Chandigarh, August 19
While the “dissident” camp will show its strength at Rajya Sabha MP Birender Singh’s Jind rally tomorrow, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his ministers will roll out the Food Security Scheme in the state around the same time.

While Congress president Sonia Gandhi's “pressing engagements” on former Prime minister and husband Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary may have kept her away, Birender Singh can draw some consolation from the fact that she will send her message through “representatives”.

Sources said general secretaries Digvijay Singh, Ambika Soni and Shakeel Ahmed will come with a message from the Congress president to be read out during the rally.

The Birender camp maintained that it had so far received confirmation from Union minister Selja, Rajya Sabha MP Ishwar Singh, besides a couple of MLAs, to stand by the Jat leader who has said that the “rally will change the course of politics in Haryana.”

It is another matter that the run-up to the rally has come as a double whammy for Birender Singh, aggressively touring the state to muster support for the rally.

While he began by claiming that Sonia would come to the rally, he insisted that he would not invite anybody from among the party leaders. Claiming that Gandhi’s presence will automatically bring the state president, Chief Minister and other leaders to his rally, he stuck to his stand until recently.

However, the Congress top brass indicated to the MP to send out invitations to all party MPs and MLAs, besides other senior leaders. Forced into compliance, Birender Singh even sent out those invites and went to the extent of stating that he had offered the platform of his rally to roll out the Food Security scheme.

However, the government went ahead and not only announced its own programme for launching the scheme in all districts simultaneously but also refused to acknowledge Birender Singh’s offer.

Birender Singh was not only forced to eat his words of refraining from inviting any party leaders but also “suffered” another blow with the government’s rejection of his offer.

Insiders believe that though Birender Singh, Hooda’s cousin and bete noire, began with a sympathy wave after being checkmated just before he was to get a Union Cabinet berth, the run-up to the rally has put the leader on the backfoot since he could neither bring the Congress president nor stick to his initial decision of not inviting anybody to the rally. 

Chandigarh, August 19
The INLD alleged today that the state government had granted favours to companies owned by relatives of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's confidant and former union minister Venod Sharma on change of land use (CLU).

Addressing a press conference here today, senior INLD leader and Ellenabad MLA Abhey Chautala alleged that Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra was not the only person who had benefited from CLUs granted by the Hooda Government as several firms having employees and relatives of Sharma as directors were given CLUs by the Hooda Government in Gurgaon. Like Robert Vadra, these companies sold the commercial licences to other companies for hefty profits running into hundreds of crores of rupees, Abhey alleged.

Chautala claimed that Vatika Company, a firm promoted by Onkeshwara Properties, the company which sold Robert Vadra Shikohpur land measuring 3.58 acres, was granted three licences to develop nearly 26 acres in Gurgaon district. Onkeshwara Properties had Satyanand Yaji and Sandeep Dahiya, Hooda's close associates, as directors, Abhey alleged.

Similarly, Mark Buildtech and Lakhsya Buildtech, which had Sharma's employees and relatives as directors, were granted CLUs for 17.94 acres and 10.38 acres, respectively, in Gurgaon district.

Chautala reiterated his party's demand for a probe by a sitting Supreme Court Judge into all CLUs granted by the Hooda Government.

Chandigarh, August 19
Historically known for battles, Panipat is witnessing a different battle these days. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is demanding a vigilance probe into civil works worth around Rs 4.5 crore by private contractors at the behest of local Congress leaders reportedly without submitting tenders or following procedure.

The contractors who have undertaken the works are demanding their money, forcing local Congress leaders to help, while the BJP has video-graphed all works and said it will go to court if money is released now.

There are two lists, one containing 65 works undertaken in the last three years and the second containing 33 works. These works were mainly undertaken by a dozen contractors with a leaning towards the Congress.

Some works have been undertaken, but there are cases wherein inflated bills have been submitted. One such case is where the charges for whitewashing the residence of a former Deputy Commissioner has been put at Rs 12.5 lakh.

The road to the residence of local legislator Balbir Pal Shah has been relaid after the tendering process. In some cases, tenders have been issued after works have been undertaken. In these cases, work orders have not been released and therefore, payment for works cannot be made.

Since Panipat was granted a municipal corporation two months ago, officials with the administration are unwilling to clear bills undertaken prior to the formation of the corporation.

Though the local Congress legislator has thrown some political weight around by submitting his resignation and withdrawing it, he has not been unable to get cleared previous bills of local contractors. As a result, the city is witnessing a fight between the legislator, the BJP and contractors, each trying to keep an eye on the situation.

The administrative machinery has suffered a setback as officials are unwilling to undertake any new work or clear previous bills. An Executive Engineer has proceeded on leave to avoid passing previous bills while another officer has said he will not clear any file he is under transfer.

As a result, development activity in the city and in the district has come to a standstill even though Haryana has chosen Panipat for the launch of the food security scheme. In the process, some state-level Congress leaders and those from the BJP are keeping a close watch on the developments there.

Yamunanagar, August 19
Even as residents of Jagadhri continue to face waterlogging in the rainy season with most localities getting inundated, the Drainage Department has been sitting tight on a project to revamp drainage and sewerage even as the government has already sanctioned Rs 86 lakh for the purpose.

The authorities concerned have failed to initiate the project which is expected to benefit a population of more than 50,000 .Sources said the government had released a grant of Rs 86 lakh in May for relaying and strengthening the system. The project also included the laying of a new four-foot diameter pipeline from Hanuman Gate to Budriya Chowk.

Devinder Pal, a local resident, said the new drainage network would have eased the pressure on the existing system of the old city laid several years back. With an increase in the population, this system had started getting clogged in heavy rain, leading to a flood-like situation in various parts of the district.

A local Congress leader said the project was brought by local MP Kumari Selja but it got caught in red tapsim and never saw the light of the day. Even though the grant had been received last year, the officials concerned who were responsible for getting the project executed had not even started the initial formalities.

Meanwhile, local residents lamented that instead of going ahead with the project, the local civic authorities went ahead about three months back to relay roads in the areas that would have to be dug up for laying sewer pipelines. 

Rohtak, August 19
A downpour left several low-lying areas of the city, including the national highway, waterlogged and flooded, resulting in inconvenience to commuters.

One side of the highway near the Tilyar lake tourist complex become inaccessible due to two feet of water on a 100-metre stretch, forcing vehicle users to take the wrong side, said an employee at the complex.

This was perhaps the first time water accumulated on the highway which had been six-laned and was yet to be inaugurated formally, he added.

He said waterlogging continued till late in the evening and no measure was taken to drain out the water. The mini-zoo on the premises was waterlogged as well, he added.

Waterlogging in several areas, including posh HUDA sectors and Model Town, threw life out of gear for several hours as roads and parks remained under water.

The authorities concerned claimed that the drainage system had undergone a massive change, flooding of various areas caused harassment to residents.

“Stagnant water will pose a health risk to residents as mosquitoes, larvae and insects will breed till the time it recedes or is drained out,” said Sunil of Sector 1.

Kaithal, August 19
Randeep Singh Surjewala, Public Works and Industries Minister, said today that the state government had spent Rs 650 crore on the construction of buildings, bridges and roads in Kaithal district during the past eight years.

He said the previous INLD government had spent only Rs 69 crore during 1999-2005 in the district on similar development works. Surjewala said the 85-km stretch of Kaithal-Ambala highway starting from the Titram road junction would be widened and strengthened at a cost of Rs 400 crore.

The minister was interacting with mediapersons at the local PWD rest house here. He said Rs 213.59 crore was being spent on the construction of buildings and roads in the Kaithal segment. — OC

Sonepat, August 19
It was a very touching moment for inmates of the District Jail here when students from the local Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Murthal Chowk, tied “rakhis” on their hands today.

Tears rolled down the eyes of jail inmates as girls tied rakhis on their hands. They took a pledge to desist from anti-social activities and to safeguard the dignity of women.

Jyoti, Mamta, Pooja, Neha, Sonia and Urvashi said it was a different feeling of happiness and satisfaction when they tied rakhis to jail inmates.

The programme was organised by Jail Superintendent JK Chhillar on the eve of Raksha Bandhan. Chillar said: “The aim of the event is to bring joyous moments in the lives of inmates and make them think positively.” 

Karnal, August 19
Former Punjab Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today lashed out at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for not protecting the interests of Sikh farmers in Gujarat, who had been evicted from their land. She asked Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal not to allow Modi to enter the state till justice was done to Sikh farmers in Gujarat.

Talking to mediapersons here, Bhattal said all cases pending in the Supreme Court against Sikh farmers should be immediately withdrawn and their rights on land honoured.

Accusing Modi of indulging in communal and divisive politics, Bhattal said his credentials did not entitle him to hold such a high post in a country like India.

When her attention was drawn to a similar situation in the Pehowa area of Kurukshetra, where 150 Sikh farmers and their families had been evicted from their land after six decades, she said: “It is unfortunate if any state is doing so. The policy of the Congress does not favour taking away farmers' land.”

Supporting the demand for a separate gurdwara parbandhak committee for Haryana, Bhattal said: “Being a separate state, Haryana has the right to have a separate gurdwara parbandhak committee.”

Rohtak, August 19
Resident doctors of the PGIMS continued their strike for the third day today, causing inconvenience to patients. The authorities warned resident doctors of a notice if they did not hold talks to resolve the issue.

A majority of postgraduate doctors did not report for work in protest against the alleged assault on a junior resident at the emergency ward on Friday.

PGIMS sources said the authorities faced an uphill task in managing work at the casualty, wards and the OPD while the standoff continued due to lack of communication between striking doctors and the authorities.

A dialogue had not been held between officials and the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) so far. Dr CS Dhull, PGIMS Director, stated that the authorities were awaiting a communication from the striking doctors.

He said it was surprising that none from the RDA or anybody spearheading the strike had come forward to hold talks regarding their demands.

He said the authorities might become strict and issue a notice to striking doctors if they did not hold talks or resume duty in the next 24 hours. He said the authorities had assured ensuring the safety and security of doctors, but such incidents were isolated and could not be anticipated.

He said doctors and other members of staff were expected to handle patients and their kin with maturity as some cases involved sentiments due to seriousness.

Asserting that there was adequate security on the campus, he said 12 security guards had been put on duty round the clock in the emergency ward and they were contemplating ex-servicemen for duty in the near future.

Striking doctors assembled at the park near the Director's office and raised slogans against the administration for slackness in security and lack of action against those involved in the assault.

The doctors charged the police with taking such issues lightly and pointed out that no action had been taken in a similar incident that took place last month.

Faridabad, August 19
Residents of Nawada village and surrounding areas in the district today blocked traffic on the Tigaon-Ballabhgarh road in protest against the authorities for delay in compensation to a farmer whose buffalo died due to electrocution three days ago.

The blockade lasted more than seven hours, causing inconvenience to commuters. The plying of school buses was affected. The blockade was lifted after senior officials with the Electricity Department met the protesters and assured them to expedite the compensation issue.

The buffalo had come in contact with a high-tension wire dangling from an electricity pole when its owner Hem Chand took it to a jungle. Resident of the village led by its sarpanch Beg Raj had been in touch with officials with the Electricity Department regarding compensation.

Officials had given a positive response, but the issue was caught in a procedural wrangle. Hem Chand alleged that officials had been evasive on the issue, which led to the protest.

Station House Officer Ashish Jorwal said a first information report had not been registered as the owner of the buffalo did not lodge a complaint and was only interested in compensation from the Electricity Department.

Karnal, August 19
Residents of the city raised their voice against multiple-toll barriers on the GT road under the banner of the Sarvjati Sangharsh Samiti today. They took out a protest march against charging of toll tax on unfinished flyovers and potholed roads.

The samiti in a memorandum submitted to the administration said: “Vehicles are being charged toll tax on bad roads and unfinished flyovers, which not only adds to financial burden but also makes driving risky.” Samiti president Amar Jeet Kohand said the condition of roads was pathetic as they were dotted by potholes. This had led to increase in accidents, he added.

The samiti said small vehicles were being charged Rs 98 as one way toll tax at the Samanabahu Toll Plaza, near Karnal, for the past several years. It demanded the immediate removal of this toll barrier as its toll charges were exorbitant. The samiti also threatened to intensify its agitation in case their demands were not accepted. 

Yamaunanagar, August 19
A steep decline in budgetary allocations for the upkeep of ancient sites of great historical and religious importance has lead to rise in apprehensions of those involved in conserving the monuments that reduced grants will result in neglect of the structures.

As per the records, the Haryana Government, which used to allocate up to Rs 27 lakh every year for the maintenance of ancient structures till 1991, gradually reduced the grant to Rs 1.81 lakh in the last budget, making it difficult for the conservators to preserve these sites.

Information gathered under the RTI Act by The Buddhist Forum revealed that the Haryana Archaeological Department, which has three sites under its jurisdiction, the ancient Buddhist sites at Sugh and Chaneti in Yamunanagar district and one in Kurukshetra, could spend Rs 7,58,4448 on the renovation of the Chaneti stupa in Yamaunanagar from December 2005 to March 2010.

However, not much had been done for the maintenance of the sites at Sugh, which is one of the important sites in the region. The department only spent Rs 2,62,938 to revamp the Stupa in Kurukshetra, revealed the RTI.

Besides, a number of mounds of historical importance in Aharwan, Bhadas, Ameen, Sandhya and Mewat have not been included in the list of the protected monuments by the department, making it more difficult for these sites to survive the vagaries of nature.

Hisar, August 19
Teachers of the Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (GJUST), Hisar, are enraged over the selective use of old and new rules for the appointment of Deans and chairpersons.

Stating that the GJU Teachers' Association would not accept the pick-and-choose policy, its members staged a dharna today and demanded that the rules be
applied uniformly across the university. They had also threatened to launch an agitation on the issue.

The university has changed the rules of appointment of Deans and heads of department by a resolution of executive council.

As per the rule, which came into force on June 18, the term of Deans/heads would be three years and the next eligible teacher in the seniority list would be given the appointment on the expiry of the term on a rotation basis. The rules also state that no person would be made Dean/head unless all eligible persons fulfil the terms.

However, the association alleged that the varsity appointed a teacher as the head of Mathematics Department when the incumbent head proceeded on two-month leave. They said the varsity did not give charge to the next eligible teacher and instead gave charge to a teacher who had served in the same position earlier.

Similarly, the incumbent heads were reappointed in the Department of Applied Psychology and the Department of Advertisement and Public Relations despite the fact that the next eligible persons were in line to hold the posts as per the new rules.

Dr Umesh Arya, Associate Professor of the Advertisement and Public Relations Department, said he had staged a dharna against the issue. He was also assured by the Vice-Chancellor that he would look into his demands. But, the incumbent head was reappointed again.

Sanjeev Kumar, secretary of the GJU Teachers' Association, said the varsity used the new rules selectively in the Environment Department and reappointed the incumbents.

RS Jaglan, GJU Registrar, stated that the new rules had been implemented after June 18 and the heads were appointed in the Department of Applied Psychology and the Department of Advertisement and Public Relations before June 18. He said if anybody has a grievance, he/she should give a representation to the Vice-Chancellor.

Chandigarh, August 19
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed the anticipatory bail application filed by Haryana IAS officer SC Goyal. He was apprehending arrest on the allegations of 'illegal transfer of village land'.

Posted as Secretary, Haryana State Human Rights Commission, the senior IAS officer was booked on June 9, 2011, on the directions of the high court for passing an illegal order while holding the post of Director, Consolidation of Holdings.

Justice RC Gupta dismissed his pre-arrest bail plea filed after its rejection by the trial court at Nuh in Mewat district on August 8. The Nuh court had held: "If the officer is released on bail, he will not only try to interfere with the investigations, but will also temper with the evidence".

Goyal had allowed exchange of gram panchayat land 'without legal authority'. Referring the matter to the Mewat Deputy Commissioner for necessary action, Justice Ajai Lamba had asserted: "I am constrained to observe the order was not passed by the Director, Consolidation, for legal considerations as they flow from the statute?.The order has been found to be without jurisdiction. The Director,Consolidation, had no authority to allow exchange of gram panchayat land?. The facts and circumstances emanating from the record clearly indicate even commission of criminal offence, including that of fraud. Deputy Commissioner, Mewat, is directed to enable the initiation of criminal proceedings".

The directions came on a petition filed by Maherdin and others for quashing the order dated November 10, 2008, by the Director, Consolidation. The order came on an application filed by Gurgaon resident Medha Gupta against the Sehsola gram panchayat. She had sought the exchange of her land with panchayat land as a drain passing through her area had divided it into several parcels.

The case was accepted after sarpanch Sham Lal and panch R. Mohammad appeared for the gram panchayat and gave the concession in Medha's favour.

Challenging the order, the petitioners claimed there was no panch by the 
name of R. Mohammad in the village.

Justice Lamba asserted: "The fact that Medha Gupta is the niece of the officer, who was then serving as Director, Consolidation, has not been denied".

New Delhi, August 19
The Supreme Court (SC) today raised by 23.33 per cent the compensation for seven bighas acquired by the Haryana Government in 1992 for the construction of a sector road under the Bahadurgarh scheme. A Bench comprising Justices Anil R Dave and Dipak Misra delivered the verdict on appeals filed by a number of landowners affected.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) had determined the compensation at Rs 11.15 lakh per acre and allowed a deduction of one-third of the amount as development charges. In effect, farmers were to be paid only Rs 7.43 lakh per acre.

The apex court ruled that the deduction of one-third of the amount was on the higher side as the land acquired formed part of an area well-developed by HUDA. Restricting the deduction to 10 per cent, it clarified that the claimants “shall be entitled to other statutory benefits like solatium and interest on enhanced compensation”.

The state government issued the notification for acquisition on April 8, 1991, involving both irrigated (nehri) and waste (gair mumkin) land. The Collector announced the award on March 9, 1992, fixing the compensation at Rs 3 lakh for the first category and Rs 1.5 lakh for the second.

The district court refused to hike the compensation in December, 1995, forcing farmers to approach the HC, which delivered its verdict on November 6, 2009, raising compensation for both categories to Rs 11.15 lakh. Dissatisfied, the farmers had approached the SC.

Sirsa, August 19
District and Sessions Judge Kuldeep Jain has sentenced a woman to life imprisonment for killing her husband.

The police received information on June 24, 2011, that a man had been murdered in Kashmir Singh Narula Dhani in Sirsa.

During police investigations, victim Satnam Singh’s younger brother, Surjeet Singh, revealed that three or four persons had entered the house in the morning and axed his brother to death owing to a dispute over property.

He had not named anyone in his complaint.

However, Malkiat Singh and Net Ram, both from Panihari village, informed the police next day that Satnam Singh’s wife had confessed having murdered her husband. That the woman had killed her husband was later established in police investigation as well. 

Faridabad, August 19
A man travelling with his security guard was shot dead in broad daylight in the heart of the city today. Residents of his village Faridpur in the district took his body to the office of the Faridabad Police Commissioner AS Chawla and sat on dharna, demanding the immediate arrest of the killers.

They called of the agitation and allowed the body to be taken for post-mortem examination after Chawla assured them of swift action against the killers. Police constable Nyaz Ahmed, who was victim Narender’s security guard, received minor injuries in the shootout.

The police registered a first information report in which local Congress leader Roop Singh Nagar, his son Rajesh Nagar, Mahaveer Bainsla, Sunil Bainsla, Kailash Bainsla, Vinod Khetana, Vijaypal Tewatia, Phere Singh and Anil were named. The case was registered on Narender’s brother Jitender’s complaint.

While Roop Singh Nagar, Rajesh Nagar, Mahaveer Bainsla, Sunil Bainsla and Anil were accused of being directly involved in the murder, the others were alleged to be conspirators. No arrest was made till the time of filing of this report.

The victim was driving a Scorpio when his vehicle was overtaken by another Scorpio at Sector 15. The assailants opened fired from close range, killing him on the spot, and fled. The Commissioner of Police set up a special investigation team under the supervision of a Deputy Commissioner of Police comprising three inspectors.

The victim’s brother had been shot dead two years back. The Congress leader and Kailash Bainsla, former councillor from Faridabad, were accused in the murder. While the police had removed the former’s name from the list of accused, the latter was charged and was facing trial. He was lodged in jail at present.

The Congress leader had later been summoned in court on account of Narender’s insistence. Narender was a key prosecution witness in his brother’s murder case. His relatives alleged that the accused were pressurising him not to pursue the case.

Rewari, August 19
A young girl (24) of Mohalla Sanghi Ka Bas here, who was working as a teacher in a local private school, was enticed allegedly by a city youth Hemant Saini, a student of Government Polytechnic College, Lisana village, near here,in collusion with his three associates, on August 17.

The city police has registered a case of abduction against Hemant Saini and others on a complaint filed yesterday by the girl’s father, Surender Sharma. Efforts were on to trace the girl and her abductor.