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Politics behind demolition drive In
Gurgaon?
Bhakra Dam Oustees’ Pending issues
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HCS
Preliminary Examination
HC raps govt, orders release of salary to roadways’ staffer
Power Tariff Hike
JBT Scam
Rs 68.81-cr sewerage plan for Bhiwani
KU Media Film Fest Concludes
Lawyer to serve legal notice on UP Police
Boy battered to death by woman, 3 sons over trivial issue
Teacher succumbs to injuries
Police trashes loot report
One beaten to death
Gang of motorcycle thieves busted
Three killed in road mishaps
Two bookies arrested
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Politics behind demolition drive In
Gurgaon?
Gurgaon, April 8 Ironically, the building reportedly belonged to the family of Gurgaon Senior Deputy Mayor Yashpal Batra though Batra has outrightly denied having any stake in the building. As per the MCG authorities, there was permission to construct up to two-and-a-half floors for residential use in the said area. However, in gross violation of the norms, a four-storeyed building was being constructed for commercial use as a hotel. A couple of months ago, the building had been sealed by the MCG enforcement wing. Its owners were also served a show-cause notice in this regard. Today’s demolition drive again brought the issue to the fore, with Batra’s supporters alleging that the move was politically motivated. On the other hand, Batra himself maintained that neither he nor any of his family members had any stake in the said building. “A malicious campaign has been going around for quite some time to malign my image by baselessly dragging my name into the controversy,” Batra said on being contacted by The Tribune. He, however, asserted that the MCG authorities should take action to prevent unauthorised constructions at the foundation level and impose a fine in case a building has been constructed without following the norms. “They can earn revenue by imposing penalties on the owners of such buildings instead of demolishing the buildings which have been completed or are nearing completion, which would serve no purpose,” he said. Batra’s politically correct statements notwithstanding, politics is apparently behind the selective demolition as there are nearly 400 unauthorised buildings in the area as per the MCG’s own record, but only the chosen ones are being targeted. The Gurgaon Mayor as well as the Senior Deputy Mayor are considered close to local Congress MP Rao Inderjit Singh. On the other hand, local MLA Sukhbir Kataria, also a minister in the Bhupinder Singh Hooda Cabinet, owes allegiance to the CM’s camp. According to political observers, the warring factions never let go of any opportunity to let the rival group down. It is in this backdrop that the given sequence of events is
being viewed. |
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Bhakra Dam Oustees’ Pending issues
Fatehabad, April 8 Hooda was in Boswal village of Fatehabad on the invitation of the Bhakra Dam Oustees Association, an organisation of hundreds of families uprooted from the Bilaspur area of Himachal Pradesh in the early fifties for the setting up of the Bhakra dam. “The families are now settled in 32 villages falling in Sirsa, Fatehabad and Hisar and have been facing several problems due to an “insensitive attitude” of the authorities, who failed to appreciate the sacrifice of the community for bringing a green revolution in Haryana” alleged Bhawani Singh, an Zila Parishad member and organizer of today’s show named as “Himachal Mela”. Still living under the pain of separation from their homeland, the families have been fighting for several small issued like encroachments on land allotted to them, grant of certificate of being Dogra for concessions in physical standards in recruitment to the Army and paramilitary forces, a special consideration allowed to their brethren in Himachal, among other things. Ram Nath Sharma, a former Deputy Speaker from Himachal, and Bilaspur MLA Rajesh Dharmani had come to Boswal, a village falling under Ratia assembly seat of Fatehabad, to plead their case with Hooda, Hooda assured them that he would take up the matter with Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda soon and request him to hold a meeting of the DCs of three districts, the BBMB management and all other concerned to sort out the pending issues of Himachali families in Haryana. Lauding the sacrifice of Bhakra oustee families, Sirsa MP Ashok Tanwar said that farmers opposing the acquisition of their land for a nuclear power plant in Gorakhpur should learn a lesson from them by surrendering their land for the country’s development. |
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HCS Preliminary Examination
Chandigarh, April 8 Well before the results are out, some of these candidates, who took the examination, say that they already stand “rejected”. With proficiency in English likely to end up as the only passport to the main examination, these candidates maintain the examination was an opportunity lost for them. Unlike other examinations, including the prestigious Civil Services exam conducted by the UPSC where candidates get papers in Hindi as well, Haryana’s decision to stick to English is raising the hackles of candidates. Pawan Kumar from Mirchpur explains: “There were so many candidates like me who came from the rural background and were foxed by most questions. Though it was an objective paper, I could not give it my best shot because I did not understand most of the questions.” Pooja Devi of Kurar village in Kaithal, a post-graduate in economics, is equally disillusioned with her performance. “ I could not comprehend questions. We come from Hindi-medium schools and don’t have as much understanding of English as is needed to attempt the papers,” she rues. Working with the Punjab Police, a resident of Jaganpur village in Kaithal, Gulab Singh echoes a similar viewpoint, adding that the government should encourage competition for the HCS instead of “excluding” candidates by restricting the language of the papers to English “The government should issue a fresh notification to allow the setting of papers in Hindi as well since it impacts a large number of candidates,” he claimed. In a state which relies heavily on Hindi for a lot of official work while desperately trying to raise its standard in English,candidates are clearly irked at the indifference of the government to various representations to the HPSC which yielded nothing. The HPSC, too, finds its hands tied because there is little it can do. “The government issues a notification for the same. Our role is limited to conducting the tests as per the notification and preparing the merit list. Though we have received a number of representations, these have been forwarded to the government from time to time. This is purely the government’s prerogative and can be rectified only if a fresh notification is issued,” explains HPSC Secretary IC Sangwan. RD Sheokand, a former chairman of the HPSC, said though the decision of sticking to English is legally sound, it seems only logical to provide the option of a Hindi paper, given the state’s roots. |
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HC raps govt, orders release of salary to roadways’ staffer
Chandigarh, April 8 The order by Justice Augustine George Masih came on a petition by Tashbir Singh. He had challenged the order dated March 17, 2010, passed by the GM, Haryana Roadways, Bhiwani. He was, vide the order granted earned leave from September 14, 1994 to September 24, 1994, and leave without pay from September 25, 1994, to April 25, 1995. Appointed as a helper mechanical, he was transferred to Kaithal depot from Bhiwani. He reported for duty to the General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Kaithal, on September 14, 1994, but was not allowed to join duty despite representations and requests. He was ultimately allowed to join duty on May 3, 1995, with effect from April 26, 1995, but was transferred back to Bhiwani depot. Through he requested for the release of his salary for September 14, 1994, to April 25, 1995, the authorities concerned did not take a decision. Acting on his plea, the Haryana Transport Commissioner directed the General Manager to take strict action against the official for not permitting him to join duty. A direction was further issued to pay salary to him after sanctioning leave to the petitioner from September 14, 1994, to April 25, 1995. Despite this, no action was taken. Ultimately the impugned order was passed, wherein the period from September 14, 1994, to April 25, 1995, was regularised by granting him earned leave from September 14, 1994, to September 24, 1994, and leave without pay from September 25, 1994, to April 25, 1995. Justice Masih asserted: “Present is a case of total highhandedness on the part of the respondents, where despite being a valid transfer order in favour of an employee, the petitioner was not allowed to join duty by the General Manager, Haryana Roadways, Kaithal. The petitioner is directed to be paid the salary for the period September 14, 1994, to April 25, 1995, within a month. After making payment to the petitioner, the amount shall be recovered from the official(s) who was/were responsible for delaying the joining of the petitioner at Haryana Roadways, Kaithal.” |
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denial of chance to receive degrees at convocation
Rohtak, April 8 Alleging repressive and anti-student policies of the authorities concerned, they claimed that a large number of students had been denied an opportunity to receive degrees in the convocation due to the criteria fixed by the university. An INSO spokesman said a large number of students had completed Ph.D since the last convocation but only 250 scholars had been allowed to attend the convocation.'' Further, only 30 per cent of the PG students were invited to receive their degrees while hundreds of others eligible students had been denied this opportunity. However, the authorities claimed that candidates chosen to receive their degrees at the convocation had been shortlisted on basis of merit and no discrimination had been done with any student. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee will be the chief guest and deliver the convocation address. Renowned classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj will be conferred an honorary degree of D.Litt. (honoris causa) in the convocation. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda will present medals and certificates to toppers of various examinations. Vice-Chancellor RP Hooda will present the Ph.D, PG/UG and other degrees in the convocation. |
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Power Tariff Hike
Referring to the protest rallies organised by the INLD on the one hand and the HJC and the BJP on the other, he said none of these parties voiced its opposition to power rates hike on the floor of the Vidhan Sabha and also the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC). He said leaders of these parties were perhaps unaware that power rates are hiked by the HERC - a constitutional body - after following a fairly elaborate procedure. The HERC had published public notices in two leading newspapers on December 18 and 19, 2011, in which it had stated its aggregate revenue report (ARR). The ARR makes public the revenue likely to be earned by the power utilities and gaps in revenue, if any. The commission had set January 10, 2012, as the last date for filing objections and suggestions by the public. The power utilities were then given 14 days to reply to these objections. After this those who had filed objections were asked to file their rejoinders by February 10, 2012. The commission held hearings on February 14 and 15, 2012, after which the hike was ordered. Sampat Singh said none of these opposition parties filed any objection before the commission. There were 12 objections before the HERC by various organisations and individuals but none by the INLD, the HJC and the BJP. He said this proved that these parties had no real interest in such issues but used these just as a tool for public posturing. The former minister said when he was in the INLD he had appeared before the HERC twice in 2008 and 2009 to oppose any hike sought by the power utilities. He argued the points for six hours before the commission. He said the power rates had been hiked between 10 and 15 per cent, depending upon the category. As against this when the INLD was in power the rates had been hiked by 13 per cent initially and then by another 2.6 per cent a year later. He wondered why the INLD was now taking to the streets on the issue of power rates. Sampat Singh also termed the INLD and the HJC’s objection to the setting up of a nuclear power plant in Fatehabad district. He said it was Devi Lal and Bhajan Lal who had written to the then Prime Ministers repeatedly to set up this plant at the proposed site. |
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JBT Scam
Special CBI Judge Vinod Kumar allowed Chautala's plea to go to Australia from April 6 to April 22 to celebrate Baisakhi on a joint invitation by the Sikh Mission and the Punjab Sports and Culture Club there. "As the accused has assured that no obstruction in the trial would result on account of his foreign visit, I grant permission to Om Prakash Chautala to go abroad from April 6 to April 22," said the court, brushing aside the CBI's strong opposition. The court, however, emphasised that after his return, he would "appear in person" for the trial. O P Chautala, his MLA son Ajay Chautala and 55 others, including IAS officers Sanjiv Kumar and Vidya Dhar, are facing trial under various provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act for cheating, forgery, fabricating documents and abuse of official position. The court, meanwhile, also recorded the statement of prosecution witness Ram Nath Azad, a CBI official, who said none of the unsuccessful candidates had complained that any of the accused, including Chautalas, had met them for the purpose of obtaining any bribe in order to secure appointments as JBTs. The CBI had alleged that the father-son duo had used forged documents to appoint 3,206 teachers. The case had been registered by the CBI on November 25, 2003 on an apex court order.
— PTI |
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Martyr’s statue to be installed in Fatehabad
Fatehabad, April 8 He announced that the crossing where Bhattu road bisected the upcoming bypass on the NH-10 would be named after Dhingra, a martyr belonging to the Punjabi community. Members of the Punjabi community from Fatehabad and Ratia today felicitated Batra on his re-nomination to the Upper House of Parliament. Batra also inaugurated the newly constructed doctors’ residences in the Bhagwan Dass Memorial Punjabi Sabha Hospital here for which he had donated Rs 20 lakh from his MP Local Area Development fund on his earlier visit. He announced a further donation of Rs 11 lakh for the hospital today. Urging members of the Punjabi community to remain united for their upliftment, Batra claimed the Congress was the only party that had thought of their welfare. Chander Bhan Munjal, project chairman of the hospital, said the Punjabi community had done a great job by starting a charitable hospital in the town. Earlier, addressing people after inaugurating a new hall constructed in Punjabi Dharamshala at Ratia, Batra said members of the community had given many sacrifices for the country. Batra had given Rs 10 lakh from his MPLAD funds for the construction of the hall. |
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Rs 68.81-cr sewerage plan for Bhiwani
Bhiwani, April 8 She said the sewerage plant was part of a special project formulated by the government to improve sewerage in the city. This sewerage plant would clean 15 million litre of sewage per day. The plant, after cleaning, would drain sewage water into the Bhiwani-Ghaggar drain from where it would be used by farmers of Halwas, Bapora, Dhirana, Danaa, Sui and many other villages for irrigation. She said out of total 2.20 lakh population of Bhiwani, 2.02 lakh was served by the Public Health Department while HUDA catered to the remaining 18,000 persons. She said under the new sewerage plan, sewerage plant of 10 LLD and 15 LLD would be set up at Danaa road and Dadri road, respectively Shruti Chaudhary, MP, asked the people to report their grievances related to sewerage and drinking water on toll-free number 1800-180-5678. |
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KU Media Film Fest Concludes
Kurukshetra, April 8 They were here to participate in the Media International Film Festival (MIFF) organised by the Institute of Mass Communication and Media Technology at RK Sadan, Kurukshetra University, here yesterday. Explaining the reasons for unpopularity of Haryanavi cinema, Ashwini Chaudhary of Haryanavi film “Laado” fame said at present, Haryanavi film-makers had got no patronage and Haryanavi artists were not being given any recognition by the state government. Cooperation from society in the state was also missing. He maintained that the Haryanvi cinema could only be revived provided the state government had a clear-cut policy on it. He further said financial constraints also came in the way of Haryanavi film-makers as these films were not commercially viable. The second problem was of language as Haryanavi language spoken by the people was only a dialect, which lacks literature. Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan whose film “Lahore” got the national award said it was difficult to make films on burning issues of Haryana society as the government had no positive role to play to safeguard the interest of artists and film-makers. He cited an example of a film on honor killings in Hayana, which could not see the light of the day as it was opposed by the khap panchayats in the state. Yashpal Sharma called upon mediapersons and media students to create awareness among the masses to appreciate good cinema. Meanwhile, Lt Gen (Retd) Dr DDS Sandhu, vice-chancellor, announced that the MIFF would be made an annual feature of the university by forming a film club. He said he had been encouraged to take this decision by the enthusiasm shown by the
student community and the faculty members of the university. |
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Lawyer to serve legal notice on UP Police
Panipat, April 8 Malik said they had taken up a plea of Rahila for permission to visit her father Mohammad Vakil’s grave at Mehrana village with the Union Ministry for External Affairs and the matter was to be decided in her favour. But before the ministry had granted her the visa extension and permission to visit Panipat, the UP Police forcibly removed her from her maternal uncle’s house at Bhasani village in UP. He said Rahila had a legal right to stay in the country till April 7 while she was made to board a train to Pakistan on April 4. He said as action taken by the UP Police was a violation of her legal rights, he would be sending a legal notice to the Police Department of the neighbouring state. Meanwhile, Malik said after reaching Pakistan, Rahila had again applied for a visa to again visit the country to perform last rites at her father’s grave and also take up her monetary compensation case with the railway tribunal at Chandigarh. He said Rahila was not a terrorist and there was no criminal case pending against her anywhere in the world. Therefore, the authorities should not have problem in allowing a girl to perfom the last rites at her father’s grave. |
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Julana Double Murder
Jind, April 8 Pawan , whose wife Savita (28) and elder son Sumit(8) were murdered in their house, told the police that his younger son, Nitesh(5), had identified one of the accused from a photo album kept in his house. It is reported that Nitesh had also been assaulted by the accused and dumped inside a box after he and his brother Sumit were strangulated , but he regained conciousness soon after the assailants fled after the crime. Nitesh contacted his father on the phone after the murder of his mother and brother. Pawan told the police that the accused, who was known to the family, had got easy entry into the house .”They had brought sweets and taken water before attacking Savita in the kitchen when she went there to prepare tea for them. While Savita was stabbed 15 times , Sumit was strangulated. Though Nitesh was also treated in the same manner, he luckily survived, said a police official. The police official said one person had been rounded up on information provided by Pawan that a youth had called up him an hour before the incident asking about his whereabouts. It is reported that this information was supplied to one of the assailants by the youth . The accused had used the victim’s kitchen knife though they had a revolver, it is claimed. |
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Boy battered to death by woman, 3 sons over trivial issue
Samalkha, April 8 The quarrel soon turned ugly when Monu got enraged by the resistance show by Ravi against his contentions in favour of his win in the play. The two exchanged a few blows after which Monu rushed to his mother, Maruti Devi, for help. Maruti Devi along with her two other sons, Kamal and Jonny, reached the spot and started beating Ravi to teach him a lesson for not obeying to what her son was telling. Monu’s brothers also joined the fight and started hitting Ravi repeatedly with sticks. During the brutal beating, the boy sustained several blows on his genital and fell on the ground. Confident that enough pain had been inflicting upon Ravi, the three left the spot without realising that the boy whom they had thrashed had died. Some of the passerby rushed to Ravi’s rescue, but before they could save him from the beating, the fatal injuries had already been caused. On seeing the boy lay unconscious, neighbours informed his mother who with the help of the other passerby took Ravi to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead. A team of officials reached the spot to take stock of the situation. After recording the statements of the eyewitnesses a case under the relevant sections was registered against Maruti Devi and her three sons. The four accused had been rounded up and were being interrogated. |
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Teacher succumbs to injuries
On the complaint of Rakesh, a case of attempt to murder was registered against Vikram of the same village and Hari Om of Bindroli village. “While Vikram has been arrested, Hari Om is at large with the car used in the crime,” the police, adding that section 302, IPC, had now been added in the FIR. When Rakesh Kumar was returning to his village after examination duty on Friday evening , the accused came in a car and asked to arrange copying for a student appearing in the examination. When Rakesh refused, they got angry and allegedly hit him twice with the car owned by Hari Om. |
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Police trashes loot report
Hisar, April 8 One of the complainants, Jasbir, who works as a DJ in marriages had gone to Ratanpura in Rajasthan to collect a payment. There he met an acquaintance who asked him that he could get his money doubled in a week but the investment must be in the range of Rs 1 lakh. He returned to his village and narrated the whole story to his friends, Sunil and Surender. The trio then collected Rs 90,000 and went to Hanumangarh where they handed over the money to the persons introduced to them by an acquaintance. They rang up an unknown person a week later to claim the money back. They were asked to come to the Maruti dealership on Sirsa Road. They had an altercation with two youths standing outside the showroom and were roughed up. |
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One beaten to death
Yamunanagar, April 8 When Pappu and Raju were under the influence of liquor, the assailants asked them to return their liquor bottles. When they refused, the youths started thrashing them with rods and batons. When a worker of the coal factory came to rescue Pappu
and Raju, the assailants fled. The police took Pappu and Raju to the Civil Hospital where Pappu was declared brought dead while Raju was admitted there. DSP Suresh Kaushik said the deceased had been working as a labourer in a plywood factory in Yamunanagar for the past several years. A case had been registered against three persons in this regard. |
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Gang of motorcycle thieves busted
Sonepat, April 8 During the interrogation, they confessed to have stolen the motorcycle about 15 days back from Jind. They also confessed to have stolen 12 motorcycles from Butana, Khandrai, Gohana, Jind, Sonepat, Rohtak and Safidon during the past two months. |
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Three killed in road mishaps
Sirsa, April 8 In another incident, near Sherpura village, a road roller driver, was killed when he was run over by a dumper at a road construction site where he was working at. The victim, Surinder, had slept on a cot placed behind the dumper in the night and he was crushed under the vehicle when its driver moved it backward without realising that the victim was sleeping there. In the third incident, an unknown person was run over by a train near Kalawali in Sirsa. |
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Two bookies arrested
Sirsa, April 8 The police said they were booking a ‘satta’ of huge dimensions at Mohan Lal’s house situated in ward number 14 of Ellenabad town, when they raided the house on a tip-off. The police has also recovered a television set, seven mobile phones, a computer, pens and a record of the ‘satta’ from their possession. |
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Hisar, April 8
New Delhi, April 8
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