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Wednesday,
December 25,
2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Cong soft on ultras in J&K: Chautala Haryana signs MoU with US firm Bhaniarawala appears in court YEARENDER — 2002 HARYANA AICC constitutes disciplinary panel |
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Jagmohan to visit Kurukshetra Surplus teachers not to be retrenched No tinkle, only a bill Power bills can be deposited on December 26, 28 Hooda condemns school demolition Camp students meet Governor Body of missing girl traced Jeweller robbed Special trains for
Shimla
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Cong soft on ultras in J&K: Chautala Nilokheri, December 24 The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering in this town, 15 km from Karnal, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Swami Brahma Nand. Swami Brahma Nand was the Guru of the Ror community which is settled in over 86 villages of Karnal, Kurukshetra and Kaithal districts. The meeting was organised by the Ror Maha Sabha led by Mr Dharampal Sidhpur, INLD, MLA (Nilokheri). Clarifying his charge, Mr Chautala alleged that after the taking over of the Mufti Mohammad Syed Government militant activities had increased in Jammu and Kashmir. It was because of the soft attitude of the PDP-Congress coalition and the Congress was directly responsible for increase in militancy as it was a part of the government. Mr Chautala while pleading the case of farmers demanded that more facilities should be given to the agriculture sector. He called upon the farmers to diversify their activities and take to floriculture, horticulture, dairing and fissiculture. Mr Chautala also announced the opening of a college in Nilokheri to be named after Swami Brahma Nand. He also conceded the demand of the Ror Mahasabha to name the Sector eight crossing in Karnal’s Urban Estate area as Swami Brahma Nand Chowk where a statue of the Swami would be installed. The Chief Minister said the NDA government has decided to put a picture of Mr Devi Lal in Parliament Hall. He asked the Ror community to strengthen their unity and roots. |
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Haryana signs MoU with US firm Chandigarh, December 24 The MoU was signed by Dr B.S. Dahiya on the behalf of Director, Health Services, Haryana, and President and CEO of USDAHIYA, Dr Rajvir Dahiya, here last evening. According to the memorandum, USDAHIYA will conduct all medical testing, including various malignancies, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders and auto-immune diseases in the state at no cost to the state government. Dr Dahiya said the proposed diagnostic centre would use gene and protein-based technology for the early detection of various diseases. He added that the method, now prevalent in the USA, would be transferred to Haryana and the proposed centre would be unique in terms of the latest technology. Official sources claimed that patients would have to pay only the discounted rates for the tests. The samples for the tests would be collected from all 19 districts of the state and tested at one centralised site based on mutual agreement between the two parties. The Chief Medical Officer of each district would be responsible for collection and storage of samples. The company would make arrangements for picking up the samples and provide results within a week. Initially, only tests for cancer would be carried out which would be followed by other tests. The accuracy, sensitivity and reliability of all tests would be controlled by standards prevailing in the USA, the sources said. In another development, the Health Department of Haryana had placed under suspension Ms Manohar Indira, multi-purpose health worker of sub-centre Bara under the Indri community health centre in Karnal district. Action was taken against her for dereliction of duties during the last pulse polio campaign in November, the sources said and added that the erring medical and para medical staff of Faridabad, Gurgaon, Hisar and Sonepat would also be chargesheeted for laxity in performing duties during the immunisation programme. |
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Bhaniarawala appears in court Ambala, December 24 The matter heated up when supporters of the SAD and the SHSAD gathered outside the court premises, raising slogans against Bhaniarawala when he was produced in the court of the CJM, Mr Surya Pratap Singh, here today. Senior Akali leaders, Mr Kartar Singh Takkar and Mr Sukhdev Singh Gobindgarh, led the agitation. Following prior announcement of the protest by the Akalis, the police was already deployed on the court premises. When Bhaniarawala came out of the court, the Akali workers raised slogans in front of his vehicle. Soon after he left the court premises under tight security the situation became more tense as his supporters clashed with Akali workers. Some even threw chairs of the court canteen and stones on one another. The police had resort to a mild lathi
charge to control the situation. Mr Takkar and Mr Gobindgarh later met the SP, Mr Hardeep Singh Doon and expressed concern over the arrest of one of their workers. They threatened to block the national highway. Meanwhile, the CJM adjourned the hearing in case No. 161 of Bhaniarawala till January 6. Counsel for Bhaniarawala also filed an application in the court of the CJM in which they alleged that some protesters misbehaved with them and threatened them with dire consequences if they did not withdraw themselves from Bhaniarawala’s cases. Taking to mediapersons, Bhaniarawala said his followers had submitted a memorandum to the Punjab Chief Minister regarding the protest of the Akali workers. They demanded more security for Bhaniarawala. |
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YEARENDER — 2002 HARYANA Chandigarh, December 24 If the Congress under Mr Bhajan Lal provided a rallying point to the urbanites and non-Jats in the State, a more serious erosion in the mass base of the ruling party was seen in the agitations launched by sections of farmers, who had been the rock foundation of the INLD for years. However, the INLD supremo, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, put up a brave front in the face of these challenges. Given the kind of hold he has on his party MLAs, Mr Chautala could afford to remain unperturbed. Unmindful of the unfriendly portents held by the BKU agitation at Kandela or at Shahabad against the alleged irregularities in the election of a cooperative sugar mill, Mr Chautala went to foreign shores thrice in a year, a record of sorts for a Chief Minister of at least northern states. What had been the cost-benefit ratio of the visits, purportedly undertaken to bring foreign investment, remains mired in a controversy. But behind the brave front, Mr Chautala, the
shrewd strategician he has proved himself to be, undertook an exercise to finetune his administration as the challenges arose. The moment Mr Bhajan Lal took over as the Congress President, the INLD MLAs started getting the attention which they had been missing for the past three years. Projecting himself a true democrat, Mr Chautala did not hesitate from backtracking from his earlier hard stands on various issues. The same Chief Minister, who had been refusing to talk to the BKU leaders, describing them as antisocial, climbed down to talk to them the moment things seemed to be going out of control. He went to the extent of giving compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to those who were killed in the police firing during the BKU agitation at Kandela. The compensation was paid on behalf of the INLD as a device to save the prestige of the Government. Even such pretension was dropped in the case of the five Dalits mercilessly lynched to death at Dulina in Jhajjar district by a mob, which mistook the victims for cow slaughterers. The incident, which took place on the Dusehra day (October 15) shocked the conscience of the entire nation, the INLD Government was slow to react. Only when national leaders, including the AICC President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi; and the U.P. Chief Minister, Ms Mayawati; descended on Haryana to condemn the incident and to sympathise with the victims, did the Chief Minister visited the bereaved families and announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh to each of the unfortunate families. Earlier, the families of the victims had refused to accept the cheques of Rs 1 lakh sent to them by the State Government. The Government took its own time to take action against the police or members of the mob, giving an impression of weakness on its part. However, when it decided to act against the guilty private persons, there was no turning back. Once the message was clear that the administration meant business, those who had earlier resorted to violence to protest against the arrest of their colleagues, meekly
surrendered. The year would also be remembered for the new low the Assembly proceedings touched. The controversial Haryana Casino Bill was passed in a special session of the House without allowing the Opposition to speak on it. Both the Congress and the HVP announced their resolve to abrogate the law once they came to power. But the Congress could not match the HVP in putting up a systematic protest against the Bill. While the HVP held rallies against the Bill at all district headquarters, the Congress leaders did their duty by merely issuing statements. The State witnessed several political rallies during the year. Mr Bhajan Lal drew good crowds at "felicitation rallies" organised in several districts, infusing enthusiasm among party workers. In response, the ruling INLD organised a mammoth rally at Jind to celebrate the birthday of its founder, Mr Devi Lal. Despite the year being relatively rough, as compared to the preceding two years, Mr Chautala's amazing hold over his MLAs remained unabated. Those who had hoped to see the fall of the Chautala Government after Mr Bhajan Lal took over the reins of the Congress, were disappointed. Close supporters of the former Chief Minister conceded in private that it was virtually impossible to dislodge Mr Chautala from power before the Assembly elections due in early 2005. |
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AICC constitutes disciplinary panel Chandigarh, December 24 While the DAC will be headed by a former MLA of Nilokheri, Mr Jai Singh Rana, its other members are Mrs Kartar Devi, a former minister, Mr Hari Singh Nalwa, a former MP, Rao Narender Singh, MLA, Mr Mani Ram Keharwala, a former MLA, Mr Heera Lal, advocate, Mrs Shanti Rathi, a former minister, Mr Shakrullah Khan, a former minister, and Mr Virender Shah. Meanwhile, a party spokesman, Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, today said a rally would be organised at Jhajjar on December 29 under the “Chautala Hatao, Haryana Bachao” programme of the Congress. It would be presided over by Mr Bhajan Lal and addressed, among others, by the Secretary of the AICC, Mr V. Hanumantha Rao, and senior leaders of the state unit. He said the rank and file of the party had fanned out in the area to mobilise people to participate in the rally in a big way. A former MLA, Mr Kuldip Bishnoi, younger son of Mr Bhajan Lal, addressed meetings in the Bahadurgarh area yesterday to appeal to the people to participate and express resentment with the Chautala government by participating in the Jhajjar rally. |
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Jagmohan to visit Kurukshetra Kurukshetra, December 24 The Deputy Commissioner said the project had been envisaged by the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). The project involves the presentation of the Bhagwad Gita. Mr Likhi directed all officers to complete the work assigned to them well in time so that the light-and-sound project could be inaugurated next month. |
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Surplus teachers not to be retrenched Chandigarh, December 24 While stating this here today, an official statement said priority would be given to those teachers who would voluntarily opt for posting in the
SSA. Those opting for the SSA would continue to get salaries from the state government. The statement added that services of Sanskrit teachers would be utilised for teaching Hindi. This would enable them to get absorbed in teaching another subject and save them from getting declared surplus. Fresh recruitments would be made after the rationalisation exercise was over, it said. No teacher would be retrenched, the statement said. It also urged teachers and lecturers not to be misled by rumours being spread by vested interests. It, however, warned that the government had taken serious note of the manner in which some teachers were found absent during school hours. |
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No tinkle, only a bill Kaithal, December 24 Rai Singh, son of Ujagar Singh, resident of Kheri Sheru village of this district was shocked after receiving a telephone bill from the BSNL for the period when no telephone was installed at his residence. He applied for a telephone connection at his residence in April last year. To his utter surprise, he received a bill in August this year for Rs 1037 for the period June 6 to July 31 though no telephone was installed at this address at that time . He brought this lapse to the notice of the department officials. But failing to get any relief he filed a case before the District Consumer Forum. Following this complaint, the department installed the telephone at his residence under on September 24. But the department was prompt in disconnecting the telephone on September 26 for the non-payment of the bill issued earlier. All pleas of the subscriber to the department officials to restore this connection and not to charge the rent and other levies fell on deaf ears. As if it was not enough the department again sent him a bill in October for Rs 231.Failing to get any relief from the department Rai Singh has sent two representations to the Union Minister for Telecommunications Mr Parmod Mahajan, on he is yet to receive any reply. |
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Power bills can be deposited on December 26, 28 Hisar, December 24 He said the consumers could avail of the DHBVN’s ongoing surcharge waiver scheme on these holidays. Under this scheme, complete surcharge of those domestic, non-domestic and agricultural consumers of rural areas who paid their arrears in one go was waived off. The scheme, launched to benefit the drought-affected consumers will end on December 31. The consumers wanting to settle the cases out of court under another DHBVN scheme will also be attended to on these days. Under the scheme, the DHBVN has offered the consumers the facility to settle the disputes out of court. |
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Hooda condemns school demolition Chandigarh, December 24 In a statement issued here today, Mr Hooda alleged that the illegal demolition was carried out in the middle of the night and motivated by political vendetta. Two years ago, he said, a murderous attack was made on Mr Khajaan Singh during a farmers’ agitation in which he was seriously injured. Out of revenge, the government cancelled the affiliation of the school, but it was restored on the intervention of the high court. Alleging that the INLD government was indulging in such activities to demoralise the Congress workers, Mr Hooda said the Congressmen would not be browbeaten by such actions, which would prove costly to the ruling party in the long run. |
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Camp students meet Governor Chandigarh, December 24 During the interactive session with the students, Babu Parmanand was accompanied, among others, but his wife Sudesh Kumari, and his Secretary, Mr Vijai Vardhan. Babu Parmanand said the participants got an opportunity to live like a family in such camps, where they learnt a lesson in national unity, universal brotherhood, cooperation, discipline, leadership and mutual love. The convener of the Haryana Branch of the Nehru Bal Sangh, Mr Ashwani Sharma, thanked the Governor for encouraging the students. |
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Body of missing girl traced Yamunanagar, December 24 She was reported missing on Sunday evening (December 22) when she went out of her house at 6 pm after watching the television. Her family members tried their best to find her whereabouts but all in vain. Announcements were also made through the loudspeakers but to no avail. It was around 4 a.m. today when someone informed the family about a plastic bag lying at their doorstep. When the family members opened the bag they found the body of Poonam. There were no marks on her body. |
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Jeweller robbed Ambala, December 24 The incident took place at about 7.45 p.m. when the jeweller, Sandeep Jain, was going home from his shop in Batase Wali Gali near Jain Bazar. He was accosted by three youths on a motor cycle. One of the youths snatched the bag containing jewellery after throwing chilli powder on his face. When the jeweller raised the alarm, local people gathered there. The youth who had snatched the bag reportedly threatened them with dire consequences, if anyone dared to hold him back. Thereafter, the group escaped. The jeweller told the police that the bag contained 45 gold chains in boxes. An eyewitness is said to have told the police that he could identify the culprit. |
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Special trains for
Shimla Kalka, December 24 According to Mr R.K. Dutta, Station Superintendent, Kalka Railway Station, first holiday train will leave from here for Shimla at 6 am and the second will leave at 12.35 pm. The rail car will start its journey from Shimla at 11.30 am. Mr Dutta said there was heavy rush of passengers this year especially of tourists from Bombay. |
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Summons to SDM, others Sirsa, December 24 |
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