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Delhi
Test
UPA govt set to fall: Bishnoi
N-Deal
Uneasy calm in Dabwali,
curfew relaxed
‘Naam charcha’ passes off peacefully
Dera panels to meet tomorrow
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Malaria, jaundice grip Fatehabad
Rain brings misery for farmers
TB patient’s family gets financial aid
Reject latest draft of WTO, BKU tells PM
5 looters get 10-yr RI
Youth shot dead
Man gets 7-yr jail for culpable homicide
Magsaysay awardee stresses on tree plantation
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New equations emerge in state
Yoginder Gupta Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 20 This in brief sums up the political equations in Haryana 48 hours before the UPA government will face the voting on the crucial confidence motion in the Lok Sabha. According to information received here, Arvind Sharma met Sonia at her residence in Delhi today after he was “persuaded” by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda at a late night meeting yesterday. Though crisis managers of the Congress are confident that Arvind would vote in favour of the confidence motion, those who know him say it is not certain what stand Arvind would take finally. Interestingly, Arvind did not attend a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi tonight. Informed sources say the “change of heart” came after Arvind got a feedback from his supporters that the BSP support to him might not help him in retaining the Lok Sabha seat in the next elections. All efforts to contact Arvind on the telephone were in vain. While his mobile was “unreachable”, telephone attendants at his Karnal and Delhi residences were “not aware” of his whereabouts. In an important development, the BJP today invited Bishnoi to a dinner hosted by the party’s Prime Minister-designate L.K. Advani. According to the sources, Bishnoi was contacted by a number of senior BJP leaders, including V.K. Malhotra. Accepting the invitation, the patron of the Haryana Janhit Congress assured the BJP leaders that he was not open for sale and he would definitely vote against the UPA government on the confidence motion. The BJP’s invitation to Bishnoi to the dinner has opened up a possibility of a tie-up between him and the national party in Haryana. Already a section of the Haryana BJP, which is opposed to an alliance with the INLD of Om Prakash Chautala, is pleading with its high command to enter into an electoral alliance with the HJC of Bishnoi. In a bid to mollify Mayawati, secretary-general of the INLD and elder son of Chautala Ajay Singh, along with Tarlochan Singh, former chairman of the National Minorities Commission, met her at her Delhi residence today. The BSP is opposed to a tie-up with the INLD in Haryana. Ajay Singh and Tarlochan Singh, both Rajya Sabha members, had gone to Mayawati’s residence as part of the group of UNPA leaders, of which the INLD is a member. Another UNPA leader Chandrababu Naidu has already stated that Mayawati can head the UNPA. Tarlochan Singh was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Haryana as an Independent with the support of the INLD. With the INLD moving closer to Mayawati, the chances of the BJP preferring Bishnoi over Chautala have brightened.
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UPA govt set to fall: Bishnoi
Narnaund (Hisar), July 20 Addressing a rally here, he said the “anti-people policies” and conduct of Congress politicians at the Centre as well as Haryana had created a wrong impression in the mind of the common man. He would change this by working according to the wishes of the people. Bishnoi said he was offered the post of a minister as well as a bribe to buy his silence after he raised a banner of revolt against Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. His father Bhajan Lal was offered the post of Governor. However, he spurned these offers and chose to launch a political struggle after people told him that they had voted for the Congress because of Bhajan Lal and not Hooda. Later, talking to newspersons, he said he would vote against the UPA government in Tuesday's test of strength in the Lok Sabha. He said the Manmohan Singh government was bound to fall although it was currently engaged in “buying the support of MPs”. He reiterated that he was offered Rs 100 crore and the post of a minister if he agreed to vote for the UPA government. Bishnoi said Karnal MP Arvind Sharma’s sudden love for the BSP was merely a “political gimmick”. He said if he was truly hurt by Congress policies, he should have quit long ago. He said he was opposed to the nuclear deal because the Prime Minister had not cleared the doubts in the public mind. He alleged the Chief Minister was only investing public funds in Rohtak district at the cost of the rest of Haryana. He said this was wrong and people would not forgive him for this discrimination.
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It will survive: Cong
Sonepat, July 20 Talking to mediapersons here, Sharma defended the nuclear deal, saying that it would help meet the energy requirements of the country. To a question about Arvind Sharma, MP from Karnal who had reportedly decided to vote against the UPA government, Sharma said Arvind Sharma was in the Congress and was in Delhi. He took exception to the statement of Kuldeep Bishnoi, suspended Congress MP, that he was offered Rs 100 crore to vote in favour of the UPA government, and said no such offer had been made. Later, Sharma and others leaders addressed a workers’ meeting and exhorted them to educate people regarding the nuclear deal. |
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Cong misleading people: Left
Our Correspondent
Fatehabad, July 20 Titled “The present political crisis and the Left parties”, the main speakers at the convention were Surinder Malik, a member of the state secretariat of the CPM, and Raghubir Singh, a member of the state secretariat of the CPI. They alleged that the Congress was responsible for the present political crisis being faced by the country. “The Congress has been misleading people on the nuclear deal. It is giving an impression as if people will receive electricity immediately after the deal. However, the truth is that nuclear power plants take several years before electricity can be produced,” said Malik. Raghubir Singh said the Congress seemed to be worried more about the US than the country's interests. He said the people should not view the trust vote merely as a number game, but should see the larger questions involved with it which had forced the Left parties to withdraw support to the UPA government.
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Uneasy calm in Dabwali,
curfew relaxed
Dabwali (Sirsa), July 20 A number of traders opened their shops against the curfew order and people came out for buying articles here this morning. The administration pressed the public address system into service, asking people to remain indoors. Meanwhile, for the first time after the curfew orders came into force after the clash between Dera Sacha Sauda followers and Sikhs on July 18, the curfew was relaxed from 1 pm to 5 pm here today. A meeting of the Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Sabha (GGSSS), Haryana, was organised after the completion of “chautha” of Harmandar Singh at Vishwakarma Gurdwara. Consequently, it constituted a 15-member committee under the leadership of its state president Sukhwinder Singh Khalsa. He said “antim ardas” of the deceased would be organised at Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Dabwali, on July 27. He warned that they would be forced to launch an agitation if the government failed to arrest those involved in the killing of Harmandar after July 27. The Sirsa bandh call for July 21 had been withdrawn, he said, adding that they would peacefully hold a protest on July 23. He flayed the comments of dera spokesperson Aditya Insaan that he, some leaders and supporters with him were “Khalistani”, who favoured separate state for Sikhs. He said these allegations were being levelled in order to misguide the public and divert their attention. “Contrary, heinous cases were registered against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh,” he said. He said the GGSSS was constituted to stop disrespect to Guru Granth Sahib. About the July 18 rampage in Dabwali, he said no loss to government property of ordinary public was reported. He said activists had only acted against those people who were involved in the killing of Harmandar Singh. DGP calls for calm Haryana DGP Ranjeev Singh Dalal paid a whirlwind visit to Dabwali here on Sunday. During an informal chat with mediapersons at the PWD rest house here, he appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony. He was accompanied by ADGP (law and order) Veer Bahadur Singh.
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‘Naam charcha’ passes off peacefully
Ratia (Fatehabad), July 20 The police had installed barricades on both sides of the road near the venue to check the entry of unwanted elements near the “satsang ghar”. The “naam charcha” started at 8 am and continued for two hours. A large number of dera followers attended the religious discourse. Not taking any chances in view of the surcharged atmosphere after the Dabwali incident, the police had started its arrangements from 5 am today. Two buses of the Haryana police, an ambulance and a fire engine had been kept in readiness near the venue. Rajinder Singh Gahlot, tehsildar, who had been appointed duty magistrate by the deputy commissioner, was present there. The authorities heaved a sigh of relief after the “naam charcha” passed off peacefully. The dera followers have decided to give a memorandum, addressed to the Governor, to the authorities on July 21, demanding action against those responsible for attack on the “sangat ghar” at Dhukianwali and on dera followers elsewhere. Meanwhile, local Sikh leaders organised “sahej path” at Purana Gurdwara Sahib in the town today for the eternal peace of Harmandar Singh, who was killed during the Dera-Sikh clash in Dabwali on Friday. Joginder Singh Aherwan, state president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, and Ranjit Singh, president of the local gurdwara committee, said the “bhog” of “sahej path” would be held on July 22. He said deliberations on participation in the proposed Haryana-Punjab bandh of July 23 would also be held on that day.
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Dera panels to meet tomorrow
Sirsa, July 20 Addressing a press conference here today, Aditya Insan, spokesperson for the dera, did not rule out the initiation of an aggressive policy. However, he said being a democratic set-up, it rested upon the “sadh sangat” (followers) to take the kind of decision they desired. As per the inner set-up of the dera, the smallest unit consisted of a seven-member committee at block level, 15-member committee at district level and 25-member committee at the state level. He said recurrent attacks on houses of followers of the sect holding “naam charcha” and the failure of the government to safeguard their properties and lives had forced them to call for an urgent meeting of its members. He demanded suitable compensation for those who were injured and had sustained economic losses at Dabwali on July 18. He said the dera had been mulling to extend financial assistance to its followers and the decision would be taken soon. He blamed Sukhbir Singh Badal, president, Shiromani Akali Dal, for hatching a conspiracy against the dera and added that for this he was using Balwant Singh Nandgarh, jathedar, Dam Dami Taksal, Sukhwinder Singh Khalsa, Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Sabha, and Baljit Singh Dadu of Sant Samaj.
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Malaria, jaundice grip Fatehabad
Fatehabad, July 20 Tohana subdivision is the worst affected area of the district, where cases of jaundice and malaria abound. Such is the gravity of the eruption of jaundice (infective hepatitis) in Tohana that three staff members of the general hospital here, including two nurses, are also down with the disease. The civil surgeon has said not even a single case of jaundice has been reported in the district during this year though three of his own staff members have been suffering from it. “Almost three to four cases of jaundice and two to three cases of malaria have been coming to the general hospital daily,” said Dr Joginder Singh, senior medical officer, general hospital, Tohana. “Even our staff members have been infected by hepatitis. Two staff nurses and another staff member have been suffering from jaundice,” he added. Supply of contaminated water is said to be behind the spread of jaundice, which is a waterborne disease. Mixing of sewer contents with potable water is being termed as the reason of contamination. Sources said sewer lines leaked at several places due to which waste matter got mixed with potable water supply through rusty water pipes at several places. The SMO confirmed that potable water being supplied to the taps of public was contaminated. “The reports of samples of potable water recently taken from the general hospital complex, bus stand, grain market and the residence of an officer confirmed the presence of coliform bacteria in water. It also said the water was unfit for human consumption,” said Dr Joginder Singh. The situation in Fatehabad town is no better, where cases of malaria, viral fever and gastroenteritis abound in government and private hospitals. Dr H.C. Dahiya, a local physician, confirmed that his hospital had been receiving such patients in large numbers almost daily. “The hot and humid atmosphere of these days is best suited for the growth of bacteria and virus. Unhygienic food and water are the main reasons for the spread of jaundice and gastroenteritis,” said Dr Dahiya. Dr Vijay Jain, senior medical officer, Ratia, has confirmed that cases of malaria and viral fever have been coming to the government hospital but said there were lesser number of cases of malaria this month as compared to the previous month. “The health authorities have been taking samples of patients suffering from fever and we have found 19 cases of malaria in Bhirdana, three in Lalwas and seven cases in Mehmadki,” said Dr Jain. Interestingly, civil surgeon J.K. Bishnoi said not a single case of jaundice had been reported in the district so far in the current fiscal. He averred that 752 cases of malaria, 452 of gastroenteritis and 600 cases of viral fever had been reported in the district during the current year starting from April. |
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Rain brings misery for farmers
Sonepat, July 20 The villages included Lath, Joli, Katwal, Rindhana, Dhanana, Banwasa, Chhapra, Garhwal and Bhawar. Rain has also led to the shortage of fodder as the accumulated water in the fields had destroyed the crops in these areas. Moreover, farmers fear that the area will not be available even for sowing of wheat crop due to waterlogging. Farmers of the area alleged that pumping sets installed for draining out the accumulated water had not been working properly and disruptions in power supply had also been hampering the draining out process. Farmers of Dhanana village alleged that the bed-level of the Lakhan Majra drain was higher than that of submerged fields and there was no proper flow of water in the drain from the fields. They demanded construction of a permanent pump house and installation of diesel-run pumping sets so that the draining out process could be continued un-interrupted. Farmers of these villages have also urged the district administration to carry out special girdawari of the affected fields. They demanded that affected farmers should be given compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre.
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TB patient’s family gets financial aid
Rewari, July 20 The DC said Shanker would be given free of cost treatment at the Civil Hospital here. The Chief Minister had conveyed the above directive to the DC after reportedly going through a report, which appeared in a Hindi daily here today, regarding the alleged mortgage of Bahadur’s teenaged daughter Uma (19) for Rs 6,000 to Sharda Devi in Mohalla Nai Abadi here and also the alleged sale of his 3-year-old son Ram Bahadur for a paltry sum of Rs 50 to a rich childless woman of Gurgaon recently by Kanta Devi to garner money for her husband’s treatment here. Debunking the above report, DC Chander Prakash said Sharda had given Rs 6,000 to Kanta by way of financial assistance while Kanta’s daughter Uma got married to Sharda’s son Natwar in a routine manner here recently. Simultaneously, rubbishing the report regarding the alleged sale of her son, the DC said the woman had virtually adopted the boy. Owing to the increasing severity of his ailment, Shanker, a native of Nepal, who had been living here for the past several years, lost his job in a cinema hall here recently, following which utter penury gripped the family. Under such circumstances, Kanta was not only finding it difficult to get treatment for her ailing husband, but was also not able to feed her family of four children - Uma (19), Rohit (6), Ram Bahadur (3) and Megha (1). |
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Reject latest draft of WTO, BKU tells PM
Jind, July 20 The state unit has also asked the UPA government to issue a “white paper” regarding the gains and losses experienced by the country since the Doha round of talks, before making any commitment at the proposed meeting. The union has also demanded to raise the MSP of rice to Rs 1,580 per quintal. In a statement issued here on Friday, a spokesperson for the BKU, Haryana, described the contents of the latest WTO draft as totally against the interests of the agricultural sector here and claimed that supporting any such move would come as “betrayal” to the farmers’ interests. It claimed that the revised draft of the agreement on agriculture (AOA) was favourable for the farming interests of developed countries with no scope of any restraint on the liberalised subsidies there and which still retained the imbalances in the interests of the farmers of the developing countries. The union said the draft of the AOA had been a major setback to countries like India, as the provisions of the “special products” and “special safeguard mechanism” had been highly discriminatory. |
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5 looters get 10-yr RI
Kaithal, July 20 Two others, who helped the accused in committing the crime, have been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and fined Rs 1,000 each. The court has also ordered that if the five convicts failed to pay the fine, they will have to undergo a further imprisonment for a year and the two accused will undergo a three-month imprisonment. Truck driver Baldev Singh had lodged a complaint on November 11, 2006. He said he along with a cleaner was carrying a truck loaded with Basmati rice. A car with beacon on top signalled them to stop near Mohna village on the Kaithal-Karnal road. A man in khaki clothes asked them to produce their documents. Meanwhile, other occupants of the car got down and overpowered him. The accused drove the truck towards Nissing and later dropped him in a sugarcane field. A case was registered against the unknown criminals. Later, the police arrested seven persons identified as Maluk Singh, a resident of Fatehgarh, Harminder Singh of
Karu, Manpreet of Amloh, Swaran and Sunil of Pipli and Balbir and Ajmera of Karnal. The former five have been sentenced to a 10-year RI. |
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Youth shot dead
Hisar, July 20 He was attending his brother’s wedding reception in Community Centre of Urban Estate II when four youths came there. They touched the feet of the parents of the victim and joined the celebrations. After a dance, they asked Sandeep to accompany them. When he did not return till late in the night, the family informed the police, which in turn said that a bullet-ridden body had been found on the Raipur road. The family members identified him as Sandeep. Two of the four youths who took him along had been identified as Sandeep Sheokand and Rajesh Sihag. It is learnt that one of these youths had been harassing a girl in the colony to which the victim had objected. SP B. Satish Balan said the murderer had been identified as Sandeep Sheokand.
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Man gets 7-yr jail for culpable homicide
Jhajjar, July 20 The court ordered that the convict would have to undergo an additional imprisonment for four and a half years if he failed to pay the fine. The police had registered a case against Jaikaran on the complaint of Santlal’s wife, Santosh, on August 19, 2006. In her complaint, Santosh had alleged that her husband was killed by Jaikaran over a monetary dispute. Before murdering Santlal, Jaikaran took him to his farm, where both of them consumed liquor. She said Jaikaran allegedly attacked her husband with a sharp-edged weapon and dumped the body in fields. The body was found lying in a pool of blood the next morning. Later, Jaikaran was arrested by the police and a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was registered against him. |
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Magsaysay awardee stresses on tree plantation
Sonepat, July 20 He said he started his water conservation programme in 1984 from Gopalpur village. Gradually this programme was extended to 80 villages of the state and in the third phase, as many as 1,058 villages were covered under the programme. He stressed the need for making tree plantation a public movement and praised the “taru yatra” programme of afforestation launched by the district administration. |
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