H A R Y A N A

Huge debt behind plot to kill ex-minister
Panipat, January 24
A former Haryana Minister, Mr Om Prakash Jain, plot to kill whom was unearthed by the police on January 21, today admitted that he and his brother owed a large amount of money to several financial institutions, including Karnal-based Rakesh, who allegedly hired a gunman to kill the minister.

Christian converts shed identity Kaithal, January 24 Hundreds of families who converted to Christianity over 100 years ago and were settled by the British in Haryana villages by giving them land are now shedding their Christian identity in a bid to join the mainstream of rural Haryana. Their younger generation has completely discarded Christian names and reverted to Hindu names. Many have even started using the surnames they had before their forefathers converted to Christianity.

Yamunanagar poll not friendly match: Gujjar
Chandigarh, January 24
Mr Krishan Pal Gujjar, Leader of the BJP in the Haryana Assembly, has warned that the irreverence shown by Mr Om Prakash Chautala to the BJP’s claim to the Yamunanagar Assembly seat may cost the latter dear.

Security beefed up in Haryana
Chandigarh, January 24
In the wake of the terrorist attack on the US Information Center, Kolkata, two days ago, the Haryana police has decided to strengthen security for VVIPs, VIPs and foreign dignitaries visiting the state.

Huge debt behind plot to kill ex-minister
Tribune News Service

Panipat, January 24
A former Haryana Minister, Mr Om Prakash Jain, plot to kill whom was unearthed by the police on January 21, today admitted that he and his brother owed a large amount of money to several financial institutions, including Karnal-based Rakesh, who allegedly hired a gunman to kill the minister.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Jain, however, refused to divulge the details of total borrowings saying that borrowings were an integral part of the trade. When asked how much amount they (Jains) owed to Rakesh, he evaded the question saying that his brother, who managed his business, might be knowing the amount.

Saying that there was unprecedented recession in their oil and rice trade, Mr Jain claimed that the principal amount was returned to Rakesh.

It may be recalled that the police had arrested three persons on the night of January 20, including main accused in the sensational Joginder Kaur murder, Sandeep, and exposed a plot to kill Mr Jain and kidnap his son allegedly at the behest of Rakesh. Sandeep allegedly had been promised Rs 1 crore to eliminate Mr Jain, the police had claimed. Rakesh was also arrested later.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Jains owed crores of rupees to the Haryana Financial Corporation, the SBI and Rakesh. Sources said the Jains owed at least Rs 7 crore to HFC alone.

The case relating to financial matters with the SBI was pending before the BIFR and its ruling would be honoured by us, Mr Jain added.

Christian converts shed identity
Raman Mohan

Kaithal, January 24
Hundreds of families who converted to Christianity over 100 years ago and were settled by the British in Haryana villages by giving them land are now shedding their Christian identity in a bid to join the mainstream of rural Haryana. Their younger generation has completely discarded Christian names and reverted to Hindu names. Many have even started using the surnames they had before their forefathers converted to Christianity. These families are now celebrating Hindu festivals like Divali, Lohri and Holi along with Christmas.

Chhota Samtokhmajra and Bada Santokhmajra are two Christian-dominated villages near Rajaundh, about 25 km from here. There are now about 150 Christian families left in the twin villages. Their forefathers had come from all parts of India, including Bengal, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They were mostly low-caste Hindus who adopted Christianity and were rewarded with agricultural land by the British. Several other such families are settled elsewhere in Haryana.

A visit to these villages revealed that the younger family members have not been given Christian names. Almost every school-going child has a Hindu name.

Mr Joseph is a schoolteacher in Rajaundh and hails from Santokhmajra. His forefathers shifted here after they were allotted land on conversion to Christianity about 70 years ago. He has two sons, both of whom have Hindu names. He says, “We do not want the younger generation to be identified as members of a minority community. We want to be a part and parcel of the rural mainstream.” He, however, added that this was not because they felt insecure as a minority community, claiming that there had never been any problems with members of different communities in the village. He said they celebrated Hindu festivals as the members of other communities joined them in celebrating Christmas.

However, the impact of Hindu culture is evident on the younger generation. None of the Christian students in the government school at Rajaundh could tell this correspondent who Mother Mary was. Nonetheless, they rattled names of Hindu gods and goddesses with extreme ease. This is despite the fact that they attend the service in the village church every Sunday morning.

Though Mr Joseph was not very forthcoming, another middle-aged Christian resident of the village was more candid. He said they were finding it hard to find suitable matches for their children. Their choice was limited to the families settled in rural Haryana since their urban counterparts shunned them. It was, therefore, necessary to shed the Christian identity and gradually mingle into the mainstream.

He was also honest enough to admit that most of them continued to be Christians because they got preference for admissions to Christian educational institutions and jobs in mission hospitals and schools.

Yamunanagar poll not friendly match: Gujjar
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 24
Mr Krishan Pal Gujjar, Leader of the BJP in the Haryana Assembly, has warned that the irreverence shown by Mr Om Prakash Chautala to the BJP’s claim to the Yamunanagar Assembly seat may cost the latter dear.

Talking to TNS here last evening, Mr Gujjar said that Mr Chautala should not trivialise the issue by dubbing the Yamunanagar poll a “friendly match” between the BJP and the INLD. “Elections are fought between opposing parties, not between friends”, Mr Gujjar said.

Mr Gujjar, who was on his way back from Yamunanagar, where he accompanied the BJP candidate when the latter went to file his nomination papers, said that it would be better for Mr Chautala to withdraw the INLD candidate.

“Otherwise we will ask the BJP’s central leadership to review the alliance with the INLD”, Mr Gujjar said. “Mr Chautala should not deprive the BJP of its legitimate share in Haryana because the BJP did not entertain his desire of becoming a part of the BJP-led alliance in UP”, he added.

Security beefed up in Haryana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 24
In the wake of the terrorist attack on the US Information Center, Kolkata, two days ago, the Haryana police has decided to strengthen security for VVIPs, VIPs and foreign dignitaries visiting the state.

While stating this here today a police spokesman said the Director-General of Police, Mr M.S. Malik, had already directed all range Inspectors-General of Police, the Deputy Inspector-General, Railways and Commandos, the DIG, CID, and all district SPs to strengthen the security arrangements.

He said special attention would be paid to the security of multinational establishments, particularly those having affiliation with the USA. Special security arrangements were being made for the Republic Day functions in the state.