 |
|
|
Haryana Assembly
Cong set to sweep into power in Haryana: Selja
Sangwan demands CBI probe against Chautala, sons
Insurance scheme to benefit 2.5 Punjabis hail order on second |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Well-defined farm policy demanded
DCI asks Centre to ban opening of new dental colleges
MDU teachers to join protest
DEO caught taking bribe; in judicial custody
Mother refuses to own
newborn
2 held for attacking docs
DCC chief booked for criminal conspiracy
Staff Selection Commission
Bill passed
Fungus-infested meal debated in House
Farmers forcibly open canal channels
Flood victims give memo to Magistrate
Vintage engine attracts foreign tourists
No clue to murder of mother, daughter
|
|
Cong’s no-trust motion
defeated
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 2 Congress members and independent MLAs aligned with the Congress left the House following a noisy spat involving Mr Yadav, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, Mr Abhey Chautala, the CM’s son and himself a ruling party MLA, and Mr Satbir Singh Kadian, Speaker. The spat started when Mr Yadav interrupted Finance Minister, Sampat Singh’s speech. The Finance Minister at that time was challenging the Congress party’s repeated criticism of the rapport existing between Haryana’s ruling INLD and the SAD (Badal) of Punjab. Mr Sampat Singh said even the late Prime Minister, Mr Rajiv Gandhi, had signed an accord with the Akali Dal of Punjab. The mention of Mr Gandhi’s name made Mr Yadav furious who stood up and protested against Mr Sampat Singh. Even as Mr Yadav was screaming, the Chief Minister Mr Om Prakash Chautala, got up from his seat and yelled at Mr Yadav asking him to sit down. Mr Abhey Chautala also said something to Mr Yadav and the latter retaliated. The Speaker, Mr Satbir Singh Kadian, failing to persuade Mr Yadav to take his seat, called him a lunatic (“tum to mental ho”). The Chief Minister was already asking the Speaker to take action against Mr Yadav. The Speaker then named Mr Yadav following which all the Opposition members left the House. Mr Ramkishan Fauji, Opposition MLA, was seen shouting slogans against the Speaker while he was leaving the House. When the no-confidence was put up for vote, no Opposition members were present, which enabled the Speaker to announce that the motion had been defeated unanimously. Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala’s reply to the charges, levelled against him by the Opposition MLAs during the debate, also took place in a House sans any Opposition member. In his reply Mr Chautala said the Congress members had forgotten that they had no right to chargesheet him and what the Congress had recently submitted to the Governor was in reality a memorandum. He claimed similar memoranda were submitted by the Congress against Mr Prakash Singh Badal of Punjab and Mr P K Dhumal of Himachal Pradesh on the eve of the Assembly elections in those states. He said the Devi Lal Trust was set up for doing welfare work for the public. The trust was also setting up a centre of excellence at Chandigarh to train aspirants who wanted to become all India service officers, Mr Chautala said. He said trusts existed in the name of members of the Gandhi-Nehru clan as well but the scions of the Gandhi family were not being blamed for “wasting” the assets of the trust. The Chief Minister said money presented to him by members of the public was always deposited by him into the party fund. The Congress leaders, however, did not follow the practice and appropriated whatever cash was deposited with them by the public, Mr Chautala alleged. Mr Chautala also defended his decision to allot land to a well-known cardiologist at Gurgaon for constructing a health care unit and said that land was being given to the Fortis group as well for constructing a hospital. He said all backlogs of vacancies meant for members of reserved categories had been filled up during his tenure. He said he would keep making announcements regarding development works till the time the code of conduct for elections came into force. Earlier, the Opposition launched a focused attack on the government when speaker after speaker highlighted various acts of omission and commission of the INLD regime. The Haryana Congress president, Mr Bhajan Lal, said a commission of inquiry should be set up to go into the chargesheet submitted by the Congress to the Governor against Mr Chautala recently. He alleged that the SYL canal could not be built because of the friendship of the Chautalas with the family of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, former Punjab Chief Minister. Accusing the government of having failed on all fronts, he said the people would not excuse Mr Chautala and would teach him and his party a lesson in the next Assembly elections as they did in the Lok Sabha elections. The officiating Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, said the government was using its brute majority in the House to gag the Opposition. Gross irregularities were being committed in recruitments. All powers had been centralised. He criticised Mr Chautala for taking Mr Sukhbir Badal, son of Mr Prakash Singh, along with him to Pakistan. The government had lost the moral right to govern after it lost the Lok Sabha elections. The law and order situation was going from bad to worse. Atrocities were being committed on Dalits. Farmers had been fired upon. Offering to table the Congress chargesheet against Mr Chautala in the House, Capt Yadav said in the name of the Devi Lal Trust, huge amount had been collected. A former Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, said the most lucrative promise made by the INLD before the elections was regarding supply of free power. However, when the farmers demanded the implementation of the promise, they were not only fired upon but were also declared traitors. He said while the government could take action against those who did not pay electricity charges, it was wrong to call them traitors. The retrenched staff of various boards and corporations had not been adjusted in some other jobs. Mr Bansi Lal said while the government was creating new jobs, the panchayats were being asked to pay for them. Convicts were being released. People were being appointed on contracts against the court ruling. He said Mr Chautala should promise that he would not leave the country when he would be defeated in the Assembly elections. The Deputy Speaker, Mr Gopi Chand Gehlot, highlighted various cases registered against innocent persons in Gurgaon district under previous regimes. However, he also did not spare the government when he accused the Haryana Urban Development Authority of auctioning of land, earlier acquired from farmers after paying them a meagre amount as compensation, at high rates. He said the policy of compensation should framed on the pattern prevailing in Delhi and Punjab. Mr Karan Singh Dalal (Cong) said the newly-appointed Chairman of the Haryana Public Service Commission could not be expected to act independently when he touched the Chief Minister’s feet in public.
|
|
|
Cong set to sweep into power in Haryana: Selja
Chandigarh, December 2 She was in the city today to inaugurate a hotel by an NRI, Mr Nirmal Singh Dhillon, in Sector 32. “As of now, there is no decision as to who will head the Congress Legislature Party after the elections. The party High Command will decide in consultation with new Congress legislators,” she said, holding that rout of the present ruling party, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), was imminent. “Several contenders for Chief Minister’s position holding their rallies separately was reflective of the growing popularity of the Congress in the state,” said Ms Selja, holding that “people of Haryana were fed up with lawlessness, rampant corruption and growing crime.” All last-minute attempts by the present government to woo voters would be of no consequence as “people have been subjected to repressive rule for last five years.” She said that the announcement of election dates was expected in the first week of January. The Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, would visit Haryana and campaign for the party candidates. “As of now there is no programme of Mrs Gandhi to visit the state,” she said, holding that the party High Command was keeping a close eye on political developments in the state. Supporting the chargesheet given by the Congress against the Chautala Government, she said that there may be different technical interpretations about the use of term “golden brick” instead of “gold brick” but the “fact remains that the present government crossed all limits of corruption at all levels.” Talking about the impact of Punjab’s annulment of water agreement Acts, she said that the entire Haryana Congress party was united on the issue and “all MPs went and met the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, as well as the party president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Now it is up to them what action they have to initiate. The stand of the Haryana Congress is very clear and we will fight for our share,” she added. She refused to comment as to whether Justice Om Parkash Verma (retd) was removed as Governor of Punjab because of the consent he gave to the annulment Bill. “The passing of the Bill and the subsequent consent by the Governor were all done in a tremendous haste,” she added, refusing to comment on the chances of some heads rolling in the Punjab Congress or its Congress Legislature Party before elections in Haryana . Ms Selja maintained that Mr Bansi Lal had come to the Congress by posing his trust in policies and programmes of Mrs Sonia Gandhi.”He could not have set any preconditions for the merger of his Haryana Vikas Party into the Congress,” she added. |
|
|
Sangwan demands CBI probe against Chautala, sons
Sonepat, December 2 Talking to mediapersons here, he also demanded the immediate dismissal of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) government headed by Mr Chautala to ensure an Independent and impartial probe. He said the people of the state were fed up of the administration of Mr Chaurtala and were looking for a change of government in the state. He claimed that the INLD and other regional parties would be wiped out after the Assembly elections in the state. He said Mr Chautala would have to go to the jail if the CBI inquiry was conducted. Mr Sangwan said Mr Chautala had abused the BJP in the past but he and Mr Parkash Singh Badal former Chief Minister of Punjab were trying for a compromise with the BJP for contesting the Assembly elections in the state. He categorically ruled out any alliance with the INLD and other political parties for contesting the elections. He disclosed that the BJP had already selected its candidates for 70 out of 90 assembly seats and the selection of other candidates of the party was in progress. The BJP leader called upon the people to get rid of the misgoverned administration of the INLD in Haryana and pave the way for the BJP to attain power. |
|
|
Insurance scheme to benefit 2.5 lakh employees
Faridabad, December 2 He said it would benefit about 2.5 lakh employees on
contract. About 1,349 industrial organisations were registered by the Labour department in the state , which had employed contract labour , he said. Claiming that the aspects of safety, welfare and health were also important for the labour, he said these could not be ignored as a large number of employers and organisations had gone for the contract system of employment. He said under the new insurance scheme, the insurance company will be collecting an annual premium of Rs 550,of which about 50 per cent of the amount would be given by the Labour department. the rest of the amount would have to be borne by the employer and the employee. He said the employee would have to contribute only 25 per cent of the total premium and his or her family would be covered under it. He announced that the department would also start a stipend scheme for children of employees who were bright in studies. This scheme would be available soon to employees drawing a monthly salary of up to Rs 10,000. He said the government would come out with changes in the Shop Act which would look after the welfare and safety of workers employed by shopkeepers and other such commercial establishments. The labourers working in the unorganised sector would also be provided similar benefits under the Labour Act. The Haryana Safety
Council had been working towards creating awareness among the employers and the workers about the provisions required to be implemented for the safety, health and welfare of the latter. Admitting some problems for the contract labour , Mr Khandelwal said though it was presumed that the principal employer was making full payment to the contractors, in some cases this was not done . mass transfer of officials had been undertaken to check corruption and inefficiency. |
|
|
Punjabis
hail order on second language status Chandigarh, December 2 Various organisations, including Haryana State Akali Dal and Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, and several prominent leaders of Punjabi community have hailed the amendment, saying it was a “step in the right direction.” At many places, Punjabis greeted the news by distributing sweets. “This legislation was long overdue,” says Mr Tarlochan Singh, Member of Rajya Sabha, holding that “Punjabi has been the second most popular language in Haryana. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) deserves to be complimented for meeting the aspirations of the strong Punjabi community of the state. I hope that all univesities and schools now make arrangements for the teaching of Punjabi language at all levels.” Jathedar Kartar Singh Takkar and Jathedar Ranbir Singh Fauji, president and general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Haryana state, respectively, said that amendment to the Official Language Act had come as a big relief to the Punjabi community of the state in general and Sikhs in particular. Several Shiromani Gurdwara parbandhak Committee members from Haryana, including Mr Balbir Singh, Mr Didar Singh, Mr Avtar Singh, Mr Jagdev Singh, Bibi Daljit Kaur, Mr Gurdeep Singh, Ms Ravinder Kaur and Mr Jagdish Singh have also hailed the amendment to the Official Language Act. They all described it as a “historic decision which would give the much-needed boost to the language in the state.” They said that the passage of the Bill would ensure that there would be no more discrimination against teaching and use of Punjabi in official work. The Akali and SGPC leaders further held that the INLD Government had not only named a stadium in Ambala cantonment after Guru Gobind Singh but also released grant for its renovation and upkeep. Haryana becomes the second state after Delhi to grant Punjabi the official status of second language. In Himachal, though the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government had decided to introduce Punjabi as an elective subject from sixth class onwards, little was done to recruit Punjabi language teachers. At certain places, where volunteers have started teaching the language, the government ordered discontinuation of such classes till regular teachers were appointed. The new Congress government, however, announced that teaching of Punjabi would be introduced wherever there would be a
demand.
|
|
Well-defined farm policy demanded
Hisar, December 2 This has led to unequal growth of agriculture in different states and regions. Consequently, benefits of the Green Revolution have not reached large sections and the agricultural resource base has also weakened. Hence, farm scientists strongly advocate the formulation of a well-defined policy on agriculture. Talking to The Tribune today, Dr B.S. Dahiya, Director, Research, Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), here observed that during the Green Revolution era, horticulture and animal husbandry got less attention. No attention was paid to developing post-harvest and processing technology. Dr Dahiya presented a paper on “Suggested interventions for reshaping ailing Indian agriculture” along with HAU scientists — Dr R.B. Srivastava, Dr S.M. Chahal and Dr V.U.M. Rao — at a seminar at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, recently. The research paper states that the global agricultural production is falling, a cause of universal concern. The main reasons for the decline in productivity are global warming, water shortage and farmland degradation. Research scientists say the decline in farm income is again a matter of concern. Farmers have to spend a huge amount on quality seeds, fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides, weedicides, irrigation water, labour and farm machinery. It is time the second-generation problems of the Green Revolution are addressed. Despite considerable contribution by farmers of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to the central pool, profit to the farmers in these states has gone down. The condition of the farmers of states growing cash crops is similar. The paper blames the escalating costs of crop production for the situation. The researchers say a well-defined agricultural policy is a must for various farm sectors to become globally competitive. Although some sub-sectors of agriculture, like animal husbandry, forestry and fisheries, occupy a significant place, these are not doing so well due to lack of policy direction. The scientists suggest that the government should come up with a natural resource utilisation and conservation policy as land good for cultivation is falling a prey to rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. They maintain in view of the fast depleting water resources, water should be declared a national resource. A concrete policy on rainwater harvesting and floodwater canalisation is also required. Apart from this, the researchers have advocated a crop-production and diversification policy and an agricultural marketing policy, besides policies on biodiversity conservation, cost and quality control of farm inputs, agricultural biotechnology and the livestock sector. |
|
DCI asks Centre to ban opening of new dental colleges
Rohtak, December 2 According to the DCI chief, Dr Anil Kohli, this was necessary to prevent further deterioration in the standard of dental education in the country, which had unfortunately been commercialised by private institutions over the past few years Dr Kohli said the council had also decided to take legal action against those dentists who had furnished false affidavits claiming to be employed with private dental colleges. The DCI had gathered specific information about such dentists from all over the country and they might face cancellation of their registration and blacklisting, he added. The DCI chief, who took over only a month ago, said for seeking the DCI approval many private dental colleges in the country had been furnishing fake lists of the faculty employed by these colleges to the visiting inspection teams of the council. They routinely colluded with dentists who provided false affidavits claiming to be on the faculty of these colleges for a hefty fee. Such teachers never or rarely taught in these colleges and were found to be running their private dental clinics. He said a number of dental colleges had been resorting to this malpractice. The DCI was in the process of preparing a computerised list of dentists working in dental colleges and their names would soon be available on the council’s website. Once the list was ready, the council planned to conduct surprise raids on dental colleges to enforce the law, he added. Dr Kohli said the DCI had also framed fresh rules and regulations for granting approval to new dental colleges whose applications were pending with the government. He admitted that there was an acute shortage of teachers in dental colleges all over the country. This could be overcome by starting postgraduate courses in existing reputed dental colleges, he said. He said after taking over as DCI president, he had decided to decentralise the power structure in the council. All the powers were now being shared with members of the council executive to ensure wider participation in decision-making. He said the DCI favoured uniform fee structure in all dental colleges and creation of strict regulatory mechanism that could prevent exploitation of the students and their parents. |
|
MDU teachers to join protest
Rohtak, December 2 In a joint statement issued here today, the MDUTA chief, Dr Vazir Nehra, and the secretary, Mr Gulshan Taneja, said MDU teachers would also join the protest march to Parliament the next day to present a memorandum in this connection to the Lok Sabha Speaker. They said it was unfortunate that the demands for third promotion to college teachers, benefit of the Career Advancement Scheme with retrospective effect from January, 1996, and allocation of 6 per cent of the GDP for education, which had been accepted by the then government, had not been implemented yet. They said other demands of the AIFUCTO, including the right to strike work, no retrenchment and a ban on appointment of teachers on contractual basis had also not been accepted. They appealed to other college and university teachers’ organisations to support the agitation and join the protest. |
|
DEO caught taking bribe; in judicial custody
Kaithal, December 2 The DEO had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 3000 from Naresh Kumar, resident of Rohera Mazra village, who sought official registration for starting a private school in the village. Naresh did not get the registration even after repeated rounds to the DEO office. When he approached the DEO through some one, the official demanded the bribe. Naresh contacted the Vigilance Bureau office and a trap was laid to arrest the official. A team headed by the SDM, Kaithal, and comprising Vigilance staff caught Naresh Kumar while accepting the money. The arrested officer was produced in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr S.P. Singh, here today who remanded him to the judicial custody. |
|
|
Mother refuses to own
newborn
Hisar, December 2 According to the hospital sources, the woman got admitted to the hospital in November. In the beginning, she insisted that the unborn child be aborted. However, the doctors said this could not be done as she was in the ninth month of pregnancy. On being persuaded by the doctors and nurses attending to her, the woman agreed to give birth to the baby. On being asked why did she not want to keep the baby, she replied that her husband doubted that the child was not his. She maintained that her husband was ready to keep her, but he would not accept the child. Unable to decide what to do, the hospital authorities decided to call the police. Dr Himani Kansal, who was the in charge of the delivery case, said the blood pressure of the woman was high when she delivered the baby. She said the parents and in-laws of the woman would soon be called to the hospital. |
|
2 held for attacking docs
Fatehabad, December 2 According to police sources, the police today arrested Pawan Verma, husband of Parul Verma, who had died during delivery at the nursing home a few days ago, and Ram Swaroop Verma, a municipal councillor and brother-in-law of the deceased. The police had booked them under Sections 148, 149, 323, 324, 452 and 506 of the IPC on November 29. They along with some other persons allegedly ransacked the nursing home on that day and beat up the two doctors. They were furious on the death of Parul Verma, allegedly due to negligence of the doctors. The police had also registered cases under Sections 304-A and 279 against the doctors. Both sides were putting pressure on the police to arrest their opponents. Doctors of the district had gone on strike yesterday demanding the arrest of Pawan, Ram Swaroop and others. Meanwhile, hundreds of supporters of Pawan Verma and Ram Swaroop Verma today held demonstration against the arrest of the two. They alleged that the police was acting under pressure from the doctors. They demanded release of the two and arrest of the doctors. |
|
DCC chief booked for criminal conspiracy
Panipat, December 2 An FIR under Section 120B has been registered against him and two other arhtiyas Sugan and Shyam Lal in this connection. Hira Mal was already under police custody and he reportedly revealed the name of Suresh Kumar, Sugan and Shyam Lal during his interrogation. Another arhtiya, Ram Kumar Dalal, was also nabbed by the district police for providing telephone numbers to Hira Mal.
— TNS |
|
Staff Selection Commission
Bill passed
Chandigarh, December 2 To ensure its continuance as a permanent recruitment agency, it was considered necessary to legalise its status by passing a Bill, it was stated. The House also passed supplementary demands amounting to Rs 482.39 crore. The supplementary demands are required on account of establishment expenses, payment of old-age pension, unemployment allowance, etc. |
|
Fungus-infested meal debated in House
Chandigarh, December 2 Mr Ajay Singh Yadav, officiating leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in the House, said it was a sad commentary on the state government that it was supplying rotten food to school children. Mr Yadav said this while participating in the debate on the motion of no-confidence against the INLD government. Mr Karan Singh Dalal, who is aligned with the Congress, also tried to raise the issue during the zero hour but his request was turned down by the Speaker. In his reply Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, claimed the infected food had been actually thrown as unused because the students were bringing their own tiffins from their homes for lunch. However, he was prepared to get the issue enquired, Mr Chautala said. He, however, added that there were no takers for the mid-day meals in the state. The state government had been compelled to take up the scheme due to a Supreme Court directive, Mr Chautala said. |
|
|
Farmers forcibly open canal channels Yamunanagar, December 2 The water supply from one of the channels was stopped on November 24 and from the second on November 30 because of ‘change’ in the existing rules. Earlier in the day, villagers held a panchayat at the New Grain Market, Khezrabad, and passed a resolution to oppose the ‘change’ in rules. The villagers later reached the Head Waterworks in tractor trailers and opened the channels of the WYC. The villagers said they would not allow the department to change rules regarding the supply of water to the area. An official in the Irrigation Department said the water supply had been stopped following change in the rules and the area had now been connected with the Annta Regulator Group. The Yamuna Command Area had been divided into four zones — Anta, Delhi, Sunderpur and Butana. Each zone got irrigation water for eight days and the next water supply was made after 24 days. He claimed that the villagers had been informed about the amendments.
|
|
Flood victims give memo to Magistrate
Ambala, December 2 The villagers said in the memorandum that four months ago their houses and crops were destroyed in the flood. At that time, the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had ordered to conduct a special girdawri in the flood-affected villages. He had assured the villagers that they would be compensated. The villagers alleged that the patwaris of their villages had not conducted the girdawri properly and that is why most of them could not get any compensation. The villagers urged the Deputy Commissioner to direct the patwaris to prepare a fair report of the girdawri so that the flood victims could get the compensation promised to them by the Chief Minister. Ms Amrita Singh gave a patient hearing to the villagers and assured them that the administration would forward their memorandum to government for necessary action. |
|
Vintage engine attracts foreign tourists
Ambala, December 2 The Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Mr Dayal Dogra, said the vintage steam engine was becoming popular with international tourists. Mr Dogra said last month Australian tourists had booked tickets worth for Rs 58,774. “The booking procedure is simple and is done at the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation office,” he added. The centenary celebration of the Kalka-Shimla rail section was kicked off with the vintage steam engine once again pulling a toy train. Incidentally, the steam engine, after it was de-commissioned, had been placed at the entrance of the Divisional Railway Manager complex in Ambala. However, the engine was extensively repaired, referred to as Steam Loco KC 520, and it is now based at Shimla. The steam engine runs only when it is required. The steam engine was manufactured by the North British Locomotive Company, England in 1905 and commissioned in 1906. The engine was converted from “saturate steam to super heat” in 1956 and withdrawn from its route in 1971. The initial cost of the steam engine was Rs 29,946. |
|
|
No clue to murder of mother, daughter
Ambala, December 2 A senior police officer had claimed that the culprit would be arrested within 24 hours as the police had achieved a clue in the case. The police does not rule out the possibility of the involvement of a few local persons in the crime. According to police sources, initially the police started working on the theory that a tantrik could be involved in the crime. It interrogated three tantriks of Ambala city. The police had been on the lookout for another tantrik who fled the city when he came to know that the police was scouting for another tantrik in the case. The sources said now the police had almost given up the theory of the involvement of any tantrik in the murders. It had got a detail of calls made from a mobile phone being used by a youth of the same locality where the mother and daughter had been residing. A police officer has said the police would soon get a definite clue in the case. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
