Sirsa, June 28 
The ongoing conflict between Sikhs and dera followers has further aggravated. While holding a protest march the Dera Sacha Sauda today blamed Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for rejection of their fresh apology letter by Akal Takht alleging that Badal did not want to resolve the dispute for political gains.

The dera claimed that the fresh apology letter was issued only after SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar and the CM were made aware of the contents of the letter and both had assured the mediators that the apology would end the row between the two sides. 

While talking to newsmen during the dharna staged by hundreds of dera followers outside the DC office, the chief spokesman of the dera, Aditya Arora, added that Badal got the apology rejected as he did not want the credit to go to the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Paramjit Singh Sarna, who took the initiative to resolve the dispute between Sikhs and dera followers. The day after, dera followers take out protest march

He said that the meeting between the dera representative and the SGPC chief was held at the residence of a senior police official in Mohali and with other leaders once at a hotel in Chandigarh. 

“We are seeking all legal help to tackle the sanction granted by the Punjab Government to arrest the dera chief. We can move a bail application and also approach the high court for quashing the FIR registered against the dera chief in Bathinda, he added. 

While expressing resentment, hundreds of dera followers today took out a protest march against Badal for giving sanction to arrest dera chief Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh here. The action committee also submitted a memorandum for the President to the deputy commissioner V. Umashankar, demanding withdrawal of the case against the dera chief in Bathinda under Section 295-A and also sacking of the Punjab Government alleging that the dera chief was falsely implicated as part of a conspiracy.

Chandigarh, June 28
A day after the Punjab Government ordered the arrest of dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Haryana-headquartered sect today launched a counter-offensive seeking dismissal of the SAD-BJP dispensation in the neighbouring state for “politically manipulating” the row between him and the Sikh clergy.

Dera spokesman Aditya Insaan said a letter had been sent to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam demanding dismissal of the Punjab Government and immediate withdrawal of “false” cases against the sect head. He said despite the Dera chief “apologising” to Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikh clery failed to “respond positively”. — PTI

Chandigarh, June 28
The Haryana Government will almost double the expenditure on higher education during the current year. This will include expense on creating new infrastructure, maintenance of existing colleges and starting of new courses, etc.

According to department sources, a sum of Rs 115 crore will be spent for promotion of higher education at the college-level as against Rs 64.70 crore spent last year.

Department sources said a sum of Rs 14.70 crore will be spent on creating infrastructure and on the maintenance of various government colleges. A sum of Rs 26 crore has already been spent on the maintenance and construction in government colleges of the state during the past two years.

For promoting private sector investment in higher education, the Haryana Private University Act, is already enacted by the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. Some of the significant steps taken by the government to promote education, include the setting-up of a university for women in Sonepat.

All educational institutions of higher learning are being encouraged to start courses that will develop the over-all personality of college students, besides imparting soft skills training to make the students computer literate. Various government run educational institutions across the state will be starting job-oriented courses like Bachelor of Tourism Management, Bachelor of Information Management, Bio-Technology, Bachelor of Computer Application and Bachelor of Mass Communication, etc.

With a bid to motivate students of rural areas to go for higher education, a Post Graduate Regional Centre of Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, is being made functional at village Mirpur in district Rewari and similarly a Post Graduate Regional Centre of Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, would also be set up at Jind.

At the school level, too, the budget allocation has been increased. Besides, Haryana has launched a 'Drug Abuse Prevention Programme' in collaboration with Bhartiya Gramin Mahila Sangh and Education department.

Sources said nearly 1,350 senior secondary schools in the state had been connected with Satellite that implements the EDUSAT programme. 

Kaithal, June 28
The district administration has taken a decision to restore health services in Keorak village of this district which had been temporarily suspended about three weeks  ago due to violence during  Gujjar agitation.

Deputy commissioner Rajinder Kataria took this decision today when a deputation of villagers led by sarpanch Ranbir Singh met him and expressed their regrets over the violence which had vitiated the atmosphere forcing the police to resort to a lathicharge to disperse a stone throwing crowd.

A number of villagers and police personnel were injured in the clash . However, the police post which had been closed after the incident, is yet to become functional .The villagers today assured the DC about the safety of the staff . Following this assurance the DC directed the CMO to ask doctors and other staff to report for duty at Keorak village from tomorrow.

Interestingly Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had announced to develop this village as a ‘model village’ in April  last on the pursuance of S.S. Surjewala, MLA .

The mob had badly damaged the police post and destroyed official records at the Primary Health Centre (PHC), Keorak, and fearing trouble at the hands of agitators, the staff had vacated the PHC .

Due to closure of the PHC, the villagers were facing inconvenience in getting treatment and had been pleading to the authorities to restore health services.

It is learnt that Transport and Public Health minister Randeep Surjewala and local MLA, S.S.Surjewala, had also prevailed upon the district administration to reopen the PHC for the convenience of  villagers.

Panchkula, June 28
To market Haryana as a tourist destination, Pinjore, Kurukshetra and Panipat will be jointly put on the circuit of the ambitious “Palace On Wheels” project likely to roll out by end of next year.

This was stated by Tourism State Minister, Haryana, Kiran Chaudhary, at a press conference following a meeting with the Haryana Hoteliers Association at North Park, here today. She added that the facilities on this circuit would be beefed up to attract Indian and foreign tourists and put Haryana on the international tourist map.

Stating that she had taken cue from Rajasthan’s Palace on Wheels project, she said that the tourism department of the state was trying to promote places of historical and religious interest.

“If railway stations are located at a distance from these places which have tremendous marketing potential, we will ply special buses to cut out any inconvenience the tourists may suffer,” she stated.

Besides announcing that the heritage festival would be held on schedule in October, she said that the forthcoming “Mango Mela” beginning on June 30 is also expected to draw crowds. The mela will showcase nearly 100 varieties of mango. Besides, there will be over 500 entries of mango products. She stated that the two-day mela aims at promoting mango production and tourism.

“In addition to the mango varieties, we are planning to introduce mango-eating competitions for various categories, including politicians and bureaucrats. Rangoli, fancy dress, mango cutout and mango quiz contests will also be organised.

The evening will see a cultural programme and a seminar for mango growers to improve their yield,” the minister explained.

The Secretary, Haryana Tourism, Keshni Anand Arora, said that the mela will be inaugurated by the Haryana Governor, Dr AR Kidwai, while the Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, will be the chief guest at the prize distribution function. 

Ambala, June 28
An anti-encroachment drive was carried out in Barara today. The drive took place in the main market of Barara as well as on Adhoya Road. The drive began in the morning and continued till the evening. Police personnel were present to ensure that no untoward incident took place.

Initially, there was resistance from a couple of shopkeepers. The authorities stated that the drive was being carried out as per relevant orders.

Due to work on the over-bridge, vehicular traffic has been diverted through the main Barara market. Encroachments on the road caused frequent traffic jams. The drive ensured that there was smooth flow of traffic through Barara.

Karnal, June 28
Illegal burning of leaves and other vegetations by private contractors hired by HUDA officials here continues to pose a great threat to NH users. In today's incident lives of commuters on one of the busiest roads of the country remained at stake for more than an hour as thick smoke dotted a large stretch of the highway.

This evening the private contractor at Atal Park, located near the NH-1 executed the burning of wild vegetation.

HUDA had hired the contractors to maintain the spacious park located in Sector 9.

Inquiries made by The Tribune revealed that the practice of burning leaves was going on at different places along the NH.

In the past few weeks The Tribune had reported about the unchecked exercise of burning by the HUDA workers and private contractors.

It may be noted that the apex court has banned the burning of dried fallen leaves as it causes environmental pollution.

But the authorities have failed miserably in checking the nuisance. On Thursday evening workers at Atal Park plucked the wild vegetation and collected it in one corner of the park.

The heaps were burned within the campus that further caused inconvenience to people in the park.

The stretch on the NH near the park remained covered with thick smoke for more than hour. Due to the poor visibility on the road drivers had to slow down suddenly that increased the chances of accidents.

The contractor who was present on the spot admitted that he had ordered to burn the vegetation, including pruned branches and fallen leaves. ‘It is a routine exercise that we collect the vegetation and burn it in the open,'' he said.

Deputy commissioner Balbir Singh Malik assured that a suitable action would taken.

Jhajjar, June 28
A newly wed couple allegedly attempted suicide by consuming sulphos tablets in Bahadurgarh town of the district today.

Devdatt died, while his wife Mamta was admitted to the PGIMS, Rohtak, in a critical condition.

Sources said this was Devdatt’s second marriage and domestic altercation had led to the incident.

This phenomenon of suicide or attempted suicide is being seen quite frequently in the region.

Yamunanagar, June 28 
The district weight and measurements department today challaned two local soft-drink manufacturers for alleged violations of norms. Substandard soft drinks are being openly sold in the markets of Jagadhri and Yamunanagar.

Ashok Bhardwaj of weights and measurements department said two factories manufacturing soft drinks were challaned today as those were found violating norms. The challans were issued under the Standards of Weight and Measures Act. Such soft drinks were available in polythene pouches and sold for as low as Re 1. 

Ambala, June 28
A woman was robbed of Rs 10,000 cash outside the Allahabad Bank on Nicholson Road, Ambala Cantonment, this morning.

The incident took place when the victim, Parvati, after withdrawing Rs 10,000 from the Punjab National Bank, was on her way to the Allahabad Bank. Just outside Allahabad Bank, two youths snatched the bag containing the cash and reportedly sped away on a motorcycle.

Parvati raised a hue and cry and the police was informed about the incident. The matter is being investigated.

Three persons have been arrested in a petrol pump looting case.<p>Talking to mediapersons here today, superintendent of police Ambala Sandeep Khirwar stated that the three accused were arrested from Dera Bassi and Chandigarh. He said the trio was wanted in several criminal cases in Haryana and Punjab as well. Police teams are being sent to track down associates of these three persons, the SP said.

Khirwar said the three persons are: Bindra of Barnala, Raja of Jind and Gurvinder Singh alias Bindu of Ambala. 

Khirwar, who recently took over as the superintendent of police, said there would be no compromise with law and order and action would be taken against any person found disturbing the peace of the public.