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Yatra is to restore dignity of Tricolour: Uma
Bansi never knocked at
Cong door, says HVP Surjewala seeks dismissal of Chautala govt
UPA govt anti-farmer, says Abhey Chautala
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Cong to focus on employment: Virender
Haryana to purchase 100 MW from
West Bengal
Corruption charges against Rohtak PGIMS Director
Experts discuss new world order
Environment clearance must for new projects
Hooda to oppose cow slaughter
in Mewat
Another rice miller held for tax evasion Woman dies following ‘altercation’
Employees resent closure of boards
Encroachments removed
High Court
Rallies by roadways workers
Haryana scheme for
folk artistes
10 more cases of jaundice detected 4 die in road accident 1 killed, 4 hurt in mishap
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Yatra is to restore dignity of Tricolour: Uma Faridabad, September 22 Addressing a public meeting at Janata Colony in the NIT area here this evening during her brief halt of the yatra, Ms Bharti said her ultimate aim was to realise the dream of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to see India as a developed country by 2020. Recalling how she had to give up the Chief Ministership and had to launch this yatra, she said this was high time to do so as the Congress government had framed a case against her just because she had dared to hoist the National Flag at Hubli a few years ago. She said she wanted that the people should know the importance of the three colours of the National Flag and see if our deeds matched the true sense and the duty which “we owe to it”. Taking a dig at the Congress, she said her party would ensure that no party used the Triclour as its base. She alleged that the Congress had been “dishonouring” Mahatma Gandhi and the Tricolour by following policies opposed to that preached and practiced by the Tiranga Yatra 2 last Father of the Nation. She claimed that she gave up the Chief Ministership as the Tricolour was more important than the post. Appealing to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to sack all the tainted ministers in his Cabinet. Claiming that the BJP had always used the Triclour to unite people, but alleged that the Congress had been using it for creating a communal divide. Former Union ministers, Mr Anant Kumar and Mr Shahnawaz Khan, BJP general secretary, Mr Shiv Raj Singh Chauhan and the MP from Sonepat, Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, were among those present.
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Bansi never knocked at
Cong door, says HVP
Chandigarh, September 22 The Haryana Congress, president told newsmen here yesterday that Mr Bansi Lal and Mr Surender Singh would not be admitted to the Congress because the former had been criticising Mrs Sonia Gandhi, AICC president, regularly. The president of the youth wing of the HVP, Mr Narpinder Singh, told TNS on the phone that it was ridiculous on the part of Mr Bhajan Lal to say that the Congress doors would not be opened to Mr Bansi Lal and Mr Surender Singh. “The question of opening the doors would arise only after someone knocks at them. Neither Mr Bansi Lal nor Mr Surender Singh has approached Mr Bhajan Lal for seeking entry into the Congress,” he said. Mr Narpinder Singh claimed that before the elections to two Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana were held, Mr Bhajan Lal phoned Mr Surender Singh to solicit the support of the HVP MLAs in case the Congress fielded its candidate. He told Mr Surender Singh that Mr Dharam Pal Malik, a close associate of Mr Bhajan Lal, would be the Congress nominee. Mr Surender Singh immediately agreed to support Mr Malik or any other Congress candidate against the nominee of the Ruling Indian National Lok Dal. The president of the Youth HVP said hence it was wrong to say that the HVP MLAs supported the Congress because the latter had fielded Mrs Kiran Choudhary, wife of Mr Surender Singh. He said the HVP support to the Congress had already been committed even before the party had selected its candidate. The HVP took this decision because its leadership was committed to oppose the INLD and its anti-people policies. Mr Narpinder Singh said Mr Bansi Lal had never used cheap language against Mrs Sonia Gandhi as was done by Mr Bhajan Lal against Mrs Indira Gandhi. He claimed that when Mr Bhajan Lal and quit the Congress in the seventies, he used to call the elder Mrs Gandhi as “Dunia ki sabse badi jhooti (World’s biggest liar)”. He said Mr Surender Singh had expressed personal gratitude to Mrs Sonia Gandhi after his wife was nominated as a Congress candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections from Haryana. Mr Narpinder Singh said Mr Bhajan Lal was afraid that after the nomination of Mrs Choudhary, the Congress High Command might invite the HVP leaders to join the fight against the INLD. |
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Surjewala
seeks dismissal of Chautala govt Kurukshetra, September 22 He said keeping in view various omissions and commissions of the Chautala government, it could be dismissed on the basis of self-explanatory evidential proofs that would be attached with the chargesheet that would be ready by October 10. He said dismissal of the government was necessary, because criminal cases could not be got registered against Mr Chautala or his kin so long as he remained in power. Copies of the chargesheet-cum-memorandum would be submitted to the Haryana Governor, the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Union Home Minister, the Prime Minister and the President, besides submitting a copy to the CBI. Mr Surjewala said the
CCMC, which was collecting evidence of omissions and commissions regarding two major issues of corruption and atrocities allegedly committed by the Chautala government during its four-and-half-years regime, had arrived here today for the same purpose. It had already collected evidential documents from the districts of Faridabad, Gurgaon and Sirsa, while other districts, including Hisar, Bhiwani, Narnaul, Sonepat, Panipat and Rohtak, would be covered shortly, he added. Talking about the wealth collection by Mr Chautala and his skin, he alleged the facts regarding collecting wealth were startling, if compared with pre-1977 position. Deputy leader of the Congress Legislative Party, Capt Ajay Singh, said the Congress members in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha would oppose the Panchayat Election Bill amendment, if moved by the Chautala government. He alleged the tainted officers were being benefited by shifting them to the Centre or union territory of Chandigarh on deputation by the Chautala government. The tainted officers should be kept posted in Haryana so that they could be sued, he said. He also demanded immediate withdrawal of ‘false’ cases registered against Congress leaders, including former Haryana minister, Mr Dev Raj Diwan of Sonepat, and Mr Jai Prakash Gupta of Karnal. Mr Phool Chand Mullana and Mr Karan Singh Dalal, former Haryana ministers, also spoke on the occasion. Dr Devender Sharma, Mr Ran Singh Maan and Mr Jagdish Nehra (all former Haryana ministers), Mr Sahab Singh Saini and Mr Ishwar Singh (both former MLAs) and Mr Pawan Garg, president of the District Congress Committee, Kurukshetra, were also present on the occasion. |
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UPA govt anti-farmer, says Abhey Chautala
Fatehabad, September 22 Mr Chautala said people of the country had handed over power to the Congress in the hope that it would provide better governance, but the hope was shattered in less than three months. Mr Chautala ridiculed the Congress and the Haryana Vikas Party and said both parties had failed to live up to the expectations of the people. He said while the Haryana Vikas Party was reduced to a party of the father and the son duo of Mr Bansi Lal and Mr Surinder Singh after desertion by its top leaders, the Congress was reduced to the party of the district headquarters level. He said the Congress had different leaders in different districts of Haryana and all these leaders had been projecting themselves as future Chief Ministers of the state. It was very difficult for an ordinary person to know who really was the leader of the Congress in Haryana, he added. Terming the UPA government as anti-farmer and anti-poor, Mr Chautala said due to thoughtless policies of the government, the price index had broken all records and inflation had broken the backbone of the common people. He termed the government as a government of industrialists, capitalists and the rich, and alleged that the Congress had always thrived on the donations from big houses. It was the reason why the UPA government had been watching their interests. Mr Abhey Singh Chautala invited villagers to reach Fatehabad in large numbers on September 25 and attend the rally being organised to celebrate the 91st birth anniversary of Chowdhary Devi Lal. Mr Nishan Singh, MLA and President of the district unit of the INLD, Mr Mahtab Singh Sehrawat, Deputy Commissioner, Mr Saurabh Singh, SP senior officers of the district, besides office, bearers of the ruling INLD accompanied Mr Chautala during the tours. |
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Cong to focus on employment: Virender
Hisar, September 22 Addressing a news conference here, he maintained that on coming to power in the state, the Congress would focus on providing jobs to the unemployed youths. He observed that the government jobs were not enough to end unemployment and industrial development could play a keyrole in tackling the problem. Mr Virender Singh alleged that the poor industrial development during the past few years and shifting of industrial units to other states indicated that the Chautala government’s industrial policy was flawed. The Congress leader said agriculture had become a loss-making venture and the burden of debt on farmers was increasing. He said the Congress would make efforts to increase agricultural productivity and reduce debt burden on the farmers. He alleged that the Chautala government had exploited the youth for its vested political interests. He claimed that after a long time, the youth had come close to the Congress, which was evident from the success of the Yuva Adhikar Rally organised at Rohtak recently. |
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Haryana to purchase 100 MW from
West Bengal
Panchkula, September 22 Well-placed sources in the Power Utilities inform that a deal has been signed with Global Energy Limited for getting power from West Bengal through the Eastern Grid. The company will supply power from 2.30 am to 8.30 am each day at a rate of Rs 2. 55 per unit. Officials say that they are now working on getting the power transmission corridor cleared for getting this power supply from the Eastern Grid. Sources inform that the Power Utilities had received another offer for getting 100 MW of power from Tata Power Trading Company for 24 hours a day. However, the company was offering power at a rate of Rs 3. 37 per unit, and after including the transmission costs, the state would have had to pay Rs 4 per unit, which was economically unviable. With additional power now available to the state, the power crisis in the state is likely to tide over. The demand for power, especially in the agriculture sector for operating tubewells to water the fields, has been at an all time high in the month of September. The demand of power has remained 700 lakh units (LUs) for the entire, though only 639 LU's of power was available. With hydel power generation going down, and the low water level in dams and rivers, all categories of consumers in the state have had to deal with power cuts. The industry in the state was the worst hit, with the industry having a load of 1 MW and above being closed for eight days, and 11 hour power cut was imposed on industry having a load less than 1 MW. The domestic consumers in the state were also made to brave eight-hour long cuts a day. Later, these restrictions were relaxed, and the industry having a load of 1 MW and above, was allowed power supply for 11 hours. Today the Power Utilities has decided to give further relaxation to the industry having a load over 1 MW. This industry will now get 18 hour power supply from 10 pm to 7 pm the next evening. The power cuts for domestic consumers have also been curtailed. Officials inform that the demand for power has decreased in the agriculture sector, as well as the domestic and non- domestic sector, and the demand in the state is now 660 LUs. In addition, a 110 MW unit at the Tau Devi Lal Thermal Power Plant, Panipat, which was closed for captive maintenance for the past 45 days, has been made operational. |
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Corruption
charges against Rohtak PGIMS Director Chandigarh, September 22 Mr Hooda alleged that at the PGIMS, the Director has purchased three machines costing Rs 72 lakh for recycling and re-using disposable plastic items like syringes, catheters, etc. Not only recycling of such items amounts to violation of the Drug and Cosmetic Act, the patients were also not interested in purchasing the recycled items, Mr Hooda said. He alleged that the machines were actually purchased for Rs 10 lakh only by the Director who then showed it on paper as having spent Rs 75 lakh for the purchase. The recycled items are clandestinely sold to unsuspecting patients, thus exposing them to diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis, etc, Mr Hooda said. The Congress leader also alleged bungling by the Director in allotment of chemist shops at the PGIMS premise. He said sealed tenders were invited for allotment of a shop and one Lajpat Rai of Charkhi Dadri was the highest bidder who offered to pay Rs 2,22,222 per month as rent to the PGIMS. Another chemist shop (Sainik Medicos), which was already running in the PGIMS, offered to pay Rs 1,21,000 per month as rent. But the Director ignored these bids and offered three shops to three parties at a paltry rate ranging from Rs 5000 to Rs 8000 per month. No tenders were called for the allotment. Mr Hooda identified all three shops and claimed that one of the shops was owned by the Director himself in
‘benami’. He added that two drug stores, being run by the Cooperative Department of the Haryana Government, were also vacated by the Director and offered to private parties at the paltry rent of about Rs 8000 each per month. Both the cooperative drug stores were running profitably, Mr Hooda said and added that tenders were not called for allotment for these shops either. He also mentioned alleged bungling by the Director in allotment of ‘khokha’ at the PGIMS premises. Mr Hooda also alleged that the Director purchased life saving drug
(Cefotaxime) worth more than Rs 24 lakh which on testing in Haryana Government laboratory was found substandard. The Director, instead of blacklisting the company, placed another order worth Rs 9,92,000 for the same drug. The drug was used on Mr Hukam Singh, former Chief Minister of Haryana, who later sent a complains to the Governor, Babu Parmanand, when he learnt about the substandard quality of the drug. Mr Hooda also alleged that the Director gave contract for sanitation services for one-year to the highest bidder causing a loss of Rs 12 lakh to the government. He said that other officials who were hand in glove with the Director were, Mr
Kajla, Financial Adviser, Dr B S Dahiya, Director General, Health Services, and Dr O P
Lathwal, Medical Superintendent, PGIMS, Rohtak. Mr Y.N. Malhotra, organising secretary, HPCC, Mr Sushil Saini, spokesman, DCC, Rohtak, and Mr
M.M. Sharma and Mr Surender Saini of District Youth Congress Committee, Rohtak, were with Mr Hooda when he submitted the memorandum to the Governor. |
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Experts discuss new world order
Kurukshetra, September 22 A large number of teachers from Haryana and other states are taking part in the course. Delivering the keynote address, Prof Devendra Kaushik, Chairman Maulana Azad Institute of Asia Studies, Kolkata, highlighted the changes in the world order — from bi-polar to uni-polar. He observed that with the shifting in the world order, power equilibrium and parity had been gravely disturbed. He suggested that a holistic and inter-disciplinary approach be developed for a better understanding of the present-day world. For this, he felt there was an urgent need for developing infrastructure. The Dean, Social Sciences, Kurukshetra University, Dr G. Khurana, who presided over the inaugural session of the course, said ground realities must not be overlooked while understanding the international scenario. Earlier, the Director, Academic Staff College, Kurukshetra University, Prof R.S. Yadav, introduced the theme of the course. He highlighted the relevance of trends and research in international politics, national politics and public administration. Dr Saroj Malik, Chairperson, Political Science Department, welcomed the guest speaker and participants. Dr Leela Yadav, co-ordinator of the refresher course, initiated the proceedings. |
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Environment clearance must for new projects
Chandigarh, September 22 As per the amended notification, new townships, industrial townships, settlement colonies, commercial complexes, hotel complexes, hospitals and office complexes for more than 1000 persons or discharging sewage of more 50,000 litres per day or having an investment of more than Rs 50 crore or any industrial estate accommodating industrial units in an area of more than 50 hectares if their pollution potential is high are required to obtain environmental clearance from the government. The spokesman of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board said here today that the new construction projects or industrial estates in which construction work had not commenced or had not come upto the plinth level or expenditure had not exceed 25 per cent of the total sanction cost would require environmental clearance. The colonisers or government agencies would have to seek no objection certificate from the board within 21 days for new projects, otherwise action would be taken against them under the Environment Protection Act. Those projects in which 25 per cent or more expenditure had been incurred would have to submit the details of the expenditure and cost of project within 21 days. The defaulters would be presumed to have not paid 25 per cent expenditure and, therefore, would requirement environment clearance. |
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Hooda to oppose cow slaughter
in Mewat
Chandigarh, September 22 In a statement here today, Mr Hooda said when he was PCC chief of Haryana, a separate district Congress committee for Mewat area was constituted for the first time. He alleged that it was because of the fast approaching assembly elections of Haryana that the Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala had suddenly woken up to the necessity of creating a separate Mewat district. If the CM was really serious about development of Mewat area, he should have created the Mewat district when he came to power four-and-a-half-years ago, Mr Hooda said. He said some of the BJP leaders were alleging that cow slaughter would be allowed in Mewat once it would become a district. |
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Another rice miller held for tax evasion Karnal, September 22 Hundreds of rice millers have gone underground fearing arrest, as notices have been served on them. Earlier, one rice miller was arrested and two mills were sealed on Tuesday. Besides, arrest warrants have been issued against 11 rice millers during the past few days. Talking to The Tribune, the Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner
(DETC), Karnal, Mr J.S. Sindhu, said Narsi Dass, a partner of M/s Ajay Foods,
Tarawari, was arrested by the department this morning for evading purchase tax amounting to Rs 12.56 lakh. He was later sent to revenue lock-up for 10 days. He said arrest warrants were also issued against his partner Raj Pal
Jhangra, who was absconding. It may be mentioned that during the special campaign initiated by the department to recover pending purchase tax from rice millers, hundreds of rice millers and their partners have gone underground fearing arrest after the notices were served on at least 150 rice mills. The pending purchase tax amounts to over Rs 18 crore. Mr Sindhu further said specific orders were issued to the bank authorities concerned today to freeze the bank accounts of Kisan Rice Mill and Garg Rice Mill, both of
Tarawari. The mills had been sealed and the process was under way to attach their properties, he added. Yesterday, the department had arrested Sat Pal, owner of Sachin and Company, Market Committee Road, Karnal, for evading tax. He was sent to revenue lock-up for 10 days. At the filing of the report, raids were still being carried out on rice mills, especially in the hub,
Tarawari. |
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Woman dies following ‘altercation’ Ambala, September 22 Batto Devi, was allegedly assaulted by a group of persons led by Municipal Councillor Lalita Prasad while she was sitting outside her home in Rangiya Mandi. Parveen and Rajeshwar, grandsons of Batto Devi, said the incident took place at 11.30 pm. “We were not at home and only the ladies and children were present”, they said. They claimed that the attack was the result of an old enmity with Lalita Prasad. “About 15-20 persons arrived at our home and attacked family members,” they added. There were some policemen in the group,” they alleged. Praveen claimed that one of the attackers even fired two shots in the air. “The atmosphere was tense. After the incident, we called the police. A police team arrived after two to three hours. Grandmother’s body was taken to the Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantonment, about 3 am,” he added. A number of persons, including Congress activists gathered at Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantonment, this morning. The relatives of Batto Devi raised slogans against the local MLA, Mr Anil Vij. They alleged that the attackers were being protected by the MLA. Later, they demanded that the post mortem of Batto Devi should be carried out at the Civil Hospital, Ambala City, instead of Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantonment. The police suspects that the incident could be the result of an attack on Sheetal Prasad with a sharp-edged weapon in Rangiya Mandi at 8.30 pm. He is currently undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantonment. Mr Sheetal Prasad’s wife,
Narwata, said a youth named Johnny came to their residence when Mr Prasad had gone out for some work. “Johnny assaulted a relative. When we intervened he left the house. Thereafter, at about 8.30 pm, when my husband returned. Johnny and other person, came to our residence and assaulted my husband. He sustained injuries on his leg, arms and face,” she added. District Congress Committee Ambala Cantonment unit president Ashok Jain has expressed concern over the incident. He said those guilty should be immediately arrested. |
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Employees resent closure of boards
Rohtak, September 22 The call for the dharna had been given by the Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh. The dharna marked end of the second phase of the agitation launched by the Mahasangh to press its demands. Mr M.L. Sehgal, general secretary of the mahasangh, said whereas the government had been appointing 50-year-old men as Vikas Purush in villages, it had fixed the age limit for ex- gratia appointments at 25 years. He said if the Chief Minister was serious about employees’ welfare he should announce grant of bonus to the employees for the past four years at the Fatehabad rally scheduled for September 25. |
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Encroachments removed
Sonepat, September 22 The squatters tried to oppose the demolishing but failed to do so in the presence of the police. Notices had been issued to persons who had built houses on the panchayat land and they had been asked to demolish the structures on their own. Villagers alleged that officials discriminated against them in the removal of encroachments on panchayat land. They demanded a high-level probe into the incident. |
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Rivalry may be reason behind scribe’s murder
Our High Court Correspondent
Chandigarh, September 22 However, it said that the CID wing of the Haryana Police was well-equipped to investigate the same and the court could direct the State CID, Haryana, to form a team and conduct investigation in the case. In its reply to the petition, the CBI also said that directions as deemed fit may be passed by the Bench in the matter. The court was hearing the petition filed by Naresh Goyal, son of the slain journalist, seeking CBI investigation into his father’s alleged murder on September 18, 2003. Eight accused have been arrested by the Haryana Police for their alleged role in the crime. PIL filed
A public interest litigation has been filed by Dr B. Singh in the High Court, seeking directions to the Haryana Government and others to ensure that no residential buildings are allowed to come up within 900 metre radius of the Chandimandir Military Station. In his petition, Dr B. Singh has stated that Chandimandir Military Station has ammunition store as well as firing range and as per the standing rules, no residential building can be allowed to come up in the vicinity of the Station. After hearing him, the Bench of Chief Justice Mr Justice B.K. Roy and Mr Justice Amar Dutt directed that the petition be heard along with the pending PIL regarding Sukhna Lake. |
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Rallies by roadways workers
Chandigarh, September 22 According to Mr Lal Chand, state secretary of the union, the staff was protesting against the alleged large scale transfers of employees out of vindictive action. They also wanted that there should be a policy on bonus under which two months’ salary should be given to them as bonus. Under the ex-gratia scheme, one dependent of those employees who died in harness must be given a job instead of fixing a quota of 5 per cent. He said the concession given in the fare to certain categories of persons should be added to the profit of the roadways. There should be a complete ban on the movement of unauthorised passenger vehicles. The other demands of the union included reversal of privatisation policy, addition of 3,000 new buses in the roadways fleet and regularisation of all daily wagers.
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Haryana scheme for
folk artistes
Chandigarh, September 22 While speaking at the function, the CM said the objective of starting the pension scheme was to honour the artistes for their contribution in preserving the rich folk and cultural tradition of the region. The artistes must pass on their skills to the new generation, he added. |
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10 more cases of jaundice detected Ambala, September 22 The Joint Director of the state Health Department, Dr
S.L. Kaushik, along with the Civil Surgeon, Dr Neel Kanth Sharma, visited the affected areas. He met the residents of the area. The Health Department distributed chlorine tablets among the residents of adjoining colonies of Baldev Nagar. Residents of Baldev Nagar alleged that sanitation work in the areas affected had not been started by the municipal council even after the direction of the Deputy Commissioner. They alleged that they had repeatedly approached municipal council officers, but they did not oblige them. |
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4 die in road accident Karnal, September 22 The accident took place at about 9.30 pm yesterday when the driver of a jeep (HR-45-7371) carrying many persons lost control and rammed into a tree. The injured included Mukhtiar Singh (driver), Ramesh Kumar, Krishan Kumar and Sunil Kumar. They were rushed to the trauma centre of the Civil Hospital, Karnal, for treatment where their condition was said to be stable. |
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1 killed, 4 hurt in mishap Ambala, September 22 The driver of the truck fled from the site. The police has registered a case against the truck driver. |
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