Chandigarh, September 28
The Haryana government, in complete violation of the city bylaws and the Advertisement Control Order, has put up huge rally hoardings on the façade of the main Haryana secretariat for the “Samajik Kranti Samaroh”.

There’s a smiling United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi waving to visitors to the secretariat from a hoarding propped up just above the main entry, sharing space with Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. All smiles are for the proposed distribution of 100 sq yard plots to SCs, BCs and those living below the poverty line, beginning October 2.

Mahatma Gandhi, too, finds place in a hoarding since the government has chosen his anniversary for the launch of the scheme from Panipat.

Though it is routine for the party in power to get away with putting up hoardings all over the state to announce the government’s accomplishments and to mobilise support for rallies, it is for the first time that publicity hoardings have reached the city in an area considered out of bounds.

Sources in the office of the chief architect, the municipal corporation as also the administration said that the Haryana government had sought no permission for the displays, which not only adorn Corbusier’s heritage building but have also been propped up inside the complex for “total visibility”.

Some officials also termed it as gross violation of the bylaws.

Former chief architect of Punjab and Chandigarh and a close associate of city’s creator Le Corbusier, M.N. Sharma, termed the displays “atrocious”.

“Such displays cannot be mounted on a heritage building, not even with permission. We are vying for heritage status for the city from Unesco because of buildings like these. Being protected buildings, they cannot be fiddled with and it is a total violation of the Advertisement Control Order. The world will be shocked with this for such sacrilege,” he added.

Now, whether or not this violation invites any action, the Haryana government has certainly shown it is right on top of everything. Nothing is untouchable for it.

Chandigarh, September 28
Terming the allotment of 100 sq yards of plot as a mere “political gimmick”, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) said that it amounted to direct interference with the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

INLD leader and former finance minister Sampat Singh said the government was resorting to grabbing panchayat land in villages and redistributing it to the SCs, BCs and BPL families in the name of the scheme. Addressing a press conference here today, he said many panchayats had refused to give land and had suggested that the government should either acquire land or give them market rates for taking the panchayat land.

“This is not a scheme of the panchayats but of the government. They are right when they say that the government should purchase land from the panchayat so that it brings some income or else acquire the same for its scheme. Instead, the government is pressurising panchayats to pass resolutions of committing the panchayat land to the government for the scheme. There can be no bigger farce,” he stated. Prof Sampat Singh said the government had no right to distribute the panchayat land and it cannot instruct the panchayats to transfer village land for the purpose. Many panchayats, he added, had moved court against the order.

Stating that government land was not available in any village as per his information, he said the government should have acquired land adjacent to the village and distributed 200 sq yards plots to poor.

Quoting a letter of the finance commissioner, Panchayat and Development, written to deputy commissioners, he said the Backward Classes had been knowingly left out despite legal provisions. “Later, realising its mistake, the government included the BCs since it was laid down in the Punjab Village Common Lands (regulation) Act, 1961,” he said. Many villages, including Sanghi, the paternal village of the Chief Minister and its adjoining villages had not yet passed the resolution of putting their land at the disposal of the government. He said sarpanches, panchayat members, block samiti members, zila parishad members had been forcibly asked through their deputy commissioners and BDOs to attend the October 2 rally.

He said it was “shameful” that it was being done on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi and the government was “scuttling” the independence of PRIs. The 100 sq yard plot allotment letters to be handed over by Sonia Gandhi would be signed by panchayats, he disclosed. The former finance minister disclosed that he would request Sonia Gandhi by writing a letter to her from disassociating from this unconstitutional programme by not participating in it.

Sonepat, September 28
Working president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) Kuldeep Sharma here today said at least six lakh families had already been identified for giving 100 square yards of plots in the state. The Haryana government would hand over the possession of around 3 lakh 100 sq yards of plots to the eligible poor families by the end of this year.

Talking to mediapersons, Sharma said the scheme, namely Mahatma Gandhi Grameen Basti Yojna, would be launched by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in “samajik kranti rally” in Panipat on October 2.

“The rally will mark the beginning of the party’s election campaign for the Lok Sabha elections,” 
he added. Sharma remarked that the move of the INLD and BJP to forge an alliance in Haryana was opportunistic and these parties did not have the courage to face the Congress in individual capacity.

Similarly, the Haryana Janhit Congress was the party of new learners and the party did not have any base or following in the state, he added.

He claimed that Haryana had been taking rapid strides in every field of development and in implementing various welfare schemes for every section of society, including farmers, government employees, workers, students, the Schedule Castes and the Backward Classes.

Chief parliamentary secretary Ramesh Kaushik, AICC member Sumitra Chauhan and district Congress president (urban) Pardeep Gautam were also present on the occasion.

Later, Sharma presided over a meeting of party workers and asked them to ensure maximum participation in the Panipat rally.

Rohtak, September 28
The benefit of Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme will now be given to those employees of sugar mills in Haryana who have no promotion channel and have completed 10 years and 20 years of service on the same post.

This was stated by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda while addressing a felicitation ceremony organised by the employees of Haryana Sugar Mills in Meham township here today.

The CM also announced that the retaining allowance of unskilled workers of the mills would be increased from the existing 25 per cent to 35 per cent and of semi-skilled workers from 35 per cent to 40 per cent.

He assured the employees that while implementing the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, the government would ensure that the employees of sugar mills get the same benefits as given to the employees of other cooperative institutions.

The sugar mill authorities would be allowed to recruit employees on daily wages against the vacant posts for smooth running of the mills, he added.

As compared to 101 per cent in Punjab and 88 per cent in Uttar Pradesh, Hooda claimed that the cooperative sugar mills in Haryana had run on 106 per cent capacity, which was a record of last seven years. He disclosed that the National Confederation of Sugar Mills had announced to give first prize to Shahbad Cooperative Sugar Mill for sugarcane development and second prize to Cooperative Sugar Mill, Palwal, for financial management during 2005-06. These awards to the mills would be given in New Delhi on November 29, he added.

The CM revealed that the government had prepared a Sugarcane Development Project, under which Rs 24.64 crore had been allocated. Under the scheme, Rs 3.84 crore would be given as subsidy by the sugar mills and the rest of the amount would be advanced to farmers as interest-free loan.

Pointing out that some of the mills were running in losses, Hooda exhorted the sugar mills employees to work with more dedication to bring the sugar mills in profit. He also announced that the cane growers in Haryana would be given the highest procurement price in the country during the next crushing season.

President of the All-Haryana Sugar Mill Workers Federation Union Ashok Kumar and general secretary Shyam Sunder also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, Hooda laid the foundation stone of a water tank in Meham, which will be constructed at a cost of Rs 12.48 crore. He also inaugurated a 2.5 MW electricity generating unit on the mill premises.

Karnal, September 28
The National Integrated Forum of Artistes and Activists (NIFAA) organised the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Jagriti Yatra to commemorate the birth centenary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh here today.

The yatra, in which a large number of skaters, bikers and social activists took part, was flagged off by Karnal SSP Arshinder Singh Chawla. He urged the participants to emulate heroes like Bhagat Singh.

Shouting slogans, hundreds of youths marched through the main roads of the city. A cultural programme was also organised in Khalsa College, where budding artistes of the city paid tributes to Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

Chief Guest Rajiv Mehta and Karnal SDM urged the audience to inculcate the feelings of patriotism in their children so that they could dedicate themselves for the betterment of the country.

A member of the Indian rowing team, who bagged Gold medal in Asiad, Olympian Davinder Khandelwal, was also honoured by the NIFAA on the occasion.

Kaithal, September 28
Keeping in view the religious importance of Phalgu Tirath, a sum of Rs 50 lakh will be spent on the development of Faral village where the tirath is situated.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said this after taking a dip in the holy sarovar of Phalgu Tirath Ghat in Faral village in Pundri sub-tehsil here today. He also performed a yajna and offered pind dan to his ancestors.

Expressing satisfaction over the mela arrangements made by the district administration, Hooda said a huge amount had been spent on the renovation of temples situated in Kurukshetra, Pehowa and Kalayat and now Phalgu Tirath would be developed on the same pattern.

Hooda urged the people to attend the rally to be held in Panipat, which would be addressed by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on October 2. She would give the allotment letters of 100 sq-yard plots to people belonging to below poverty line (BPL) and the Scheduled Castes.

The Phalgu Mela began on September 15 and will conclude tomorrow, when lakhs of pilgrims will reach the place to offer pind dan to their ancestors and take a dip in the holy tank on the occasion of “Somvati Amavasya”.

Faridabad, September 28
A prank played by a fourth-year engineering student on his friend suggesting a bomb blast in the posh market of Sector 15 here, proved to be costly for him. This also resulted in several hours of ordeal for the police.

Jatin Goyal, a resident of Sector 10 here, sent an SMS to his friend, a resident of the same sector, this morning cautioning him not to go to Sector 15 market, as a bomb would blast there at 3 pm. The message also advised that the friend should forward the contents “to all”. Goyal did not give any details about himself to his friend in the correspondence text.

The friend, who received the message, rang up the police control room and conveyed about the SMS. As the call was made to the control room by his mobile, the call was connected to the Delhi police control room. The Delhi police conveyed the message to the local police.

Immediately after the Delhi police’s communication, the police pressed the panic button and ordered shops in the markets of Sector 15 to be closed. As a precautionary measure, other markets were also brought under the scanner.

There was utter panic as the police turned up in full force in Sector 15 markets.

Meanwhile, the police tried to trace the source of the message. The culprit was found as well as the recipient of the message. Both have been rounded up. Following interrogation, the police found that there was no threat of bomb blast as held out by the SMS. It was a mere prank.

District police chief Srikant Jadhav said legal action would be initiated against the culprit.

Ambala, September 28
An alert has been sounded in the district after intelligence reports have indicated that terrorists will target Ambala.

According to sources, a communication in this regard was received yesterday afternoon. All major offices, including the Army, Air Force and Railways, were informed about the alert this morning. Extra forces have also been called in from Madhuban.

A high-level meeting of senior officials of the police, Army, Air Force, administration and senior civilians was also held this evening by Mohinder Kumar, commissioner, Ambala division.

He said after the blasts in Delhi, information had been received that Ambala was also a target. Keeping that in mind, a high alert had been sounded.

“All important formations have been informed of the threat. Local shopkeepers and people are being asked to maintain a vigil and to report anything suspicious that they see.”

The Railways has started announcements on the station for people to stay alert.

The district administration has removed all shops and street-side vendors from the highway and in front of the railway station and bus stand.

Chandigarh, September 28
The Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) will spend Rs 720 crore in Gurgaon during the financial years 2008-09 and 2009-10 to strengthen power transmission system.

A spokesman for the nigam here today said under an ambitious plan already under execution in Gurgaon, works costing Rs 375 crore would be executed during the current financial year. The ongoing construction works included a 400 kV substation in Daultabad, three new 220 kV substations in Sectors 56, 72 and 20 and four substations of 66 kV in Sectors 15 Part -II, 2, 43 and 51. The capacity of 220 kV substation in Sector 52, 66 kV substations in Harsaru, Sector 38, Sector 56 and old Manesar was also being augmented.

The HVPN would spend additional Rs 345 crore to construct four 220 kV substations in Sectors 57 and 48 and Pahari and Mau villages and two 66 kV substations in Sectors 17 and 45 during 2009-10.

Three private developers were also adding three substations to the network, which were coming up in Sectors 26 and 47 and DLF Phase V. The construction of these substations was also likely to be completed during 2009-10 at a cost of Rs 98 crore.

Since March 2005, the HVPN had commissioned five new substations and augmented capacity of nine substations at a cost of Rs 94 crore to strengthen power transmission system in Gurgaon.

A number of big commercial and residential complexes were coming up in Gurgaon causing sharp increase in load on the transmission and distribution system. 

Rohtak, September 28
The district police has registered a case under Section 304 of the IPC against the complainant and other residents who had beaten up the youth, Rahul, who later died in police custody. SSP Alok Mittal confirmed that a case had been registered against the complainant, Lakshman, and other local residents who had beaten up Rahul before handing him over to the police.

The SSP disclosed that he would also recommend action against the doctor who had conducted medical examination of the youth before he was lodged in police custody. Meanwhile, a postmortem examination of Rahul’s body was conducted by a board of doctors on Sunday. The postmortem report said he had died due to shock and haemorrhage caused as a result of injuries. It said Rahul had suffered 20 to 25 injuries on the body.

Jhajjar, September 28
Even as Kurukshetra University, which conducted the state-level common entrance test for one-year BEd regular course on August 18, has made it clear that the admission of those aspirants who did not appear in the entrance examination will not be considered, several self-financed BEd colleges have repeatedly been misleading those aspirants who want admission in the said course although they had not appeared in the test.

With a view to filling their seats, these institutions have been giving advertisements in newspapers for the past some days that such candidates, who had not appeared in the entrance test, can also get admissions in the BEd course with minimum fee in their institutions.

A significant number of seats have remained vacant in many self-financed BEd colleges due to the mushrooming of colleges of education and declining number of aspirants in the state.

Interestingly, the authorities concerned have prescribed Rs 38,500 as annual fee for the BEd course. However, several self-financed colleges have reduced the prescribed fee to Rs 13,000 to Rs 15,000 to lure the aspirants.

Meanwhile, the Association of Educational College (self-financed) of Haryana has appealed to the aspirants of the BEd course to be wary of those colleges, which are offering lower than the prescribed fee for the said course.

In their advertisements in newspapers, the office-bearers of the association called upon the aspirants not to take admissions in these institutions, as they could be declared ineligible for making admissions any time by the National Council of Teachers Education (NCTE), Jaipur, and the university concerned.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that a delegation of such colleges recently met Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda at his residence in Chandigarh under the leadership of a Congress leader, who also runs a self-financed BEd college in the Chief Minister’s home district.

The representatives of the delegation not only apprised the CM of their grievances but also urged him to give permission to them for making open admissions to the BEd course so that they could fill all seats.

Sirsa, September 28
Several social organisations and philanthropists have come forward to provide succour to the family of Megha Bhardwaj, a young girl of the local Khairpur area, who has been battling cancer for the past one and a half years.

The Tribune had highlighted the plight of the young girl and her family in a news item “Her bout within, for life” on August 26, 2008.

Ever since the news item was published in The Tribune, several social organisations showed their solidarity with the family.

The funds were contributed by the Brahmin Sabha and some other local organisations. Megha Bhardwaj, a young promising boxer who has played at the junior national level, has been fighting against cancer for the past one and a half years.

Megha has been debilitated due to repeated chemotherapies and other treatment for the deadly disease. Her father Dinesh Bhardwaj, who worked with a private company, had to leave his job for carrying his daughter repeatedly to Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur.

Bhardwaj has already sold a residential plot he had purchased for constructing his small dream house as well as the gold jewellery of his wife Meenu Bhardwaj for the costly treatment of his daughter, but there seems no end to his sufferings. Efforts by Dinesh Bhardwaj to seek help from the authorities have ended up in bureaucratic hurdles. 

Karnal, September 28
This may sound incredible but is true. The Council of Homoeopathic System of Medicine in Haryana is headed by an ayurvedic doctor and not a homoeopath.

As per the Punjab Homoeopathic Practitioners Act 1965, the chairman should be a member of the Homoeopathic Council and essentially a doctor from the same discipline.

But the Haryana government has made the appointment of the chairman flouting the provisions of the Act and is not willing to rectify its mistake in spite of several representations from the fraternity of homoeopathic doctors.

Taking offence at the decision of the government, the Haryana chapter of the Indian Homoeopathic Medical Association (IHMA) has served a notice on secretary (health) and chairman of the council, seeking the removal of the chairman and his replacement by some eligible doctor.

The president Haryana IHMA, Dr Gian Singh Kamboj, confirmed that a notice was served last week and the response of the government was awaited. "We will take necessary legal action and take our fight to the logical end if the government did not respond positively," he said.

The vice-president of the IHMA, Dr Vimal K. Dhawan, said that a similar decision was taken by the government in 1989 when a non-homoeopathic doctor Mahinder Ranjan was appointed chairman and was removed following the intervention of the high court.

He said the attitude of the government towards the homoeopathic doctors can be judged from the fact that there are only 21 homoeopathic dispensaries in the state, and 20 out these were located in Gurgaon alone. The lone dispensary outside Gurgaon was in Kurukshetra, opened about six months ago.

There are about 3000 practising homoeopaths in the state, but no college of homoeopathy or research institute exists to help these doctors upgrade their knowledge and keep abreast with latest research in the subject, he rued.

Dhawan said it was natural that the problems of the homoeopathic doctors could be better understood by a person from the same discipline and not by those practising and propagating other systems of medicine.

Sirsa, September 28
The two-day Haryana State Sports Competition for deaf and dumb children concluded here today. Additional deputy commissioner Yudhvir Singh Khayalia distributed prizes among the winners.

Earlier, inaugurating the meet on Saturday, Dr Anita Sharma, chairperson of the Haryana Deaf and Dumb Welfare Samiti said the Haryana Government has decided to start new professional courses for the deaf and dumb students in the industrial training institutes of the state.

The industrial training institute of Gurgaon is being developed as a hub in which new professional courses and degree programmes will be started to give training to such children for making them self-reliant.

Nearly 250 deaf and dumb boys and girls participated in this competition.

She said deaf and dumb students had been given admission in the institute at Gurgaon to impart them professional training.

Many of them had been able to get jobs in big companies after completing their training at this institute.

The process had been initiated to start professional courses for these children in the industrial training institutes located at the district level of the state in future.

Dr Sharma said many schemes had been launched for the deaf and dumb students by the state government.

These students had also been given jobs in government departments. Their pension had also been doubled from Rs 300.

Rewari, September 28
The police has registered a case against Manju’s husband Sandeep, Asha’s husband Har Deep, their father-in-law Pratap Singh, mother-in-law Tara Devi and brother-in-law Kuldeep, all residents of Bhurka village of Gurgaon district, on charges of harassment for dowry and criminal intimidation.

The case was registered following a complaint lodged by the victims’ father, Tara Chand, a resident of Khurrampur village, yesterday. The complainant said his two daughters - Manju and Asha - got married to Sandeep and Har Deep, respectively, on March 12, 2007.

He alleged that both Manju and Asha were subjected to cruelty by their in-laws, when they could not meet their dowry demands.