|
|
|
|
|
Jats clear rail tracks
Drivers’ selection quashed
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Now, LPG cylinder an SMS away
Hooda inaugurates bus stand
Virk: Jhinda’s resignation a gimmick
|
|
Jats clear rail tracks
Hisar, March 26 Addressing the protesters, samiti chief Yashpal Malik said the Haryana Government had promised to set up a commission to consider their demand within a month. The samiti would then wait for the commission’s verdict for five months. Malik said the samiti would shortly organise a “sankalp yatra” to keep the agitation alive till September 13 next when it would organise “balidan divas” at Mayyar village near here. Incidentally, a youth was killed in police firing at this village on that day last year when the pro-reservation rally had turned violent. The yatra would start from the Golden Temple in Amritsar to involve Jat Sikhs. It would pass through Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. He also announced the social boycott of former minister and Congress legislator Sampat Singh for his statements on the reservation issue. He appealed to fellow Jats not to allow him to enter their villages and enforce the ban on sharing “hukka-paani” with him. He said he had been described as an agent of Mayawati and others, but he was proud to be an agent of his caste. Earlier, the Haryana unit head of the samiti, Hawa Singh Sangwan, gave the protesters a detailed account of the talks he and other stir leaders had with Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda at Jind last night. He said the CM had given a categorical assurance that he would set up the panel within a month and it would give its verdict within six months. The claims of other communities like Ahirs and Bishnois would also be considered. Initially, the protesters were unwilling to vacate the track on assurances alone, but the samiti leaders ultimately convinced them that it was in their interests. Immediately after the impromptu rally, the protesters cleared the rail track and removed all blockades. However, rail traffic is expected to resume tomorrow after railway technicians finish checking the entire track. JIND: Jat protesters cleared the way for the resumption of train services on the Jind-Ferozepur section on Saturday after ending their 15-day-old dharna on the track near Narwana town in the district. Hundreds of residents of nearby villages and various khaps had been squatting on the track, leading to the disruption of the services of over 40 trains on this route. Around 11.30 am, the head of the Binain khap, Nafe Singh Nain, announced the lifting of the dharna following an agreement reached with the state government last night. Randhir Nain, a spokesperson for the protesters, said they had ended their protest on the assurance of the Chief Minister. The movement of trains on this route had started by the evening, claimed an official of the Railways. FATEHABAD: Jat protesters lifted their blockade on railway tracks at Mehuwala and Gajuwala in this district on Saturday. Jats removed their tents and other belongings from the railway tracks in the afternoon after leaders of the sangharsh samiti told them of the government’s assurance regarding their demand. As the news of a compromise between the state government and leaders of the samiti reached Mehuwala, villagers started coming to the track to pay homage to Vijay Singh Karwasra, who died during the agitation on March 23. At Gajuwala, farmers celebrated their “victory” by playing Holi. “We had observed “black Holi” this time. So we played colours on Saturday to celebrate Holi as well as our victory,” said Balwant Singh Gill, president of the Jat Aarakshan Samiti,
Tohana. |
|
Drivers’ selection quashed
Chandigarh, March 26 Acting on a bunch of two petitions by Sanjay and another, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed the selection of drivers in the Sonepat depot, after holding the process to be apparently unfair. The court was convinced of unfair selections after it observed “candidates at serial number 1 to 28 had been assessed as excellent. Thereafter, from 29 to 61 have been consistently assessed as very good and from 62 to 78 have been assessed as good and thereafter the remaining have been assessed as average”. Justice Mahesh Grover asserted: This defies logic as it implies that first 28 candidates who appeared were all excellent, while the next candidates from number 29 to 61 were very good and likewise. “In normal selection there would have been a jumbled record of assessments. There is thus no doubt in the mind of the court that the entire result has been fudged”. In all, 910 posts of driver in the Transport Department were to be filled in pursuance to an advertisement issued on July 22, 2007. Justice Grover asserted: During the course of the proceedings, this court summoned the original record of the selection. The respondents produced the original record pertaining to a number of other centres except Sonepat…. “The approach of the state of Haryana has thus been evasive, which when evaluated against the available record qua the other depots speaks volumes and can merely invite cynicism of the court”. Justice Grover added: To the mind of this court, the process of selection does not seem to be fair as the perusal of the list reveals an attempt at a tailored selection list. It is not a reflection of proper selection…. “The court comes to this conclusion that the selection list was tampered with, and the original record has not been made available to persuade this court to conclude otherwise. The writ petition is thus accepted. The impugned selection of the drivers pertaining to the Sonepat depot is set aside and the state of Haryana is directed to hold the selection afresh by considering all 100 candidates who have passed the three tests afresh”. |
|
Degrees conferred on 636 girls
Sirsa, March 26 Delivering a convocation address at the CMK National Postgraduate College for Women here today, Maken said the government heads of all five permanent member countries of the UN - USA, UK, France, China and Russia - have visited India in the past one year. He said 69 per cent of India’s population was below the age of 35, which had made India a country of opportunities and challenges. Maken said universities and colleges of India had a great responsibility of developing skills among the youth so that they could work towards the progress of the country. The minister said in India, the number of skilled workers was only 2 per cent, while 98 per cent of its workers were unskilled. In contrast, Korea had 80 per cent skilled workers, Japan 90 per cent and the UK had 69 per cent skilled workers. He said India needed 50 crore skilled workers by 2022, which was a big challenge for universities and colleges of the country. Maken conferred bachelor and masters degrees on 636 girl students at the convocation function. Sirsa MP Ashok Tanwar, his wife Avantika Tanwar, former OSD to CM Dr KV Singh, chief patron of the college RS Sangwan, president Parveen Baghla, secretary Arvind Bansal and several other prominent persons were also present. Dr Vijaya Tomar, principal of the college, read the annual report of the college. Later, addressing a meeting of the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghthan here, Maken said the Union Sports Ministry would set up a football academy and a football ground of international standards in
Sirsa. |
|
Kisan panchayat today
Chandigarh, March 26 This was stated by national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party Kisan Morcha OP Dhankar at a press conference here today. Maintaining that the Haryana Government was playing the role of a “middleman” and acquiring land to create a “land bank” for the moneyed class, Dhankar said the farmers were being given a raw deal. “Thousands of acres have been taken away from farmers in the name of special economic zones (SEZ). However, nothing has been initiated in the area notified for the purpose,” he added. Dhankar said over the past few years, the number of cases of the land release after Section 4 had been announced showed that the government had something to hide. “Moreover, there are growing disputes over compensation being paid and acquisition of fertile land against the wishes of the farmers. All this will be discussed at the meeting,” he said. While the BJP has formulated a new draft resolution of amendments it wants in the Land Acquisition Act, Dhankar said the farmers should have a share in the profit of the project that comes up on their land. “Further, since agriculture is no longer a viable activity in some areas and farmers are keen on exploring newer options, the government should allow them the facility of change of land use. Besides, landless people, who are not connected with agriculture, barbers for instance, should be provided for,” he added. |
|
Now, LPG cylinder an SMS away
Rewari, March 26 The DC claimed that the project, which was his brainchild, was being introduced for the first time in the country. He hoped that if the project relieved LPG consumers of their problems pertaining to the registration and timely receipt of the refills, it would see a wider implementation in other districts and states as well. Each of the 10 gas agencies in the district has been allotted a unique code number. To book a cylinder, the LPG user can send SMS the agency’s code number and his own consumer number on 9246356765. The gas agency concerned will instantly reciprocate the SMS with a detailed elucidation of the status of his requisition leading to the delivery of the refill to him. Besides, the consumers can also make use of the website - www.dfscrewarilpg.com to book for the refill. A demonstration of the booking system was made through a laptop as well as a projector on the occasion. |
|
Hooda inaugurates bus stand
Loharu (Bhiwani), March 26 The Chief Minister also announced that a workshop of the Loharu sub-depot would be constructed at the earliest to facilitate the newly constructed bus stand. He said several steps had been taken to make the transport facilities better. It included new fleet of buses, better management of bus services, special package for roadways’ employees and construction of new bus stands and workshops. Besides, decisions to stop illegal plying of vehicles and issuance of new permits were also taken to improve the transport services. Transport Minister OP Jain said efforts were being made to provide better transport facilities and to reduce the losses of the Transport Department. He also announced to construct a departmental petrol station at the bus stand itself. Earlier, buses of this depot had to get petrol and diesel filled from Bhiwani, he added. Hooda also flagged off a bus from the new bus stand during the inauguration ceremony. The bus stand has been built at a cost of Rs 80 lakh and is equipped with all latest facilities. It will not only be beneficial for the people of Loharu area, but passengers from the adjoining Rajasthan will also be benefitted. Earlier, Hooda inaugurated Primary Health Centres at Dheegawa and Sohasada villages built at a cost of Rs 33 crore and Rs 59 crore, respectively. |
|
Virk: Jhinda’s resignation a gimmick
Karnal, March 26 Senior vice-president of the SGPC Raghujeet Singh Virk and president of the rival faction of the HSGPC Didar Singh Nalvi lashed out at Jhinda for “playing gimmicks and harming the interests of Haryana Sikhs”. “It is a publicity stunt by Jhinda who has done nothing for the Haryana Sikhs in spite of being a member of the SGPC for many years,” Virk said. Refuting the allegation of Jhinda that the SGPC had earmarked a meagre amount for development works in Haryana, Virk said the budget allocation had been increased to Rs 71.28 crore by the SGPC. The fact that no other member resigned with Jhinda and he walked out of the SGPC meeting alone was proof enough of how isolated he had become within his own community, he added. Nalvi accused Jhinda of “sabotaging” the cause of the Haryana Sikhs. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
