Chandigarh, December 26
It was a year of rapid political developments in Haryana where the ruling Congress tried hard to consolidate its gains from the two consecutive terms in office. The opposition parties, on the other hand, were more successful in reasserting their presence and keeping the government on the back foot. 

Politically, Haryana saw Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda emerge as the tallest Congress leader while the INLD went from one constituency to another to make its presence felt in the state.

Haryana’s politics became multi-dimensional with the HJC completing its five years in existence in the state. It held an impressive rally at Sirsa to mark its fifth anniversary (the party came into existence in December, 2007 under the leadership of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal). The BJP also re-affirmed its support to the HJC and announced that it would go to the next assembly poll as an alliance partner of Kuldeep Bishnoi-led HJC.

The year did not prove as fruitful for Mamata Banerjee’s TMC . The party launched its Haryana unit with much fanfare under the command of industrialist-cum-parliamentarian KD Singh and Sundar Pal, a former media adviser to the Chief Minister as the second in command. But within months, the honeymoon between the two came to an end and Sundar Pal rejoined the Congress earlier this week. For practical purposes, 2012 saw the launch and the end of the TMC in Haryana.

Overall, 2012 was a year of setbacks for the Hooda Government that saw its own Minister of State for Home, Gopal Krishan Kanda, being booked by the Delhi Police for abetting the suicide of former airhostess Geetika Sharma. The suicide note written by Geetika mentioning Kanda as one of those responsible for forcing her to take her own life sent the man in charge of the state’s law and order machinery into hiding. There were days of high drama where high-ups were accused of shielding Kanda. Kanda finally surrendered and is still in jail. But not before Hooda sacked him from his Cabinet.

Om Prakash Chautala-led INLD did not waste any opportunity to take on the government on issues that ranged from the Jat agitation to uneven development in the state. The INLD held protests, dharnas and agitations in every constituency of the state. The INLD rally on November 1 to mark the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Devi Lal at Rewari was perhaps the most damaging for the Congress with the party raising the issue of step-motherly treatment to southern Haryana in terms of development. The INLD sent out a clear signal that southern Haryana was as much in its focus as the Jat heart land.

The last five years have virtually seen the BSP go into oblivion in the state. There has hardly been any occasion when the champion of the Dalits came out in favour of the downtrodden. On the contrary, the year started with the Jat protests wherein a young Jat supporter agitating in favour of reservation was killed in a clash with the police. The Jats’ have finally prevailed upon the Congress to grant OBC status to Jats, Jat Sikhs, Rors, Tyagis and Bishnois.

Chief Minister Hooda this year emerged strong against his detractors within the party. He has been able to marginalise his detractors like Capt Ajay Yadav, Mohinder Pratap Singh, Rao Inderjit Singh, etc. At the same time there has been a concerted effort to promote Deepinder Hooda, son of the Chief Minister and MP from Rohtak, as the heir apparent. The Congress rally in Delhi in support of FDI was apparently aimed at telling the high command that Hooda was the undisputed Congress leader in the state.

Sirsa, December 26
Former Haryana Minister and Sirsa MLA Gopal Kanda’s arrest in ex-airhostess Geetika Sharma’s suicide case was the biggest event that altered the political scenario of Sirsa in 2012. Besides, the death of former Haryana Minister Lachhman Dass Arora, also known as “Sirsa Naresh”, clashes between followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda and those opposed to it, attack on the police by protesters at Kagdana were some of the other important events in the outgoing year.

Gopal Kanda, a smalltime businessman from Sirsa, who made it big by investing in real estate in Gurgaon in the past two decades, surprised all all by winning the 2009 assembly elections as an Independent candidate.

Kanda was rewarded with a ministerial birth in the Hooda government and being the lone MLA from the ruling dispensation, he wielded considerable influence in the administration. However, his arrest in the Geetika Sharma case has not only sealed his political career but also changed power equations in the district.

The year also witnessed the demise of former minister Lachhman Dass Arora, who reigned supreme in Sirsa politics for over five decades.

Arora represented Sirsa in the state assembly in 1967, 1982, 1991, 2000 and 2005. He held many important portfolios like Technical Education, Tourism, Sports, Revenue, Consolidation, Rehabilitation, Forest, Home, Local Government, Tourism and Housing and Industries, Mines and Geology and Excise and Taxation and Urban Development and governments led by various Congress Chief Ministers.

His daughter, Sunita Setia, a former chairperson of the Sirsa Improvement Trust, whom Arora had nominated his political heir during his lifetime, also emerged on the political scene this year.

An ugly clash between followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda and those opposed to it in November led to the imposition of curfew in the town for a few days. The police booked nearly 1,500 to 2,000 dera followers for the clash and the case is now with the State Crime Branch.

In May, a clash was witnessed between the police and villagers at Kagdana in Sirsa when the police allegedly beat up schoolchildren, who blocked traffic to press their demand for upgradation of their school. The police booked 250 villagers in this case.

Acrobatic Boys, a group of daredevil boys from Sirsa town, brought cheers for local residents by their fine performance in India’s Got Talent on Colours TV. The boys managed to reach among the last six teams on the show.

Amit Sihag, a youth Congress leader from Sirsa, was elected president of the state unit of the youthy body.

Sirsa witnessed a state-level foundation rally of Kuldeep Bishnoi’s HJC on December 2 and the IOA newly elected president Abhey Singh Chautala’s felicitation on December 24. 

Karnal, December 26
Laik Ram Dabas, director, State Crime Record Bureau, Haryana, has stressed the need for the creation of a separate crime prevention department in all the states.

Expressing concern over growing crimes against women, Dabas said rapid industrialisation, modernisation and urbanisation had resulted in an increased criminogenic environment in the country, which could not be controlled or tackled solely by the existing police setup.

“The prevailing police machinery in the country is quite good and efficient in crime detection as even in the Delhi gang-rape case, the police was able to arrest all the accused immediately. However, when it comes to crime prevention, the existing system needs an overhaul and an immediate change,” he said.

He said crime prevention was a serious and specialised task, which could not be the responsibility of the police alone. He added that several other related departments like education, health, transport and urban development were required to be actively associated to ensure a safe and secure working environment in both urban and the rural areas.

A separate department having expertise from all such departments headed by a senior police administrator should work out plans and strategy to curb, control and prevent heinous crimes.

Dabas said countrywide demonstrations for the past one week to express rage over the gang rape clearly indicated that immediate steps were required for the prevention of such heinous crimes against women.

Sirsa, December 26
Several senior citizens today held a demonstration and blocked traffic near Lal Batti Chowk on the national highway in protest against the deletion of their names from the list of beneficiaries for old-age pension.

Elderly persons from nearly 10 villages assembled at the chowk under the banner of the Haryana Kisan Manch and blocked traffic by squatting on the road. Prahlad Singh Bharukhera, president of the manch, alleged that the authorities had deleted the names of several eligible beneficiaries without assigning any reason.

Long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of the road, causing considerable inconvenience to people .

The demonstrators insisted that the Deputy Commissioner should come to the spot and order the resumption of their pension.

The blockade continued for over an hour before Om Prakash Bishnoi, a tehsildar, arrived there and assured the protesters that their grievances would be looked into. The agitators left with a warning that they would gherao the tehsildar’s office on January 11 if they did not receive their pension by January 10. 

Karnal, December 26
Leading agriculture scientists, horticulture experts, livestock experts and progressive farmers of the state have underlined the need for diversification of agriculture and adoption of modern techniques for prosperity.

During a one-day seminar on “Prosperity through Diversification in Agriculture” at the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) here, the farm experts also highlighted the significance of strengthening kisan clubs and developing them as knowledge centres for transfer of new technologies to a large number of farmers.

The seminar was organised jointly by the Haryana Farmers Commission, ICAR, NDRI, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Department of Agriculture, Haryana, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Authority, LLR University of Veterinary Sciences.

In his inaugural address, which was a part of Kisan Divas celebrations organised to mark the 110th birthday of Chaudhary Charan Singh, Dr RS Paroda, chairman, Haryana Kisan Ayog, stressed on linking farmers to markets for prosperity, adding that the extension services for farmers were being strengthened to make them aware of various government schemes for farm welfare.

Roshan Lal, Financial Commissioner, Haryana, highlighted the benefits of conservation agriculture technologies like happy seeder to promote water efficiency. He urged farmers not to burn agricultural waste and also shift to direct seeded rice, zero tillage and diversification of rice with maize.

AK Singh, Director General, Agriculture, Haryana, exhorted the farmers to adopt modern technologies like laser levelling, micro irrigation and conservation agriculture to maximise the gains for the farming community, economy and the environment.

Chandigarh, December 26
The Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board will set up 100 collection centers in the state for the purchase of farmers’ produce, particularly perishable goods.

This was disclosed at the flagging-off ceremony of the special train for farmers at Delhi Cantonment Railway Station by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today.

This has been planned for farmers for the first time in the country under which progressive farmers of the state have been sent on an educational tour. About 400 farmers have been sent on a 12-day tour. The first night halt will be at Jaipur.

Later, the train will go to Ujjain, Dwarka and Aurangabad and will reach Nasik on January 4, 2013. The train will start its return journey on January 5 and reach Chandigarh on January 6 after passing through Jaipur, Rewari, Delhi Cantonment and Ambala. — TNS

Faridabad, December 26
The local unit of the Haryana Rajput Pratinidhi Sabha today urged President Pranab Mukherjee to intervene with the Union Government for enactment of strict laws against rape accused.

The sabha submitted a memorandum to the President through the office of the Faridabad Additional Deputy Commissioner. It demanded capital punishment to the culprits of the Delhi gang rape.

Earlier, activists of the sabha, including women, led by its local president, Umesh Bhati, raised slogans against the central and Delhi governments in protest against the gang rape. They also staged a protest march. Bhati alleged that instead of adopting a "reasonable and humane" approach towards the protesting youths at India Gate, the police used brutal force against them.

Members of the local Brahmin Sabha and Aggarwal Sabha also took part in the protest. 

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 26
Not paying any heed to the Akal Takht Jathedar's advice to political parties to maintain religious sanctity at the Shaheedi Jor Mela, SAD leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, indulged in mudslinging and Congress-bashing while addressing a gathering here today.

Interestingly, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar also spoke on the same podium, although he did not make any political comments.

Addressing a press conference, Sukhbir said with Congress MLA from Moga Joginder Pal Jain joining the SAD, a hiatus had started in the Congress and "you will see regular desertions from their camp".

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal with SAD leaders at Fatehgarh Sahib on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Making an indirect reference to the recent incident in the Vidhan Sabha following which Congressman Rana Gurjit Singh was suspended, Majithia said: "Our gurus have taught us that it is not right to bear cruelty at anyone's hands. I have never reacted to allegations against me. Some even call me a 'goonda' or a murderer. But I cannot tolerate anyone dragging my mother's name".

Mahesh Inder Grewal, adviser to the Chief Minister, said: "Religion and politics are the very essence of Sikhism. It will not be correct to address our community during a religious occasion and not mentioning the wrongs in our society". SAD general secretary Balwant Singh Ramoowalia also took a satirical dig at the Congress and its national leaders. Others present on the occasion included Bibi Jagir Kaur, Speaker Charanjit Atwal, Transport Minister Ajit Singh Kohar, Rajya Sabha member Balwinder Bhunder and Jathedar Tota Singh.

Sukhbir said Fatehgarh Sahib would have a stadium in the name of Baba Zora Singh and Baba Fateh Singh by next year.

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 26
Alleging lawlessness in the state, Shiromani Akali Dal (Mann) president Simranjit Singh Mann today demanded the imposition of the Governor rule in Punjab.

Addressing a rally at Shaheedi Jor Mela here, Mann said Akali workers and the police were hand in glove and had been harassing the common man. He said the SAD Government had 'failed" to safeguard the lives and property of the people.

Lashing out at the BJP, Mann said: "The party's communal face has been exposed as it has failed to field even a single Muslim candidate during the assembly elections in Gujarat".

He said his party had never differentiated between the Sikhs and Muslims and treated both these communities on equal terms.

The leader also criticised the Union and the Delhi Governments for their "mishandling" of the gang rape case of a 23-year-old Delhi girl.

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 26
The Congress today demanded the expulsion of Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia for "spreading hooliganism" in the state.

Addressing a gathering at Shaheedi Jor Mela here, PCC president Capt Amarinder Singh said people in the state were living under constant fear. He said if the SAD should expel Majithia from the party and order an inquiry into his role in "promoting gooda raj" in the state.

He said even the policemen were being forced to obey the dictates of Majithia's goons. Referring to yesterday's attack on Ludhiana AIG Mand, Amarinder said DGP Sumedh Singh Saini should ensure the safety of the force.

Capt said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was losing control over the government and the day-to-day affairs were being run by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and Majithia.

He said if the law and order situation did not improve, industrialists would refrain from investing in the state, which would lead to more unemployment. He alleged the SAD was using the SGPC and "Guru Ki Goluk" to fulfill its political agenda.

Senior Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said highhandedness of the Akali workers and the police would not be tolerated.

MP Sukhdev Singh Libra, MLAs Balbir Singh Sidhu, Kuljit Singh Nagra and Kaka Ranbir Singh Nabha were among those present.

Chandigarh, December 26
German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner accompanied by his wife, Eliese, called on Governor Jagannath Pahadia at Haryana Raj Bhavan here today.

They discussed various issues of mutual interest. Secretary to the Governor Mohinder Kumar was also present on the occasion. — TNS

Kurukshetra, December 26
Kurukshetra University has done a remarkable work in the field of conservation of folk culture and heritage through the Dharohar Haryana Museum.

This was stated by Dr Fouzia Tabassum, director, Sufi Tabassum Art-Gallery, Lahore. A delegation of 20 artists from Pakistan under the leadership of Dr Tabassum and Zahir Chaudhary visited the museum today.

Dr Mahasingh Poonia, curator, Dharohar Haryana Museum, said the delegation was impressed with a cattle shed and kitchen concept of the Haryanvi folk life.

The delegation visited handicraft, agriculture, household implements and weapons gallery of the museum. 

Chandigarh, December 26
A Punjab and Haryana High Court order has brought out the tardy progress of files from one department to another and inefficiency with which legal matters are handled in Haryana.

Taking cognizance of the fact that the government took almost a year to file an appeal in a service matter against 30 days’ stipulated time, a Division Bench has dismissed the matter but not before noticing the way the entire case was handled at different stages.

“As against 30 days’ time provided for appeal, four months were taken in preparing and filing the appeal, which also was not in order. There were various objections put by the Registry. Again, substantial time was taken in removing the objections…. In this whole process, a delay of 355 days occurred”.

The observations on inadequacies in the system came out in the appeal filed by the state against Subhash Chander Dang and other respondents.

The Bench of Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain asserted a certified copy of the order dated October 28, 2010, passed by a Single Judge, was received on November 19, 2010. But, it remained pending with the office concerned and was sent for approval to the Chief Minister’s office after 73 days. “We fail to understand as to how there could be such a lapse on the part of the officer concerned to send the file for approval after 73 days when the limitation for filing the appeal is 30 days?” the Bench observed.

The Bench went on to add that office of the minister in charge initially sought Legal Remembrancer’s advice before the Chief Minister decided the matter on March 4, 2011. But the Finance Department, asked to calculate the amount payable to the respondents, sent back the file to the Chief Minister’s office. On May 20, 2011, the Chief Minister agreed to file the appeal.

The Bench added: “Even if the Finance Department wanted that appeal should be filed, it could not have taken two months for the purpose. Even after the decision was taken, substantial time was again taken in preparation and filing of the appeal…. At least after the decision was taken, the appeal should have been filed without any further delay, knowing full well that the time for filing the appeal had expired long back”. 

Faridkot, December 26
The Faridkot police today filed a chargesheet in the Shruti abduction and rape case against all the 20 accused, who are at present lodged in the Central Jail, Faridkot.

The 15-year-old girl was first abducted on June 25. A case was registered against Nishan Singh, Navjot Kaur, Dimpi Samra and Bikram Singh. Two days ago, the police had filed the chargesheet against four accused in this case.

The girl was again abducted on September 24 and in this case, the police arrested 20 persons.

Keeping in view the public outrage over incidents of crime against women these days, the Faridkot police hastened to file the chargesheet with the duty magistrate as there is winter break in the courts.

Some of the accused in the case have been in jail for around 80 days. A delay of 10 days in filing the chargesheet could have made those accused entitled to get bail under Section 167 (2) of CrPC, said GS Toor, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Faridkot. The police would ensure that there was no delay at the level of prosecution in the speedy trial of this case, said the SSP.

The police today produced a list of 80 witnesses before the court to prove charges against the accused.

Earlier, the police teams had raided various hideouts in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, UP, Delhi and Goa to nab the accused. As per an estimate, the police investigation in this case has so far cost the state government about Rs 50 lakh.

The police has also procured various fake documents on the basis of which Nishan Singh got a passport and a driving licence. The police has also got the DNA testing of Nishan Singh done from PGI, Chandigarh, to prove him guilty of rape charges.

Sirsa, December 26
Baljit Singh Dadu, a Sikh hardliner, who was arrested by the Punjab police yesterday from Amritsar International Airport on his return from England, was produced before a court at Dabwali in Sirsa today.

The court remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days. Dadu has been lodged in Hisar jail.

Dadu, head of Gurdwara Guru Granth Sahib in Dahu village of Sirsa, was wanted by the Sirsa police in connection with the alleged attack on a dera at Ghukkanwali during the visit of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in 2007.

He was also wanted in a case of road blockade at Chormar in this district.

The police had not been able to arrest him and he had been declared a proclaimed offender. The police had also issued a lookout notice for his arrest.

It is another matter that Dadu had all along been visiting Sirsa and Fatehabad districts frequently.

Kurukshetra, December 26
Mystery shrouding Raj Kumar’s murder in Pehowa, 25 km from here, on December 23 has been solved with the arrest of his uncle Roshan Lal.

District police chief Rakesh Kumar Arya said here today that Raj Kumar’s brother Mahender Singh of Jorasi Khurd, near Pehowa, lodged a complaint that two motorbike riders shot at Raj Kumar at night and fled. The victim succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Pehowa, where he was admitted after the incident.

However, after inspecting the site, the police concluded that the shot was fired from a close range. It then interrogated Roshan Lal, who confessed to the crime.

He told the police that he had been working as a guard at an ATM booth of Union Bank. He had employed his nephew, Raj Kumar, at half the salary of Rs 2,100 per month for assisting him during night time.

Roshan Lal said he had not paid the promised salary to Raj Kumar for the past two months on the pretext that he had not been paid salary by the bank. On the night of the incident, they had a quarrel following which Roshan Lal shot at Raj Kumar in his head with a country-made pistol. He misled the police by saying that two persons had shot at his nephew and fled on their motorcycle.

He said the pistol used in the crime was taken from Randheer of Murtzapur under the Pehowa police station.