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INLD seeks dismissal of Hooda govt
Gohana: CM’s effigy
burnt, stir threatened
Suhag is INLD candidate for Rohtak LS seat
Prompt posting for minister’s son-in-law
Opposite evaluation reports on thesis
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Biotechnology park at Manesar
‘Make daughters self-dependent’
Withdrawal of cases against Dangi begins
High Court
Minister urges SC bodies to help maintain peace
Minimum wages to be hiked
Youth found dead in hotel
Student stabbed to death
1 dies in attack on family
Talent show in Arya college
Ex-Major shot
History-sheeter arrested
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INLD seeks dismissal of Hooda govt
Chandigarh, September 1 Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Ashok Arora, president of the Haryana unit of the INLD, and Mr Ajay Chautala, Rajya Sabha member and secretary-general of the party, said while images of the brutal police assault on workers at Gurgaon were still haunting people, the state had witnessed yet another incident of violence. Mr Arora said the houses of Dalits were burnt by the mob in a preplanned manner. The mob violence continued for about three hours and the police made no attempt to stop the miscreants. He added that while the state was reeling under power and water shortages, an incident such as the one at Gohana gave a chance to the state government to divert popular attention from the problems of power and water. The INLD leaders also criticised the police top brass, including the DGP, for their alleged statements linking the Gohana incident with the byelection in Rohtak. “The government is so unscrupulous that it wants to exploit even a tragic incident like this and vilify its political opponents”, Mr Arora and Mr Chautala said. They, however, admitted that there were two major incidents of violence against Dalits under the INLD regime also, including the Dulina incident in which five Dalit men were lynched by a mob. The INLD leaders said the Gohana incident would be taken up by them at the rally being organised by the party in Rohtak on September 25 on the occasion of the late Devi Lal’s birth anniversary. Mr Ajay Chautala ruled out the involvement of Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, BJP MP, in the violence at Gohana. “He is the MP from Sonepat. It is absolutely absurd to suggest that a politician will be involved in incidents of violence in his own constituency”, he said. Reacting to yesterday’s incident, the local unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Safai-Majdoor Morcha also sent letters to the Prime Minister, the Governor of Haryana and to Ms Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the UPA, demanding the deployment of the paramilitary forces at Gohana to stop further violence. While alleging “complicity of the local police in the incident”, the morcha demanded a probe by the CBI into the incident and adequate compensation for the victims. Mr Karambir Singh, president of the Confederation of SC/ST & BC Organisations, Haryana, also wrote a letter to the Chief Minister demanding a CBI probe into the incident. |
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Gohana: CM’s effigy
burnt, stir threatened
Kurukshetra, September 1 The irate members were demanding immediate removal of Mr Hooda from chiefministership, a judicial inquiry into the incident, suspension of police officers responsible for the incident, grant of compensation to each victim and making of immediate arrangements for the victims’ rehabilitation. This has been demanded in a memorandum addressed to the Haryana Governor, a copy of which was submitted to the district administration to forward the same to the Governor. In a signed statement released to mediapersons here today, former Haryana Health Minister, M.L. Ranga condemned the Gohana incident. Dr Ranga threatened that if the state government failed to consider these demands then all Dalit sections of society would launch an agitation. Earlier, while talking to mediapersons here today, the Haryana Health Minister, Ms Kartar Devi, who was here to attend a function organised by Shri Sthanu Seva Mandal, Kurukshetra, said on the directions of the Haryana Chief Minister, she had visited the village yesterday and has assured the victims and their families that the Haryana Government would do its maximum to compensate them. |
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Judicial probe into Gohana incident sought
Ambala, September 1 While condemning the incident in which the houses of Dalits were targeted in Gohana, Mr Kataria said there seemed to be a deep-rooted conspiracy in the incident. “I feel that there is an attempt to malign the image of the BJP before the Rohtak Lok Sabha byelection,” he said. Mr Kataria said it was clear that there was strong resentment against the Congress government due to rising prices. “I suspect that the incident has been engineered and our party MP, Mr
Sagwan, has been named in a calculated political move,” he said. He said, “I demand that no guilty should be spared and no innocent person be falsely implicated,” “I am in touch with our state unit president Prof Ganeshi Lal and I am planning to visit the affected area,” he added. Mr Kataria said there was a complete breakdown in governance under the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government. “HSISF recruits were lathicharged and thereafter the shameful Gurgaon incident took place in which workers were brutally beaten up. Now, the houses of Dalits has been torched in Gohana. This shows that the Congress has failed to look after the interests of the people,” he said. Meanwhile, the All-India Confederation of SC,ST,OBC, Minority Organisations senior vice-president (Haryana), Mr Jaswinder Singh Teeta, demanded that those responsible for torching the houses of Dalit families must be immediately arrested. He said the confederation national president, Dr Udit Raj, has demanded a high-level probe into the incident. |
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Suhag is INLD candidate for Rohtak LS seat
Chandigarh, September 1 Mr Suhag’s candidature was announced at a press conference here today by Mr Ashok Kumar Arora, president of the Haryana unit of the INLD, and Mr Ajay Chautala, MP and secretary-general of the party. Mr Suhag, too, was present. The INLD candidate, it was stated, was an associate of the late Devi Lal. He had also participated in student politics during the period immediately after the Emergency. He has been practising as an advocate in
Rohtak and was a member of the Sales Tax Tribunal from which post he had resigned to contest the
elections. |
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Prompt posting for minister’s son-in-law
Chandigarh, September 1 Mr R.K. Kataria, an IAS officer of Karnataka cadre, who recently came to Haryana on inter-state deputation, was appointed Joint Secretary in the Finance Department on August 19. Mr Kataria is the son-in-law of Haryana Education Minister, Mr Phool Chand Mullana. Needless to say that this “connection” has come handy in arranging his deputation to Haryana. Mr Kataria has been given a low profile posting to begin with, while it is anticipated that in near future a so called “plum posting” will materialise for him. The state government’s step of accommodating Mr Kataria is in stark contrast to the stance adopted by it while justifying the delay in offering postings to Haryana cadre officers who return from the Centre. The procrastination in the posting of Mr Mahabir Singh and Mr Abhilash Likhi are two cases that stand out in this regard. Faced with the allegations of delay in posting of officers, the state government defended itself by saying that it was no easy job to arrange posting for so many officers returning from the deputation. Incidentally, the arrival of an officer from outside the state to Haryana with substantial political connections is also causing some heartburn among his peers in the state. The officers, who belong to the state cadre, bear a deep grudge against an “outsider” officer who manages to get a plum of a job in the state, thus depriving one of the state cadre officers of getting the job. While Mr Kataria has been offered a posting with promptitude, the usual lethargy is being displayed as far as filling of other vacancies are concerned. For instance, one post in the Finance Department has been lying vacant since August 22 when the incumbent, Mr Alok Nigam, was posted as Secretary to the Governor. The state government will also have to quickly look out for a new Commissioner for the Forest Department as Mr Maha Singh has proceeded on long leave. |
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Opposite evaluation reports on thesis
Hisar, September 1 The first report, which was sent to the department through the Dean, Post-Graduate Studies, states: “The shortcomings of the candidate only reflect that the advisory committee did nothing in the present thesis. The advisory committee be advised that in future, they must put in hard labour for putting the student on the right track.” As many as 19 suggestions/corrections were also recorded on the thesis copy. In sharp contrast, the second report, which landed in the department in a surreptitious manner, states that the researcher has carried out the study on scientific lines and the presentation of the data and linking it with the research gaps is “on the excellent side”. While in the first report, the external examiner has suggested that “the sampling techniques should be scientific”, in the second report, he has given no suggestion, terming the report “excellent.” Moreover, apart from the external examiner’s comments, his remarks on various aspects of the thesis have been markedly changed in the second report. When the issue came to the knowledge of the top authorities of the university, they blacklisted the external examiner, Prof S.R. Ahlawat, Head of the Sociology Department at Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak. On being contacted, Dr S.S. Dahiya, Dean, Post-Graduate Studies, who is also the nodal officer, asserted that the report which contained adverse remarks against the advisory committee was the original one and had been routed through his office. How the second report was prepared and sent to the department was being investigated, he added. In the given circumstances, the needle of suspicion points towards the major adviser and the other departmental member of the advisory committee, as the first report contained adverse comments against them. Giving a new twist to the controversial episode, the Dean, Basic Sciences, endorsed the second report as the “original copy”, though it was not under his domain or jurisdiction. However, instead of going into the depth of the matter, the university authorities issued a show-cause notice to the Head of the Sociology Department, asking him to explain his stance in this regard. Meanwhile, as both thesis evaluation reports stated that the student be awarded the degree, her viva voce was conducted and result announced. The senior-most professor of the university, Dr Kuldip Singh Dhindsa, has been asked by the Vice-Chancellor to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the entire episode. |
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Biotechnology park at Manesar
Panchkula, September 1 This will be the first Biotechnology park to be set up in Haryana. While Punjab is all set to start with the construction in the biotechnology park to be built near Mohali, Haryana has just envisaged the setting up of the park. As in Punjab, the biotechnology park at Manesar will be set up through a private- public partnership. A pilot plant here will be first set up in this biotechnology park in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. Officials in the Department of Science and Technology inform that the park will have a bio- resource facility. Incubation facility with nanotechnology will also be available here. “The Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation will aid the Department of Science and Technology in identifying 50 acres of land near Manesar for the biotechnology park,” says Mr S.K. Saksena, Commissioner, Science and Technology. Officials say the project is at a conceptual stage, and cost estimates have to be prepared. “But the focus will be on setting up biotechnology facility for use in agriculture; animal husbandry; as well as human health through use in pharmaceuticals,” informs Mr D.D. Gautam, Director, Science and Technology. |
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‘Make daughters self-dependent’
Kurukshetra, September 1 Ms Kartari Devi was addressing students of Mahant Prabhaat Puri Senior Secondary Girls School, run by Mahant Prabhaat Puri Social Welfare Trust at a function organised by Shri Sthaanu Sewa Mandal on the eve of the 76th birthday celebration of the school’s founder patron, Mahant Prabhaat Puri, on the school premises here today. She said Haryana and Punjab were lagging behind in checking female foeticide as it was a clear from the prevailing ratio of one thousand boys to 850 girls in these states. Expressing concern over the ratio she urged the district administration to implement the anti-foeticide Act
strictly. Besides speaking about women’s welfare schemes launched by the Haryana Government, Ms Kartari Devi advised parents to make their daughters self dependent. She announced a grant of Rs 21,000 from her discretionary fund for the development of the school. Addressing the gathering, Mahant Prabhaat Puri prayed for the welfare of the people and highlighted the social activities carried out by Shri Sthaanu Sewa Mandal. In his presidential address, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr
T.K. Sharma, advised the students to fix their goals. A special guest, Mrs Uma Sudha, chairperson, Municipal Council, Thanesar, Mr Suresh Goal,
Chairman Mahant Prabhaat Puri Social Welfare Trust, Mr M.S. Chaudhary, Civil Surgeon, Kurukshetra and Mrs Santosh Rani, District Education Officer,
Kurukshetra were among those present on the occasion. As many as 335 students were medically examined by a senior doctor of LNJP Hospital, Kurukshetra, and school uniforms were given away by the Health Minister to 125 students drawn from Government primary schools in this district. |
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Withdrawal of cases against Dangi begins
Ambala, September 1 During the regime of the Chautala Government around half a dozen cases were registered against Mr Dangi for allotting pieces of land to some of his supporters. Mr Dangi remained in judicial custody in Ambala Central Jail for 12 months. Later he was granted bail. He was kept in a solitary cell in the Ambala jail. Mr Subash Arya, public prosecutor, today moved an application in the court of Mr Sanjeev Kumar Aggarwal, Special Judge, Ambala, for withdrawing the cases pending against Mr Dangi. A similar application was also filed in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ms Kanchan Mahi, where a few cases are lying pending against Mr Dangi. The Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, had announced recently that the politically motivated cases registered against Congress workers and leaders would be withdrawn. Mr Chander Mohan Sehgal, counsel for Mr Dangi, requested the court to accept the request of public prosecutors as the cases registered against his client were politically motivated. Both the courts adjourned the cases for consideration for October 3. |
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High
Court Our High Court Correspondent
Chandigarh, September 1 During hearing of petitions filed by Mr M.P. Sharma, Junior Engineer, HUDA, Mr Randhir Singh Saroha, Personal Assistant, Haryana Civil Secretariat, and others, challenging the legality of the impugned selections made in 2004, the Division Bench of Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice Viney Mittal ordered a CBI inquiry into the selections and directed the CBI to submit its report within six months. Among those inducted into the HCS were Mr Navin Ahuja, a close relative of the then Transport Minister, Mr Ashok Arora. The petitioners had sought quashing of the selections on the grounds that the eligibility criterion was changed to favour the selected officials without amending the rules. Counsel for the petitioners also alleged that the respondents resorted to pick-and-choose policy while recommending names for induction into the HCS. The minimum length of government service required for induction into the HCS was changed from five years to three years without any Cabinet approval. The seniority of the petitioners was also completely ignored while making the selections. Thus, the petitioners, who have over 15 years of service, were not selected while some favourites who had less than five years of service made it to the list. The petitioners also alleged that not only were the selections made on a Sunday, even the appointment letters were issued the same day so as not to give any chance to left-out candidates to air their grievances. Today, Haryana Advocate-General H.S. Hooda, who was present in the court during hearing, informed the Bench that the present government did not have any objection if the inquiry in the matter was handed over to an independent agency.
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Minister urges SC bodies to help maintain peace
Chandigarh, September 1 Mrs Kartar Devi, who visited the Balmiki basti at Gohana late last night to see for herself the damage caused to houses by antisocial elements, also appealed to various organisations of the Scheduled Castes and weaker sections to help maintain peace and communal harmony. She said during her visit to Gohana she was pained to see the damage caused in Balmiki
basti. The Congress had always supported the poor sections of society. She said that if today the Dalits were raising their voice for any cause, this strength had been given to them by the Congress. She said the arson at Gohana appeared to be the result of a conspiracy hatched by those who were not able to digest the success of the Congress-led government, which, she claimed, had tightened the noose around antisocial elements, who wanted the poor to be alienated from the Hooda government. She said the Dalits should not let themselves become a tool in the hands of those who wanted to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state. |
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Minimum wages to be hiked
Chandigarh, September 1 A spokesman of the Labour Department said here today that though the minimum wages of the industrial workers were the highest in the country, the government proposed to revise the amount to Rs 2,600 per month and Rs 100 per day for unskilled workers. At present, the minimum wages were Rs 2343.37 per month and Rs 90.13 per day for unskilled workers. The government had constituted a technical committee under the Factories Act, 1948, for approving building plans in the area under the State Industrial Development Corporation. This would help in the quick disposal of cases and avoid the dual approval system. He said
a technical officer from the department would also be a member of the committee. He said that in consonance with the new industrial policy of the state the Labour Department had simplified the procedures for the approval of factory building plans and for the registration and issuance of licences under the Factories Act. |
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Youth found dead in hotel
Ambala, September 1 The deceased, Gurbir Singh (22), a resident of Sangrur district, had checked into the hotel along with another youth last night. This morning, when the hotel rooms were being cleaned, no response came from room No. 252, which was occupied by Gurbir Singh. The bellboy then informed the hotel owner, Suresh Kumar, who after some efforts to elicit response from the room informed the police. Superintendent of Police Rajbir Deswal and other officials reached the hotel. They broke open the door of the room and found Gurbir Singh’s body in the bed. Preliminary investigations indicated at suffocation as the cause of the death. There was no trace of the youth who had accompanied the victim. His role in the foul play is not being ruled out, the police said. |
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Student stabbed to death
Rohtak, September 1 The deceased Deepak, a student of BA (II), was stabbed several times and was rushed to the PGIMS Hospital where he was declared brought dead. The injured student has been identified as Amit. He reportedly told the police that Deepak was assaulted by a group of
youths. |
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1 dies in attack on family
Sirsa, September 1 According to the police, Gurmeet Singh, Bhupinder Kaur, Baljinder Kaur, Avtar Singh and Veerpal Kaur were injured and referred to the local Civil Hospital with serious injuries. The police said that the matter was being investigated and some persons had been rounded up for interrogation. Though the entire house seemed to be ransacked but the exact loss could be assessed only after the family members reach home from hospital.
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Talent show in Arya college
Ambala, September 1 The event was organised by Neelam Inderjeet, Dr Anupma Arya, Manjeet, Silvie and Shruti. In declamation contest, Anuradha and Jyoti were adjudged first, Rajni and Sangeeta second, while Renu and Neha were adjudged third. In poetic symposium, Jyoti and Lata came first, Kamini and Poonam second and Shilpa and Jyoti third. In mimicry, Jyotsna came first, Sonia second, while Amit finished third. In quiz, team comprising Anuradha, Shivani, Richa, Sonia and Anupma came first; while teams comprising Anjana, Swati, Bhawna, Amrita and Apsara, and Sakshi, Anisha, Preeti, Manita and Rajni came joint second, and team comprising Sangeeta, Archana, Priti, Pooja and Rekha finished third. In singing, Suman came first, Priyanka second, while Amrita and Neetu were third. In mono-acting, Archana came first, Jyotsna second, and Sonia was third. In painting competition, Pooja Sharma came first, Rajni second, while Kanchan came third. In dance competition, Meenakshi, Poonam and Jyoti came first, Shivani and Sonia second and Ramandeep and Bhawna third. |
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Ex-Major shot
Sonepat, September 1 According to police sources, the police has registered a case against the alleged assailants and launched a hunt to apprehend them. The police has sent the body of the deceased for a post-mortem examination. Major Jai Karan was returning to his village from Gohana on his motor cycle. When he reached near the Katwal minor, he was waylaid by some armed persons and shot dead. The parents of Major Jai Karan have stated that he had been working at a petrol station (under construction) on the Sonepat-Gohana road. He retired from the Army in 1991. He was awarded the President’s medal in 2004 for writing a feature on Dr B.R. Ambedkar. |
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History-sheeter arrested
Sonepat, September 1 Mr Anil Kumar Rao, SP, told mediapersons here today that the accused had been identified as Satinder of Saboli village (Sonepat) and he had been living in Bakkarwala village of Delhi for the past two years. He used to visit his native village frequently. Naresh Pandit of Nathupur village had lodged a complaint with the police that the accused along with his accomplices, had assaulted him on July 21 on account of a dispute about three months ago. When he raised the alarm, the accused fled. A police party had conducted a raid on the house in Bakkarwala village and arrested him from here. The SP also said the police had arrested five persons in connection with a case of murderous assault following a complaint by a youth of Mehndipur village. |
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