|
|
|
|
|
Makkar leads protest against HSGPC
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rain brings relief, but exposes poor drainage in Sirsa, Rewari
Mahila Congress stacks up numbers in ‘show of strength’
HC: Customs don’t back divorce for not having child
Farmers force officials to return without announcing land award
NPCIL’s move to dig up road in Fatehabad opposed
8 students booked on sodomy charge
Expedite release of connections: Discoms to officials
Tanuja case: Cops off to Ludhiana to recover bike
Online process delays college admissions
Commando unit to secure NCR
2 Delhi youths drown in NCR canal
Excise minister seeks state’s share of CST
Mango Mela at Pinjore from July 5
|
|
Makkar leads protest against HSGPC
Kaithal, July 3 The chain of protests started from Kaithal as Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is likely to announce the formation of a separate SGPC here on July 6 to take care of gurdwaras and other Sikh institutions in the state, a demand which has received strong resistance from Punjab. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, Haryana SAD president Sharnjit Singh and many committee members, along with their supporters, reached Neem Sahib Gurdwara. Addressing the gathering, Makkar said, “The Congress has always divided the Sikhs on the issue of religion. The Sikh community will not tolerate this grave injustice. The Haryana Congress government will pay a huge price for it.” While Makkar left after addressing the gathering, other leaders led a march through various parts of the city and also submitted a memorandum to Kaithal Deputy Commissioner NK Solanki for the Union Home Minister to scuttle the move to form a separate gurdwara panel. Protesters raised slogans against Hooda and the state government. They said Team Hooda was backing a separate Sikh gurdwara panel to win the Assembly elections. They said the panel cannot be constituted without the approval of the Union Government and the President, as per the law. “The Hooda government is favouring a separate gurdwara panel only for votes and Sikhs must understand this. The proposal is not about the Sikh community’s welfare. We will not tolerate formation of a separate committee. We have proof of the Hooda government discriminating against Haryana Sikhs in government jobs and other areas.” said Raghujit Singh Virk, SGPC senior vice-president. What Makkar said
|
|
Sikh leaders spar over separate panel
Sirsa/Fatehabad, July 3 Aherwan warned no attempt to denigrate the authority of Akal Takht would be tolerated and demanded an apology from those who had attempted to belittle the Sikh’s highest temporal body. Meanwhile, a meeting of the HSGPC was held at Lakkar Mandi in Sirsa under its general secretary Gurcharan Singh. The Ramgarhia Samaj, led by its president Ranjit Singh Billu, offered its support for the HSGPC. Gurcharan Singh appealed to Sikhs from across the district to reach Kaithal in large numbers on July 6 to become a witness to the historic moment when Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announces a separate SGPC for Haryana. |
|
Rain brings relief, but exposes poor drainage in Sirsa, Rewari
Sirsa, July 3 The rain brought down the temperature considerably and children were seen frolicking on the streets on their bicycles. However, the entire town was converted into a virtual lake within a few minutes and commuters were seen having a tough time wading through the waterlogged roads. Once the rain stopped, it was a tough time for motorists, as a complete jam was witnessed right from the Dabwali road up to the Hisar road. Vehicles were seen moving at a snail’s pace. Residents alleged that though it was evident that the monsoon was approaching, no attempt was made to improve the drainage system in the town. The rain also exposed the poor construction work of government agencies, as the boundary walls of the DC residence and a waterworks on the Barnala road fell due to the rain. “The rain will benefit farmers as it has come at an appropriate time,” said GS Mann, a progressive farmer from Kirpal Patti in Sirsa. It rained heavily for a few minutes in Fatehabad putting life out of gear in the town. Rewari: Heavy rain today lashed the city which disrupted not only normal life but also exposed the poor drainage system here. Traffic disruptions were common while it rained heavily for around two hours. Low-lying areas were inundated at numerous places and streets were turned into rivulets, affecting a large number of commuters. The worst-affected areas were Civil Hospital, bus stand, Dhaaruhera Chungi, workshops, Nayiwala Chowk, Gokal Gate, Railway Road, Azad Chowk, where rainwater entered into shops and submerged goods. Shopkeepers had to drain out muddy water from their shops and shift their goods to safer places. Residents of some low-lying areas were also seen draining out rainwater from their houses with buckets. Power supply to certain parts of the township was also disrupted. Vehicles were also seen stranded in the rainy water at various places in the city. Vehicular traffic on the Circular road was disrupted for hours because of water accumulated on the road. Traffic cops had a tough time in managing traffic. In many areas, a number of vehicles, including two-wheelers and even four-wheelers, broke down adding to chaos on roads. Efforts of the district authorities to drain out rainwater from water-logged areas proved futile as a majority of the sewerage pipes were choked. The civic body said after heavy rain, water was bound to collect and take time to clear out as the carrying capacity of drains had its limits. “After downpour, it is natural for water to take time to clear out. However, the situation is under control as all our officials are out in the field,” said a senior official of Rewari Municipal Council. Vijay Kumar, a social activist, said residents had been facing the problem of waterlogging for a long time but the administration had failed to find a solution. “We have also approached the MC authorities for arranging proper drainage system but to no avail as no officer has so far visited the low-lying area in view of monsoon,” he added. |
|
Mahila Congress stacks up numbers in ‘show of strength’
Chandigarh, July 3 Barring a few women, a number of those who “showed up” to listen to Mahila Congress president Shobha Oza were, in fact, ferried to the venue by local leaders and claimed they had nothing to do with the meeting or politics. Some women from Sector 15 in Panchkula claimed they had been brought to the meeting on the pretext of redressing their grievances about ration cards and the non-availability of free grain as promised under the Food Security Act. There were others who were clueless about being ferried to the place by over-enthusiastic local Congress leaders wanting to mark their presence at the meeting with “respectable numbers”. Only a handful of women, some from Kalka and others from Ambala
Cantt, admitted to being associated with the Congress and interested in politics. A member of a Communist party and a resident of Sector 15 in Panchkula, Geeta
Dutta, sat for nearly three hours at the Congress office. “We came in a group of 15 in two vehicles from Panchkula. The local councillor had told us that our issue with depot holders over ration cards will be resolved. On reaching here, I realised this was a routine Congress meeting with their women’s wing national president coming. I espouse a different political ideology and have no interest. I’m feeling bad that we were misguided only to make up the numbers,” she said. Another participant in the group of 15, Manisha
Dharia, said: “Our complaint pertains to unfulfilled promised of free wheat under the Food Security Act. We came with the hope that we will be given a hearing. Nobody mentioned a Congress workers’ meeting to us,” she said. A woman from
Kalka, trying to manage a three-year-old while she sat at the venue waiting for
Oza, admitted she had no clue why she had been brought there and who was going to address the gathering. “I was just asked to accompany the group from
Kalka,” she said, smiling in response to questions about who was going to address them and where was she.
Mahila Congress’ Haryana wing president Sumitra Chauhan admitted that it was a Mahilla Congress workers’ meeting. When asked about the presence of “disinterested” participants, she said they would talk to local leaders about the supporters they get for the
meetings. Oza who reached the venue over an hour-and-a-half late, said the women’s wing was “non-functional” for three years. “We are trying to reach out to women and associate them with our party,” she said. |
|
|
HC: Customs don’t back divorce for not having child
Chandigarh, July 3 The ruling by Justice K Kannan came on a petition filed against Haryana. The wife was said to have divorced for assessment of holdings under the Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings Act. Taking up the matter, Justice Kannan observed that the crucial question that arose in the case was validity of divorce by custom of parties belonging to Hisar district. In case of no divorce, the property held by the wife was to be included in the holdings of the husband, since the definition of “family” included property held by spouse. The court was told that it was originally held that the husband did not hold area in surplus. But a revision was undertaken after three-and-a-half years by the state, when the Financial Commissioner remitted the matter to the prescribed authority. In the case, the husband did not have a child from his first wife. The argument before the court was that there was a customary form of divorce and an agreement was executed on June 5, 1969. Pursuant to it, a civil suit was filed in November 1969 for declaration that the wife had become the owner of the property.Justice Kannan observed: “The agreement says the wife had been given 187 kanals and 14 marlas in Gidran village. This agreement does not make any reference to any divorce. On the other hand, it merely records the fact that the consent given by her to her husband to contract a second marriage. It only states that there would be no relation of husband and wife with effect from June 5, 1969. But it does not state that the marriage was dissolved. “I must observe that this document must be merely taken as an instrument that would have given protection against the husband for any complaint of offence of bigamy… I cannot, therefore, take this document to be the basis for a plea that there had been a divorce.” Dismissing the petition after holding the Financial Commissioner’s order valid, Justice Kannan referred to Rattigen’s book on “Customs in Punjab”. Describing it an important text, Justice Kannan observed the book recorded customs existing in the erstwhile state of Punjab. “The book does not record any subsisting custom in Hisar for women to divorce on the ground that she did not have a child. I cannot, therefore, accommodate a plea that there had been a divorce.” |
|
|
Farmers force officials to return without announcing land award
Jhajjar, July 3 The government has been acquiring around 1,500 acres to develop HUDA Sectors 7, 8, 9 A and 10 in Jhajjar city. Earlier, the farmers gathered in the community centre at Chhara Chungi here this morning and criticised the state government for acquiring their expensive land to develop more HUDA sectors when two sectors for which land was acquired over a decade ago were crying for basic amenities. As the market price of the land is much higher than the government rates, the farmers were bent upon protecting their holdings . The farmers took out a protest march across the city before reaching the rest house where the award was to be announced. The farmers started shouting slogans against the officials as soon as they arrived there to announce the award. The officials waited for over an hour to start the process but they had to go back when the farmers did not relent. The farmers said they would not let the government carry out development at the cost of farmers. They resolved to oppose the Congress in the coming Assembly poll if the land acquisition process was not cancelled. |
|
NPCIL’s move to dig up road in Fatehabad opposed
Fatehabad, July 3 The road, which was the only link for around hundred farmers to reach their lands on tractors or any other vehicle, has now come under the land acquired by the NPCIL for setting up a nuclear power plant. Villagers, who held a demonstration against the NPCIL’s action today, alleged that the authorities had promised them that an alternate road would be set up before this was closed for traffic. However, the NPCIL, they alleged, had unilaterally closed the road by digging a pit at both ends of the road yesterday. A meeting of the farmers was held under Hans Raj Siwach, president of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti. The farmers condemned the NPCIL’s action and threatened that if the road was not repaired and opened for the farmers within two days, they would be left with no option but to launch an agitation. Farmer Satbir Singh, Sumit Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Pala Ram, Mohan Lal and Basau Ram alleged that the NPCIL authorities were deliberately harassing them. They alleged that the road was the only link for farmers whose nearly 250 acres of land was situated on the other side of the one acquired by the NPCIL. TR Arora, Project Director of the NPCIL for Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojna (GHAVP) said he was out of station and hence not acquainted with the development. He, however, said the NPCIL was at liberty to close the road. Ram Singh Bishnoi, District Revenue Officer, said an alternative road had been proposed for the villagers. |
|
7 held, 2 tankers seized for illegal sale of oil
Sonepat, July 3 The arrested accused were identified as Bhaur Singh of Barot and Sandeep of Bata village in Kaithal district, Gurmail Singh and Fateh Singh of Bhukhri village in Kurukshetra district, Baljit of Nilothi in Jhajjar district and Ranbir and Vinod of Barona village in Sonepat district. They were produced in the court today which sent them to one-day police custody for further
investigation. Ajit Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said after receiving specific information about siphoning of oil from tankers at different dhabas on Kharkhoda-Bahadurgarh road, he, along with Rajiv
Ahlawat, SDM Kharkhoda, and P K Sharma, DFSC, raided the dhaba. During preliminary investigation, it was found that drivers were using duplicate keys to open locked outlet of the tankers and used to siphon of a good quantity of oil, the DSP said. The accused said they were taking the loaded tankers from the Hindustan Petroleum’s oil terminal at Asauda near Bahadurgah to
Yamunanagar, he added. |
|
|
8 students booked on sodomy charge
Jind, July 3 The victim from the district’s Haat village alleged that around three months ago, eight students of his school, including his classmates, forcibly took him to a secluded place and sodmoised him. Since then, he had been facing repeated physical abuse. They threatened him not to tell anyone about the incident. The police are visiting places, mentioned by the victim, where the alleged crime was committed. “Porn movies are easily available on the Net and accessible to minors. Due to lack of sex education, children fall prey to these porn movies and commit such crimes,” a doctor from Jind said on the condition of anonymity. |
|
Expedite release of connections: Discoms to officials
Ambala, July 3 In a communiqué circulated among utility officials, the power authorities have stated that on receipt of applications, the feasibility of releasing the connection, approval of load sanction and issue of demand notice should be taken expeditiously and within the time limit specified in the Electricity Supply Code, which is seven days for LT connection, 14 days for 11 kV connection and likewise. The power utility stated that any delay beyond the time limit would attract penal action against the delinquent employee. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the utility said the Nigam had arranged sufficient power to meet the requirements of present and prospective consumers. The Discoms had started the facility of online submission of forms for new power connections, he said. In the first phase of the facility, all prospective industrial consumers and those of other categories, seeking connection of 20 KW or above, would be able to submit their application forms and
related documents for new electricity connection online through www.uhbvn.com and www.dhbvn.com, the spokesman said. |
|
Tanuja case: Cops off to Ludhiana to recover bike
Yamunanagar, July 3 Rinku and two other accused, Danny and Rodda (also from Bilaspur), are on a two-day police remand. They would be produced in court tomorrow. Eight others, including Amardeep, Gulaba, Jasvinder, Monu, Sachin alias Kalu, Gaurav, Praveen alias Bunty and Babbal, are lodged in the District Jail at Jagadhri. The police have recovered the mobile phone of main accused Amardeep, said Investigating Officer Randhir Singh. They would check his call details over several months to see whom he had been calling up during the period. Unable to accept rejection, Amardeep had set Tanuja on fire. During interrogation he admitted to taking the extreme step after she rejected his marriage proposal. With nearly 80 per cent burns, Tanuja is battling for life at the PGI in Chandigarh. — OC
|
|
Online process delays college admissions
Karnal, July 3 Even after two days of the start of the admission process, there are no cut off lists in most of the government colleges, said sources in the education department. They added that even if lists were available in some colleges, they had many discrepancies. When The Tribune team visited the government colleges, it found there were no cut off lists. Students alleged that they were visiting colleges for two days, but nobody gave them a satisfactory answer. Shakshi, a student who had applied online in both the government colleges of the city, said the online system was adopted by the department to save time but had failed to achieve the goal. She added, “Two days have passed, but the students are waiting for the cut off list. There is a problem in generating the list, which should be cleared.” Sources in the department claimed that proper merit calculation was not being done in the system. “When we adopt a new system, there are some merits and demerits. The list has been finalised by us and will be put up tomorrow,” said Sumitra Chawla, principal, Government College, Sector 14. |
|
Commando unit to secure NCR
Chandigarh, July 3 A sum of
Rs 650 crore would be provided during the next two years for modernisation of the police department and police housing. A sum of
Rs 100 crore would be spent for the construction of 50 police stations. The DGP presented
10-year 2014-25 prospective plan to improve police functioning. The committee approved the Rs 50-crore state action plan which would be sent to the Centre
for approval. Under the action plan, Rs 30 crore would be spent on constructing eight new police
stations and two women police stations. The committee also approved in principle
the construction of 50 new police stations at a cost of Rs 100 crore. |
|
2 Delhi youths drown in NCR canal
Jhajjar, July 3 When all five entered the canal, Aman and Sameer were washed away. Since no one knew how to swim, the others started crying for help to save the two from drowning. Even though villagers rushed to the spot, Aman and Sameer could not be saved. Later, the police fished out the bodies and sent them to the civil hospital for a postmortem examination. The 71-km canal originates from Kakroi village in Sonepat district and ends at Chandu Budhera village in Gurgaon district after passing through Sonepat, Rohtak and Jhajjar districts.
— TNS |
|
Excise minister seeks state’s share of CST
Chandigarh, July 3 Attending a meeting of the empowered committee of State Finance Ministers in New Delhi today, the minister said the Union Finance Ministry should prepare a model draft legislation for the central and state governments for facilitating in-depth study and informed debate in the case of GST. She also sought modification in the issue of dual control to file returns by dealers. Choudhry urged the Union Finance Ministry to release the state’s pending CST claim of
Rs 750 crore pertaining to 2010-11. She said for the financial years 2011-12 and 2012-13, Haryana had accepted the recommendations of the empowered committee on CST compensation at the rate of 75 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively.
— TNS |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Kaithal, July 3
Heavy rain today lashed Sirsa and surrounding areas, bringing cheer to farmers. It also put normal life out of gear in the town.
The first rain of this monsoon in Sirsa started at 11 a.m. and continued for quite some time. Though some showers were observed on the outskirts of the town on the Hisar road yesterday evening too, but the main town observed its first of the season today.
A team of district officials had to return without announcing the award for land acquired to develop HUDA sectors in the city following stiff resistance by the farmers who organised a demonstration and raised slogans against the Haryana Government.
Though policemen were deputed at the venue, the officials had to postpone the award declaration in view of the aggressive mood of the farmers.
