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Poll in mind, BJP talks of development
BJP to go it alone for ‘long-term gains’
NCP-Cong talks in progress
No Congress ticket for ‘previous losers’
Parties, voters await Cong list
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Cong workers say no to outsiders
HPU buying power from other corporations
Randeep wants Chautalas’
passports confiscated
Difficult period for tenant farmers
Residents resent delay in colonies regularisation
‘Know your army’ exhibition begins
HAU to host meeting of farm varsities
Fog puts rail services in disarray
False complaint of robbery
2 die in mishap
Child, woman killed as jeep overturns
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Poll in mind, BJP talks of development
Karnal, January 9 This was stated by senior BJP leader and former Industry Minister of Haryana Shashi Pal Mehta in an exclusive interview to The Tribune today. He promised that, if voted to power, the BJP would set up more industrial units to ensure the proper utilization of raw material produced within the state and raise more employment opportunities. He said the BJP was also committed to raise the income sources of the farming community by ensuring adequate subsidies to encourage diversification of crops through floriculture, plant-tissue culture, cultivation of medicinal plants etc. The development of agro-based industries would be on the top agenda, he said. Stressing that agriculture and industry should grow parallel to each other ensuring the economic prosperity of the state, he said the BJP would work in this direction. Expressing his concern over the winding up and shifting of industries from Haryana to other states at a large scale, he said the BJP would help revive the sick units and do its best to bring back those units that had shifted to other states following the flawed policies of the present state government. "We will sit together with the industrialists and frame such policies that suit their economic interests ensuring more jobs for the unemployed youth of the State", he added. Besides this, the BJP was committed to check the blackmarketing of essential commodities like sugar and cooking gas so as to ensure their easy availability to the public at controlled prices, said Mr Mehta. In reply to a question, he said the BJP manifesto likely to be released in the next couple of days would also promise to take back all those employees of various government departments, boards and corporations in the service who were retrenched by the present government; construct chambers, bar rooms and libraries for the lawyers community, regularize the services of anganwari workers. Construction of press clubs at all the district headquarters and provide plots at subsidized rates to the journalists and chalk out policies to improve the socio-economic condition of the weaker sections and the rural folk would be our other priorites, he added. Mr Mehta further said, "health, social welfare programmes for women, problems of the minorities and improvement in education system as per the local requirement would also be taken up by the BJP on priority basis." He appealed to the electorate to exercise their right to vote positively to elect clean-image politicians who were honestly working hard to redress the problems of the local people. |
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BJP to go it alone for ‘long-term gains’
Chandigarh, January 9 For the BJP, fufilling its ambition of contesting on its own strength in all the 90 Assembly constituencies of the state is turning out to be a tough job. A large number of freshers or turncoats who have entered the party after having cut their teeth in other political parties had figured in the list of 39 candidates for the Haryana polls announced by the party in Delhi recently. In important constituencies like Bhattu Kalan (represented by INLD leader and Finance Minister Sampat Singh), Uchana Kalan (from where former HPCC chief, Mr Birender Singh, is expected to contest as the Congress nominee), the BJP had to put up candidates who had no track record of contesting or winning an election. In Adampur, represented in successive Assemblies by Congress stalwart Bhajan Lal, the BJP candidate is one Mr Dalbir Dhiranwas. He is such an obscure person that even people at the media centre set up by the BJP at Chandigarh have no clue about this party nominee’s antecedents. Mr Gurdayal Singh Saini and Ms Sudha Yadav, who fought Lok Sabha elections from Kurukshetra and Mahendragarh, respectively, have also made appearances as party nominees for the Assembly polls. All these are pointers to the frantic effort the party is having to put up to manage candidates for the 90 Assembly segments. Tomorrow the BJP’s Central Parliamentary Board is slated to meet in Delhi to finalise the candidates for the 51 remaining seats of Haryana. Obviously, more fresh faces and some more recent entrants in the party from the HVP, INLD, Ekta Shakti, etc, would make an appearance in the second list. A furious Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Haryana Chief Minister and INLD supremo, whose offer for an alliance has been spurned by the BJP, has predicted that the saffron party will not be even able to win a single seat in the state. The local BJP leaders, on the other hand, were of the view that a tie-up with the INLD would have ensured that the party got wiped out from the urban areas, the traditional stronghold of the BJP in the state. While claiming that the party is in a winning position in a number of seats in the state, the BJP leaders claim that in any case the party’s stand against the Chautala regime will be appreciated by the people and help the party expand and strengthen its base in the state. Meanwhile, the BSP, which enjoys the support of the enlightened section of the Dalits, is apparently stuck on the issue of a possible alliance with the INLD. As a matter of fact neither Mr Ramji Lal, the BSP chief of Haryana, or Mr Narinder Kashyap, the Central leader who supervises functioning of the state unit, appear to have any clue about the alliance. “Ms Mayawati will take a decision regarding the alliance...” is all the two leaders can say, and they have no idea when the issue is going to be finally sorted out. As a result the party has not been able to announce its candidate for any of the seats as yet. |
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NCP-Cong talks in progress
Karnal, January 9 Talking to The Tribune, he said the NCP had got a good response from the RJD and the JMM leadership in forging an alliance for the ensuing assembly elections and strengthening inter-party relations with the alliance partners of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government. He was here to preside over a workers meeting of the state unit of the party. He said that a formal request for a dialogue with the Congress in Haryana had already been submitted to the Congress high command by the NCP leadership. A meeting between the top leadership of both the parties is expected to take place next week. In reply to a question, he said the Haryana unit of the Congress was a bit reluctant to take the NCP along in the elections. However, he was hopeful that the Congress high command would consider the request of the NCP to forge an alliance in Haryana. He said partners of the UPA had contested the Maharashtra Assembly elections collectively and the NCP being the largest party in the state had extended all help to the Congress and other alliance partners. Similarly, alliance partners of the UPA should collectively contest the assembly elections in Haryana, Bihar and Jharkhand so as to keep the anti-secular parties away from power. Meanwhile, Chaudhary Ved Pal, president of the Haryana unit of the NCP, said hundreds of aspirants had applied for the party ticket from all the 90 assembly seats to contest the elections. Later, Mr Tariq Anwar and state party election observer Ram Vir Singh Bidhuri while addressing NCP workers asked them to go out and start campaigning for the party. Mr Swaran Singh and Mr Rajinder Bhardwaj, both presidents of the Punjab and Delhi units of the NCP, respectively, also addressed the gathering. |
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No Congress ticket for ‘previous losers’
Chandigarh, January 9 According to informed sources, the committee was able to shortlist candidates for various constituencies at its meeting held in Delhi, which lasted till the wee hours of today. The committee’s decision to follow the principle of not nominating those persons who lost two successive Assembly elections have hit virtually all main factions of the Haryana Congress. The sources say the decision has been taken to bring fresh faces in the fray. The decision has adversely affected leaders like the former Haryana Congress president, Mr Dharam Pal
Malik, a close associate of the party chief, Mr Bhajan Lal; and Mr Bachan Singh
Arya, Mr A.C. Choudhary and Mr Phool Chand Mullana, all former ministers. They are considered to be close to Mr Bhajan
Lal. Among the associates of the former Haryana Congress president and MP from
Rohtak, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, those who have been affected by the decision include Dr Ram
Prakash, a former minister; Dr K.V. Singh, former OSD to the Chief Minister in the Janata Dal Government; Mr Jagdish
Nehra, a former minister; and Prof Varinder Singh. Since some of those who are covered by this principle are considered as winning candidates this time, the Central Election Committee, which is likely to meet in Delhi tomorrow, may give a fresh look to their claims for the party ticket. Senior Haryana Congress leaders are likely to plead their case with the High Command. Meanwhile, certain “ineligible” candidates have starting promoting their wives or wards for the party ticket. The party has also been rocked by the committee’s decision to field certain leaders of the Punjab or Chandigarh Congress from Haryana. The sources say the committee has recommended the name of a former Union Minister, Mr Vinod Sharma, from the Ambala city
seat.Similary, the committee is believed to have recommended the name of Mr R.R.
Bhardwaj, Deputy Chairman of the Punjab Planning Board, among others for the Ambala cantonment seat. The sources say a former cricket player is being favoured for the Yamunanagar seat.
Grassroot-level workers of the Haryana Congress feel cheated over the inclusion of the names of the Punjab leaders. They say while they suffered humiliation at the hands of the INLD Government for the past over five years, now when the Congress is on the verge of forming the government in the state, certain Punjab leaders having influence are trying to encroach upon their territory. The party workers say while they kept the party alive for the past eight years, certain Central leaders, who, they allege, “sold” the party tickets in the past also, were back at their game. Haryana Congress men say how would the party justify the fielding of the Punjab leaders who, directly or indirectly, were a party to the enactment of the Termination of the Agreements Act, which has seriously sabotaged the chances of early completion of the SYL canal. Their presence in the Haryana election arena, the Congress
workers say, will give an issue to the INLD on a platter. The sources say senior Haryana Congress leaders, who have not opposed the candidature of the Punjab leaders openly, in their hearts of heart do not want them to contest from Haryana. In private they admit that the objections being raised by the party workers are justified. However, they are not able to oppose the candidature of the Punjab leaders as they enjoy good personal rapport with them. But they feel that the Punjab leaders, given their influence, will not remain contented with just being
MLAs. After the elections their aspirations would rise, giving rise to another faction in the party, which is already a divided house. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the screening committee has not recommended the name of any MP for contesting the Assembly elections. |
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Parties, voters await Cong list
Bhiwani, January 9 There are about 1,25,000 voters in the Bhiwani Assembly constituency and Brahmins plays a major role. If the Congress gives ticket to a Vaish candidate then the BJP will certainly change its candidate. Since, Punjabis are feeling aloof at this stage they may go with the BJP candidate provided that it is a Punjabi or Brahmin. Rajputs too are demanding representation this time. With no efforts being taken for ticket by the sitting MLA, Mr Bansi Lal, supremo of the Haryana Vikas Party, several ambitious leaders are lobbying for their name through their godfather’s in New Delhi. Among them are Mr Ram Bhajan Agarwal, former MLA Mr Ajay Gupta, son of former Chief Minister B.D. Gupta, Dr Shankar Bhardwaj, former DCC president, Mr Ashok Buwaniwala, party spokesman, and NSUI state president Verender Kaushik. All these are camping in Delhi to press for ticket. The state panel has sent names of Mr Ajay Gupta, Mr Ram Bhajan Agarwal, Mr Verender Kaushik and Dr Shankar Bhardwaj, it is learnt. Ashok Buwaniwala is trying hard through some members of the Congress election committee. Dr Bhardwaj reportedly has a soft corner for former HPCC president Birender Singh Doomerkhan and Union Law minister Hansraj Bhardwaj. Mr Verender Kaushik is using his contacts with Mr Moti Lal Vora, Mr Ashok Ghelot and Mr Mukul Vasnik. The INLD has considered Dr Vasudev Sharma its candidate but has not announced the candidate from Mundhal Assembly seat so far. This is raising doubt over the candidature of sitting MLA Shashi Parmar. The party may think of shifting Dr Vasudev to Mundhal to attract Brahmin voters if the Congress fields Mr Ranbir Mahender, BCCI President. His father Mr Bansi Lal is also willing to field Ranbir again irrespective of the fact that he has faced defeat in the past. Another aspirant Sandeep Singh, a loyalist of Mr Bhupender Singh Hooda, is also hopeful of getting Mundhal ticket. The declaration of the name of Mr Surender Singh from Tosham seat has led to difficulties for sitting MLA Dharmbir Singh. The Congress had to oblige Mr Surender Singh who had initiated the merger of the HVP with the Congress and it could only be possible at the cost of Mr Dharmbir Singh. The latter might be fielded from Loharu or Mundhal. Mr Dharmbir Singh and Mr Surender Singh have strong votebanks in Tosham. The INLD has fielded Sunil Lamba from Tosham and he has started his campaign already. In Buwani Khera, a reserve constituency, son of late Congress leader Amar Singh Dhanak, and his followers are creating hurdles for sitting MLA Ram Kishan Fauji. In Charkhi Dadri, the INLD has declared a bureaucrat, Mr Vijay Prakash, as its candidate. Mr Prakash is a relative of the Chief Minister. The Congress, BJP and BSP have yet to declare its candidates from here. In Mundhal, BJP candidate Om Prakash Maan has already started his campaign. Since he was sure of his candidature much before the declaration of election date, he has already toured his constituency twice. In Loharu all parties have yet not declared candidates but in Badhra only the INLD has fielded its sitting MLA Ranbir Mandolla. |
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Cong workers say no to outsiders
Kaithal, January 9 At a meeting presided over by Mr Balkar Singh
Keorak, Vice President, DCC, in Congress Bhawan here today. Workers, present in this meeting passed a unanimous resolution that they would oppose any outside candidate and urged the party high command to allot party ticket to only local candidate and said in case any outsider was imposed on them they would not support such candidate. While addressing the workers, Mr Balkar Singh said if any outside candidate was selected by the central election committee he would meet the same fate as Mr Devinder Sharma met in 1982 Assembly elections.
Mr Devinder Sharma who hailed from Kurukshetra was allotted Congress ticket from Kaithal and he was badly defeated in that election. He also clarified that if an outsider was put up
as candidate by the party other aspirants will put up their joint local candidate and
party high command would be responsible for such situation. It is learnt that some senior leaders of the Congress wanted to put up an outsider as candidate and supporters of local candidates have become active to prevent a situation
like this. It was decided to send a copy of the resolution to Ms Sonia Gandhi, President,
AICC, HPCC President Mr Bhajan Lal, working president Mr Randeep
Surjewala. |
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HPU buying power from other corporations
Panchkula, January 9 The state has been reeling under a severe power shortage for the past one month. As against the estimated daily power requirement of 590
LUs, the power available to the state from various sources is 543 LUs a day. While about 510 LUs is available to the state from its own generation sources, HPU has made bilateral arrangements with the states of
Tripura, Meghalaya, West Bengal and Delhi (through Power Trading Corporation, Delhi Transco Limited and
NVVN) for getting 33 LUs of power. In order to meet the shortfall of 50 LUs of power, the state is overdrawing 20 LUs to 25 LUs from the Northern Grid through Unscheduled Interchange (UI) at rates varying from Rs 4 to Rs 5 per unit, as against the normal rate of drawl of Rs 2. 04 - Rs 2.08 per unit. The Chairman of Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam
(HVPN), Maj. Gen. B.S. Rathee (retd.), says that they are spending almost Rs 3 crore extra in order to get additional power through Unscheduled Interchange. “In normal circumstances, we spend Rs 10 to Rs 11 crore a day in order to buy power, but because of the excess withdrawal from the Northern Grid, and at low frequency, we have to pay penal rates. We are buying power for anything between Rs 13 crore to Rs 14 crore daily,” he says. However, with the need for power increasing in agriculture sector for the rabi crop, and almost minimal inflow of water for the various hydel power generation projects, the state is facing a shortfall in power. Thus unscheduled power cuts (of one hour each) are being imposed on urban sector and industrial consumers. The Chairman, Maj Gen. Rathee says that the problem would tide over once the eighth unit at Tau Devi Lal Thermal Power Plant, Panipat is commissioned. “The eighth unit, having a capacity of 250 MW of power, is likely to be commissioned by January 15. With this the state will become self reliant in power as it will yield an additional 60 LU’s of power a day,” he says.
Maj Gen Rathee says that during the year 2004, as many as 47 new power sub stations were commissioned, and almost 300 MW of power capacity was added to the state’s total generation. |
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Randeep wants Chautalas’
passports confiscated
Chandigarh, January 9 In a statement issued here Mr Surjewala said there was a strong undercurrent against the misrule of Mr Chuatala as the people of the state had mobilised themselves to teach him a lesson. After realising a strong Congress favoring-wind blowing in the state, Mr Chautala now feared that he would be punished for “all the wrong-doings” committed by him in his six years’ misrule. He said the Congress had already presented a charge sheet in this regard to the Governor and had pleaded with him to take appropriate action the against guilty. He said a glaring example of misuse of power by Mr. Chautala was that he himself withdrew the cases registered against him by his brother, who had accused him of earning crores of rupees through corrupt practices. When Mr Chautala came into power the state was under a debt of Rs 16,359 crore which had now doubled to almost Rs 33,000
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Chautala’s ouster our goal: CPM
Fatehabad, January 9 A meeting of the general body of the district committee of the CPM was held here yesterday.
Mr Devi Lal, a senior CPM leader presided over the meeting. Mr Ram Swaroop
Bahbalpuria, district secretary, Mr Chhatarpal Singh, tehsil secretary and Mr Sharma Chand
Lali, state vice-president of the Student Federation of India addressed the meeting. It was decided that the CPM nominee from
Tohana, Mr Harpal Singh would file his nomination papers on January 15 while the party nominee from
Fatehabad, Mr Krishan Swaroop would file his nomination papers on January 16. Talking to media persons, Mr Bahbalpuria said the CPM would contest the assembly polls in Haryana in order to defeat the Om Prakash Chautala government and to uproot the BJP from the state. |
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ABVP has no political agenda: Mamta Yadav
Hisar, January 9 Talking to The Tribune, Ms Yadav maintained that there was no pressure on the ABVP members to vote for or support any political party. “No political matters are discussed at our meetings. It is, in fact, a basic principle of the ABVP to remain away from electoral politics,” she said. On the demand for student union poll in Haryana, Ms Yadav said the students were justified in demanding elections as these could give them good exposure. She, however, added that there should be no interference of the political parties in student union poll. Regarding the outcome of the workshop, the ABVP activist said the participants had expressed their serious concern over the increasing cultural invasion through satellite channels and indifferent attitude of society towards the issue. She remarked that the media could play a crucial role in this regard. |
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Caste factor important in poll
Panipat, January 9 Panipat district is not an exception. Punjabi, Jat, Gujjar and Dalit voters play a significant role in deciding the fate of contestants in Panipat, Naulatha, Samalkha and Asandh seats of the district respectively. Both the ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and BJP have allocated the party ticket to those aspirants in Panipat district who belong to the community concerned in respective constituencies while releasing their first list of candidates on January 4. While the ruling INLD has allocated its ticket to chairman of the Improvement Trust Kasturi Lal Ahuja, the BJP has fielded president of the Municipal Council Sanjay Bhatia for Panipat constituency. Both belong to the Punjabi community, which has nearly one-third of total voters here. Dominance of the Punjabi community in Panipat can be gauged from the fact that Punjabi candidates on one or the other party ticket have won eight out of nine Assembly elections held so far. Fateh Chand Vij represented this constituency four times — 1967, 1972 on Jan Sangh ticket; 1977 as Janata Party candidate and in 1982 on the BJP ticket. While Mr Hakumat Rai Shah won this seat on the Congress ticket in 1972, his son represented this seat three times as a Congress candidate in 1987, 1991 and 2000 Assembly elections. A non Punjabi candidate could win only once in 1996 in Panipat when Independent Om Parkash Jain defeated Congress candidate Balbir Pal Shah. Similarly, the INLD has fielded former minister Katar Singh Chhokar and Haryana Housing Board chairman Krishan Lal Pawar on Samalkha and Asandh seats respectively. While Chhokar belongs to Gujjar community, Pawar is a Dalit. Most of the time, Samalkha, Naulatha and Asandh constituencies are being represented by Gujjar, Jat and dalit candidates. While Mr Hari Singh Nalwa won the Samalkha seat in 1991, Mr Kartar Singh Badana represented this seat twice in 1996 and 2000 on the HVP and INLD ticket. Both of them are Gujjars. Similarly Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Satbir Singh Kadian won from Naulatha thrice in 1987, 1991 and 2000 Assembly elections, whereas former minister Bijander Singh Kadian won this seat in 1996. Both are Jats. Spread over two districts, Asandh is being represented by one or the other Dalit candidate as it is a reserved seat for Scheduled Castes. At present, chairman of Haryana Housing Board Krishan Lal Pawar is representing this seat and is retrying his luck on the INLD ticket. |
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Too many ticket seekers making it hard for Cong
Chandigarh, January 9 The party’s task of selecting the candidates has become more tough as compared to the past. Since the party is seen as the electorate’s favourite the number of claimants for the party ticket is much higher than that in 2000. Similarly, various factions are exerting influence over the central leaders to accommodate their nominees so that when it comes to a headcount, their leader emerges victorious. The Central Election Committee
(CEC), which sat till late in the night yesterday, could not finalise a list of party candidates. It is believed that while there is no dispute over the nomination of sitting MLAs and certain senior leaders, other constituencies are proving to be ticklish. Earlier, the screening committee headed by Mr Moti Lal Vora had decided not to give the party ticket to those who had lost twice in a row. This had sent shockwaves among senior leaders. Informed sources say now many “ineligible” candidates are sponsoring their wives or sons for the party ticket. Similarly, a bid by certain Punjab leaders to contest the Assembly elections in Haryana has caused resentment among the grassroot party leaders, who feel that if the Punjab leaders are nominated, the party will provide a stick to the Opposition to beat the Congress with on the SYL issue. They say the INLD would publicise that while the Punjab Congress was primarily responsible for the enactment of the Termination of Agreements Act, which had delayed the construction of the SYL canal, the Congress had fielded leaders from that state in Haryana. |
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SAD loses favour with state Sikhs
Karnal, January 9 They feel that the SAD president, Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, and the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had not only ditched them, but also ‘isolated’ them, forcing a group of the faction-ridden SAD to support the Congress. The SAD had formed a separate state unit of the party in Haryana right from the time the state was carved out in 1966 but it never aspired to attain or share power by contesting the parliamentary or legislative Assembly elections. At its nascent stage, the SAD had extended unconditional support to the Janta Party, then to the Lok Dal and later to the INLD. A majority of the Sikhs in Haryana feel that the Akali leadership had always betrayed them for their vested interests by not allowing them to contest the elections alone or in alliance with other parties. A majority of the Akali leaders in Haryana are of the opinion that the SAD should have tried its luck in the parliamentary and Assembly elections and should have established its roots among the masses. The SAD could not register victory on its own but under the present political circumstances, there was a good chance of bargain with the INLD. According to Jathedar Surjit Singh
Darar, president of the Haryana Sikh Sangat, “The Sikhs in Haryana are by and large disenchanted with Mr Badal because he has so far never taken up the cause of Haryana Sikhs at the political or religious levels”. Expressing concern over the support to the Congress by seven members of the SGPC elected from Haryana, he said: “It is an unfortunate turning point in panthic history.” The outburst of the Sikhs surfaced during the SGPC elections in July, in which a majority of Sikhs voted against the official nominees of the SAD. The state unit of the SAD also split. The divided group of the SAD on the sole plank of the demand for a separate gurdwara prabhandak committee for Haryana contested the SGPC elections and won seven out of the nine seats, sending a message to the SAD leadership that its domineering attitude would no longer be accepted by the Sikhs in Haryana. During the Lok Sabha elections held in May, a large number of Sikhs associated with the SAD also voted against the INLD even though the SAD president had extended support to the party. Political observers feel that the existence of the SAD in Haryana and the domination of Mr Badal over the already edged-out party unit in the state is at stake with the recent decision of the party not to field its candidates in the ensuing Assembly elections. They also feel that the announcement of Mr Jagdish Singh
Jhinda, leader of the splinter group of the SAD, and the seven SGPC members to support the Congress would caste a shadow on Akali politics in Punjab also. On the other hand, in an attempt to woo the Sikhs, the BJP has announced to introduce a legislation in the state Assembly if voted to power regarding the formation of a gurdwara prabhandak committee for Haryana. This announcement will also cause a major setback to the prospects of the SAD and the INLD. The BJP candidate from the Karnal Assembly constituency and former state Industry Minister, Mr Shashi Pal
Mehta, is of the view that the Sikhs cannot be ignored by any party in Haryana. |
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Sehgal promises NOC Ambala, January 9 Mr Sehgal said potable water will be provided to the residents free of cost and arrangements could be made to send pension to the homes of people. “We will improve the law and order situation and the development charge for power will be stopped. A well-planned effort will be made to ensure that Ambala Cantt does not suffer due to floods,” he said. He said a well-planned strategy had been worked out to ensure victory in the Assembly election. “We are reaching out to the people and the response from the people is very encouraging,” he said. BJP Ambala district unit president Ravinder Dhawan said on the occasion that leaders like Laxmikanta Chawla and Mr Mohan Lal were expected to help in the campaign in the next few days. In reply to a query, Mr Dhawan said he had not received any of the resignation letters which had reportedly been tendered by a section of office-bearers of the Ambala City unit of BJP. “Change of candidate in Ambala City is not possible. We are confident that by January 17 all BJP activists will start working for the party in Ambala City,” he said. The BJP leaders today also criticised Ambala Cantt MLA Anil Vij. “Except for establishing a park, Mr Anil Vij has done nothing concrete in Ambala Cantt during his term.” “Mr Anil Vij does not have a future course of action and he is rudderless. He claims to have established a Government College in a school. But that has been done at a heavy price as the school students now have to attend another school in double shift. He is misleading people in the name of development,” they said. They stated that no major industries have been set up in Ambala Cantt. “Mr Vij also broke the alliance he had with us in the Municipal Council Ambala Sadar over the president and vice-president’s post. He continued to hold a ‘parallel darbar’ throughout his term,” they said. |
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Vij addresses poll meetings Ambala, January 8 The election meetings were held in wards no 1, 8, 15, 26 and 28. Addressing the election meeting, Mr Vij said that he had worked hard for the overall development of Ambala Cantonment. “Our slogan `Kaam Kiya Hai, Kaam Karenge’ is self-explanatory,” he said. Mr Vij said when he was elected an MLA, he had not made tall, promises. “But, I have strived hard to solve the problems of the people of Ambala Cantonment,” he said. He said election manifestoes of the party misled the people and it was an attempt by parties to collect votes. He challenged the parties to tell the people how many election promises had been fulfilled by them. Mr Anil Vij said he would file his nomination papers on January 12. |
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Electoral schedule released
Chandigarh, January 9 Stating this here today, the Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, Mrs Urvashi Gulati, said a notification to this effect would be issued on January 10. The scrutiny of nominations would be done on January 18, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature would be January 20. The counting of votes would be on February 27 and the election process completed before March 5. She said the Election Commission of India had made mandatory for all candidates to file affidavits in the prescribed format regarding the antecedents, conviction, financial assets, liabilities, government dues and educational qualifications. A candidate was also required to make and subscribe an oath or affirmation in accordance with the form prescribed in the Third Schedule of the Constitution before the Returning Officer of the constituency. If any candidate was under preventive detention, he or she could do so before the Superintendent of Jail or Commandant of the detention camp concerned. If the candidate was confined to bed in hospital or elsewhere owing to illness or any other cause, he or she could do so before the Medical Superintendent in charge of the hospital or the medical practitioner attending on him. A candidate belonging to the general category was required to deposit Rs 5000 and a Scheduled Caste candidate Rs 2500 as security fee with the Returning Officer at the time of filing papers. |
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State election officers asked to be vigilant
Sirsa, January 9 He was in the district late last evening and had a closed door meeting with the officials deputed at all five Assembly constituencies. Talking to the TNS Mr Amanulla said he had instructed the officials to abide by the rules and ensure a fair poll in the state. He said he had come to the district to ensure smooth functioning of the election staff. During his maiden visit to the home district of the CM, a sensitive district, the official had “instructed” the officials present to deal sternly with any complaint related to the violation of the code of conduct.
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Places selected for rallies
Fatehabad, January 9 In a press note issued here yesterday, the District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, Fatehabad, Mr. Mahtab Singh Sehrawat, said the political parties had been authorised to hold public meetings at Balmiki Chowk, Rattia Road, Jawahar Chowk and Aggarsen Chowk. Posters could be pasted at Balmiki Chowk, Rattia road, Jawahar Chowk, Old Bus Stand, Bhuna Road, Kainchi Mor, Vishwakarma Park, Rattia Mor and Sain Park. Similarly, points for holding of public meetings and pasting of posters had also been selected at Bhattu, Tohana and Rattia.
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Difficult period for tenant farmers
Karnal, January 9 The two main reasons of the sufferings of tenant farmers identified by The Tribune during a field survey were that the demand of land for cultivation had increased in the recent years by the small and landless farmers amidst shrinking land holdings and the ever-increasing production costs. During the survey it was found that the annual lease amount of the cultivable land in these two districts was between Rs. 14,000 to Rs. 18,000 depending upon its fertility and the availability of water pumps. It may be mentioned that the landholdings in these two districts were being considered as the most fertile land in the northern India. As a result, the price of land even in the remote rural areas had increased considerably during the past few years taking it to more than Rs 6 lakh per acre. In an effort to achieve higher yield the farmers were forced to spend more on fertilizers. This has led to the escalation of cost inputs. Besides, until the last cropping season of paddy, the farmers had to pay more for electricity to run their electric water pumps. Adding to the woes, there has always been a power shortage in the state putting an extra burden on the farming community. “I have taken eight acres on lease at Rs. 16,000 per acre but failed to earn anything from the paddy season following drought, cost escalation on running water pumps on a hired generator set, increased spray of fertilizers and pesticides at a later stage following heavy rain and forcible sale of produce to private parties at a price lower than the minimum support price,” said Mr Birender Singh, a farmer of Nilokheri. He said: “My only hope to earn a little lies in the wheat crop.” In reply to a question he said that under favourable conditions, it was expected that he would earn something around Rs. 5,000 per acre after recovering the losses he had to pay for in the paddy season. Mr Harish Kumar, another landless farmer of Pipli who got 10 acres on lease said, “Earlier, I used to get two crops of paddy and one crop of wheat in one year that provided a comfortable margin of profit even as the lease amount had increased but this year the local administration forcibly asked farmers not to cultivate short duration varieties of paddy without realizing the hardships of tenant farmers”. Another reason for the rise in lease was the mad rush to take more land on lease forcing land owners to demand more. “This has added to the problems of small farmers”, said a retired official of the State Agriculture Department. |
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Total traffic chaos in twin townships
Yamunanagar, January 9 Gaps on all road dividers, people driving their vehicles with high beams on and encroachments on either side of the roads here are some of the main causes of minor accidents, which are taking place in the towns everyday. Over 5,000 unauthorised autorickshaws are plying on the roads daily. As per a rough estimate, over 50 minor accidents take place every day. According to police sources, there are over 2000 vehicles in the towns which are plying on the roads without number plates. In case of accidents, these motorists (without number plates) often flee, and the party which has suffered losses does not even get a chance to lodge a police complaint. Sources said a few years ago the district administration had closed down a large number of gaps on the dividers but was forced to reopen these after pressure from traders and shopkeepers. “Failure of the police to implement the traffic rules only provoke motorists to drive vehicles without number plates and high beams”, said Mr Prashant, a resident of the Model Town. He said: “Slow- moving traffic like rickshaws and animal-driven carts only add to the woes of the motorists”. An unidentified vehicle had damaged his brand new car near Mela Singh Chowk on Saturday evening. After watching motorists on the roads of the towns for a week, it was revealed that most of them drive with high beams,which creates problems for those coming from the opposite side. The district administration is once again to be blamed as most of the streetlights are non- functional and the motorists are left with no option but to drive with high beams on. There are encroachments on the either side of all the roads in the towns. It is being alleged that the failure of the municipalc committees of the towns to come down on the encroachers was encouraging more encroachments. Some of the most dangerous roads as far as safety of the vehicles is concerned are from Agrasen Chowk to the railway station, the stretch between DAV School, Model Town, to Mela Singh Chowk in Yamunanagar, ITI road in Jagadhri and the roads leading from Kamani Chowk. The roads of the town become more dangerous during the months when Sarswati Sugar Mill starts crushing sugarcane as hundreds of trucks and tractor-trailers could be spotted parked on different roads. Another point to be noted is that slip roads have been laid near Agrasen Chowk, but these slip roads too have been encroached upon. In the absence of any proper parking lots in the townships, motorists are left with no option but to park on either side of the roads. Neither the Deputy Commissioner nor the Superintendent of Police could be contacted for comments. |
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Residents resent delay in colonies regularisation
Sonepat, January 9 Soon after the government’s announcement to regularise the unauthorised colonies, a large number of residents of these colonies have been approching the council’s office for paying the development charges and approval of their building maps. But to their disappointment, the council authorities is declining to accept these pleadings that there should be a resurvey of the colonies to find out how many colonies are 50 per cent inhabited. The council authorities have reportedly told the residents that the council had so far not received the list of the colonies recently regularised by the Haryana Government. The Executive Officer of the council, Mr Sri Krishan Kharab, also informed that the report of the resurvey would be received within one week and only further action would be taken. It is pointed out that about four years back, the council sought permission of the Haryana Government for regularisation of these 69 colonies and the necessary sanction was granted by the government. But before the regularisation process could be completed, the government asked not to regularise the same. The residents made repeated pleas to the Chief Minister for regularisation of these colonies, but the CM did not accept the demand. Even the funds which were earnmarked for development works in some of these colonies under the NCR Plan, were diverted for works in regularised colonies. However, before the announcement of the Assembly elections, the CM announced regularisation of the colonies, which was widely welcomed by the residents of these colonies. |
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‘Know your army’ exhibition begins Ambala, January 9 The exhibition is being organised by Kharga Corps as part of Army Day celebrations. It will be spread over three days, with the first two days focusing on equipment display and the last day dedicated to band display. Response from people who visited the exhibition was good. The equipment on display included T-72 and T-90 tanks, infantry combat vehicles, air defence missile systems, Bofors artillery guns, advanced communication systems, mine breaching tanks and bridge-laying equipment. Children took interest in the equipment on display and Army men answered queries of people. |
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HAU to host meeting of farm varsities
Hisar, January 9 The Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Dr Mangla Rai, will inaugurate the convention. More than 60 delegates from the ICAR and 42 agricultural universities and deemed universities from all over the country will participate in the convention. Mr Miglani said the quality of farm produce had now become the primary concern of the ICAR as well as the farm universities. The delegates would deliberate on several important issues related to the challenges of the WTO regime. |
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Fog puts rail services in disarray
Sonepat, January 9 According to a report, the Unchahar Express running between Allahabad and Ambala Cantt has been cancelled till January 12 next. This train continued to remain cancelled between Delhi and Ambala Cantt for the past one week and now it has been finally cancelled till January 12 next. The Flying Mail running between Delhi and Amritsar continued to run behind the schedule indefinitely on account of dense fog for the past 10 days.
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Running of new train postponed
Hisar, January 9 The other has been issued by the Divisional Railway Controller, Ambala to Hisar station. Though no reason has been given, it is presumed that the order has issued due to the Assembly election in Haryana next month.
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False complaint of robbery
Kaithal, January 9 The police immediately sealed all exit points. However, no clue was found about the miscreants. The police then got suspicious about the statement given by Suresh Bansal and interrogated him. It was discovered that he had tried to fool one of his relatives to whom he owed money. |
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2 die in mishap
Panipat, January 9 The injured include Sunil of Vidayanad Colony, Panipat, Harish, Tasuwar, Samir, Parvesh, Asira, Jalina and Januba (all belong to Uttar Pradesh). |
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Child, woman killed as jeep overturns
Panipat, January 9 The injured include Sunil of Vidayanad Colony, Panipat, Harish, Tasuwar, Samir, Parvesh, Asira, Jalina and Januba (all belong to Uttar Pradesh). |
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