Chandigarh, October 30
Forming ministry was never easy for a Chief Minister. He has to take clearance from the high command before picking up his team. Haryana is no exception.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has been camping in Delhi, ostensibly to meet senior party leaders, to get clearance for any decision. At the moment nothing is more important than forming ministry in Haryana.

Due to the restrictions on the size of the Cabinet, Hooda has a very limited choice, while there are too many claimants.

He has to accommodate not only his party men but also the supporting MLAs, whose ambitions are rearing day by day. Since the BSP has extended outside support, its lone MLA Akram Khan is not likely to join the ministry. But the same is not true for Independent MLAs.

In Haryana, there can be 14 members in the Cabinet, including the Chief Minister. Hooda will certainly like to have a few of his confidants like Venod Sharma in the Cabinet.

But Sharma’s name has to be cleared by the high command. Among the claimants in the Congress are many senior leaders like Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Mahendrapratap Singh, Kiran Choudhry and Raghbir Singh Kadian. Another senior leader Harmohinder Singh Chatha has been accommodated as Speaker of the Assembly.

Hooda may not expand his Cabinet in one go. He will have to keep a few berths vacant for certain HJC MLAs, if the party extends its support to the Congress and decides to join the government. According to information available here, HJC president Kuldeep Bishnoi wants the Congress-NCP arrangement of Maharashtra to be replicated in Haryana.

On the other hand, the Congress wants the HJC to merge with it so that all speculation about the stability of the government can be ended once for all. Hard negotiations are said to be on.

Time will tell who blinks the first. Haryana MLAs are not known for having patience.

If Hooda has to accommodate a large number of the supporting MLAs, he will have to do it at the cost of Congress MLAs. And this is bound to generate resentment among them.

To keep a check on their ambitions “in the interest of the party,” Hooda needs the support of the high command, which alone can tell its MLAs to be sacrificial goats for the party.

Chandigarh, October 30
Urvashi Gulati, a 1975-batch officer, takes over as the 27th Chief Secretary of Haryana tomorrow. She is the third women officer to hold the post.

Gulati will looking after General Administration, Personnel, Training, Vigilance and Parliamentary Reforms. She will also be Secretary in charge of Plan Coordination. She will have a tenure of about two-and-a-half years. Urvashi’s elder sister, Meenakshi Anand Chaudhry, and Promilla Issar are the other two women to have headed the state bureaucracy. Interestingly, both Issar and Gulati were born in Ambala.

Urvashi is part of the “triumvirate”comprising her husband Naresh and younger sister Keshni Anand Arora, also IAS officers of Haryana. Gulati had her education in Chandigarh.

She was awarded the Gold Medal for standing first in BA Honours (Political Science). She was again awarded the Gold Medal in MA. After a stint in teaching, she joined the IAS in 1975. She started her administrative career as SDM at Palwal. Gulati has the distinction of serving as Secretary to Governor, Haryana, for seven years.

As Secretary to Governor she was ex-officio member-secretary of the Kurukshetra Development Board. In this capacity, she was deeply involved in the development of Kurukshetra as heritage city.

As Secretary, she looked after the departments of PWD (B&R), Architecture, Irrigation, Cooperation and Industrial Training & Vocational Education. She also remained Chief Electoral Officer.

She was nominated by the Election Commission as an international observer for the 2001 Sri Lankan parliamentary elections.

Gulati takes keen interest in gender issues and has contributed several articles in journals. As Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education, she conceived the scheme of “Delivery Huts”, which has been much appreciated by the UNDP and the Planning Commission.As Secretary, Development and Panchayats, she played a significant role in the implementation of the scheme to allot plots measuring 100 square yards to the underprivileged.

Ellenabad, October 30
A cavalcade of vehicles zooms past dusty lanes of Chaharwala village, 50 km from Sirsa, to reach Chaupal village where people are waiting for their leader.

The village falls in the Ellenabad seat from where INLD supremo Om Parkash Chautala has been victorious this election.

As Chautala comes out of a vehicle, he is received by enthusiastic villagers chanting “Chaudhary Om Parkash Chautala, zindabad.”After a week that saw government formation and vote of confidence in the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led government, the INLD chief is back to campaigning.

He launched his four-day visit of the Ellenabad constituency from this village, situated on Rajasthan border, today.

Thanking the villagers for their support during the October 13 elections, Chautala tells them that although they had voted for an INLD government, the Congress through “undemocratic” means had cobbled up a majority by “purchasing” MLAs.“You gave me huge support though I was busy in other constituencies. Now, I have won from two seats and have to resign from one. If you assure me that you will give the same kind of support to my candidate in the byelection, only then will I give up this seat,” he tells them.

The villagers assure him that the candidate named by him would poll more votes than him, provided he campaigned in the constituency. Promising to do as asked, he then leaves for another village. Chautala today covered Arnianwali, Randhawa, Nirban, Rupana, Darba, Makhsarani, Shankar Mandori, Rupana Bishnoian, Rupana Ganja, Chaharwala, Jogiwala, Kumharian, Kheri, Gusaiana, Jasnian, Gigorani, Kagdana, Sahpurian and Tarkanwali villages during his tour to thank voters.

At every meeting, Chautala alleged that power and water, that were in abundance during his tenure, had become scarce during the Hooda regime.

“Seeds and fertilisers were freely available during my regime. Now you have to stand in queues.”

Chautala did not give any clue on the candidate to be fielded for the bypoll. Padam Jain, district INLD president, Krishan Kamboj, MLA from Rania, Bhagi Ram, a former minister, Krishna Fogat, district president of the women wing, and Vinod Beniwal, son of former Darba Kalan MLA Vidya Beniwal, were among those who accompanied Chautala.

Chandigarh, October 30
A Haryana cadre officer of the 1976 batch, RS Gujral is likely to be new principal secretary to Chief Minister.

Sources said that Gujral, presently on central deputation as DG, Foreign Trade , with the ministry of commerce was relieved from his assignment today.

He is to be repatriated to his parent state. Gujral will replace the present incumbent, ML Tayal, who has been appointed member of the Competition Commission of India.

The Chief Minister may have written a confidential letter to the DMO, asking that Gujral be relieved immediately.

If Gujral takes over as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, there will be a change in the hierarchy on the fourth floor of the Haryana ssecretariat given the fact that other officers are all junior to him.

Meanwhile, sources in the state government said that the oath-taking ceremony by cabinet ministers and parliamentary secretaries could be held on November 1 which is celebrated as Haryana Day.

Fatehabad, October 30
A team from the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) today visited Hinjrawan Kalan village after ancient items of pottery were found during digging for installation of a mobile tower in the village some days back.

Assistant archeologist Sajjan Kumar, Chandigarh Circle, and his team visited the village and took into possession the pottery items.“From their shape and the material used, these pots appear to be of 17th century AD, that is the late Mughal era,” said Sajjan Kumar.

The exact age of the articles would be known only after study in the ASI labs.The 15 items of pottery, made of copper, bronze, iron and alloy metal, include a frying pan.

“A survey of the site does not point to the possibility of a site of archeological importance. It appears as if someone had buried these pots under the earth centuries back,” opinerd Sajjan Kumar. The pottery was found from the courtyard of the house of Sona Ram, a resident of the Hinjrawan Kalan, when labourers were digging a chasm to install a mobile tower.

Rohtak, October 30
A couple, who married in neighbouring villages, bowed down before the panchayat diktat that was served about a week ago and left the village last night.

The panchayat had served an ultimatum to the couple- Karamvir (22), a resident of Sundana, and Pooja (20) of Garhi Ballam village - to either end their marriage or leave the village. A marriage in a neighbourhood village is unacceptable as per the prevailing social norms in the region.The couple left their home before the expiry of the ultimatum apparently under khap panchayat’s pressure, said a local.

However, a kin of the couple, who confirmed that they had left the village, said his brother had got a job in a city and was likely to visit the village soon.

He added that once the controversy slowed down, the couple would visit their home and families. The police claimed that as Karambir had got a job, he left the village on his will along with his wife.

“We had deployed security for them in the village after getting a whiff of a controversy about their marriage and had been keeping a watch over the developments,” said a police official. Though the couple belonged to different gotras and were Jats by caste, the fact that they hailed from adjoining villages could not find support from even the families of the couple due to social pressure, claimed Manoj Kumar, a local resident.

Kurukshetra, October 30
The incident of a school being converted into a banquet hall and the Haryana Board of School Education allotting an examination centre to the non-functional school exposes the nexus between officials and private school owners. The local Maharani Laxmibai Senior Secondary School, which was converted into a banquet hall without the prior permission of the authorities concerned, was made an examination centre for Classes VIII, X and XII.

District Education Officer Saroj Lochak conducted a surprise check of the school and sent a report to the higher authorities. In her report, dated September 2, 2009, she clearly states that during inspection, no teacher and student was found. Instead, she found sofas and beds in all rooms.The school was non-functional and had been converted into a banquet hall without intimating the authorities.

It had been re-named Mid Town Banquet Hall. She recommended cancellation of the exam centre but the school board ignored the recommendation, obviously to bail out the school.The board allowed the exam to be held in the “banquet hall” on October 24 and 26. The centre was shifted to Devidas Pura Senior Secondary School only after media reports exposed the nexus between the owner and the authorities.

The owner of the hall, Manjoor Singh, and his son, Deepak, manager of the banquet hall, have gone underground following a case of attempted kidnapping of local journalist Pawan Ashri under Sections 148,149, 323, 341, 365, 420 and 506 of the IPC.

The school owner and some other persons allegedly manhandled and tried to kidnap the scribe while he was trying to take photographs of a banquet hall board being removed. Ashri alleges that he is being pressured into reaching a compromise with the accused and fears for his life

.Local mediapersons had held a protest march yesterday, demanding the arrest of the accused and security for Ashri.

They submitted a memorandum to the Governor during his visit to the town today who directed the police to take prompt action and arrest the culprits. SP KV Ramana said three teams had been formed to nab the accused.

Panipat, October 30
In order to assist those trying to douse the flames at the IOC depot in Jaipur, two foam-carrying fire tenders and a team of fire fighters from the Panipat refinery were rushed to Jaipur today.

A senior official of the IOC said as the oil depots were on fire, the water-carrying tenders were incapable of fighting the flames and only foam-carrying tenders could be used to bring down the flames.

According to reports, three foam-carrying fire tenders were rushed from Mathura refinery of the IOC, two from Panipat refinery and some fire fighting matter was dispatched by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) from Ahmedabad, said the official.

The foam-carrying fire tenders from here were expected to reach Jaipur by today evening after which these would initiate fire fighting. A team of fire fighters posted at Panipat refinery were also sent along the fire tender, he said.

The official said water-carrying fire tenders that were available at the site were being used for cooling the area around the tanks so that foam-carrying fire tender could move in and douse the flames.

The officials said as soon a formal commune was received from the higher authorities, the tenders were sent to Jaipur from here.

Ambala, October 30
The blaze at the IOC depot in Jaipur, which claimed six lives, has put the district administration on its toes.

Ambala has both the HP and the IOC depots, which supply oil not only to the Army and the Air Force based in Ambala Cantonment but also to Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

The district administration today held a meeting with the top brass of the IOC, the HP and emergency services like the Fire Department to assess their preparedness to handle any major causality.

In a meeting, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Sameer Pal Srow, the HP and the IOC were asked to make a personal assessment and on the suggestion of the DC the depots decided to make provisions of five more fire tenders.

The HP depot is situated right next to the GT Road and is surrounded by a cluster of houses. The DC, however, disclosed that the government had approved allocation of a new land for the depot and it would be moved out shortly. The IOC depot is, however, situated away from habitants.

The district administration, leaving nothing to chance, is also strengthening its disaster management and will introduce a fleet of ambulances next week. The trauma centre, which has been completed, is waiting for a formal inauguration.

Panipat, October 30
Gross irregularities being committed by a drug de-addiction centre were today exposed by an inmate, who managed to escape from the illegal confinement at the centre and reported the matter to the police.

The police immediately sung into action and registered a case against the owners of the centre and even carried out a raid on the centre during which one of the persons working there was arrested.

According to information, the Saviour Charitable Trust had been running a drug de-addiction centre in Urga Kheri village. It had recently brought Jitender, a resident of Sonepat, to the centre to be treated as he was addicted to drugs. He was allegedly kept in illegal confinement for over 37 days before he managed to give the staffers a slip.

He approached the district police, following which the centre was raided. As per the complaint filed by Jitender, he had been allegedly kidnapped by owners of the centre from outside the local Khadi Ashram.

He said the owners subjected him and other inmates to inhuman treatment.

They were allegedly beaten up by the staffers and not allowed to meet any relatives. He even told the police that the persons working there even used to threaten to kill them if they did not act according to their wishes.

The family members of the inmates were reportedly told that it was a part of the treatment and unless the inmates were not given such a treatment they would not shun drugs. Jitender told the police they were not given food on time and maltreated by the staffers of the centre.

The police has registered a case under Sections 365, 366, 387, 323, 342 and 506 of the IPC against Vikram Malik, owner of the centre, and other staffers. The police also arrested one of the persons who worked there - Anil. Malik could not be arrested till the filing of the report.

The police said it was still verifying whether other inmates of the centre were also meted out to the same treatment and in case more persons would come up with complaints against the owner of the centre, action would be taken as per the law.

Meanwhile, Jitender was united with his family members who took him along.

Sirsa, October 30
The health authorities today raided a diagnostic centre on the Dabwali road after receiving an anonymous call that a sex-determination test was being performed at the centre.

However, the authorities did not find anything incriminating at the centre and the doctor running the hospital has alleged that he was unnecessarily harassed by the team.

“We raided the City Diagnostic Centre situated on the Dabwali road after the civil surgeon received an anonymous call that Dalip Kumar, a resident of Bhuna, had come to the centre for prenatal sex- determination test,” said Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr PL Verma, who along with Dr Archna Agarwal and other members of the team raided the hospital.

He added that nothing incriminating was found and the person named in the complaint was not present at the hospital.

Dr Verma, however, said further inquiry into the case would be made from Bhuna village, from where the alleged patient hails and action would be initiated against the centre if the test was performed.

Dr Sanjiv Kaushal, owner of the City Diagnostic Centre, accused the health authorities of humiliating him for no reason.

“The health authorities have made Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act a tool to harass innocent and respectable doctors,” Kaushal alleged. He said the team remained in his hospital for over an hour and checked all the records, but found nothing incriminating.

Karnal, October 30
The indefinite strike by B Pharmacy students of the Doon Valley Institute of Management to protest against the decision of the management to show the receipt of the fee already paid by them or make the payment again continued for the second day here today.

The students said all of them had deposited Rs 41,000 as fee for the course and at that time the management did not issue any receipt.

“How can we show the receipt when the official of the institution, who collected the fee, did not give the receipt,” the students said.

The students abstained from the classes, staged a demonstration and raised slogans against the management. Owner of the institute Mohit Aggarwal said the students had not been asked to pay the fee again but only to show the receipt to confirm that the payment had been made. He said the trustee of the institution had been removed and the accounts were incomplete. It would be easier for the management to update the accounts if the students produced the receipt of the payments made by them, he added.

The management tried to talk to the students but could not reach a solution and the strike continued as the matter was postponed till Tuesday.

Last year also students of the institute went on strike to protest against the charging of exorbitant amount of Rs 2,800 for the dress that included a shirt, trouser and a tie.

Sirsa, October 30
Tributes were paid to Chaudhary Dalbir Singh, former Union Minister and father of Union Minister for Tourism and Housing Selja, on his death anniversary today.

Chaudhary Dalbir Singh represented Sirsa parliamentary constituency on four occasions in 1967, 1971, 1980 and 1984, while his daughter Selja won this seat in 1991 and 1996.

Hoshiari Lal Sharma, president of the District Congress Committee said the late leader spent his life in service of the poor, downtrodden and Dalits. “He considered politics as a means to serve the poor and never compromised on his principles,” he said.

Congress leaders Raj Kumar Verma, Harish Soni, Sanjay Chawaria, Manpreet Singh, Kusum Sharma and Mahipal Sharma were among those who paid tributes to the late Congress leader.