The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	MSP for kharif crops disappoints farmers: CM Yoginder Gupta Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 21 The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has conveyed his disappointment to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, over the Centre’s failure to take note of the recommendations of the state in regard to the minimum support price (MSP) of various crops. In a letter written to the Prime Minister, Mr Hooda said the MSP recently announced by the Centre for the kharif crops had disappointed Haryana farmers because the price “does not even cover the cost of cultivation” of crops like paddy, bajra, maize and cotton. Mr Hooda also expressed his anguish that the Centre had not heeded to Haryana’s plea that the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) in regard to the MSP of basmati should be accepted. The CACP had recommended that “the government may consider announcing separate MSP for basmati with proper geographical indications in addition to the MSP for common variety and grade ‘A’ paddy, and accordingly put in place a system to defend the same in the market.” Pointing out that Haryana was known for the production of superfine varieties of paddy with exquisite aroma, Mr Hooda said the low MSP would discourage the production of quality paddy. He reminded the Prime Minister that in the mid-’90s the MSP of the common, fine and superfine varieties of paddy used to be different. In 1996-97, the fine and superfine categories were merged into grade ‘A’ category for which only one MSP is announced now. Mr Hooda said the Centre should revise the MSP for paddy, which should be Rs 720, Rs 750 and Rs 780 per quintal for the common, fine and superfine varieties, respectively. Incidentally, these rates were proposed by the state government earlier also. But the Centre announced the MSP of Rs 580 and Rs 610 per quintal for the common and grade ‘A’ varieties, respectively. The Chief Minister also demanded that the MSP for bajra and maize should also be revised to Rs 685 per quintal as against Rs 540 MSP announced by the Centre. He told the Prime Minister that bajra was an important crop both for grain and fodder. It was generally grown in rainfed areas, where the economic condition of farmers was rather precarious. Taking up the case of cotton growers, Mr Hooda said cotton was an important commercial crop of the state as it was being promoted in a big way as a means for crop diversification. He requested Dr Manmohan Singh that the Centre should increase the MSP of cotton from Rs 1,990 per quintal to Rs 2,700 per quintal for the American cotton variety, as was earlier proposed by the state government. Mr Hooda also protested against the manner in which the Union Ministry of Textiles fixed rates for the same varieties in different states. He pointed out that the Ministry had fixed higher rates for the same variety having the same staple length for Punjab as compared to Haryana. Demanding an end to this practice, he said it had put the Haryana farmers to a gross disadvantage. He concluded by saying that the fixing of the MSP in such a manner so that it would cover the cost of production, was not only just but also necessary for achieving food security and rural prosperity. He also cautioned that failure to revise the MSP for the kharif crops could result in the repetition of the recent wheat procurement experience, when state agencies could not procure enough wheat even for the public distribution system, which had forced the Centre to export wheat.
	Anti-graft drive causes rift Raman Mohan Tribune News Service Rohtak, August 21 The anti-corruption campaign spearheaded by the State Vigilance Bureau (SVB) has created a gulf between subordinate government employees and senior officials on the one hand and the SVB and the police on the other. While subordinate employees allege that they alone are being targeted while senior officers, including HCS and IAS cadres, are not being touched by the SVB. The general impression among police personnel is that the SVB is targeting fellow policemen to advance career prospects of IPS officers. As against this, the man on the street feels that the campaign would prove an exercise in futility unless politicians too are brought in its ambit. A senior leader of a Haryana government employees’ organisation said the SVB following a pick and choose policy. “No senior HCS or IAS officer has been booked. The buck stops at Tehsildars in the civil administration and Inspectors in the police and the Excise Department. Do we have to believe that officials above these ranks are all men of virtue?,” he asked. Subordinate employees cite several instances of senior officers having been exposed by the media but who continue to be in the same posts and the SVB turning a blind eye to their activities. The case of a Commissioner of a revenue division who was recently in the news for his wife’s penchant for shopping and asking Tehsildars to pick the bills is a glaring example. This officer escaped the axe in the last administrative reshuffle. They said if the government was seriously considering curbing if not ending corruption it should frame a comprehensive policy rather than resorting to a knee jerk approach of raiding small fish. For instance, they said Tehsildars were supposed to pay the rest house bills of senior officers and ministers and their staff, including security personnel. Unless they indulge in corruption, where do they find the funds for the purpose, they asked adding that unless a comprehensive policy was framed, the campaign would in the end prove to be a damp squib. The actions of several ruling party leaders have also dented the campaign. The recent reports of an MLA, a minister and a Central minister’s involvement in a job scandal are a case in point. Likewise, the ruling party’s first term legislator from an Assembly segment in Fatehabad district was recently involved in a controversy when he rebuked traders for failing to present a purse at a rally he had organised. Although, the man on the street is extremely happy with the campaign, the general feeling is that the government needs to target the “roots” of corruption rather than “trimming the branches of a tree.” A senior SVB official, however, claimed they were doing their duty honestly without wishing for “rewards.” “The government is serious about ending corruption and a beginning has been made. We plan to take the campaign to its logical conclusion come what may,” he added. He also denied sparing the “creamy layers in the bureaucracy.”
	No ‘independent charge’ for Parliamentary Secretary Our High Court Correspondent Chandigarh, August 21 The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) and the seven Parliamentary Secretaries (PSs) in the state were not holding any independent charge and were only assisting the ministers. The Chief Minister has filed a reply in the High Court with these contentions. Asserting that there was nothing unconstitutional about these appointments, Mr Hooda prayed that various petitions, which have challenged the appointment of Congress MLAs as CPS and PSs, should be dismissed. Among other, a Panchkula resident, Mr Parma Nand, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MLAs Sushil Indora and Dr Sita Ram and BJP leader Pavittar Singh Bajwa have challenged the appointments in the High Court. In his writ, Mr Parma Nand has alleged that the appointments were contrary to the provisions of the Constitution and hence illegal. He has also stated that by appointing the party MLAs to the non-existing posts of CPS and PS, the government was only trying to give ministerial perks to the MLAs through the back door. Enjoying all the perks of ministers, these CPS and PS would only prove to be a drain on the state exchequer, the petition says. The petitioner has also sought action against the Chief Minister for defying the Constitution and the oath of office and secrecy administered to him. Stating that the 91st Amendment to the Constitution, which restricts the number of ministers to not more than 15 per cent of the total strength of the legislature, has been blatantly flouted by the Hooda Government by appointing the MLAs as CPS and PC, the petitioner has also pointed out that there is no legal sanction to the posts. Mr Parma Nand has further alleged that by taking such a decision, the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues would be violating the oath of office and secrecy taken by them at the time of their swearing-in as now all important and confidential files would be accessed by the CPS and PS. The PIL seeks directions to disqualify the legislators appointed as the CPS and PS from the membership of the Vidhan Sabha for holding an office of profit under the government, stop payment of salaries, allowances and other perks etc to them till a decision on the petition is taken and to recover such salaries, allowances etc, if already made.
	200 ancient coins discovered Ruchika M. Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 21 A chance discovery of over 200 ancient coins, weighing about 800gs, from Mahendragarh district is likely to throw fresh light on the history of some of the ruling Hindu dynasties in India, before the advent of the Muslim period. Technically called hoards, these coins were discovered in Selang village of Mahendragarh, when a farmer was tilling the village common land. The farmer, Sher Singh, had taken the panchayat land on contract and while he was tilling the land, his tractor struck an earthen pot. As he dig out the pot, he found these ancient coins — some made of copper and some of an alloy of silver and copper. As the word spread in the village regarding the new discovery, the residents converged at the spot to have a look at the ‘treasure’. Soon, the police in nearby Kanina police station learnt about this, and upon receiving instructions from the Department of Archives, Haryana, took the coins in their possession. Officials of the Department of Archives took these coins in their possession last week, and after chemically cleaning some of these coins, have now been able to establish the period in which they belong, and their historical significance. Talking to TNS here today, Dr Rajwanti Mann, Deputy Director, Department of Archives, said that preliminary study of these coins had revealed that some of these belonged to the Tomar dynasty. “These are Hindushahi coins and could belong to the era between 735 AD — 1153 AD. After examining historical records, we can now say these coins have the typical characteristics of that period — horseman and bull; and standing king and seated Goddess. Even the shapes of these coins-Hanuman type, lion attacking elephant type, cow suckling calf type — have helped us establish the period from which these belong, though the exact decoding will be done by experts from Archaeological department,” she said. She said that the fact that these coins were of different kinds revealed that Hindustan was totally disintegrated and different rulers ruled over small provinces. ‘These coins of early medieval ages did not possess the grace or artistic excellence.
	Prime land lies abandoned Tribune News Service Hisar, August 21 More than 13,000 square yards of prime land worth crores of rupees belonging to the local Zila Parishad and located in the heart of the city is lying abandoned for the past more than 20 years. Interestingly, the authorities concerned have not bothered to develop the land, which houses dilapidated government staff quarters and is located in the midst of the official residences of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Civil Surgeon and other senior administrative officials. Residents of the nearby localities maintain that apart from being a blot on the beauty of the adjoining colonies, poisonous insects and snakes swarm the place. Dilapidated houses standing amidst wild vegetative growth also provide refuge to criminal elements, they add. The staff colony was developed by the then district board more than 90 years ago and was later handed over to the Zila Parishad. The colony was declared unsafe around 20 years ago and was subsequently vacated. However, some employees continued to occupy the quarters or even passed these on to their relatives or acquaintances. Gradually, the condition of the quarters deteriorated and the occupants were left with no alternative but to vacate these. A house of the colony is still in the possession of a government employee. The officials concerned assert that the quarter would soon be vacated. Priti Nagar Residents Welfare Society has now written to the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and requested him to intervene in the matter. The association has urged the Chief Minister to direct the authorities concerned to develop the land in a constructive manner at the earliest.
	Charge of improper claim refuted Tribune News Service Hisar, August 21 Mr Satbir Beniwal, who is working as library restorer with C.R. College of Education here, has maintained that the allegation of wrongly drawing arrears from the government exchequer levelled against him was incorrect as he was justified in making the claim. Reacting to a news-item in these columns last month, Mr Beniwal asserted that he had claimed arrears amounting to Rs 3.50 lakh in accordance with an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He said his claim for arrears was duly passed by the then college principal and approved by the college management. The bills were then passed by the Director, Higher Education, Haryana. “Moreover, the college gets 95 per cent grant from the government and the government was duty-bound to pay the arrears,” Mr Beniwal said. He claimed that the college accounts had been audited thrice after that but no objection had been raised on his claiming arrears. The Tribune correspondent adds: The college authorities were approached to ascertain the facts before filing the report but they did not give complete information and concealed some vital details regarding the matter. The error is regretted.
	Clerk held with 20 fake degrees Tribune News Service Hisar, August 21 The police claims to have unearthed a racket involving the sale of fake degrees and certificates with the arrest of a clerk of the state Education Department. The clerk, Ramesh, posted at the office of the Block Education Officer, Barwala, has been arrested with 20 fake degrees. The police had got a tip-off that the clerk used to bring fake C.P.Ed degrees from Pune and would sell these to local youths. Following this, a police team arrested Ramesh yesterday and seized 20 degrees from his possession. A case has been registered in this regard. According to police sources, the arrested person used to buy degrees for Rs 20,000 each and sold these at Rs 25,000 each to youths who aspired to be selected as physical education teachers with the state government.
	Selja’s effigy burnt over Agrofed scam Tribune News Service Ambala, August 21 The BJP today held a demonstration in protest against the failures of the Hooda government. The effigy of Union Minister Kumari Selja was burnt over the Agrofed issue in the cantonment. Demonstrators were led by Haryana BJP president Ganeshi Lal and former Ambala MP Ratan Lal Kataria. Talking to mediapersons, Prof Ganeshi Lal said the Agrofed scam was a serious case. “In the Volcker report case, Mr Natwar Singh had to step down since he had issued a recommendatory letter. The same holds true for Kumari Selja since she too had recommended a person for the job,” he said. He said ISI activities were increasing in Haryana. “People are paying ransom. ISI activists have been nabbed at Ballabhgarh, Faridabad and Gurgaon. We suggest that special intelligence units be set up in different parts of Haryana, including Panipat, Sirsa and Hisar, so that they can check ISI activities,” he said. He demanded a white paper on the Hansi-Butana branch canal.