handled by Lok Adalats. He admitted that the permanent Lok Adalat and the Consumer Forum had eased the pressure on the traditional courts. He appealed to the press to create creating awareness in the minds of the public for restoring the panchayati system of settlement of disputes. Mr R.S. Virk, Member Secretary of the Haryana State Legal Services authority, said since 1985, 1,164 Lok Adalats had been organised in Haryana, where 3,19,551 cases, including 16,597 motor accidents claim petitions, had been settled and an amount of Rs 82,93,15,035-00 had been given as compensation in motor accident cases. He also said that since August 2, 1999, when the first permanent and continuous Lok Adalat was established at Ambala, by appointing a retired judicial officer, 1,495 cases, including 128 motor accident claims cases and 37 matrimonial cases had been settled in six districts, where retired judicial officers had been appointed as Presiding Judges. He said that the state authority would organise legal awareness camps in remote areas with the help of students of Law Departments of Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra and Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, so as to acquaint the poor and weaker sections of society with their legal rights. Mr Virk further disclosed that Mr R.N. Batra, retired District and Sessions Judge, had been appointed as the Presiding Judge of the Permanent & Continuous Lok Adalat at Jagadhri. Ms Kiran Anand Lal, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ambala, Mr Dhani Ram and Mr V.K. Bakshi ADJ, were also present on the occasion. |
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7 of family get life term for murder Fatehabad, March 24 According to reports, Mr Bhagwan Dass of Chobara village had a dispute with Mr Bhagwana of the same village over the possession of a piece of land. After an altercation over the matter Mr Bhagwan Dass, his four sons Sita Ram, Munshi Ram, Mahabir and Ram Kumar and two grandsons Krishan and Sultan tied the victim with their tractor on July 1, 1997, and dragged him till he had died. The victim’s brother Dharam Chand lodged an FIR with the police on July 2,1997, under Sections 364, 302, 342, 148, and 149 of the IPC. The court today awarded to all accused two years term under Section 364, six months term under Section 342, one year term under Section 148 and life term under Section 302. All terms would go along together. Sirsa, March 24 The DET Telecommunication Department, when contacted, said the services remained suspended yesterday because of some damage in the telephone cable between Fatehabad and Hisar. The services could be restored only in the evening. He said it for the third time that the disruption in services was caused because of the negligence of the Haryana Public Works Department. Although, he accepted that disruption in services also owed single root of STD for the district. He also disclosed that a proposal for providing an alternative root to deal with such problem has already been sent to the concerned department. |
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Additional charge for 3 IAS officers Chandigarh, March 24 Mr Tarun Bajaj, Managing Director, UHBVN, and Additional Managing Director, HVPN, will also work as Joint Secretary, Power, and Director and Joint Secretary, Non-Conventional Energy Sources Department, and Director, Power Reforms, during the training period of Mr D. P. S. Nagal. Mr Balraj Singh, Joint Secretary P.W. (Public Health) Department, will look after the work of Joint Chief Electoral Officer during the training period of Mr Raj Kumar. Mr Arun Kumar Gupta, Joint Secretary, General Administration, Department and Inquiry Officer, Vigliance (1), will look after the work of Director and Joint Secretary, Employment, Sports and Students and Youth Welfare Department, during the training period of Mr H.P. Chaudhry. |
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Cruel joke on farmers: Hooda Chandigarh, March 24 In a statement today, Mr Hooda said in view of the rise in the cost of agricultural inputs, the MSP should have been raised to Rs 700 per quintal. The NDA government at the Centre and THE INLD Government in Haryana were following anti-farmer policies, he alleged. |
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668 dealers lose
licences Chandigarh, March 24 He said 31 defaulting dealers were arrested. He said goods valued at Rs 2.89 crore had been seized during this period.  |
Clarification on meters Chandigarh, March 24 The meters would be useful only for the purpose of accounting of energy being supplied to the agriculture sector. The installation of meters was being carried out in Haryana in pursuance of a directive by the Union Government that all unmetered tubewell connections must be provided with meters by December, 2001, she said.
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100 found travelling sans ticket Sonepat, March 24 |
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Students clash, 3 hurt Sonepat, March 24 |
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Tiny tots donate for quake victims Panipat, March 24 |
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Doctor caught taking bribe Chandigarh, March 24 |
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