 |
Monday,
September 24, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
|
INLD has betrayed people:
Congress BJP providing ‘social justice’ Army help sought to defuse bombs Controversy over stone crusher
zone Alarming rise in flouride
level |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
6 boys burnt by high-tension wire Call to boycott
those who help Punia’s daughter Passenger train coach
catches fire From zero to hero NCP to hold kisan
mahasammelan
|
|
INLD has betrayed people:
Congress Rewari, September 23 Addressing a well-attended public meeting in Rao Tula Ram Park, senior Congress leader, Mr Madhav Rao Scindia, criticised the Vajpayee government on the foreign policy saying that the country had been relegated in the community of nations. Referring to the USA’s battlecry against terrorism and its hunt for Osama bin Laden alleged to be behind the recent attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon, and the NDA government’s “alacrity in extending unqualified support” to
it, he said that the Union Government pursued directionless policy on the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Scindia was here as the chief guest at the public meeting organised to pay homage to the martyr’s from Haryana. The
function, organised by Rao Tula Ram Sahidi Samaroh Samiti led by former minister and senior Congress leader Rao Inderjit Singh, was on the occasion of death anniversary of Rao Tula
Ram, the local hero of 1857 freedom struggle. He substantiated his charge saying that the Prime Minister unilaterally took decision for the bus ride to Pakistan which resulted in Kargil war. Then the Centre
declared ceasefire but did not pursue the final goal to create conducive atmosphere in Kashmir. The Centre first said it would have no truck with all those related to militancy in the state. It somersaulted to release the terrorists from jail, without even consulting the elected government headed by Mr Farooq Abdullah in Jammu and Kashmir. It declared that it would not have talks with Pakistan till it stopped abetting terrorism. But, Mr Vajpayee suddenly invited Gen Pervez Musharraf for the Agra summit and got a rebuff in the bargain. He also referred to the plane hijack and the government acceding to their demands. The Foreign Minister took the terrorists along with him to Kandahar to be released. According to the observers this was the most pointed attack by the Congress on the Center on issues relating to Kashmir and terrorism, after the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Mr Rao Inderjit Singh, who is also the son of former Chief Minister, Rao Birender Singh, criticised the present government for shifting the venue from Rewari for observance of martyr’s day to other parts of
Haryana. This was with a view to belittle the importance of the occasion, he added. Incidentally, it was Rao Inderjit Singh’s function all the way. His supporters from the area of Ahirwal belt in south Haryana had apparently made it a point to come to Rewari, the nerve-centre of Ahirwal politics, to demonstrate the popularity of their leader. The public sat for nearly five hours in the scorching heat till they heard the last speaker. Mr Rao Inderjit Singh, who presently MLA from Jatusana Assembly in this district, alleged that the present government discriminated against south Haryana. He vowed to launch a relentless struggle to bring justice to the area. The President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Bhupinder Singh
Hooda, who presided over the meeting, alleged that the state government failed to redeem the poll promises of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. He wondered if the state government had taken any policy decision in favour of the farmers and labourers. Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister of Delhi, Mrs Sheila Dixit, criticised the state government of not giving ample compensation to the farmers whose land was acquired by it. A former HPCC President, Mr Birender Singh, demanded that the existing water in the state be equally distributed in the state. He made out a case that south Haryana was discriminated against by all successive governments in the state in distribution of water. Significantly, four Congress MLAs from south Haryana, Mr Rao Dharam Pal, Capt Ajay Singh, Mr Rao Narender and Mrs Anita Yadav, were absent. This was attributed to their opposition to Mr Rao Inderjit Singh. A former Chief Minister, Mr Bhajan Lal, was also absent. A message from the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, was read out by the Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC), Satyajit Gaekward. She wished the people of Haryana well. In her message she extolled Rao Tula Ram for his fight against the British imperialism. Those present included Mr Mahender Singh Yadav, Mr Kamal Yadav — both Congress MLAs from Delhi, Mr Zakir Hussain, Mr Dharamvir Singh and Mr Rao Daan Singh — all Congress MLAs from Haryana and Mr Dharmavir Gauba and Dr Kripa Ram Puniya — both former ministers from Haryana. |
|
BJP providing ‘social justice’ Fatehabad, September 23 The Union Social Justice Minister, Mr Satyanarayan Jatiya, the Minister of State, Mr Muni Lal, the state BJP president, Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, its national unit General Secretary, Mr Sangh Priya Gautam, and party’s national unit president of the Anusuchit Morcha, Mr Ram Nath Kobind, addressed the rally. Addressing the rally, Mr Jatiya said the Atal Behari Vajpayee government at the Centre had been trying to provide social justice to all sections of society. He said the very fact that
there was no injustice was meted out to anyone in the present regime implied that social justice was being provided to the weaker sections of the society. He admitted that women were still victims of social injustice, but added that it was for the society to look in to it and find remedies. He said no policy of the Central Government could succeed unless it got the backing of society. He said the government formulated policies but it was for society to help in the implementation of these. He said the government had launched a “sarva shiksha abhiyaan” under which it was compulsory for all children under the age of 14 to attend school. But this campaign was not possible to succeed unless society cooperated in this. The Minister of State for Labour, Mr Munni Lal lauded the role of Dalits in society. He said the Dalits were “sevaks” who served the nation selflessly. He castigated the Congress, which, he said, had exploited the Dalits for more than 40 years. He said the
Congress did nothing for the welfare of the Dalits and it treated them as its pocket boroughs. He urged the Dalits to trust the BJP and it would not let them down. The BJP state unit president, Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, said the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, had done the nation proud in the international arena. He said Mr Vajpayee was the first leader to raise the issue of terrorism at an international forum. Now almost all nations of the world were feeling the need to combat terrorism. He said the BJP was the only party that could provide efficient government at the Centre. He called upon the Dalits to rally behind the BJP, which, he claimed would take care of their needs. |
|
Army help sought to defuse bombs Ambala, September 23 The labourers who were digging a trench for laying telecom cables had not realised that the metallic object found by them was a bomb. When a number of these were found during digging, they reported the matter to their supervisor who realised that these could be explosives. There are 37 live bombs and one fired explosive which have been neatly laid down in rows in the six-foot deep trench with telecom cables passing right through them. The likelihood of there being more bombs in he vicinity could not be ruled out. Superintendent of Police Sandeep Khirwar said the Army authorities had been contacted. “The bomb disposal squad will have to do the needful,” he said. Police officials believe the bombs could be about five decades old and could have been utilised as artillery shells. Similar bombs are believed to have been found at Pehwa as well as Rai Purani. |
|
Controversy over stone crusher
zone Chandigarh, September 23 While on the one hand residents of Dhoj are opposed to the setting up of the crusher zone on the grounds of pollution, on the other hand fears have been expressed that there will not be any transparency in the allotment of 77 plots in the zone, which is being developed by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). The usual procedure adopted by HUDA for the allotment of plots is either a public draw or a public auction so that there is no complaint of favouritism. However, the plots in the Dhoj crusher zone will be allotted on the basis of suitability to be determined by the Mines and Geology Department after studying the project reports and interviewing the applicants. Those who are in the business of stone crushing say the procedure to be adopted by the department cannot be free from the element of
discretion (read political interference). It is no secret that irrespective of the party in office, mines used to be given on lease not on merit but on the basis of the political connections of an applicant. Recently, the allotment of a number of mines made on a lease basis by the Bhajan Lal government was cancelled by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. It goes to the credit of the present Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, that he has decided that in future all mines will be auctioned. However, one fails to understand why the system of auction cannot be applied to the plots in the crusher zone, which are likely to command a hefty premium. The allotment of the plots through the process of interviews, says a secretary of the Haryana Congress, Mr Sat Pal Kaushik, is bound to be exploited by unscrupulous politicians and bureaucrats. He says if the plots are put to auction, not only will Mr Chautala save himself from the charge of favouritism but also more revenue will accrue to the exchequer. |
|
Alarming rise in flouride
level Faridabad, September 23 According to Central Ground Water Board Sources, this has come to light after recent studies and surveys by the department. It has been revealed that while the flouride level in South-Eastern and South-West of the town has been nearing the “danger” mark, the level in some other areas has been hovering around the level which could become dangerous in the near future. If no corrective measures are taken the above average level of flouride in drinking water could make the residents vulnerable to flourisis. Excess salts in water lead to ‘yellowing’ of teeth and related disorders. This has been noticed among several residents here. Such disorders have become common in some parts of South Haryana, of which Gurgaon, Rewari and Mahendergarh are prominent. While the average level of flouride in drinking water should be around 1.5 mg per litre, it has risen to 7 to 8 mg per litre in several parts. According to experts one of the main causes of the problem has been the use of certain kind of raw materials by factories manufacturing steel and steel products, aluminium, bricks and coal. Such factories dispose off the waste and polluted water through boring wells, and as a result, the pollutants keep mix with the underground water. One of the sample taken from the NiT area, a few months ago has been found to be around 7.88 mg. It was between 0.5 to 4.0 in some other areas. The samples were taken from the depth of about 55 to 120 metres. Similarly the survey reports have also found presence of other ‘hard metals’ in the water used for drinking. Although it is treated with chlorine and other chemicals, the ‘hardness’ of water is still a feature in many areas. A housewife in Sector 22 said that water was not totally fit either for drinking or washing purposes. Several residents have been depending upon ‘mineral’ water supplied by private firms. |
|
6 boys burnt by high-tension wire Faridabad, September 23 All of them have been admitted to the local B.K. Civil Hospital where five of them are reported to be serious. According to some eyewitnesses, the victims identified as Neeraj (14), son of Sri Kishan, his cousins, Pankaj (10) and Rahul (11), Alok (15), Rajesh (7) and Narender (12) were playing near Haryana Senior Secondary School located in ‘F’- Block of the colony when at about 2 pm. The high-tension wire of about 20,000 kw, fell on the ground, a few feet away from them. This led to the sparking and an explosion which created a crater of about one-and-half feet. The children got burnt by the sparks and flames of the broken wire. Senior officials who also rushed to the hospital reportedly assured full help to the victims. It is learnt that the Civil Hospital doctors have referred the seriously burnt children to Safdurjung Hospital in Delhi. |
|
Call to boycott
those who help Punia’s daughter Hisar, September 23 The decision was taken in a meeting held at Litani village near here today. The participants alleged that Sonia along with her husband’s relatives brutally murdered the Punia family. It decided that if any resident of the area would meet Sonia, her husband Sanjeev or her other relatives the Punias would boycott them socially. Expressing resentment over the tardy pace of investigations, the samiti members demanded a CBI probe. They were of the view that only the CBI could investigate the case properly. The samiti chief, Mr Bhim Singh said a delegation would meet the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, soon to urge him to hand over the case to the CBI. |
|
Passenger train coach catches fire Sonepat, September 23 The passengers got down immediately and informed the driver, who with their help succeeded in extinguishing the fire, they said adding that no one was hurt in the incident. The cause of the fire was being ascertained, the police said.
PTI |
|
From zero to hero Hisar, September 23 Vinod Kumar, B.Com-II student, applied to Kurukshetra University for the re-evaluation of his Business Statistics paper after he found that detailed marks card showed zero award. The boy received a letter from the university saying a discrepancy, that had crept in the detailed marks card had been removed and his marks were 88. The university has asked the student whether he was still interested in
re-evaluation or refund of re-evaluation fee?
UNI |
|
NCP to hold kisan
mahasammelan Chandigarh, September 23 |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
