Chandigarh, June 22
As the battle royale between Punjab and Haryana on the sharing of river waters continues, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today added a new dimension seeking royalty from Punjab for withholding Haryana’s share of water.

The Chief Minister made this demand at a media briefing after the induction of a former minister of the Devi Lal government, Dr Kirpa Ram Punia, into the Congress at the party office here today.

Emphasising that Haryana would get its share of water, he said instead of demanding royalty for giving water to Haryana, Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal should be made to pay for denying Haryana its share.

“We will get our share of water. There is no question of royalty because we are, anyway, getting less water than what has been allocated to us,” he said, reacting to Badal’s repeated demand for royalty.

Not sparing even senior Congressman and then Chief Minister of Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh, for daring to annul all water treaties, Hooda said, “Who is he to abrogate the treaties which were between various states and the Prime Minister?”

Hooda said the state was requesting for an early hearing at Supreme Court on the water issue. The Supreme Court has already decided in favour of Haryana but the Presidential reference is pending with the Supreme Court, he added.

On the growing incidents of Dalits being “victimised” in Haryana, Hooda said brotherhood in Haryana was in tact and that “some people” were trying to give a communal and casteist colour to various incidents. “We have passed on instructions to the police to be vigilant and ensure that such incidents do not take place,” he stated.

Coming to the aid of the Chief Minister, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee President Phool Chand Mullana said the Mirchpur incident was “shameful” and the state government had done all it could to restore harmony and peace.

The party leaders seemed to be in a self-congratulatory mode as well, stating they had won a majority in the recently held local bodies’ elections. Maintaining that the public had reposed faith in the party, its policies and leadership of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by backing Congress-supported candidates, they hoped for similar support in the second phase of the elections as well.

Stating that his government was committed to fulfilling the wishes of the Sikhs of Haryana for a separate SGPC as recommended by the Chatha Committee, Hooda yet again dodged the crucial question of when it was likely to happen by maintaining that the government was having it “legally examined”.

Clarifying that same-gotra marriages were against the social norms of Haryana, Hooda, however, said violence in the name of honour was not justified and stringent action would be taken against those indulging in such crimes.

Jind, June 22
The Sarva Jatiya Sarva Khap Panchayat is firm on its demand to seek an amendment in the Hindu Marriage Act to make the same gotra and same village marriages as illegal. It will also take an initiative to create an awareness regarding the negative fallouts of such marriages by making and exhibiting a movie on the issue.

The panchayat will go ahead with its plan to launch a massive stir if the government fails to act within a stipulated time period and will hold a mahapanchayat at Meham on August 1 to discuss its next move. This was resolved at a meeting of the panchayat representatives held here today, under the chairmanship of Sarva Khap head Mewa Singh Chhatar.

The meeting adopted several resolutions, including the condemnation of the alleged negative attitude towards the demand of the sarva khap bodies by certain sections of the society. Describing the campaign by some electronic channels on the issue as damaging and against the interests of the society, the meeting called for boycott of such channels and said broadcast of such channels would be stopped in the rural areas if they do not mend their ways, said a spokesperson. Representatives of the Meham Chaubisi, Beniwal, Kadian Khaps were among those who attended the meeting.

Chandigarh, June 22
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed notices for resumption of industrial plots sent to “dyers” in Panipat. They now have a year’s time to complete the construction to shift to the new premises.

Taking up a petition by the Panipat Dyers Association through its president Yashpal Malik, Justice K. Kannan asserted: “If we consider the fact that on the date when the resumption notices were sent, there had been no adequate provision for electricity and water, there was no scope for invoking the provision for resumption without providing those amenities or basic amenities, enjoined in the allotment letter.”

Going into the background of the case, Justice Kannan asserted: “The petitioner-association espouses the cause on behalf of its members, whose allotment of the industrial plots by HUDA had been ordered to be resumed by order dated February 13, 2009. The allotment letter provides that the respondent will give a clear period of one year for starting construction from the date of offer of possession, which offer could be made only on completion of developmental works in the areas.”

“The petitioners’ complaint through this writ petition is that the basic development had not been done in the new sector and, therefore, the dyeing units cannot start the construction over the plots and the offer of possession that had been made was itself illegal, for they have not even made the necessary developmental works.”

In his detailed order, Justice Kannan asserted: “I am convinced that all developmental works are complete, except the issue relating to water, where there are varying perceptions of the petitioners complaining that the provisions are not adequate, while HUDA contends that there is very little yet to be done.”

“The petitioners cannot indefinitely postpone their action to construct and all members of the association, who have been allotted plots shall draw up plans, if they had not already done and submit them within one month.”

“The constructions shall be carried out in accordance with building regulations after submitting building plans and securing appropriate sanctions. The entire schedule of completion of constructions and shifting shall take place in the manner provided under the allotment letters. The petitioners shall have an outer limit of one year.”

Kaithal, June 22
Country’s National flag will now fly even during night, which was not earlier allowed under the flag code rules. This has been possible due to efforts of industrialist-turned-politician and chairman of the Flag Foundation of India and MP Naveen Jindal.

A press release issued by the foundation here today, quoting CEO of the foundation KV Singh, said, “Earlier the Tricolour cannot be kept flying at night, but now it has become possible as the Union Home Ministry in a letter dated December 9, 2009, has allowed keeping the National Flag fly even during night with a rider that the flag does not remain in dark.”

Following this clarification from the Home Ministry, lights had been installed in Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Ladwa and Hisar towns respectively, where the tricolour had been hoisted at a height of 210 feet.

The press release said the CEO had clarified that the flags were installed at a height and were hoisted in the morning and lowered in the evening with the help of electricity operated machines. The hoisting and lowering gets difficult at times due to technical problems.

Naveen Jindal took up the matter with the Union Home Ministry that allowed the Tricolour flying during night, but with a rider that the National Flag should not remain in dark. He further said now, 1,000 watts lights had been installed at all places, where the Tricolour had been hoisted.

He said, “Earlier, we got the right to hoist the National Flag at our residences and business premises and the MPs got permission to wear the National Flag with Lapel pin and now with the permission to keep the National Flag fly at night will certainly instill and add a sense of respect towards the National Flag.

Sirsa, June 22
Banners and hoardings erected jointly by the Haryana Olympic Association (HOA) and the District Olympic Association (DOA), Sirsa, for the Olympic Day celebrations appear to be projecting Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda as the sports icon of Haryana.

A state-level function to mark the celebrations will be organised at the Shahid Bhagat Singh Stadium here tomorrow. The banners of the event installed in the town on behalf of HOA and the DOA have the photograph of Kanda as the chief guest. However, the banners also have picture of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who has been shown playing lawn tennis.

Neither a caption has been given to Hooda’s picture, nor his name has been given anywhere on the banner, since he will not be attending tomorrow’s celebrations. The banners seem to be projecting Hooda as the sports icon for the Haryana youth.

“Hooda has done a lot for the promotion of sports in the state and is himself a very good sportsperson,” said Gopal Kanda. He said the state government has so far recruited 39 outstanding sportspersons as DSP, inspector and sub-inspectors under sports quota in the state police. Kanda added the youth could learn a lot from Hooda, who has been maintaining the discipline of devoting time on sports daily despite of his tight schedule.

However, the opposition INLD is not amused by the arguments forwarded by Kanda. “There are several players in the state, who have performed well at the international level and have also received Arjuna Awards. The government should honour such players on such occasions and project them as icons,” said vice-president of the Indian Olympic Association Abhey Singh Chautala. Chautala alleged that the sports activities in the state have taken a nosedive during the present Congress regime.

Gurgaon, June 22
The post of Chairman of the Gurgaon Zila Parishad has been reserved for women this time. The nominations started today for the elections of Panchayati Raj institutions, that is, for panches, sarpanches, members of the panchayat samitis and the Zila Parishad in the rural areas of the district.

On the first day of the nominations today, as many as 36 candidates filed their papers for elections to the Zila Parishad. There are 10 wards in the Gurgaon Zila Parishad.

Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Rajender Kataria is the Returning Officer for the ZP elections, while the Joint Commissioner of the local Municipal Corporation, Narender Singh Yadav, is the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO).

The draw for reserving wards of the Zila Parishad has been conducted. Ward numbers 2, 6 and 10 of the Gurgaon Zila Parishad have been reserved for women candidates of the general category, while Ward number 8 is reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes. Ward numbers 5 and 7 are reserved for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Backward Classes, respectively.

As many as 116 candidates filed their nominations for the panchayat samiti member elections in all four blocks of the district on the first day of filing the papers today.

SDM Gurgaon (North) Satender Duhan is the Returning Officer for the Gurgaon block for elections of panchayat samiti members, while SDM Gurgaon (South) Naresh Narwal is the Returning Officer of Sohna block, SDM (Pataudi) Vatshal Vashist is the Returning Officer of Pataudi block and District Revenue Officer PD Sharma is the Returning Officer of Farrukhnagar block.

Sirsa, June 22
The brick-kiln owners of the district are sore due to treatment meted out at the hands of various government departments.

The Brick Kiln Owners’ Association, Sirsa, has threatened that its members will not produce bricks in the coming season, in case the authorities fail to look into their problems.

District president of the association Bhim Jhonthra alleged that in the name of “bonded labourer”, the brick kiln owners have been branded as outlaws by the authorities. He added it was being wrongly projected that they kept bonded labourers in their kilns, while as a matter of fact, he claimed, that it was the other way round.

“We have become bonded as the labour contractors take huge amounts in advance and then use the allegations of bonded labour against us as an excuse to leave our jobs without refunding our money,” Jhunthra alleged. He also questioned the wisdom behind announcing the labour rates for each district, when the state Labour Commissioner has already decided the rates for the whole of the state. “The state Labour Commissioner announces the rates twice a year in January and July every year,” he added.

“The unions headed by some Left parties pressurise the district authorities to fix higher rates. Even last time, the rates in Sirsa were much higher than what they were in Haryana,” said Jhunthra.

Fatehabad, June 22
The health authorities in the district have intensified checking after a female foetus was recovered from a wastewater drain at Ratia town last week.

A team of the heath authorities, led by Deputy Civil Surgeon Ramesh Chakarvarty, seized the records of three maternity centres in the town yesterday.

“The foetus was recovered from a drain flowing near Balmiki Mohalla last week and after a postmortem, it was found that it was a case of female foeticide.

A foetus had earlier been recovered three months ago from the same locality,” said Dr VK Jain, SMO of the community centre, Ratia.

Since then the health authorities have raided houses of lady health visitors (LHV) and nurses living in the vicinity to find out if any of them was behind the act.

The Civil Surgeon, Dr OP Arya, said the records of three centres registered for medical termination of pregnancies had been seized and the matter would be enquired by visiting each family mentioned in the records.

He, however, said no case of sex determination had so far come to the notice of the authorities.