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Monday,
May 20, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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CM to ‘blame’ for power arrear
mess No talks till proxy war ends:
Swami
Solve farmers’ problems through talks:
Hooda |
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Chautala lays stone of water scheme
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CM to ‘blame’ for power arrear
mess Fatehabad, May 19 Mr Hooda said the state government had backed out of the agreement reached with the farmers at the Kandela meeting. He said before coming to power, it was Mr Chautala who instigated farmers not to pay their power bills. Now the issue had boomeranged on him. Ms Selja demanded that the government must stop misleading the farmers. She asked the government to withdraw the criminal cases registered against them, withdraw non-bailable warrants issued against them and sort out matters through peaceful negotiations with the farmers’ representatives. The Congress leaders alleged that the INLD government that had been claiming to be a champion of farmers’ cause stood exposed before the people now. Mr Hooda said the government had neither been able to get a fair deal for the farmers from the Central Government nor had it done anything worthwhile itself in the interests of the farmers. Terming the 75 per cent power bill waiver scheme of the state government as an eyewash Mr Hooda and Ms Selja alleged that the state government was trying to befool the people by announcing such schemes. They said that the waiver was less than the enhancements on the power arrears by way of interest, penalty and other enhancements made on the original power bills. The Congress leaders also ridiculed the suggestions of the Chief Minister to the farmers that they should grow flowers instead of wheat and paddy. The Congress leaders reminded Mr Chautala that he was the Chief Minister and not an opposition leader and, therefore, he should come out with some concrete package instead of giving mere suggestions. The two leaders said if the Chief Minister wanted the farmers to grow flowers, he must first provide infrastructure for that. He should provide enough water, marketing facilities and MSP for the flower crops. They said in case the Chief Minister was not able to provide all this, he should not mislead people by giving such suggestions. The HPCC President claimed that the Congress had never advocated waiver of power bills but it stood by its policies of cheaper power, more water, employment to all and own state capital. On the charges of the state Chief Minister, Mr Chautala, that he was instigating the farmers, Mr Hooda said he never instigated the farmers not to pay their power arrears. He said he had gone to the Kiloi meeting of the farmers in the capacity of a farmer and there, too, he had asked the farmers to settle the matter through peaceful negotiations. On the question of repeated rumours of his replacement with a new HPCC chief, Mr Hooda said he was appointed to this post by the AICC President, Ms Sonia Gandhi. He said he would remain HPCC President till Ms Sonia Gandhi wanted him to remain there. |
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No talks till proxy war ends:
Swami Assandh (Karnal), May 19 Mr Swami condemned the attack on a military camp by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists at Kaluchak and termed it a “despicable and cowardly act”. He stated that steps would be taken to counteract such attacks. Talking about rural development in the country during the Vajpayee regime, Mr Swami said the Centre had been spending about 60 per cent of the budget on it while earlier this expenditure was confined to 15 per cent only. He disclosed that under the Prime Minister’s road construction programme, the Centre would spent Rs 80 crore for the construction of roads in Haryana. He added that Rs 8 crore would be spent in Karnal and Panipat areas. He further disclosed that under another programme, all villages would be provided potable water in the coming five years. Two districts from each state would be selected for the purpose. At present 50 villages of Karnal and Yamunanagar districts were being covered under the scheme. |
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Solve farmers’ problems through talks: Hooda
Sirsa, May 19 Reacting to the threats of the Chief Minister Mr Om Parkash Chautala published in the press today in which he is quoted having said that Bhupender Hooda should be prepared to face the consequences if he dared to tell the farmers not to clear their electricity bills Mr Hooda accepted this challenge and said his party supported genuine demands of the kisan union. He said in fact today’s problem of bill pendency was the creation of Mr Chautala himself who used to promise farmers free electricity and water and waiving pending bills if he came to power. Congress President and the secretary of the Indian National Congress Ms Selja who was here to participate in a dharna organised at the local Gandhi Park as part of the chain of demonstrations to oust Narendra Modi announced that on May 21the state Congress would organise a sadbhavana divas and stage a dharna at Chandigarh under the ‘Remove Narendra Modi movement’. Ms Selja describe her personal experience of Gujrat and said situation is pitiable there. She said that congress’ demand of Narendra Modi’s removal was not a political one. Both these leaders said there was breakdown of law and order in the state and it had been reported that farmers in Jind who were fighting peacefully for their demands had met with bullets. |
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Chautala lays stone of water scheme Ambala, May 19 He said drinking water would be provided to all villages. He said water works stations of many villages had been upgraded. He had also directed the district authorities to fill ponds of the village so that cattle could get water easily, he said.
Karnal, May 19 |
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