Bhiwani, September 25
Former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today called upon Haryanvis to “throw out the Congress” from the state and at the same time made a slew of promises which he vowed to fulfil if returned to power.

Addressing a “sammaan rally” organised here by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) to mark the birth anniversary of a former Deputy Prime Minister, the late Devi Lal, he said if he came to power, he would ensure that land was acquired only for government use and not for private parties.

He said his government would ban not only SEZs but would also not allow setting up of malls anywhere in Haryana. He warned the Hooda government against allowing any SEZs or malls in Haryana and threatened to create a “Singur” if it did not heed his words.

Chautala said the next INLD government would raise the rates of compensation for acquired land to Rs 1 crore per acre in the NCR and Rs 50 lakh an acre in other areas.

The amount of pensions paid to senior citizens, widows and the handicapped would be raised to Rs 700 a month. Besides, his government would give wheat to the poor at half the MSP announced by the Centre. For instance, he said Haryana would give wheat at Rs 700 per quintal if the MSP was fixed at Rs 1,400.

The INLD leader said his government would reserve 30 per cent of jobs for women. Likewise, his party would reserve tickets for members of the Backward Classes right from the level of a village panch to Lok Sabha.

Chautala said he was sorry if he had made any mistakes in the past. He said he supported the Hansi-Butana link canal project but said the Hooda government was wasting Rs 600 crore as it had not yet explained how it would bring water to the canal.

He said the state had been reeling under severe power and water shortage.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal paid tributes to Devi Lal and described him as the founder and builder of Haryana. He too strongly criticised the Congress for its policies and appealed to the people to vote out the party from both the Centre as well as Haryana.

Former union minister Sharad Pawar said the Congress had helped rich industrialists to purchase highly productive agricultural land in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in areas bordering Delhi.

The party honoured sportspersons for their Beijing Olympics feats. Bronze medallist boxer Vijender was given Rs 25 lakh. Fellow boxers, Akhil Kumar and Jitender, and wrestlers, Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt, received Rs 11 lakh each. Discus thrower Krishna Poonia was given Rs 1 lakh while national boxing coach G.S. Sandhu received Rs 11 lakh.

Sirsa, September 25
Investigation into the allegations of Sewa Singh Bajwa, a lecturer in the journalism and mass communication department of Chaudhary Devi Lal University, against two other teachers of the university failed to make any headway as Bajwa chose to abstain from joining it.

Bajwa, who had gone on two days’ leave on Saturday, was asked to join the investigation in the police station yesterday by Ajay Sharma, SHO of the city police station, who is investigating the matter.

Several prominent persons of the town, who have been functioning as the community liaison group (CLG) for the district police for solving cases of inter-personal disputes, waited for Bajwa for over three hours last evening and again this morning.

“I had informed Bajwa to come to the police station in the evening yesterday and he gave his accent to it. All members of the CLG as well as several teachers of the university waited for him till late hours in the evening, but he did not turn up,” informed Ajay Sharma. Even his mobile was found switched off, he added.

The police today served him a notice under section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code, that empowers the police to require the attendance of witnesses, asking him to appear in the police station at 11 am but he again did not turn up.

The police, according to sources, is finding it difficult to solve this case as Bajwa has not been able to provide any evidence in support of his allegations.

Even the call details of Bajwa’s phone do not support his case, according to the sources.

Interestingly, Bajwa did not make any long duration call after the alleged incident and the first call he made after the alleged incident was a call to order his breakfast, revealed police sources.

Meanwhile, the panel of senior university teachers set up by vice-chancellor K.C. Bhardwaj to look into the matter met today, but no significant progress could be made.

Gurgaon, September 25
The state government has decided to provide insurance cover of Rs 75,000 to workers of unorganised sector and its premium will be paid by the state Labour Welfare Board.

This was disclosed by labour and employment minister A.C. Choudhary while addressing a workshop organised for workers engaged in building and other construction works in Industrial Model Township (IMT), Manesar, today.

The workers would not have to pay even a penny to avail this facility, he said while pointing out that industrialisation was no doubt basis of development of the state but there was nothing precious than the human life.

He said workers of the organised sector could be considered secure to a larger extent because of factory laws and other provisions but the workers of the unorganised sector were as important.

It was towards their welfare that the government constituted the Labour Welfare Board for the first time in the state besides enhancing the limit of minimum wages.

Urging the builders to provide safety to the workers, he warned the builders to face stringent action as per rules if they failed to implement safety measures.

Rohtak, September 25
The issue regarding the alleged illegal suspension of a principal and a lecturer serving at two local colleges run under the aegis of the Jat Education Society here has started gaining momentum.

Another suspended principal of a college run by the society approached The Tribune here today and alleged that he had also been suspended illegally by the society president.

Dr S.K.Malik, principal (under suspension) of All-India Jat Heroes Memorial (AIJHM) College here, maintained that he had been suspended after he refused to be involved in certain unlawful activities and financial irregularities.

“Like the MKJK College principal, Dr Krishna Chaudhary, and AIJHM College lecturer C.V.S. Ahlawat, I have also been suspended illegally and arbitrarily on the basis of concocted charges,” he asserted.

Dr Malik disclosed that he had also given representations against his “illegal” suspension to the director, higher education; the education secretary and other authorities concerned.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Non-Government College Principals Association has demanded a high-level inquiry into the “arbitrary, illegal and unjustified” suspension of Dr S.K.Malik, Principal, AIJHM College, and Dr Krishna Chaudhary, Principal, MKJK College, Rohtak, by the management of the Jat Education Society, Rohtak.

In a statement issued today, the association president, Dr R.R.Malik, and its general secretary, Dr Bala Dhankar, condemned the “undemocratic” functioning of the Jat Education Society, maintaining that the principals were not even given an opportunity of explanation before being suspended.

Dr Malik and Dr Dhankar said a delegation of their association had recently met Haryana education minister Mange Ram Gupta as well as financial commissioner-cum-principal secretary higher education, Rajan Gupta, and demanded that the “illegal” suspension orders of the said principals be revoked.

In a letter to Haryana Governor A.R. Kidwai and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the association had urged them to intervene in the matter and order a thorough probe to bring out the truth, they added.

Chandigarh, September 25
Putting to rest a controversy brought to the fore in at least 44 civil writ petitions against State of Haryana, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that the policy in force at the time of government employees' death, will be applicable while deciding the claims of their dependants.

In all petitions, the material question for determination before the court was whether the policy prevalent at the time of an employee's death, or the one prevalent while deciding his dependent's case, would be applicable for the grant of compassionate appointment or financial assistance.

For reaching the final conclusion, the Division Bench of Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Jitendra Chauhan referred to a number of Supreme Court and high court judgments. The ones taken into consideration include Abhishek Kumar versus State of Haryana and others, Premo Devi versus Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited and another, and Neeraj versus State of Haryana and others.

After reproducing the extracts of the judgments, the Bench observed that the "policy in force at the time of the deceased government employee shall be applicable for determination of the claim of the dependent of the deceased employee".

"All ex-gratia schemes are drawn for the welfare of the bereaved family, whose bread earner has served the state and has died while in service of the state…. So far as the philosophy behind construing a social legislation is concerned, there are no two opinions. Social legislations are primarily meant for the welfare of a particular section of the society, and should be construed liberally so as to advance the cause of the public at large".

Referring to the petition filed by Sheela Devi seeking the appointment of her son in police, Justice Chauhan added: In our considered opinion, the schemes, policies and the rules framed by the state for the dependants of deceased government employees under ex-gratia are in the nature of welfare for the bereaved family of any deceased government employee of Haryana state, who dies in service.

Before parting with the orders, the Judges directed Haryana and others to consider the claim of the petitioners.

Chandigarh, September 25
The Housing Board, Haryana, today rejected the proposal to have general housing projects in Industrial Estate, Barhi (Sonepat) and Growth Centre, Bawal (Rewari). It has been decided that these projects will be meant only for industrial workers in the two townships.

Sources in the Housing Board informed The Tribune that board officials had initially proposed to launch a general housing scheme in the two above-mentioned townships.

The officials had reasoned that a general housing scheme would find more takers. However, the board of directors struck down the proposal, saying that providing housing to the industrial workers here was the prime objective of these schemes, as the land had been allotted to them for this purpose only.

The board had earlier transferred 10 acres in Barhi and five acres in Bawal by the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC).

The Housing Board would construct 800 flats (between 400 - 1200 square feet) in Barhi and 400 flats in Bawal. These schemes would include one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom flats.

Sources said now that the board of directors had cleared that, these housing schemes would be restricted to the industrial workers. They would decide on the pricing and float the scheme by the end of this year. The allotment for these would be made through draw of lots.

The board of directors was also informed that Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has transferred land to the board in Kaithal (7.5 acres), Bahadurgarh (7 acres), Jind (10 acres), Sirsa (20 acres) and Hisar (18 acres) for construction of houses for economically weaker sections. In Bahadurgarh and Kaithal, multi-storeyed housing schemes for slum dwellers would be floated.

Karnal, September 25
Medical services were badly hit as doctors of government and private hospitals and clinics observed a one-day strike to protest against the murder of Dr D.S. Chaudhary in Bhiwani on September 22.

The strike call was given by the Haryana Chapter of Indian Medical Association and all district units responded to the call.

President of the IMA, Karnal, Tajinder Singh said the association presented a memorandum to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda through the deputy commissioner demanding a strict law to deal with people harming the medicos.

He said today’s strike was to express solidarity with the bereaved family members and to condemn the increasing attacks on doctors. Chaudhary, a heart specialist, was shot dead in his private hospital on September 22.

JIND: A majority of private clinics and hospitals in the city remained closed on Thursday in protest against the murder of Dr D.S. Chaudhary.

The doctors under the aegis of the district unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) took out a protest march and submitted a memorandum seeking immediate arrest of the accused and ensuring safety and security of private doctors in the state. A large number of patients were seen outside the government civil hospital and dispensaries.

A member of the IMA claimed that such expression of solidarity of private doctors and clinics was important in view of growing number of incidents of violence.

The memorandum condemned the incident and has asked the state government to ensure the arrest of the accused in shortest possible time period and provide a safe and secure environment to private medical practitioners in the state.

ROHTAK: Members of the local chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have condemned the brutal murder of Dr D.S. Chaudhary of Bhiwani. They have also urged the state government to get the killers of the doctor arrested. The doctors kept their clinics, nursing homes and diagnostic centres closed on Thursday in protest against the incident. They also demanded a Bill for the protection of clinics and nursing homes. Meanwhile, the Mehm branch of the National Integrated Medical Association has also condemned the killing of Dr Chaudhary. Dr Sudesh Sharda, president of the unit, said the local doctors would bear black badges on their sleeves on Friday.

Ambala, September 25
The decision of the Haryana Wakf Board to increase honorarium of Imams from October 1 will bring cheer to about 290 Imams posted in different mosques of the state by the Wakf Board to lead five-time prayers.

Addressing a press conference, Ambala commissioner and administrator of the Haryana Wakf Board Mohinder Kumar disclosed this here today.

Alim Imam’s honorarium has been increased to Rs 4,500 from Rs 3,528 per month. Hafiz Imams will get Rs 4,000 per month as honorarium in place of Rs 3,210, while Nazra Imams will get an increased honorarium of Rs 3,600 instead of Rs 2,420 per month. Muazzins will get Rs 3,500 per month in place of Rs 2,102. There will also be an increase of Rs 500 per month in caretaker’s fixed honorarium.

Part-time safai karamcharis engaged in the mosques for an hour will now get Rs 300 per month. This is the highest ever-paid honorarium to Imams in comparison to other states.

The board is also contemplating to arrange marriages of daughters belonging to Muslim families, who cannot afford to arrange marriages of their daughters. At least 100 such Muslim families will be identified in the jurisdiction of Ambala division.

The board has also decided to support the cause of the girl child and will now provide monthly scholarships to orphans and children of widows.

Chandigarh, September 25
The Haryana Congress has been quick to grab Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee’s statement that he never received “any of the resignations sent by former Bhiwani MP Kuldeep Bishnoi”, to call the bluff of the latter.

In a statement issued here today, general-secretary of the media cell of the Congress Lakhwinder Singh Lakha said Chatterjee had confirmed what was being suspected since long.

He said by staging the drama of resigning from the Lok Sabha, Bishnoi not only tried to hoodwink the public but also cheated his close supporters and former MLAs Dharam Pal Malik and Rakesh Kamboj. He said while Malik and Kamboj had to face disqualification from the membership of the Assembly for joining Bishnoi’s party, the latter cheated them by claiming before mediapersons outside the Vidhan Sabha that in protest against their disqualification he too had quit the Lok Sabha with immediate effect. Earlier, Bishnoi had claimed at a public rally held in Rohtak on December 2 last that he had sent his resignation from the Lok Sabha, which would come into effect in June last.

Lakha said as an educated person, Bishnoi was well aware that post-dated resignation was meaningless.

Fatehabad, September 25
Four persons were killed and seven others injured when a Sumo vehicle carrying INLD activists from Bhiwani after the party’s rally collided with a Haryana Roadways bus near Badopal village in this district.

All victims belong to Tamaspura village in Ratia subdivision of the district.

Villagers, who brought the injured persons to the local general hospital, said the vehicle collided head-on with the bus at about 6 pm.

There was a commotion in the hospital as the doctors were ill-prepared to receive such a large numbers of seriously injured persons at a time.

Soon, the seriously injured persons began succumbing to their injuries and four persons died in quick succession in a matter of less than half an hour.

The hospital authorities were seen abysmally ill-equipped to deal with the emergency situation.

The hospital authorities referred five of the seven injured persons to Agroha Medical College after providing first aid to them.

SMO Hira Lal Gupta said they did not have the services of a neurosurgeon and most of the accident victims suffered from head injuries, besides multiple injuries.

The deceased have been identified as Mam Raj, Balbir Singh, Ajaib Singh and Bant Ram, all from Tamaspura village.

The injured are Ram Kumar, Harminder, Sher Singh, Gurcharan, Jagmal, Jagdish and Raj Singh.

Gurgaon, September 25
A Delhi-based entrepreneur escaped a kidnap bid by some youths on NH-8 as they abandoned the car they were taking the victim in after it met with an accident last night.

The documents of the said car showed that it belonged to Paramjit of Vikaspuri, Delhi. However, when the police reached there, it found no person of this name living there. It indicated that the car being used by the alleged kidnappers could be a stolen one. Investigations are on in this regard.

DCP (south) Inder Singh Saini said some youths stopped Navin Kapur of Patparganj, Delhi, near Nakhdaula village on NH-8. They allegedly beat up Kapur and drove away his car along with him towards Jaipur side. They reportedly snatched Rs 16,000 as well as mobile phone from him. However, their Maruti car met with an accident near Rampura village. Subsequently, they abandoned it as well as Kapur and his car before escaping from the spot.