 |
|
|
Haryana panchayat poll by January-end
State BJP chief not to contest Assembly poll
Cong to be blamed for
SYL fiasco: BJP
Chautala announces incentives for ex-servicemen
Tributes paid to jawans, officers
Rajput mahasabha
seeks 10 Assembly seats
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Wildlife Warden of Haryana stripped of prosecution powers
Men forced to buy brides as sex ratio declines
Dream of European education turns into nightmare
Woman poisons kids, self
4-year-old girl strangulated
Move to withdraw subsidy criticised
9 get life term for murder
Villagers block traffic over erratic power supply
Depositors go on rampage at Head
Post Office
Chowkidars hold protest
Bank’s retired staff demand medical facilities
NRI woman to shift to church
2 hand grenades seized from youth
|
|
Haryana panchayat poll by January-end
Chandigarh, December 16 A notification issued by the Development and Panchayat Department here yesterday asked the State Election Commission to complete the process of general elections of all Panchayati Raj institutions by January 31, 2005. The notification was issued in compliance with the Section 161 of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. Mr Chander Singh, State Election Commissioner (SEC) of Haryana, told TNS that he would draw up the programme of the panchayat elections in the state in accordance with the related notification issued by the state government. The SEC had already directed the District Electoral Officers to finalise the voters list of the panchayat elections. Now that the required notification has been issued by the state government, the SEC is expected to announce the schedule of the panchayat elections soon. Since the state government has conveyed that election process must end by January 31, the polling for the Panchayati Raj institutions should take place some time in the middle of January. The term of Panchayati Raj institutions in Haryana would have ordinarily expired in April but the state government had earlier enacted an Act to pave the way for holding of elections of panchayats 120 days before the scheduled date. The Act, which will come into operation now, had triggered off widespread protests by the Opposition parties in the state which were of the view that by holding panchayat elections before the Assembly elections the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala wanted to divide the rural voters and consolidate a section of the rural populace behind the ruling INLD. Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, working president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, when contacted regarding the latest developments, said that now that the government appeared to be keen to hold the panchayat elections, the Congress party was ready to face the challenge. “ We opposed the Bill when it was being examined by the Governor. But now that the Bill has become an Act, we are ready to take on the government in the court of the people”, Mr Surjewala said. Since the date for the Assembly elections in Haryana is yet to be announced, it is not clear whether the panchayat election schedule will have any clash with the Assembly elections. The Chief Election Commissioner, Mr T S Krishnamurthy, who was in Chandigarh yesterday to take stock of the preparations for the Assembly elections, had said that in case of overlapping of dates, he would take appropriate action to sort out the matter. Incidentally, the notification on the timing of panchayat elections was issued by the government the same day when the CEC was in Chandigarh and met senior state government officers regarding the Assembly elections . It is not clear whether the CEC got to know about the panchayat election notification during his visit here yesterday. On October 14 the state government had issued another notification to hasten the process of panchayat
elections. The notification framed a new set of rules according to which filing of nominations for the panchayat elections would start one day after the election was notified by the State Election Commission. Scrutiny of nominations would take place the next day and the following day would be the last date for withdrawal of nominations. |
|
State BJP chief not to contest Assembly poll
Panipat, December 16 He was speaking at a press conference at the residence of Mr Dharmpal Gupta, state president of the commerce cell of the erstwhile Haryana Vikas Party (HVP), who along with state general secretary of the youth wing of the HVP, Mr Jagbir Arya, joined the BJP at a function here today. Prof Ganeshi Lal said he had already made up his mind not to contest Assembly elections and he would concentrate on campaigning for party candidates. The state president of the BJP said his party would formally start a door-to-door campaign from December 19. Each worker of the party in the state would go to at least 100 houses and hand over a leaflet containing the BJP’s policies and appeal to them to vote and support his party in the forthcoming Assembly elections. Prof Ganeshi Lal termed the claim of state BSP president Ramji Lal as a mere lie in which the latter had stated that a BJP leader had contacted him for alliance. He reiterated that the BJP would contest the elections on its own and would not have any alliance with either the ruling INLD or the BSP. As usual, he lambasted the INLD and UPA governments for their alleged anti-people policies. The state president said the committee led by former Union Minister ID Swami had already finalised the manifesto and it would be updated within a day or two and would be released thereafter. Prof Ganeshi Lal said the names of party candidates would be declared within days of the announcement of the election programme. As soon as the election programme is announced, the central election board of the BJP will finalise the names from the panel already sent to it by the state unit for each Assembly seat. Earlier addressing their supporters separately, Mr Dharmpal Gupta and Mr Jagbir Arya said they had joined the BJP without any condition. Prof Ganeshi Lal announced nomination of both of them as members of state BJP executive. |
|
Cong to be blamed for
SYL fiasco: BJP
Jhajjar, December 16 While addressing a well attended public meeting in Aheri village of the district today, the BJP leader said that all nine Congress MPs from Haryana were not able to raise an objection over the Punjab Assembly’s move to annul all water sharing agreements, including that of the SYL waters with its neighbouring states. He alleged that the said bill was passed at behest of the Congress high command and even Haryana Congress leaders, including Mr
Hooda, who represents this area in Lok Sabha, preferred to remain mute spectators when the interests of the state were being harmed. Mr
Abhimanyu, who has unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections recently against Mr
Hooda, said the Congress had been saying that water was not an issue in the coming Assembly elections, it was a cruel joke with the peasants, especially, in the south Haryana region, as the very basis of the creation of separate state of Haryana about 38 years ago was water. |
|
|
Chautala announces incentives for ex-servicemen
Charkhi Dadri (Bhiwani), December 16 The incentives included doubling the annuity to gallantry award winners, enhancement in the rate of financial assistance to orphan children of ex-servicemen,
para-plegic, tetra-plegic, blind and disabled ex-servicemen and for those above 60 years of age as also widows of former defence personnel. Speaking at a reunion rally of the ex-servicemen here, he said the financial assistance admissible to the orphan children of former defence personnel and to blind ex-servicemen would be enhanced from Rs 450 to Rs 600 per month in both cases. He announced increase in the financial assistance for the
para-plegic, tetra-plegic and hemiplegics ex-servicemen from Rs 600 to Rs 800 per month and that for disabled ex-servicemen from Rs 200 to Rs 500 per month. Mr Chautala also raised the rates of assistance for those ex-servicemen who are 60 or above and widows of ex-servicemen from Rs 400 to Rs 500 per month. The annuity to gallantry award winners of the armed forces would be doubled, Mr Chautala, who also honoured seven war widows and 37 gallantry awards recipients on the occasion, said. He gave away cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to Major
Abhijeet, who had scaled the Mount Everest and Naveen Gulia, a handicapped Army man who travelled on highest motorable road in the world. The Chief Minister also announced reducing the assessment fee on whisky from Rs 20 to Rs 15 per bottle and waiving the assessment fee of Rs 10 per bottle on rum. — PTI |
|
|
Tributes paid to jawans, officers
Rewari, December 16 The function which was organised to mark Vijay Diwas, was attended by several thousand persons, including war widows and ex-servicemen, from various parts of Rewari and Gurgaon districts as well as the Mewat region. Paying tributes to the martyrs, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, working president of the Haryana Congress Committee, recalled the sacrifices of Ahirwal jawans, during the Indo-Pak and Indo-China wars. He asserted that the Nehru family, from which two Prime Ministers made the supreme sacrifice, had written the history of Independent India in their own blood. Showering accolades on the Congress President Mrs Sonia Gandhi, for her spirit of sacrifice, Mr Surjewala assured the families of martyrs that the Congress would spare no effort in fulfilling their dreams. In a pointed reference to specific problems and hardships being faced by the people of Ahirwal, Mr Surjewala confidently said that after the coming Assembly poll, a Congress led-government would be installed in Haryana, which, would initiate measures to end the hardships of farmers and other residents of Ahirwal. Mr Vivek Bansal, secretary of the All-India Congress Committee who is also in charge of party affairs in Haryana, called upon the people to celebrate ‘Vijay Diwas’ also as ‘Sankalp Diwas’ and take a pledge to root out the Chautala Government. Flaying the Chautala regime for its alleged misrule, he alleged that the atrocities, tyranny, exploitation and nepotism resorted to by this government were reminiscent of the cruelties perpetrated by Timur and Nadir Shah. He also assured the electorate that only candidates with a clean and respectable image would be fielded by the Congress in the ensuing Assembly poll. Among others who paid tributes to the martyrs and addressed the function were four Congress legislators, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav (Rewari), Rao Narender Singh (Ateli), Mr Tejvir Singh (Pundri), Mrs Anita Yadav (Salhawas) and AICC secretary and associate in-charge of party affairs in Rajasthan, Capt Praveen Davar. As many as 110 war widows of Ahirwal were also honoured on this occasion. |
|
|
Rajput mahasabha
seeks 10 Assembly seats
Bhiwani, December 16 Criticising political parties for exploiting this community for their selfish interests, he said the leaders shed crocodile tears just to grab their votes but forgot them thereafter. He stressed that this would be repeated this time. He appealed to Rajputs to participate in the state-level ‘Rajput Buddhi-jivi Sammelan’ to be held at Rajput Dharmshala in Bhiwani on December 19. He said Rajputs who were over 10 per cent of the total electorate in Haryana, had been neglected at every corner. Seeking 10 seats for them, Mr Lal said the community would extend its support to that party in the forthcoming Assembly elections which would meet their demand. He appealed to lawyers to enter politics as it needed intellectuals for development of the society. |
|
Chief Wildlife Warden of Haryana stripped of
prosecution powers
Panchkula, December 16 Under the flagship project of the Haryana Forest department to cure and breed the endangered vultures in captivity, the authorities at this centre have allegedly captured a large number of white- backed vultures illegally, from a single vulture colony in Badisher near Morni, thus spoiling the natural habitat of this endangered species of predators. The centre reportedly did not have any permission from the government of India for either capturing the birds, which are in Schedule I of the Wildlife Act till May this year, and the number of white-backed vultures captured by the centre are more than the number of birds they were later allowed to capture. The Wildlife Department also suspects the centre authorities to be responsible for the death of nine vultures (white-backed species) in Morni area, between November 23, 2002 to November 6, 2004. Wildlife officials allege that the casualties were most probably the result of the injuries sustained by the birds, while they were being captured by the authorities. Well-placed sources in the Wildlife Department inform that Chief Wildlife Warden K L Manhas, has today been stripped of his powers and has been left with the charge of Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, while the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr J K Rawat has been given the additional charge of Chief Wildlife Warden. Sources inform that Mr Manhas had asked the wildlife staff posted in the Pinjore- Morni forest range to check the centre last week. Subsequently, a team of wildlife officials visited the centre on December 12, and found that the centre was not abiding by the rules, while carrying out its activities. As per the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act , the hunting of wild animals, specified in Schedule I to IV, is strictly prohibited. Due to a sharp decline in vulture population (the Gyps species of vultures-white backed, slender billed and long billed vultures), the bird was declared an endangered species and included in Schedule I in the year 2002. The rules specify that a permit for hunting of these animals/ birds included in Schedule I can be given by the Chief Wildlife Warden, after obtaining prior permission from Government of India. No such permission was granted by the Government of India, till May 7, 2004, and as many as 28 vultures had been captured- without proper permission. The details of the violations committed at the centre have also been sent to the Deputy Inspector General (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment and Forests, wherein the Chief Wildlife Warden, Mr Manhas, has alleged that he is being subjected to undue pressure from his seniors, for not enforcing the provisions of Wildlife Act and the Government of India orders of May 7, in the functioning of the Vulture Care Centre. |
|
Men forced to buy brides as sex ratio declines
Hisar, December 16 Advocate P.K. Sandhir maintained that due to the declining sex ratio in various parts of the country, especially Haryana, the number of marriageable girls was also falling. He said due to this, several men were forced to buy brides from other states. He cited a specific instance, in which a physically challenged villager of Haryana had to purchase a bride from Himachal Pradesh. Mr Sandhir sought a legislation to put a check on the practice. He pointed out that apart from being exploited, the purchased brides never get due recognition in the family. Dr Lydia Potts, a faculty member from the University of Oldenburg in Germany and co-organiser of the conference, observed that the illegal emigrants got low wages and were subjected to exploitation. They neither got any respect in society, nor the citizen rights, she added. Ms Helga Neumayer, the Editor of a feminist magazine in Austria, opined that tourism was fast developing as an industry, but it was accompanied with increase in prostitution and child labour. Dr Samarjit Jana, Assistant Country Director, Care India, delivered a thought-provoking resource lecture on the shifting paradigm of the anti-trafficking programme. He asserted that a major issue involved was ensuring safe migration of women in view of their vulnerability. Dr Savita Singal, the Dean of the host college, stated that workplace harassment had become a global problem. She said the women were at a higher risk, especially if they worked in small groups or had odd working hours. |
|
Dream of European education turns into nightmare
Ambala, December 16 Fourteen students from different parts of Haryana and Punjab had taken admission in a business institute in Estonia. They had submitted the course fee and applied for visa. Their visas were refused. Since March this year, the students have been trying to get their money refunded from the business institute. The students had applied through Alpha International Education Consultancy, Ambala Cantt. While eight students were from Ambala, two were from Karnal, one was from Jind and three were from Punjab. A sum of Rs 34 lakh was yet to be refunded by the Estonian institute. Mr Sukhvinder S. Sandhu, director of Alpha International Education Consultancy, said 14 students were processed for Euro American Business Institute of Estonia in September 2003. “After the admissions, the students were asked to transfer the tuition fees to the institute’s official account in December 2003 and January 2004. The money was transferred by students directly from their account to the institute account by the bank telex system. The total money was Euro 56,168 which is equivalent to Rs 34 lakhs,” he said. He said as per procedure, after receiving their visa invitations, visas were applied with the Estonian Consulate in New Delhi. “Estonian Consulate was provided with the registeration of the institute with the Estonian Education Ministry. After 15 days, the Consulate-General informed the company that visas had been refused by the Estonian Government,” he said. Mr Sandhu said we made a request to the institute for an immediate refund of tuition fees and the institute confirmed us the date of refund. But, the payments were not received. He said the investigations had now revealed that the Euro American Business Institute did not have formal infrastructure. “They initially hired a building to
accommodate the students and courses were to be undertaken by the Euro University,” he said.
|
|
|
Woman poisons kids, self
Yamunanagar, December 16 Anita had allegedly made her two children, Aman (3) and Kirti (seven months), consume milk laced with poison before consuming a poisonous substance herself last morning. Anita had died while being taken to the Civil Hospital, Jagadhri, and the two children died in the evening at the hospital. Anita had also tried to poison her eldest child Harsh (4) but the latter did not drink the milk. Poverty and tension in family are said to be the causes behind the action of the woman. The doctors had referred the children to the PGI, Chandigarh, but the family members showed their helplessness in doing so citing financial reasons. It could not be known what type of poison was given to the children. A doctor said it seemed the children were given some intoxicant as the two kept sleeping while in the hospital. All this happened while father and mother-in-law of Anita were present in the house. The father-in-law, Mr Shri Nivas, is said to be suffering from acute asthma and is bed-ridden. It is being said that Anita had tried to end her life by consuming sleeping pills about a year ago also. Her husband, Rakesh, works in a shop and earns Rs 2,500 a month. The two were married about five years ago. As per police sources, Anita was not having good relationship with her husband and in-laws and often there used to be clash in the family over money. Her mother-in-law, Ms Shakuntla, reportedly told the police that last night Anita appeared normal and had also cooked food but entered into an altercation with her husband in the late hours. The husband, and mother-in-law have been booked under Section 306 of the IPC. |
|
4-year-old girl strangulated
Ballaur (Panipat), December 16 Meena has been arrested and a case under Sections 302 and 201, IPC, has been registered against her at the Bapoli police station. Police sources said that she had confessed to the murder during preliminary interrogation. She told the police that she strangulated Pooja because she wanted to take revenge from her father, who had defamed her. Pooja’s body was found in the heap of paddy straw in the village. Meena had hidden the body there. The family members of the victim told reporters at the Panipat Civil Hospital that Pooja was playing in the village with her friends last evening. While all her friends returned to their respective houses after some time, she did not return home. At this, her family members started looking for her. Her friends told them that they had been playing near the heap of paddy straw. Her family members went there but did not find her even there. However, when they lifted paddy straw they found her body there. They immediately informed the police. Police personnel, including DSP Badan Singh Rana, reached the spot. The body was sent to the Panipat Civil Hospital for post-mortem. |
|
Move to withdraw subsidy criticised
Fatehabad, December 16 Talking to mediapersons here last evening, Mr Abhey Singh alleged that the policies of the Congress government at the Centre had not only hit the poor but also middle-class families. He alleged that the Congress had won the parliamentary poll by misleading the people. He said that if subsidy was withdrawn, the poor would be the worst hit. Mr Abhey Singh said that the Congress had been dreaming of winning 70 out of 90 seats in the forthcoming elections in Haryana but, he added, that the Congress would not be able to cross the mark of 20 seats. He said that the Congress would again have to be content with sitting in the opposition. Mr Abhey Singh lashed out at the BJP and said that the BJP had been helping the Congress in the state. He said that the INLD used to term the Haryana Vikas Party of Mr Bansi Lal as “B” team of the Congress and it was proved when the HVP merged with the Congress. He said that in the same manner the BJP had been acting as “C” team of the Congress in Haryana. Mr Abhey Singh inaugurated and laid foundation stones of as many as 10 projects in the district yesterday. |
|
|
9 get life term for murder
Bhiwani, December 16 According to the prosecution, Santosh wife of Dayanand of the same village had reported to the police that Vinod, Mahavir, Sandeep, Vijender, Randhir Singh, Ram Kumar and three women Sajna, Omli and Yashoda, alias Nagma, attacked her husband with axes. The victim succumbed to his injuries at Medical College, Rohtak. A case under Sections 323, 325, 148 and 302, IPC, had been registered. A feud that had taken place between the two parties earlier was said to be the reason behind the attack. On the other hand, Randhir Singh had alleged that Bir Singh, Atar Singh, Mahender Singh, Yudhvir, Dhanpati, Vidya, Santosh, Phoolad and Sombir attacked him. Cases had been registered in this connection too. The court sentenced Vinod, Mahavir, Vijender, Randhir Singh, Ram Kumar, Sajna, Omli, and Yashoda alias Nagma to life imprisonment. |
|
Villagers block traffic over erratic power supply
Jhajjar, December 16
Mr Mahavir Singh, a resident of the village, said electricity wires were precariously hanging over their houses due to lack of maintenance by the electricity department. He said despite many complaints to the authorities concerned they were neither replaced nor repaired.
Later, civil and police officials, including the City Magistrate and the DSP reached the spot and assured the agitated villagers that the damaged transformers will be replaced within two days and the damaged wires will be replaced soon. This resulted in the blockade being lifted.
|
|
Depositors go on rampage at Head
Post Office
Sonepat, December 16 According to a report, the shortage of staff at the counters was the main cause of the resentment among the depositors. A large number of persons were lined up in front of the saving account counter meant for depositing and withdrawal of money. On account of shortage of staff, the Postmaster deployed a trainee woman at the counter, but she failed to handle the rush of depositors. However, complaint was not registered by the postal authorities. |
|
Chowkidars hold protest
Kaithal, December 16 In a memorandum submitted to the Governor through the administration, the chowkidars have expressed their resentment and called the payment of Rs 400 per month as a cruel joke on them. Not only this, even to get this small amount they have to do rounds of a number of offices. The chowkidars have demanded a substantial increase in their salary and free bus travel facility and education to their children. Mr Chhota Ram, president, Chowkidar Union, told mediapersons that they had to do a number of jobs simultaneously, including submission of information regarding births and deaths in the village. Mr Ishwar Singh, a former MLA, Guhla and president, DCC, has supported the demands of chowkidars and called for immediate stoppage of their exploitation. |
|
Bank’s retired staff demand medical facilities Ambala, December 16 Mr Khanna said that they had been demanding since 1993 that the benefits should be on a par with the other public sector banks including the State Bank of India and its associates. “These banks have already given medical facility to their retired staff as retirement benefit when the pension scheme was introduced there,” he said.
|
|
|
NRI woman to shift to church
Ambala, December 16 Postal officials at the Ambala GPO found themselves in a difficult position this morning when Mrs Anita Bajwa came to collect four parcels which had come from the USA. While, Mrs Bajwa demanded that parcels be handed over to her, postal employees stated they will hand over the parcel to the addressee only, which in this case was Lt Col (retd) Bajwa. Lt Col Bajwa arrived at the post office and parcels were collected by Mrs Anita Bajwa. Lt Col Bajwa said that he had handed over some books which belonged to her. “I have taken a receipt for the same. |
|
|
2 hand grenades seized from youth
Jhajjar, December 16 During interrogation, he disclosed to the police that he brought these explosives from Jaipal, a resident of Tirpadi village in Gurgaon. He said that Jaipal was an Army personnel and he brought these grenades from an Army unit. |
| 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 | |
