New Delhi, March 25
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today issued notices to the Haryana Government and the PGI, Chandigarh, to submit details of a report that pointed at malnutrition among children and has observed that it raises a serious issue of violation of children rights in the state.

The commission issued the notices after taking suo motu cognisance of a report carried in The Tribune in its March 11 edition.

The report had quoted a study of the PGI that Karnal, Yamunanagar, Panchkula and Ambala districts had alarming number of malnourished children. It was revealed that 37 per cent of the children in these districts were undernourished, 42.8 per cent suffered from stunted growth and 17. 5 per cent from wasting (lack of protein). Moreover, 95 per cent children were found anaemic in Karnal.

The report had also quoted Dr Rakesh Gupta, Mission Director, National Rural Health Mission (Haryana unit), that children with severe acute malnutrition had nine times higher risk of death than well-nourished children. He had said 53 per cent deaths in Haryana under the age of five were due to malnutrition.

The commission has directed the Director, PGI, Chandigarh, and Principal Secretary, Health, Haryana, to submit a detailed study report within six weeks.

Navraj Sandhu, Principal Secretary, Health, Haryana, said the notice would be responded to. She said the Health Department had got the study conducted by the PGI. This intended to assess the general health of children, raise public awareness and formulate requisite intervention by the government. She claimed that the government had taken a number of policy and administrative measures to deal with anaemia among people, especially children.

Ambala, March 24
Ambala is one of the biggest Lok Sabha constituencies in the state with a distinct record of being a neglected one. It remained the centre of political struggle between the Congress and the BJP. It also witnessed the internal strife between Congress MP Kumari Selja and the state leadership of the party.

Out of the 15 elections held till date, the Congress had won nine times, while the BJP secured this seat five times and Suraj Bhan, who became the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar, was the only other MP in the nation, who had twice made it to the Lok Sabha along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, when the BJP had only two members in the House. The constituency was represented by BSP’s Aman Kumar Nagra in 1998, but it has never been kind to the INLD or the independent candidates, who could never win from here.

The Ambala constituency is divided into nine segments, Kalka, Panchkula, Naraingarh, Ambala Cantt, Ambala City, Mullana, Sadhoura, Jagadhri and Yamunanagar. In these segments, the number of voters have swelled from 12,59,674 in 2009 to 18,24,629 in 2014 (as per the final rolls published on January 15, 2014).

Three districts, Ambala, Yamunanagar and Panchkula, account for 7,41,251, 7,44,902 and 3,38,476 voters, respectively. Of the total electorate, 9,83,374 are males and 8,41,255 are females. This also includes 492 service voters in Panchkula, 3,967 in Ambala and 2,981 in Yamunanagar.

Besides a large chunk of the residents, who are unorganised workers, the constituency also has migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, who are mostly concentrated in Jagadhri and Yamunanagar segments, which are clusters of steel and plywood industries, respectively.

Despite the major developmental issues, including incomplete projects, there are certain other local issues that are emerging as important factors that might have an impact on the voting patterns of the electorate.

The issue of flooding due to the untamed seasonal Somb and Pathrala rivers in Yamunanagar district and destruction caused by the Tangri and Markanda in Ambala are bothering residents.

Other issues include grant of a sub-tehsil status to Shahzadpur in Naraingarh, a treasury at Saha sub-tehsil, an SDM office at Ambala Cantt, sewage system at Barara, completion of an ITI at Naraingarh the foundation stone of which is already laid, withdrawal of the toll barrier on the Saha-Shahabad road and the conversion of the Ambala railway station into a world-class station. The residents also want better redressal of sanitation and traffic problems across the constituency.

The Ambala city Assembly segment is dominated by the Punjabi and Jatt Sikh voters and is represented by Venod Sharma, who had recently quit the Congress.

Mullana has a huge number of Dalit voters followed by Rajputs, who call the shots during the elections. Home to former HPCC chief Phool Chand Mullana, this segment is now represented by INLD’s Rajbir Barara in the Assembly.

The Naraingarh segment of the district is dominated by the Gujjars and is represented by Congress MLA Ram Kishan Gujjar. The BSP also holds a strong votebank. This segment has always been at the centre of the farmer-related issues and politics.

Panchkula is dominated by the trading communities and DK Bansal, a former MLA from Ambala City, is the legislator from here. The Gujjars and Rajput communities have a considerable say in Kalka, where INLD’s Pradeep Gujjar and brother-in-law of Ram Kishan Gujjar is the MLA. Earlier, former Deputy CM Chander Mohan used to hold a say in this constituency, but eventually he lost from here.

The Brahmins are in a majority in the Jagadhri and Yamunanagar segments. In Jagadhri, the BSP’s Akram Khan and the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly won the last elections while Dilbagh Singh had secured a victory for the INLD. The Dalits are in a larger number in Sadhoura from where Selja loyalist Raj Pal Bhukri won in 2009.

New Delhi, March 25
Aam Aadmi Party senior leader Yogendra Yadav, who is contesting from the Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency, today accused his opponents from the BJP and the Congress of undervaluing their assets declared in the affidavits with their nominations.

The AAP would complain to the Election Commission of India and urge it to take strict action against them, said Yogendra, while addressing mediapersons at the Hanuman Road party office here.

He alleged that BJP candidate Rao Inderjit Singh had shown the value of his immovable assets as Rs 14.1 crore, which was much below the actual cost of over Rs 300 crore as per circle rates.

He also accused Congress candidate Rao Dharampal of incomplete disclosure to the electoral authorities. “Dharampal has not disclosed his entire property details and has stated that being a deponent or Karta of HUF (Hindu Undivided Family), he pays income tax for all their assets,” said the AAP leader.

Giving details from the affidavit, he claimed, “In Rao Inderjit’s affidavit, the facts about two dealings have not been disclosed. He has given one 41-acre property in Rampur tehsil in Rewari district and another 2.78 acre of prime land in Gurgaon to Unitech and the Krissh developers for construction purpose. The entities, however, are shown as agricultural land.”

He said going by the circle rate, the actual value of 41-acre land stood at Rs 198 crore and the Gurgaon property at Rs 59.93 crore. However, their value have been put much below at Rs 8.27 crore and Rs 1.39 crore, respectively.

In case of Dharampal, Yogendra said he had declared his immovable assets at around Rs 6.5 crore and to add to it, he has mentioned that he is a ‘karta’ of HUF and pays income tax for the same. Anyone would hardly believe this, as he is a big developer in Gurgaon.”

Alleging builder mafia was at work in the region, he questioned, “Have builders become politicians? On the one side, farmers are being looted, and on the other, this nexus is thriving right under the nose of the authorities.”

Hisar, March 25
Women in Haryana are coming out of their shell. Yet politics, where lies power and authority, still remains primarily a “male territory.”

Political parties have again disappointed state’s women as none has given adequate representation to them in ticket distribution for parliamentary elections.

The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Congress as well as Aam Admi Party (AAP) have fielded one woman each. The BJP and Haryana Janhit Congress (BJP-HJC) coalition, BSP as well as the Left (CPM and CPI) haven’t fielded a woman. The abysmal state of ticket allocation is in sharp contrast to the demand of 33% reservation to women in Parliament and state assemblies. This gloomy scenario reflects the patriarchal mentality of the Haryanavi society. For example, older women still prefer to follow their men when it comes to deciding whom to vote. The younger generation is only in a transition phase.

“So far, social groups such as khap panchayats have an overriding authority on women. They come up with bizarre ideas such as lowering the marriageable age of girls, banning them from carrying mobile phones and wearing jeans as a solution to the growing number of rape cases. But has any politicians ever dared to question the rationale of such ideas?” said a girl student of the Haryana Agriculture University. She said issues such as honour killings, sexual and domestic violence and freedom to choose life partners could not be resolved until there is a significant representation of women in politics.

Sunita Duggal, BJP leader who was a contender for ticket from Sirsa seat, said: “Though women have achieved heights in various fields, especially sports and academics, political empowerment is more important”. She said the number of women politicians was almost negligible. “Political parties as well as women are responsible for this scenario,” she said.

Krishna Punia, discus thrower from Hisar who joined the Congress and unsuccessfully contest assembly election from Sadalpur in Rajasthan recently, said Haryana women have proved their capabilities. “They can be equally successful in politics. But, politics is a different field. Women politicians cannot go beyond a point in their activism”.

Jagmati Sangwan, vice president of Janwadi Mahila Samiti, said Haryana’s women achievers have elevated their social status which is a big leap towards emancipation of women from age-old social taboos prevalent in the society. But it’s incomplete without political empowerment. “Political parties must take initiative. Women in responsible positions and active in social fields have a bigger role to play,” she said.

Sirsa, March 25
Sirsa MP Ashok Tanwar is a very busy man these days: his whole of last Saturday was taken by public meetings and special events such as Deepender Singh Hooda and Naveen Jindal filing their papers in Rohtak and Kurukshetra respectively. In between, he has to worry about his own constituency.

Tanwar’s rise to the post of state Congress chief has kept him on his toes affording only little time for himself: Soon after 7.30 am, he rushes with his daily Yoga and exercises for backache – he suffered disc injury in a road accident in 2010. In about an hour, he leaves his Sector 20 residence in Sirsa, where his supporters are waiting for him. He doesn’t forget to keep his breakfast (two dry chapattis, aaloo gajar sabji and a piece of amla) given by his wife Avantika.

“I have opened party’s election offices in all the nine Assembly segments. This way, I am much ahead of my rivals,” he says on way to Ratia, some 68 km from Sirsa.

“If I am away to Delhi or elsewhere for party work, it does not mean that my campaign suffers. Our party leaders at the assembly constituency level continue to remain in touch with local people,” he says.

At Sardulgarh crossing, Congress MLA Jarnail Singh is at hand along with his men to welcome Tanwar. Jarnail won the seat in a by-election in December 2011, wresting it from the INLD after a gap of 29 years. An Akhand Path is in progress to mark the opening of his election office.

“I will win this election with a better margin because opposition parties have not been able to find a candidate against me. The INLD has fielded a semi-literate sitting MLA of another party SAD, while the HJC has given its ticket to a turncoat Sushil Indora who quit our party just a few minutes before he was nominated,” says Tanwar, a PhD in History from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. His stopovers include at Phooln, Ratta Khera, Tamaspura, Jandwala, Chan Kothi, Khumber, Noorki Ahli, Karian, Mussanwali Manakpura and Nakta.

A jeep fitted with public address system moves ahead of Tanwar’s cavalcade for making announcement in the villages before the MP reaches there.

Tanwar’s speeches touch upon Food Security Act, MNREGA, Right to Education, Right to Information Act enacted by the UPA government and the development projects launched in Sirsa by the Hooda government after his election in 2009.

The MP invites local leaders such as MLA Jarnail Singh, Zila Parishad member Kamla Devi’s son Bhawani Singh, PCC member Jaipal Singh Lali and some other local leaders to briefly address the people.

The MP’s entourage reaches Khunnan village, two hours after the schedule, where sarpanch Milkha Singh, a Jat Sikh, has arranged a lunch for all accompanying the MP.

The process of monotonous speeches continues at Hanspur, Bhadolawali, Bahbalpur and Thehri.

It is already dark when Tanwar’s entourage reaches Bhattu Sottar, where people have assembled in the village stadium. The function starts after making arrangement for lighting by switching on the headlights of two vehicles.

“The schedule time for this meeting was 4 pm, but the MP is late by three hours,” says a villager.

Bhawani Singh says the stadium was built by Tanwar’s efforts.

The MP, he says, has provided sports kits and gym facilities to almost all villages of the area from his MPLAD funds.

Tanwar tells villagers that Rs 400 crore have been spent in Ratia assembly segment ever since the Congress won the by-election in 2011. The major projects include a women’s college, an ITI and a few powerhouses to augment electricity supply in the area.

A number of Sikh farmers assemble in the next village Nakhatia. Tanwar does not forget to finish his speech with “Boley So Nihal……” in Sikh dominated villages.

“Will the INLD’s move to field a Sikh, Charanjit Singh, have any bearing on the voting trend in Sikh-dominated villages?

Tarjinder Singh, an agriculturist, says the community is divided between the INLD and the Congress. “Many of us believe that Badals have only exploited us by getting our votes.

“The Sikhs believe we should have our own SGPC in Haryana, though they may not necessarily be following the two rival HSGPCs headed by Jagdish Singh Jhinda and Didar Singh Nalvi.”

It is past 10.30 pm, as Tanwar reaches Dhani Issar, his last village for today.

Sirsa, March 25
Ashok Tanwar, Congress candidate from Sirsa (reserved) parliamentary seat, has been served show-cause notice for violation of the code of conduct.

Anshaj Singh, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer has issued the notice to Tanwar, who is also the state president of the Congress, for a statement made by his wife Avantika Maken Tanwar in a section of press.

The statement, allegedly issued at Surtia village of Sirsa, aimed at undermining the authority of the DC on the delay in issuance of arms licences to them by the authorities.

Avantika allegedly told the villagers that their work was delayed because the former DC had a stubborn approach.

“I got him transferred and the new DC is a 'fearing' person. It will not be difficult to get works done after the poll,” Avantika has been quoted.

The notice issued by the Returning Officer said, “You are aware that the model code of conduct for the General Election is in force and uttering such words, especially against the Returning Officer/Deputy Commissioner, is a clear violation of the code.”

The Returning Officer has quoted Clause 5 of the General Conduct that reads, “That the right of every individual for peaceful and undisturbed home-life shall be respected, however, much the parties or candidates may resent his political opinions or activities.”

Avantika, however, said she had been misquoted in the news report.

Hisar, March 25
BSP president Mayawati today addressed the first election rally of the party in the city.

She assured the people that if her party came to power, the minority communities would get their respective dues.

She named the party candidates of Haryana to prove that her party was now a party of all communities. “Gone are the days when the BSP catered to the needs of only Dalits or backward classes. It is a party of all communities and everyone is equal for us,” she said.

“The anti-Dalit stand of the government can be gauged from the fact that it has been adding upper caste communities in reserved classes without increasing the reservation quota,” said Mayawati.

In her 33-minute speech, she touched upon issues like land acquisitions by the Congress to favour big industrial houses, the failure of the UPA to bring black money back from foreign countries, rising inflation, corruption by UPA leaders, worsening law and order condition in Uttar Pradesh, rising unemployment, terrorism, naxalism, influence of big industrial houses in politics and lack of authenticity of exit poll.

“Both the BJP and the Congress have been trying to impose Prime Minister’s of their respective choices on the country. But I request you not to fall in the trap of these parties, as Modi will only cause riots across the way he did in Gujarat and Rahul will only serve big industrial houses,” alleged Mayawati.

Sonepat, March 25
BJP rebel leader Pradeep Sangwan is all set to join the Congress on Wednesday.

In the latest development, late BJP MP Kishan Singh Sangwan's son Pradeep met Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Rohtak today and will reportedly join the Congress in Hooda's presence at Gohana on Wednesday morning.

However, in an attempt to keep his cards close to his chest till his formal joining the Congress, Pradeep responded in a diplomatic manner to various queries of The Tribune in this regard. He said, "I have good relations with all politicians, including Hooda and former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, and it is a routine thing to meet Hooda."

Pradeep further said, "I already filed nomination papers as an Independent candidate. I have called a meeting of my supporters at Gohana at 7 am tomorrow and any decision regarding future planning will be taken after consultation with them."

On Hooda's proposed visit to Gohana at 8 am, he said, "Better you ask from him or Congressmen."

However, sources close to Pradeep and the Congress confirmed that he would formally join the Congress and would later withdraw his nomination papers in support of the Congress candidate.

Sources further said Pradeep had expressed willingness to contest the coming Assembly elections from Gohana or Baroda Assembly segment in lieu of joining Congress and supporting its candidate Jagbir Malik. While Pradeep's native village Nuran Khera falls under the Baroda Assembly constituency, his late father Kishan Singh Sangwan emerged victorious from Gohana in 1987 Assembly election as Lok Dal candidate.

Interestingly, when asked, Pradeep said, "Of course, I will contest the coming Assembly elections which are just a few months away."

While Pradeep is keeping his cards close to his chest, Congress candidate Jagbir Malik termed the latest development as significant in his favour.

BJP candidate from Sonepat Ramesh Kaushik said, "Everything is happening on expected lines. I have already stated and The Tribune also published my statement today that he was playing in Hooda's hands and was working as a Congress agent even when he was in the BJP. Now the cat is out of the bag."

Kaushik further said, "The Hooda government has provided him two gunmen and was willing that he was given BJP ticket. The entire drama of demonstration outside the BJP headquarters in Delhi and Pradeep's filing the papers as an Independent was enacted by Hooda himself. The BJP will be benefited with his joining the Congress."

Sirsa, March 25
Senior BJP leader Mahavir Parshad has launched an offensive against Sushil Indora, HJC candidate from the Sirsa parliamentary seat.

Parshad, who has contested election from the Sirsa parliamentary seat once and for the Ratia Assembly seat twice, today addressed a series of meetings at the Ratia and Narwana Assembly segments of the Sirsa parliamentary seat opposing Indora’s candidature.

“Our workers have been asking me the reason why they should to go to people to seek votes for Indora. He was in the INLD first, then crossed over to the Congress in the last elections and now, he has quit the party minutes before the HJC gave him the ticket,” alleged Parshad.

“It is surprising that our party, which is claiming to bring Narendra Modi to power by replacing the corrupt Congress, is asking us to seek votes for those who were in the opposite party throughout its rule. If the BJP wants us to support Congress leaders, why does it not ask us to seek votes for Ashok Tanwar, who is far better a person than Indora? At least Tanwar has not been switching parties for his selfish motives,” said an angry Parshad.

He said, “HJC Supremo Kuldeep Bishnoi should also have thought twice before nominating Indora, because he is still fighting the case of five HJC MLAs who had left him to join Bhupinder Singh Hooda in 2009.”

“The Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had fallen by a single vote. If Modi come across such situation, can we expect a person like Indora to stand by him?” Parshad asked.

Yesterday, several members of his own Dhanak community had vowed to oppose him, accusing him to exploiting the community for his own selfish interests.

Jagdish Chopra, convener of the BJP for the Sirsa parliamentary seat, said selecting candidate for Sirsa was Bishnoi’s prerogative and the BJP had no role in it.

Rohtak, March 25
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said that the Congress government had provided all-round development and good governance in the state. The forthcoming Lok Sabha elections would be a validation of the development strides made by Haryana during the Congress term.

Hooda, who was on a whirlwind election campaign in the rural hinterland of the Rohtak Lok Sabha constituency, addressed numerous public meetings during his roadshow today.

The Chief Minister not only sought votes for his ailing son and two-time Rohtak MP Deepender, but also asked the people to ensure that he was voted to power for the third consecutive term in the Assembly elections slated to be held later this year.

Hooda toured Garhi Sampla, Gandhra, Dataud, Atail, Pakasma, Rurkee, Kiloi, Bhalout, Bohar, Khedi Sadh, Sunaria, Garhi Ballam, Kalanaur and Basana villages today.

Addressing the people, Hooda castigated the Opposition parties for indulging in “divisive politics”. He expressed hope that keeping in view the unstinted hard work put in by Congress candidate Deepender Singh Hooda as the Rohtak Lok Sabha MP, the people of the constituency would vote for him in overwhelming number.

Rajya Sabha MP Shadi Lal Batra, MLAs Sri Krishan Hooda, Anand Singh Dangi, Anand Kaushik, Naresh Sharma, Shakuntla Khatak and poll managers accompanied Hooda.

Chandigarh, March 25
Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, who has his roots in Pathankot, had said he expected a tough fight in Punjab, now that the party high command had asked senior leaders to contest the elections.

In an interview to The Tribune, the former Law Minister said, “A clear signal has been sent out that the Congress must fight collectively for political gains. There is a huge anti-incumbency in Punjab against the SAD-BJP government and we hope to take our message to the people.”

Also, he has blamed his “friends” (read detractors) within the Congress for having remained hyperactive against him, resulting in his ouster from the Union Cabinet.

Dubbing his ouster as an “occupational hazard”, he said he still considered himself “privileged” as he had to pay a price in the line of duty.

Breaking his silence on the coal block allocation scam, which ultimately led to his resignation as the Union Law Minister in May last year, Ashwani Kumar, admitted that his “own partymen conspired against him and that he was sacrificed because of his perceived proximity to the Prime Minister”.

Ashwani Kumar had resigned after the Opposition made a political issue of the Supreme Court coming down heavily on the CBI for allowing the Law Ministry to vet the draft of a CBI probe report on the issue. The apex court had questioned the credibility of the investogation by the country’s premier agency.

“On the coal issue, I walked with head high as not a word has been said by the court against me nor did I, at any stage, had to do anything with the allocation of coal blocks. In the current transaction of business rules of the government, the CBI is mandated to consult the Law Ministry on legal issues.” The CBI had since stated on affidavit that consultations (with the Ministry) did not affect the central theme of investigations nor was any individual let off in the inquiry, he said.

The Congress leader said, “As for being sacrificed, let me only say that these are occupational hazards. I had to pay a price in the line of duty and I consider myself privileged for that. As for my proximity to the Prime Minister, I feel honoured if it is so perceived. Till now, I have also received the support of the Congress president at all critical stages. I cannot dispute that my ‘friends’ within the party have always remained hyperactive but I am determined to do what I must,” he said.

Chandigarh, March 25
With the inclusion of 3,73,394 new voters, enrolled from January 15 to March 24, about 1.59 crore

voters in Haryana will exercise their voting right in the Lok Sabha elections to be held on April 10.

Giving this information here today, Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, Shrikant Walgad, said people had shown great enthusiasm in getting their voter cards prepared.

Walgad said there were about one lakh service voters in the state, including mostly defence personnel.

Work on postal ballot for service voters has already started and after withdrawal of the names by candidates on March 26, postal ballots will be printed and sent to service voters to enable them to exercise their right to vote.

Chandigarh, March 25
To boost their poll prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, political parties in Haryana and Punjab are banking on their MLAs as 11 legislators, seven in Punjab and four in Haryana are set to contest the Lok Sabha poll on April 30 and April 10 respectively.

Haryana has an assembly of 90 members where Congress won 40 seats, Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC-BL) six, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) 31, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) 4, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) one each and seven seats went to Independents during the elections in 2009.

In neighbouring Punjab, the state assembly has 117 seats out of which 56 went to SAD in the 2012 assembly polls. SAD's ally BJP had got 12 seats, Congress 46 and three seats went to Independents.

In Haryana, Congress has fielded its Nalwa MLA and former Minister Sampat Singh from Hisar Lok Sabha seat to take on Haryana Janhit Congress chief and MP Kuldeep Bishnoi, besides other candidates in the fray from that parliamentary constituency.

With Congress' sitting MP from Sonepat Jitender Malik having withdrawn from race earlier, Congress fielded his younger brother Jagbir Malik as candidate from the seat.

Jagbir Malik is Congress MLA from Gohana and will be the first-time contestant for Lok Sabha.

Rao Dharam Pal Singh Yadav is the Congress' sitting MLA from Badshahpur. He has entered the fray from Gurgaon to take on turncoat and former Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, who recently quit the Congress and joined the BJP.

To boost its prospects from Sirsa, Haryana's main opposition Indian National Lok Dal has announced the candidature of Charanjit Singh, who recently quit as SAD MLA in the state assembly to join the INLD.

SAD is an ally of former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala-led INLD, in Haryana. In neighbouring Punjab too, the parties are banking on their MLAs on as many as seven seats.

The Congress has fielded its former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh from the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency to take on BJP's Arun Jaitley. Amarinder Singh is presently serving as the MLA from Patiala.

Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Sunil Jakhar, Congress' Abhohar MLA, has been fielded from the Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat while Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Nabha MLA, will enter the fray from Fatehgarh Sahib.

Joginder Singh Panjgrain, the Jaito MLA, is the Congress candidate from Faridkot.

On the other hand, ruling Shiromani Akali Dal has fielded Manpreet Singh Ayali, Dakha MLA, from Ludhiana parliamentary constituency and Adampur MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu from Jalandhar.

An Independent MLA Simarjit Singh Bains, who was supporting the ruling SAD has announced his decision to contest from Ludhiana. — PTI

Faridabad, March 25
As many as 163 samples of potable water lifted by the Health Department from various parts of the city for examination have been found unfit for drinking.

Total 165 samples were collected by the officials last month. Water samples have failed in the past as well, but no one had been held accountable for it so far.

According to sources, the latest findings of the report submitted by the office of the Deputy CMO, had revealed that almost 98.7 per cent of the total samples taken for the test had failed, thereby concluding that water supply in most of the residential and commercial areas was unfit for drinking.
At least three of the total seven samples taken from ice-making factories had also failed.

Deputy CMO, Dr PC Arya said though the sample collection was a routine process, the failure of such a large number of samples was an issue of concern.

He said the main parameter of the test was the level of chlorination in water. He said samples were taken from various spots, including the tube wells (source of supply), public taps and the supply made at the consumers’ end.

Revealing that the number of samples taken could vary every month, he said the failure rate of water samples in the past several months had been almost 80 per cent.

He said the information in this regard had been submitted to the Municipal Corporation and the Public Health Department, which were responsible for supplying water.

Claiming that the lack of proper chlorination or cleanliness could result in an outbreak of water-borne diseases, KL Gera, a social activist based here, charged the civic body and other agencies of failing to take proper action against those responsible even though the percentage of the failure of water samples had been extremely high in the past few years.

He said the city had earned a dubious distinction for poor supply of water and the failure of samples puts a question mark on the functioning of the department itself.

With extremely high level of TDS (salinity) the city was in grip of water supply mafia, who he claimed was overcharging from consumers.

Ambala, March 25
As many as 2,197 students of Maharishi Markandeshwar University (Mullana) were conferred degrees during the annual convocation held at the university auditorium here today.

Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune Group, Raj Chengappa, also gave Ph. D degrees to 19 students of mathematics, physics, education, chemistry, management, computer application, English and electronics.

Exhorting students not to close their minds to new ideas, Chengappa said the quest for excellence should be a national passion so that the country rediscovers its greatness.

He said despite remaining anchored in the best values, students should not get rigid in learning new things in life. He said universities should become the abode of ideas and idealism. “These must combine the quest for learning with the great voyage of discovery. These should allow students the freedom to enquire fearlessly and the willingness to doubt boldly,” he said.

He said Rabindranath Tagore looked upon the colleges as the concentration of intellectual forces in the country and the universities were the centre of the creative national mind. He called upon students to build on the legacy of great freedom fighters such as Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru and Sukhdev and take the country to greater heights. He said: “Even when they were being hanged, they never flinched and welcomed death to liberate all of us. They gave up their lives so that we could live freely and pursue our dreams.”

Encouraging students to work hard with honesty and integrity, Chengappa asked them to thank their parents and always remember their teachers, who guided and mentored them to become worthy of fame and fortune.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi he said: “I do not want my house to be walled from all sides, and my windows to be stubbed; I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possibly. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any of them.”

He also lauded the efforts being put in by the University and said it was performing a noble task for the nation by educating the young. He said the knowledge base of a nation had become critical for its overall prosperity.

Students of engineering, management, medicine, nursing, hotel management and education received degrees with several postgraduate students of various disciplines during the convocation.

Chandigarh, March 25
Former minister Gopal Kanda, accused of abetting former airhostess Geetika Sharma’s suicide, seems to be in trouble, as an absconding key witness, Shivroop Singh, has expressed his willingness to surrender before the police.

Kanda,who is currently out on bail, and his aide Aruna Chaddha were accused of abetting the suicide of the 23-year-old former airhostess.

The victim, who ended her life on the night of August 4-5, 2012, had, in her suicide note, blamed Kanda and Chaddha for harassing her. However, the two had denied the allegations.

Geetika was employed in the now defunct MDLR Airlines, which was owned by Kanda.

Kanda had been charged with rape, abetment to rape and suicide, criminal conspiracy and forgery and under the IT Act for hacking computers and sending offensive or false messages.

However, rape and abetment of rape charges were later quashed against Kanda and Chadhha on the orders of the Delhi High Court.

Geetika had quit the MDLR Airlines and had taken up a job with a Dubai-based airlines.

The Dubai-based airlines received an email purportedly from the Gurgaon police, alleging that a criminal complaint was pending against Geetika. After that Geetika had to quit her new job and return to India.

The Delhi police had detained one Shivroop Singh, alias Chan Shivroop Singh, who worked with Kanda. It is said that Shivroop Singh could throw light on how the fabricated email was sent to the Dubai-based airlines.

Before the police could record the statement of Shivroop Singh before a court, he fled. His parents had expressed fear for his life at that time.

It is learnt that Shivroop Singh had been staying in the US and Canada after he fled from India. He claimed that he would return to India this month to surrender before the police. He reportedly told some acquaintances that he was tired of running away and had, therefore, decided to surrender.

Shivroop Singh is believed to have contacted the media in advance as “an insurance” against any possible harm to his family and himself.

His father Harminder Singh when contacted said his son had no contact with the family ever since he went missing.

He said he had heard about his son’s return from the media only.

Sirsa, March 25
The Dera Sacha Sauda today created the world’s largest vegetable mosaic with 77.7 metric ton vegetables grown through organic farming to enter its name in the Guinness Book of World Records at the two-day ‘Kisan evam Krishi Nai Takneek Mela’ organised by it, which ended here today.

Created on 20,000 sq feet area, the mosaic depicting figure “1” was made by over 500 volunteers in three hours by using seven types of vegetables. Message “Eat organic, live long life” has been written in the mosaic. Vegetables, including cauliflower, chakunder, yellow bell pepper, green peas, garlic, green chilies and tomatoes have been used.

Pushpa Insan, Dera spokesperson, said: “Earlier, the record was with Ranbaxy and APICON, who created the largest vegetable mosaic on 5,165.858 sq feet area on February 13, 2014. A total of 1,000 people created the record using 19,000 quintal vegetables in eight hours.”

Speaking on this occasion, Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh said eating vegetables grown by the use of pesticides was harmful for health. On the contrary, vegetables grown through organic farming were beneficial.

Meanwhile, 78 stalls of quality seeds, plants, agricultural implements and other items concerning agriculture were put up on display during the Kisan Mela.

Ram Rahim Singh gave awards to the farmers, who grew better quality crops on their fields.

A dog race was also organised on the occasion and cash awards were given to the dog owners.

Meanwhile, Vijender Singh, a resident of Chaharwala village had lodged a complaint with the election office that the Kisan Mela organised by the Dera did not had the necessary permission in view of the model code of conduct.

The complaint had been sent to the additional deputy commissioner for inquiry, an official spokesperson said.

Chandigarh, March 25
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the state government to file its reply on the allegations of fabricating data and preparing false reports for giving quota to Jats and four other castes under the Specially Backward Class (SBC) category.

The Division Bench, headed by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, has also issued notice to Maharishi Dayanand University, which had allegedly prepared false data to ensure that Jats and other castes were included in the SBC. The case will now come up on May 19 for further hearing.

The Bench issued notices on an application filed by one Murari Lal Gupta and other applications, alleging the job of carrying out a survey was re-allotted to the MDU after a survey conducted by the Chandigarh-based CRRID found that these castes were not entitled to reservation.

The varsity Vice-Chancellor, in alleged violation of the rules, allotted the survey to a retired professor. The survey was never carried out and data was fabricated in collusion with the university authorities and the state government to project particular castes more backward than the other castes, intentionally and fraudulently.

The developments took place less than two months after the State of Haryana’s decision to include Jats and four other castes in the SBC category for reservation in government jobs came under the judicial scanner. In the petition, Murari Lal Gupta of Bhiwani had alleged that the reservation was in contravention of the constitutional provisions challenging the January 24 decision. The petitioner contended 10 per cent reservation in jobs under the government, its undertakings, local bodies and educational institutions to Jats, Jat Sikhs, Bishnoi, Ror and Tyagi castes. This reservation under the SBC was provided in addition to the already notified 27 per cent reservation for the backward classes. It was, as such, in excess of the 50 per cent reservation ceiling.

He further submitted that on September 23, 2013, the state government issued one more notification providing reservation to the economically backward persons belonging to the general category in government jobs and admissions in government and aided educational institutions. The reservation was also provided in addition to the already notified 27 per cent reservation.

Chandigarh, March 25
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner and Sub-Divisional Magistrate after taking a serious view of their absence from the court.

The matter pertains to the protection of historical monuments and removal of encroachments in and around monuments in Haryana.

The High Court, on a previous date of hearing, had directed the DC as well as the SDM to appear in person in court.

The HC had, in its order dated October 4, 2008, made it clear that the Deputy Commissioners-cum-Collectors were duty bound “to get the ancient/protected monument or the property attached thereto retrieved from the encroachers in accordance with law”. The entire exercise was to be carried out before September 30, 2009. “Any public spirited person shall also be competent to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the erring Collector or the authorities,” the Bench added.

The HC, during the hearing of the petition, had observed that in eight out of nine monuments mentioned in a chart prepared by the Archaeological Survey of India, “there appears to be an apparent infringement of the court’s order dated October 4, 2008”.

Faridabad, March 25
The local police have booked a man for raping and sexually exploiting an 11-year-old girl of Sanjay Colony here.

No arrest has been made in this connection so far.

According to the complaint lodged by the victim’s family, the accused identified as Hari Prasad, who was also residing in the same colony, was sexually exploiting the girl for the past one year. The matter was highlighted after the girl told her mother about it. The mother then contacted the police, a police official said.

They said the accused was not only threatening the victim’s mother with dire consequences, but also hurled abuses at her.

A case under Sections 354, 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 6, 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act had been registered against the accused, who was still at large.

In another incident, the police have booked an unidentified youth for molesting a woman after he barged into her house at a slum cluster in Sector-31 here, while she was sleeping.