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Monday,
July 23, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Make details of summit public:
Shekhar Sampat mobilises support for
rally Literacy level up by 11 pc: Joshi Doctor booked for
sonography Contests mark Space Day
celebrations |
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Ajit’s induction PM’s
prerogative: Chautala Judge inspects district
jail Recovery of house tax by
year-end
Inquiry sought into purchase of
meters
Honour
coalition politics: Kohli Mass contact plan of Cong “a success” CM to lay stone of
Gymkhana Club Bharatiya Surajya
Manch launched Two held on graft
charge Youth beaten to death
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Make details of summit public:
Shekhar Bhondsi (Gurgaon), July 22 Talking to mediapersons on the eve of the monsoon session of Parliament at his Bharat Ekta Kendra here, he said the country must know the details pertaining to the summit, especially in the light of one-sided statements from Mr Musharraf and his military establishment.” I do not understand what is inhibiting the Centre from giving the details to the public or to rebut the statements of Mr Musharraf”, he said. He was equally critical of the leaders of the
Opposition parties for their self-contradictory stand on various issues relating to the summit. First, some parties and leaders from the Opposition decided to boycott the high tea given by the Pakistani Ambassador to India in honour of General Musharraf and then changed their stand. It was disgraceful on the part of Opposition leaders to hang around to have an audience with General Musharraf while he was busy with leaders of the Hurriyat Conference at the controversial tea session. Such behaviour was not confined to particular individuals, but was related to the dignity of the entire nation. It appears that the vote bank politics has warped the
sensibility of the political leaders of this country, he added. He wondered why an invitation sent by the Pakistani High Commission, to the leaders of Hurriyat Conference for the tea party, made an issue by the Centre. He said it was unwise on the part of Mr Vajpayee to go to the summit without any agenda. He had a dig at the media for unnecessarily creating a hype on the Agra affairs. The former Premier wondered why the agencies of the country failed to anticipate the moves of the military leader. He gave a clean chit to the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ms Sushma Swaraj’s statement during the course of the summit, which the Pakistani military
establishment made an alibi for the tough and public posturing of the General Musharraf. She said nothing which should be objectionable to India or Pakistan. She acted as the spokesperson for India. “Does General Musharraf want her to represent their voice as a minister in the Government of India ?”, he asked. Taking serious objection to the alleged foreign policy drift of the Vajpayee government, he said it was only India which had given legitimacy to the
usurpation of power by General Musharraf. His ascension to power had been opposed by the Pakistan’s Supreme Court, the Oppostion parties and a large section of the people in his own country. Due to hard stand of India against General Musharraf after he overthrew the elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the two meetings of the SAARC could not be held. Suddenly the present government did a volte-face and invited him. He said he was for talks to restore normalcy in the Jammu and Kashmir, but not the way the present government approached the issue. In response to a question, he said the demand of the ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir for a greater autonomy should not outrightly be rejected. Any formula which was within the ambit of the Constitution was worthy of consideration. It was not only the National Conference that had demanded for a greater autonomy. Such demands were being also raised time and again for other regions of the country. Giving his views on the economic policy, Mr Chandra Shekhar criticised the present trend of globalisation. He said there are reports that the Centre was planning to dispose off the four airports in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi to private parties at a cost of Rs 3,500 crore. The Centre must review its present disinvestment policy, he added. |
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Sampat mobilises support for
rally Fatehabad, July 22 The minister was talking to mediapersons at the local Papiha Tourist Complex during a meeting last night. He was here to mobilise public support for the July 24 Bhiwani rally of the party. He said the total food grain production in the state in 2000-2001 had been 126.45 lakhs tonnes, which was an all time record. Further the state government has been able to provide full MSP to its farmers irrespective of the quality of grains, he claimed. The MSP of Rs110 per quintal for sugarcane, being given in the state was also highest in the country. The state government has taken steps to set up two sugar mills in the state so that farmers were able to sell their sugar cane crop at their nearest mills. The minister said the INLD government had taken several steps in the field of education. Earning while Learning scheme had been started under which students could earn up to Rs 960 per month by sparing 45 minutes per day in teaching work or working as a lab assistant, he said. The state government had started 11 engineering colleges, four polytechnics, six MBA colleges, 17 MCA colleges, 8 pharmacy colleges and 14 Hartron Workstations in the past two years. The minister said that under the Sarkar Aapke Dwaar programme, the state government had announced 13,220 projects in the first phase and 14,141 projects in the second phase. While the projects announced during the first phase had almost been completed work on the projects announced during the second phase was on, he said. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr O.P. Indora, the SP, Mr Hanif Qureshi and the ADC Mr C.R. Rana, were present at the meeting. Earlier, Mr Sampat Singh toured Kheri Burki, Kirdhan, Jevra, Kirori, Kirara, Sham Sukh, Nangthala, Meerpur, Kaliravan, Fransi and Khasa Mahajan villages on the first day of his three day tour of Bhattu Kalan assembly constituency. He said the state government had decided to celebrate July 24 as Pragati Diwas to make the completion of its two years in power. |
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Literacy level up by 11 pc: Joshi Sirsa, July 22 This was stated by the Union Minister for Human Resources Development, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, here late last night. He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the building of the local Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 constructed at a cost of Rs 2 crore on the local Kanganpur road. Dr Joshi said the Centre was committed to provide basic education to every child by 2010-11. He said the government wanted to provide modern scientific education and link it with Indian culture and heritage. He claimed that due to the efforts made by the Central Government, the level of literacy had increased by 11 per cent, besides making a substantial leap in female literacy. He said that according to the UNDP report, India had made steady progress in the field of education. He said the government was also working on providing computer education in all languages in the country. He said Indian scientists had prepared a computer that would cost only Rs 9,000 and even an illiterate person should be able to use it. Earlier, Dr Joshi laid the foundation stone of a state-level Navodya Vidyalaya in Shergarh village of the district. The school, to be named after the late Devi Lal, will be constructed over 100 acres at an approximate cost of Rs 20 crore. Dr Joshi announced that the bio-technology centre at Kurukshetra University would also be named after Devi Lal. The Union Government had provided a grant of Rs 1.50 crore for the centre, he said. On the occasion, the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, came up with a plan for radical improvement in the education system. He said that keeping in view the celebration of “Women’s Empowerment Year” this year, some higher educational institutions for women might be started in this educationally backward area.
UNI |
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Doctor booked for
sonography Faridabad, July 22 The district health authorities had launched a campaign against ‘illegal’ sex-determination tests being run by various clinics, this trend has adversely affected the male-female ratio in the state in the recent years. According to a complaint lodged by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr B.S. Dahiya, who has been appointed the appropriate authority in this regard, the accused, including Dr Satya Narain Indora, proprietor of City Ultrasound in Ballabgarh town of the district, Mr Parveen Kumar, a compounder at this clinic and Mr Rohit Sharma, proprietor of Narain Laboratory in the NIT Area, have been charged with performing ultrasonography on pregnant women at the two ultrasound clinics”. It is alleged that no record of the “work” (as mandatory under the PNDT Act) was maintained and produced before the inspection team, indicating their ‘malintention’ to hide sex-determination. It is claimed that in spite of repeated visits and notices served, the accused had failed to file any replies or produced the relevant records. The complaint filed in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Y.S. Rathore states that a thorough examination of the case had led to the conclusion that all accused were engaged in the illegal determination of sex of foetus. The ultrasound machine was reportedly also carried to other clinics whenever required. The accused have been booked under various Sections of the PNDT Act. Sections 3 an 18 and Section 6(a) 6(b) are punishable. Under Section 23 of the Act, the punishment can be up to three years. As per Section 5 (read with Rule 10), not obtaining written consent of a pregnant woman before conducting a ultrasonography is punishable under Section 23 of the Act. This is reported to be the second such case in the country so far. The court will hear the case on August 17. |
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Contests mark Space Day
celebrations Kurukshetra, July 22 The centre Project Coordinator, Mr S.Kumar, said that although, it was the first step of the man, yet, it was considered as the giant leap for the mankind. It was also a landmark in the field of space exploration. Komal Bansal of Shrimati Shugni Devi Girls Senior Secondary School, Ladwa, and Piyush of Geeta Niketan Aavasiya Vidyalya, Kurukshetra, won the second and third prizes, respectively. In the open house space quiz contest, Vineet of Geeta Niketan Aavasiya Vidyalya, Kurukshetra, secured the first position while Shubhangi of the same and Gagandeep of Aggarsain Public School got the second position jointly and Manju Rani of Shirmati Shugni Devi Girls Senior Secondary School, Ladwa, was placed at the third position. Consolation prizes were also awarded in both the categories. About 125 students drawn from various schools participated in the contests. |
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Ajit’s induction PM’s
prerogative: Chautala Chandigarh, July 22 He claimed that he had never talked about pulling out of the NDA on the Ajit Singh issue and attributed media reports regarding his threat as “imagination of press reporters”. “Cabinet expansion is the prerogative of the Prime Minister and I never wanted to poke my nose in such matters”, the Chief Minister told reporters at a press conference here this evening. The press conference was organised to list the INLD government’s achievements during its two years in office. However, as soon as Mr Chautala finished his presentation on his government’s performance, he had to face a barrage of questions on Mr Ajit Singh’s induction as the Union Agriculture Minister despite the strong opposition to the move by the Haryana Chief Minister. Mr Chautala, however, stuck to his stance that Mr Ajit Singh was “an unreliable person”, and added that he would continue to criticise the RLD leader in the rallies which he would be addressing in UP. “Yesterday I told Mr Vajpayee as well as Mr Advani about the fickleness of Mr Ajit Singh; both Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani had a hearty laugh at my remarks”, Mr Chautala said. When a reporter pointed out to him that nevertheless Mr Ajit Singh was inducted in the ministry and given the important portfolio of agriculture, Mr Chautala said it was the prerogative of the Prime Minister. “Personally I have nothing against Mr Ajit Singh; I do not like the way he functions”, the Chief Minister said. “I am a blind follower of Mr Vajpayee, but I withdrew support to his government when I felt that his government’s policies were going against the farmers. Similarly, I will watch Mr Ajit singh policies regarding the farmers before taking any step against him”, Mr Chautala said. On the question of a possible tie-up of the INLD with the BJP and RLD for the UP Assembly elections, Mr Chautala said the NDA partners could also fight the election on their own symbols. “Let the elections be announced first, than we will decide how to fight “, he said. He admitted that he had a meeting with BSP leader Ms Mayawati and said he would cooperate with anyone who would support the cause of a separate state for western Uttar Pradesh. “Even support from Mr Ajit Singh for creating a separate western Uttar Pradesh is welcome”, Mr Chautala said in reply to a question. |
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Judge inspects district jail Sonepat, July 22 According to official sources, the judge expressed “satisfaction” at the speedy completion of the conversion of industrial shed into barracks to house the inmates. During the last inspection of the jail in March, the judge had recommended to the state government for converting the industrial sheds into barracks. During the inspection, the judge was informed by the inmates that they are living in new barracks and their living condition have “improved” considerably, the sources added. The judge also directed the authorities to speed up the construction work of two more barracks and complete it within four months. The judge also desired that a refrigerator and at least 25 ceiling fans be provided in the jail dispensary and the barracks. He directed the authorities to send the proposal in this regard to the state government immediately, the sources added.
PTI |
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Recovery of house tax by
year-end Hisar, July 22 Addressing mediapersons here today, Mr Subhash Goyal, Local Bodies Minister, said because of faulty policies of the previous governments arrears of house tax due from government departments had piled up. The government planned to make local bodies self-dependent. He said the department had already recovered 40 per cent of the arrears and the rest would be recovered soon. After this the government would also take strict measures to recover the arrears from private house owners. Mr Goyal said the draft of the new house tax policy was ready and the new policy would be implemented from September 1. The people could submit objection letters from August 1. The minister said the government had also decided to bring uniformity in road tax in Haryana. It would help increase the income of the local bodies department, he added. Mr Goyal said the government had completed almost all the developmental projects announced by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, during the first phase of ‘sarkar apke dwar’ programmes. He said Haryana would have surplus power in two years. Work on the sixth unit of the Panipat Thermal Plant had started. It would generate additional 50 lakh units and would help provide more power to farmers. The minister said his department had also decided to beautify 24 towns in the state. The government would sanction separate projects for the purpose. |
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Bhiwani rally criticised Ambala, July 22 Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Surendra Singh said Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala was holding the Bhiwani rally by misusing government machinery. He alleged for the Bhiwani rally, vehicles were being taken away from the owners to ferry people to the rally site. He said the Chautala Government had failed to keep its promises made to the people at the time of elections and now the anti-people policies of the INLD Government were hurting the residents. Mr Surendra Singh said the state government had been seeking loans which were not being properly utilised. Progressive programmes by Mr Bansi Lal had been put on the back-burner by Mr Chautala and the inaugurations now conducted by Mr Chautala were actually started by Mr Bansi
Lal. |
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Inquiry sought into purchase of
meters Kurukshetra, July 22 Stating this here today, manch convener Ms Sudesh that the convention was held to protest against the increase in power tarrif, the new electricity meters and privatisation of electricity supply. It demanded the cancellation of the new meters’ forcible installation by the Haryana Government. Ms Sudesh said that the convention alleged that the purchase of new electricity meters had nothing to do with the electricity theft and line losses, because grabbing of a big amount of commission being the mission behind this purchase of new electricity meters could not be ruled out. In another resolution, the convention expressed resentment over the government’s decision, saying that electricity rates would further be increased in August. It demanded a decrease in electricity rates. She further said that the convention also urged upon the government that the Haryana Electricity Board should be restored by reuniting its bifurcated nigams. |
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Rarely flows the Tangri Ambala, July 22 Water flows in the Tangri only during the rainy season, and a flash flood becomes an occasion for the residents of Ambala to go out and watch the spectacle. Apart from offering this occasional show, this rivulet that virtually grazes the boundaries of Ambala Cantonment plays little role in the life of the town. This seasonal rivulet which originates in the Shivalik Hills, goes over parts of Ambala district to join the Markanda which finally empties into the Ghaggar. Except in the monsoon months, it remains dry all the year round and sand from its bed is used in construction work, although builders prefer sand from the Markanda, which is only a few kilometres away, for its better quality. Before a bridge was built on it, traffic on the Ambala-Jagadhri road used to remain suspended whenever the Tangri rose. Apart from making an occasional show of rage, the Tangri offers an easy outlet to the sewers of the town and absorbs about 5000 cusecs of sullage every day. Sometimes high flood in the river blocks this outflow and the backlash of the drains spreads the sullage in some of the outlying localities. A four-kilometre embankment, built and maintained by the Drainage Department, protects the town from the flood waters of the Tangri. This embankment has withstood the fury of the flash floods and has rarely been breached. The last time the Tangri broke through the embankment was in the mid-70s when large areas of Ambala Sadar were inundated. Since then floods in the Tangri have not touched Ambala. Now a gate has been installed to prevent the water from flowing into Ambala. A pumping set has also been put up to drain away rain water. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr D.D. Gautam, says that since the log shutters at Jansui head have been replaced with metal shutters, flood control has become more effective. Mr Anil Vij who represents Ambala Cantonment in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, however feels that the Administration should watch out for illegal constructions close to the river bed. |
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1 killed, 12 hurt in accident Ambala, July 22 The injured were admitted to the local Civil Hospital, Ambala City and two of them, Kamaljeet and Vimal, were later shifted to the PGI, Chandigarh. The deceased has been identified as Ram Karan. The driver and conductor of the bus and the driver of the canter also sustained injuries in the accident. The Inspector General of Police, Ambala range, Mr H.S. Ahlawat, visited the accident site. He also met the injured in the hospital. |
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Honour
coalition politics: Kohli Ambala,
July 22 BJP office-bearers from Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra and Panchkula participated in the meeting held in Ambala City. Mr
Kohli said the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, must
honour the politics of coalition. He said in coalition politics there
were certain norms which must be honoured by the coalition partners
and this was not being followed by Mr Chautala. |
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Mass contact plan of Cong “a success” Faridabad, July 22 Speaking to reporters here, Mr Hooda said the programme, “Congress gaon ke chaupal mein”, had been received well so far. He added that if the response was any indication, the resentment among the residents was increasing and the Chautala Government might not survive for long. In reply to a question, Mr Hooda said his party, if voted to power would reverse all “anti-people” decisions of the Chautala Government. |
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CM to lay stone of
Gymkhana Club Faridabad, July 22 In addition to this, Mr Chautala will also lay the foundation stone of water supply schemes at Kail-Gaon and Chand-hut villages. Mr Chautala will also attend the opening ceremony of “Hero-Honda” agency, owned by the district “INLD” President, Mr Devinder Chauhan at Palwal. Mr Chautala, will inaugurate the administrative block of a new building of Government College for Women, Faridabad, tomorrow, an official press note said here today. It added that the building of the college, built in 1987, was not big enough to cater to the needs of the college. The new block consisting of 12 rooms and a hall for library was constructed for the purpose, the press note added. |
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Bharatiya Surajya
Manch launched Panchkula, July 22 The vice-president of the Haryana unit, Mr Bhaskar Arya, said the Election Commission had given recognition to the party and the work of establishing units in states around Haryana had been initiated. The president of the unit, Mr K.C.
Garg, said the objective of the new party was to weed out corruption from the system, which was the cause of all ills. |
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Two held on graft charge Rohtak, July 22 According to an official press note issued by the Public Relations office last evening, Krishan Lal Goyal, an ‘arhtiya’ of the local New Grain Market, complained to Deputy Commisioner Anil Malik and SSP A.S. Ahlawat that Food and Supplies Department Inspector Shiv Narain Sharma was demanding Rs 46,500 as bribe for issuing a certificate for the wheat purchased during the last procurement season. A raiding party, comprising SDM Yashender Singh and DSP (City) Kartar Singh Hooda, was constituted to trap the culprit. Mr Sharma and a clerk, Phool Kawar, were caught while receiving the bribe money, which was confiscated by the raiding party. A case under various Sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) was registered at the local city police station against the duo. UNI |
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Youth beaten to death Faridabad, July 22 Ajay, a resident of Kalyanpuri Jhuggi located in the National Highway-III area was beaten to death by another person yesterday night. The victim, a workshop worker was hit repeatedly with an iron rod by the accused identified as Dharamvir. He died on the spot. The cause of the murder is not known. Ms Raisa, wife of Bheem Khan, of Bhadkhal village was killed after she was hit by a truck near her village, on Saturday. Manju, a waste collector died of diarrhoea at her house in Jawahar Colony here. In another incident one Om Prakash of Maujpur village got drowned in village pond, after he slipped into it. Chhotey Lal of Ballabgarh was run over by a train, while Bajrang Singh of Tilpat village died under mysterious circumstances. |
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