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Effigies of Chautala,
sons burnt
INLD demands Randeep’s resignation
Surjewala’s resignation sought
INLD men burn Surjewala’s effigy
Deputy CM for action against tainted MPs
Report on retrenched employees in three months: Ram Prakash
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Slain girl’s lover, family in hiding
Call to conserve water resources
Land dispute takes new turn
Sushruta Hall opened
Lawyers suspend work for 2nd day
PO among 18 arrested
Two buried alive in well
Hooda mourns death of Jai Narain Verma
More officers given air travel facility
No headway in murder case
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Effigies of Chautala,
sons burnt
Sonepat, December 20 According to a report, the party workers earlier assembled at Congress Bhavan on the Atlas road from where they took out a procession carrying the effigies of the Chautalas to Gita Bhavan Chowk where these were burnt in the presence of a large number of people. Earlier, a meeting of the party workers was held at Congress Bhavan, which was addressed among others by Mr Sudesh Sharma, vice-president of the state unit of the Youth Congress. They demanded a CBI probe into allegations of corruption and other malpractices levelled against Mr Chautala and his sons in connection with amassing of wealth and property, and irregularities in recruitments. They demanded a ban on foreign tours of the Chautalas. JIND: Hundreds of Youth Congress workers today held a procession
and demonstration here to press their demand for an early inquiry into the allegations levelled by the Congress against the INLD chief and former Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and his sons. The demonstration was led jointly by Mr Nirvail Singh, president, District Youth Congress (Rural), and Mr Anil Jaglan, president, District Youth Congress (Urban). A large number of Mahila Congress workers also participated in the demonstration. The workers burnt the effigies of Mr Om Prakash Chautala and his sons, Mr Ajay Chautala and Mr Abhey Chautala. The protesters marched in a procession towards the local mini-secretariat through the main markets. They raised slogans against Mr Om Prakash Chautala. They again assembled at the mini-secretariat and held a public meeting. Addressing the gathering, Congress leaders criticised the policies of former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and alleged that corruption was rampant during the regime of the INLD in the state. They alleged that irregularities were committed in the recruitment of employees and government funds were misused during the Chautala regime. The youth workers later sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Commissioner. In the memorandum the Youth Congress workers demanded that the Prime Minister should direct the CBI to hold an inquiry against Mr Om Prakash Chautala and his sons. They demanded that Mr Chautala and his sons should be arrested and their passports be forfeited so they may not leave the country. |
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INLD demands Randeep’s resignation
Chandigarh, December 20 The party will shortly call a meeting of its office-bearers to take a final decision in this regard. This was announced by a senior INLD leader, Prof Sampat Singh, in the presence of the President of the Haryana unit of the party, Mr Ashok Arora, and a party MLA, Dr Sita Ram, here today. Prof Sampat Singh said Mr Jagat Singh, son of the former Foreign Minister, Mr Natwar Singh, had produced a letter written by Mr Surjewala sponsoring his(Mr Jagat Singh’s) visit to Iraq before the Enforcement Directorate. The letter cast a shadow of doubt about the role of Mr Surjewala in the food-for-oil scam. He said if Mr Natwar Singh could be made to resign why Mr Surjewala could not be asked to step down pending an inquiry by an appropriate authority into his role. |
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Surjewala’s resignation sought
Ambala, December 20 The president of the Haryana BJP, Mr Ganeshi Lal while talking to mediapersons here yesterday said that Jagat Singh, the son of former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh in his statement recorded with the Enforcement Directorate had claimed that his trip to Iraq was official and was sanctioned by the then President of Indian Youth Congress, Mr. Surjewala. He said that Mr Surjewala had denied this. He said that the law and order situation had become worst in Haryana and the state government had failed to fulfill its promises made with the people of Haryana during Assembly election. He also criticised lathicharge on the retrenched employees of Haryana at Matka Chowk in Chandigarh a few days back. Replying to a question, the BJP leader said that his party was in favour of a separate High Court for Haryana but it should be constructed somewhere in Haryana instead of Chandigarh. He said that the Haryana BJP has not changed its stand on the claim on union territory of Chandigarh and the Hindi-speaking areas of Punjab.
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INLD men burn Surjewala’s effigy
Yamunanagar, December 20 The activists held a procession and raised slogans against the minister, Mr Randeep Surjewala and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Mr Suresh Sharma, president of the local unit of the INLD while addressing the party workers said the agitation against Mr Surjewala would continue till he tendered his resignation. He said that power crisis in the state had worsened and the law and order situation deteriorated. |
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Deputy CM for action against tainted MPs
Ambala, December 20 He said that he was in favour of strict action against MPs who were involved in taking money for asking question in Parliament. He opined that they had shattered the confidence and belief of the people of the country. Speaker of Lok Sabha and Chairman of Rajya Sabha should take suitable action against them after receiving the report of the committee. To a query, Mr Chander Mohan said that it has been mentioned in the Congress manifesto that a CBI enquiry would be conducted against Mr Om Prakash Chautala. About making two constituencies from Kalka constituency, Mr Chander Mohan said that he was not against creating another constituency. He would contest the election from where the people would prefer. He assured that the development of Naraingarh would also be undertaken on the pattern of Panchkula. He said that 80 per cent commitment in Congress manifesto has been fulfilled. He said that power bills of Rs 1600 crore has been waived and new industrial policy has been implemented in the state. |
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Report on retrenched employees in three months: Ram Prakash
This was disclosed by the Working President of the Haryana Congress, Dr Ram Prakash, at a “meet the press” programme organised by the Chandigarh Press Club here today. The retrenched employees have been staging dharna outside the Kurukshetra house of Dr Ram Prakash since December 16. The Congress leader had assured them that he would take up their cause with the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, on December 19 after the Assembly adjourned sine die. Dr Ram Prakash said he met Mr Hooda last night and got an assurance from him that the committee would give its report within three months. Following this assurance the employees have decided to suspend their agitation. Meanwhile, Dr Ram Prakash has sought some information from the employees so that it can be passed to the committee. Projecting himself as a “common man”, Dr Ram Prakash said his appointment as the Working President was the result of a new thinking brought about in the party by the AICC President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi. He tactfully avoided talking about the infighting in the Haryana Congress by saying that he did not believe in talking about the internal matters of the party in the press. He said there was no difference of opinion between him and the President, Mr Bhajan Lal. He said his job was to act like a bridge between the people and the government. While he would bring the grievances of the people to the notice of the government, he would also propagate the achievements of the government among the masses, “because the party and the government are complementary to each other.” Dr Ram Prakash said the political parties must also take up social issues like Mahatma Gandhi did during the freedom struggle. The Haryana Congress had decided to mobilise public opinion against female foeticide in a big way. He supported Mr Hooda’s assertion that unless the three inter-state disputes between Punjab and Haryana were delinked from each other, no solution could be found. The demand for a separate High Court for Haryana, he said, was the first step in this direction. Dr Ram Prakash said the issue of rationalisation of house tax was under active consideration of the government. The Hooda government, he said, first considered an issue thoroughly before announcing and implementing it unlike the previous government which first made the announcement and never implemented it. He said the remaining office-bearers and executive members of the party would be appointed by the high command soon and the delay was not “unnatural”. In answer to a question, he said he was hurt when the ticket was denied to him during the last Assembly elections. But he was satisfied with the decision of the AICC President now. Dr Ram Prakash said the INLD demand for the resignation of the Transport Minister, Mr Randeep Surjewala, was unjustified. The INLD, he said, was raising this demand because it was perturbed by the decision of the Hooda government to ask the CBI to probe the corruption allegations against the Chautalas. He said the SYL issue could be resolved provided it was shorn off politics. Earlier, the club President, Mr Jagtar Singh Sidhu, and the General Secretary, Mr Balwant Takshak, welcomed Dr Ram Prakash.
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Slain girl’s lover, family in hiding
Garhi (Kaithal), December
20 Mann Singh, a relative of Sukhdev, told The Tribune
that Sukhdev, his brother Sandeep and their parents Balraj and Maya Devi
had left the village and had gone in hiding fearing that they might also
be attacked. He said he had come to their house after reading news items
in this regard. Corroborating his statement, Balraj’s bother Rajinder
said they had received indirect threats from some villagers that
Sukhdev’s family would be taught a lesson. The Kaithal SP, Mr Navdeep
Singh Virk, told The Tribune that the police had not received any
complaint about threat to the lives of Sukhdev’s family. To a query,
he said the police could do nothing until it got a complaint in this
regard. Meanwhile, the five accused — Reena’s brother Amit Kumar
and Jai Bhagwan, Virender, Giani and Ved Prakash — had been arrested,
the SHO, Mr L.S. Rana said. Reena’s body was cremated before daybreak
in an apparent attempt to leave no clue regarding the crime. Reena’s
family members, including father Suraj Bhan and grandfather Karma Singh,
kept on claiming that she had committed suicide by consuming
poison. Meanwhile, the SHO said Reena’s ashes had been sent to a
forensic laboratory at Madhuban for examination. Sukhdev and Reena had
eloped in the last week of October but were recovered by the police in
the first week of December following registration of an FIR of abduction
against the boy. They gave statements in court that they were major and
had eloped of their own will. Unconfirmed reports suggested that Reena
had been killed after a decision in this regard had been taken at a
panchayat (meeting) of some prominent villagers. |
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Call to conserve water resources
Daaya (Hisar), December 20 He said in view of the vital significance of the issue of water conservation, the approaching new year should be dedicated to water literacy. “Water is not a commodity, but the very basis of life,” he observed, adding that it was unfortunate that various multinational companies were looting the country’s water resources with impunity and the government was silent on the important issue. Mr Rana was addressing a youth conference prior to flagging off a “jal yatra” jointly organised by the Yuva Bharat Sangh, the Nehru Yuva Kendra and Gramin Yuva Mandal, Daaya, here today. The environmentalist, who has been working on water management in Rajasthan and other states for the past 25 years, disclosed that he had met former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee thrice and advised him to change the National Water Policy-2002, but to no avail. He pointed out that due to excessive and unjust use of water for a long time, the level of underground water had gone down considerably and the legislators should address the issue at the earliest in the national interest. “More than technique, a firm resolve and dedicated efforts are required to tide over the imminent crisis,” he asserted.
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Land dispute takes new turn
Ambala, December 20 Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Surender Bakshi claimed that a person from Panipat has paid advance money to the villagers for the land. He claimed that Naggal MLA Mr Nirmal Singh was not involved in the matter. Mr Bakshi along with Mr Joginder Singh and Mr Waryam Singh said that a court case is currently on over the disputed land. He said that the registry of the land could not take place and the land had gone to the land owners. He said that thereafter, enhanced compensation per acre was paid to the land owners and full & final payment had been made. Mr Bakshi said that poplar trees had been planted on the land which he had taken from Mr Waryam Singh on contract. He said that the villagers are now demanding that the trees should be cut and the land should be handed back to them. “The fresh demand by the villagers is due to pressure from a person who belongs to Panipat,” he alleged. |
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Sushruta Hall opened
Ambala, December 20 An official said that the Sushruta Hall has been renovated in a record time under the guidance of Brig C.M. Adya. The hall is fully airconditioned and has advance audio-visual facilities with aesthetic looks. General Shekhawat emphasised that the current improvement in the Military Hospital should be continued. All help will be extended to upgrade the patient welfare activities in the MH for which detailed planning is already underway. An official said that the Military Hospital, Ambala Cantonment, has been organising guest lecture series-2005 as part of continuing medical education programme where eminent scholars in medical and related fields have deliberated upon topics of clinical significance. Military Hospital will form an epicentre of academic activities as it has been designated for post-graduate training in various specialities. Once National Board of Examinations accords accredition, MH will be the first post-graduate insitute in medical field in the district. The inaugural ceremony was followed by guest lecture ‘Leadership styles and stress management’ by Brig S. Sudarsanan, Commandant AFMSD Delhi Cantonment. |
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Lawyers suspend work for 2nd day
Sonepat, December 20 According to a report, a meeting of the District Bar Association was held here today where it was decided to extend the strike till December 24. The meeting was of the view that the decision of the government to shift family courts to the divisional headquarters was arbitrary and negated the commitment of the government to provide justice at doorsteps. |
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PO among 18 arrested
Hisar, December 20 Mahender was allegedly involved in the murder of Chattar Singh, a son of Sahi Ram of Kharia, committed on October 7, 2000. A case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC was registered in this regard. The accused, along with four other persons, had allegedly hacked Chattar Singh to death with “lathis” and swords. Mahender had never been arrested in this case. Meanwhile, a police party raided the local video market and arrested Dinesh Saini and Naresh Arora on the charge of selling pirated and blue film CDs. Ninety pirated VCDs and 10 VCDs of blue films were seized from their possession. Two members of a gang of thieves, Satyawan, alias Satta of Hansi, and Jagdish of Balamba have also been arrested in connection with a theft case. Mr Arshinder Singh Chawla, SSP, said 13 persons had been arrested on the charge of gambling or “satta”. Banwari of Jakhod Khera village was arrested and five bottles of country-made liquor were seized from his possession. |
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Two buried alive in well
Sirsa, December 20 According to the police, the deceased, Jagroop Singh (25) and Sohan Singh (30), were busy extracting bricks from an old and abandoned well situated in the fields. Around 5 pm when they were at the verge of stopping work and were in the process of coming out of the well, suddenly a big mound of sand fell upon them when they were about 30 feet below the ground. Despite all the measures the entrapped labourers could not be saved.
— PTI |
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Kharga nursery students
enthral audience
Ambala, December 20 Major-Gen R.P.S. Bhandari, Chief of Staff, Kharga Corps, was the chief guest at the function held at the Kharga auditorium. School Principal Asha Aggarwal read out the annual report of the school and she highlighted the different achievements of the students. She explained that if the students did not understand the way we teach, then we teach the way the students understand. The tiny-tots left the audience spell-bound by their different items. The gently swaying ‘elephant’ and dancing ‘bears’ of nursery class were liked by the audience. The programme began with the lighting of lamp followed by a welcome song by the kindergarten students. The highlight of the programme was “Teddy Bear’s picnic” in which the nursery students depicted a jungle where animals were having a pleasant outing. The item had been well choreographed. The children showed the changing weather patterns throughout the year by the item ‘Season’s’ while the song “Woh Kisna Hai...” reflected Gopis dancing around Lord Krishna. The students showed their prowess in judo by doing a variety of actions, including back flips. ‘Messengers of Peace’ was performed on skates. “When I grow up...” reflected the different career options in front of the students. The programme culminated with the singing of the school song by the students, who held lighted candles. The fillers between each item had been appropriately chosen. |
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Hooda mourns death of Jai Narain Verma
Chandigarh, December 20 Mr Hooda said Mr Verma worked throughout his life for the uplift of the downtrodden and backward classes . He participated in the Bhoodan Movement by organising marches. He held many important posts, including Chairman, Haryana Khadi Board. He was elected to the Haryana Assembly in 1977 from the Barwala constituency on the Janata Party ticket. Finance Minister Birender Singh and Excise and Taxation Minister Venod Sharma also mourned the death of Mr Verma. |
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More officers given air travel facility
Chandigarh, December 20 A spokesman of the Finance Department said earlier officers in the pay scale of Rs 18,400 - Rs 22,400 and above were only entitled to travel by air. |
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No headway in murder case
Ambala, December 20 The face of the deceased was badly damaged. The police had recovered a knife and a car from the spot. According to the information, Sanjeev, who belonged to Lalru, was married in Thambar village. On the day of the incident, he was on his way to the village and according to his relatives, he was carrying a huge amount of cash, which could not be traced. SP Rajbir Deswal said two police parties had been deputed to trace the accused and assured to solve the case soon. |
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Chandigarh, December 20