Karnal, July 2
Independent councillor Renu Bala was elected the first Mayor of the Karnal Municipal Corporation, upsetting the Congress applecart. In a close contest, she secured 11 votes and her Congress-backed rival Kailash Goel nine.

Her election as the Mayor was a major setback for local Congress MLA and Haryana Mahila Congress president Sumita Singh. Renu Bala is her arch-rival Brij Gupta's wife.

The poll process was set in motion immediately after councillors were administered the oath. The election was over in just 40 minutes.

The names of Goel and Joginder Chauhan were doing the rounds, but events took a dramatic turn. Sudesh Gulati proposed Goel's name and Manoj Verma proposed Renu Bala's name.

Renu Bala had the support of three BJP, two INLD and two Independent councillors. Three Congress-backed councillors voted in her favour as well.

Newly elected Mayors (from left) Ramesh Mal (Ambala), Renu Dabla (Rohtak), Shakuntala Rajliwal (Hisar) and Saroj Bala (Yamunanagar)

Rohtak: Renu Dabla was elected the first Mayor of the Rohtak Municipal Corporation today. The election was unanimous as she was the only candidate whose name was proposed.

Councillors were administered the oath by the Rohtak Division Commissioner, who supervised the proceedings. The post of Mayor is reserved for a Scheduled Caste woman councillor.

Dabla's name was proposed by Gulshan Ispuniyani and seconded by Anita Miglani. The Commissioner declared Dabla the Mayor as soon as her name was proposed and seconded.

All councillors, including two of the BJP and one of the INLD, were present. Rohtak legislator Bharat Bhushan Batra, Kalanaur legislator Shakuntala Khatak and district (rural) Congress president Jaideep Dhankhar attended the meeting.

Three other councillors had been in the race for the post of Mayor, but things were cleared this morning after several rounds of meetings. The district unit of the BJP said councillors Ashok Khurana, Ajay Jain and Jaikishan claimed that the electoral process was eyewash and alleged that the local authorities did not adopt the democratic process.

Ambala: Newly elected councillors supported by the ruling party today had their say as the first-ever house of the Ambala Municipal Corporation elected its first Mayor. Congress-supported Ramesh Mal, who had been elected from ward 3, was elected the Mayor. Thirteen of the 20 members voted for him.

BJP councillor Lalita Prashad bagged five votes. Two councillors left their ballot paper blank, indicating that they did not support either candidate.

Prior to the mayoral election, Ambala Range Commissioner Yudhveer Khiyalia administrated the oath to newly elected councillors. Local Congress MLA Venod Sharma and OSD to the Chief Minister MS Chopra were present.

Yamunanagar: Saroj Bala was elected the first Mayor of the Yamunanagar Municipal Corporation today. Eight out of 20 members voted for her.

Saroj's closest competitor Sangeeta Singal bagged seven votes to stand second in the mayoral poll. Priya got five votes.

Prior to the election, Ambala Range Commissioner Yudhveer Khiyalia administrated the oath to newly elected councillors at Bal Bhawan.

Hisar: Shakuntala Rajliwal was elected Hisar Mayor today. She got 16 votes while her opponent, Rekha Aeron of the INLD, got four votes.

The Congress managed to bring all 16 newly elected MC members together and also placated another claimant, Rekha Saini, daughter-in-law of former minister Hari Singh Saini, who opted not to contest the post.

Speaking to mediapersons after her victory, Rajliwal, who is a housewife, said redressing the civic problems of Hisar would be her priority. She thanked all councillors and other people for reposing faith in her leadership.

Chandigarh, July 2
The inclusion of Bhiwani and Mahendragarh districts in the National Capital Region (NCR) will trigger an economic boom in the backward region with infrastructure and real estate sectors getting a much-needed boost.

While the inclusion in the NCR of two districts of southern Haryana will fulfil a long-pending demand of residents of the two districts, it will blunt the allegations of regional bias in development against Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

With the inclusion in the NCR of Bhiwani (4,778 square km) and Mahendragarh (1,899 square km), the area of the Haryana sub-region has increased from 13,428 square km to 20,105 square km, which is 45.47 per cent of the total area of the state.

With the inclusion of Jind (2,702 square km) and Karnal (2,520 square km), which has been approved in principle, the total area of the state in the NCR will go up to 57.28 per cent, benefiting a major part of the state, sources say.

The inclusion in the NCR, which has been conceptualised to decongest Delhi and provide holistic planning to areas around it, comes with several incentives.

First, the NCR Planning Board (NCRPB), tasked with the coordinated planning of the NCR, provides financial assistance in the form of soft loans to the extent of 75 per cent of projects for infrastructural development.

Secondly, the rate of interest for priority sector projects, including augmentation of water supply, laying of sewerage and drainage, solid waste management and construction of roads and railway overbridges, is merely 7.25 per cent while it is 9 per cent for non-priority areas.

With the state government and local urban bodies facing a resource crunch, soft loans come in handy to develop infrastructural facilities in the area.

Besides, it has been decided to provide a grant of 15 per cent of the project cost to state governments providing water, sewerage and drainage services in the NCR in a time-bound manner, a senior officer says.

Meanwhile, the NCRPB has provided loan assistance for 277 infrastructural projects worth Rs 18,994 crore up to March, 2013, in the NCR. Of those, the Haryana sub-region has accounted for 106 completed projects with an estimated cost of Rs 4,683 crore.

Besides, there are 76 ongoing projects under NCRPB funding in Haryana with an estimated cost of Rs 9,238 crore and a sanctioned loan amount of Rs 3,728 crore.

Observers say the NCR tag to a particular area gives it an advantage over other areas regarding infrastructure development, resulting in a boom in the real estate sector.

"Past experience has shown that towns in the NCR have grown by leaps and bounds, with thousands of apartments coming up for investors and end-users," says Nikhil Goyal, a Gurgaon-based developer.

Hisar, July 2
Students of various government schools in the state have been attending classes without books as the education authorities have failed to provide them with the facility. A private company that was given the contract for publishing these books has failed to deliver the order in time.

Even as the first semester of the government schools is almost halfway through, the students have to do without books.

The Elementary Education Department distributes free textbooks to students from class I to class VIII in government schools.

Teachers have complained that the delay in publication and distribution of books revealed lackadaisical attitude of the authorities towards improving the education system in the state. “It seems that poor Class X results conducted by the Haryana Board of School Education this year have failed to shake up the higher authorities. It is shocking that the students are yet to get textbooks even as the first semester examinations are nearing,” said a member of the Schoolteachers’ Association.

He alleged the authorities awarded the contract for printing of books to a publication company blacklisted in another state. It had failed to provide books in time due to which no classroom studies were conducted for 60 days. “Instead of improving the basic education system, the authorities blamed the teachers for poor performance of the students,” he said.

Baljit Singh, District Elementary Education Officer, however, said textbooks for class I and II were being distributed in the government schools of the district.

School board secretary Anshaj Singh said the publisher had delayed the matter. “We will definitely take punitive action against the publisher. We have now received the books and have already started its distribution in all districts,” he added.

Gurgaon, July 2
The revised criteria for selection of lecturers for non-government aided colleges in the state have left most of the aspirants high and dry.

As per the new criteria issued by the Director-General, Higher Education, Haryana, for the humanities (non-practical subjects) and commerce streams, 20 per cent marks have been kept for the academic performance of the candidate in matriculation, 10+2 and the bachelor’s degree.

However, just 5 per cent marks have been allotted to the candidate’s teaching experience while there are no marks for higher qualifications like M.Phil and Ph.D possessed by the aspirants in addition to the basic qualification of UGC NET.

On the other hand, 10 per cent marks have been dedicated to co-curricular activities and sports achievements.

Surprisingly, no weightage is given to the scores lesser than 61 per cent at matriculation, 10+2 or graduation while maximum marks are granted to those scoring above 90 per cent marks in matriculation, above 80 per cent in 10+2 and graduation and above 75 per cent in the master’s degree.

“It is an avalanche for the lectureship aspirants belonging to the state, especially those who have studied in schools affiliated to the Haryana School Education Board and state universities, where the average marks obtained by students are much less than those scored by their counterparts from the CBSE and private universities,” laments Dr Neha (name changed on request), who has been teaching in an aided college and vying for a regular appointment.

Other aspirants also point out that the students who completed their degrees before the implementation of the semester system and internal assessment regime are at a clear loss as the students passing out now are scoring much more than them.

They maintain that the marking patterns of different education boards and universities are also quite different from each other, a fact which has been completely overlooked by the government officials framing the selection criteria.

Academicians also assert that the new criteria amount to injustice with the students of the state, especially those coming from the rural background.

“There is no rationalisation in judging the academic performance of students coming from diverse backgrounds and education boards/universities by the same scale,” says Dr Raj Kumar, president of the Haryana Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations.

Stating that the formulation of such norms by bureaucrats was an encroachment on the academic councils of the universities, he maintains that the academicians should have a say in the matters pertaining to education.

Fed up with the lackadaisical attitude of the people’s representatives, including MLAs, MPs and ministers, the aspirants are planning to move the court to get their concerns addressed.

Sirsa, July 2
Sirsa and Ellenabad are among the 27 administrative blocks where the state government has implemented the weather-based crop insurance scheme (WBCIS) for 2013-14. The government has selected the paddy crop in the two blocks for the current kharif season.

The WBCIS has also been started at Ambala 1, Ambala 2, Gohana, Bilaspur, Palwal, Babain, Shahbad, Palwal, Pehowa, Beri, Sahlawas, Tohana, Jakhal, Ratia, Madloda, Israna, Bhopali, Sonipat, Ganaur, Narnaund, Mustafabad, Bhiwani, Thanesar, Barara, Radaur and Ballabgarh.

"The government has given the job of crop insurance in Sirsa and Ellenabad to Tokiyo IFFCO, which will offer an insurance of Rs 14,000 per acre for a premium of Rs 1,400,? said Sirsa Deputy Commissioner J Ganesan.

The farmer would have to pay Rs 350 per acre and the rest of the premium would be borne equally by the state government and the Centre, he added.

Farmers will get claims if their crop is damaged due to excessive rain or deficiency of rain.

Farmers who do not own land and have taken it on contract or on a sharing basis will get the benefit of this scheme as well.

Sirsa, July 2
Jat bodies demanding reservation in Central and state government jobs have begun their activities again after a few months of dormancy.

While the Akhil Bhartiya Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti, led by former commandant Hawa Singh Sangwan, has announced to relaunch its agitation against the Centre from August 16, the faction led by Yashpal Malik has called a meeting at Hisar on July 8 to decide its future course of action.

“During our agitation from March 6 to 25 in Haryana and from March 5 to 10 at Jantar Mantar, we had a series of talks with the Centre and state government. We made it clear that the 10 per cent reservation announced by Haryana for Jats and four other castes was not acceptable to us, as it was not within the parameters of the Constitution. We had demanded removal of anomalies in it and withdrawal of criminal cases registered against our members,” said Ram Bhagat Malik, spokesperson of the Malik-led faction.

He said at a meeting of Khaps held in Sonipat on June 29, it was decided that the state government would be asked to get constitutional approval to its announcement on reservation for Jats. “Otherwise, the government decision will meet the same fate as did the Rajasthan government that had granted 5 per cent quota to Gujjars and the courts there had struck down the government order,” he said.

Malik said the samiti would decide its future course of agitation against the state as well as the Centre at its Hisar meeting on July 8.

Sangwan, on the other hand, said the 10 per cent quota announced by Bhupinder Singh Hooda for Jats and four other castes in the state was acceptable to them.

“We have always welcomed Haryana government’s decision in this regard. Our only grouse is that the Centre has been ignoring our demand. We had staged a day-long dharna at Jantar Mantar in March, but now we are ready for a longer agitation from August 16 if the Centre does not redress our demand,” said added Sangwan. 

Bhiwani, July 2
The mortal remains of Sub-Inspector Satish Kumar of the ITBP, who lost his life in a chopper crash during rescue operations in Uttarakhand last week, were cremated with full military and state honours at his native village Dudhwa in Bhiwani today.

Haryana Minister for Public Health Engineering, Excise and Taxation Kiran Choudhry, Minister for Cooperatives and Housing Satpal Sangwan, Bhiwani MP Shruti Choudhry, Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Meena, SP Mitesh Jain, Charkhi Dadri SDM Gaurav Kumar, state Congress general secretary Sandeep Singh and several others placed wreaths and paid respects to the the martyr’s mortal remains.

A battalion of ITBP jawans gave military honours to the martyr.

Sub-Inspector Satish Kumar was on deputation with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and was performing duties in Uttarakhand to rescue stranded pilgrims when an Air Force chopper crashed on Tuesday last, killing 20 jawans.

The body arrived in the PWD Rest House at Charkhi Dadri in the early hours today where several dignitaries and local people assembled for paying their last respects.

The body was taken to the martyr’s native village Dudhwa after nearly two hours.

Despite their personal loss, the martyr’s proud parents, Sushma Devi and Attar Singh, exhibiting great courage said they were proud that their son had laid down his life serving the country.

“People will remember martyr Satish Kumar’s sacrifice for all times to come. He has made his parents as well as people of this area proud by his act of bravery while saving people stranded after the Uttarakhand tsunami,” said Shruti Choudhry.

Kiran Choudhry said that the village panchayat would send a proposal for naming the village school after Satish Kumar.

Sangwan said Dadri was the land of warriors, who had never looked back when it came to sacrificing their lives for the nation.

Kurukshetra July 2
State Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) president and local MLA Ashok Arora has demanded that an airport should be established here as Kurukshetra is the land of the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita.

He made this demand at a press conference at his residence here today. He said Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda should have demanded an airport at Kurukshetra when he demanded three cargo airports in Haryana.

Arora alleged that the Congress government had been neglecting Kurukshetra. An airport was necessary to bring Kurukshetra on the international tourism map, he added.

He said Kurukshetra MP Naveen Jindal had promised the establishment of an airport at Kurukshetra before the 2004 elections and repeated his promise during the 2009 elections, but could not fulfil his promise.

MPs from Haryana should get an airport established at Kurukshetra by pressurising the Centre, Arora added.

Sirsa, July 2
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh today appeared before the special CBI court through video-conferencing in Sirsa in connection with three criminal proceedings- Ranjit Singh murder case, scribe Ram Chander Chhattarparti case and Sadhvi sexual exploitation cases- pending against him.

The dera chief arrived at the local district court complex in a cavalcade of several vehicles and went straight to the video-conferencing room where he remained for nearly two hours.

The court was to record the evidence of a DSP of the CBI today. However, the CBI counsel moved an application seeking court’s permission for allowing the witness of a DIG-rank officer in view of a letter written by dera chief’s former driver Khatta Singh.

The court has adjourned the Ranjit Singh murder case and Ram Chander Chhattarpati case till July 6. The Sadhvi sexual exploitation case has been adjourned till July 27.

Rewari, July 2
The Rewari Sadar police has registered a case of murder, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy against Hoshiar Singh, Pratap Singh, Kehar Singh, all three residents of nearby Gangaicha Jat village for the alleged murder of a village youth. The fourth accused is yet to be identified.

Sunil was murdered on June 21. Kuldeep Singh, brother-in-law of the deceased and a resident of the Pataudi area of Gurgaon district, filed a complaint in this regard yesterday.

His body was recovered from a gutter at Gangaicha Jat village on June 22 and the postmortem was conducted at the civil hospital here.

His viscera was sent for chemical examination to the FSL at Madhuban, Karnal. A police official said they were still waiting for the report of the examination. 

Gurgaon, July 2
A non-resident Indian (NRI) transporter based in California was booked last night on the charge of raping his 'third wife' after their fraudulent wedding in January.

An FIR registered at the Sushant Lok police station here claimed that Deepak Kharab had married the woman without divorcing two wives.

A 39-year-old divorcee residing at ARDEE City here claimed that Kharab married her in January after claiming that he was a divorcee and his previous wife was a resident of Rohtak.

She said he had got her a flat on rent and they lived together, but after he moved to the United States, she came to know that he had not divorced two wives.

"Kharab and I wed on January 10 after my divorce. He cheated me to exploit me physically. I want him to be punished," she said. The police registered a case in this connection.

Rewari, July 2
On a complaint filed by a Dalit woman, Kavita Devi (30), the Rampura police of the district has registered a case of rioting, molestation and criminal intimidation against Rajender, Malkhan, Gajender, Jasbir and several others, all members of the Ahir community and residents of the nearby Pragpura village.

Theyahave also been booked under the SC/ST Act.She alleged when she, along with other members of the family, was dancing during a marriage function on Saturday night, some village youths indulged in rioting and made a molestation bid. A senior police official said the youths had been booked.

Yamunanagar, July 2
The district police has arrested Hemantu on a charge of strangling his wife in Ranjit Colony here today.

The police said Hemantu suspected that his wife was having illicit relations.He went out along with his 13-year-old daughter to fetch some eatables for the family but returned half-way. On reaching home, he found his wife's paramour there. Enraged Hemantu attacked his wife and strangled her.

The neighbours reported the matter to the police which arrested Hemantu. — TNS