Rohtak, February 1
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today blamed the Congress and the Punjab Government for “doing grave injustice to Haryana by denying it a judicious share in river waters”.

Addressing a public meeting here to mark the end of the BJP’s election campaign in Haryana, he said river waters should be shared equitably so that no state had any grouse. “We don’t want to cut Punjab’s share to benefit Haryana, but both states must get their rightful share,” he said.

The former Prime Minister said Haryana needed to boost agricultural production and for that adequate supply of water for irrigation was a must. It was unfortunate that even though there were rivers, Haryana was not getting enough water to quench the thirst of its fields.

Mr Vajpayee said “courts cannot solve such complex issues. But we are confident, the problem will be solved amicably and we will raise our voice against injustice at all appropriate levels.” He added that Punjab and Haryana’s interests were interlinked and both states must ensure harmonious relations.

Lashing out at the Congress, he said there were innumerable candidates in the party for the post of the Chief Minister. All of them were staking their claims but no one knew who Mrs Sonia Gandhi would ultimately choose as the Chief Minister. “The Congress is a big political party. Why can’t it announce its candidate for this all-important post before electioneering begins? The Congress owes it to the people of Haryana to answer their query in this regard,” he said.

He cautioned Haryanvis that a divided party could never safeguard the interests of all sections of society. “We ran a coalition for five years and carried every one along. That was why we could provide a stable and efficient administration. So before you vote, do pay heed to the fact that the Congress is a divided house”, Mr Vajpayee added.

The veteran BJP leader said for five years he was able to curb inflation. But immediately after the Congress-led UPA government came to power at the Centre, prices shot up. Why did this happen? The Congress leadership should explain it to the people, he said and added that the people themselves, too, should look for an answer within themselves.

The former Prime Minister said Haryana needed a new look at its policies if it wanted to end unemployment and make its people prosperous. The state had small holdings and coupled with lack of irrigation water, agriculture could not provide means of livelihood to the youth. The answer to the problem lay in increasing agricultural production and setting up new industries in the small, medium and large sectors.

The past few years had seen investors shy away from investing in Haryana. There was an urgent need for ensuring that investors felt safe. The state needed their help to end unemployment. Without a good agricultural and industrial base, it was not possible to provide enough jobs. Mr Vajpayee appealed to the people to exercise their franchise on Thursday.

Mr Kishen Singh Sangwan, MP, and Mr Shiv Raj Singh Chauhan, BJP general secretary in charge of Haryana, also spoke.

Gurgaon: Mr Vajpayee, who came to Haryana to address an election-related public meeting in favour of the BJP nominee, Ms Sudha Yadav, from Gurgaon, said that the BJP was contesting the elections in Haryana alone not to form a government but to ensure that the future government remained on the right course. Without naming the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), he said the BJP’s decision to battle alone did not mean that “we” would not do business together.

Mr Vajpayee’s views to go alone in the elections was in stark contrast to the views aired by the state leaders who spoke before he arrived. They were militant in their speech against Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and his INLD, and claimed that the elections would throw up a BJP Chief Minister.

Chandigarh, February 1
The former Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Bansi Lal, today demanded the dismissal of the Chautala Government for allegedly defying the directions of the Election Commission of India.

Talking to TNS on the phone from Bhiwani, Mr Bansi Lal alleged that two sons of the INLD candidate from Loharu, Mr Bahadur Singh, were campaigning for their father despite being in the Haryana Civil Service. He claimed that after the Congress complained to the Election Observer about the conduct of Mr Bahadur Singh's sons, action against them was recommended by the commission to the Chief Secretary.

Mr Bansi Lal said though it was reported to the higher authorities that Mr Bahadur Singh's sons were absent from their places of posting, no action was taken against them. He also claimed that the Chief Secretary had sent the file for their suspension to the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, who refused to sign it, saying what action the commission could now take against him.

Mr Bansi Lal said Mr Chautala had been openly saying that after the polling day on February 3, he would make several appointments in violation of the code of conduct and the commission's directions.

He said since the commission was a constitutional authority, the defiance of its directions amounted to the breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the state. He said it would be appropriate for the commission to recommend to the Governor to dismiss the Chautala Government on the ground of the breakdown of the constitutional machinery. He said the Governor could also take suo motu action in this regard and save democracy.

Mr Bansi Lal cautioned that if no action was taken against Mr Chautala for the defiance of the commission, other Chief Ministers would also be emboldened to ignore the commission's directions and a bad precedent would be set up.

Panchkula/Ambala, February 1
Frenzied canvassing by candidates for the largest Assembly segment, Kalka, and the five Assembly seats in Ambala, marked the last day of campaigning today.

It was a day of election rallies, nukkad meetings and some door-to-door campaign schedules, as the candidates got ready for the ‘big fight’ on February 3.

Star campaigners, who canvassed for various candidates during the last leg of campaign, were forgotten as the candidates got down to the basics — promising BiPaSa (bijli, paani, sadak), control on inflation, and better education and healthcare.

The air rant with film songs on nationalism and raginis on inflation. In the Kalka constituency, various political parties, while bringing down the decibel of verbal campaign, installed hoardings of their candidates at various places.

It was a day when the candidates, especially sitting MLAs of the ruling party, said they were trying to appease the electorate who were angry with them. “If we have not come up to your expectations, do not punish us by voting against us. Give us another chance to live up to your expectations,” pleaded most of the sitting MLAs and candidates from the ruling party.

For the Kalka Assembly seat, the three main candidates in fray — Mr Chander Mohan of the Congress, Mr Pradeep Chaudhary of the INLD and Mr Sham Lal Bansal — wrapped up their election meetings by 5 pm.

Mr Chander Mohan held nukkad meetings and also did door-to-door campaigning in the markets of Pinjore and Kalka.

Mr Chaudhary held election meetings in Barwala and Morni and went on door-to-door campaigning in Panchkula.

Mr Sham Lal Bansal also held election meetings at Barwala and villages near Ramgarh and in Barwala block.

Panchkula, February 1
The police, along with a battalion of the Gujarat Armed Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) and over 260 Home Guards, has made elaborate security arrangements for conducting free and fair poll.

With Kalka being declared a sensitive constituency, as many as 1350 cops will be on special duty. There are 91 sensitive booths in the Kalka constituency for which special patrolling parties of the police and pickets have been set up all over the district. Beginning today, all vehicles were checked at various police barricades on the Kalka- Panchkula, Pinjore-Nallagarh and Panchkula-Naraingarh Highway.

The Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, Ms Neelam P. Kasni, yesterday asked duty magistrates and supervisory officers to ensure peaceful polling at Kalka. She was addressing officers after conducting the election rehearsals at the Grain Market, Sector 20. She asked the officers to be polite while conducting the duty and asked them to stay in touch with the police patrolling party and the paramilitary staff in case of any untoward incident.

She informed that there were as many as 264 polling booths for 2,41,181 voters. As many as 302 polling parties have been constituted and 1500 polling officers were assigned the job. Other than this, 11 duty magistrates, 21 supervisory officers and four zonal officers had been appointed.

The Deputy Commissioner, while reacting to the incident of tearing of posters of the INLD candidate allegedly by the supporters of the Congress at Pinjore, asked the political parties to exercise restraint and not create a law and order problem.

Bhiwani, February 1
As the campaigning for the Assembly election came to an end at 5 p.m. today, it also put curtains on the employment for Rajesh. The young man, who was crippled by polio in childhood, was canvassing for the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) by setting up a portable loudspeaker in his hand-driven wheelchair.

It was a 9-to-5 job like any of the office-goers. Rajesh decorated his wheelchair with one BSP flag or two, played a tape of the BSP’s propaganda and then he would set out on the streets. His “duty” ended at 5 in the evening when he would go to the BSP’s office and get Rs 200 in cash as remuneration for his service. Having started “working” for the BSP on January 23, Rajesh made a neat Rs 2000 from the 10 days he went up and down the congested streets of Bhiwani playing the BSP tape.

“I had gone to the Congress party also but they had already hired a crippled man. So I went to the BSP”, Rajesh said. The Congress canvasser mentioned by Rajesh was also seen doing his job diligently for about the same money Rajesh was getting from the BSP.

The wheelchair has been provided to Rajesh by the government but he has invested his own money for buying the portable loudspeaker fitted with a cassette player. When elections are not around, then also the contraption comes handy. Rajesh’s services are then hired for canvassing for products which might vary from traditional medicines to answerbooks for examinations.

When there is no canvassing assignment then Rajesh works as a tailor. He has one healthy leg with which he can manage to push the pedal of the sewing machine.

The young man was thrown into confusion when asked which party he would vote for. However, after prolonged silence he admitted truthfully that it would not be the BSP candidate from Bhiwani.

Ambala, February 1
Pickpockets and mobile phone thieves have had a field day during the campaign period.

A number of mobile phones were stolen, specially at public meetings. The heavy rush apparently helped thieves to get away with mobile phones.

Over 10 persons reportedly lost their mobile phones during the fortnight-long campaign period. The thieves also made away with mobile phones of two journalists.

While one journalist lost his mobile phone during an election meeting of Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala at the Ambala City grain market, the other lost his mobile phone on the last day of filing of nominations. An associate of the Congress candidate from Ambala City also lost his mobile phone during the campaign period.

Most of these thefts were not reported to the police. One mobile phone was traced after calls were made at a specific number in Karnal. It was eventually returned to the owner.

A number of purses were also stolen during election meetings. Some of the purses were eventually found with the papers intact, but money was missing.

In one case, the leader was weighed against coins and the equivalent amount was handed over to him. The money was handed over to an associate, who later found to his dismay that a currency bundle of Rs 10,000 was missing.

Chandigarh, February 1
The Congress infighting in Ambala district has intensified following the hooting of the party president, Mr Bhajan Lal, at a public meeting addressed by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, in Ambala cantonment yesterday.

Several party leaders today issued a joint statement condemning the elements who did not allow the former Chief Minister to speak in the presence of the Prime Minister. 

Chandigarh, February 1
Four Deputy Inspector-Generals of Police(DIG) and two SPs have been appointed to supervise sensitive areas on February 3 when the polling will take place for the Haryana Assembly elections.

According to official sources, the DIGs would assist the range IGs in maintaining law and order on the polling day. Mr K.K. Sindhu, DIG, will assist the Hisar IG in maintaining law and order in the Darba constituency of Sirsa district. Mr K.K. Sharma will be stationed in Gurgaon, Mr M.S. Ahlawat in Ambala and Mr Sudhir Mohan will be based in Rohtak.

Mr K.K. Rao, SP, will be stationed in Narwana, while Mr Sanjay Kumar, S.P., will be based at Nuh. 

Faridabad, February 1
The famous ‘Surajkund craft mela’ began here today with full pomp and show. The 19th edition of the fair was formally inaugurated by the Governor, Mr A.R. Kidwai. It has been extended up to February 20, this time in view of the elections. Over 350 craftsmen and artistes from various parts of the country are taking part.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr Kidwai asked the organisers to widen the scope of the mela to provide more opportunity to the traditional crafts and artisans to showcase their talent and preserve the art, which he said had been on the verge of extinction due to the ongoing commercialisation and advent of new technology in the daily life. He said an effort should be made to organise events based on art and craft through out the year, so that more and more people could get a chance to showcase their talent and get proper avenues for the marketing of their wares. Suggesting that the authorities could go for holding a separate fair for different arts each month at this spot, he said this activity could be made a regular event and would benefit more and more people .

After inaugurating the fair, Mr Kidwai went round the mela and had an interaction with the artisans.

A 24 feet high and 30 feet wide gate has been erected at the entry. The gate has been crafted with bell metal using wax technique.

Sonepat, February 1
At least nine persons were injured in accidents that took on the National Highway No 1 near the Bahalgarh Chowk and Rai village in the district today.

According to a report, five persons were injured when a canter was hit by a truck on the GT Road near the Bahalgarh Chowk, 10 km from here today. The canter was on its way to Delhi from Ganaur. Those injured have been identified as Om Parkash, Ram Bhaj, Balbir, Ishwar and Hari Prajapat, all residents of Ganaur. They were admitted to a hospital. Their condition is stated to be serious. The police has registered a case against the truck driver, who managed to escape immediately after the accident.

In another accident a scooterist was seriously injured when a car hit a scooter on the GT Road near the Bhadana Chowk, 15 km from here today. The scooterist has been identified as Lalit of Ganaur. He was admitted to a hospital and is stated to be out of danger. The police has registered a case against the car driver.

Pale, a resident of Jagdishpur village, sustained injuries when he was hit by a car on the GT Road near here today. Pale was crossing the road when the car hit him. The police has registered a case in this regard.

Two persons Dalbir and Ramesh of Delhi were injured when a Tata 407 in which they were travelling overturned near Rai village, 13 km from here today. Both of them were admitted to a private hospital at Rai village.