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Cong schemes old wine in new bottle, says Sampat
Bhajan Lal to hold public meetings
Hooda has failed on all fronts, says morcha
Security concerns over cross-border |
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Hisar rally ‘disappointed Sikhs’
high court
All but 8 pending cases disposed of
Engg students demand 6-month internship
Degrees conferred on 698
Mother-in-law burnt
to death
2 murdered by crushing
under jeep
Five prisoners held for extortion
Shot fired into air
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Cong schemes old wine in new bottle, says Sampat
Hisar, March 6 “The Hooda government is trying to hoodwink the people by merely changing the names of old schemes and inaugurating projects again started by our government,” he said while addressing a news conference here today. The INLD leader remarked that the Congress government had imposed so many conditions for getting the benefit of welfare schemes that a considerable number of residents had been rendered ineligible. Coming down heavily on the Chief Minister, the former minister maintained that while yesterday’s rally was being organised, a curfew-like situation prevailed in the city and its neighbouring areas, causing great inconvenience to the local residents and commuters. He also charged the Hooda regime with misusing government machinery, spending public money and confiscating school buses for the rally. Prof Sampat Singh asserted that owing to the hype about the rally, people had high expectations from Mr Hooda. “But contrary to their hopes, no major relief was provided to the people and the rally proved to be a damp squib,” he added. |
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Bhajan Lal to hold public meetings
Chandigarh, March 6 While the opposition INLD and the BJP have criticised the government, the ruling Congress organised a rally yesterday at Hisar to celebrate the government’s achievements during the past year. The HPCC chief, Mr Bhajan Lal, who was conspicuous by his absence at the Hisar function, told this reporter here today that he would hold public meetings in various districts of the state later this month. The PCC chief, who had not been keeping well for sometime, had a number of visitors at his Panchkula residence today. He seemed to be in good health. Mr Bhajan Lal said it was his younger brother’s death that had led to his remaining confined to his home. He would be in mourning during the next 15 days and then start his activities, he said. The feedback being received by him from people was encouraging and people wanted him to be in their midst, he said. In reply to a question about his joining the BJP or floating a regional party to eventually work out an alliance with the party, the PCC chief said there was no such possibility. “I have been with the Congress for over four decades now. I shall continue to remain in the party,” he said. The interview was interrupted by a group of agitated visitors who entered the room to air their grievances. They alleged that the SP of their district was harassing them and had registered a case even against a 90 year old person. The PCC chief assured them that he would speak to his son, Mr Chander Mohan, Deputy Chief Minister, as well as his other son, Mr Kuldip Bishnoi, MP, in this regard. Mr Kuldip Bishnoi, it may be noted, has already generated controversy by periodically issuing statements criticising the Congress government in the state. Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Chander Mohan, on the other hand, have refrained from saying anything against the state government in public. |
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Hooda has failed on all fronts, says morcha
Ambala, March 6 “There is a feeling of insecurity among the people. Incidents like rape of schoolgirls have taken place in the state and one incident took place in the Assembly segment represented by the Haryana Education Minister, Mr Phool Chand
Mullana,” he said. Mr Bajwa demanded that Mr Mullana must resign on moral grounds. “There is also a public outrage over the Jessica Lall murder case in which Manu Sharma, son of the Haryana Power Minister, Mr Venod Sharma, is an accused,” he said. He said the morcha would soon organise a rally in Ambala to highlight the failures of the Congress government. “There is a long list of failures. There is an acute shortage of power which is adversely affecting farmers, the industry and students. The government has failed to improve the power situation,” he said. Mr Bajwa said the Union Budget had failed to live up to the expectations of the people. “The prices of small cars have come down but nothing has been done to check the prices of petrol and diesel. Also, the service tax has been increased from 10 per cent to 12 per cent,” he said. |
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Security concerns over cross-border phone calls
Ambala, March 6 Sources reveal that a telephone call was received at the Air Force Station exchange here from Faisalabad in Pakistan about four days ago. However, the nature of the call, whether it was to elicit information or just a crank call, could not be ascertained. The call's origin, according to sources, came to notice when its number flashed on the caller identification system. installed at the exchange. Located west of Lahore, Faisalabad is Pakistan's second largest industrial city and though it does not have any significant military installation, an ISI training establishment is known to be located there. It is a known practice by the Pakistani intelligence operatives, posing as Indian officers, to call up on known military numbers here to elicit information on operational matters and troop movements. Unsuspecting jawans or airmen are generally the target of such calls. It may be recalled that during the 1999 Kargil conflict and then operation Parakram, all direct access to military phone from civilian lines was cut off to prevent inadvertent leaks. This happened after the Army learnt that Pakistani officers sitting across the border were able to garner sensitive information by simple making phone calls here. Access has only been partially restored. It has now come to light that during October--November last year, a few calls had been received from Bangladesh at a helpline number set up at the Western Command exchange in Chandimandir to facilitate callers wishing to get in touch with personnel stationed there. Sources add that a call from Pakistan was received at an Army establishment in Chandimandir last year. Sources in Chandimandir add that there have been several instances of crank calls being received at the exchanges from local numbers. It is also learnt that in the recent past, several calls from abroad have been received at telephone exchanges at 1 Armoured Divison in Patiala, which is the Army's most powerful strike formation. In fact, an officer revealed, some time ago a call from Pakistan was received over the Army's internal ASCON network, which indicated the involvement of someone in an exchange. Posing as Indian officers operatives try to ascertain whereabouts of certain officers from clerks or helpers. The location of officers indicates formations' movements and help build a larger picture. Officers said as a security measure passing of military information was strictly prohibited over the phone regardless of the rank of the caller. |
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Hisar rally ‘disappointed Sikhs’
Kurukshetra, March 6 He said that neither there was any mention of a separate Haryana Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee nor was there any hint of the Punjabi language yet to be declared as the second language in Haryana. Mr Nalvi alleged that such attitude of the state government clearly indicated that there was nothing in store for the 15 lakh Sikhs of Haryana in the scheme of things of the Congress. Mr Nalvi stated that the state executive of the HSGPC (Ad Hoc) was expected to meet shortly to take stock of the situation where certain important decisions might be taken to intensify the “dharam yudh”. Meanwhile, the dharna started by leaders of the HSGPC (Ad Hoc) entered its 13th day today. A jatha of 22 agitators from Panipat district participated in the dharna in front of the residence of Agriculture Minister H.S. Chatha, who had been appointed chairman of the Chatha Committee set up by the Haryana Government for the establishment of a separate gurdwara parbandhak committee. |
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Order for sale of clinic stayed
Our High Court Correspondent
Chandigarh, March 6 Taking up the petition filed by the owners of the hospital, Dr Subhash Chander Pasrija, the Bench of Chief Justice Mr Justice D.K. Jain and Mr Justice Surya Kant also issued notice to the respondents. In his petition, Dr Pasrija has stated that he was sanctioned a loan of Rs 27.50 lakh by the HFC on March 12, 1999, with the condition that he would return the loan along with the interest within eight years in 27 quarterly installments. However, the petitioner claims that he was actually given only Rs 20.78 lakh out of the total loan amount. Later, due to some problems, he defaulted on the repayment of his dues and was declared non-performing asset. In the meantime, the HFC came out with an extended currency scheme, following which the petitioner offered to settle his dues. He deposited a demand draft for Rs 3.86 lakh as upfront money. Later, he again deposited Rs 2.08 lakh under another scheme of the HFC. However, on February 23, Dr Pasrija received a letter from the HFC, informing him that his offer had been rejected as the value of the property mortgaged by him was more than the amount payable by him to the HFC. Corruption case: The High Court was on Monday informed that the Haryana Government has decided to withdraw the case of corruption filed by the State Vigilance Bureau, Rohtak, in 1999 against IAS officer Anil Kumar.A petition filed by Mr Anil Kumar for quashing the case was pending in the High Court. He had alleged that he was booked on the directions of the then Chief Minister, Mr O.P. Chautala, as he refused to heed to his orders to declare his father, Mr Devi Lal, declared elected from the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat in the 1998 election. The present Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Hooda, had defeated Mr Devi Lal in the election. However, Mr Chautala allegedly tried to force the IAS officer, who was returning officer for the seat by virtue of being DC, Rohtak, to declare Mr Devi Lal elected. Today, counsel for the Haryana Government informed the court that the government had already moved an application in the trial court, informing it of its intention to withdraw the case. Following this statement, the court disposed of the writ.
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All but 8 pending cases disposed of
Kaithal, March 6 The cases disposed of include 84 under the Punjab Village Common Land Act, 122 appeal cases, 29 cases relating to lambardari disputes, three of miscellaneous nature and two others relating to transfer applications. Mr Malik said today that the pending eight cases would also be disposed of soon. |
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Engg students demand 6-month internship
Yamunanagar, March 6 At the meeting held under the aegis of the Aryawrat Yuva Chetna Sangh, the students said that the engineering curriculum of the university must be revised as six months’ training would be beneficial for the students. Vidhu Rawal, president of the sangh, said in most of the universities the engineering students underwent six months’ internship. He said that a signature campaign had been launched in the connection. |
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Degrees conferred on 698
Ambala, March 6 The National Human Rights Commission Chairman and former Chief Justice of India, Dr Adarsh Sein Anand, was the chief guest. As compared to 399 girl students who received degrees, there were only 299 boys. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Anand laid emphasis on value-based education and said education should not only train the intellect and promote skill, but must also develop a person’s moral and spiritual values. He said the practice of virtue and righteousness alone could brighten the intellect whereas vice darkened it. Dr Anand pointed out that it was easy to be a hero than a gentleman. He advised the graduates to cultivate contentment in personal life and compassion in public life. He exhorted them to be messengers of love and peace and search the Columbus within them for fresh resources. |
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Mother-in-law burnt
to death
Sonepat, March 6 A family quarrel is stated to be the cause of the incident. The Duty Magistrate has sent the arrested woman to 14-day judicial custody. It is stated the culprit poured kerosene on the body of her mother-in-law and set her on fire. She succumbed to her injuries on the way to the PGIMS at Rohtak.
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2 murdered by crushing
under jeep
Karnal, March 6 The deceased were working at different petrol stations of the area. Their bodies were sent to Civil Hospital here for postmortem. An FIR under Sections 302 and 34, IPC, was registered against Gurmel Singh (the jeep driver of Khanpur village), Des Raj and Krishan (both of Garhi Gujran). However, none of the accused could be nabbed till the filing of report. |
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Five prisoners held for extortion
Kaithal, March 6 Balwinder Singh, a constable posted at the jail has been
arrested for allegedly helping the criminals procure mobile phones and
sim cards. Addressing a press conference here this evening, the SP, Mr
Navdeep Singh Virk, said this success was achieved while investigating a
case relating to the demand of Rs 10 lakh by a criminal lodged at Karnal
Jail who had allegedly threatened a Dhand-based commission agent on the
mobile to pay him the extortion money. The SP said Ashok Kumar, a
commission agent of Dhand Mandi, had complained to the police on
February 22 that Sultan, alias Handa, a criminal lodged at Karnal Jail,
had threatened to eliminate his family if he failed to pay him Rs 10
lakh. Mr Virk, accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner, had searched
the jail last week but could not seize the mobile allegedly used for
threatening the businessman. So he constituted a team headed by
Inspector Krishan Lal and Romesh Chand, ASI, to recover the mobile used
by the jailed criminal. Sultan was brought to Kaithal on a production
warrant issued by the CJM, Mr Surya Partap Singh, who granted him police
remand. Sanjay, alias Sanju, and Raj Balinder Singh who allegedly
helped Sultan were also arrested. Following Sultan’s revelation, the
police seized mobile phones from Rajbir Singh, another jailed inmate,
and arrested prisoners Rakesh Kumar and Pawan Kumar. |
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Shot fired into air
Ambala, March 6 Sensing that the situation could take a turn for the worse, a third club member snatched the weapon and fired the solitary bullet into the air. Nobody was injured in the incident. |
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