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Cong to bring CM’s office under Lokpal purview, says Surjewala
CM decides to remain away
from HUDA activities
HUDA reviews plot allotment
Pvt firm roped in for CM’s meeting
Haryana CM opens old-age home
Nabard must continue financing irrigation projects: Chautala
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Opposition alleges favouritism in HCS nomination
BJP to contest panchayat poll
VC asks non-teaching staff to work hard
Youth killed, 3 held
Man gets life term
High
Court
Formal creation of Mewat district today
IAS, HCS transfers
Protest against police inaction
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Cong to bring CM’s office under
Panipat, October 1 Alleging that state Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and his sons MLA Abhey and MP Ajay had been minting money by corrupt practices, Mr Surjewala and Mr Dalal said that they would be put behind bars for the alleged irregularities committed by them during their regime. If the Congress came to power, their property would be assessed and corruption charges would be probed and they would be put behind bars. Congress leaders said that Mr Chautala would have to explain to the public the sources from where he had gathered such a huge property. They said that a nine-member Congress committee constituted by senior Congress leader Janardan Reddy was furnishing a detailed report about the irregularities done by Chautala and his sons. The committee, headed by its chairman Shamsher Singh Surjewala, would submit a memorandum to Governor by October 10 with evidence, said Congress leaders, adding that the copies of the memorandum would also be submitted to Prime Minister and President. The Congress leaders also criticised the Chautala government for presenting Panchayat Raj Amendment Bill 2004, Municipal Committee Amendment Bill 2004 and Municipal Corporation Amendment Bill 2004 in Assembly. They termed it as unconstitutional and said that Mr Chautala should desist from such activities as he had lost mandate in last Lok Sabha elections.
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CM decides to remain away
from HUDA activities
Chandigarh, October 1 Replying to a question on the controversial auction of commercial sites at Gurgaon in May, the Chief Minister, who was addressing a press conference here last evening, said HUDA was an independent entity which functioned on it own. “The government intervenes only in case of complaint from any quarter against HUDA. Then we look into the complaint”, Mr Chautala said. The Chief Minister, who is facing a series of allegations from the Opposition regarding scams in land deals in the Gurgaon area, claimed that the government headed by him was “clean”. He said allegations of corruption heaped upon him in four press conferences, held the day before the Assembly was to be commenced, gave him the impression that there would be a lot of fireworks by the Opposition in the Assembly. But the threat turned out to be a damp squib when the Assembly met on Wednesday, Mr Chautala said. He also alleged that none of the Opposition legislators asked any question regarding vital issues concerning the state. He said the government had decided to re-introduce the Agricultural Indebitedness Act, which was originally enacted by Sir Chhotu Ram in 1934. The grandson of Sir Chhotu Ram, Mr. Birender Singh, got the Act amended, when he was Revenue Minister in the Cabinet of Mr Bhajan Lal. The amendment deprived the farmers of the facility of getting their loan waived off after having returned more than double the amount of the principal amount, Mr Chautala said. He said even without amendment the elections to Panchayati Raj institutions could either be postponed or advanced by 60 days. Asked to comment on the decision of the state government to take over the control and management of temples in Kurukshetra, Mr. Chautala said this was to attract more tourists and provide maximum facilities to the pilgrims and visitors. He said the proposed 600 MW thermal power plant at Yamunanagar would generate electricity at a cost of Rs 3.49 crore per MW, reported to be the most competitive price for a coal-based thermal plant of this size. |
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HUDA reviews plot allotment
Panchkula, October 1 Mr Chatterjee was presiding over a meeting of officials at the HUDA Complex in Sector 6 this afternoon. He asked the officials to ensure that the allotees of plots in the three urban estates earlier this year be given the physical possession of plots at the earliest. He emphasized that only after the possession was handed over to the allotees, would HUDA get the instalments from the allotees. The Financial Commissioner also asked the officials to ensure that all directions issued by the state government to HUDA were adhered to at the earliest. He also issued directions regarding timely movement and delivery of files from one branch to another. Among others present were Chief Administrator, HUDA, Mr Alok Nigam, Administrator Headquarters, Mr Balwan Singh, Engineer-in-chief , Mr K K Bhugra, Chief Engineer, Mr R C Taneja and Chief Controller Finance, Mr S.C. Kansal. |
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Pvt firm roped in for CM’s meeting
Gurgaon, October 1 A private firm has been pressed into service by the INLD to facilitate the media coverage of Mr Chautala’s public programmes, including the announcement of a separate district for Mewat tomorrow. Although there is no commitment in writing preparations for the announcement are evident. The announcement will be part of the celebrations of the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. Although it has not been announced, sources say that former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah will also accompany Mr Chautala and address the rally. While personnel of the publicity department of the government are tightlipped on the development, some of them tried to play it down. Officials of private agency said their firm had been asked by the INLD to organise a 15-minute meeting of mediapersons with the Chief Minister. They made it a point to stress that the firm was not roped in by the government. They said its role was confined only to the meeting. However, the sources claimed that the INLD was acting as a “surrogate” to the government. They said the announcement of a separate district for Mewat, dominated by Meo Muslims in spite of protests from Hindu organisations would project the INLD as a “secular brigade”.
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Haryana CM opens old-age home
Panchkula, October 1 This was stated by Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala while addressing members of the Senior Citizens Council, Panchkula, on the occasion of International Elders Day. Mr Chautala also inaugurated an old-age home constructed at a cost of Rs 46.43 lakh here today. The Chief Minister directed Deputy Commissioner Neelam P. Kasni to provide religious as well as history books at the library meant for senior citizens. He also said sufficient medicines should be stocked at the dispensary on the premises. Mr Chautala honoured senior citizens above the age of 85 years, Ms Devki Rani Bhatia, Mr Hans Raj Jairath, Mr K.S. Nayyar, Mr M.S. Chopra, Mr Dharamvir Sharma, Ms Saraswati Devi, Ms Ram Rakhi Chopra and Mr R. K. Nijhawan, by presenting them a shawl each. Mr S.K. Sharma, president of the Senior Citizens Council, in turn honoured the Chief Minister by presenting a shawl to him. The Chief Minister also released the first souvenir Har-Sen Darpan published by the Haryana State Senior Citizens Council. Earlier, he inaugurated a blood donation camp organised by the district Red Cross Society. He complemented Mr Anil Joshi, Assistant Secretary of Red Cross, Panchkula, for having donated blood 28 times. The Chief Minister also presented a tricycle to Mr Dilbag Rai and hearing aids to Ms Rekha Rani, Mr Hari Chand and Mr Narata Singh. On the occasion, Town and Country Planning Minister Dhir Pal Singh, Tourism Corporation Chairman Pardeep Chaudhary, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Town and Country Planning, Bhakar Chatterjee, and Chief Administrator, HUDA, Alok Nigam were among those present.
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Nabard must continue financing
Chandigarh, October 2 In a letter addressed to the Union Finance Minister, Mr
P. Chidambaram, the Chief Minister reminded him of the announcement made by him during his Budget speech for 2004-05 regarding revival of RIDF for water management and other programmes and said that accelerated water management schemes, being the high priority area for the nation, Nabard be asked to finance all irrigation projects. Mr Chautala mentioned that Haryana, which had a sharp focus on agricultural production and water management as well as conservation, had been seeking assistance from Nabard for implementation of its projects. Out of 531 schemes sanctioned under assistance from Nabard, 464 irrigation and drainage schemes had already been completed. |
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Opposition alleges favouritism
Chandigarh, October 1 The Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) will interview 12 candidates for six posts in the HCS on October 3. The names of these candidates have been recommended by the state government from among employees of its departments and various boards and corporations. Earlier employees of the boards and corporations were not eligible for nomination to the HCS. However, the INLD Government amended the rules to open the HCS nominations for the employees of the boards and corporations also. Similarly, under the earlier rules, only those employees who had completed five years of continuous government service or service under a state public sector undertaking created under an Act of Parliament or state legislature were eligible for nomination to the HCS. However, the government amended the rules to reduce the mandatory length of service from five years to three years for making nominations this year. The Congress MLA, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, alleged here today that the rules had been amended to favour a particular candidate who was close to an important functionary of the HPSC. He said this candidate was appointed in a board three years ago against the rules. He said the post was offered to him because his father had died in harness. Mr Dalal said under the ex-gratia
scheme (under which jobs are given to a dependent of a deceased employee), job to a dependent was to be offered in the same department in which the father was employed and that too only a Class III job. However, the particular candidate, he said, was given a lucrative job in a cash-rich board. He alleged that the mandatory length of service had also been reduced from five to three years to make this candidate eligible for nomination to the HCS.
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BJP to contest panchayat poll
Sonepat, October 1 Mr Mohan Lal Baroli, President of the Panchayati Raj Cell of the party, told mediapersons here today that the party had already directed its district units to prepare the list of candidates after visiting each village so that they could be fielded with the approval of Prof Ganeshi Lal, President of the party unit in the state. He also disclosed that the party had nominated some leaders for selecting the party nominees in the villages. The BJP leader said if his party came to power in the Assembly elections, it would give some powers to panchayati raj institutions. Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, MP and National Secretary of the BJP, announced here today that his party would contest the next Assembly elections on its own and would field its candidates in all 90 Assembly seats. He, however, ruled out any alliance with any political party and hoped to get an absolute majority. He claimed that the October 17 rally at Rohtak would change the political scene in the state. He alleged that the Congress and the INLD were misleading the people on the issue of the construction of the SYL canal in Punjab.
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VC asks non-teaching staff to work hard
Rohtak, October 1 He was addressing the general body of the MDU Non-teaching Employees Association here. Dr Dhankar said varsities were meant for students. A university is a training centre for future academicians, managers and leaders. They needed a congenial environment for their grooming. The non-teaching employees, being a vital component of the university, must gear themselves up to help students, he added. He assured the employees that their demands would be taken care of and their dignity would not be compromised. He said adequate residential accommodation for lower categories of employees would be provided as far as possible. He asked them to strictly follow the statutes and ordinances of the university. The Registrar, Mr Shyamal Misra, said to develop the university into a centre of excellence, every employee must make a positive contribution. He called upon them to follow the rules in letter and spirit and work in transparent manner. Earlier, Mr Radhey Shyam Sharma, president of the Non-teaching Employees Association to the VC to solve their ling pending problems, including that of residential accommodation. He assured the Registrar and the Vice-Chancellor that the non-teaching employees would extend them full co-operation in making MDU a centre of excellence.
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Youth killed, 3 held
Hisar, October 1 The deceased belonged to Churu district in Rajasthan and was staying with his brother at Vidyut Nagar here. Mr Ashok Kumar, the brother of the deceased, had lodged a complaint with the police. In his complaint, he stated that they had some personal dispute with Prahlad. He said Prahlad, along with Sumer and Suresh, came to their place and took his brother towards the airport in a jeep. The complainant said when they did not return till evening, he, along with his father, went out to look for them. He alleged that they saw Prahlad, Sumer and Suresh strangle his brother with an iron chain. On seeing them, they fled. However, by then, Surajbhan was dead. On his complaint, the police registered a case and finally arrested the accused. All three accused have been sent to judicial custody.
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Man gets life term
Ambala , October 1 According to prosecution, Ram Surat , a gardener, had filed a complaint in a police station on January 23, 2001, that Dinesh had allegedly stabbed his wife Rani and the wife of his brother Krishana to death. Neelu was related to Ram Surat and he used to come to their house. A few months before the incident there arose a dispute between Ram Surat and Dinesh over a family matter . On January 23, 2001, Dinesh came to the house when Ram Surat and his brother Ram Murat were not in the house. Besides the deceased, a four- year-old son of Ram Surat , Arun, was also present in the house. The two sisters had severed tea to Dinesh. Rani went to the roof of the house to dry some cloths. Dinesh stabbed Krishana on the neck. On hearing the cries of her sister Rani came down. She too was stabbed by Dinesh. Later, both women succumbed to their injuries. The only eye witness in the case was the four- year- old son of Ram Surat. During the hearing of the case Arun was produced as a main witness. |
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High Court plea on transfers Our High Court Correspondent
Chandigarh, October 1 Giving this direction while hearing a bunch of petitions filed by some aggrieved employees, whose transfers had been ordered without any rhyme or reason, the Bench of Mr Justice J.S. Khehar and Mr Justice Viney Mittal also gave some more time to the Haryana Chief Secretary to file his affidavit in the matter. The petitioners are Mr Dharampal and others. IAS officer Vijay Singh, Officer on Special Duty in the Chief Minister’s Office, had been summoned to the court and he was present throughout the hearing. He has been directed to be present on the net date of hearing also. In their petitions, the employees have alleged that a majority of the transfers are being made in an arbitrary manner, with the Chief Minister’s Office also issuing orders to the departments even in the case of transfers of Class III and IV employees. The petitioners have also claimed that in light of the arbitrary directions from the Chief Minister, the competent authority to transfer them is left with no role. He has been turned into a rubber stamp. They have also claimed that en bloc transfers have become a norm rather than aberrations. In support of their claim, the petitioners have also submitted copies of letters issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, asking for the transfer of the employees. The case will now come up on October 7.
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Formal creation of Mewat district today
Chandigarh, October 1 It is learnt that Hathin subdivision of Faridabad district and Nuh and Ferozepore Jhirka of Gurgaon district will be included in the new district. Besides, Punhana and Taoru tehsils of Gurgaon district would also be the part of Mewat district, headquarters of which would be at Nuh. Mr Chautala will lay the foundation stone of the Mewat water supply project at Punhana on October 2. The same day he would lay the foundation stone of a mini-secretariat at Nuh. He will make the formal announcement about the new district at a public rally to be held at Nuh the same day. The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has been specially invited for the rally. It is not known yet if the new district would start functioning from October 2 itself or from November 1, Haryana Day. |
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IAS, HCS transfers
Chandigarh, October 1 Mr K.S. Bhoria, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, has been posted as Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Agriculture and Non-Conventional Energy Sources Departments. Mr Manik B. Sonawane, Commissioner and Secretary, Non-Conventional Energy Sources Department, has been posted as Commissioner and Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department. Mr T.K. Sharma, on return from leave, has been posted as Administrator, Haryana Urban Development Authority, Panchkula, against a vacant post. Mr Vatsal Vashisht, HCS, awaiting posting orders, has been posted as Joint Director (Administration) PGIMS, Rohtak, against a vacant post. |
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Protest against police inaction
Sonepat, October 1 The demonstrators submitted a memorandum to the DC demanding immediate arrest of the culprits and stern action against the officials of the mahila police who were responsible for the delay in arresting them. Meanwhile, Mr Dhajja Ram, ex-serviceman of Machhrajli village, has stated that his daughter was married to Ram Chander of Chatia village about seven years ago but she had been harassed by her husband and other members of the in-laws family for not bringing enough dowry at the time of the marriage. Thereafter, she was murdered by them. He regretted that the mahila police had failed to arrest the culprits named in the FIR for the past one month or so. Some officials of the mahila police, he alleged, were in league with the culprits.
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Protest against decision
on Mewat
Panipat, October 1 They also demanded that the slaughter house of Mewat should be closed. The activists staged a protest and blocked the national highway near the Gohana road under the leadership of its state president Baldev Singh. A large number of policemen also reached the spot. However, the activists lifted the blockage after an hour. |
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Chautala adopting double
standards,
alleges Hooda
Chandigarh, October 1 In a statement issued here
today, Mr Hooda said Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and his party,
the Indian National Lok Dal, were determined not to hold the elections
to the panchayats and civic bodies before the Assembly poll in 2000 even
when these elections were due. But now he was equally determined to hold
the panchayat elections before the Assembly elections even when these
were not due.
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Haryana Police plans ‘operation catch’
Chandigarh, October 1 He said during the period the police would concentrate its efforts to nab criminals,
trespassers and to contain crime in the state. Efforts would be made to arrest at least 10 top most wanted accused persons in each district. |
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MDU appointments
Rohtak, October 1 They were Dr Raj Kumar (political science), Prof Nathi Singh (physics) and Dr Neena Singh (geography). |
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PNB services
Ambala, October 1
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