Chandigarh, May 12
Politics has its own strange ways and the byelection in Adampur has come with a dilemma for Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan. To campaign or not is a big question for him. Canvassing in the constituency for Congress candidate Ranjit Singh would translate into campaigning against his own father, former Chief Minister and Haryana Janhit Party (BL) candidate Bhajan Lal.

Though the Deputy Chief Minister has, time and again, reiterated his commitment to the Congress and has even been supportive of the policies of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, this election has certainly landed him in political hot water.

His commitment to the Congress has been evident from his alienating himself from younger brother Kuldeep Bishnoi’s new outfit, distancing himself from Bishnoi’s utterances and praising Hooda and his policies. However, despite this difference in political ideology, theirs continues to be a strongly knit family, unlike the Chautalas where all three brothers are “fighting” their own battles. This is another reason why the Deputy CM’s campaign plan is being watched with greater interest.

Chander Mohan was not available for comment on when he intended to begin campaigning and whether or not he intended going to Adampur. Sources close to him said he was not well at the moment and ruled out any campaigning in the next three days. After that, too, they said the Deputy Chief Minister would go to the constituency assigned to him by the party. They maintained that a number of other ministers too were yet to open their account in the byelection.

Sources in the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee confirmed that the Deputy Chief Minister had not been assigned any particular constituency like other ministers or parliamentary secretaries. They added that he had been left free to chalk out his own programme since he, like the Chief Minister, was expected to visit the three constituencies and campaign for the Congress candidates.

While Chander Mohan’s predicament is limited to campaigning in Adampur for the time being, sources say Bishnoi’s entry into the Vidhan Sabha, as was initially expected, would have come as a greater embarrassment for him.

It is learnt that Bishnoi was almost ready to take the plunge in state politics and enter the Vidhan Sabha by fighting from Adampur. He had received staunch support from within his outfit by way of statements from his party men. However, then, too, elder brother Chander Mohan was in favour of his father fighting the byelection instead of Bishnoi who was keen to contest from the seat.

Adampur (Hisar), May 12
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is making a determined bid to win over voters of the Adampur assembly segment on the plea that a victory for the Congress nominee will open the floodgates of development in the area.

On his second whirlwind tour of the constituency today he addressed several election meetings in the constituency.He dangled the carrot before the voters and said if they wanted development, they should elect a Congress legislator.

He said in fact his party's main poll plank was development and the opposition had no issue against his government. "I wasn't just lucky to become the Chief Minister. I got to where I am today because of my loyalty and long-standing association with the party", he said.

Hooda said after becoming the Chief Minister he was running the government competently and all sections of society had benefited from government policies. He said his government had formulated long-term plans for ending power shortage in the state and work was in progress on several power projects. In the next few years, there would be no paucity of power.

The Chief Minister claimed he had toured all three assembly constituencies which go the polls on May 22 and on the basis of first- hand information he was certain that the Congress would win in all of them.

He said Bhajan Lal remained the Chief Minister for over a decade and yet the Adampur constituency was among the poorly developed. It was now a golden opportunity for the voters to reap the benefits of development by voting for his party on the basis of his performance as head of government.

Adampur (Hisar), May 12
CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury today justified supporting the Congress at the centre and opposing its nominee in the Adampur bypoll saying the support was a necessity to keep communal forces out of power in the country, but the party wanted to start the process of rebuilding India with people’s support.

Addressing an election meeting in Neoli Kalan village of the constituency he said the Left parties had a new vision for the country and it could not be realised unless there were drastic changes in political and economic policies.

Yechury said there were two sides of modern India: the shining India and the writhing India. This disparity could only be removed through new policies for the poor and the common man.

While the Left backed the Congress to keep out communal parties, it wanted to boost the number of its elected representatives to achieve this purpose. He said bad governance had to make way for good governance.

He said the Left opposed the Congress to keep it on the pro-people track and it opposed it whenever it found that the Congress was pursuing policies which were not in the national or common man's interest.

He said the rise of multinationals in the country spelt doom for the poor and the common man. The MNCs were responsible for the demise of the traditional job market and the small-scale sector in the country. This had damaged the socio-economic fabric of Indian society.

Commenting on the politics of "Lals" in Haryana, Yechury said he was here to add another "lal" in the form of the CPM's red colour flag. He appealed to the people to vote for this "Lal".

The CPM leader was here to campaign for party nominee Parbhat Singh who is pitted against former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, former finance minister Sampat Singh and Congress nominee Ranjit Singh. He was accompanied by Haryana CPM state secretary Inderjit Singh, among others. 

Gohana, May 12
Canvassing for the forthcoming Gohana by-election assumed a feverish pitch today with young Turks of all major parties sweating to woo the electors despite the hot weather.

The young leaders campaigned for their respective candidates in different villages where they addressed a series of public meetings, besides attending “tea-parties” at the homes of their supporters.

Security arrangements in and around the township have been beefed up to prevent any untoward incident in view of the approaching elections. No clash among the workers of different parties was reported, though the atmosphere remained politically charged.

While Congress MP Deepender Hooda and Haryana minister Randeep Surjewala surprised the villagers by arriving in a self-driven vehicle, Deepender even drove a tractor to strike a chord with the masses.

Their hectic tour comprised a series of poll meetings at village chaupals and other venues.

“These elections are not merely for electing your MLA, but for strengthening the hands of your Chief Minister. The development carried out during the tenure of Bhupinder Singh Hooda is before you,” Deepender said at a meeting. Randeep also sought votes for Congress nominee Jagbi Malik.

On the other hand, INLD general secretary Ajay Singh Chautala maintained that no development had taken place during Hooda’s tenure. Addressing a news conference here today, he dared the Chief Minister to hold an open debate over the issue.

Alleging that the government machinery was being misused by the ruling Congress in the election campaign, Chautala asserted that the officials favouring the Congress have been identified and would be dealt with at appropriate time. He sought votes for INLD candidate K.C.Bangar.

During his campaign tour, Haryana Janhit Congress chief Kuldeep Bishnoi said the Hooda government had failed on all fronts and the people of the state were fed up with the functioning of the government.

He urged the people to support his party in their struggle against the Congress “misrule”.

Dera Sikligar (Indri), May 12
Even as Indri is geared up for the assembly bypoll, a population of nearly 4,000 landless nomad residents living permanently in a cluster here are not much enthusiastic to cast their votes.

For these families living in straw hutments, fresh water supply and healthcare facilities are still a distant dream.

They term the byelections as just another occasion of “speeches and sham promises”. They rather demand an improvement in their living conditions.

Located at a distance of about 18 km from Indri, the dera is a part of the nearby Bibipur Bhramnan village panchayat. There are nearly 2,100 voters from the nomad community, who solely depend upon making “tasla”.

The families make “taslas” used mainly in construction works, whereas male members travel to far-off places to sell them.

When The Tribune team visited Dera Sikligar located on the banks of Yamuna river, it gave a look of sheer neglect. Most of the dwellings are made of straws. Sarpanch of the village Dhyan Singh revealed that the residents could not even afford to buy a mud of cart at the rate of Rs 50 to construct a kuchha house.

Though a few dish antennas dot certain households, they did not have access to pucca toilets.

Revealing the poor healthcare scenario, the sarpanch further revealed that only last week two sick children at the dera died due to unspecified reasons.

“The state authorities should pay special attention on hygiene and healthcare facilities,” he appealed. He said none of the villagers had ever visited the inaccessible primary health centre, Khukhani, about 12 km from the dera. The villagers jointly demanded that it should be attached with the nearby Indri CHC for timely medication.

The sarpanch said there were nearly 800 families with 252 (green), 283 (yellow) and 154 (pink) cardholders, adding that their financial and social condition was quite worrisome.

Bulle, a senior member of the dera, said supply lines sans fresh water supply were laid in the village a few days before the announcement of byelections. “It seems that we are required only during the voting season,” he added.

On the positive note, the village children are enthusiastic about education, dramatics and other social activities. Also, village vices like child marriage and intoxication are rare among the villagers, who are ardent nirankaris. Social activist Mahender Kumar said every summer scores of villagers fall ill.

Dhanno Kaur, a middle-aged woman said politicians visit the dera only during the election days but there was no improvement in the living conditions. She demanded the enrollment of old age pensioners.

Chandigarh , May 12
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has accused the Congress government of adopting unconstitutional and undemocratic tactics in the three Assembly by-elections being held in the state. The INLD has also requested the Election Commission to take immediate notice of the “autocratic and despotic attitude” of the government.

In a statement issued here today, INLD secretary-general and Rajya Sabha member Ajay Singh Chautala accused the Congress of applying unfair means to pressurise the electorate. He alleged that the Congress was using “highly objectionable” methods to garner support for its candidates in Adampur, Gohana and Indri.

Chautala claimed that government employees and their families, belonging to these constituencies, were being pressurised by the government to work for the Congress candidates. He alleged that even panchs and sarpanchs belonging to the INLD were being hassled to support Congress candidates.

Government officers were threatening the panchs and sarpanchs that action would be taken against them, if they continued to support the INLD. He also stated that the panchayat members were so terrorised that some of them had even gone underground. In certain cases police men in plain clothes had been deputed to keep watch on them. He said the Hooda government had threatened the officials with transfers to distant places.

Sirsa, May 12
Residents of Dhing Taniya village forced the education department to withdraw transfer orders of a social studies teacher from the government school near here today. Learning about the transfer of Krishna Bana, villagers led by its sarpanch gathered in front of the school.

Raising slogans against the functioning of the education department and the government, they locked the school building and refused to relent even after numerous assurances by the senior staff of the school. The deadlock continued for some hours, which hampered the daily functioning of the school. DEO Satnam Kaur said she reached the school along with Bana who resumed her duty. 

Kurukshetra, May 12
Agitated over the transfer order of a popular village principal, the womenfolk of Kanipala village joined schoolgirls of the Government High School, who had locked the main gate of the school demanding cancellation of the order. High drama unfolded today at the school as news of the transfer of headmaster Ram Pal Siroha to Mewat district was broken to the students.

Infuriated women and schoolgirls resorted to locking the school and raised slogans demanding cancellation of the transfer orders of the headmaster, who was held in high esteem by them for his untiring efforts to promote education among the village children.

The protesters had a dispute with the district education officer Saroj Lohchab holding her responsible for the principal’s transfer. The agitated women alleged that the principal was transferred as he did not get some teachers adjusted on the recommendation of the education officer.

As the school gates remained closed, the district education officer and Thanesar SDM Ashok Bansal rushed to the spot and assured that their demand would be sent to the government. — UNI

Karnal, May 12
The Karnal police today arrested Satbir, another relative of Sunita, in the Balla honour killings case.

Satbir has been sent on a 14-day judicial custody by the illaqa magistrate at Assandh today. This is the fifth arrest in connection with the murder of Sunita and Jasbir.

The couple was allegedly strangled on Friday by the girl’s family and their bodies were kept outside her residence at Balla village, near Assandh.

Meanwhile, a mahapanchayat was organised today at the Jat-dominated Balla village reportedly to "discuss" the killings and its aftermath. According to the information, a panel of 47 members from different communities has been chosen to take "further course of action".

It is also learnt that the committee would discuss the issue at the village chaupal tonight and make its views public on Tuesday. The participating members refused to share the information. Certain members at the panchayat aired their views against the media for highlighting the issue.

They termed it as undue "interference" in the social set up of villages.

Though villagers from the nearby villages also attended the meeting, family of Jasbir was not invited. Sushil, brother of the deceased, confirmed over telephone that none of his family members were invited for the mahapanchayat.

Questions have also been raised on the timing of the mahapanchayat. Sushil stated that the family was finding it hard to fight for justice. He also alleged that money and pressure were playing factors in the whole issue.

Panipat, May 12
The much talked about Panipat flyover is ready for the vehicular traffic and is likely to be opened to the general public in the first week of June.

The flyover, which has been completed eight months ahead of schedule, is now waiting for a final nod from government agencies.

Cabinet minister for transportation Mange Ram Gupta and other senior officials of the PWD (B&R) department are scheduled to inspect the bridge on May 14, after which a formal date for the inauguration will be announced.

However, the NHAI authorities have refused to approve the demand of double service lanes on both sides of the flyover citing technical hitches.

Residents of the city had been demanding that double service lanes be built on both sides of the bridge to enable locals to assess the main road so that they need not cover long distances.

Deputy commissioner Mohinder Singh said the administration had taken up the matter to the highest level but till date a positive response in this regard was still awaited. The NHAI officials had expressed reservations on this account stating that amendments in the proposed plan were not possible at this stage.

The construction of the Rs 325 crore flyover has been executed by L&T Panipat Elevated Corridor Pvt Ltd on a built-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.

Though, the 3.4 km elevated stretch will ease traffic congestions in the city, the locals have expressed displeasure over the charging of toll from them.

Residents said even if they not use the flyover to commute within the city, they would have to pay the toll, which was completely unjustified.

Due to the concerns shown by the residents, the government had decided to charge only 25 per cent of toll from the locals, who would also have the facility to avail a daily pass at a concession, the DC said.

Yamunanagar, May 12
A day after the nurse, who was allegedly gang-raped, tore off her kurta at the city police station here, the police arrested two persons, including a woman.

The nurse too has been booked for creating public nuisance, obscenity and attempt to commit suicide under Sections 290, 294 and 309 of the IPC.

Superintendent of police Dr C.S. Rao today called a press conference to explain why there was delay in the arrest of the accused.

According to him, the nurse did not cooperate with the police in identifying the crime scene. On May 10, she met DSP R.S. Yadav, who assured her of swift action. However, yesterday she created a scene at the police station.

The SP said a medical examination of the victim had been performed and forensic examination report was awaited. He said the victim did not identify the other accused and the police would be arresting the remaining after the interrogation of the two arrested.

Dr Rao said the police was prompt in its action. The nurse gave the statement about the alleged rape on May 7 and the police had registered a case under Sections 376 (G) (1) of the IPC the same day.

“She kept delaying in telling the police about the crime scene and that was why there was delay in the arrest. She showed the crime spot yesterday and we made the two arrests”, he added.

Sonia, the woman who had taken the nurse to her husband’s house on the evening of the alleged rape, and her husband, Balwinder, alias Goldy, have been arrested.

The court has sent the two to a one-day police remand.

Sonia had also made a complaint with the police that Satish Kumar, alias Bitu, driver of her husband, was allegedly threatening her. She alleged that she was living with Bitu but after sometime she returned to her husband’s house. She said Bitu could not digest when she moved back to her husband’s house and he started threatening her.

The police has also booked Bitu under Sections 323, 452 and 506 of the IPC.

Gurgaon, May 12
A strong dust storm that hit the area last night affected power supply to more than two dozen villages in Pataudi and Bhoara Kalan subdivisions as a large number of electric poles and some transformers were damaged, which led to the problem of drinking water in the area.

According to official information, around 85 electric poles were uprooted that snapped transmission lines in both the subdivisions. Besides, 3 transformers were damaged in Pataudi. Therefore, there was no power supply from Jatola and Sapanka feeders. Villages in Pataudi area suffered more as most of the poles were reportedly damaged here.

Since there is no immediate hope of restoration of power and water supply, people of these villages feel helpless in the face of nature’s fury.

“We were already facing power shortage and nature has added to our woes,” said villagers, who approached Pataudi SDO today for early restoration of power supply.

Executive engineer N.L. Dubey said since it was a large-scale damage, the necessary repair work might take 2 to 3 days. He assured that the department would do everything to resume normal supply as early as possible.

Yamunanagar, May 12
Family members and relatives of Preeto Devi (47) of Pinjora village, who had died yesterday when five persons had attacked her family, today obstructed traffic on the NH-73 near Rakshak Vihar Chowk here by placing the body on the road. They were demanding the arrest of the accused.

The body was handed over to the family members after a postmortem examination, but when the family came to know that the five accused named in the FIR have not been arrested, they obstructed the traffic on the road for more than two hours.

During obstruction, long queues of vehicles were seen on the road.

Pala Ram, husband of the deceased, said the accused had a patronage of a former MLA and the police was not arresting the accused because of his “political” contacts.

The blockade was lifted when the police officials assured them of action.

As per the postmortem report, Preeto Devi died of head injury.

Gurgaon, May 12
It is going to be a long and messy task for the district administration as more than half lakh poor and Scheduled Caste families have applied for free residential plots to be given under a state government scheme announced last year.

Under the scheme, eligible families would be given free plots of 100 sq yards from the available shamlat land in 280 villages of the district. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had announced it in the presence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi at a public meeting organised in Jharli village in Jhajjar district in October last year.

The district administration on Friday set a month’s target to scrutinise 52,873 applications received by it. The last date of receiving applications was March 31, 2008.

Gurgaon led all blocks of the district with 19,820 applications. Pataudi, Sohna and Farukhnagar blocks followed with 12,050, 11,962 and 9,041 applications, respectively.

Setting the scheme in motion, the principal secretary, development and panchayat department, had issued a letter to all deputy commissioners on February 1, 2008, to complete the process of identifying the land by March 15, 2008. But the land meant for the purpose has been identified in about 200 villages so far.