 |
|
|
New entry tax for goods
Newlywed found dead near rail track
Budget Debate
Haali’s haveli to be handed over to trust
Sayeda Hamid, granddaughter of Altaaf Hussein Haali and member of the Planning Commission, addresses the gathering at a function held in memory of Haali in Panipat on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph
Rural watchmen seek minimum wages
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Legal awareness cells for senior secondary schools
District and Sessions Judge H.P. Singh and deputy commissioner V. Umashankar flag off the all-women mobile PCR at Sirsa on Wednesday. Photo by Sushil Manav
Medical camp organised
On bail in firing case, man shot at
Decision to privatise govt schools draws flak
12 men try to molest teenager, thrash labourers
HAU teachers hold protest
Wanted man nabbed
High
Court
Appropriation bill passed
Rohtak incident figures in house
Freedom fighter cremated
Erratic Power Supply
Undertrial flees
|
|
New entry tax for goods
Chandigarh, March 19 Replying to INLD legislator Sushil Indora’s question during question hour in the assembly, Birender Singh said the entry tax was being introduced to make up for the shortfall in the revenue collection from the local area development tax (LADT) as a result of a Supreme Court directive. The finance minister said while the government was expecting to collect about Rs 400 crore from the LADT in 2007-08, it could so far collect only about Rs 38 crore from the tax. Revenue collection came down drastically after the apex court restrained the state government from collecting the tax from some industrialists who had challenged the action in the SC, Birender Singh said. In response to a question asked by Sita Ram of the INLD, Birender Singh said there was no question of the abolition of the LADT as the court was yet to give its final verdict on the issue. “We have been stopped from collecting the tax from the parties who have petitioned the court. From the rest we can take the tax”, the finance minister said. Indora had earlier walked out of the house with his colleagues to protest against Speaker Raghubir Singh Kadiyan, who had come down rather heavily on Indora for the show of surprise by the latter at the fourth successive opportunity given to Congress member Karan Dalal to ask supplementary questions on an issue that showed INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala in poor light. The original question on income tax department actions against Gopal Goyal, an alleged associate of the INLD chief, was also put by Dalal. Each time Dalal was asking supplementary questions, he was letting out a volley of criticism against Chautala, who had by that time left the house after making a brief appearance. As the INLD legislators were leaving the house, Ramkumar Gautam of the BJP was the first to stand up to pull up the passing brigade. After the INLD members left the house, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda got up and started criticising the opposition legislators for not remaining in the house. Even before Hooda could complete his speech, Indora returned to the assembly. His colleagues later joined him. Indora’s question on the LADT soon came, and Birender Singh said the present government was splitting the LADT money fifty-fifty between the rural and urban areas. He said “some big industrialists” had challenged the LADT in the court forcing the state government to introduce the entry tax. Earlier, the discussion on Karan Dalal’s question on the FIR filed against Gopal Goyal by the IT department saw Ramkumar Gautam remembering Bollywood villain Amrish Puri. Not to be outdone, Dalal chose underworld don Daud Ibrahim to lace his attack against Chautala. The INLD brigade protested on both occasions. |
|
Newlywed found dead near rail track
Yamunanagar, March 19 In the evening, parents and relatives of Neelam reached here from Amritsar and demanded action against her in-laws. According to them, it was a dowry-related death. They allegedly thrashed some members of Amit’s family at the GRP police post at the Jagadhri railway station. The couple had visited the girl’s family in Amritsar on March 11 and returned on March 13. At around 9.30 this morning,
Babloo, brother-in-law of Neelam, called up her brother Anmol and informed him about the body. In the evening, Anmol, along with his mother, father, sisters and relatives, reached the GRP police post and alleged that Neelam was being asked by her in-laws to bring more dowry and she had been murdered by them. On the other hand, Kanta, mother of Amit, denied the allegations and said till last evening all was well and the entire family had taken dinner together. She said in the morning she was informed by a neighbour about the body. The SHO, GRP (Ambala), reached the spot. No arrests had been made till reports last came in and Amit, husband of Neelam, was admitted to a private hospital (his illness could not be known). |
|
Much ado about nothing
INLD stages walkout Geetanjali Gayatri Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 19 Chautala only made a brief appearance in the House just after the Question Hour and almost left immediately. At the onset of the debate, finance minister Birender Singh said convention had it that usually the leader of the biggest party in the Opposition begins the debate.
At this the Treasury Benches urged INLD’s deputy leader Dr Sushil Indora to shoulder this responsibility. After much dilly-dallying, he finally began his speech, which was punctuated with debates on issues as varied as UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, rising prices of essential commodities, the loan waiver by Devi Lal, a separate high court etc. He began by mentioning that the state coffers were full because the INLD had been insightful enough to impose VAT early on while the Congress contested this claim, adding that they were against implementation of VAT in isolation in the state. Dr Sita Ram reiterated the same point and said the loan waiver of the Central government was no real relief because a majority of the loans were private loans. He said the prices of oil and pulses had gone up and the farmer was in pitiable condition. No amount had been earmarked for the SYL canal in the budget, he added. With none of the senior ministers in the House at that time, minister of state for tourism held fort and demanded to know what the INLD had done for the farmers. Indora, after quoting the Rs 10,000 loan waiver by Devi Lal, quickly switched to question the need for pumping money into the Hansi-Bhutana link canal given the uncertainty about water, he went to the shortage of power, the “controversy” about the Nuclear deal at the Centre, generalisation about poor health and education facilities and just about everything in an apparent attempt to drag the proceedings. The Speaker asked him to hasten “his dheemi gati ka samachar” and speak on the budget or wrap up. Indora asked for more time, and a ‘magnanimous’ ruling party granted it to him. The Chief Minister went to the extent of saying that Indora should be allowed to speak as much as he wants to. The Speaker repeatedly urged him to take time for another day since he was unprepared and Indora continued with his “general” discussion. He was even asked to limit his discussion to the budget only. At the end of nearly one-and-a-half-hours, Indora’s only suggestion to the finance minister was that he should deeply study all projects, make them time-bound and get his act together before the state’s fortunes dipped. BJP’s Ram Kumar Gautam, however, got all the time to condemn Chautala and his working, the poor law and order situation in his time, the back-stabbing of the BJP by Chautala and he even criticised Bhajan Lal and his functioning. He sympathised with the INLD members for being led by the Chautalas, Om Prakash Chautala and his sons. He referred to them as “do quintal ke neta”. Sadhora was named while the INLD men protested to the use of objectionable language for their leader and the silence of the Speaker. The INLD staged a walkout and the discussion on the budget was lost in the dim. Congress MLA Sumita Singh, Amir Chand Makkar and Mahender Chaudhary, however, congratulated the FM on the budget and the forward-looking policies.
|
||
|
Haali’s haveli to be handed over to trust
Panipat, March 19 This was stated by Haryana Governor A.R. Kidwai here today at a function organised by the Haryana Sahitya Akademi in memory of the poet. He said the haveli would be handed over to the Haali Panipati Memorial Trust by the state government “to convert it into a house of literary activities of the late poet”. It is believed that the legendary Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib was impressed with Haali’s works and encouraged him to continue writing poetry. At present, the “Haali Sahib ki haveli”, as it is popularly known, is occupied by a Sikh family. To restore the haveli, located near the historical Qualandari Gate, the state government had, in lieu of the house, agreed to allot the Sikh family two houses of 150 sq yards each in the township. On the occasion, scores of poets and literary persons, including a member of the Planning Commission and great granddaughter of the poet, Dr Sayeda Hamid, remembered Haali and opposed any move to construct a shopping mall at Haali Park in Model Town. Kidwai called for translating the literary works of Haali in Hindi and other regional languages. He also assured a Panipat poet to get his translated work published by the Ghalib Institute to popularise Haali’s poetry. ADGP and director, HPA, Madhuban, V.N. Rai said Haali had focused on sensitive topics like universalisation of education. Rana Pratap Gannauri said besides his role in the formation of Aligarh Muslim University, Haali had built the first madrasa for women in Panipat. Dr Shubha from MDU said it was painful that Haali's eternal literary work had still not reached the people.
|
|
Rural watchmen seek minimum wages
Rohtak, March 19 Rural watchmen from Faridabad and Gurgaon participated in today’s demonstration. Addressing the protesters, sabha vice-president Janglee Ram said the watchmen had to work round the clock but got only Rs 1,000 as remuneration per month. “We are thankful to the present regime for enhancing our monthly income by Rs 600, but in view of rising prices, even Rs 1,000 a month is not enough to run a family,” he maintained. The union leader demanded that the rural watchmen should be treated as class IV employees. “By the time this demand is met, we may be given Rs 3,510 per month, fixed as the minimum monthly wages by the state government itself,” the protesting watchmen said. The protesters also demanded that they should get salaries through banks or on the production of their identity cards. “Besides, we should get dearness allowance on the pattern of other government employees,” they said, adding that they would be forced to intensify their agitation if their demands were not met. A meeting of the sabha’s state committee is slated to be held here tomorrow to plan the future course of action.
|
|
Legal awareness cells for senior secondary schools
Yamunanagar, March 19 The idea behind the setting up of the cells is to make students aware of their legal rights and duties. A.K Tyagi, member-secretary, Haryana legal services authority, said this while addressing officials of the authority and the health department and lawyers at Jagadhri today. He said officials had been instructed to set up the cells at the earliest. The Haryana government was observing 2008 as the year of
education. The students would be made aware of matters connected with domestic violence, dowry, female foeticide, human rights, fundamental rights, rights of physically challenged persons, the destitute, women and children, drug deaddiction and hygiene. The deputy commissioner's office would bear the cost of the cells. The authority would provide books, booklets and pamphlets to the cells. Legal experts enrolled on a panel would visit the cells at least once a month and educate the
students. The head of the school concerned would be the chairman of the cell and a senior teacher would be the member-secretary. Four students, including two girl students of class XII, the mothers of members of the PTA, the village sarpanch (or an authorised woman panch) or municipal councillor, a male teacher, a female teacher and a lawyer would be members of the cell. |
|
Sirsa gets mobile PCR for women
Sirsa, March 19 In most parts of the country women from good family backgrounds do not want to go to such places even when situations warrant reporting a matter to the police. In the backdrop of this, the district police’s move to set up an all women mobile police control room (PCR) at Sirsa today is a big step towards providing help to women in distress. District and Sessions Judge H.P. Singh and deputy commissioner V. Umashankar flagged off the all women mobile PCR van in presence of SP Vikas Arora, JCD
Vidyapeeth, director general Kuldip Singh Dhindsa, BSNL area manager Gobind Gupta and a large number of women teachers and students. The SP told The Tribune that any woman who wanted to lodge a complaint could call a toll free number 1090 or a mobile number 98963-21001 and PCR would reach the spot. After receiving the complaint of the woman, the PCR team would issue a receipt of the complaint on the spot and after getting the FIR registered hand over a copy of the same to the complainant woman at her place. Arora informed that a team had been appointed for the all women mobile PCR. The SP expressed confidence that crime against women would come down considerably after introduction of the PCR as it would serve as a deterrent to the perpetrators of crimes. |
|
|
Medical camp organised
Fatehabad, February 19 Bhadoo’s NGO had organised a series of community service activities in Bhodia Khera village today. Addressing people in Government College for Women at Bhodia Khera after inaugurating a medical camp organised jointly by the Navyug Nirman and a local NGO
Pahal, Bhadoo said the government alone could not do much unless social organisations and people come forward and join hands in development activities. Dr Renu Bhatia, president of the Pahal (NGO), said her organisation would organise such camps regularly. Senior doctors provided consultation and medicines free of cost. Volunteers of the Navyug Nirmal also took samples of soil from around 200 different places in the vicinity of the village. Meanwhile, Mota Singh, an NRI and councillor of Warwickshire County of the UK, who has recently dedicated a community school in the memory of his son Gilly Mundy to his native village
Lehrian, met Bhadoo today and discussed his dream to set up a community centre-cum-resource centre in the village. Bhadoo will lay the foundation stone of the centre on April 14. |
|
|
On bail in firing case, man shot at
Sonepat, March 19 Sunil, who was seriously injured, was taken to a private hospital by people from where he was referred to Jaipur Golden Hospital in Delhi late at night. By the time the police reached the spot, the miscreants had fled. A case has been registered at the Civil Lines police station against the unidentified persons. As soon Sunil returned to drive his car after purchasing beer from a liquor shop near ITI Chowk last evening around 7.30 pm, two armed youths came near his car and fired at him. The bullets reportedly hit him in the hand and elbow. However, the injured Sunil left the car and managed to give the slip to the miscreants who reportedly chased him till some distance before fleeing. The police said earlier a case had been registered against Sunil for allegedly firing at Vikram of Lahrada village sometime back. He was arrested by the police and later released on bail. |
|
Decision to privatise govt schools draws flak
Sonepat, March 19 Representatives of these organisations have threatened to launch a statewide agitation against the move. At a meeting of the district unit of the SKS here, district president Sheelak Ram said the decision of the state government to hand over the management of 75 primary schools in the state to Foundation Airtell India Company was jan virodhi and it would be opposed. Activists of the district unit of the HRAPS also staged a protest at the mini-secretariat here and announced that if the decision was not taken back by the government within a week, primary teachers would sit in dharna in front of the office of the director of primary education in Chandigarh. Talking to mediapersons at Gohana, president of the district unit of the Haryana School Lecturers Association Surender Narwal asked the government not to privatise the 75 schools of the three districts in the state. Instead of privatising the schools, the government should fill the vacant posts of the teachers and improve infrastructure to get better results, he said, adding that the association along with other associations of teachers would jointly launch an agitation against the decision. |
|
12 men try to molest teenager, thrash labourers
Jind, March 19 The police is yet to registered a case. The labourers, belonging to minority community, hail from Uttar Pradesh. They were working for a contractor. According to reports, the accused had come in a vehicle at a brick kiln located on the outskirts of Igrah village in the district last night. They attempted to molest and abduct the girl and when the girl raised an alarm, the labourers gathered at the spot and opposed the move. But the accused started abusing and threatened them of dire consequences if they opposed them. This resulted in a clash and the culprits started beating them up, said one of the victims. He said the accused did not even spare the women and kids. Many received injuries, including the girl whom they tried to kidnap. The criminals fled away when the police reached the spot. The injured were then shifted to the civil hospital. The victims also got a taste of ‘maltreatment’ at civil hospital here when they were discharged from the hospital at midnight without proper treatment. The authorities readmitted the victims after they staged a protest outside the CMO office with the help of a NGO this morning. |
|
|
HAU teachers hold protest
Hisar, March 19 The demonstration was part of their ongoing protests in support of their demands. They have been staging dharnas for the past few weeks. HAUTA president Kuldeep Deswal and secretary Rakesh Mehra said the authorities had been ignoring the teachers’ demand for the grant of two advance increments when promoted under the merit promotion scheme. The anomalies in the salaries of teachers recruited before and after January 1, 1996, had not been removed so far. Besides, their demand for the regularisation of research associates had also not been met. The age of superannuation for teachers in central universities and other organisations had been raised to 62 years. This benefit had not been extended to HAU teachers. The HAUTA leaders also demanded the withdrawal of the transfer orders, suspension orders and chargesheets issued recently to “harass” teachers. Meanwhile, the officers’ committee of the university has appealed to the HAUTA leadership to end its protest and resolve issues through talks. The panel met this morning and discussed the teachers’ demands. An official press release issued later said most of the demands of HAUTA pertained to the Haryana government and the university had always been taking up these issues with the government on priority. It said the HAUTA protests were unjustified. HAU registrar R.S. Dalal has conveyed the appeal of the officers’ committee to the HAUTA chief . A similar appeal had been made by the varsity administration on March 10 also. |
|
|
Wanted man nabbed
Sirsa, March 19 Sube Singh, alias Subhash, was wanted by the Rajasthan police in two different cases of stealing idols from temples at Khetri (Jhunjhunu) and Bahror in Rajasthan. The district police, according to SP Vikas Arora, had launched a drive to check the credentials of people living in rented accommodation in the district. When the police questioned Sube Singh, who was living at a rented house in the Goushala area of Sirsa town, he could not give satisfactory answers. When the police grilled him further, he revealed that he had been absconding from Rajasthan in two different cases of theft. He told the police that he had escaped from the Rajasthan police custody on September 7, 2006, when the police was taking him for a court appearance at Behror. The police has informed its counterparts in Rajasthan and sent the accused to jail. |
|
Record tampering Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 19 Candidate, Dilbagh Singh, now posted as excise and taxation officer, alleged that the intention was to justify claims made by MLA Karan Dalal in the main petition. Seeking directions for a thorough investigation by some independent agency like the CBI into “loss/intentional” detachment of the map from his geography paper, Dilbagh Singh added he had reasonable apprehension that the state police would not hold free and fair investigation to find out the truth. Taking up Dilbagh Singh’s petition seeking the CBI probe in the matter, Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Jaswant Singh, fixed April 1 as the next date of hearing in the matter.
|
|
|
Appropriation bill passed
Chandigarh, March 19 The house also considered the second report of the business advisory committee (BAC) and agreed to wind up the ongoing session on March 28 instead of March 31 decided at the first meeting of the BAC. |
|
Rohtak incident figures in house
Chandigarh, March 19 Randeep Singh Surjewala, parliamentary affairs minister, said the previous INLD regime had the worst track record as far as the treatment of Dalits was concerned. Hooda said the Congress had always safeguarded the interests of the scheduled castes. |
|
Freedom fighter cremated
Sonepat, March 19 Born on July 17, 1917, Chandan Singh joined the British army. But on the call of Netaji Subhas Chander Bose, he joined the INA. He also served the PNB from 1962 to 1982. For his services, he was honoured with “Tamra Patra” by the Punjab government in 1962; by the Government of India in 1972 and by the Haryana government in
1985. — OC |
|
Residents of CM’s village block road
Tribune News Service
Rohtak, March 19 The protesters raised slogans against the state government and authorities concerned for having failed to ensure regular power supply. Commuters were put to great inconvenience, as the protesters did not allow their vehicles to pass. Finally, a DSP-level official of the police department and senior officials of the power corporation reached out to the protesters and assured them of improving the power supply situation. After much persuasion, the villagers lifted the blockade.
|
|
Undertrial flees
Sonepat, March 19 Vikas, a resident of Rurki village in Rohtak district, is an accused in a number of cases, including those of loot and dacoity. The police has launched a hunt to nab him. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Finally, the ancestral house of Khwaja Altaaf Hussein Haali Panipati
(1837- 1914), famous poet, prolific scholar and Urdu critic, will be handed over to a public trust by this month-end to start restoration work.
