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Kurukshetra rally prestige issue HC asks SP to explain inaction
S.K. Sharma’s journey from Bar to Bench |
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Militant group seeks Rs 35 lakh from trader Gujjars keen on better technology
Govt policies affecting
farmers, says Congress BJP to hold rally at Jind Punjabis urged
to back HVP California varsity
Prof meets KU VC
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Kurukshetra rally prestige issue for Cong Chandigarh, January 4 The Bhajan Lal faction wants that no central party leader should come to Kurukshetra because the rally is being organised by former Revenue Minister Nirmal Singh without permission of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC). Mr Nirmal Singh, on the other hand, claims that he had been allowed to organise the rally by AICC General Secretary Nawal Kishore Sharma. However, he admits that Mr Sharma, who had earlier given his consent to participate in the rally, has now expressed his inability to come to Kurukshetra because of the expected reorganisation of the AICC. However, sources in the Bhajan Lal camp say that Mr Sharma declined to come to Kurukshetra because the former Haryana Chief Minister had vigorously campaigned for the son of the AICC General Secretary during the Rajasthan Assembly elections. Mr Nirmal Singh says that the AICC Secretary, Mr Subodh Kant Sahay, has confirmed that he would address the Kurukshetra rally. But the Bhajan Lal camp claims that even Mr Sahay has declined to participate in the “unofficial” rally. It also claims that no central party leader would come to Kurukshetra on January 7. Mr Sahay could not be contacted for confirming his programme. If no important central party leader comes to Kurukshetra, it will be a big boost for the Bhajan Lal camp, which will say that the high command had vindicated the state party chief. The Hooda group will do its utmost to bring a central party leader to Kurukshetra so that a seal of approval is put on the rally. |
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HC asks SP to explain inaction Chandigarh, January 4 Mr Nauharia, in his first petition, had sought registration of a case against the president and the secretary of the Arjan Dass Trust Society of Dharamkot. Taking up the matter, Mr Justice K.C. Gupta of the High Court had initially directed the respondents to take prompt action in accordance with law, as far as possible within two months. In his second petition, Mr Nauharia claimed that despite the order being passed by the court on May 27, the officer had failed to take any action. He only called him and certain ‘other persons’. After going through the petition and hearing arguments in the matter, Mr Justice Virender Singh further directed that the affidavit should apprise the court regarding the status of investigation. The Judge also fixed January 8 as the next date of hearing in the matter. The advocate in his representation addressed to the Director of Punjab Vigilance Bureau — enclosed along with the first petition — had alleged about a ‘‘recruitment scam where Rs 3 lakh was being demanded for appointing teachers’. |
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S.K. Sharma’s journey from Bar to Bench Chandigarh, January 4 He, along Mr Rajiv Bhalla and Mr Ajay Kumar Mittal, are likely to be administered oath as the Punjab and Haryana High Court Judges following the reported clearance of their names by the President of India. The oath-taking ceremony is expected to be held on January 6. For Mr Sharma, it all started when he was studying in a rural school in Hisar district. Even though he belonged to a middle class family, Mr Sharma always wanted to reach for the stars with his feet firmly on the ground. And he started working towards achievement of his aim, enthusiastically. A school friend, now settled in Chandigarh, reminisces that young Mr Sharma would pass his free time reading books and jotting notes even when others used to play. After doing his graduation, Mr Sharma moved to Rohtak for studying law from Maharshi Dayanand University. Armed with a law degree, Mr Sharma shifted to Chandigarh in 1985 for practicing in the High Court as a civil lawyer. Soon he earned the reputation of being an ‘expert in service matters’. He was soon appointed counsel for boards, corporation and banks. He even represented the High Court in a case. After his appointment as AG, Mr Sharma assisted the court in village common land case affecting hundreds of villages. He also pursued Sutlej-Yamuna link issue before the Supreme Court of India on behalf of the Haryana Government. After being administered oath, Mr Sharma would, perhaps, be youngest serving High Court judge in the country. For Mr Mittal — grandson of a Barrister — Bench was always the final destination. After doing his graduation from Sri Ram College of Commerce, he completed his law from Delhi University in 1980. In July same year, Mr Mittal got enrolled with the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association before commencing his practice here. He too made a name for himself on the civil side. Mr Bhalla did his schooling from Lawrence School in Sanawar before completing his graduation from the Government College here. A product of Panjab University’s Department of Law, Mr Bhalla was also practicing on the civil and Constitutional side. |
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Militant group seeks Rs 35 lakh from trader Kurukshetra, January 4 According to police sources, Mr Maan Singh has been threatened that all his family members would be eliminated if he failed to pay the money. As per information reaching here today, Mr Maan Singh, a resident of Bhattmajra village, near Pehowa, received a letter from the militant group on December 22 last. In this letter, a sum of Rs 35 lakh had been demanded from him and the group had threatened to murder his only son if he did not pay the money and he would have to pay double the ransom amount (Rs 70 lakh) after that. Initially the family took the letter lightly but all of them got terrified when an unidentified person fired at the main door of their house and threw another threatening letter in their residence on December 29. The second letter mentioned that if a sum of Rs 70 lakh was not paid within a week, then all family members would be murdered. Immediately after this the Pehowa police registered a case and submitted the letters to the district police chief, Mr K. K. Rao. When contacted Mr Rao said after obtaining the letters from the complainant, a case, in this connection, had been registered and investigation had been initiated. Security cover had also been provided to the complainant at his residence and shop, he added. |
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Gujjars keen on better technology Karnal, January 4 In spite of the fact that they are scattered in barely populated hamlets in tribal districts, they have fed thousands of families for decades not only in these districts but also in the adjoining areas of Punjab with milk that they produce from their ‘murrah’ buffaloes. However, for the past few years these tribal nomads are facing hardships in feeding their herds and also in getting the breeding bulls required to further increase the progeny. Mohammad Raffi, a resident of Lodhwan village block Indora (Kangra), who visited National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) here along with a group of 20 Gujjars from Kangra and Una districts of Himachal Pradesh, last week, told TNS, “Increased human and bovine population has reduced the grazing area in the bugyals (pasture lands) of Tissa, Barhmour, Chamba and Bandal Kahar”. He said the native tract through which they move with their buffaloes from April to September is at least 140 kilometres from their settlements in Kangra and Una districts. He added that Gujjars were now coming out of their conservative tribal life and had realised the need to improve their economy that was primarily based on dairying. Another Gujjar, Mehram Deen a resident of Barikhad village (Kangra) said the traditional practice of moving the herds from one place to another is gradually declining due to the limitations imposed by the Forest Department. He said, “The forest department has not increased the limit (fixed number) of taking the buffaloes to the pastures for the past few decades, whereas, the population of buffaloes has grown manifold during this time”. Yussuf Deen of Barikhad village (Kangra) said the breeding bulls provided under the Integrated Watershed Development Project (IWDP) were not sufficient in numbers as all villages do not have such bulls. Sometimes, the buffaloes have to be taken to a distance of at least 12 kilometres on hilly terrain. It may be mentioned that the conservative Gujjars have visited the NDRI for the first time ever since the inception of the institute. They came here under the IWDP operating at Hills-II of the Kandi area of Bhadroya (HP). The IWDP officials earlier approached Dr Nagendra Sharma, Director NDRI, in November 2003 to develop a special programme for these nomads to help them improve their dairy production. Accordingly, Mr Dalip K. Gosain, Senior Scientist of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of NDRI, chalked out a special programme with particular emphasis on improving the overall yield of ‘murrah’ buffaloes under rugged topography having scarce feeding sources. The scientist said by using the anthropological methodologies the pastoral dairy farming system of the Gujjars had been studied to preserve their traditional identity while disseminating various dairy production technologies developed by the NDRI. This was essential because the Gujjars are conservative and introvert, added the scientist. Dr P.S Oberoi, another Senior Scientist of the KVK demonstrated and explained various methods to improve the nutritive value of the feeding resources available with these nomads at their home tract. He stressed upon the need to keep crossbred cattle along with the buffaloes to improve their finances. Most of the Gujjars who visited NDRI were of the view that their lifestyle was changing in the 21st century. Mohammad Raffi is not illiterate. He has studied Arabic and Persian at a Madrassa in Malerkotla and knows how to read and write in these languages. He has an ambition to send his children to school. Improving the breed of their buffaloes and helping them to keep crossbred cows is the only hope to uplift the standards of their living, as they do not want to leave their profession of dairying. |
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State of Industrial Focal Points — 3 Barwala, January 4 Local industrialists complain that HSIDC and the Department of Industries have not been able to provide basic amenities to industrialists, even after 10 years of its existence. As a result, the complex is growing at a snail’s place. Industrialists functioning from here are a disgruntled lot as there is no police post, post office, bank, hospital or government dispensary and the power sub-station in the area. The promise of providing the basic facilities remains on paper till date. The internal roads are not in a great shape, though the work of recarpeting them is going on currently. “Power supply is irregular and there is no complaint centre in the vicinity to attend to our problems, including complaints of power thefts, rued Mr Raj Kumar, one of the industrialists in the area. He pointed out that though a sub station was planned and land for the same had also been earmarked, the same had not come up and the land had also been converted into plots. At present, the power supply comes from the Barwala power station and since most of the wires pass through the forest area, the supply gets affected often due to vagaries of weather. Factory-owners in the area also allege that HSIDC has `failed’ to appreciate the problems of entrepreneurs and their workforce despite repeated representations. Till now only 45-50 units , out of the 298 industrial plots have come into existence and out of that also only 15 odd units are functional. Raj Kumar, another industrialist, complained that puddles of dirty water in vacant plots after rains lead to insanitation. He lamented that in the absence of shopping complex and Barwala not having a proper market place, they are forced to make even small little purchases from the neighbouring Panchkula, about 18 km from there. Mr Vikram
Katyal, general secretary of Barwala Industrial Association, while listing out a host of problems pointed out that the telephone services were far from satisfactory and there is no complaint centre in the area to take care of the complaints. The phones have been
unfunctional for the past 10 days and there is no staff available to attend to complaints in this regard and rectify the same for better functioning. He went on to add that there is no post office and bank facility available in the area as of now, even though the HSIDC had reserved a site for all these services. The villagers have been using this area for grazing their cattle without any resistance from the HSIDC officials, perhaps because of the political patronage that they enjoy. The stormwater drainage has also not been there and is being laid out to avoid flooding during the monsoons. The absence of a fire station also irks the industrialists, who have to depend on fire stations at Panchkula and Ambala in case of a major fire outbreak. While the list of woes is endless, the industrialists feel that inadequate infrastructure is a cause of industry losing interest in Barwala. Industrial workers, on their part rue the lack of residential and recreational facilities in the area. Most workers commute from Chandigarh, Panchkula and nearby areas of Ramgarh. There is no bus stand and the commuters have to rough it out in the absence of proper bus shelters. Workers also pointed out the health problems being faced by them in view of the fly menace in the area due to the presence of poultry farms in the area and despite notices, the farm owners have not done much to manage them more scientifically. With no hospital or government dispensary, the health of the labourers continues to suffer. Mr T.R Batra has been taking up these problems with the authorities concerned but without any significant results. In fact, the officials from the HSIDC and the Department of Industries have never bothered to come to the site and take stock of the problems being faced by us, he added. HSIDC officials responsible for the upkeep of the area maintain that work of recarpeting the internal roads and laying stormwater drains is going on a war footing and will be completed shortly. In fact, the HSIDC has made provision for all these facilities and the same will be made available to them in due course of time. Work on the shopping complex building has been completed but there are no takers for it as of now since the industry has hardly grown, here. On the issue of fly menace, the authorities have already warned the farm owners to be cautious while dumping dead birds, which was one of the main factors responsible for the fly menace in the area. |
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Govt policies affecting
farmers, says Congress Yamunanagar, January 4 He said the divide between the rich and the poor was widening with each passing day due to wrong policies of the government. Mr Kaushik said the farmers had not been paid even a single penny by private sugar mills in the state. He said while on the one hand there was a delay in the announcement of
statutory minimum price (SMP) by the Centre, on the other no orders had been issued for the execution of the same. He ridiculed the increase in price of sugarcane. He said this year the sugarcane growers might get Rs 10-12 lesser than the announced price. He said it was shameful for the state government for failing to pay the farmers the price that was fixed by the government five years ago. Mr Kaushik said public would react to all this in the forthcoming elections. |
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BJP to hold rally at Jind Panipat, January 4 Giving details, he said the Centre had provided sufficient funds to the Haryana Government for the development of roads and other works. Talking about the agenda of the core committee meeting, Prof Ganeshi Lal said the members of the committee, including the Minister State for Home, Mr I.D. Swami, had decided to hold a state-level rally at Jind on March 14. He added that it was a tentative date and would be confirmed by Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Mr L.K. Advani. The meeting has been called to review the party performance in the past few months and the outcome of rallies at various places in Haryana. The committee has also decided to set up a party sub-office in every district. Talking about coalition, he said the party would respect people’s verdict. A coalition would help remove the politics of untouchability, he said. |
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Punjabis urged
to back HVP Kaithal, January 4 He said the aim of the meeting was to bring Punjabis on a common platform and to associate them with the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP). He said Mr Bansi Lal had given second language status to Punjabi during his last tenure to recognise the role of Punjabi community in the state. He criticised Mr Bhajan Lal for dividing Punjabis and not giving weightage to MLAs of the community. |
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California varsity
Prof meets KU VC Kurukshetra, January 4 Professor Neuman had a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, Dr A.K. Chawla, and discussed in detail various possibilities of collaboration with him. During the meeting, senior faculty members and officials of the university were also present. The study of Indian culture and civilisation was also considered at the meeting, whereby Americans of Indian origin could be motivated to seek admission and study their heritage. The area of art and designing was also selected for cooperation. The parties also identified international relations, especially intellectual property rights, as area of mutual interest. |
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Children
get Polio drops in Haryana FATEHABAD: The Deputy Commissioner, Dr R.B. Langyan, inaugurated the current phase of the pulse polio drive by administering polio drops to a child at Nayak Dharamshala here on Sunday. He later went to Shani Mandir, Vishvakarma Mandir and Goswami Hospital and administered polio drops to children there. The Civil Surgeon, Dr R.K. Aggarwal, was also present on the occasion. The DC said 577 booths had been set up in the district for administering polio drops to 1.35 lakh children below the age of 5 years. Besides, 102 mobile teams and 10 transit teams had also been set up for the purpose. YAMUNANAGAR: Mr Vijayendra Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Yamunagar inaugurated the pulse polio campaign here on Sunday by giving polio drops to children upto the age of 5 years. Dr Naresh Sharma, Civil Surgeon said the inaugural ceremony was arranged by the Health Department, Yamunanagar, with the cooperation of the Rotary club, Yamunanagar, and the Inner-Wheel Club, Jagadhri. KAITHAL: Large number of children below the age of 5 years were administered polio drops all over the district on Sunday. Mr Leela Ram, MLA, administered polio drops to children at a booth manned by Rotarians and staff at the Health Department of the local children rotary library. Ms Kailash Saini, MP, also
administered polio drops to children at another booth at the Community
Health Centre, HUDA. |
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2 in police remand
for car theft Sirsa, January 4 |
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