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‘I’m a candidate for CM’s post, not a claimant’
Price rise emerging major factor
A woman supporter of Chander Prakash Kathuria, BJP candidate from the Karnal assembly constituency, offers him a garland of onions and tomatoes on Thursday. Tribune photo: Ravi Kumar |
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Mahendragarh
Too many ifs and buts in Uchana
Ratia
Congress has failed to check crime, says Goyal
Tight security for poll
Deploy forces in sensitive areas: Cong
Poll Pot
Mishap disrupts rail traffic for 7 hrs
ASI shot dead
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‘I’m a candidate for CM’s post, not a claimant’
Chandigarh, October 8 Q How come instead of campaigning, you are playing tennis? A
I returned from campaigning late last night. I will be off at 10 am again. A few sets with the racket and ball in the morning tones up my body for the day and then I am off for the political game. I have already covered more than 70 constituencies and can sense a wave in favour of the Congress. Q Why have you gone for early elections despite a poor monsoon, power shortage and a poor crop? A
After the Congress won nine of the 10 Lok Sabha elections in the state, the Opposition had demanded that let there be assembly elections and the results would be different. I only accepted the demand of the Opposition. Q The opposition accuses your government of Rohtak-centric development. What have you to say? A.
The lop-sided development took place during the previous governments. Certain areas got more funds whileothers were completely ignored. Our government has tried to accelerate the pace of development in under-developed areas, without affecting areas already developed. For example, Gurgaon is highly developed while Mewat is highly under-developed. We have focussed on the development of Mewat where several new projects like a medical college, have been sanctioned. At the same time the government has paid equal attention to the progress of the millennium city. Similarly, Rohtak is also part of Haryana. Q Are you projecting yourself as Chief Minister after the elections? A
My stand is the same as it was in 2005. I am a candidate for the post but not a claimant. In the Congress the decision on Chief Minister is taken by the high command. Ours is a disciplined party and everyone accepts the decision of the party. I, too, shall, like a disciplined worker of the party, abide by the party decision. Q How can you be so sure of the Congress victory? A
The People are satisfied with the policies of the central and state governments. The people of Haryana saw dark days before 2005 when neither their life nor property was secure at the hands of element who enjoyed political patronage. Now the people are secure that no criminal element enjoys patronage and no politician eyes their property. The people have also seen through “miljul ki rajniti” which was played by certain politicians to divide the electorate on caste lines. |
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Indefatigable campaigner
Kaithal, October 8 Contrary to popular perception, the entire village is awake. Each community has gathered at its respective chaupal, eagerly awaiting his arrival.The sound of his cavalcade manoeuvring through village bends honking at excited children announces his arrival. Even before his vehicle stops, slogans of “Randeep Singh Surjewala zindabad” fills the air as he alights at a well-lighted pandal to be garlanded by the villagers. Enthusiastic organisers honour him with the traditional pagri and a sword even as “jaikaras” rent the air. Apologising for being late, he strikes an emotional chord instantly. “This is a first for both of us-- you will vote as part of the Kaithal seat for the first time after delimitation and I am contesting from here for the first time. Vote for me if you think the face of Kaithal has changed in the past nearly five years,” he says, listing out his achievements, a government college, a multi-speciality hospital, a modern bus stand, the first man-made lake in Haryana, a railway overbridge et al. “Jahan ka neta mazboot, wahan ka ilaqa mazbut”, he claims. “None of the other candidates has fought the next election on the same party ticket.That speaks volumes of their credentials,” he remarks, inviting applause from the crowd.Veiled women watch from the sidelanes and terraces, hanging on to every word uttered. From here, he walks down to the next stop, the Balmikis’chaupal, where he makes a similar appeal. He sips tea and meets women huddled into a corner at the general chaupal. By the time he finishes, the clock has struck 2 but the villagers don’t seem to have had enough of him. They want a few unscheduled stops at houses in the village and he obliges. Earlier in the day, he has covered four big villages, packed in 60-odd meetings and yet there is not an iota of fatigue. “My people keep me going. I miss Narwana (now reserved) but this outpour of affection compensates for what I have lost,” he maintains. As he begins the journey homeward, planning for the next day is already underway. His main opponent, Kailash Bhagat of the INLD, however, is not perturbed. “We campaign till about midnight... Our focus is on the city and the response is tremendous,” he claims.
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Price rise emerging major factor
Chandigarh, October 8 Not only Prime Minister Manmohan Singh admitted his government’s concern over rising prices, Opposition parties, including the BJP, the INLD, the SAD and the BSP, are blaming the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and the Congress government in the state for their failure to control and regulate the prices of essential commodities. While the Prime Minister is hopeful that the UPA government will be able to control the prices, wholesalers and retailers foresee no let-up in the prices because of a poor south-west monsoon and drought-like situation in many states. They warn of a further rise in the prices. BJP leaders LK Advani and Rajnath Singh, and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, while addressing election rallies in Haryana, have been holding the Congress responsible for the “unprecedented hike in the prices of essential commodities”. Vegetables, fruit, pulses, sugar, edible oils, milk and other items of daily use have witnessed a 15 to 50 per cent increase in the prices during
the past few weeks. Onions, a common household necessity, has been bringing tears to almost every consumer. Onion prices have almost doubled from Rs 16 a kg to Rs 30 a kg in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. A quick survey by The Tribune in Punjab and Haryana reveals that no vegetable is available for less than Rs 20 a kg. And the cheapest vegetable available in the market is cauliflower. The prices of potatoes and cauliflower vary between Rs 18 and Rs 22 a kg while peas are now being sold for Rs 45 a kg. While wholesalers blame floods in south and west India for the slow movement of the produce from onion-producing states, consumers want the government to act fast and check the hoarding of vegetables and fruit. Lemons, for example, are now being sold at Rs 150 to Rs 200 a kg. The prices of fruit, too, have hit the roof. Average-quality apples are being sold for Rs 65 a kg while a dozen of bananas are sold for Rs 40 against the normal price of Rs 25 a dozen at this time of the year. Pomegranates are selling for Rs 130 to Rs 150 a kg. Coming to pulses, masur or urd are now selling for Rs 70 to Rs 80 a kg. The same is the case with moong or other pulses. Sugar prices have touched a record level of Rs 36 a kg this season. Since milk and milk products have witnessed 10 to 20 per cent rise this time, sweetmeat sellers have gone for a flat 20 per cent increase in the prices. It is not only the rising prices but also the availability of spurious and adulterated items that have left consumers worried. |
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Not so easy for Cong’s Dan Singh Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service
Mahendragarh, October 8 In Mahendragarh, sitting Congress MLA Dan Singh is pitted against former BJP president Ram Vilas Sharma. Though the two are in a direct fight, Congress dissident Satish Yadav could make the contest tough for Dan Singh. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has put his might behind Dan Singh who faces an obvious anti-incumbency wave. Over the past few years, development seems to have eluded this constituency. Not only are the civic amenities in a state of disarray, but there is also a severe shortage of drinking and irrigation water. These are the issues that the other contestants, Ram Vilas Sharma, Satish Yadav (Independent) and Ramesh Paldi (INLD) are raking up. On the other hand, Sharma is harping on the infrastructure created in the constituency, mainly upgradation of schools and setting up of colleges, during his tenure as education minister in the Bansi Lal cabinet. Nangal Chaudhary, which is a newly carved constituency, will also see a multi-cornered contest. Sitting MLA Radhe Sham Sharma (Independent) from Narnaul , who recently joined the Congress, faces INLD’s Bahadur Singh, former MLA Mula Ram, HJC candidate, and BJP’s Daya Ram. Besides facing stiff competition from Singh and Mula Ram, Sharma has also to battle it out with Congress dissident Abhimanyu Rao. Rao is a close relative of irrigation minister Capt Ajay Yadav, and is likely to eat into his votes. In Narnaul, Congress candidate Sanjay Yadav may see the Congress vote bank spilt because of dissident Surender Kumar, contesting as an Independent. The latter is the son of former Congress minister Rao Nihal Singh and commands considerable clout in the area. Because of infighting, even the local MP, Shruti Chaudhary, has so far refrained from canvassing for the Congress nominees from Mahendragarh and Nangal Chaudhary. The only seat in this district where the Congress does not have a dissident contesting against the party nominee is Ateli. However, a multi-cornered contest will be witnessed here between Anita Yadav (Congress), Santosh Yadav (BJP), Rao Ajit Singh (INLD) and Prof Roshan Lal (HJC).
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Too many ifs and buts in Uchana
Uchana Kalan, October 8 Former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala of the INLD and Finance Minister Birender Singh of the Congress are fighting it out here in a no-holds- barred contest with their eyes firmly on the office of the Chief Minister. It is a battle in which the winner takes all. That is what makes the contest the fiercest electoral battle of the 2009 assembly polls. Birender Singh has won this seat five times in the past. He humbled Chautala in the 1984 Lok Sabha polls. But this is their first face off for an assembly seat. Chautala has won the neighbouring Narwana constituency in the past but he lost from there in 2005. Chautala is simultaneously contesting from the Ellenabad constituency in Sirsa district. The campaigning is centred around two major issues. One, it is “outsider” Chautala versus “a son of the soil” Birender Singh. The other is whether the constituency should elect a person who will bring political power to Bangar area if he becomes Chief Minister or to elect one who is sure to be CM again if the INLD manages to win a majority. The voters are caught in the ifs and buts. The Birender Singh camp says an “outsider” Chautala cannot deliver. The Congress also alleges that Chautala had shifted to Uchana just to try to put an end to Bangar’s political empowerment. The Birender Singh camp’s surmise is that if the Congress tally in this election is less than that of 2005, its leader has every chance of replacing Bhupinder Singh Hooda as CM. “Chautala is here to prevent that”, allege his supporters.Chautala’s supporters counter the criticism saying that Narwana saw much development when the INLD supremo was CM. Chautala has been highlighting the issues of power and water shortage, crime and inflation. “My agenda is development. The Congress claims are nothing but falsehood”, he says. Birender Singh has resorted to door-to-door campaigning for the first time. His wife, daughter and other family members are meeting voters and seeking their support. In the earlier elections, Birender Singh usually held one meeting in every village. Chautala has completed a two-day tour of the constituency. His son Ajay Singh has spent three days here. Chautala’s younger son Abhey Singh and grandson Dushyant are camping here. Chautala’s dedicated cadres from Narwana are campaigning vigorously. The fight between the biggies has pushed the BJP and BSP candidates to the background. The Congress camp is glad with the development as the party hopes to get votes of non-Jat communities and the Dalits. The BKU leader, Ghasi Ram Nain, has also come out in support of the Congress.In this uncertain scenario, what is certain is whether the “outsider” or the “insider” who triumphs, the outcome will turn the political career of the loser
inside out. |
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Former MP Atma Singh dons fatigues
for his son
Sushil Manav Tribune News Service
Ratia (Fatehabad), October 8 In less than six months of parliamentary elections, when his party denied him the ticket, Atma Singh Gill is a lonely man today. Gill, whose son Gurdeep Singh Gill was also denied the ticket from the Ratia (reserved) this time, was seen sitting alone in the election office of his son, who is now contesting as an Independent. An embittered Atma Singh said he had been backstabbed by those for whom he had took on the mighty in politics. “I fought with Chautala for Bhajan Lal, but the latter ditched me, when I needed his help and then I took on Bhajan Lal for Hooda, but he too backstabbed me, not once, but twice,” said Gill. Gill is accredited with saving the government of Chautala patronised Hukam Singh government in the 90s by leaking the famous Samrat Hotel meeting of dissidents and he himself claims to have played an important role in keeping Bhajan Lal away from crown after 2005 assembly polls. He was the only one of the nine sitting Congress MPs to have been denied the party ticket for this year’parliamentary elections. “When the party denied me the ticket for the parliamentary elections, the party nominee Tanwar and Hooda’s son-in-law Kunal Bhadoo came to me and assured me that Gurdeep would definitely be accommodated for Ratia, in case I support Tanwar. But, now Tanwar too has ditched me by pleading the case of Jarnail Singh before the party high command,” he said.Atma Singh Gill is also angry at those availed huge amounts from his MP Local Area Development funds, but refuse to recognise him now when he goes to them for seeking votes for his son.“I gave Rs 10 lakh from my MPLAD funds for the construction of Dharmshala of Punjabi Community in Ratia, but now, only one member of the community, who is sarpanch of my village, is by my side,” said Gill. His downslide began the day he was caught in the company of two women in a rest house in Narwana on September 7, 2007.Ashok Tanwar, Sirsa MP, said Gill should have respected the party’s decision and waited as the party would have definitely given him some other responsibility in the future.
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Cong misleading people: Advani
Yamunanagar, October 8 However, the prices of basic commodities are increasing continuously. The PM has again made same promises to seek votes. In order to control the prices, we first have to control corruption. This is not possible unless we stop corruption existing during the Congress regime,” he further said. He was addressing rally for BJP candidates from Yamunanagar assembly segment Ghanshyam Dass, Kanwar Pal of Jagadhri and Datta Ram of Sadhaura at Dushera ground here. He added, the Congress government did not give emphasis on the development of the country. It had failed to provide basic amenities to citizens. |
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Congress has failed to check crime, says Goyal
Sonepat, October 8 Talking to
mediapersons, he claimed that this assembly election,had turned into a contest between the Congress and the
BJP. The Congress had encouraged caste system and regionalism in Haryana, he alleged. He also said because of sharp increase in criminal activities and erratic power supply anti-traders policies of the state government, number of industries had shifted from Haryana to other regions. |
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Tight security for poll
Ambala, October 8 He said besides a number of patrolling parties, 224 nakas had been set up along the Punjab and UP borders. He said the police was keeping tabs on criminals and anti-social elements. Meanwhile, a delegation of the Ambala Congress Committee, led by DCC president Arun Garg, met the IG and submitted him a memorandum regarding “interference” by leaders of the Akali Dal and the Punjab police in the Ambala City constituency elections. The Akali Dal is contesting the assembly election from this seat. The Congress said it could create tension in the constituency. |
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Deploy forces in sensitive areas: Cong
Palwal, October 8 The District Congress Committee formally petitioned the district police chief for the deployment of the forces apprehending breach of law and order in the villages identified by it which may impinge on the smooth conduct of the election. President of the Palwal District Congress Committee Harinder Pal Singh said he met the local police chief and submitted a letter urging for the deploymentof Central forces in the villages. The Congress has identified Madkola, Jeeta Khedi, Aroli, Kot, Nangal Jat, Andhop, Manpur, Uttawal, Badah
Maheshpur. |
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INLD: CEC playing partisan role
CHANDIGARH: The INLD on Wednesday alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) was playing a partisan role in the assembly elections. Addressing a press conference here, RS Choudhry, INLD National Secretary, and BD Dhalia, member of the Political Affairs Committee, claimed that the CEC had consistently ignored the complaints of the INLD. “He has reduced himself to being the Congress Election Commissioner,” they claimed. Choudhry said the “caretaker” Congress government had been flouting the model code of conduct to gain political advantage by issuing advertisements at the cost of the state exchequer. — TNS
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Mishap disrupts rail traffic for 7 hrs
Ambala, October 8 The accident occurred on a flyover known as the rail over bridge on the GT road near the Railway station. Luckily, no train was passing through at that time. However, the truck remained dangling till it was removed from there. The accident caused the overhead electricity cables of the railway to snap, disrupting rail traffic for over seven hours. The train services from Ambala Cantt to Saharnpur and Panipat side were the most affected. Many trains were delayed, five passenger trains were cancelled and five express trains were delayed for over seven hours. The cancelled passenger trains are Sahranpur to Nangal dam, Ambala to New Delhi, Ambala to Yamunanagar, Ludhiana to Kurkshetra and Saharnpur to Nagal dam. The express trains delayed by seven hours were Shalimar express, Jammu Tawi, Sadbhavna Express and Shanepunjab. Other trains delayed included Howrah Amritsar Mail, Kanpur express, Delhi-Udhampur summer special, Amritsar-Indore express. The Shatabdi was also delayed by a few hours as its engine had to be shifted to a diesel one. According to the railway officials, traffic on the railway lines was restored at 11 am. The accident occurred at 3 am. Traffic on the highway was also held up for over an hour, which was later diverted. The NHAI authorities today, put a warning board for the motorists passing through that road. The railway officials stated they will be looking into this matter seriously and try to find a solution to ensure that such accidents do not happen again. |
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ASI shot dead
Ambala, October 8 |
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One would expect him to be in the thick of campaigning, finding little time for his family or himself.
Indefatigable campaigner
eve of the festival season is not only making the average north Indian household squirm but is emerging as a decisive factor in the coming assembly elections in Haryana.
