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Cong in inaction mode
330-MW unit breaks down at Chhotu Ram Thermal Plant
In firing line, govt to have SC commission
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Reinstate Civil Surgeon, demands doctors’ body
Gun, car used by ‘killer’ policeman recovered
A view of Basant’s residence at Gorar village in Sonepat district on Monday. Photo: Manoj Dhaka
100 Gau Raksha Andolan activists court arrest, released
Congress consolidates position in Ambala MC
Chautala welcomes Modi’s appointment
Man held for bid to rape minor
Husband, father-in-law held on dowry charge
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Cong in inaction mode
Chandigarh, June 10 Haryana Congress chief Phool Chand Mullana only seems to be trying to keep himself busy by forwarding or making complaints which have hardly ever elicited any action from the party high command. During the second consecutive term of the Congress government in the state, the party has sent about 15 complaints against senior leaders for working to defeat party candidates in the 2009 Assembly elections. The party had passed a resolution seeking action against certain party stalwarts after Congress candidate Jai Prakash’s defeat in the Hisar bypoll. More recently, the state party president complained against Rajya Sabha member Ishwar Singh and sought the intervention of the high command in banning his Dalits’ conference, but his complaints cut no ice. Confirming that no action had been initiated in many complaints forwarded to the party high command in the last few years, Mullana said, “My job is to apprise them. I am doing my job. Beyond that, the ball is in their court. It is for them to take action. We want action if the leadership wants to ensure a disciplined party,” he said. General secretary and in charge of Haryana affairs, BK Hariprasad, said the state unit has been sending complaints against party leaders. “We are looking into those,” he said. Asked why no action had been initiated in any of the cases, he said the party sought an explanation from the leaders against whom complaints were made. “In case replies are not satisfactory, those are referred to the disciplinary committee for action,” he claimed. He could not give any instance of such a reference. He later chose to take refuge in the “this-is-an-internal-matter-of-the-party” logic. Complaints had been made against the detractors’ camp which comprised Union minister Selja, Rajya Sabha members Ishwar Singh and Birender Singh Chaudhary, Rao Inderjit Singh, Kiran Chaudhary, KV Singh and Ranjit Singh. During the 2009 Assembly elections, complaints had poured in from Thanesar, Samalkha, Kalka, Pataudi, Sirsa and other constituencies. Mullana and Power Minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav had claimed to be a victim of anti-party activity. Congress leaders said the silence of the party high command in matters of anti-party activity was sending wrong signals to the rank and file. They said it was critical as the General Election and the Assembly elections were slated next year. They added that a stern warning was the least the party leadership could send to improve
the chances of the Congress. They added that indifference to Mullana's complaints had lowered his prestige. A senior leader said the high command need not always take action, but at least a hearing before closing the matter was a better option. |
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330-MW unit breaks down at Chhotu Ram Thermal Plant
Yamunanagar, June 10 According to well-placed sources in the HPGCL, the unit had tripped on June 3 following an abnormal increase in temperature of turbine bearings. The temperature rose as the lubrication system was not functioning properly. The HPGCL on its part suspended the concerned executive engineer and assistant engineer to save itself from criticism. Sources said the extent of damage and time taken to repair the same would be known only after the turbine is opened in the presence of Chinese engineers. It would take a few weeks before the unit is made available again. Meanwhile, the HPGCL had made adequate arrangements for 24-hour power supply to cities and a number of rural feeders, which are supplied power on urban pattern. However, the shutting down of the 300 MW unit is likely to deprive the thermal plant of the much-needed power during the up-coming paddy season beginning June 15. HPGCL is required to ensure 8-hour supply for agriculture sector during paddy season. Sources said the present demand for power in the state exceeded 6,100 MW. The power availability from all sources was 1,365 lakh units. One 600 MW unit of Khedar thermal and 210 MW unit at Panipat are down due to technical reasons. One 660 MW unit at China Light and Power at Jhajjar is also down. Haryana has signed long-term power purchase agreement for 1,424 MW power with Mundra Thermal in Gujarat, owned by Adani. A short-term power purchase agreement is also in place for paddy season. These agreements will help the HPGCL in getting power under banking arrangement. It will most likely allow the power utility to tide over the increase in the demand, the sources said. |
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In firing line, govt to have SC commission
Chandigarh, June 10 The move of the state government is apparently seen as an attempt to blunt Hooda’s detractors’ criticism. It will go a long way in assuaging the feelings of the Dalit community, whose members have reportedly been under attack from members of dominant castes during Hooda’s regime, ahead of the Assembly elections and the General Election next year. In fact, in a clear damage-control exercise, the state government has decided to bring in an ordinance to enact the law since the Assembly session will take some time to be convened. The way for the enactment of the ordinance has been cleared following the submission of a report by a three-member sub-committee set up to finalise the notification for the constitution of the commission. The state government had already accorded an in-principle approval for setting up the commission. A senior functionary of the state government said the commission would be modelled on the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. It would have a chairperson and three members, including a woman, and act as an alternative grievance redress forum for members of the Dalit community, he added. “The commission is being set up to investigate, examine and monitor all matters relating to safeguards provided for SCs under the Constitution. It will evaluate the working of such safeguards and monitor the implementation of laws and measures concerning Scheduled Castes and initiate action for legal and administrative reforms to improve the socio-economic and educational status of the community,” he added. The demand for the commission had been gaining ground for several years as atrocities on the Dalit community had brought outrage and shame for the state at the national level. A Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, which visited Haryana against the backdrop of rape cases against Dalit women last year, had recommended the setting up of the commission with adequate representation to women as a mechanism for the redress of grievances. In its report, the committee had noted that the “dignity and morale of SCs in the state are completely eroded due to high-handedness of the dominant caste.” |
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Reinstate Civil Surgeon, demands doctors’ body
Narnaul, June 10 The HCMSA president, Dr Kuldeep Singh, today said 93 staff members, including two medical officers, a paediatrician, staff nurses, auxiliary nurse midwives, pharmacists and emergency medical technicians were to be appointed by the district health authorities under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). The selection committee comprised the Civil Surgeon, two Deputy Civil Surgeons and a representative of the local Deputy Commissioner. The Health Minister had allegedly pressurised the Civil Surgeon to appoint certain persons recommended by him. "The Civil Surgeon appointed persons fulfilling eligibility criteria, which infuriated the minister. The minister told the Civil Surgeon to cancel the list of persons appointed and accommodate his candidates instead," claimed the HCMSA president. He alleged that when the Civil Surgeon refused to cancel or change the list, he was transferred to the post of State Bacteriologist in Karnal, and was suspended a few hours later the same day. He added that the selections were finalised in the last week of May. "This indicates the kind of pressure to which officials are subjected to by their political and administrative bosses. This is the reward one gets for performing duty honestly,"
he said. He added that the situation was the same in all parts of the state and the selection process was stalled in several districts due to political and administrative pressure from various quarters. The doctors' union leader said they had intimated the state health authorities and the NRHM Director, Dr Rakesh Gupta, about all aspects of the developments. He demanded that the suspended Civil Surgeon be reinstated immediately, failing which HCMSA members across the state would launch an agitation and strike work. He said a meeting of the association would be called soon to chalk out the future course of action. The HCMSA president demanded that the appointment of contractual staff under the NRHM be carried out at state headquarters and not at the district level. Dr Gulshan Arora was sent from the General Hospital in Gurgaon to officiate as the Civil Surgeon in Narnaul. Rao Narender Singh could not be reached for his comments. Several attempts to contact him over telephone and through messages were futile. According to sources, the minister refuted the allegations and maintained that the Civil Surgeon had
been suspended as there were several complaints against him. |
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Gun, car used by ‘killer’ policeman recovered
Sonepat, June 10 Stating this, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ajit Singh said the police had recovered a self-loading rifle, 17 rounds and the car used by Basant to kill Sarita’s husband Sandeep and his mother Roshni on April 18 at Deepalpur village before escaping with Sarita. The DSP said the accused had confessed to his involvement in the double murder. The accused was remanded in judicial custody by a local court, while his paramour is already in judicial custody, he added. The police said Basant and Sarita managed to dodge the police for long as they kept changing their hideouts and visited several places before they arrived in Chandigarh on Saturday, where Basant killed an Inspector, who had rounded him up on the basis of suspicion. The DSP claimed that the local police had completed its investigation relating to the double murder and the case file would soon be submitted in court. He added that the investigation regarding the murder of Chandigarh Police Inspector Sucha Singh would be done by the Chandigarh Police. His background
Son of an ex-serviceman, Basant joined the Chandigarh Police on July 2011. After doing graduation, he joined the Army, but left it after seven months of training at the Jat Regimental Centre, Bareilly, before opting for the present job. “Basant and Sarita, both residents of Gorad village, were having an affair. As the revelation created an opposition in the village, a village panchayat got the couple separated in March this year before they eloped from here on February 2 and surfaced again on February 26,” said a local resident. However, Rajbir’s father preferred not to talk to the media. Sarita’s family also refused to comment on the incidence. Couple on the run
Basant and Sarita kept moving and preferred not to stay for more than 10 days at one place, claimed police sources. Immediately after killing Sandeep and his mother on April 18, the accused reached Haridwar, where they parked the car. They then went to various places, including Dehradun, Rishikesh, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Shimla. |
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100 Gau Raksha Andolan activists court arrest, released
Sonepat, June 10 They also handed over a memorandum of their demands to Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Aggarwal, who assured them to
forward it to the higher authorities. Addressing the activists, Dass said the activists had been observing indefinite hunger strike at Sonepat and other places in the state in support of their demands. He added that the government was not willing to accept their demands. He announced that their agitation would continue till the acceptance of the demands. As the programme for courting arrest was announced by the activists two days ago, elaborate police arrangements were made at the dharna site. |
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Congress consolidates position in Ambala MC
Ambala, June 10 The party is all set to install its Mayor once the Chief Minister picks up candidate of his choice as the councillors had recently authorised him to name the Mayor. Six councillors supported by MLA Venod Sharma, who were elected from the city and six others supported by former MLA Nirmal Singh, who had won from the cantonment area, had recently held two separate meetings with the Chief Minister, giving consent for the same. |
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Chautala welcomes Modi’s appointment
Gurgaon, June 10 In a brief interaction at a private hospital here today, Chautala said Modi had emerged as a strong contender for the prime ministerial post and he was capable of providing dynamic leadership to the country. "He is a nationalist leader with integrity and can take the country forward in the right direction," he remarked. The INLD chief extended warm wishes to the Gujarat Chief Minister, but parried a question on the implication of Modi's elevation on the political scenario in Haryana (INLD-BJP alliance). Asked about the national and state executive meeting of the INLD scheduled here tomorrow, Chautala said he could attend the meeting if his health and doctors permitted him. |
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Man held for bid to rape minor
Gurgaon, June 10 According to the girl’s father, their neighbour Shyam Sunder hails
from New Delhi. The child went out to defecate around 5 am. He allegedly pulled her inside his room. He reportedly tried to rape her, but the girl raised an alarm. The family rushed to
the house. People gathered and beat up the accused. He managed to flee before the police reached the spot, but was eventually arrested. |
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Chandigarh, June 10
Suspended policeman Basant, who along with his paramour Sarita dodged the police for 49 days after the double murder at Deepalpur village of the district on April 18, has now confessed to his crime, claimed the police today.
Stating this, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ajit Singh said the police had recovered a self-loading rifle, 17 rounds and the car used by Basant to kill Sarita’s husband Sandeep and his mother Roshni on April 18 at Deepalpur village before escaping with Sarita. The DSP said the accused had confessed to his involvement in the double murder.
