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Bansi
Lal predicts Chautala govt’s ouster Hooda
to campaign from ‘Vikalp Rath’
Toll
receipts may land NHAI in trouble PM to
campaign in Haryana |
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Bishnoi:
Ajay Chautala may not contest from Bhiwani Weather
hits wheat yield, farmers unhappy Flesh
trade racket busted 4 MDU
teams to probe paper leak 
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Bansi Lal predicts Chautala govt’s ouster Nangal Chaudhary
(Mahendergarh), April 9 Mr Bansi Lal, who started his party’s campaign for Mahendergarh seat here, made this forecast on the fate of the state government while responding to questions from
newsmen. He, however, did not elaborate on the issue. Mr Bansi Lal is a man of few words and rarely makes controversial statements of political nature. He went to the extent of saying that the INLD government would have been sent packing a long time ago had there been a strong government at the Centre. To a question regarding the recent spat between Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and the Election Commission (EC) in connection with the DGP’s issue in Haryana, Mr Bansi Lal sided with the latter. He said the EC was right. The EC has powers given by Constitution to conduct free and fair election, and there can be no dispute on the issue. The fact that Mr Chautala took a negative stand against the directive of the EC goes to prove that the INLD government had intention of rigging the elections. He said that the HVP could support any party, including the Congress, for forming government at the Centre after the election. The only condition that the government must not be headed by Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Also, the interests of Haryana should be protected. He said that the name of HVP nominee for Faridabad Lok Sabha seat would be announced shortly. Mr Bansi Lal addressed meetings in the Mahendergarh parliamentary area. He started it from Nangal Chaudhary, which falls in Narnaul Assembly segment and which is the last southern post of Haryana near Alwar district in Rajasthan. This was followed by meetings at Ateli, Khol (falling in Bawal Assembly segment), Damdama (Sohna segment) and Waizarabad and Gurgaon falling in Gurgaon Assembly segment. At all meetings he criticised the state government and belittled the Congress while canvassing for his party nominee, Mr Anil Rao. Salient feature of the meetings at Khol and Damdama was large chunk of women and youths among the audience. Mr Anil Rao, a new face in his speeches raised local issues. He attributed the backwardness of the Ahirwal belt to the Congress and the present government. The HVP leaders were cheered several times on the issues raised by them. |
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Hooda to campaign from ‘Vikalp Rath’ Rohtak, April 9 The rath which has been prepared by his supporters will be presented to him at a function at Chaubisi Chabutra in Meham near here on Sunday. Mr Hooda admits that the vehicle has been inspired by the late Mr Devi Lal’s ‘Nyaya Rath’ on which the former Deputy Prime Minister had campaigned for the 1987 Haryana Assembly poll winning 85 of the 90 seats. However, he said, the similarity ends there. The vehicle has been appropriately named ‘Vikalp Rath’ because he is aiming at presenting the Congress as a viable and better alternative to the ruling Indian National Lok Dal. The rath has taken more than two months to be fabricated. The roof has been designed as a stage from which Mr Hooda can address public gatherings. It is equipped with a hydraulic lift so that speakers do not need to climb the stairs. Floodlights have been installed on all sides of the roof to provide ample lighting in case of power failure during a meeting. Inside, the vehicle has a bedroom, a kitchenette, a conference room for small private meetings with the media and party leaders and a wash-basin. The bedroom is equipped with a television and other electronic gadgets. One side of the bus carries photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Mrs Sonia Gandhi. The other side carriers a photograph of Mr Hooda. The lettering is dominated by Mr Hooda’s slogan
"Na bikungaa, Na jhukungaa". It also carries his poll promises, including those of quality education, ample water supply, cheaper power and a new capital for Haryana. The rear carries a picture of Mr Hooda addressing a gathering at a rally he had organised a Panipat a few months ago. The vehicle is equipped with digital public address system with cordless microphones. Mr Hooda’s election office did not specify the cost of the vehicle. |
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Toll receipts may land NHAI in trouble Karnal, April 9 The Tribune managed to secure four such slips handed out as the receipts of the payment of toll, with “Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Cream Project — NHDP”, printed on it. The District Electoral Officer, Mr R.C. Verma, confirmed that printing of such matter on the receipts is in violation of the Model Code of Conduct and he would look into the matter. On the other hand, there have been reports that hundreds of vehicles belonging to different parties pass through the toll barrier daily without paying any toll. Earlier, The Tribune had exposed the nexus between the local politicians and the NHAI
authorities (“Get VIP’s letter for not paying toll”) in which Mr Umesh Kumar, the personal assistant of Mr I.D. Swami, the Union Minister of State for Home affairs, had allegedly issued a letter to Kashmir Singh son of Hardyal Singh, a resident of NirmalVihar, Karnal, so that the bearer did not have to pay the toll. Subsequently, the District Magistrate of Karnal Mr R.S. Doon had marked an inquiry and issued a notice to the NHAI authorities in that particular case. Sources in the DM office revealed that the inquiry report along with the reply from the NHAI authorities had been forwarded to the EC for action. However, an action in this regard still awaited. |
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PM to campaign in Haryana Karnal, April 9 Talking to mediapersons after holding a meeting of the state unit of the party here today, Prof Ganeshi Lal said there was no question of a poll understanding with any party in the state. He reiterated that the party would contest the elections on its own. He denied that efforts had been initiated by the party to reach at an understanding with the Haryana Vikas Party. In reply to a question, he said, “We are not happy with the DGP proceeding on leave”. He said sending the DGP on leave did not mean that the orders of the Election Commission had been complied with. “It seems to be eyewash over the whole episode”, he added. The BJP President said the DGP should be relieved from the present charge of general administration and vigilance. He demanded that an adequate number of poll observers and Central paramilitary forces be deployed in the state so as to prevent rigging and booth capturing by the ruling party. He added that senior party leaders Sushma Swaraj and L.K. Advani and even Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would address rallies in the last two weeks of April and first week of May. Among those who attended the meeting of the state unit of the party were general secretary Bharat Bhushan Bharti, finance secretary Gian Chand Gupta and former minister Shashi Pal Mehta. |
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Bishnoi: Ajay Chautala may not contest from Bhiwani Hisar, April 9 He was talking to mediapersons at Hansi, about 25 km from here, this afternoon after inaugurating his election office. He claimed that after his decision to contest from Bhiwani, the INLD nominee had been out of the race and the Chief Minister was not confident about the winning prospects of his son from this seat. This was indicated by Mr Chautala’s surprise decision to field his younger son Abhay Singh Chautala from Kurukshetra, he claimed. Mr Bishnoi said though Mr Chautala had been in power for the last four years in Haryana, Mr Ajay Singh could not develop the area. The people of Bhiwani had decided to vote against the INLD candidate in the coming elections, he asserted. He demanded that the Election Commission deploy CRPF personnel in Bhiwani,
Kurukshetra and Sonepat to ensure a free and fair poll. He said there was no need for any campaigner in Bhiwani as his father Bhajan Lal was capable to play the role of a star campaigner in this area. Mr Bishnoi said cricketer Virender Sehwag was his close friend and could address some election meetings in his favour. He denied any groupism in the Congress, claiming that all leaders of the Congress from Bhiwani parliamentary constituency were supporting him. |
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Sangwan demands President’s rule Sonepat, April 9 Talking to mediapersons here, he said Mr Chautala was in a defiant mood and ruining the democratic set up of the country. If Mr Chautala was not checked at this stage then no free and fair Lok Sabha elections could be held in the state.
— PTI |
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Weather hits wheat yield, farmers unhappy Kurukshetra, April 9 Kishan Singh, who brought his produce for sale here, was happy that a government agency had procured it quickly without any fuss. But he was unhappy with nature because, as he put it, “Jhaar Nein Maar Diya Is
Saal (Low yield has played havoc with us this year)”. Other growers agreed with Kishan. They said this year yield of wheat had been reduced to an average of 14 quintals per acre against the average of 22 quintals to 24 quintals per acre in previous years. Farmers in the other mandis too have similar complaints against nature. Wheat arrival in the mandis of the state has already reached the peak, 10 days before the normal time. Going by the arrivals, commission agents say, 90 per cent of the wheat would reach the mandis by April 20 instead of by month-end as in the past. Relu Ram in Karnal mandi told The Tribune that when wheat crop was irrigated last in the first half of March, the state was hit by strong winds. Which loosened roots of the plants. It affected the yield. The pre-mature heat conditions added to the woes of the growers. Because of the warmer March, the crop matured before the grain could reach its normal size. In the Haryana mandis, almost the entire crop is being procured by government agencies. Private traders are virtually absent from the scene. The commission agents say since the tax structure in the state is heavily loaded against the traders, the private buyers are avoiding buying wheat from the state. The state charges 2 per cent market fee, 2 per cent rural development cess, which mainly finances the much-publicised “Sarkaar Aapke Dwaar” programme of the Chautala Government, besides 2.5 per cent “arhat
(commission)” and 4 per cent value added tax. In Delhi, a buyer has to pay only 1 per cent market fee and 2 per cent “arhat”. Private buyers in the national Capital are buying wheat above the minimum support
price (MSP) of Rs 630 per quintal. Traders in Haryana say that if the tax structure in the state is brought on a par with that of Delhi, the growers here would get at least Rs 30 per quintal above the MSP because of the superior quality of their produce. Politicians are happy with early arrival of wheat in the state’s mandis. Since polling for Lok Sabha elections in Haryana are in the last phase, the farmers would be free by May 10 to participate in the polling. However, since the farmers would be getting less for their produce this year, they would have less to donate to the political parties. |
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Flesh trade racket busted Hisar, April 9 A trap was laid and the police party sent a policeman as decoy customer to a house in the Patel Nagar area in the afternoon. He paid Rs 500 to Kamla Devi, kingpin of the gang, which was later recovered by the raiding party. The police team later raided the premises of several women members of the gang, who were allegedly using their houses as brothels. It arrested Kamla Devi, Meena and Sonu, residents of Patel Nagar, Kiran of Dhani Jai Dev, Asha of Jawahar Nagar and Rinku of Housing Board Colony, Sector 15. The police also nabbed two men, Kamla’s husband Vidhya Bhushan and a youth, Krishan Kumar, of Dhani Kumaharan village, who acted as pimps. The police also recovered two mobile phones. The police registered a case against them under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Suppression of Immoral Trafficking Act. |
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4 MDU teams to probe paper leak Rohtak, April 9 A university press note issued here today said these committees comprising university teachers and senior officials will monitor the situation and report to the university for appropriate action. Meanwhile, the university has decided to cancel the question papers of English A and B of BA III held on April 7 and April 8 respectively at centre nos. 411 and 412 on the recommendation of the Mahendragarh district
administration. Two persons have been arrested at Narnaul in connection with the alleged leak of question paper. The police is probing. |
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2 kids drowned in pond Hisar, April 9 The two Sandeep (13), a student of class VIII, and Rajbir (10), a student of class VI, had gone to the village pond along with their cattle. The two brothers went into the pond along with the cattle for bath. Both slipped and got drowned, the police said.
— PTI |
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Couple falls into canal, wife drowned
Karnal, April 9 Jeetender told the police that while proceeding to their village he lost control of the two-wheeler, following flashing lights of another vehicle and he along with wife Geeta fell into the fast flowing canal. Despite his best efforts he could not save his wife. However, the parents of Geeta, alleging foul play, lodged a complaint with the police that their daughter was being tortured for more dowry and to physically eliminate her Jeetender after throwing her into the canal had enacted a drama. A case has been registered under Section
304-B of the IPC.
— UNI |
High Court Chandigarh, April 9 The Bench, comprising Mr Justice
G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Nirmal Singh, also said that any officer who did not implement the court’s direction would be liable to be punished for contempt. In her petition, Ms Kaur had alleged that her transfer was done as her family had a long-standing dispute with the MLA, who also allegedly carried out an attack on her and her husband sometime ago. |
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Interestingly, all hoardings on the National Highway No 1(Delhi-Jalandhar) highlighting the achievements of either the state or the Union government have already been erased or removed following EC’s direction but this open violation by the NHAI authorities is still continuing.