Ellenabad, January 11
Who has spent more on development of Sirsa and Ellenabad, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Om Parkash Chautala? This has become a major issue in this byelection.

The INLD candidate, Abhey Singh Chautala, today offered to withdraw from the contest if Hooda’s claims on the issue was found correct. He sought Hooda’s resignation if it was found that he had uttered a falsehood.

Chief Minister Hooda had claimed during his election campaign last week that his government had spent Rs 1,120 crores in Sirsa district during his term in government, while Chautala had spent a mere Rs 720 crore during his six years of chief ministership.

Hooda had claimed his government had spent Rs 270 crore on Ellenabad and a package of Rs 58 crore had been announced for it in November.

“Let there be an open debate and let the Chief Minister or his officers produce proof of expenditure and I will immediately withdraw my candidature from the Ellenabad bypoll,” declared Abhey Singh as he talked to mediapersons today. “In case the figures cited by Hooda are found false, he will have lost all right to stay in office,” he added.

“Can Hooda tell the people how many youths from Ellenabad have been provided employment during his regime,” asked Abhey.

Meanwhile, the election campaign has intensified with several Congress and INLD leaders joining electioneering.

INLD supremo Om Parkash Chautala today addressed a series of meetings in Ellenabad villages and sought votes for Abhey in the name of development.

He demanded withdrawal of entry tax on sugar and alleged that the government had rubbed salt on the wounds of the common man with the cost of sugar already too high. Deepender Singh Hooda, MP from Rohtak, also campaigned in several villages.

“This government has set up four new power plants, while the government led by Chautala did not care to improve the power situation in the state,” he said, addressing people at Gigorani.“You have tried Chautalas MLAs several times. Give a chance to Bharat Singh Beniwal and he will prove better than others,” he claimed.

Haryana Minister Geeta Bhukkal, while campaigning in Rampura Dhiillon, said the Hooda government had worked towards the betterment of Dalits and women.

Nalwa MLA Sampat Singh, Shahbad MLA Anil Dhantodi, minister Gopal Kanda and several other Congress leaders campaigned for the Congress nominee.

Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh, former minister Ashok Arora, former Ellenabad MLA Bhagi Ram and former minister Subhash Goyal sought votes for the INLD candidate.

Sirsa, January 11
Nishan, a Delhi-based organisation conducting a survey on shortcomings in the Indian policing system, today elicited the views of major candidates in fray for the Ellenabad byelection on the subject.

In collaboration with a Sirsa-based organisation, Urja, Aridamanjit Singh, a former deputy commandant of the BSF, who is director, Nishan, accompanied by Melissa Gordon, a former special police officer with the Hampshire county police and Manisha Singh, an advocate, today sought the views of the common people on the subject.

Most candidates were candid in their response.

While INLD candidate Abhey Singh Chautala advocated the western system of policing, bringing the local police under municipal chiefs, Congress nominee Bharat Singh Beniwal and Samast Bharatiya Party nominee Kusum Chaudhary maintained that senior officers in the police could bring about reforms in the force, if they so desired.

“Popular perception that political interference is responsible for all evils ailing the police is not correct according to studies undertaken by us,” said Aridamanjit Singh.

He maintained that the police in India was reasonably independent in its functioning. Melissa said the basic difference between the police in India and the West, as she observed, was the structure of the constabulary.

“In the UK and other western countries, the police is imparted training to deal with civilians, but in India it is almost akin to military training,” she observed.

“We need a single-window recruitment system in the police and admission through the Indian Police Service needs to be scrapped,” opined Aridamanjit Singh.

“Officers from one state are posted in some other state where they are unable to understand the language of the local people, what to speak of understanding their problems.”

He said the NGO had already conducted a survey in 21 cities of Haryana. Roshan Suchan, Kavita Jindal, Surjeet Nehra and Vikrant Rathi, members of Urja, accompanied the Nishan team.

Ambala, January 11
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said here today that the cabinet would be expanded after the Ellenabad byelection. He refused to disclose how many new ministers would be inducted.

Talking to mediapersons at the residence of Haryana Congress chief Phool Chand Mullana, he said the Congress would win Ellenabad with a comfortable margin. He said he was sure the people would cast their vote in favour of development. He said Om Prakash Chautala had been misguiding voters with false promises.

To a question, he said the state government would complete its tenure as it had the support of 53 MLAs.

Referring to the scarcity of power, he said dense fog was causing technical problems in the Northern Grid. Two power plants had started production while two more would come become functional by the end of the year.

He claimed that after two years there would be no power scarcity in the state.

Hooda said Industrial Model Township in the city would encourage big industrial units to shift to the region.

Mullana said he had received replies from 26 party leaders for anti-party activity during the recent elections. He said the replies would be forwarded to Prathvi Raj Chauhan.

Jind, January 11
As many as 250 unemployed youths, who claim to have passed the Teachers Eligibility Test conducted by the Education Department of Haryana, staged a demonstration here today in protest against the delay in getting employment despite clearing the test.

They submitted a memorandum to the state government through the office of the Deputy Commissioner after the protest.

Ramesh Dhull, a representative of the association of the teachers, claimed that a large number of youths, who had qualified degrees like Bachelor of Education, JBT and Master of Education along with the Teachers Eligibility Test, had been jobless. They had not been assured of any permanent job in the Education Department.

He said while the number of such candidates had crossed the figure of 50,000 in the state, the future of such youths was on stake as employment chances were not bright due to “lopsided” policies of the state government.

Condemning the state government’s decision of allowing the guest teachers to skip the Teachers Eligibility Test and grace marks of 24 in the interview for the vacant posts, he said this had been a major setback to thousands of talented youths, who had worked hard to clear the test.

Describing it as a cruel joke, the association demanded preference to candidates having qualified the test to those who had worked as guest teachers as it claimed that the appointment as guest teachers in schools was no special qualification for being given a special treatment.

The memorandum asked the government not to extend the contract of guest teachers beyond March 31 and withdraw the relaxations being given to them in the matter of appointment as regular teachers in government schools.

The protesters took out a march in the town before they assembling outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner.

Kurukshetra, January 11
The issue of release of revised UGC grades to Haryana university teachers under the “self-financing scheme” (SFS) would be resolved soon, claimed Prof NS Kaushal, president, Kurukshetra University Teachers Association (KUTA), here today.

Kaushal, who met MS Chopra, OSD to the Chief Minister of Haryana along with a delegation of the KUTA at his residence in Chandigarh today, claimed that Chopra assured them that the officers concerned would be directed to resolve the issue at the earliest and the government was serious about the early release of revised scales to teachers working under the SFS.

The delegation comprising Dr Kamraj Sindhu and Dr Parmesh Kumar, vice-president and secretary of KUTA, respectively, and Dr Sanjay Kajal, Dr Urmila, Dr Poonam Dabas, Dr Anita Grewal and Dr Seema Singh (all members), impressed on Chopra that teachers working under the SFS had already been paid arrears of revised pay equivalent of 40 per cent of total arrears on the analogy of regular teachers, but revised grades had not been released to them.

Later, talking to mediapersons, Kaushal and Dr Parmesh said revised pay scales had already been released for non-teaching employees of Kurukshetra University working under the SFS but the teachers under the SFS were being discriminated against and denied their due.

They rued that these teachers were assured by the university authorities that they would get the salary for November 2009 as per the revised pay scales and the matter was also placed before the Executive Council of the university on November 27, 2009, which approved it subject to the consent of the Haryana government.

The Haryana Financial Commissioner and Secretary Education, Rajan Gupta, had also assured that a consent would be given within a week after receiving the recommendation from the university, but the response of the government was still awaited.

He asserted that the KUTA always stood and worked for betterment of academic atmosphere in the university but these frivolous issues vitiated the atmosphere and caused resentment among some sections which should be avoided.

Chandigarh, January 11
Haryana Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati today directed the administrative secretaries to review the ongoing welfare policies and programmes of the state government for its effective implementation so that benefit of these could reach to people at large.

Gulati was presiding over a meeting of administrative secretaries of various departments here today.

Expressing concern over distribution losses in the power sector, the Chief Secretary said electricity was the primary sector of the state government so there was a need to reduce and stabilise the increasing subsidy in the power sector. She said a number of ambitious projects were being set up to generate more electricity, but it was a challenge to strengthen the distribution system so that line losses could be reduced.

Stressing the need for a rain water harvesting system, Gulati said state government was committed to providing adequate irrigation water to farmers and also to reach up to the tale end. It was informed in the meeting that construction and repairs of watercourses were being done by the Irrigation Department.

It was informed in the meeting that the Public Works (B&R) Department was considering to bring more BOT projects in future for construction and strengthening of road network in the state.

It was also discussed that overloading was the prime cause for breaking of roads and it should be checked by the department concerned.

Besides, construction works of buildings of National Rural Health Mission were in full swing and it would be completed in a period of about one and a half years.

Karnal, January 11
Expressing anguish and annoyance at the scuffle between SGPC personnel and the Jhinda group of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Didar Singh Nalvi, general secretary of a rival faction, today lashed out at Jagdish Singh Jhinda, alleging him of indulging in cheap gimmicks and weakening the cause of a separate gurdwara panel in Haryana.

Condemning the hurling of a pair of knickers at SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, Nalvi said the Sikh community could not condone such “uncivilised” behaviour.

Nalvi said Jhinda had congratulated Makkar on his re-election as SGPC president at Amritsar, but back in Haryana was indulging in such acts that would only weaken unity among the Sikhs .

He said Haryana Sikhs had three demands, separate management for their shrines, a state minority commission and second language status for Punjabi.

But Jhinda had deviated from the main goal.

“All Sikhs are a single community and it is imperative that we refrain from indulging in violence and resolve all issues amicably for the sake of unity,” he stressed.

Lashing out at the SGPC president, for making changes in the Nanakshahi calendar at the “behest” of the RSS, he said the new calendar was not acceptable to most Sikhs.

He ridiculed Makkar’s statement made yesterday that the SGPC would provide funds to as many schools and colleges in Haryana as required.

“ He should first explain to the Haryana Sikhs as to why Miri Piri Medical College project has been given to a trust and not executed by the SGPC,” he said with sarcasm

Meanwhile, senior vice-president of the SGPC Raghubir Singh Virk described yesterday’s incidents as “unfortunate” .

He said the jathedars would meet tomorrow to decide on social boycott of Jhinda for his reprehensible acts.

Yamunanagar: SGPC member Baldev Singh Kayampuri today warned that the SGPC would move court against the president of the Haryana SGPC (ad hoc), Jagdish Singh Jhinda, and his supporters for their “unlawful” activities.

Kayampuri said the government should ensure that Jhinda and his men were arrested or else “we will move the High Court”.

He said it must be ensured that leaders like Makkar did not face any difficulty during their visits to the state. He said Makkar would holding the next meeting at Kapal Mochan on January 21 to discuss the next course of action. — TNS

Bhiwani, January 11
In view of the apathetic attitude of the Railway Department towards construction of the Bhiwani-Lohru rail line, the Dainik Rail Yatri and the Jan Kalyan Sangh, Bhiwani, has written a letter to Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and sought her immediate intervention.

The sangh has also submitted a copy of the letter to local MP Shruti Choudhry to press the ministry concerned to take initiative in this regard.

In a press conference held here today, president of the sangh Mahavir Prasad Dalmia said the sangh had been seeking more facilities for rail passengers and inception of new trains on this section.

“The Railway Department has already conducted two surveys for the Bhiwani-Loharu railway line, but nothing has been done so far,” said Dalmia, adding that the sangh had sent a demand letter to the Ministry of Railways seeking development of the Bhiwani junction and to allocate budget for laying of the Bhiwani-Loharu railway line in the rail budget to be presented in February.

Placing an old demand for inclusion of the Bhiwani junction into the Delhi division, the sangh has demanded at least seven trains from Bhiwani or via Bhiwani.

These are Bhiwani-Hardwar passenger train (this train had been sanctioned in 2007-08 rail budget), extension of 2955-2956 superfast Jaipur-Mumbai train to Bhiwani, a new train from Bhiwani to Fulera via Rewari-Ringus, extension of 1RH Hisar-Rewari passenger train to Ajmer, to run 5609-5610 Avadh-Assam Express via Bhiwani, to extend 4-7RD Delhi-Rewari train up to Bhiwani and to run the 4795-4796 Kalka Express train as an independent train.

The sangh has also sought restarting of Farakka Express from Bhiwani. This train, according to Dalmia, was very useful for neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal residents.

In its letter, the sangh has also demanded construction of a railway overbridge over the railway crossing on the Hansi-Hisar road, to renovate the Bhiwani city halt by giving it a complete station status and making it stoppage of mail/express trains, construction of two new platforms and two washing lines having capacity to wash two 24 coach trains at the Bhiwani junction, double lines and electrification of rail lines between Bhiwani and Rohtak junction.

They also sought appropriate station status to Kharak railway halt, development and modernisation as model station of the Bhiwani junction and to run one of the two passenger trains already running between Hisar and Ludhiana.

Gurgaon, January 11
Haryana Minister for Power, Labour and Employment, Food and Supply, Urban Local bodies and Industry and Commerce Mahender Pratap Singh said today that the franchise system was not privatisation of the power utilities and the state government was planning to appoint franchisees keeping in view of the welfare of power consumers.

However, this would be done after analysing merits and demerits of the system. The employees and officers of power utilities need not get swayed by misinformation about the system.

The minister was addressing district officers of Gurgaon at the local mini-secretariat today. He said the state government wanted to provide better services to the power consumers and the franchise system was being experimented. If the system failed to provide the desired quality of services, the government would say goodbye to it.

The minister affirmed that franchise system was not privatisation because neither there was a change in power tariffs nor it would have any effect on the service of the power utility employees.

Referring to the steps taken by the state government for improvement in power supply, he said for the first time in state Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has taken initiative to increase the power generation capacity of Haryana which was going to be doubled by 2012 and after this, the state would be in a comfortable position in terms of power supply. He said at present, there was a difference of about 15 to 20 per cent in the power availability and consumption. It may be more in Gurgaon.

He stated that though Gurgaon today has become a famous city on the international level, this city can equate with Shanghai if officers and employees develop the city with proper planning and get the works completed in stipulated time frame.

Kurukshetra, January 11
About 10 lakh pilgrims are expected to take a holy dip in the sacred Brahma Sarovar and Sannihit Sarovar here on the occasion of solar eclipse following between 11.55 am to 3.09 pm on January 15. An insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh per person for pilgrims has been finalised.

Stating this at a press conference held in the conference hall of Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) here today, Ambala Division Commissioner Mahendra Kumar said Ashok Kumar Bansal, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Thanesar, had been appointed as the mela administrator while AL Bathala, District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO), had been appointed as the mela officer of the mela area, which had been divided into 10 sectors and law and order would be ensured by a duty magistrate.

Mahendra Kumar said besides the augmentation of eight-passenger trains on the Jind-Narwana-Kurukshetra route, 19 special trains would run on seven other routes on the solar eclipse day while all stoppages of mail and express trains except Shatabdi, stopping at Kurukshetra had been extended to 5 minutes. Besides, 300 buses would be deployed by the Haryana Roadways for carrying the pilgrims to and from Kurukshetra.

He said in addition to the three permanent bus stands comprising new bus stand, old bus stand and Pipli bus stand, four temporary bus stands at Pehowa road, Jhansa road, Dhad road and New Anaj Mandi would start working.

To facilitate the pilgrims, 1,600 hydrants and 12 water tanks would be pressed into service while 17 tube wells would supply water in the area. There would be 350 urinals and 1,350 toilets as well as 10 mobile toilets.

To ensure regular supply of electricity, 20 generator sets would be installed. To provide medical facilities to pilgrims, 70 doctors would remain on duty and 14 first-aid posts, three ayurvedic dispensaries and 11 resuscitation centres would be established where 18 ambulances would remain at the disposal of doctors. The mela fire office would be established at Theme Park.

As many as 215 sweepers, along with 8 tractor-trolleys and one refuse collector, would remain in service.

To control the prices of essential commodities, 10 fair price shops, nine Vita milk shops and three wood shops would be opened in the area while the mela bazaar would be arranged in the Theme Park and a space near Nandaji Samarak and Brahma Sarovar, had been earmarked for running langars. To ferry the physically challenged persons, two special vehicles would be available, one from the university gate No 3 and the other from Parakeet, Pipli, 5 km from here.

Sonepat, January 11
In protest against the unauthorised mining of Yamuna sand from the fields of Nandnaur, Asadpur, Garhi and Machhrola villages and use of the cremation ground path by the sand loaded trucks in Nandnaur village, a number of representatives of these villages today met Deputy Commissioner Ajit Joshi and demanded immediate ban on the practice.

The DC assured them that he would visit the area and their grievances would be redressed at the earliest.

In their complaint to the DC, they alleged that because of the heavy vehicle flow on the path, a number of people had become victims of accidents.

The unauthorised mining would also destroy the fertility of the agriculture land in the Yamuna belt.

Later, talking to mediapersons they added that this practice of mining had been going on for the past two months and as a result of this, Radhe Shyam had died, Prithvi had been disabled and Balraj and Uttam were admitted to PGIMS, Rohtak, with serious injuries.

Chandigarh, January 11
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has condoled the sudden demise of Bhupinder Singh Yadav, elder brother of Director, Haryana Agriculture Department, Ashok Kumar Yadav. Bhupinder Singh Yadav was 69. He is survived by three sons and a daughter.

In a condolence message issued here today, Hooda described Yadav, who retired from the Haryana Industrial Training Institute, as a hardworking and honest person. Hooda conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family and prayed that the departed soul might rest in peace.

Rewari, January 11
A farmer identified as Pooran Singh Gujjar (47) was reportedly killed in a fire that broke out in his thatched room in his fields at Gujjar Majri village, near Bawal, last night.

Pooran Singh used to sleep in his fields. After inspecting the site today, a senior police official said the room might have caught fire due to a bidi or a hookah. The Bawal police, which held an inquest under Section 174 of the Cr PC, has treated it as a case of accidental death. Meanwhile, the body was taken to the PGIMS, Rohtak, for a postmortem.