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| Wednesday, July 4, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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‘Vendetta by Chautala a la Jayalalitha’ Chautala in contact with People’s Front Chautala performs yagya Officers made to dance attendance
on CM: Cong Auto drivers gherao hospital No alliance
for
Assembly poll: BJP |
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Panchayat byelections on July 29 Dangi granted bail HIGH COURT
Club to give scholarships to poor children Anti-demolition stir: 500 booked for arson, violence Trader robbed of
Rs 3.69 lakh
at gunpoint Documents sought from freedom fighter Six killed in various incidents Traders threaten to stage dharna HUDA to auction
sites at Sonepat
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‘Vendetta by Chautala a la Jayalalitha’ Chandigarh, July 3 Firing the first salvo, the president of the Haryana Congress, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has said that what happened in Tamil Nadu has been taking place in Haryana ever since Mr Om Prakash Chautala took over as Chief Minister. He alleged Mr Chautala systematically implicated his political opponents in false cases, involving both criminal as well as corruption charges. But the National Democratic Alliance government, which is now threatening to impose President’s rule in Tamil Nadu because of the alleged political vendetta of Miss Jayalalitha, preferred to turn a blind eye to the happenings in Haryana. Mr Hooda claimed that by adopting different yardsticks for Tamil Nadu and Haryana, the NDA had proved that its protestations over the happenings in the southern state were not because of altruistic reasons but for mundane reasons of survival. And that, he said, was true in the case of Haryana also. The BJP-led NDA, he said, had taken a tough line on Tamil Nadu because it wanted to keep Mr Karunanidhi in good humour so that the alliance continued to enjoy the support of the DMK MPs. For the same reason, he said, the NDA had found nothing wrong with the political vendetta of Mr Chautala, who controlled the five INLD MPs. Mr Hooda said if the NDA was genuinely committed to democracy, it should immediately ask Mr Chautala to drop all cases against his political adversaries or face the music. The lone RPI MLA, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, said like the mythological king Dhritrashtra, the NDA should not be blind to the faults of its own men when it came to violation of constitutional and democratic norms. Mr Chautala was as guilty of misusing official machinery to fulfil his urge for personal vendetta as Miss Jayalalitha. Therefore, it was the responsibility of the NDA in general and the Prime Minister in particular, not to wear different spectacles for Haryana. Mr Dalal, who was named first in a murder case and then in a corruption case, said the fact that the Punjab and Haryana High Court did not find anything to link him with the alleged murder was eloquent enough to prove how Mr Chautala was treating the police and the other wings of the administration as his tools of revenge. Appreciating the NDA’s stand on Tamil Nadu, Mr Dalal said if the alliance government did not adopt the same line in Haryana, nobody would believe its sincerity. What more did the BJP need to be convinced about Mr Chautala’s style of functioning than the fact that two senior BJP leaders, Mr Krishan Pal Gujjar and Prof Ganeshi Lal, were also in line for persecution. Another former Haryana Minister, Mr Tejinder Pal Singh Mann, said the Chautala regime had implicated him and his two sons in 27 cases. He said while in the case of Tamil Nadu, it was yet to be decided by a court of law whether the cases against the DMK leaders were true or not, in Haryana a number of judicial authorities had held various cases registered against the political adversaries of Mr Chautala to be false. Therefore, the need for Central intervention in Haryana was greater than that in Tamil Nadu. Mr Mann quoted from the findings of a Chief Judicial Magistrate in one of the cases against him to say: “After going through the entire record it is observed that the entire facts and circumstances of the case show... political dissensions playing a major role in the background and misutilisation of the police machinery cannot be ruled out.” To press his point further, Mr Mann also quoted Mr Justice J.S. Verma, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, as saying that “the series of transactions indicating a course of action by the authorities concerned prima facie do not rule out the likelihood of a systematic course adopted for the harassment of the petitioners, which, if true, would be a serious violation of the petitioners’ human rights and abuse of authority vested in the public servants concerned meant entirely for protecting human rights and not intended for committing any violation thereof by misuse or abuse of the police power.” Mr Mann said what more than these judicial pronouncements were needed by the Centre to intervene in Haryana. The general secretary of the Haryana Krishak Samaj, Mr Sat Pal Kaushik, also saw a parallel in the Tamil Nadu happenings and the situation in Haryana, demanding the Centre’s intervention in the northern state. The Additional Political Secretary to the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Dharambir Singh, however, denied the allegations levelled by the opposition leaders. He said there was no parallel between Tamil Nadu and Haryana, where the police never showed any undue hurry to arrest any political leader. He said the police registered cases against anyone, irrespective of his or her status, only after it received a complaint. Still all opportunities were given to the leaders against whom the complaints were received to approach the courts to seek anticipatory bail. They were taken into custody only after the courts told them to surrender. Talking about the former Haryana Revenue Minister, Mr Anand Singh Dangi, Mr Dharambir Singh said the inquiry against the former Minister was initiated by the Bansi Lal government, though the allegations against him were first levelled in the Assembly when Mr Bhajan Lal was the Chief Minister. Though the police was aware of Mr Dangi’s whereabouts when he was absconding, no effort was made to raid his hideouts. Now the court would decide his guilt in the illegal allotment of land to certain persons. Mr Dharambir Singh said Mr Mann was unnecessarily dragging the name of Mr Chautala into what was primarily a dispute between him (Mr Mann) and his brother over property. The police acted against Mr Mann only after his brother filed a
complaint against him. |
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Chautala in contact with People’s Front Gurgaon, July 3 Or, is it simply resorting to pressure tactics by dangling the People’s Front card to browbeat Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Home Minister
L.K. Advani to dissuade them against possible inclusion of Mr Ajit Singh, former Union Minister and son of former Prime Minister Late Charan Singh, in the NDA and the Union Council of ministers. The
development, construed either way, could have an impact on Haryana politics. For the record, the BJP in Haryana is extending outside support to the INLD government. Also, it was the BJP which withdrew support to the Bansi Lal government leading to its eventual fall. It facilitated the installation of the INLD government in the state. In the subsequent Lok Sabha and the Assembly elections the
INLD-BJP combine registered huge electoral success, rocking their arch rival Congress’ boat in the state. According to sources, Haryana Chief Minister and INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala is in constant touch with the leaders of the People’s Front. The interaction of the INLD leadership with the political leaders on the other side of the political divide has been stepped up in the last few days. However, the INLD circles are keeping the development as a closely guarded secret. The apparent drift of the INLD is bound to agitate the BJP, the biggest outfit in the NDA. Among the leaders that Mr Chautala and his family members have met in the last fortnight and interacted is Mr Raj Babbar, the cine star-turned-politician of the Samajwadi Party headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav. The two leaders met at the official residence of Mr Ajay Chautala, son of Mr Om Prakash Chautala, about a week back. Also, Mr Akhilesh Yadav, son of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and Samajwadi Party MP are in regular touch with each other. The General Secretary of the CPM, Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet, met the Haryana Chief Minister in Chandigarh towards the end of the first week of June. Significantly, the meeting took place shortly before Mr Surjeet left for abroad. The Samajwadi Party and CPM angle is important as they form the bulwak of the People’s Front. The Samajwadi Party has special attraction in the People’s Front circles as it is projecting itself to wrest power from the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, where Assembly election is due in less than an year’s time. It is the general perception that in case of an adverse poll result in Uttar Pradesh, the Atal Behari Vajpayee-led government at the Centre will be hard pressed to maintain stability. It is in this context that the BJP wants to include Mr Ajit Singh in the Union Council of Ministers and his Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in the NDA to bolster its chances in the coming election in Uttar Pradesh. Mr Ajit Singh is considered to have clout in Western Uttar Pradesh, having about 120 Assembly segments. Mr Chautala is opposed to Mr Ajit Singh and has made his aversion towards him known in public. In an effort to put pressure on the BJP think- tank he is in the midst of addressing a series of public meetings in western Uttar Pradesh. |
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Chautala performs yagya Panchkula, July 3 The chanting of mantras was carried out by Swami Arjunpuri of Shri Tulsi Manas Temple, Hardwar, as Mr Chautala offered milk, curd and honey to the idols of various gods. The programme was organised by the charitable trust of the Shiv Temple as a part of the ongoing celebrations of Shri Guru Purnima Vyas Pooja Mahotsav. The Ramayan discourse began on June 30 and would continue till July 6. On the concluding day, a special patth would be organised on the temple premises from 7 am to 11 am followed by a community lunch. Those present at the function included Inspector-General of Police (Ambala range), Mr HS Ahlawat, the Deputy Commissioner, Ms Jyoti Arora, the Superintendent of Police, Mr Manoj Yadava, the Naraingarh MLA, Mr Pawan Dewan, the state INLD general secretary, Mr Pradeep Chaudhary, the district president (urban) of the INLD, Mr Randhir Malik, among others. |
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Officers made to
dance attendance on CM: Cong Chandigarh, July 3 In a statement issued here today the president of the party, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said this disturbed the overall working of the administration and people who visited different offices for official work had to return disappointed due to the absence of the officers concerned . Mr Hooda said while the officers of the area which the Chief Minister happened to visit were duty bound to be present there, there was no justification in paralysing the administration throughout the state just to enable the officers “to be in the Chief Minister’s presence”, especially when he visited the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh. Alleging that the law and order situation in the state was deteriorating fast, particularly in the areas adjoining UP, Mr Hooda said the government should immediately make adequate security arrangements in these areas. |
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Auto drivers gherao hospital Kalka, July 3 The nurse on duty expressed her helplessness, with the result that the injured, who was writhing in pain, died after remaining in the hospital for about an hour. The president of the union alleged that the said doctor runs a private clinic at Baddi. He was informed on telephone, but injured succumbed to injuries before the doctor’s arrival. Annoyed auto operators gathered on the hospital premises and started shouting slogans. However, timely intervention by the police helped in bringing the situation under control. According to sources, Puran Chand was coming in his auto from the Housing Board Colony when a Tata Sumo coming from the opposite direction collided with the auto on the national highway. According to police, driver of Sumo has been arrested and the vehicle impounded. Today morning, after the post-mortem examination, angry protestors took out a procession and indulged in slogan shouting against doctors and the hospital authorities. The body of the deceased was also being carried along in an open vehicle. In view of the grave situation, a large number of policemen from Pinjore and Kalka were deployed to avoid any untoward incident. The president of the auto union has demanded the arrest of the accused. |
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No alliance
for Assembly poll: BJP Sonepat, July 3 This was announced by Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, MP and vice-president of the state unit of the BJP while addressing a press conference here today. Mr Sangwan criticised the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, for eroding the base of the BJP in the state in a calculated manner and that had caused widespread resentment among the party workers. Referring to the recent demolition of houses and shops on the Sonepat-Murthal road, he condemned the action of the district administration and alleged that the anti-encroachment drive had caused a great hardship to people. He said the BJP would continue its struggle against the anti-people policies of the Chautala government. |
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Panchayat byelections on July 29 Chandigarh, July 3 This was stated by the State Election Commissioner, Mr T.D. Jogpal, here today. These include the new gram panchayats constituted by the state government after the abolition of certain municipalities. The names of the newly created gram panchayats are Loharu and Tosham (Bhiwani), Hathin (Faridabad), Farukh Nagar, Punhana and Nakanpur (Gurgaon), Jhakhal Mandi (Fatehabad), Uklana Mandi (Hisar), Julana (Jind), Ateli Mandi (Mahendergarh) and Buria, Chhachhrauli and Radaur (Yamunanagar). Mr Jogpal said the voters’ list of the gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zila parishads in which these byelections were being held had been revised with January 1, 2001, as the qualifying date. He said the presentation of nomination papers for these byelections would be from July 12 to July 14. Scrutiny would be held on July 16 and the last date of withdrawal was July 18. He said 894 polling stations had been set up and about five lakh voters would cast their votes during these elections. About 5,000 polling staff would be put on duty which did not include police and Home Guard personnel. |
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Dangi granted bail Ambala, July 3 Last month, he was granted bail in two out of three cases where he had moved bail applications. Mr Dangi is now in the PGI, Chandigarh, after being shifted from the Ambala Central Jail for treatment. Today, his counsel, Mr Chander Mohan Sehgal, pleaded that other accused in this case were on bail. He said the name of Mr Dangi was not initially in the FIR and was added at a later stage. The Public Prosecutor submitted that during investigation it was found that Mr Dangi was also involved in the case. The Judge granted bail on furnishing of a bail bond of Rs 50,000 with a surety of the like amount. |
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HIGH COURT Chandigarh, July 3 Ranga was booked by the
CBI on January 1, 1998, under the Prevention of Corruption Act. According to the prosecution, Ranga, when posted Senior Regional Manager of the Food Corporation of India from July,1996, to November,1996, had violated the government policy for the sale of wheat. The prosecution added that wheat was “diverted to the consumers other than those for which it was meant under a scheme”. It added that certain parties in connivance with FCI officials had sold wheat by violating the norms set by the corporation. Seeking bail, the counsel for the petitioner stated that no attempt was made by the CBI to arrest him till the filing of the challan, though he had been granted regular bail by the high court in a similar matter on May 13, 1997. Dangi case: notice of motion on
July 16 On a petition filed by the state of Haryana seeking the cancellation of bail granted to Haryana's former Revenue Minister Anand Singh Dangi, Mr Justice K.C. Gupta of the high court on Tuesday issued notice of motion for July 16. Describing Dangi as “influential”, the state, in its petition, had earlier stated that the former minister could win over the prosecution witnesses after threatening them. He could even tamper with the evidence, the state had added. It was also stated that Dangi had not joined the investigations despite efforts by the investigation officer. It was added that his application for anticipatory bail had been rejected by Ambala's Special Judge and then by the high court. His special leave petition had also been dismissed, it was further added. |
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Club to give scholarships to poor children Yamunanagar, July 3 Mr Garg said major thrust would be given to Hepatitis B immunisation in the region with the aid of Rotary International at a subsidised rate of Rs 50 per child specially in the slum areas. He had also directed the 75 clubs to provide scholarships for the primary and secondary education to the economically backward children specially girl child. He said 75 clubs of the district would launch a special drive to provide vocational training and employment to the physically challenged persons with the help of Rotarians and other organisations. The club had also decided to educate the girl child. Mr Garg was accompanied by Mr Romesh Sharma, secretary of the district 3080, Assistant Governor, Mr Ashwani Nanda, Senior Rotarian, Mr Puran Chand Chawla, and PRO, Mr Om Parkash Aggarwal. Mr Garg said Rs 4 crore would be spent on these projects. |
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Middle exam results on July 5 Chandigarh, July 3 |
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Anti-demolition stir: 500 booked for arson, violence Sonepat, July 3 The police has already arrested 15 persons including, five women and the brother of a former Haryana Minister, Mr Ramesh Kaushik. They were produced in court here yesterday and 10 men were remanded in judicial custody till July 16. The five women were released on bail. The arrested persons have been identified as Rajinder Kaushik, Promod, Yashvir, Rajesh, Bharat Bhushan, Rameshwar, Sultan Singh Promod, Subhash and Maheshwar, whereas the women are: Pushp Lata, Pushpa Rani, Kamlamati, Raj Rani and Manli. The angry people had set on fire two JCB machines, some bulldozers and a motor cycle of the Police Department. They also stoned on police officials. The police lathicharged the people to disperse them. |
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Trader robbed of
Rs 3.69 lakh
at gunpoint Rohtak, July 3 The traders of the market closed their shutters in protest against the incident and raised slogans against the police. They also resolved to observe a bandh in the town tomorrow. According to information, two youths snatched the money bag from Subhash, an employee of the firm, who had just taken out the money from the safe to deposit it in a bank located in the new grain market at about 1 p.m. The robbers ran towards the gate of the grain market. The owner of the firm, Sandeep, chased the robbers on his scooter. But he fell from the vehicle when the robbers hit him with an iron rod. One of the robbers took out a revolver when the traders of the market surrounded them. Later, they escaped on a motor cycle and in a car parked in front of the gate of the grain market. Two of their accomplices were already waiting for them in the car. The police reached the spot one-and-a-half-hour after the incident which enraged the traders. They raised anti-police slogans. Mr Laxmi Chand Gupta, President, Haryana Beopar Mandal, alleged that there had been frequent attacks on the traders in the past two months. The police has registered a case under Section 392 of the IPC. The agitated traders did not allow the SSP, Mr A.S. Ahlawat, and the DSP, Mr Ram Kishore, to move out of the grain market. Their vehicles kept on moving from one gate to another but all exit points of the market were locked by the traders. Finally, the police broke open the lock of the gate with the help of a hammer. Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, HPCC Chief, and Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, a former Minister, have condemned the incident. |
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Documents sought from freedom fighter Sirsa, July 3 Mr Verma said he had requested Mr Sharma to provide original documents and a certificate regarding his imprisonment during the freedom struggle. These documents were awaited. Mr Verma said he had high regards for Mr Sharma, but due to the lack of requisite document the samiti found itself helpless to accord due honour, pension and facilities to him. Mr Verma said he would help Mr Sharma if he furnished an affidavit of a freedom fighter with whom he had spent six months in jail duly attested by the magistrate (First-Class). Regarding the old age pension Mr Sharma should contact the department concerned as the same did not fall in the
preview of the samiti, Mr Verma added. |
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Six killed in various incidents Faridabad, July 3 Three persons, including two brothers, were crushed to death by a truck near Anandpur village and Ballabhgarh town in the district. Ramkishan and Kishan Chand, who were going on a two-wheeler to their office, were crushed by a dumper near the village on Saturday. While one of them died on the spot, the other succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. Shankarlal, hailing from Aligarh from Uttar Pradesh, was crushed by a truck near Palla powerhouse. Another person, Hansraj, sitting behind him was seriously injured in the accident. In a similar accident on Sunday evening, Munniram of Chawla Colony of Ballabgarh was hit by a dumper while he was going on a bicycle. He succumbed to his injuries in the Civil Hospital here. In another incident, Gopichand of Mindkola village died after he fell from a jeep on the Palwal-Mindkola road on Sunday morning. He had been travelling on the footboard of the jeep when the incident took place. Meanwhile Harnam Singh of Ajronda village committed suicide by hanging himself from ceiling of his house. He was worker in a workshop here. |
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Traders threaten to stage dharna Panipat, July 3 A meeting was held by the traders in which over 12 representatives of various market unions participated. The meeting was presided over by the President of the Joint Beopar Mandal Sangharsh Samiti, Mr Darshan Lal Wadhwa. Mr Wadhwa alleged that though shopkeepers had been opposing the installation of “Emco” meters, the contractor with the help of anti-social elements was trying to forcibly install them. He also alleged that the contractor and his three associates had threatened to kill the trader. A report had already been given to the police. |
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HUDA to auction
sites at Sonepat Chandigarh, July 3 An official spokesman said the auction for 14 booth sites and three double-storeyed booth sites would be held in Sector 15. Similarly, the auction of six double-storeyed shop sites, 16 booth sites and six kiosk sites would be held in Sector 23. The auction would be held at the Estate Office of HUDA at Sonepat. |
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