N C R   S T O R I E S


 

Judeo issue will echo in elections
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 19
The Judeo bribery episode will have its echo in the Delhi Assembly elections too with the Congress planning to use it to expose the “corrupt face” of the BJP.
“The latest corruption scandal shows the corrupt face of the party, which swears by the name of Ram,” Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) Spokesman Jagdish Tytler said today, referring to the bribery scandal involving former Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Dilip Singh Judeo.

Mr Tytler was talking to reporters at a luncheon meeting organised by the DPCC to introduce to the media the party’s 70 candidates contesting the December 1 polls. The luncheon meeting was significant as it sought to project a united image of the Congress amidst reports of rebellion before and after the ticket distribution.

“We are all one and are fighting elections together,” said DPCC president Ch Prem Singh, a candidate from Dr Ambedkar Nagar, who is seen as a power centre within the party and has not hidden his unhappiness over the “skewed distribution” of the party tickets.

“We will unitedly win the elections.... The rebels are of no consequence,” Ch Prem Singh said.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who is facing 18 rival candidates, including Poonam Azad of the BJP in Gole Market, said her party would romp home easily, but she refused to predict the number of seats it would get. “I am not an astrologer.... I can’t say how many seats we will get, but we will definitely win the elections,” she remarked.

Other candidates were equally confident and said that the work done by the Congress government in the last five years will hold them in good stead. The electorate in the nation’s Capital was intelligent and educated and they know who has done what.

Both the leaders and the candidates said that anti-incumbency factor was of no consequence in Delhi because the “incumbency had done a lot for the beleaguered city”.

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Young blood high on confidence, oldies 
ride on credibility
Tribune News Service


Poonam Azad, Alka Lamba

New Delhi, November 19
They may not have the experience that age bestows, they may not even have the political acumen, but the young women who have taken on the chief ministerial candidates in the forthcoming elections are high on confidence.

While Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and her arch rival, BJP’s Madan Lal Khurana, are banking on their credibility, which they have garnered over the years, the young challengers, Poonam Azad and Alka Lamba, are playing the age card.

Their contention, “It is time for the youngsters to take lead,” is their ammunition against their seasoned opponents. Out to avenge her husband’s defeat in 1998, Poonam Azad poses a challenge to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in Gole Market while BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana will have to defeat Alka Lamba from his Moti Nagar constituency.

The “oldies,” however, remain unfazed by the confidence and certitude of the “young blood”. Mr Khurana has dismissing his rival’s claims, contending that one cannot emerge a winner merely by being young. He asserts that one needs to have done some political work.

However, his opponent Alka, a former Delhi University student leader, is gung-ho about the fact that she has been chosen to “defeat” Khurana. She also remains unfazed by Mr Khurana’s claims that she is “an outsider”.

For former cricketer Kirti Azad’s wife Poonam, the poll plank will be “Sheila’s failures,” which according to her are: “Neglect of her constituency and being inaccessible to the people”.

The chief minister, too, is confident that her report card will see her through. She asserts that her people know the work that she has done and will vote for her. Ms. Dikshit is also banking on her “clean image and good governance”.

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campaign trail
When people have a hard time 
recognising their candidate
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 19
The BJP candidate contesting from the Okhla Assembly constituency, Rajpal Singh is a happy man. To show support to him, the Okhla Subji Mandi Association president Hakeem Rahman along with a delegation of Muslims weighed him against coins and offered him full support during the elections.

Singh, who presided over the Panchayat at Kheerdrabad, a village in Okhla, also went campaigning in Bharat Nagar, SFS Flats in East of Kailash and addressed a public meeting in Sriniwaspuri.

He has promised his people a better quality of life and of bringing the government closer to the common people.

The Congress candidate from Haus Khas, Prof Kiran Walia, claimed to have received the support of the women in her constituency.

Prof. Walia pointed out that her people are happy with the development work carried out by her during the last five years.

Speaking of her achievements, she lists the changing of corroded water and sewer lines, setting up new electric transformers, relaying roads and establishing coordination between the RWAs.

Committing to repair the roads inside the villages and providing facilities to the residents, Congress candidate from Babapur Assembly constituency, Vinay Sharma addressed the crowds in Harijan Basti, Kardampuri and Kardampur village.

Jaiskishan, the Congress candidate from Sultanpuri, undertook a padyatra in different blocks of resettlement colony: Sultanpuri and Jwala Puri, Bhim Nagar, Udyog Nagar and Sultanpur Majra village.

The BJP’s candidate from Kamla Nagar, Surya Prakash claims that in his constituency it is going to be a “one-sided election trail”. The reason for his confidence, “the sitting MLA Shaadi Lal of the Congress never visits his constituency”.

He said that when he went canvassing, the people mistook him for Shaadi Lal. One only wonders if the identity crisis works to his advantage.

Manoj Jain, the BJP’s candidate from Minto Road constituency also went canvassing door to door.

He also levelled allegations of misusing the office machinery against his opponent from the Congress.

He complained to the Chief Election Commissioner against some NDMC officials who he claimed were working for the Congress candidate and sought the removal of boards that his opponent has been using for publicity.

Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, BJP’s candidate from the Janakpuri constituency, is confident of the victory in the elections and said that the highways and linking of rivers will take the country in the league of developed nations.

Addressing the crowds here last night, he along with Minister of State for Home I D Swamy and Minister of State for Textiles Shahnawaz Hussain accused the Congress of “creating fear in the minds of the minority communities”.

Kiran Choudhary, the Congress candidate from Delhi Cantt, took a dig at the BJP. She said their Hindutva permits them to praise material wealth over everything else. She was referring to the scams and scandals, which are in the news currently.

Chaudhary also had to counter the remarks of her opponent Karan Singh Tanwar about denying that she owns a vehicle. She accused Tanwar of “fulfilling his political ambitions by going to any extent”.

BJP’s Chandi Chowk candidate Dharamveer Sharma also undertook a padyatra. Paharganj constituency candidate Virendra Babbar inaugurated the part office in Ajmeri Gate during the canvassing.

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Shiv Sena contesting 27 of 70 Assembly seats in Delhi
Tribune New Service

New Delhi, November 19
Having been let down by the BJP, the Shiv Sena has decided to contest as many as 27 of the total 70 Assembly seats in Delhi.
The party claims it is projecting itself as the “third alternative” for the people and also offered that both the Congress and the BJP have so far “failed” to tackle the problems faced by the people in the Capital.

Delhi Shiv Sena president Jai Bhagwan Goyal and party’s leader in the Lok Sabha, Chandrakant Khaire while addressing a press conference, today said his party was very much in the fray in the forthcoming elections.

Hitting out at the BJP, Goyal said like the Pandavas were denied even five villages by the Kauravas in the Mahabharata, his party was not even offered a single seat by the BJP, which is the Shiv Sena’s oldest ally in Maharashtra.

He added that Delhi BJP chief Madan Lal Khurana’s generosity amounted to two seats, one in Seelampur and Jehangirpuri to Shiv Sena.

It was pointed out that while the former has 70 per cent Muslim population, the later is a constituency where the BJP has never won. The choice of constituencies is the reason that his party has abandoned the BJP, Goyal said.

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VHP rules out supporting any party
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, November 19
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has declared that it would not work for any political party in the Assembly elections in the five states of the country.
A spokesman of the VHP told mediapersons here today that the VHP has in the past extended its support to the BJP only on the issue of Hindutava but he regretted that the BJP had not come up to the expectations of the VHP.

He said that the VHP workers had been disappointed on account of indifference of the BJP towards the construction of temple in Ayodhya.

The spokesman declared that no power on earth could stop the VHP from constructing the temple.

He admitted that the organisational set-up of the VHP has not shown its strength and now efforts would be made to strengthen the base of the VHP and one lakh new members would be enrolled soon.

The spokesman said that during the rallies organised on October 15 and October 17 at Delhi and Ayodhya respectively, the VHP had got tremendous response from the countrymen.

He said that the VHP would set up its branches in all the blocks of the state before June next year and on December 6, a programme would be launched on the eve of ‘Shaurya Divas’ and one-day sammelan of the VHP would be held in each district.

The spokesman made a fervent appeal to all countrymen to face the challenges posed by the divisive forces to destabilise the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre and creating chaos in the country.

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Forgers inspired by Telgi scam held

New Delhi: Inspired by the Telgi stamp paper scam, two persons, who used to forge bank drafts of Punjab National Bank, were arrested by the North-West district police. The police also claims to have recovered photo copies of drafts, rubber stamps of Punjab National Bank, Vikaspuri, a floppy containing images of drafts and other things from their hideout. The accused — Vineet Gautam (18), a resident of Shahdara, and Ajeet Singh (19), a resident of Karawal Nagar — were arrested by the police for trying to cheat an electronic goods shop owner by giving a fake bank draft.

On November 18, the owner of Jagota Electronics shop, Madhu Sudan Jagota, reported to the police that he had detained a suspect who was trying to palm off a bank draft of Punjab National Bank worth Rs 2.10 lakh. The police immediately rushed to the spot and found the draft to be fake and arrested the accused Vineet Gautam. During questioning he broke down and confessed to the crime; his associate Ajeet Singh, who was waiting for him near Alpana Cinema, was also apprehended. The police are now looking for another accused, Deepak, a resident of Sahibabad and a computer expert who used to prepare fake drafts.

During interrogation the accused told cops that they were new to the profession. They first attempted to cheat an electronic shop owner in Yamuna Vihar but when the shop owner refused to deliver the goods before the realization of the draft, they had to defer their plan.

In their second attempt, on November 18, they tried to dupe the shop owner in Model Town but were nabbed. Vineet had bought a draft from PNB for Rs 50 and later approached Deepak, a computer expert, for tampering with the draft. TNS

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ON CAMPUS
Probe ordered into death threat to students
Parmindar Singh

Greater Noida, November 19
The students of Ishan Institute of Management and Technology have accused its chairman, Dr D. K. Garg, of having threatened them with death. While the Additional District Magistrate, Mr Raj Mangal, is reported to have reprimanded Dr Garg, District Magistrate L.Venketeshwar Lu has ordered a probe into the matter.

A delegation of the first year students of Ishan Institute of Management met the ADM and accused the chairman of having gone back on his agreement with the administration. When the students sought a fee refund, Dr Garg threatened to have them beaten up, the students alleged.

The MBA students of Ishan Institute of Management in Greater Noida had gone on hunger strike two weeks back on the ground that the institute had not been approved by the Allahabad Agricultural University. According to the students, the institute was only approved as an academic and study centre by the Allahabad University, which can’t be construed as a regular approval.

However, Dr Garg had signed an agreement with the District Administration to refund the fee of the MBA students. The 11 students, whose fee was not paid, had complained to the District Administration yesterday.

The students also complained to the ADM that Dr Garg had threatened to get the students killed by criminals. Mr Mangal cautioned Dr Garg not to go back on his assurance and to refund the students’ fee.

The District Magistrate said that if the institute did not have the approval for running MBA classes, action could be taken against it.

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Balanced approach a must for Delhi’s Master Plan
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 19
The PHDCCI has called for a balanced approach while commenting on the guidelines for the Master Plan for Delhi 2021 to the DDA.
Making the plea to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the PHDCCI said mixed land use in the residential areas would also trigger parking hassles and put greater burden on civic infrastructure.

“The current Master Plan clearly defines separate areas for the residential, commercial and industrial activities which should not be tampered with. And specially while permitting alterations/additions to the DDA flats, due caution must be exercised to ensure their conformity to the structural safety norms,” it said.

It was also pointed out that in the event of considering selected colonies for mixed land use, the conversion cost should be so high that it would serve as a deterrent to such future expansion and conversion in the residential areas.

In the non-residential areas, mixed land use should be allowed only selectively, whenever feasible, to provide for service and techno-commercial activities.

To combat the shortage of land for commercial activities, the new Master Plan should provide for more areas being earmarked for the same, the chamber pointed out.

“The proposal that allows for the concentration of industries to the extent of 70 per cent or more in some non-industrial areas that makes them virtually industrial in use, is strictly against the Master Plan and would lead to further congestion and chaos in the national capital,” it observed.

Instead, the PHDCCI contended, the government’s focus should be on improving the infrastructure in the approved industrial areas and expedite the development of new industrial areas.

Pointing out that poor implementation of the Master Plan had been a major cause for the unplanned industrial activity in the residential areas, it said the fully developed industrial pockets in Delhi where unplanned industrial growth had taken place which were not residential in the Master Plan, should be regularised as industrial areas with provision of requisite infrastructure. The PHDCCI, however, welcomed the proposal calling for promoting active private sector participation in the housing sector. This would lead to the timely implementation of projects, a fall in the real estate prices with increase in supply, it said.

With the new proposals, the land prices would be part of the project’s equity and could be fixed taking into account the market forces.

According to the PHDCCI, higher FAR (Floor Area Ratio) would allow the development of high-rise buildings for accommodating a large number of people, particularly for the redevelopment of unauthorised colonies. As such, adequate provisions must be made to provide infrastructure like water, transportation and sewerage disposal matching with such developments. While allowing the high-rise buildings to come up, implementation of safety norms must be strictly examined, it said. 

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BRAZEN ATTACK
Goons assault excise officials
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, November 19
A team of officials of Excise Department (Sales Tax) were allegedly manhandled and beaten up by a group of goons in the Surajkund area last night. The officials were trying to check the documents of a truck carrying mining material.

According to reports, the excise officials had set up a naka at a spot in the Surajkund area to check the commercial vehicles. One of the trucks, which was carrying some material, did not stop and sped away.

The team chased it till the vehicle came to a halt outside a dhaba on the road. When the officials tried to check the documents and other papers, a group of 15 to 20 persons gheraoed and assaulted them. The accused fled away from the scene soon after the incident. No one was seriously injured in the incident. No case has been registered either.

The matter was reported to senior authorities this morning. It is learnt that many excise and sales officials avoid night duty in the Surajkund-Bhadkhal area, due to inadequate security. Reports indicate that illegal mining was on in the area, despite a blanket ban imposed by the Supreme Court. Involvement of certain influential persons in such an activity could not be ruled out, say the insiders.

Minors raped: At least two cases of rape of minor girls have been reported in the district in the past 48 hours. According to a report, a five-year-old girl at Shiv Colony of Ballabgarh was raped allegedly by one Chanderbhan recently. In another incident, a six-year-old girl was also raped by a youth at Palwal town.

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Four killed in RTV, container collision

New Delhi: Four persons were killed and 17 others injured last night when an RTV collided with a container on the Prahladpur crossing of South district. The victims have been identified as Jeetu (19), a resident of Vishkarma colony, Vijay (19), a resident of Badarpur, Amit (30), a resident of Agra, and Dhanraj (30), a resident of Pul Prahladpur.

The incident occurred at round 10 pm last night when the RTV DL-1V-2569 had a head-on collision with a container (HR-38-A-2044). The RTV was plying between Sangam Vihar and Badarpur.

The accident created considerable confusion in the area and the traffic in the area came to a halt. Bystanders came to the rescue of the accident victims before the police and ambulance reached the spot. The injured were immediately rushed to Apollo hospital and AIIMS, where their condition is reported to be critical.

The truck driver escaped from the spot soon after the accident. The police have registered a case of causing death due to rash and negligent driving. Of late, the RTVs have been involved in a number of accidents in the city. The RTVs try to pick up passengers right in the middle of the road, thus becoming a traffic hazard. TNS

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Martyrdom Day anniversary to be 
observed on three days 
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 19
The Martyrdom Day anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur will be observed by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee on 23rd, 24th and 25th November, 2003 at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib.

A grand Nagar Kirtan in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, decorated in Palki Sahib will start from Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib on 24th November, 2003 and after passing through Chandni Chowk, Nai Sarak, Chawri Bazar, Ajmeri Gate, Pahar Ganj, Chuna Mandi, Panchkuian Road, Connaught Circus, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, GPO, Pt.Pant Marg, will terminate at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in the evening.

A huge congregation will be held at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib on 25th November, 2003. It will start early morning with the recitation of Sukhamani Sahib and Nitnem.

Thereafter, Shabad Kirtan and Asa-Di-Var will be performed by famous Ragi Jatha of Bhai Avtar Singh Ji, Gurcharan Singh Ji. Giani Sant Singh Ji Maskeen will revive the memory of devotees about the unparalleled martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, who sacrificed his life for the sake of religious worship.

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom ultimately gave birth to the creation of the Order of the Khalsa by Sahib Sri Gobind Singh Ji in 1699.

The programme of Shabad Kirtan and lecture etc., will continue till evening. All the devotees are requested to join the congregation to pay homage to the great Guru.

Guru Ka Langar (free community kitchen) will be served to all the devotees irrespective of caste, colour and creed.

Meanwhile, Sardar Paramjit Singh Sarna, president, Shiromani Akal Dal (Delhi) has appointed Jathedar Balwinder Singh Talwandi as press secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi. Jatehdar Balwinder Singh Talwandi was earlier press secretary to the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) Delhi State.

Jathedar Talwandi left Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) on account of anti-Panthak activities of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) under the leadership of Sardar Paramajit Singh Sarna.

Jathedar Talwandi has been an active Akali leader throughout his life and has brought laurels to the Sikh community on account of his unremitting hard work. Sardar Paramjit Singh Sarna has expressed that with his past experience and devotion for the Sikh community, Jathedar Balwinder Singh Talwndi would do his best to serve the community.

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42nd anniversary of battle of Rezangla celebrated 
Our Correspondent

Rewari, November 19
The 42nd anniversary of the historical battle of Rezangla was celebrated under the auspices of the Rezangla Shauriya Samiti (RSS) with full military honours as well as traditional solemnity here yesterday.

It is noteworthy that as many as 114 Ahir jawans of the Charlie Company of 13 Kumaon had made supreme sacrifice while fighting against the Chinese at the Rezangla Post at the dizzy height of 18,000 ft. in the Chushul sector of the Laddakh region on the 18th November, 1962.

The celebrations here commenced with the laying of wreaths, along with military honours, at the Rezangla War Memorial near Dharuhera Chowk here by Lt.-Gen. S.S. Mehta, G.O.C.-in-C of the Western Command.

Among others who paid floral tributes at the war memorial included Major-Gen. Amrik Singh Bhaiya; Colonol of the Kumaon and Naga Regiment, Maj-Gen. A.S. Bajwa; G.OC. of 40 Artillery Division, Lt-Gen. J.B.S. Yadav (VC); Deputy Chief of the Army Staff Col. (retd.) Rao Ram Singh; chief patron of RSS Mrs Neerja Shekhar; Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman of Rewari District Soldiers Board Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav; Deputy leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party (HCLP), the Haryana state JD (U) president, Mr Ved Prakash Vidrohi, and a host of others.

Later in his keynote address delivered at the Rezangla Shauriya Divas Samaroh-cum-ex-servicemen’s rally here, Lt-General S.S. Mehta, who was the chief guest of the function, said that the battle of Rezangla, in which our jawans fought to the proverbial ‘last man last round’, was unparalleled in the annals of war not only in India but in the world as well.

He said that it would be worthwhile for our present young generation to imbibe the spirit of those gallant heroes of the Rezangla war in their own interest as well as in the interest of the nation.

Praising the untiring efforts of the Rezangla Shauriya Samiti, which had been persistently organising the Rezangla Shauriya Divas Samaroh for the last 21 years, Lt-Gen. S.S. Mehta presented two cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to the samiti on behalf of the Chief of the Army Staff and the Western Command respectively.

He also gave cash awards of Rs 2,000 each to Capt. Ramchander Yadav (VC), Capt. Ram Kumar Yadav (VC), Nihal Singh (Sena Medal), Asha Ram (Sena Medal) and Nayak Bhay Ram–all the five survivors of the battle of Rezangla.

As many as 105 war widows of the Rewari region were honoured on this occasion.

The Deputy Chief of the Army Staff, Lt-Gen. J.B.S. Yadav, pleaded for the provision of a Sainik school and a recruiting office in Rewari which was nursery of soldiers while Major-Gen. Amrik Singh Bhaiya gave a brief account of the battle of Rezangla as well as heroic deeds of the Kumaon regiment.

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3-year-old girl among three killed in road accidents
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, November 19
Three persons, including a three-year-old girl, have been killed in the road accidents on the Sonepat-Rohtak Road and suburb in the past 24 hours.
A car driver, Sandeep, was killed on the spot and three others were injured when the car dashed against a tree on the Sonepat-Rohtak Road near Jharot village about 8 km from here last evening.

According to a report, the injured persons were identified as Neeraj, Naveen and Rajesh and they were rushed to the community health centre at Kharkhauda town, wherefrom Rajesh and Naveen were referred to the Sonepat Civil Hospital for further treatment.

The victim and the injured persons were returning to Sonepat in a car after attending a marriage party at Hisar. The police registered a case and further investigations are on. The victim’s body has also been sent for the post-mortem examination.

In another incident, one Ram Phal of Anandpur Jharot village fell down from a tractor-trolley and killed on the spot on the Sonepat-Rohtak Road near Kanwali village about 10 km from here yesterday. The victim was going on a tractor-trolley to Narela mandi (Delhi) for selling the paddy there. The police registered the case and sent the body for the post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, a three-year-old girl Kavita was injured seriously when she was hit by a mule cart at Chairashmi village about 15 km from here yesterday. She was rushed to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

Two persons, including a truck driver, were injured when a truck loaded with a variety of goods overturned on the G T Road near Ganaur Chowk about 20 km from here yesterday. This caused a traffic jam for a few hours. The highway police arrived on the scene on getting information about the traffic jams. However, the traffic was normalised after two hours.

Cleanliness campaign

Sonepat: The Haryana Government has launched a cleanliness campaign in seven districts to beautify the urban and rural areas of the state.

This was stated by Mrs Jayawanti Sheokand, director of the Development and Panchayat Department while addressing a meeting of the officials of seven districts here yesterday.

The districts selected are: Yamunanagar, Karnal, Gurgaon, Bhiwani, Sonepat, Rewari and Sirsa, where the campaign has got encouraging results.

She declared that eight more districts of the state would be covered in the second phase of the campaign. She appealed to the officials to take special care of cleanliness in the rural areas and enlist the help of the gram panchayats.

She said that the NGOs should work for the uplift of the downtrodden. Mr Balwan Singh, Deputy Commissioner, said that the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, had already directed the district and the police authorities of the state to participate in the campaign.

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Blood Transfusion Society election
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, November 19
The District Secretary, Red Cross, Mr J N Gahlout, has been elected as the president of the Haryana Chapter of the ‘Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohaematology’, for the next two years. The election was held at Rohtak yesterday.

Dr P K Sehgal and Dr Manveer of the PGIMS Rohtak were elected as senior vice-president and vice-president respectively.

Other office-bearers include Dr P K Palwal-secretary, Dr Anita Arora-joint secretary, Subhash Gupta-treasurer and Mrs Shamim Sharma-auditor, Dr Ved Beniwal, Ram Avtaar Gupta, Basant Girdhar, Dr R M Arora, Dr M R Bansal, Purshottam Gill, JPS Nalwa, Sumer Singh Saini, R S Mor, M S Dahiya, Subhash Vashist, O P Arora, Dr Puran Mal Gaur, Vijay Kumar and Ravinder Lohan have made it to the governing body of the society.

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‘Quami Ekta Divas’ held in Bhiwani
Our Correspondent

Bhiwani, November 19
Deputy Commissioner Harpal Singh administered the National Integration Pledge to the official functionaries on the occasion of ‘Quami Ekta Divas’ at the mini secretariat today.

The National Integration Pledge reads, “I solemnly pledge to work with dedication to preserve and strengthen the freedom and integrity of the nation.

I further affirm that I shall never resort to violence and that I will continue to endeavour towards settlement of all differences and disputes relating to religion, language, region or other political or economic grievances by peaceful and constitutional means.”

Speaking on the occasion after paying floral tributes to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Singh urged the people to work for the national harmony.

He said that we should all work dedicatedly to strengthen our country. “We should avoid violence as the answer to any problem and serve the country, discarding caste and creed for its overall development. He asked the officials to recollect this pledge every day.

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NCR BRIEFS
Clerk suspended for malpractices in auction of shops
Our Correspondents

Sonepat, November 19
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Balwan Singh, has placed Hari Parkash, a head clerk posted in the office of Block Development and Panchayat Officer, under suspension for alleged malpractices in the auction of 20 shops constructed by the Block Samiti at Kharkhauda town in the district.

According to a report, this action followed the passing and sending the resolution to the Commissioner, Rohtak Division urging him to cancel the auction of these shops.

According to another report, the Haryana Government has dismissed the sarpanch Satbir of Saidpur village on the charge of selling a portion of the panchayat land. It is stated that the sarpanch had been suspended twice earlier on the same charge. An inquiry was conducted by the SDM Sonepat and found the allegations true.

Kisan Welfare Club poll

Mr Ramesh Dagar, a progressive farmer and the recipient of Chaudhary Devilal Puraskar, has been re-elected as the president of the Kisan Welfare Club of Sonepat. According to a report, the other office-bearers elected are: Mr Mahinder Singh Yadav, Mr Rattan Singh Rana, Mr Ramesh Antil, Mr Angrez Singh and Mr Luxmi Narain (patrons) Mr Raj Kumar Dahiya (officiating president), Mr Satyavan (vice-president), Mr Raj Singh (secretary), Mr Ramesh Chawla (treasurer), Mr Tirlok Chand Tushir (salahkar).

Mr Kanwal Singh, Mr Ram Phal Bhanderi, Mr Ranbir Singh Jauli, Mr Rizk Ram, Mr Ramesh Gehlawat, Mr Zile Singh and Mr Om Parkash have been elected as the members of the executive committee of the club.

Two held for gambling

The special staff of the Sonepat police conducted a surprise raid on a gambling den on the premises of Bawa cinema hall here last evening and arrested two youths, Sanjay of Faiz Bazar and Tulsi of Jamalpura Mohalla in this city on the charge of satta in the garb of lottery tickets.

According to a report, the police also seized about Rs 4,000 from their possession. A case under the Gambling Act has been registered against them.

Dowry case

The police have registered a dowry case against the husband, father-in-law and mother-in-law of a young housewife Mrs Geeta and started investigation in the case.

According to a report, Mrs Geeta has alleged that she was subjected to harassment and repeatedly beaten up for not bringing sufficient dowry from her parents’ house.

The police have not arrested anyone so far as the investigations were in progress.

Inter-college competition

Jhajjar: The Government Postgraduate College is organising an inter-college competition on November 21 and 22 in the college.

An official press note of the college said that an English quiz contest and a Hindi poetry recitation contest would be held on November 27 while the music competitions would be organised the next day. Colleges under the Maharshi Dayanand University can participate in the competition.

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DELHI DIGEST
UK cable operator signs deal with Allserve system
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 19
The Nt1, the largest cable operator in the UK, has signed a three-year deal with the Allserve system to sell its services in India. This will be provided by the newly installed call centre of Allserve located at Gurgaon, which was inaugurated by the Nt1 managing director, Mr Mike Bandeira, on November 13.

Speaking on the occasion, the Nt1 sales director, Mr Mike Thomas, announced that Nt1 will pay Rs 37,000 to the best performing agent every month.

Ready-to-eat food: The MTR, the market leader in ready-to-eat foods, continues its tradition as the provider of pure and perfect meal solutions with the introduction of an exciting new range of the ready-to-eat rice meals. This unique range of ready-to-eat rice meals was launched in Delhi today.

Mr P. Sadanand Maiya, chairman, MTR Foods Limited and renowned food expert Jiggs Kalra presided over the launch.

This new range is sure to be a hit with the consumers, as for the first time in India, people have a complete rice-based ready-to-eat meal solution.

The MTR ready-to-eat rice meals include exciting options like jeera rice, masala rice, tomato rice, rajma chawal and several others. Each product is a meal in itself, capturing the nutrition and taste of authentic Indian cuisine, a spokesman of the MTR Foods Limited said.

Cricket satta racket: The Special Staff of East district today claimed to have busted a cricket satta racket run by Titu Bansal, alias Mahender, kingpin of the racket. He was running the satta on the final match of the TVS Tringular Series match being played between Australia versus India at Eden Garden and Kolkata. The arrested suspects were identified as Ram Kapoor, Mahender Bansal, Prem Kapoor and Sushil Kumar.

A laptop, printer, recorder, six phone instruments, one colour TV set and a calculator were seized from their possession, the police said.

Congress of PR students: As part of its professional initiatives to provide platform to the students of mass communication, journalism and advertising who will be shaping up the future of the nation, the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI) will organise the first-ever All India Congress of Public Relations Students at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication on November 28 and 29.

About 300 public relations professionals and students are expected to participate in the event which will provide a total perspective of the PR scenario in the country and the opportunities around, national president of the PRSI, Dr Ajit Pathak said.

Talking about the conference, Dr Pathak said that the two-day event would have some of the leading names from the public relations professionals deliberating on significant issues during the conference.

The names include Prema Sagar, principal associate, Genesis Public Relations and president of the Public Consultants Association of India; Dr Asghar Wajahat, professor in-charge of Mass Communications Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia.

The interactions and presentations would cover some of the relevant issues like managing corporate image, public relations consultancy in India, impact of extra linguistic factors on media and PR, crisis communication and public relations management in the changed business environment, he said.

Hike demanded: The All India Freedom Fighters Organisation has written to the Reserve Bank and Deputy Chief Controller of Accounts (Pension) requesting them to issue necessary instructions to all treasury offices and all nationalised banks to ensure that the pensioners and their families get their dues following the hike in dearness allowance.

Association general secretary has pointed out that as per the Central Government orders, there is a hike of five per cent in DA for freedom fighters and increase of Rs 1,170 from Rs 1,020 for their dependants.

The association is seeking enhanced dearness allowance along with the pension and arrears of the last three months.

Loadshedding: The BSES today announced loadshedding in Paschim Puri, Paschim Vihar and their adjoining areas tomorrow due to repair and maintenance work. The timing of the loadshedding will be from 10 am to 4 pm.

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Satta on cricket busted 
Our Correspondent

Meerut, November 19
A high-tech satta racket to be played during the final match between India and Australia of the TVS triangular series, was busted by the Meerut police.
The police arrested four persons who were conducting the network and seized Rs 50,732, a colour TV set with remote, blank cheque books, and some other accessories.

Dy Inspector General of Police, Meerut range, C B Rai got a tip-off that a satta was being played at the hotel Crystel Palace and in Shastri Nagar area.

Mr C B Rai summoned the SSP Meerut and constituted two teams. In the first team, PRO to the SSP, SI Nauchandi PS, Inspector Daurala, and SHO Jani were rushed to G Block of Shastri Nagar.

The team raided a provision store and a house and arrested P Jain and two of his accomplices along with some satta documents.

While the other team of ASP city, ASP RA and with some circle officers and heavy police force raided the hotel Crystel Palace/room No 302.

A whole network of satta was in operation there. The police arrested four persons.

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