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Sonia ups the ante, decries family
Cong backing outlaws, says Advani
NDA rule a dark period, claims Arjun
Don’t vote for rebels, warns Selja
BSP not casteist: Maya
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Candidates woo voters in cantt area
Navjot Sidhu campaigns for Bajwa
Kataria’s unique style of canvassing
15-min meetings to woo voters in villages
Flag march in Jagadhri and Yamunanagar
Cops absenting from poll rehearsal to be booked: DC
Student’s death: father alleges foul play
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Sonia ups the ante, decries family rule in state
Bhiwani, January 29 In her speech, which lasted for about 15 minutes and read out in Hindi, Ms Gandhi said people in power in the government should act like caring guardians and treat citizens like their children. But the “family” rule in Haryana for the last five years had shown a discriminatory attitude. “The law and order situation in the state is also terrible and there is no security of life and property of people”, Ms Gandhi said. Ms Gandhi mentioned the alleged false cases registered against Mr Chautala’s critics and political rivals. “Hundreds of Congress members have been harassed by Mr Chautala for opposing his misrule”, Ms Gandhi said. She said people of Haryana, who make fine soldiers and enterprising farmers, must ensure a crushing defeat to the INLD and return to the path of development by electing a Congress government. On the performance of the Central Government, she said unlike the previous NDA-led government, which thrived on glitzy media publicity, the Congress-led UPA government had made employment generation and communal harmony its main focus. The government passed a legislation to provide 100 days employment annually to at least one member of every family in the country, Ms Gandhi said. A large enthusiastic crowd, who braved cold weather to turn up at the venue, attended the rally. All nine candidates of Assembly segments falling under the Bhiwani parliamentary constituency and Ms Kartari Devi from Kalanaur segment of Rohtak Parliamentary constituency were present and were introduced to Ms Gandhi one by one after she finished her speech. It was, however, Mr Shiv Shankar Bhardwaj, Congress candidate from Bhiwani, who was repeatedly claiming credit for “bringing” Ms Gandhi to Bhiwani. Mr Bhajan Lal, HPCC chief, and himself a candidate from Adampur, accompanied Ms Gandhi to the podium. A number of speakers, including Mr Bhardwaj, who addressed the gathering before the arrival of Ms Gandhi, said Mr Bhajan Lal would be the Chief Minister in the next Congress government. Mr Bansi Lal, whose party Haryana Vikas Party
(HVP) had recently merged with the Congress, was conspicuous by his absence in the rally. His son and successor Mr Surender Singh, Congress candidate from Tosham and Surinder’s wife, Ms Kiran
Choudhry, a functionary of the Congress party’s Delhi unit, were present. |
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Cong backing outlaws, says Advani
Jind, January 29 Later, speaking on the occasion, Mr Shivraj Chauhan, national general secretary and in charge of party affairs in Haryana, said the INLD had given the motto of giving water and electricity to fields and controlling corruption, but they deprived people of water and power and encouraged corruption. |
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NDA rule a dark period, claims Arjun
Faridabad, January 29 Addressing a public meeting at Sector 16 here today in support of the party’s candidate, Mr Mahender Pratap Singh, from the Mewla Maharajpur Assembly constituency, Mr Arjun Singh claimed that the BJP had gained power by ‘hook or crook’ and did not even spare the religious sentiments of the people. He said what could the people expect from the BJP when it had forgotten Lord Rama, in whose name it had got the votes. |
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Don’t vote for rebels, warns Selja
Rattia (Fatehabad), January 29 Ms Selja warned the people not to vote for the rebel candidate as he was not the official candidate of the party. She stated that the Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh, would also address two election meetings in the state on January 31. Ms Bhattal added that both Chautalas and Badals had plundered the wealth of Punjab and Haryana in the name of rule. |
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BSP not casteist: Maya
Sonepat, January 29 She said this while addressing a public meeting at Ganaur, 16 km
from here, yesterday. She claimed that the BSP was the only party which could uplift the members of the backward classes. Meanwhile, in Palwal (Faridabad),
the BSP supremo promised to provide land and residential plots to the poor if the party comes to power in Haryana. She has also announced to implement reservation in some more areas and to clear the backlog in various
departments. Speaking at an election rally at Anaj Mandi here on Saturday in support of the party’s candidate, Mr Tuhi Ram Bhardwaj, Ms Mayawati claimed that though parties like the Congress and the INLD had approached her to form an alliance, but she declined in the interest of the “bahujan” (majority). She said the party would try to introduce reservation in some more areas including judiciary,
Cabinet and the Rajya Sabha if voted to power. |
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Candidates woo voters in cantt area
Ambala, January 29 The Congress candidate, Mr Devender Bansal, today received a political boost after NCP candidate Shivam Gautam extended support to the Congress. Mr Gautam said from now onwards, he and his supporters would campaign for the Congress. Mr Gautam expressed faith in Congress policies and in the leadership of the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi. Mr Bansal said this development clearly showed that people were with the Congress in Ambala Cantt. “We welcome Mr Shivam Gautam into the Congress fold,” he said. Addressing public meetings at Railway Colony, Gulab Mandi and Dudhla Mandi, Mr Bansal said the Congress had always worked for the welfare of the people. He said that he would strive hard for bringing about overall development of Ambala Cantt. The Ambala Cantt MLA and Independent candidate Mr Anil Vij, today said people were well aware of efforts made by him in bringing about substantial development in Ambala Cantt. “We have always worked hard for the people and we have never made any hollow promises. We have pursued our motto of `kaam kiya hai, kaam karenge’,” he said. Addressing workers at the residence of noted industrialist Mr GD Chibber, Mr Anil Vij, said voters of Ambala Cantt were educated and well aware. “It is due to the affection of voters that I have won from Ambala Cantt as an Independent candidate,” he said. Mr Vij addressed meetings at MES Colony, Housing Board, Staff Road, Ekta Vikhar, ward no.11, Deha Basti and Ward No 4. BJP candidate Ravi Sehgal undertook a padyatra to reach out to voters. He passed through different bastis and appealed to the voters to cast their vote in his favour. Mr Sehgal told the voters in ward no.17 that the BJP was the best alternative. He said the voters had been let down by other political parties and the BJP had brought about a positive change in the country during NDA rule at the Centre. Meanwhile, Independent candidate, Mr Hira Lal Yadav, today reached out to the electorate in Ahluwalia Building, Mahesh Nagar, Mochi Mandi, Raja Park and Kali Bari chowk. He was weighed against coins at Mahesh Nagar bus stand, Kumhar Mandi and Ram Kishan colony. Mr Hira Lal Yadav said during his tenure as Municipal Councillor, he had always worked for the welfare of the people. |
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Navjot Sidhu campaigns for Bajwa
Ambala, January 29 Addressing an election rally at Babyal in favour of BJP candidate from Naggal Pavitar Singh Bajwa, Mr Navjot Sidhu said that under the Congress led UPA government there had been a sharp increase in prices. Essential commodities were going out of reach of common people,” he said. Mr Sidhu said that Bharatiya Janata Party has always worked for the welfare of the people. “There was no shortage of LPG and telephone connectivity was improved under the BJP-led NDA
government,” he said. He stated that people must vote for Mr Pavitar Bajwa as he has a clean image and he is a youth, he said. Meanwhile, SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur addressed public meetings in Mullana (reserved) Assembly constituency in favour of INLD candidate Risal Singh. She said that there had been considerable improvement in villages ever since INLD government came to power. At Barara, Bibi Jagir Kaur appealed to the voters to cast their votes for INLD so that further development takes place in their area.
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Kataria’s unique style of canvassing
Ambala, January 29 He sings these songs during his election speeches. “I compose these songs to ensure that the BJP message reaches the voter. It helps considerably,” he said. “The message touches heart of the people,” he added. He has written a couplet on the SYL issue, which is a major election issue in Haryana. The couplet is in chaste Haryanavi. “SYL Ka Paani Layavan Khatir, Bhajpai Nu Ajmaiyo, Atal Behari Vajpayee Ke Kamal Se Phool Par Mohar Lagaiyo. Do Rupaiya Kilo Gehun, Sasti Chini Dilvaya Tha, Gaon-Gaon Nagar-Nagar Main Bhi Telephone Lagava Tha.” Mr Kataria, who does not have formal training in music, said “I try to write in a manner which would be pleasing to hear. I bring about variety in my effort,” he said. Elected MLA from Radaur in 1987 and an MP from Ambala seat in the last Lok Sabha, Mr Kataria said that he had used songs during his speeches within the Assembly and in Parliament. “In Parliament, the other MPs used to appreciate my ‘Shayari’. The idea is to make my point through,” he said. Mr Kataria said that this is a god’s gift. “I first became conversant with songs as a medium for getting the message across was when I joined the RSS Shakha. The Pracharak was from a rural background. Thereafter, when I was in class IV, I had an opportunity to go to Delhi as part of a student’s trip. I sang a song in front of the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru,” he recalled. “I continued singing when I was a student of BA in SD College and then I did my MA, LLB from Kurukshetra University. I always used to compose my own songs and my relatives and friends used to like it. In 1977, I joined politics and I got an opportunity to compose songs and sing during election meetings,” he
stated.
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15-min meetings to woo voters in villages
Mallah (Pinjore), January 29 As the voters sit huddled close together the small cavalcade of the Congress candidate and three time MLA, Mr Chander Mohan, reaches the village. An enthusiastic party worker presents him with a pagdi (headgear) and raise pro Congress slogans. Party leaders, including Mr Om Prakash; district Congress President, Mr R.S. Chauhan; and, Secretary of Haryana Congress Committee Mr Vijay Bansal and Mr Chander Mohan speak about the “tyrannical’ rule of the INLD, and the misrule of BJP” while exhort voters to caste votes for their party. The election meeting lasts for about half an hour. Mr Chander Mohan gets up, speaks to the women voters and seeks blessings of the village elders. It is almost 1 pm, and this is the tenth election meeting being organised by the Congress today. He holds election meetings in 15- 20 villages of the constituency, and in the evenings, aided by the Congress Councillors, he goes for door-to-door campaigning in Panchkula. In villages, the meetings last for 15 minutes each. “The constituency is so wide spread, that I will have it all covered only tomorrow,” he says. Mr Chander Mohan talks of industrial development leading to economic activity and employment, as he tours the rural areas. In Panchkula, the issues are better education, health and road infrastructure. Mr Chander Mohan, who shows no signs of fatigue, says that these days, his work begins at 5 am. “The party workers gather at my residence, and we schedule the day’s election meetings. The first half of the day-till about 2.30 pm - is spent for canvassing in rural areas. Post afternoon, we reach Panchkula and election meetings are held in various sectors and labour and slum colonies,” he says. He walks through the small market of the hamlet, and briefly halts at shops of party supporters, asking for their welfare. A quick bite at the home of a supporter, and the cavalcade is off to Mangniwala and Kutewala hamlets. |
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Flag march in Jagadhri and Yamunanagar
Yamunanagar, January 29 Deputy Commissioner Vijayedra Kumar said one company of the BSF and three companies of the Gujarat police besides the CRPF and the state police were being deployed for the smooth conduct of the elections. The DC, alongwith the SP, held a meeting with their counterparts of adjoining Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh so as to ensure that unsocial elements from that state did not enter Haryana. The DC said the meeting was held to ensure that effective patrolling was conducted along the 60-km belt with Uttar Pradesh in the district. Hisar: Elaborate security arrangements are being made in view of the Assembly poll scheduled to be held on February 3 here. The Superintendent of Police, Mr Attar Singh Ahlawat, said here today that eight companies of paramilitary forces, apart from seven platoons of the Haryana Armed Police, had been deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of elections. The personnel of the para-military forces carried out flag marches in the Hisar, Hansi and Narnaund constituencies, which were inspected by Mr Ahlawat. He said there were 54 hypersensitive and 38 sensitive booths in the district, for which additional forces were being deputed.
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Paramilitary forces arrive in Haryana
Narwana, January 29 Today, a strong contingent of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police was also deployed at the venue of Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s election rally here. The local Congressmen maintain that the ITBP and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) also held a flag march in the town a couple of days ago to instill confidence in the local populace after they expressed their apprehensions about the role of the local police. Meanwhile, a contingent of paramilitary forces also conducted flag marches in some other sensitive Assembly constituencies. The Tribune team witnessed paramilitary forces moving in a convoy in Kaithal this afternoon. At a number of places, policemen had been deployed to ward off any incident of violence. The police has also stepped up checking by putting up “nakas” on important roads. All vehicles were being searched and checked.
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Prosperity missing in Haryana: Ali
Fatehabad, January 29 She said she had known Haryana to be prosperous state, but was dismayed to find that the number of poor had increased in the state. She attributed this to the rules of the Congress and the INLD over the years. She appealed to the people to vote for an alternative system. |
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Of broken panes, torn flags and banners
Sonepat, January 29 He further said all his complaints made to SP Kuldip Singh Siag in this regard had failed to make an impact.
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No post-poll pacts for us, says BJP
Sonepat, January 29 Addressing election meetings at Jahri and Juan village in this district today, he asserted that the people of the state were fed up with the Chautala regime and cautioned them against voting for the Congress. He declared that the BJP would not forge any alliance with any party after the Assembly elections. The BJP would prefer to sit in the opposition rather than forging an alliance, he added. |
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Hooda not claimant for CM’s post
Hisar, January 29 He was addressing a news conference here today. He even remarked that it was not necessary for a person to be an MLA to become the Chief Minister. |
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CM cautions against repeat of May, 2004
Rewari, January 29 He sought votes for the party nominees Mr Rajender Singh (Rewari) and Dr
M.L. Ranga (Bawal). — OC |
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Education spoils girls, believe Mewat residents
Nuh, January 29 Near Nuh is Ghasera village with about 20,000 population. Here, as many as 2,500 children, boys included, do not go to school. Similar is the situation in Rewasan village, just 20 km from Rajiv Chowk in Gurgaon, or Punhana near Ferozepur Jhirka, or for that matter any other village. The social divide in the area is wide. On one side are upper and middle class Muslims, very less in number, educated and largely associated with politics, and the other side, poor and illiterate for whom the world was as it was decades ago. Beerwati of Rewasn is illiterate and has three girls, all of whom who have studied till Class V and waiting to get married. She is sure that they will only learn ‘gaalis’ and other bad things in school. Dawood Khan, of the same village, goes a step ahead and says education is not good, either for boys or girls. “My graduate son is a labourer. All parties, before coming to power, promise employment. A girl should only study till Class V and get married once she is 15-year-old. In our society, no one will marry a girl or a boy who has crossed 20 years,” says the grizzled old man. Illiteracy and unemployment are not the only problems. The village, despite its close proximity to the commercial hub of Gurgaon, doesn’t get regular water supply, at times three to four days. Most of the children in the Mewat region, instead of government schools, go to madrasas. “What is the point. There is hardly two or three teachers for 500 to 600 children in most government schools. The number of teachers is not adequate. Then Muslims are very conservative and do not want to send their girls to co-educational schools and except the primary level, there are very few all-girls schools in the area. In Nuh, there is no girls school after Class X, even though there is a degree college. Meaning, after Class X, girls have to be sent to Sohna to do Plus two, which is not acceptable to anyone of us,” says Mohammad Usman, a former CRPF personnel, who has also been honoured for his poetry by the Delhi Sahitya Akademi. “People,” he opines “were happy with the INLD with all the new schemes it brought out for old-age and others and the fact that there was no communal tension during its tenure.” Most residents say the INLD government gave funds to panchayats for development. “But most of these funds were misused by individuals as the government did ensure accountability for the money it released,” says Naseem Ahmad. “The government released funds for people and also for children, but it didn’t reach them. Even angaanwadi workers do not spare what has been sanctioned for small children, but who is bothered,” says Firdous Mehboob of Mallab village near Nuh. Firdous has been trying to educate women in the area and teaches young girls how to read and write. Illiteracy of the people is the only way leaders can remain in power. |
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Cops absenting from poll rehearsal to be booked: DC
Panchkula, January 29 Ms Kasni said all officers who failed to attend the election rehearsal and Anaj Mandi, Sector 20, would be booked under Section 34 of the People Representation Act, 1951. The threat has been issued after more than 25 officials, who have been assigned election duly, failed to turn up for the rehearsal organised earlier on January 27. Ms Kasni, along with the Superintendent of Police, Mr S.P. Ranga, inspected the flag march by over 400 policemen, including a battalion each of BSF and Gujarat Armed Police. A cavalcade of over 30 vehicles led by DSP Headquarters, Panchkula, and the DSPs of BSF and Gujarat Police, took out the flag march in sensitive areas in Kalka and Pinjore, besides in sectors 7, 4, 16, 17, Railly village and Industrial Area on Panchkula. All six Station House Officers of the district also participated in the flag march. Meanwhile, Ms Kasni also ordered the closure of all liquor vends in the district from 5 pm on February 1, to 10 am on February 4. She said all liquor vends in the Kalka constituency would remain closed in order to avoid any law and order problem during elections. |
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Student’s death: father alleges foul play
Ambala, January 29 In a letter to the DGP, Haryana, Mr Rakesh Bhatti has stated that his son, Arastu, was done to death by the family of a girl with whom Arastu was having an affair. The letter to the DGP further states that Arastu was referred to PGI Chandigarh where he succumbed to his injuries. “I reported the matter to the police. The police booked the case under Section 304 of the IPC and assured me that they would convert the case to Section 302 after investigation. But, it was not done despite my observations,” he said. Mr Bhatti said that they had met the IG, Ambala Range, and prayed for action against the guilty persons. |
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Lineman electrocuted
Rewari, January 29 |
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