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Wednesday,
September 10, 2003, Chandigarh, India
  
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New police force in Haryana
soon Youth Cong workers court
arrest Cong MLAs ride cycles in
protest |
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MLAs owe Rs 37,000 to Haryana Bhavan BJP submits memo to
Governor HIGH COURT IAS officer told to join probe Once in power, HVP to remove Tau’s
statues Soil fertility on the
decline 8 tonnes of poppy husk
seized 10-year jail for smuggler Man shot dead Students continue protest
against murder College student drowned Concession on bus travel
allowed
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New police force in Haryana
soon Chandigarh, September 9 Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala told the House today that this decision had been taken after the government realised that it had to pay the Centre for using the services of para-military forces like the CISF for performing guard duties. The new police force would also provide additional employment opportunities to the youth of the state. He was intervening during question hour. Earlier the Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Ram Pal Majra, informed Mr Hamid Hussain(INLD) that while 1198 new vehicles had been provided to the police under the Chautala Government, only 205 and 362 new vehicles were provided to the force, during the regimes of Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Bansi Lal respectively. Health Minister M.L. Ranga, told Mr Bhagi Ram(INLD) that 180 couples had so far benefited under the Devi-Rupak Scheme launched to check the declining sex ratio. Out of these, 164 couples had gone for sterilisation after sons were born as their first child, while 16 couples went for sterilisation after daughters were born as the first child. |
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Youth Cong workers court
arrest Chandigarh, September 9 A large number of demonstrators, who were slated to gherao the Haryana Assembly on the inaugural day of the monsoon session, were stopped at Matka Chowk and taken to the Sector 17 police station. The demonstrators broke through the first barrier put up by cops but stopped in front of the second line of defence erected by the police with the help of iron barricades. The police briefly used water cannons before the volunteers courted arrest and were taken to the police station in buses. While all activists were later released, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, IYC President, Mr Satwinder Singh Sandhu, President of the IYC’s Haryana unit; Mr K.S. Nagra, IYC General Secretary; Mr Pradeep Ziladar and Mr Devinder Yadav, IYC Secretaries, and Mr Bhupinder Singh Phogat, Vice-President of the IYC’s state unit, however, were booked. They would be kept in the Burail jail till September 12. The Haryana Youth Congress would burn effigies of Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala in all district headquarters against the arrest of these office-bearers, IYC spokesman Bhupinder Singh Bhupi said. Even as the demonstrators were prevented from going to the assembly complex, commencement of the session today ensured the participation of some Congress MLAs in the IYC programme. Four party MLAs — Mr Bhajan Lal (PCC chief and a former Chief Minister), Capt Ajay Singh Yadav (Deputy Leader of the CLP), Rao Narinder Singh and Mr Sher Singh addressed the volunteers who had come from different parts of the state. Others who addressed the gathering were Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, Mr Tejinder Singh Mann, a former Haryana minister, and Mr Satpal Kaushik, a PCC Secretary. Attacking the government for setting up a university named after Devi Lal, Mr Bhajan Lal said if the Congress came to power, it would have a fresh look at the decision. The Congress was not opposed to having more centres of higher education but the government should have taken the students of various districts into confidence before affiliating their colleges to the new university. He said naming the university after Devi Lal was a bizarre decision since the latter did not have much education nor did he make any significant contribution in the field of education. Mr Surjewala said there could have been a hospital or some welfare scheme for the farmers named after Devi Lal but not a university. About the fee hike in the educational institutions, the IYC chief said the government wanted to deprive the poor of higher education. While unemployment was staring the educated jobless youth in the face, he alleged. Mr Tejinder Singh Mann questioned the government decision to disaffiliate colleges from prestigious institutions like Kurukshetra University and Maharshi Dayanand University and attaching these to the new university. |
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Cong MLAs ride cycles in
protest Chandigarh, September 9 They not only violated the ban but were also able to protest against the Haryana Government virtually right upto the doorstep of the Vidhan Sabha. The MLAs rode on bicycles from the MLAs’ Hostel in Sector 3 to the Vidhan Sabha carrying placards and raising slogans against the recent hike in bus fares in Haryana, lathi charge on newsmen in Rohtak, affiliation of Bhiwani and Jind colleges with Choudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa, and the “murder of democracy” by the Chautala Government. The policemen on duty were perplexed and did not stop the protesting MLAs, even at the entry point on the outer security ring of the Capitol complex. For sometime the protesting MLAs were stopped at the outer gate of the Vidhan Sabha, which was locked by securitymen. However, when the MLAs insisted that they could not be stopped from participating in the Vidhan Sabha session, they were allowed entry into the assembly premises on bicycles. Mr Hooda said they had decided to ride bicycles, because after the recent bus fare hike, the common man in the state could not afford bus travel. While the men had no problem in riding bicycles, Mrs Anita Yadav, President of the Haryana Mahila Congress, struggled for a few minutes before she regained her touch. In the process she reached the Vidhan Sabha gate a few minutes after her male colleagues. Mr Hooda was accompanied by Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, Deputy Leader of the Congress Legislature Party; Mr Jai Prakash
Barwala, Rao Dharam Pal, Dr Raghbir Singh Kadian, Mr Jatinder Malik, Mr Shadi Lal
Batra, Rao Inderjit Singh, Rao Narinder Singh and Mr Daan Singh. |
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MLAs owe Rs 37,000 to Haryana Bhavan Chandigarh, September 9 According to the reply given by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to Mr Karan Dalal, RPI MLA, a former minister in the Bhajan Lal Cabinet, Mr Chhattar Pal Singh, who was involved in a controversy over the alleged misbehaviour with an airhostess, tops the list with Rs 11,538.45. Another former minister, Mr Birender Singh, is yet to pay Rs 3315.45 to Haryana Bhavan. A minister, Mr Mohammad Illyas, is not far behind Mr Birender Singh with an outstanding amount of Rs 3062.70. Mr Dharambir Singh, MLA, owes Rs 2910.50. Another minister, Mr Kartar singh Bhadana, is in default of Rs 49.90. The other defaulter MLAs are Mr Bhagi Ram(Rs 631.85), Rao Inderjit Singh (Rs 195.95), Rao Dharam Pal (Rs 30.45), Mr Jagjit Singh (75.90), Mr Deena Ram (Rs 100.65), Mr Daryao Singh (Rs 296.45), Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Rs 40.15), Mr Dharam Pal (Rs 45.10), Dr Raghbir Singh Kadian (Rs 227.70), Mr Ranbir Singh (Rs 310.95), Rao Daan Singh (Rs 82.50) and Mr Ramesh Kumar Khatak (Rs 116.60). Among the former MLAs who are in default are Swami Agnivesh, Mr Ved Pal, former Deputy Speaker; Mrs Shanti Rathi and Mr Subhash Katyal (both of whom were ministers also), Ms Medhawi Kirti, grand-daughter of the late Jagjivan Ram; Mr Partap Singh Daulta, first Communist legislator from Rohtak district; Mr Azmat Khan and Mr H.S. Chatha, former Speaker. |
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BJP submits memo to
Governor Chandigarh, September 9 This was alleged at a press conference here today by senior party leaders, including Mr Krishan Pal Gurjar, Leader of the BJP Legislature Party; Mr Ram Bilas Sharma; a former minister; and Dr Sudha Yadav, MP. They said not only were residents of the area being discriminated against in the matters of development, educational facilities and jobs but prominent leaders of the area were also being implicated in false cases. They said the problem of drinking water was so acute in the area that residents of many villages had been boycotting all elections in protest against the government apathy. An 11-member party delegation, which included Ms Sarita Narain, Mrs Veena Chhibber, Mr Chander Bhatia, Vaid Kapur Chand and Mr Kanwar Pal (all MLAs), and Mr Sita Ram Singla and Dr (Mrs) Kamla Verma, both former ministers, submitted a memorandum to the Governor, Babu Parmanand, seeking his intervention to end discrimination against southern Haryana. The memorandum also demanded that the ‘false’ cases against Rao Narbir Singh, Dr Dharamvir Yadav, both former ministers, and Mr Rajinder Singh Lodha and Mr Dalip Singh Yadav, both former Chairmen of the Kanina civic body, should be withdrawn immediately. The party also demanded immediate action against the officials allegedly responsible for the beating up of BJP legislators at Faridabad on March 15. The delegation alleged that the state government was protecting these officials. The BJP leaders said the Rewari civic body had donated 20 acres and 27 rooms for setting up a regional centre of Maharashi Dayanand University It regretted that instead of completing the project, the government had even abolished postgraduate classes in certain subjects. The delegation also demanded that the Kanina Municipal Committee should be re-established.
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HIGH COURT Chandigarh, September 9 Pronouncing the order in an open court after dismissing an appeal filed by the convict, Mr Justice Gill ruled that mercy could not be shown to an accused in heinous offences where a minor had been raped. Faridabad resident Chet Ram was earlier sentenced to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment by an Additional District and Sessions Judge after holding him guilty of the offence. He was initially booked by the police for rape under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code after the victim’s parents informed the cops about the incidence in April, 1987. According to the prosecution, Chet Ram had entered the victim’s house when the parents were away. At that time she was playing with a 10-year-old boy. After coming in, Chet Ram had asked the boy to fetch water from a tap before taking the victim to a jhuggi on the pretext of taking the measurements of her clothes. There the accused had handed over 75 paise to the victim before gagging her mouth with a cloth and raping her. Claiming to be innocent, the accused had submitted that he was being framed. When confronted with the incriminating evidence, the victim had asked for a trial. Counsel for the petitioner had argued that the girl had never been raped. After going through the documents and hearing the arguments in the case, Mr Justice Gill ruled that there was nothing to show that the children were tutored. The judge added that otherwise also the case inspired confidence. Moreover, the victim’s statement had been corroborated by other prosecution witnesses. As such there was no infirmity with the trial court’s order and the appeal was being dismissed. Local commissioner Taking up a case filed by construction company Ansal seeking the provision of external services for a colony being set up at Gurgaon, a Division Bench of the High Court appointed advocate M.S. Guglani as a local commissioner to visit the site and submit his report. The Bench, comprising Mr Justice S.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice S.S. Saron, asked Mr Guglani to inspect the site thoroughly and give details of the infrastructural services in the report. |
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IAS officer told to join probe Chandigarh, September 9 The court had earlier stayed her arrest in the case registered at Chandigarh by the vigilance wing. She was asked to join the investigations as and when required. Appearing before the court, UT standing counsel R.K. Handa submitted that Ms Sharma had not joined the investigation as directed by the court. Counsel for the petitioner, on the other hand, asserted that Ms Sharma was ready to join investigations as and when required. After hearing the arguments, Mr Justice Jasbir Singh directed that Ms Sharma would join the investigation on September 11 at 10 am in the vigilance office in Sector 9. The IAS officer was apprehending arrest in a case registered in Chandigarh on May 3 under Sections 406, 420, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code. According to the prosecution, the case was registered after an inquiry was conducted into the allegations against the IAS officer on the complaint of her mother. She had accused Ms Sharma of getting documents pertaining to her house forged. |
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Once in power, HVP to remove Tau’s
statues Kaithal, September 9 He promised that power rates for all types of consumers — agriculture, domestic, commercial and industrial — would be reduced to provide relief to the financially overburdened people of the state. He accused the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, of misleading the people by giving exaggerated figures of power generation in the state. He assured that all house owners would be granted exemption from house tax and the house tax levied on other properties would would also be rationalised. Mr Bansi Lal took exception to the naming of the Sirsa university after the late Devi Lal, stating that the affiliation of a number of colleges with this university was a cruel joke on students. |
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Soil fertility on the
decline Hisar, September 9 According to a study conducted by the university, due to intensive farming and cultivation of high-yielding varieties by farmers over a long period, the soils of the state have started showing signs of fatigue. This is due to overmining of soil nutrients notwithstanding the increase in the consumption of chemical fertilisers from 2.9 kg per hectare in 1966-67 to 154 kg per hectare in 2000-2001. During this period the state, however, recorded a five-time increase in foodgrains production. The study says that, in future, with further increase in foodgrains production, the nutrient imbalance in soils is bound to increase, which will in turn result in multi-nutrient deficiencies in crops as well. The study “Nutrient Status of Haryana Soils” conducted by the Soil Sciences Department, said 91.5 per cent of the soils in the state were low and 7.9 per cent medium in organic carbon content which is an index of nitrogen availability. Similarly, 70.3 per cent soils were low, 25.4 per cent medium and 4.3 per cent high in available phosphorus. The available potassium status had also declined in different areas with 5.3, 33.2 and 61.5 per cent soils in low, medium and high categories, respectively. The status of micro-nutrients in soils was also not different because 25 per cent area of the state was deficient in available phosphorus, while deficiency of zinc, iron, manganese and copper was found to exist in 54, 21, 4.4 and 2.6 per cent soils. The gap between the amount of nutrients absorbed by the plants from soils and the quantity of nutrients applied in the soils is the major reason for the depletion of soil nutrient status. Scientists fear further decline in the fertility of the soil unless the gap is bridged. To check the decline scientists have advised farmers to apply only optimum quantities of fertilisers based on soil-testing and abundant use of organic manures, green manures and biofertilizers. |
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8 tonnes of poppy husk
seized Fatehabad, September 9 The SP, Mr K. K. Rao, said on a tip-off and a police party headed by Mr Ram Kumar, DSP (City), Fatehabad and Mr Balbir Singh, Inspector, Crime Investigation Agency (CIA),
Fatehabad, put up a naka on the Matana road ‘T’ point on the national highway. When the police stopped a truck (RJ 01G-5655), its driver, identified as Hira Lal, escaped in the darkness. The police, however, nabbed conductor Surjit Singh, a resident of Rania road, Sirsa. On search of the vehicle, police found 200 bags of poppy husk placed beneath the heaps of empty gunny bags. The police said that the consignment belonged to Manish Kumar, a resident of Rania road Sirsa and it was to be delivered at his defunct factory situated in Sirsa. The police has booked the accused under Sections 15, 27, 61 and 85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Mr Rao further said under that drive the police registered 42 cases against an equal number of people and seized 28 pistols, 11 knifes and 69 cartridges from them. |
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10-year jail for smuggler Kurukshetra,
September 9 Confirming this here today, the district police chief, Mr Desraj Singh, said that on the basis of a secret information, a police party raided the premises of the poppy husk smuggler, Jaswant Singh, a resident of Professor Colony, Cheeka, 45 km from here on December 8, 1999, and during the raid, 68 bags of poppy husk were seized from the godown of the accused and a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act was registered against him. He said the said case was lying
pending under consideration in another court, but it was transferred to the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Kurukshetra, recently. |
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Man shot dead Fatehabad, September 9 According to reports, Tek Ram was convicted in a murder case in 1991. Four persons were murdered in a dispute over the possession of a property. Earlier, Tek Ram was arrested in a case pertaining to the murder of Boria Ram, resident of Dharsul Kalan village. After coming out from jail, Tek Ram had allegedly again tried to take the possession of the land but the authorities thwarted the attempt and the land was attached under Section 145 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Tek Ram, had come to the hospital to meet his old jail mate Hoshiar Singh, who was admitted to the hospital. |
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Students continue protest against
murder Sirsa, September 9 A large number of students of the ITI gathered outside the ITI and held a demonstration, demanding the arrest of those behind the murder of Suneeta, an ITI student. They went to CMK National Girls College and tried to force their way on to the college campus, but failed. |
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College student drowned
Yamunanagar, September 9 Jatinder Sharma, alias Bunti, student of BA I at Mukand Lal National College here, went along with his four friends in their car to the barrage, about 35 km from here, for a picnic yesterday. They were having cold drinks when Jatinder slipped and fell into water.
His friend tried to save him but failed. They reported the incident to Khizrabad police station. The police swung into action and later divers were called but were unable to trace the boy till this afternoon. |
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Concession on bus travel
allowed Chandigarh, September 9 A spokesman of the Police Department said today the employees would have to pay Rs 70 per month to avail the facility.
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Opposition to the new Devi Lal University at Sirsa dominated the speeches at a demonstration organised by the Haryana unit of the Indian Youth Congress at Matka Chowk here today.
Haryana Congress MLAs led by the Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today found a novel method to circumvent the permanent prohibitory orders imposed under Section 144,
Cr.P.C. around the Capitol complex.
