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In Haryana, vote seekers face job test
Faridabad struggles to get rid of Gurgaon’s poor cousin tag
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Constituency profile Hisar
Cong vows to put up more than symbolic fight in Vadodara
JD-U’s Sabir joins BJP, sparks row over IM link
BJP miffed as MNS says it supports Modi
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In Haryana, vote seekers face job test
Chandigarh, March 28 With shrinking landholdings and fewer government job opportunities, youth in the state are at the crossroads. This is being exploited by the rival parties to target the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government, which had predictably brushed aside these allegations, claiming that the high growth rate led to the increased job opportunities. "Nepotism in government jobs is one of our main issues in the state where the youth are looking forward to a new, clean and transparent alternative, which the AAP is trying to provide," says Rajeev Godara, state chief spokesman for the AAP. Nepotism and favouritism in government jobs is nothing new in the state where successive Chief Ministers have been in the dock for alleged irregularities in recruitments. In January last year, Haryana became the first state in the country where former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala was jailed for the JBT recruitment scam. However, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) had cried foul at the conviction of Chautala and his MLA son Ajay, alleging that it was part of the deep-rooted conspiracy by the Congress to defame the party. The Hooda government and the Congress-led UPA government are rattled by Chautala's popularity and our leaders' conviction is part of a campaign to malign the image of the INLD," alleges INLD state president Ashok Arora. To corner the Hooda government on alleged irregularities in the recruitments, the INLD went public with the list of kin of senior politicians and bureaucrats making it to the Haryana Civil Services recently. Former Gurgaon MP, who later joined the BJP, was among the prominent Congressmen to flag the issue of discrimination in government jobs. However, Hooda rubbished the allegations claiming that there was no discrimination against any region or community. JBT scam
The scam pertains to 1999-2000 when illegal recruitment of 3,206 junior basic teachers (JBTs) was made in the Haryana Education Department during Om Prakash Chautala's regime. It was alleged that forged documents were used for the teachers' recruitment. A special CBI court convicted Chautala, his MLA son Ajay and 53 others in the case. Another JBT scam
The recruitment of more than 9,000 junior basic teachers by the Haryana Government came under the High Court scanner in 2011 after a preliminary inquiry held that candidates impersonated, forged and cheated during the examinations. A probe into the irregularities allegedly committed by the candidates is progressing at a snail's pace. PT teachers' scam
On September 11, 2012, the High Court quashed the recruitment of 1,983 physical training teachers, which was made by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) during the Hooda government regime in 2009. The court observed that "the selection does not pass the test of it being in accordance with the law, rendering the selection illegal." Patwaris' scam
In 2005, the High Court set aside the selection of more than 2,000 patwaris. Of this, 1,248 were recruited by the Bhajan Lal government in 1994 and 1,056 during the Bansi Lal regime. It was alleged that Bhajan Lal had been claiming that there would be a patwari from each house in his Adampur constituency. Constables' scam
The Hooda government had set aside the appointment of 819 constables done during the Chautala government's regime in 2005. The selection process was also questioned by the Election Commission. However, the government finalised the appointments. The HC had ordered a CBI probe into the case. HCS nominations
In 2012, the CBI recommended registration of cases against Chautala and several former officers for recommending ineligible officials to the HCS during his stint as the CM. The matter is pending in the Supreme Court. ‘Yuva Bolega’ campaign
Anirudh Chautala, grandson of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, recently launched a campaign on favouritism in the government called 'Yuva Bolega'. "A lot of recruitments under successive governments in the state have come under the scanner of the judiciary and some politicians are undergoing jail terms," he had said. Anirudh had announced to launch the 'Yuva Bolega' movement to rid the recruitment system of the 'interview raj'. He demanded that all government recruitments from 2000 to 2014 (during the INLD and Congress regimes) should be probed by a special panel of judges and the guilty should be put behind bars. However, he later joined the AAP. Rajeev Godara, AAP spokesman Ashok Arora, INLD State chief Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Chief minister
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Faridabad struggles to get rid of Gurgaon’s poor cousin tag
Faridabad, March 28 A leading revenue generator for the coffers of the state government, this industrial city has become a victim of political ambitions of leaders who sliced it into half after carving out Palwal, a new district, about five years ago. The city, which has provided direct and indirect employment to several thousand residents over the decades, has, however, been relegated with the tag of poor cousin of neighbouring Gurgaon, which has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few decades. "This industry hub is suffering due to unfulfilled promises of political leaders and extremely slow pace of progress," says a local entrepreneur. Though the infrastructure has been revived in the past few years, the speed of work is a cause for concern. With the demand for better roads, drainage system, parks, proper disposal of garbage, removal of slums, strong local transport and more employment opportunities ruling the minds of common people, there are still many hurdles to be removed. The authorities and elected representatives claim that they have developed the area by bringing in Metros, laying of concrete roads, improving power and water supply, developing IMT, constructing several flyovers and promoting housing facilities in new areas. Though lack of basic amenities still trouble the local residents, corruption has perhaps been mainly responsible for the delay in delivery of public services and utilities at government offices. Kailash Sharma, social worker, said the delay in completion of various projects could be the reason for lack of development in the city. He said poor basic amenities were a major cause for concern for the common man. He said issues that required immediate attention were non-supply of potable water and power. The authorities, he said, had failed to ensure a proper system of removal of garbage. Projects completed or underway
Incomplete projects
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It’s most sought-after seat in state
44 candidates in fray; INLD seeks sympathy votes, Cong against ‘Bishnoi raj’ Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service
Sitting MP and HJC supremo Kuldeep Bishnoi is facing a tough challenge from INLD debutant Dushyant Chautala, the fourth generation progeny of Devi Lal in the absence of his father Ajay Chautala and grandfather Om Prakash Chautala. Congress nominee Sampat Singh, sitting MLA from Nalwa Assembly segment, has added colour to the contest by seeking votes against dynastic politics and hard selling the development plank. AAP nominee and bureaucrat-turned-politician Yudhbir Singh Khaliya, CPM candidate Phool Singh Sheokand and BSP’s Mange Ram Varma are other prominent candidates in the fray. Caught in a war of nerves, Kuldeep Bishnoi and Dushyant Chautala have stuck to their caste plank of Jats and non-Jats.
Kuldeep says: "Dushyant is like my nephew. He should follow the path of his great grandfather Chaudhary Devi Lal instead of seeking sympathy votes in the name of Ajay and OP Chautala who are languishing in jail for their corrupt deeds." To this, Dushyant says: "I have great regard for Kuldeep Bishnoi, who is like my uncle. But, it would be better for him to take some lessons from my great grandfather and grandfather who never hesitated from going to jail for peoples' cause." Congress' Sampat Singh, however, asks people to reject both the candidates, who, he says, are in politics to further their own family. "Three members of the Chautala family are already MLAs and the fourth one has also approached you to enter Parliament. In the HJC, there are no leaders beyond Kuldeep, his wife Renuka (Adampur MLA) and his brother Chander Mohan. We have a functional democracy in which the dynastic politics have no place," he had said while addressing a meeting during canvassing. In Chaudhriwas, a village in Nalwa Assembly segment of the district, people are not opening up despite being provoked to reveal their choice. Kamal Singh, a young voter said: "We would not like to express our electoral preference openly, though most of us have almost made up our minds as to whom we will be supporting in these elections." When asked about the issues which are likely to influence voters, he said: "There are several factors such as corruption and inflation at the national level. But caste equations are also equally important in Hisar. Jats versus non-Jats has been a major deciding factor in elections." A young voter of Sisay village, who attends public meetings of Dushyant Chautala, says: "Dushyant is seeking sympathy votes by highlighting the conviction of senior Chautalas in job recruitment scam. Definitely, a section of voters in Jats has been sympathising, but the educated youth is not ready to accept the justification." In the past, voters had backed the candidates of the parties that won the elections and formed the government at the Centre with the exception of socialist leader Mani Ram Bagri who won the seat twice (in 1962 and 1980), against the pro-Congress waves. But, no party or leader could turn Hisar into a forte. However, the verdict in the last two elections, including 2011 bypolls, portrayed a different picture of the constituency, as HJC patriarch Bhajan Lal won the seat in the 2009 elections, while his son Kuldeep managed to retain the seat after his demise in 2011. The background
Lala Achint Ram, freedom fighter and father of former President Krishan Kant, represented the constituency in first LS in 1952. Lawyer Thakur Dass Bhargava took over in 1957. Socialist leader Mani Ram Bagri broke the Congress streak and won from here on Samyukta Socialist Party ticket to reach the third LS. Ram Krishan Gupta, freedom fighter and educationist from Dadri region, wrested the seat for the Congress in fourth General Election. After Mani Ram Godara, a Bishnoi who got elected to the fifth LS in 1971, took over, Jat candidates' dominance started, who, thereafter, won nine elections - from sixth LS to 14th - in a row. Bhajan Lal broke this streak in 2009 as non-Jat polarised behind him.
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21 hours, 40 villages a day — that’s Arvind Sharma in Karnal
Parveen Arora Tribune News Service
Karnal, March 28 Setting a target to cover over 40 villages daily, Sharma's begins his day at 6 am. The Tribune accompanied him in his campaign trail. He moves out of his house after holding an hour-long meeting with prominent constituents from his segment over a cup of tea. It's around 8 am that the MP reaches the party office and discusses the day's plan and at the same time calls up workers, directing them to reach out to the masses. After giving directions, Sharma and his supporters leave for a tour of Indri block in his constituency. His first stop is at Salaru village where he is welcomed by party workers. He tries to convince people with his well-scripted speech. Within 10 minutes, he proceeds to nearby village Darar where he again meets a group of locals. Now, former Indri MLA Bhim Sen Mehta and others prominent leaders of the Congress join his convoy. He does not leave any opportunity to attack the opposition parties in his speeches and simultaneously highlight the achievements of his party. He stops for five to eight minutes in each village, including Ramba, Gangar, Sangohi, Sangoha, Kamalpur Roran, Bibipur Jattan and Samora, appealing to the voters to cast their vote in his favour. His convoy then reaches Kheri Mansingh village where, during his speech, he appeals to the voters to help him win for the third time. "You helped me win twice, now vote for me again so that I can finish the remaining work," he says. Here the canvassing team is halted briefly by a team of election observers, who take note of the number of vehicles accompanying Arvind. When the convoy reaches Jenasro Deepo village, a youth opposes Arvind on his development claims. The MP soon lists his achievements, and promises to "continue with his development spree". He then goes door-to-door, appealing people to vote in his favour. His next destination is Naurta village, were he is welcomed by local workers with garlands. He recalls the development carried out during the UPA government and lauds the government for ensuring overall development of the state. After his speech, he takes two or three 'kaju' from a plate there and reaches next destination Giserpuri village. Here too, his supporters are waiting. After a quick round of greetings, he appeals to his supporters to work hard for the party's success. On the way, he collects a lunch box from a supporter's house. Now he reaches Johar Majra village, has his lunch and soon gets back to work. "I cover around 40 villages in a day. I have offices in different parts of the constituency and want to cover every urban and rural part. I sleep around 3 am and wake up at 6 am," says Arvind while speaking to The Tribune. Arvind says he wants to do many things for the youth. "The Congress has already done a lot for them," he claims. Manoharpur, Indergarh and Matak Majri are the other villages that he covers, before his convoy reaches Indri at 5 in the evening where he repeats his poll promises. His next destination is Dungra village. Here he spends a mere 5 minutes. It's 6 pm when he meets the residents of Gumto village. After appealing to people to vote him to power, his convoy reaches Shekpura village where he spends around 10 minutes. Other 10 minutes each are given to Manak Majra, Kamalpur Gadyan, Budhanpur, Naya Gown and Panjkhera village, where he is welcomed by his supporters enthusiastically. The sitting MP also carries out door-to-door campaigning in Panjokhera, Butan Kehri villages and interacts with the workers of Beer Bhadson, Bhadson, Sarwan Majra, Kehri Jatan, Udana, Rampura, Habatpur, Ratkhana, and Beer Ratkhana. Around 11 pm, he reaches his office where he interacts with party workers and plans the next day's canvassing. After the meeting too, Sharma visits four to six houses in the city. He claims he concludes his daylong tour around 1 am. Arvind claims he has already covered most parts of his constituency since the declaration of his candidature. The seat has 16.85 lakh voters spread over nine Assembly segments. I cover around 40 villages in a day. I have offices in different parts of the constituency and want to cover every urban and rural part. I sleep around 3 am and wake up at 6 am Arvind Sharma, Karnal MP Total voters 16.85 lakh in nine Assembly segments
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Muslims get a smaller share in UP’s power cake
Despite their political significance, the Muslim representation in the Lok Sabha has been low in proportion to their estimated population in the state. According to the 2011 Census, Muslims constitute 18.5 per cent of the state's population of nearly 20 crore. In the 15th Lok Sabha, there were seven Muslims from Uttar Pradesh, which means only 8.75 per cent representation. In 2004, the situation was slightly better as 12 Muslims (13.64 per cent) were elected from the then 88 seats in the state. For the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, only the Bahujan Samaj Party (23.75 per cent) and AAP (24.63 per cent) have announced Muslim candidates. The Congress-RLD alliance at 15.94 percent and the Samajwadi Party at 16.66 per cent have hardly measured up to their pro-Muslim credentials while the BJP could not find even one Muslim candidate in the state. The Scheduled Castes, who have the highest concentration in the state with 21 per cent of the population, have a consistent representation of 21.25 per cent in each Lok Sabha on a par with their population ratio (21.15 percent) due to the mandatory safeguard of 17 reserved seats for the SC community. Even if one argues that the number of candidates in the Lok Sabha does not automatically ensure the empowerment of a community, there is another telling example to illustrate the disempowerment of the Muslims in UP despite their immense electoral significance. Sample this: Out of the 10 constituencies going to the polls in the first phase in Uttar Pradesh — Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnore, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida), Bulandshahr and Aligarh - eight constituencies have more than 20 per cent Muslim population, except for Aligarh and Gautam Buddha Nagar. These eight constituencies constitute districts which are far ahead of other regions of the state in terms of agriculture produce, especially sugar and wheat production, irrigation and industry. Paradoxically, these segments figure in the 90 districts of India, identified by the Union Ministry of Minority Welfare, which have a minority concentration and are below the national average in terms of socio-economic or basic amenities parameters. The Muslim of UP are today considering options before them. The so-called secular Samajwadi Party whose two-year rule in the state saw 365 communal incidents is also a reality for which it has been reprimanded by the Supreme Court. Immediately after the Muzaffarnagar riots in September 2013, 60-year-old Jan Alam, then living at the Eidgah relief camp in Kandla of Shamli, had declared that he would vote for any candidate that would ensure Modi's defeat. "If we have been displaced even before Modi has become the PM, imagine where we will land up once he comes to power," asserted Alam from Lisarh, one of the worst-hit villages which saw 14 deaths. He said only time would tell which party would ensue Modi's defeat. After the withdrawal of candidates in Kairana, Alam has 14 non-BJP candidates to choose from. Uttar Pradesh has been providing more than one secular option to the Muslims. This has started a trend of voting tactically for the best possible candidate who can defeat the BJP candidate. In such a scenario, it is not clear which way the Muslims would vote. The BJP has won only 10 seats in the 2004 and 2009 elections. In 2009, 70 non-BJP candidates were elected due to the Muslim voters. Professor at the GB Pant Social Science Institute in Allahabad Narayan says that people are familiar with the working of the RSS networks. The Muslim network, in comparison, remains a well-guarded secret. The first woman member of the All-India Personal Law Board, Naseem Iqdedar Ali, said: "We should select the best candidate who can ensure the security and development of all citizens, including the Muslims. Mere Muslim representation means little unless it is put to constructive use," she said. National secretary of the Rihai Manch Mohammad Shoeb, who as a human rights lawyer was publicity beaten up by the right wing lawyers in the court for deciding to take up the cases of alleged terror inmates, said: "The major challenge before the voters, both Hindus and Muslims, is the corporate and feudal forces which are keeping people divided by engaging them in non-issues like identity, terror and communal tension. They purposely keep the real issue of quality of living, education and sustainable livelihoods on the back burner."
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AAP’s Bala tries to strike a chord in B’lore Central
Bangalore, March 28 He was sitting in the front seat beside the driver in an open jeep, contended as he directed anything that was being asked to him about canvassing plan to Aditi, his campaign manager. Aditi leads the slogan shouting when Bala and his supporters hit the road for canvassing. When an inebriated young man shouted at the AAP canvassers near the Parvathi wine shop at Domlur in favour of "Narendrabhai Modi", Aditi shouted back: "Vote for AAP, vote for Balakrishnan." "I was a Major when I retired from the Army Service Corps," she told this reporter. In the meantime, Balakrishnan, heeding to the TV reporter's advice, had left the front seat of the jeep and was standing at the rear of the vehicle with others who were already there. The procession started to roll. AAP supporters - men and women - led the way in motorcycles and scooters. Fifteen two-wheelers and two auto-rickshaws fitted with loudspeakers, were taking part in the canvassing in the CV Raman area of the city. Bala, dressed in a short kurta and trousers, is yet to perfect the act of waving. He waves, but it was more like throwing of fists. A science graduate turned accountant, Balakrishnan (49) was the chief financial officer of the Bangalore-headquartered IT services major Infosys for a long time and was a member of the Infosys board when he left the company last year. Having declared movable assets worth Rs 190 crore and several properties in Bangalore and one in Chennai, he could well be the wealthiest candidate in the AAP list. Bala joined the AAP because he wanted to do something more meaningful than amassing wealth for himself and his employers. Bala's supporters, however, feel that his stint with Infosys is something that can impress the voters and they liberally mention his association with the IT company as a "director" as they canvass for him. "It is good but hectic. It has its rewards too," Bala says about campaigning as he hurriedly waves at a pedestrian who gave him an indulgent smile. It was past 11 in the morning. Most of the people on the road were busy and had time for only a cursory glance at the AAP canvassers. Bangalore Central is a new constituency that came into existence during delimitation six years ago. The sitting MP is PC Mohan of the BJP who is seeking re-election. But Mohan is inconsequential. It's Narendra Modi, BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, who seemed have cast a spell on the voters in Bangalore Central. "There is a Modi wave in the constituency," says Selvam, a fruit seller. Manju, a housewife, Sridhar, employee in a government science lab, Manjunath, a realtor, echoed similar feelings. The Congress candidate from the segment is young Rizwan Arshad. The 34-year-old is not a lightweight either. Four out of eight Assembly segments of Bangalore Central are represented by the Congress. These MLAs, three of whom are ministers, including Home Minister KJ George, will also try to ensure that Arshad gets a decent lead from their constituencies. From a fringe contestant, Balakrishnan can graduate into a major player if the sizeable young voters of Bangalore Central back him. Eight lakh out of the 17.91 lakh voters of the constituency are aged under 35.
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Cong vows to put up more than symbolic fight in Vadodara
On "leave" from general secretary-ship to challenge the BJP stalwart, Mistry launched a no holds barred attack on Modi, who accused the Congress of ousting its former Vadodara candidate Narendra Rawat because he was a Dalit. "I will fight from Vadodara and win. I am ready and have been waiting for this day for years. Modi said the Congress denied the ticket to Rawat because he was a Dalit. Today, I ask Modi to declare his caste. It doesn't behove of a PM nominee of a party to play the caste card to garner votes," said Mistry before leaving for Vadodara. Asked what gives him the confidence of wresting the seat from the BJP, which has been winning it for the past 16 years since 1998, Mistry said: "The fight in Vadodra will be between a chai wala (tea maker) and a chali wala (slum dweller). I am throwing an open challenge to Modi. Let him fight me. Also, if he is so confident of winning, why does he not relinquish his Chief Ministerial position?" Carefully choosing his words, Mistry slammed Modi on grounds that he was playing a parochial card of caste which no person aspiring for a PM's post has ever played. Not just Mistry, the Congress as a whole also attacked Modi and dared him to take on Rahul in Amethi, with party spokesperson Sanjay Jha saying: "Since Modi did not come to fight Rahul in Amethi, we went to fight him in Varanasi and Vadodra." Rhetoric apart, the ground reality reveals that the last time the Congress won the Vadodara seat was in 1996 when Gaekwad Satyajitsinh Dilipsinh contested on the party ticket. He had, however, won by less than 10 votes, indicating little presence of the Congress in the area. Importantly, the only time Congress has ever won Vadodara is when it has fielded the Baroda royalty from the seat. The first royal to fight from the segment on a Congress ticket was late Fatesinghrao Gaekwad in 1957. He fought four elections and always won. After him, his younger brother Ranjitsinh Gaekwad contested from the constituency four times as a Congress candidate and won twice, losing once to Prakash Brahmbhatt of the Janata Dal ticket in 1989 and to Dipika Chikhalia (who played Sita in the epic Ramayana TV series) in 1991. The last time a royal of this family won the seat for the Congress was in 1996. So what gives Mistry the confidence of victory? "Like Modi, I am also a commoner. If he has sold tea, I have slept on the roads of Ahmadabad, have lived in slums," says the Congress leader recently given a Rajya Sabha nomination from Gujarat. A factor that could go against Mistry is - he enjoys the cushion of Rajya Sabha membership and has nothing to lose in Vadodara's LS fight. But Mistry is already raring to go, admitting that he is "the happiest man in the world to take on Modi".
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JD-U’s Sabir joins BJP, sparks row over IM link New Delhi, March 28 Naqvi, a muslim face and Vice President of the party, termed Ali's entry into BJP as a "mistake" and demanded its reversal. BJP spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi said the induction was done on the recommendation of Bihar unit of the party and "further action" in the matter will be taken after "verifying all facts and antecedents" of Ali. "Terrorist Bhatkal friend joins BJP...soon accepting Dawood...," Naqvi tweeted, hours after Ali was inducted into the party with much fanfare as it was seen as a boost to the BJP's attempts to attract muslims. "Whatever has happened today, I am pained and have already expressed my anguish in the party. Somewhere there has been a mistake committed by the party and the party needs to correct that by reversing the decision," Naqvi said later. Naqvi said the party has been fighting against terrorism and has been touting as being "different", how can it justify the entry of someone who has links with terrorists. He alleged that Bhatkal was arrested from Ali's Mumbai residence some time ago. — PTI
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BJP miffed as MNS says it supports Modi
Mumbai, March 28 "Ashish Shelar, the Mumbai unit chief of the BJP filed a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer in Mumbai on Thursday," a BJP spokesperson said here today. The Shiv Sena had earlier protested saying that the MNS was misleading the voters by putting up posters of Narendra Modi along with photos of its candidates.
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A series of mishaps indicate the callousness of UPA Govt affecting the defence preparedness. Nobody believes Congress when they say they will end corruption & bring back black money. Did they bring even a single Rupee back in 10 yrs? Roasted in 37 degree heat, steamed by humidity, grilled by media &boiling over at Opposition lies: this election campaign's really cooking! First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
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Expelled JD(U) leader Sabir Ali joins BJP AAP releases 12th LS list Cong office vandalised MNS uses Modi’s pics in campaign; BJP protests
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Nepotism in government jobs is one of our main issues in the state where the youth are looking forward to a new, clean and transparent alternative, which the AAP is trying to
provide.
Conviction of Om Prakash Chautala and his son Ajay was part of the deep-rooted conspiracy of the Congress to defame the INLD. The Hooda government and the Congress-led UPA government are rattled by Chautalas’
popularity
The high growth rate led to the increased job opportunities. There was no discrimination with any region or community during the Congress government regime in
the state.
Hisar, March 28
Lucknow, March 28
New Delhi, March 28
