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Vidhan Sabha passes eight Bills
Cong MLAs under fire on SYL issue
Parties eyeing new caste equations
Make Mewat district, says Birender
CPM activists hold demonstration
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Class XII supplementary exam result
46.82 pc
Plea for phasing out pharmacy diploma
New master plan of cities being prepared
Rs 2.42 lakh looted from filling station employee
Haryana to write off taccavi loans
Govt asked to file reply to charges
Pesticide unit catches fire
Excise office may be shifted
New ration cards planned for poor
Five bodies fished out from canal
Art workshops in schools
Jail escapee rearrested
3 booked for demanding dowry
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Vidhan Sabha passes eight Bills
Chandigarh, September 29 Opposition leaders, including Mr Bhajan Lal, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, Dr Raghubir Singh Kadiyan and Mr Karan Singh Dalal, spoke against the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Second Amendment) Bill, the Haryana Municipal Corporation (Second Amendment) Bill and the Haryana Municipal (Amendment) Bill, which provided that the election to these bodies could be held 120 days before the expiry of their term. Earlier this provision was of two months. The Opposition alleged that the government wanted to divide the community by holding the civic and panchayat elections before the Assembly elections so that it could drive political advantage. Its leaders said the government should go in for the early Assembly poll if it was so keen on the elections. Intervening in the debate, the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, denied that there was any political motive behind the government’s move to bring these amendments. He said the elections were part and parcel of democracy. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Prof Sampat Singh, said going by the Opposition argument, there should not be any Assembly or Lok Sabha elections also. The Speaker, Mr Satbir Singh Kadian, also spoke in support of the Bills. He said in the USA, there was a gap of over two months between the presidential election and the expiry of the term of the present incumbent. There was a brief interruption when Mr Dalal and Dr Kadiyan objected to remarks being made by two visitors. They alleged that they were CID men made to sit by the government in the gallery near the Opposition Benches so that they could disturb its members. Peace was restored only after the Speaker asked them to leave the Vidhan Sabha. Not satisfied with the government’s reply, the Congress members walked out of the House. There was virtually no debate on the other Bills, which included the Punjab Sugarcane (Regulation of Purchase and Supply) Haryana Amendment Bill, the Kurukshetra Shrine Bill, the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments (Haryana Amendment) Bill and the Haryana Relief of Agricultural Indebtedness (Amendment) Bill.
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Cong MLAs under fire on SYL issue
Chandigarh, September 29 The Congress members tried to shift the focus to the alleged scams in selling of Gurgaon lands by the Chautala regime. But the Speaker refused to allow any discussion on the controversial land deals and even got expunged any passing remark made by Congress legislators on the alleged scams. Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, officiating leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), gave a notice for adjournment of the House for discussing the sorry state of the education sector in the state. The notice, as well as six other adjournment notices given by Congress members, were turned down by the Speaker. Mr Kadiyan also pulled up Capt Yadav for giving seven adjournment notices for a single session. In reply, the Congress leader said that he had no option but to give seven notices since the Assembly was meeting for one session only. Capt Yadav said he had walked out from the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) when BAC members from the ruling party insisted that the assembly would meet for one session only. Mr Bhajan Lal, President of the Haryana unit of the Congress party, also objected to the short duration of the session and said the assembly should meet for at least seven to ten days. When the government refused to concede to the demand, Congress MLAs staged a brief walkout from the House in protest. The government strategy, to grill the Congress on the issue of SYL, unfolded right in the
beginning of the session when question hour was taking place. Captain Ajay Singh Yadav’s question about the depleting ground water level of the state triggered off a flurry of supplementary questions. Mr Anil Vij, an Independent MLA aligned to the ruling party, first set the ball rolling by saying that since the Congress-led Central government was not showing any interest in getting the SYL canal constructed, the state government must make some alternative arrangements for irrigating the water deficit areas of the state. Even as angry Congress members protested, the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala stood up and said Mr Vij had made an important point and the Congress members should not consider it as a dig at them. The Speaker also joined in with Mr Chautala and said Mr Bhajan Lal had phoned him to say that Congress MLAs and their allies would resign from the assembly to press their demand for completion of the SYL canal. Mr Kadiyan said he waited for the Congress MLAs at the appointed time but nobody turned up. The grilling continued during the discussion on a call attention notice given by Mr Ajay Yadav and two other MLAs on the new system of power tariff for agricultural tubewells introduced by the Chautala-regime. The Chief Minister as well as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Sampat Singh told the Congress legislators that there would have been no shortage of water in the state had the Congress party took the initiative to complete the SYL canal. Capt Yadav said all he wanted to say was that the new system, which was yet to be implemented, would offer hardly any relief to farmers of water deficit southern districts. The ruling party members and the Speaker told him that he must clarify whether he was in favour of the new system or against it. Those who participated in the debate on the issue of duration of the House and on the call attention motion included Mr Ashok Arora, Transport Minister, Mr Dharam Vir, Congress MLA and Mr Ramkishen Fauji of the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP). The House also condoled the death of Raja Ramanna, nuclear scientist, and other prominent persons who had passed away since the last session of the House. |
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Parties eyeing new caste equations
Rohtak, September 29 A number of factors have disturbed the caste equations. While some political outfits have been marginalised after the recent Lok Sabha poll, forcing their main caste groups to look for greener avenues elsewhere, other parties are witnessing a serious erosion in their caste-based vote banks. These parties are now trying to work out the equations that can hopefully see them through the next assembly poll. The ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) is trying to work out a new equation which targets the Punjabis, the Muslims and, of course, the Jats. The INLD think tank is said to be of the view that the erosion of base among the Jats and Banias can be offset by winning over the Punjabis and the Muslims. The Chief Minister’s recent visit to Pakistan to the Bhai Kanhayya shrine is being attributed to this line of thought. The move to create a new district of Mewat is also aimed at wooing the Muslim voters of the Gurgaon area. The Banias had backed the INLD in the last Assembly elections to the extent that the community leaders had started referring to the Chief Minister as “Lala Om Prakash Chautala”. However, the community opposed him tooth and nail during the Lok Sabha poll and there is little possibility of it going back to the Chautala fold. This time this community is still divided over whom to support. The marginalisation of the Haryana Vikas Party has contributed a great deal towards disturbing the caste mathematics. A section of the Jat community, which hitherto backed Mr Bansi Lal’s HVP, finds itself on the crossroads. The past few weeks have seen several HVP stalwarts crossing over to the BJP and the Congress. But none has joined the INLD. Thus, a sizeable number of Jat votes will be split among different parties. The BJP had held sway over the Punjabi community till recently besides having appreciable support among the Banias. That explains its predominantly urban base. However, with the entry of important Jat leaders in the party in the recent years, and more importantly in the aftermath of the last Lok Sabha poll, has completely changed the party’s complexion. It now has the support in communities which hitherto considered it as an anathema. This has forced other parties to readjust their caste alignments. The Congress faces the biggest dilemma. Despite bagging the votes of every caste and community in the Lok Sabha poll which gave it a massive win, the party is doing its precious little to keep this goodwill intact. As it is, caste plays a disproportionately larger role in the Assembly poll as compared to the Parliamentary elections. So, much will depend on who is projected as its chief ministerial candidate. This will decide which communities will support it and to what extent. |
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Make Mewat district, says Birender
Sonepat, September 29 Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Birender Singh said, “The Chief Minister’s move in this regard clearly show the mala fide intensions of the government to create an atmosphere of dissension among the people before the Assembly elections”. But the Congress would oppose this move by all means, even the party would approach the court against the ordinance, he added. Referring to the Chief Minister’s recent announcement at “Samman Divas” rally at Fatehabad, assuring the educated unemployed youths that they would now have to pay a nominal amount of money for various application forms for recruitment, Mr Birender Singh remarked that the Chautala government had already charged Rs 300-crore during the last five years on this account by imposing heavy application fees. “What is its use when almost all vacant posts have already been advertised for and the applicants had paid the fees?” he asked. Claiming, that the people were looking at the Congress to get rid of the anti-people government of Chautala, Mr Birender Singh said the people will repeat the verdict of the Lok Sabha elections in the Assembly elections this time. Replying to a question, he favoured the creation of Mewat, as a separate district. The Mewat region has been a backward area. So far and the creation of a separate district will help in the development of the area. |
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CPM activists hold demonstration
Hisar, September 29 Their main demands include allotment of residential plots to the landless, regularising the unauthorised urban colonies, construction of toilets for women and lifting of ban on recruitment in educational and research institutions. Addressing mediapersons, Mr Inderjit Singh, secretary of the state unit of the CPM, alleged that large-scale irregularities had been committed in various developmental schemes being run by the state government. He said the party had conducted a survey in several villages, which revealed that pink cards meant for the below poverty line (BPL) people were in the possession of big land owners. On the other hand, the deserving residents had not been provided these cards, he added. Mr Inderjit Singh said corruption was rampant in the “foodgrains for work” scheme and also in the distribution of kerosene under the ration system. He alleged that government officials, contractors and panchayat members patronised by the Chautala government were involved in such corrupt practices. The CPM leader lamented that the state government was making tall claims regarding various developmental activities, while in reality, even the basic needs of the people were not being taken care of. He cited the examples of education, health and employment sectors, stating that the common man was the ultimate sufferer. |
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Class XII supplementary exam result 46.82 pc
Bhiwani, September 29 Disclosing this today, the Chairman of the Haryana School Education Board, Brig. O.P. Chaudhary, said the process of preparation of results had been streamlined as a result of which the results of all examinations this year had been declared in a record period of 30 to 40 days after the conclusion of the examinations. Giving details, he said 46,895 candidates appeared in this examination, of which 21,960 were declared pass and 16,002 candidates were placed under compartment. He said girls had a better pass percentage than boys. In comparison to 50.88 per cent pass percentage of girls, the boys had a pass percentage of 44.36. The pass percentage of candidates in urban areas was 50.55 as compared to 45.42 per cent in rural areas. He said the pass percentage of the humanities group was 47.87, the commerce group 44.14 and that of the science group 42.71. He said in the senior secondary vocational examination, 4953 candidates appeared and 1388 candidates got through. The pass percentage was 28.02. Girls outshone boys with a pass percentage of 33.45 in comparison to boys who had a pass percentage of 27.36. He said the result would be available subject wise on websites http://results.nic.in and www.hbse.nic.in and helpline No.01664-254000 at the Board headquarters, Bhiwani, from 9 a.m. onwards tomorrow. The candidates could see their results in the offices of the district education officers concerned from 11 a.m. onwards tomorrow. He said the pass certificates of candidates would be sent within 15 days and the fail or compartment cards would be sent within a week. He said candidates placed under compartment should send their forms within the prescribed dates for the annual examination, 2005, and not wait for their compartment cards. He said the candidates were required to fill new forms in which the examination fee had been included and the forms bore a hologram of the board. The price of the form was Rs 325 and the last date for depositing forms would be October 25. After this, a late fee of Rs 300 up to December 28 would be charged in the form of a bank draft. He said candidates who wanted to get their answersheets rechecked could send their forms with a fee of Rs 100 per subject up to October 29. |
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Plea for phasing out pharmacy diploma
Rohtak, September 29 Addressing a press conference here today, Mr A.S. Tayal, chairperson of the organising committee of the seventh scientific seminar being organised here on October 2 and 3 by the federation, said the worldover the basic qualification for pharmacists had been changed to a graduate degree. He said the government should also make arrangements for holding short duration orientation courses for diploma holders in the country so that they could be awarded graduation degrees. This would improve their professional abilities which, in turn, would help them render more useful role in health services. Mr Tayal said new drugs and their improper use had caused several tragedies and their
side-effects had to be taken note of. Under the circumstances, the role of pharmacists had become more important. However, the government was yet to take notice of the changing complexion of the drug industry. He said the seminar’s theme would be “role of pharmacists in health services”. It would be inaugurated by the Director-General of Health Services, Haryana, Dr B.S. Dahiya. |
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New master plan of cities being prepared
Chandigarh, September 29 Town and Country Planning Minister, Mr Dhirpal Singh, in his written reply to a starred question asked by officiating leader of the Congress party, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, said the Development Plan of Gurgaon Controlled Area had expired in the year 2001 and a new plan with the perspective year 2021 AD was under preparation in consultation with the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB). In the process some changes were envisaged/carried out keeping in view of the requirement of the Information Technology (IT) policy, upgradation of infrastructure and relocation of schemes, Mr Dhirpal Singh told the Assembly today. He added that the development plan for Faridabad town, including the controlled area had already been prepared with the expiry year of 2011. Some changes in the zoning regulations were brought about during the last decade keeping in view the requirement of land use for rehabilitation of the weaker sections of society, shifting of crusher zone, setting up of district jail, etc. New development plan for Sonepat and Kundli had been published in 2003 with perspective year 2021. The urbanisation plan of Panchkula periphery area had already been prepared and put on display, Mr Dhirpal Singh said. The Minister said development plan of other cities of Haryana had been either published or under preparation with the perspective year 2021. |
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Rs 2.42 lakh looted from filling station employee
Jhajjar, September 29 Employee
Ramchander, accompanied by armed Head Constable of the police Kanwal Singh, was on his way to the State Bank of Patiala branch, situated near Gajraj Hotel on the Delhi-Rohtak highway in a three-wheeler. As their vehicle reached near the bank, an Indica coming from the Delhi side slightly collided with the three-wheeler and came to a halt. The eyewitnesses said three youths, all in the age group of 18-22, rushed to them and one of them caught hold of the policeman and threw chilli powder in his eyes. The victims said one of the robbers also took out a pistol to scare them. After a brief struggle, the desperadoes snatched the cash and fled towards Rohtak. Some employees of the bank also rushed out on spotting the brawl but it was too late. Police sources put the number of robbers at four as three executed the loot and another sitting at the wheels in the car. SP Mohammad Akil also reached the town to monitor the operation to nab the culprits. The SP told mediapersons that one of the robbers had been identified as Banti, a resident of Desalpur village here. He hoped that the culprits would be arrested soon.
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Haryana to write off taccavi loans
Chandigarh, September 29 The Cabinet also decided that the report of the Verma Commission along with the action taken report be placed before the Assembly. It also approved the proposal of the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department to transfer its about 47 acres to the Hisar Market Committee for the setting up of a vegetable, fruit and fodder market. Since the land, which would be transferred at a rate of Rs 6 lakh per acre, is close to highway No 10, it would be easily accessible. The Cabinet reviewed the policy for renewal of existing mining leases of major minerals. Henceforth, the cases of renewal of major mineral mining leases would be decided on the basis of merit alone as per the Central Act and rules as these minerals are regulated by the Central Act and rules. The policy of auction framed in September, 2001, would not be applicable to renewal applications for the mining leases for major minerals. In a major relief to tools and hardware industry the Cabinet decided to reduce the rate of tax on 27 types of tools and hardware from 10 per cent or 12 per cent to 4 per cent. The decision has been taken on a representation of the Faridabad Tools and Hardware Merchants Association and the Faridabad Beopar Mandal. |
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High Court Our High Court Correspondent
Chandigarh, September 29 In his petition, which had earlier been decided ex-parte by the High Court, Mr Yadav has alleged that the Om Prakash Chautala government in Haryana has been allotting land in Gurgaon to some builders at throwaway prices. Giving details for 60 acres of similarly allotted land, Mr Yadav had sought an independent investigation into the alleged scam. He had said that the land acquired in 1990 for Rs 2.5 lakh per acre had been allotted to builders for almost the same price in 2002-2003. After the ex-parte order, the petitioner moved an application in the High Court seeking recall of the order and hearing of the case afresh. Today, the Bench of Chief Justice Mr Justice B.K. Roy and Mr Justice A.K. Mittal, while adjourning the case to October 6, asked the petitioner to submit some more details in the matter.
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Pesticide unit catches fire
Jhajjar, September 29 The fire brigade was called from five nearby towns including Delhi, Rohtak, Sonepat, Gurgaon and here to extinguish the fire, that was brought under control, after three hours. Though no loss of life was reported, the factory owner estimated financial loss of Rs 50 lakh and more. The factory Safex Finial, owned by Mr S.K. Jindal, a resident of Delhi, situated along the national highway no 10, here, was engulfed in the fire at around 5 am today. The factory guard immediately informed the police which called the fire tenders. As the fire went out of control, more fire tenders had to be called in from the
neighbouring towns. The fire was doused at about 8 am. The fire officers said, short circuit might have been the cause of fire. |
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Excise office may be shifted
Sonepat, September 29 The building of this hostel had been vacated two years ago when some women of the hostel were discovered in the trade of prostitution. The then Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ashok Yadav, had ordered the closure of the hostel. The building had been constructed by the District Red Cross Society. It was alleged that the then secretary of the District Red Cross Society was also involved in this racket. The Deputy Commissioner Mr Vidya Dhar, has reportedly allowed the use of this building as an office of the Excise and Taxation Department. |
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New ration cards planned for poor
Sonepat, September 29 According to official sources, work for the preparation of the ration cards would be completed by December 15. The government had directed the authorities of the Food and Supplies Department to arrange photographers for taking pictures of families concerned and affix the pictures on the cards. The government is planning to distribute wheat and other commodities from January 1. It has also sent application forms, cards and other articles to be used in the preparation of the cards to all district headquarters. Officials of the department would visit each house for the distribution of the forms which would have to be returned within 15 days. The forms would be collected by the staff of the department. |
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Five bodies fished out from canal
Jhajjar, September 29 The police said the bodies were fished out in 5-km stretch from Matanhale village to the Akehari Madanpur head. Sources said they could either have been thrown in the canal or slipped on their own at different places. Prima facie, it appeared that three bodies were about 20 days old and the remaining could be 10 to 15 days old, the sources said. The bodies would be sent to the PGIMS at Rohtak for a post-mortem examination. |
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Art workshops in schools
Ambala, September 29 In KV No.1, the subject was sculpture making and drawing. The Principal of the school, Ms Urmila Sharma, and Mr S.K. Lath, Ms Jaswinder, Ms Sanyog Lata and Mr Dharkar supervised the workshop. 59 students participated in the workshop. In Major R.N. Kapoor School the subject of the workshop was carry bags and best out of waste. More than 150 students from Class III to Class IX participated in the workshop. Principal K. Relhan alongwith Ms Chanderkanta Sharma and Ms Kanta Arora supervised the workshop. The students and teachers lauded the project. Mr Rohit and Ms Vidushi conducted the workshop for The Tribune.
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Jail escapee rearrested
Hisar, September 29 Stating this at a press conference here today, Mr Attar Singh Ahlawat, SSP, said Sunil was arrested by Inspector Jagat Singh at the Hansi bus stand. He said a countrymade pistol of .315-bore capacity was seized from the accused. Mr Ahlawat said Sunil (18) had remained associated with the Pardeep Jamawari gang. He said Sunil was arrested on January 31, 2004, and was sent to the Sonepat jail. However, he, along with nine other prisoners, escaped from the jail in July. The SSP said Sunil continued his criminal activities even after escaping from the jail.
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3 booked for demanding dowry
Panipat, September 29 An FIR has been registered under relevant sections at Israna police station in this regard on the complaint of Sushila of Naulatha. In her complaint, Sushila alleged that her husband Virendra, her father-in-law, Bhim Singh, and mother-in-law, Dhnawati, had been harassing her for bringing more dowry items including a motor cycle from her parents. |
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