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Parties unanimous on Vande Mataram
Chandigarh, August 28
The ruling Congress and the main opposition party Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana are unanimous in their admiration of the song Vande Mataram and believe that the song’s association with the freedom struggle overrides any criticism that may be hurled at the ode penned by the late Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

Bhaskar Chatterjee takes charge
Chandigarh, August 28
The Haryana Power Minister, Mr Venod Sharma, administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Bhaskar Chatterjee as Chairman, Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission, here today.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda greets Bhaskar Chatterjee shortly after his swearing in as Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission in Chandigarh on Monday. — PTI photo

Beating case: youths booked
Sonepat, August 28
Some unidentified youths of Gohana Balmiki Basti have been booked by the Gohana police for their alleged involvement in beating up of two youths — Praveen and Naveen — of Ahulana village at Gohana on Saturday evening. The alleged accused are reportedly absconding.

Red Cross to set up artificial limbs workshop
Sirsa, August 28
The District Red Cross Society will set up a big workshop here to manufacture artificial limbs for the disabled in near future. The workshop, the first of its kind in the state, will cater to the physically challenged persons of the state.

Remarks against Jats expunged
Chandigarh, August 28
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said the Haryana Government had expunged all derogatory remarks mentioned against the Jat community in the NCERT school books.

Stories from Haryana towns falling in the National Capital Region are put in
Delhi & neighbourhood.

REGIONAL BRIEFS

YOUR TOWN

Chandigarh
Hisar
Sirsa
Sonepat

EARLIER STORIES

	Remove derogatory references to Jats in NCERT books: Karat August 28, 2006
	Stop maligning Jats, threatens panchayat August 27, 2006
	Cops trained to tackle drug traffickers August 26, 2006
	Protests against Cong, Arjun August 25, 2006
	3 cops suspended for escape of undertrial August 24, 2006
	Departmental action ordered against doc August 23, 2006
	MSP for kharif crops disappoints farmers: CM August 22, 2006
	Jats want removal of ‘insulting remarks’ from book August 21, 2006
	Jats want removal of ‘insulting remarks’ from book August 20, 2006
	Warrants against Hooda stayed August 19, 2006

	Parties unanimous on Vande Mataram Shubhadeep Choudhury Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 28 The ruling Congress and the main opposition party Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana are unanimous in their admiration of the song Vande Mataram and believe that the song’s association with the freedom struggle overrides any criticism that may be hurled at the ode penned by the late Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. The unanimity is in stark contrast to some other states where the Union Human Resources Ministry’s recent directive regarding celebration of the anniversary of the song has pitted rival political parties against each other. Hopefully, Haryana would figure among those states where the celebration would be set in a secular context sans the vulgar religious passions instigated by communal parties elsewhere. The Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today told the TNS that the anniversary of the song on September 7 would be observed in Haryana. The Chief Minister said the role played by the song in the freedom struggle had placed it in a very special milieu. “We should not disown important traditions of the past,” Mr Hooda said. The Education Minister, Mr Phool Chand Mullana, also echoed similar views and said the government would try to ensure the participation of school children on the occasion of the celebration next month. Mr Mullana said he had not yet seen the HRD Ministry’s directive, but added that the song was known for its patriotic fervour and therefore there was no reason why its anniversary should not be celebrated in Haryana. Mr Ashok Arora, President of the Haryana unit of the INLD, said the song was known for its popularity among freedom fighters and it should be taken as such. While welcoming the celebration of the anniversary of the song, he said, “The song inevitably brings back the memories of the days of the freedom struggle.” Despite being cleared by various committees and with even the Constituent Assembly stamping its approval on the song as the national song, Vande Mataram still manages to ruffle feathers. This is because of the incorporation of the song by Chattopadhyay in his controversial novel ‘Anandamath’, the story of which had hurt Muslim sentiments. The BJP too was contacted and its reaction to the issue was on the expected lines. Mr Ganeshi Lal, President of Haryana BJP, suggested sending to mental asylum those who were opposing the celebration of the anniversary of the song.
	Bhaskar Chatterjee takes charge Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 28 The Haryana Power Minister, Mr Venod Sharma, administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Bhaskar Chatterjee as Chairman, Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission, here today. The Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Education Minister, Mr Phool Chand Mullana, Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Paramvir Singh, Chief Secretary, Mr Prem Prashant, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr M.L. Tayal, and other senior officers of the state government, were present at the function. Later, talking to mediapersons, Mr Chatterjee said he would convene a meeting of the officers of the power sector and formulate a strategy to further improve the power sector in the state.
	Beating case: youths booked Our Correspondent Sonepat, August 28 Some unidentified youths of Gohana Balmiki Basti have been booked by the Gohana police for their alleged involvement in beating up of two youths — Praveen and Naveen — of Ahulana village at Gohana on Saturday evening. The alleged accused are reportedly absconding. After receiving information of the incident, Praveen and Naveen were taken to the government hospital for medical examination and on the basis of their statement, a case was registered. With villagers beginning to agitate, they were reportedly pacified by the police. An assurance was given that the law would take its own course. According another report, a delegation of the Balmikis reportedly met the police authorities and assured that the alleged accused would be handed over to the police. Meantime at a meeting of the activists of Butana-12 Sangharsh Samiti which was formed against booking of some persons in the case of torching of Balmiki houses at Gohana last year. It reportedly decided to postpone its programme of staging a demonstration at Jantar-mantar in Delhi. The samiti decided to meet the Chief Minister first and then decide about future action.
	Red Cross to set up artificial limbs workshop Tribune News Service Sirsa, August 28 The District Red Cross Society will set up a big workshop here to manufacture artificial limbs for the disabled in near future. The workshop, the first of its kind in the state, will cater to the physically challenged persons of the state. This was stated by the Hisar Divisional Commissioner, Mr R.R. Fuliya, while addressing a meeting of officials after inaugurating a welfare camp organised for the physically challenged persons at the Dalbir Singh Indoor Stadium today. The camp had been organised jointly by the District Red Cross Society and the Bhagwan Mahabir Vikalang Sahayata Samiti, Jaipur-Delhi. Former Darba MLA Thakur Bahadur Singh presided over the function. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr V. Umashankar, the Subdivisional Magistrate, Ms Geeta Bharti, and the City Magistrate, Mr P.K. Sharma, were present. The Commissioner exhorted NGOs and voluntary organisations to contribute their mite in serving the physically challenged persons. The Deputy Commissioner maintained that the camp would continue for four days, during which artificial limbs and other aids would be provided to thousands of physically challenged persons. A workshop for manufacturing artificial limbs according to the needs of the visiting patients had been set up at the camp.
	Remarks against Jats expunged Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 28 Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said the Haryana Government had expunged all derogatory remarks mentioned against the Jat community in the NCERT school books. The Chief Minister, who was talking to reporters shortly after the swearing-in ceremony of Mr Bhaskar Chatterjee as the Chairman of Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission here, said the BJP government in neighbouring Rajasthan should also get such derogatory words deleted from books. Mr Hooda had on Wednesday written a letter to the Union Human Resources Development Minister, Mr Arjun Singh, urging him to screen thoroughly all publications of the NCERT and expunge all derogatory remarks mentioned in these publications against any community, creed or region of the country. Mr Hooda said the government would give priority to provide marketing facilities to the farmers to ensure that they benefit from diversification. He said the government was also laying emphasis on popularising contract farming. In reply to another question, Mr Hooda said the special campaign launched to motivate the farmers to desist from sowing “Sathi”, has yielded encouraging results.
	The blind move HC over reservation of posts Our High Court Correspondent Chandigarh, August 28 The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to the Haryana Government and others on a PIL filed by the National Federation of Blind, seeking directions to the government to comply with the provisions relating to 3 per cent reservation to the blind in recruitment. The petitioner has also accused the Haryana Government of not implementing provisions of 1995 and denying the visually challenged their due. The petition, filed through Mr Jage Ram of Ambala, points out that an advertisement issued by the government on July 20, which invites application from eligible persons for 10,513 posts of teacher in schools, reservation for Scheduled Castes, backwards classes and other categories has been specified but visually-challenged have been left out. This, the petition, adds, is illegal, arbitrary and violative of the provisions of the 1995 Act. Today, a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice Viney Mittal and Mr Justice H.S. Bhalla issued notice for October 10.
	Jaglan is GJU Registrar Tribune News Service Hisar, August 28 Dr R.S. Jaglan, Senior Scientist of Entomology at Haryana Agricultural University, has been appointed the Registrar of the Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology here. According to a fax received at the Vice-Chancellor’s office this evening, the Governor, Dr A.R. Kidwai, has appointed Dr Jaglan as Registrar of the university. The Vice-Chancellor, Dr R.P. Bajpai, confirmed that Dr Jaglan had been appointed as Registrar. Meanwhile, a meeting of the executive council of the university was organised today, at which 12 faculty members serving as readers were promoted as professors, while six faculty members were elevated to the post of reader under the Career Advancement Scheme. Apart from these, the appointments of nearly 50 new faculty members, including lecturers, readers and professors, were also cleared.
	Auto-rickshaw strike hits life Tribune News Service Hisar, August 28 A strike by auto-rickshaw operators here caused inconvenience to a large number of local residents today. On the other hand, the rickshaw-pullers had a field day with the people not having any other alternative. The auto-rickshaw operators assembled at the local Red Square Market and marched in protest to the mini-secretariat, raising slogans against the district administration and the police. A delegation of the protesting auto-rickshaw operators submitted a 12-point memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. After submitting the memorandum, the protesters staged a dharna in front of the secretariat. Their main demands included stopping of police excesses on them, construction of regular parking lots for auto-rickshaws and setting up a committee for the redress of their grievances.