Karnal, January 11
Buoyed by the enthusiastic response of the people, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today exuded confidence that it would emerge as a political alternative in the state.

Yogendra Yadav, national executive member of the AAP, said it would go it alone in the elections due in a few months from now.

Talking to mediapersons after addressing a district-level party convention, he said the party would contest all 10 Lok Sabha and 90 Assembly seats and not form any alliance.

Yadav said corruption would be the main issue in the elections. "The AAP targets to end family and caste-based politics in the state. The AAP has proved that elections can be fought without black money," he said.

He was, however, evasive on land deals involving Robert Vadra, khap panchayats and reservation.

The AAP today received a short in the arm when retired IPS officer VN Rai joined the party.

Aashawant Gupta, state convener, said the party had started a special membership drive and any person who was 18 years old could become a member without paying money.

Gorakhpur (Fatehabad), January 11
Heavy security has been put in place for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s proposed visit here on Monday to lay the foundation stone of the 2,800-MW nuclear power project amid threats of protest by animal rights activists, organisations opposed to nuclear energy, the CPM and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).

Ten officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP), 2 ASPs, 34 DSPs, 61 inspectors, 263 assistant sub-inspectors, 309 head constables, 1,859 constables and 108 woman constables will be on duty during the visit.

Twenty horse-riders, 35 personnel manning door-frame metal detectors, 100 personnel from the hazardous substances management division, two quick reaction teams, three bomb disposal teams, three meeting venue screening teams and one sniper dog team were pressed into service, said Deputy Commissioner Saket Kumar. The Special Protection Group (SPG) had taken control of the venue.

Meanwhile, volunteers of the Parmanu Virodhi Morcha, a coalition of various organisations opposed to nuclear energy, sat on a dharna at Ambedkar Chowk in Fatehabad, where the animal rights activists had been observing a protest fast.

MG Devasahayam, a former bureaucrat who had served as the Fatehabad SDM, said nuclear energy was not the answer to India’s electricity problems. He said current nuclear capacity in the country was just 5,780 MW, about 2.5 per cent of the total generation capacity, and produced not more than 1 per cent of electricity needs.

Chandigarh, January 11
Ranbir Sharma, former IPS officer and son-in-law of former Union minister and BJP leader ID Swami, today joined the AAP.

Sharma, who recently took voluntary retirement, joined the AAP in the presence of Naveen Jaihind, national executive member of the AAP. Sharma said he had been active in social work for several years through his NGO Lok Swaraj Manch.

“However, it was not possible to change the system under the present political establishment while in service. So, I had decided to join active politics,” Sharma said.

Panipat, January 11
Criticising the state government for 'bad governance', AAP alleged that corruption in Haryana was 100 times more than it was during the Sheila Dikshit government in Delhi.

Addressing a public meeting here today, Haryana in charge Yogendra Yadav urged the public to vote and support AAP in the parliamentary and Assembly elections to eradicate corruption. Criticising the Congress, the INLD and the Haryana Janhit Congress for corruption, AAP leader said the parties were different sides of the same coin.

He said, "The party wants to come to the power to change to a system in which the common man can contest elections without black money."

Faridabad, January 11
The Aam Aadmi Party received a shot in the arm as former MLA and Congress leader Yogesh Sharma joined the party today.

He became a member of AAP in the presence of Yogendra Yadav. The party was aiming to raise the membership to 50,000 by January 26. Sharma, who represented Ballabgarh from 1987 to 1991, said it was the best opportunity to cleanse the system affected by corruption and double standards.— TNS

Panipat, January 11
The police have registered a case against Subash Chandra, deputy jail superintendent, for allegedly molesting a constable. In her complaint, the victim has alleged that the official had molested her when she was alone in her quarters on December 12 last year. 

Chandra has denied the charges and said the victim had levelled similar allegations against other police officials also, but they were found to be false.

Yamunanagar, January 11
An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the police was injured in an attack here late last night.

In his complaint, ASI Vinod Kumar said he had received a complaint from Rajjo Devi of Joginder Nagar last night. She had alleged that Kala had thrown out all her household items from her rented accommodation.

The ASI said when they reached there, they were attacked with swords by Kala and his accomplices.

The Farakpur police have registered a case against Kala and seven others on charge of attempt to murder and other sections of the IPC.