Chandigarh, July 21
As the SAD readies to declare a “war” against the creation of a separate gurdwara management body in Haryana, the party is now willing to give more space to Haryana Sikhs in the SGPC. Though talks between the SGPC and Haryana Sikh leaders have failed, and Akalis have called a meeting of SGPC members tomorrow to chalk out a strategy for the July 27 World Sikh Conference, the party is willing to offer more representation to Haryana in the SGPC.

Even as the Akalis have sent out the message that Punjab has come out of a troubled phase and an attempt to divide the Sikhs could again push the state into a crisis, the party is keeping the backdoor channels open and is offering a post of additional secretary to Haryana Sikh leaders. The senior vice-president of the SGPC is always elected from Haryana. As many as 11 of the 170 SGPC members are elected from Haryana, the Akali Dal is now willing to offer two posts in the executive to Haryana Sikhs as an attempt to appease them, besides opening a sub-office of the SGPC at Kirukshetra.

Of the 11 SGPC members of Haryana, eight are with the SGPC, and of the 20 local gurdwara committees( for all gurdwaras other than historic gurdwaras that fall under the SGPC purview) 19 committees support the SGPC. The Akali Dal claims that the charge that Akali leaders were trying to embezzle the funds of Haryana gurdwaras were baseless.

Akali leaders say that there is transparency in the funds collected from gurdwaras. Only 30 per cent of theofferings are taken in the SGPC central pool, 70 per cent are retained by gurdwaras. Of the 30 per cent coming to the central pool of the SGPC, 10 per cent is used for spreading religious teachings ( Dharam prachar), 15 per cent as trust fund (for meeting committed expenditure) and 5 per cent for providing educational services. The total contribution received from Haryana gurdwaras is Rs 30 crore and Rs 27 crore is ploughed back in Haryana, where SGPC runs three schools, two degree colleges and a medical college ( a Rs 300-crore project). Another school is under construction. There are 110 education institutions in Punjab.

“The Akali Dal opposition to a separate Sikh gurdwara management body is because it seeks to create a chasm in Sikh religion. The so-called Sikh leaders, who are now spearheading the movement to create a separate Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, do not enjoy the mandate of the sangat and have been rejected by the latter in the SGPC elections,” said SAD spokesman Daljit Cheema.

Cheema said the Gurdwara Act was a provincial Act and after the re-organisation of Punjab, amendments to the Gurdwara Act could be made only by the Centre as the reorganisation Act was a central Act. The SGPC is an inter-state corporate and is in the Concurrent List,” he says.

Ludhiana, July 21
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Avtar Singh Makkar has demanded the immediate removal of Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia and Chief Secretary SC Choudhary on the issue of formation of a separate gurdwara management body for Haryana.

He alleged that the Governor acted more like a Congress leader than the constitutional head of the state. “Chief Secretary SC Choudhary has made a mockery of the Centre’s letter to the state,” Makkar said.

The SGPC chief accused the Congress of dividing the Sikh community for political gains. “By forming the HSGPC, the Congress is trying to weaken the community.”

Emphasising that the SGPC’s authority should not be diluted, he said: “It (the SGPC) is a parliament of the Sikhs from across the world. In case of any problem, members of the Sikh community settled in India or abroad approaches the SGPC,” Makkar said.

He urged the Sikhs to stay united. “The Sikhs will not surrender the gurdwaras in Haryana and, for this, they will court arrest, if need be.”

Makkar said a meeting of Akali leaders and SGPC members of the SAD would be held tomorrow in Chandigarh. On July 27, a Panthic convention will be convened in Amritsar during which the further course of action will be chalked out and announced. 

Chandigarh, July 21
Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha said that he was hopeful of a dialogue between the Akali Dal (Punjab) and the Akali Dal (Haryana) on the standoff between the two over the handing over of SGPC -managed gurdwaras of Haryana.

Answering a question on the possibility of a conflict over the control of gurdwaras at a press conference here today, he said the state government had made its stand clear in its reply to the Central Government.

“The Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Management Act, 2014, is in keeping with the spirit of the Constitution and would not be revoked at any cost,” he asserted, adding that Punjab was trying to mislead the Centre and the people by issuing baseless advertisements. “To ensure implementation of the Act, the Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Judicial Commission and the Gurudwara Election Commission would be constituted. The expenditure on these would be borne by the state government this being a money Bill. According to Article 199 of the Constitution, a money bill is brought by the state government to procure funds to be spent from the Treasury whereas appropriation of fund is made out of the Consolidated Fund of the state,” he said, clarifying that the golak money belonged to the gurdwaras and would be spent on their upkeep and management. “The state government has nothing to do with it,” he said.

Asked about the letter written by the Union Home Secretary, Chattha said the Bill for setting up the HSGMC had been enacted under the Gurudwara Management Act, 1925. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had demanded a separate state and Haryana was formed under the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966.

“According to Section 72 of the Act, the successive state is empowered to form a separate gurdwara management committee. Thereafter, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, and Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, were set up and 14 amendments were made to the Act of 1925 but the consent of the Central Government was never sought,” he maintained.

Chattha said Harbans Singh Dachar had started the movement for a separate Sikh gurdwara management committee 15 years ago. “He took the movement to such a level that the Congress had to include the demand in its election manifesto. Keeping in view the sentiments of the Haryana Sikhs at the congregation in Kaithal, the decision to form a separate gurudwara committee was announced and a Bill passed. “This is probably the only case where the Centre has written a letter, asking the Governor to withdraw his assent,” he said.

Chandigarh, July 21
Sikh intellectuals have expressed concern over the vitiating atmosphere in the region over the division of opinion in the community on the issue of a separate management body for gurdwaras in Haryana.

The Haryana Vidhan Sabha passed the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Bill in the last session, to which the Governor gave his assent, turning it into a law.

Bhai Ashok Singh Bagrian, a Sikh intellectual and former member of a committee to guide the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on the proposed All India Sikh Gurdwara Act, says: "The unfortunate situation that has arisen between the agitating Sikhs of Punjab and Haryana is based on their vested interests. All they want is the control of gurdwaras (golak). This situation is a cause for concern for the Panth. One group is seeking protection from his patron, the Congress, and other group from the BJP."

He further said: "Unfortunately, the Election Commission of India (ECI), to a great extent, is responsible for this volatile situation as it allowed the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to have two constitutional frameworks, allowing it to alternately wear a religious or political mantle based on situations."

Bagrian cited another example. "The ECI allocated AAP's symbol (jharoo or broom) to an Independent candidate in the Bathinda parliamentary constituency in the recent Lok Sabha elections. This has led to a division among Sikhs who are fighting for political one-upmanship."

Another Sikh theologian, Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, has questioned the rationale behind "so much cacophony on a separate body for gurdwaras in Haryana?"

Ahluwalia, who was the president of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation and prominent member of the Natha Singh Dalam Committee constituted by the SGPC to study the All India Sikh Gurdwara Act, said: "In the midst of cacophony of divergent views on a separate body for Sikh gurdwaras in Haryana, it is not understood as to what is the real issue."

"Is it the issue of income and properties of the Sikh shrines in Haryana or is it a question of votebank politics in Haryana? Or is it a question of mismanagement of the Sikh shrines in Haryana by the SGPC?” 

Chandigarh, July 21
Punjab and Haryana High Court senior advocate Manjit Singh Khaira, who was involved in the framing of the All-India Gurdwara Act, today alleged that the SAD-led Punjab Government had taken a U-turn on its previous stand on religious institutes being a state subject.

Talking to the media after addressing a press conference this afternoon, Khaira said the Punjab Government had taken the stand before the Constitution Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court that religious institutions were a state subject.

The government stand was that the Gurdwara Act was covered by Entry 32 of the State list. But now, the government had turned around to say that it was covered by Entry 44 of the Union List.

Khaira said the stand was taken by the state government before the High Court during the hearing of a civil writ petition “Kashmir Singh versus the Union of India” on the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission. The State government, headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, was represented by then Advocate-General Hardev Singh Mattewal; and the SGPC and the Union of India were parties to the case.

Referring to the case, Khaira said it could not be propagated now that the Haryana Legislative Assembly was not having the Constitutional mandate to pass “the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014.

He added advertisements were now being published in newspapers by the SGPC by spending money from the “Guru’s golak” that the gurdwara money would go to Haryana State Treasury and the property of gurdwaras in Haryana would vest in the government of Haryana as per the new Act. Moreover, the salaries of the employees would come from the Government Treasury and the employees would lose their jobs. All this, he asserted, was contrary to the provisions of the Act.

Amritsar, July 21
While the SAD’s Panthic conclave in Amritsar to announce a morcha over a separate Haryana gurdwara panel is being seen by many as the party’s return to the Panthic agenda, a section of Sikh intellectuals and leaders say there is nothing Panthic about it and term it as a fight for control of ‘Guru ki golak’ (donations) from Haryana gurdwaras.

SGPC ex-secretary Manjeet Singh Calcutta said the ruling SAD distanced itself from its Panthic agenda long back when it turned into a Punjabi party. “It adopted a new constitution that said it had nothing to do with religion and was a secular party. Now, SAD should explain why it is interfering in the religious affairs of Sikhs,” he said.

He also wondered why SAD didn’t hold a morcha over issues such as Punjabi-speaking areas, Chandigarh, and river waters. He said if the Delhi Sikhs could have a separate committee to manage gurdwaras, there was no harm if the same happened in Haryana. “This is not a Panthic agenda but a political one, as the defeat in the Lok Sabha elections has shocked SAD,” he said.

Noted lawyer and AAP leader HS Phoolka said SAD had failed on all fronts, including religion and governance. “It now wants to incite violence over Haryana gurdwaras and blame the Congress for attacking the shrines. However, it will not succeed,” he said.

According to him, Haryana’s Sikh leaders should desist from seeking police help in taking control of the gurdwaras and should rather knock on the doors of the judiciary. He said there was no Panthic agenda of the SAD and stopping the formation of panel was the party’s personal agenda.

Gurpreet Singh, executive member of Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha, said SAD merely talked about the Panthic agenda. “They should tell the Sikhs which issue they’ve resolved in the last three decades. Whether it was the issue of Sikh identity, Operation Bluestar, 1984 riots or Sikh Reference Library, they’ve failed to deliver,” he said. He said the SAD had not addressed the Sikhs’ issues and whatever they were doing was aimed at meeting political ends.

SGPC ex-secretary Raghubir Singh Rajansansi said, “No doubt it (HSGPC) is a Panthic issue. But it will be seen as the SADs’ Panthic agenda only when the party calls rival groups to the July 27 conclave and reaches a unanimous decision. If it only invites groups close to it, then it will clearly be the Badal agenda.”

On the other hand, Cabinet Minister and SAD secretary Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said it was a historic fact that the SGPC was formed after immense sacrifices and the premier Sikh body has been managing the affairs of gurdwaras well for many decades. “Now, we can’t sit back and allow the Haryana Government to divide the SGPC by passing an unconstitutional law in its Assembly. What Haryana has done is a grave religious provocation,” he said.

The SAD distanced itself from its Panthic agenda long back when it turned into a Punjabi party. It adopted a new constitution that said it had nothing to do with religion and was a secular party. Now, SAD should explain why it is interfering in the religious affairs  of Sikhs — Manjeet Singh Calcutta, SGPC ex-secretary 

The SAD has failed on all fronts, including religion and governance. It now wants to incite violence and blame the Congress for attacking the shrines. However, it will not succeed. Haryana Sikh leaders should desist from seeking police help in taking control of the gurdwaras and rather move court — Advocate HS Phoolka, AAP leader

}No doubt, the Haryana Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is a Panthic issue. But it will be seen as the SAD’s Panthic agenda only when the party calls rival groups to the July 27 conclave and reaches a unanimous decision. If it only invites groups close to it, it will clearly be the Badal agenda — Raghubir Singh Rajansansi, SGPC ex-secretary 

Narnaul, July 21
The fate of over 100 students of the Government College for Women at Narnaul hangs in balance following “negligence” in compiling of exam records by Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak.

MDU records show over 100 students of B.Com and BA (math and psychology) as “absent” and consequently “fail” in one subject, despite them appearing in the undergraduate course exam. Consequently, these students are ineligible for admission to postgraduate courses.

The college has brought the matter to the notice of MDU authorities, but no action has been taken. Government Women College principal Dalip Singh Yadav said over 100 students found themselves marked “absent” in one of their papers when the annual result was declared by Maharshi Dayanand University last week.

“The students immediately approached me and complained about MDU’s negligence in preparing their results. The following day, I intimated the MDU’s Result Branch of the error and sent them the college record that establishes the students took the exam,” Yadav said.

The first cut-off list for PG courses was declared in Narnaul today and students have missed the first chance due to delay by Maharshi Dayanand University in resolving the issue.

“These students cannot apply for admission to a PG course until they are declared pass in the examination. Hence, they missed the first opportunity to get admission in a PG course as the first cut-off list was declared today,” said the principal.

Students Jyoti, Deepika, Alka and Poonam said, “We are paying the price for Maharshi Dayanand University’s negligence. It seems non-serious about rectifying the error even now. The university should give us a special chance to take admission in a PG course after resolving the issue at the earliest.”

Maharshi Dayanand University Controller of Examination BS Sandhu could not be contacted despite several attempts. 

Chandigarh, July 21
Maharishi Dayanand University has been rapped by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for its callous approach towards instituting litigation. The admonition by a Division Bench came on a petition filed by the varsity against the Association of Educational Colleges (self-financing) of Haryana and others.

As the appeal came up for hearing, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Ajay Tewari observed there was a 627- day delay in filing the appeal. “The only explanation given is that after the impugned July 13, 2012, order was passed, the matter was sent for advice to the office of senior counsel on January 16, 2013, for filing letters patent appeal. Thereafter, senior counsel is stated to have taken over as Director, National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, in April, 2013. The application is completely silent as to what steps were taken during this three-month period.”

Dismissing the appeal, the Bench said such inordinate delay could not be condoned. A registered body of private, unaided self-financing educational institutions offering a two-year diploma in education, the association had earlier told the HC it was aggrieved by the varsity’s action of demanding application and affiliation fee from establishments running the course.

Allowing the writ petition vide the impugned order, Justice Ranjit Singh had directed the respondent-universities to refund the affiliation fee deposited by member-institutions.

“Universities are allowed to retain Rs 25,000 application fee. It is made clear that where the member institutions were asked to pay Rs 50,000 application fee, the university would retain only Rs 25,000,” Justice Singh said.

Karnal, July 21
SGPC member Bhupinder Singh Assandh, who openly supported a separate gurdwara panel for the state some days ago, said the Sikhs of Haryana will soon hold a ‘nagar kirtan’ in Punjab to garner support from members of the community in the neighbouring state.

“Task forces of the SGPC and SAD are deployed at the state’s historical gurdwaras at the behest of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar. They are spreading terror among the sangat visiting the gurdwaras,” he said.

“Members of the task forces don’t have the sense to talk with the sangat. The sangat is allowed to visit gurdwaras only after questioning and verification by task forces, which is an insult to the gurghar,” he said.

He demanded that the state government act against the deployment of task force at gurdwaras. “The government should utilise its powers and oust the task forces as these can be dangerous for law and order. We will not give away control of Sikh shrines. If there is use of force, we will resist it peacefully,” Assandh said.

Fatehabad, July 21
The “Shanti March” (peace march) by supporters of the Haryana Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC) (ad hoc) reached here today.

Hundreds of Sikhs are protesting against the “forcible possession of gurdwaras in Haryana” by leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Prominent among those present in the march included Baljit Singh Daduwal, Sant Samaj leader; Baba Gurmeet Singh Tilokewala, SGPC member from Sirsa; Sukhwinder Singh Khalsa, state unit president of the Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Sabha; and Swaran Singh, spokesperson of the HSGPC (ad hoc).

Sikh leaders submitted a memorandum, addressed to CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, to Deputy Commissioner DK Bahera, demanding eviction of SAD leaders from shrines.

Addressing the media at Guru Nanak Pura Gurdwara before the demonstration, Sant Daduwal alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was playing the political card in the name of the Sikh religion. “Parliamentarians and legislators of the SAD have been illegally occupying the Sikh shrines in the name of task force at the Badal’s instance.”

The Sant Samaj leader called upon the Haryana Government to act tough and hand over the possession of gurdwaras to the HSGPC (ad hoc). “The new committee will utilise gurdwara funds for opening schools and colleges in the state.”

On Badal’s comment that a separate gurdwara committee would divide the Sikh community, Sant Daduwal asked: “Did this question not come in his and other Akali leaders’ mind when they divided Punjab to create Haryana and Himachal Pradesh?” “Sikhs throughout the world revere Akal Takht. The creation of the HSGPC will not divide Sikhs in this respect,” he added.

Jind, July 21
Amid allegations of diversion of funds from Haryana gurdwaras to Punjab by the SGPC, the accounts sections of two shrines in Jind district and one at Cheeka in Kaithal have countered the HSGPC leaders’ charges.

They said the SGPC helped them financially, as and when needed, and allegations of diversion of funds were beyond comprehension. A look at the accounts of Cheeka Gurdwara Patshahi 6th and 9th, Gurdwara Sahib 9th Patshahi, Jind, and Dhamtan Sahib, shows the three have an annual budget of Rs 1 crore, Rs 4.50 crore and Rs 5 crore, respectively.

As per the managements, the main source of income of these gurdwaras is agricultural land. The Jind gurdwara owns 770 acres and Dhamtan Sahib 700 acres. The Cheeka gurdwara owns 150 acres, but is in litigation for 22 acres. Presently, it is in possession of 128 acres.

While Dhamtan Sahib gets monthly ‘golak’ collection of Rs 4-5 lakh, Jind and Cheeka gurdwaras have income of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 25,000.

“The SGPC helps us when required. It sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the construction of a polytechnic college on Rohtak road, while we contributed Rs 2 crore to it. The allegations are baseless,” said Kulwinder Singh, accountant of the Jind gurdwara.

While the Jind gurdwara has 27 regular employees and 65 temporary labourers for agricultural jobs, Dhamtan Sahib has 55 regular employees and 60 temporary labourers. The Cheeka gurdwara has 15 regular employees and gives land on contract.

The managements said their expenses and income were almost equal. The annual langar expense of both the Jind gurdwaras is between Rs 40 and Rs 50 lakh while the Cheeka gurdwara spends around Rs 30,000 a month for the same.

“We can meet our expenses due to agricultural income. But if we want development, we need SGPC’s financial support,” said Devinder Singh, manager of Cheeka gurdwara. 

Chandigarh, July 21
The BJP has decided to contest the forthcoming Assembly elections by naming its chief ministerial candidate, who is likely be a non-Jat. An indication to this effect was given by BJP national president Amit Shah in a meeting with state BJP leaders in Delhi earlier this week.

Sources in the BJP said the party high command had come to the conclusion that the party would do better if it declares its chief ministerial candidate before the elections.

Keeping the fate of the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC)-BJP alliance a closely guarded secret, the central leadership told state leaders to concentrate on the elections at the booth-level, while Amit Shah and senior leaders such as Sushma Sawraj, Vijay Goel, Krishan Pal Gurjar, Jagdish Mukhi (BJP’s Haryana in charge) will deal with the issues of alliance and ticket distribution.

The party high command has even kept the state leadership in the dark on the issue of inducting former Finance Minister Birender Singh and his followers into the BJP. Haryana BJP chief Ram Bilas Sharma has said, “We will welcome him if he joins the BJP.” But beyond this, the state BJP leaders have not been told what the high command proposes to do if Birender Singh shows any interest in joining the BJP.

Though Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s cousin, Birender has refused to contest the election under his leadership.

Some changes in the BJP’s organisational setup are expected in the next few days as a non-Jat would be named as the chief ministerial candidate. Probable candidates include Ram Bilas Sharma, Manohar Lal Khattar and Anil Vij. Consequently, the BJP may have a Jat as the party president.

Amit Shah has been entrusted with making a strategy for Haryana along with Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Jammu & Kashmir that are scheduled to go to the poll later this year. The party has already formed a team to do the ground work for identifying possible candidates.

No party ticket will be given to either any sitting MP or any relative of a MP or an MLA. Besides this, no new face will be inducted into the party as a candidate where the BJP already has a candidate. 

Jind, July 21
The state government’s decision to name the under construction university of Jind after late Chaudhary Ranbir Singh Hooda, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s father, has triggered a fresh controversy.

The state government is already facing allegations of regional discrimination due to delay in the start of development works in Jind district.

“Hooda must understand that it’s not his personal university. It is being constructed with government resources. He does not have any right to name it after his father. The government must name it after a martyr,” said Harichand Middha, INLD MLA from Jind.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda will inaugurate the university on July 25. Till now, the Kurukshetra University Vice Chancellor has been supervising the ongoing construction and other activities here. A committee of experts has prepared a detailed plan to convert regional centre of Kurukshetra University into a new university and construction has been going. Thirtyeight classrooms have been constructed for the eight courses to be started here from this session.

“I raised this issue in the Assembly also. Instead of naming it Ranbir Singh Hooda University, the government must consider the names of martyrs such as Bhagat Singh and Subhash Chandra Bose or farmer leader such as Sh Chhotu Ram,” Parminder Singh Dhull, INLD MLA from Julana.

The INLD legal cell also conducted a meeting here last evening to discuss the ways to convince the government to change the proposed name of the university. “Jind residents are also against the proposed name of the university. The government should not create any controversy and instead name it after a martyr to prove it’s seriousness to promote education,” said district president of INLD legal cell Kitab Singh Dhanda.

HPCC spokesperson Karmbir Saini said the INLD leaders must cooperate with the government rather than triggering unnecessary controversies. “Late Chaudhary Ranbir S Hooda was a prominent freedom fighter. If Jind gets a university after him, it’s a matter of pride not only for Jind, but for the entire state,” said Saini. 

Panipat, July 21
Rohtak Inspector General (IG) Anil Rao issued instructions to temporarily shift Panipat Tehsil Camp chowki in charge MS Munesh and other police personnel to Police Lines; they had conducted a raid at Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) leader Surendra Rewri’s house on Saturday night.

The IG issued these instructions after meeting the BJP state industry co-convener Surendra Rewri on Monday. Rao also issued instructions to get the entire matter concerned with Rewri to be inquired by police officials posted outside Panipat district by handing over the inquiry to DSP Bahadurgarh Sumit Kumar after withdrawing it from Panipat DSP Tanya Surjewala.

Talking to The Tribune, Rao said “Appropriate action will be taken on the basis of inquiry report.”

On the contrary, BJP councillor Rohita Rewri’s husband Surendra Rewri and their supporters were not satisfied with mere shifting of the police personnel to Police Lines.

They demanded registration of an FIR against them after their suspension as they had not only raided their house after midnight on Monday, but also misbehaved with family members and thrashed their chowkidar Dinesh.

Rewri and their supporters reiterated their allegation, “The police raided the house to arrest Surendra Rewri, who had already been granted anticipatory bail by Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 17 itself.”

The claimed the police wanted to teach Surendra a lesson as he had publically announced that DSP Tanya Surjewala allegedly demanded Rs 15 lakh from him as bribe when she had called him and Vijay Singla at her office on July 2 at 12.30pm for exonerating him in a case lodged against him on the complaint of former 
district BJP vice-president Savita Taneja, regarding clash at BJP election office on Gohana road on April 1.

Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh also talked to Director General of Police Shriniwas Vashisht to bring the entire matter to his notice.

Chandigarh, July 21
The Haryana School Education Department has issued instructions regarding initiation of Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs) of teaching categories.

While stating this here today, Director, Secondary Education, Vivek Atray said independent primary schools where the post of elementary school head teacher was not sanctioned or the same was vacant, the senior most teacher (in-charge) would write the APARs of primary teachers or JBT teachers of the school. However, the senior most teacher (in-charge) would submit his own APAR for reporting to the neighborhood elementary school head teacher. In case where the elementary school head teacher is posted, he would write the APAR of primary teachers or JBT teachers and would submit his APAR for reporting to the neighborhood elementary school headmaster.

He said similarly in case of independent elementary school or high school if the post of elementary school head teacher or headmaster was vacant, then the Drawing and Disbursing Officer or senior most teacher of the school would write the APARs of post graduate teacher (PGT) or trained graduate teacher (TGT) or C and V teachers of the school and would submit his APAR for reporting to the headmaster or principal of neighborhood school. In case the elementary school or high school is situated in the campus of high school or senior secondary school or in the same village, the APARs of TGT or C and V teachers of the school shall be written by the headmaster high school.

Atray said the APARs of PTIs or DPEs would be initiated by their respective heads of institutions that was elementary school headmaster, headmaster high school and principal senior secondary school. Likewise, in case, the post of Block Education Officer or Block Elementary Education Officer (BEEO) is vacant and the additional charge of the post has been given to any officer, then that officer would act as initiating or reviewing or accepting authority, he added.

He said in case the post of primary school head teacher, elementary school headmaster were vacant and the post of BEEO was also vacant, then the APARs of TGT or C and V teachers or primary teachers of these schools would be sent to the District Elementary Education Officer.

Faridabad, July 21
Navin Jindal , chairman, Jindal Steel and Power, who hoisted the National Flag at the stockyard of the company at Sikri village here today, described it is as a symbol of national character.

He said, “The national flag was not only the solemn mark of the nationality but it represent the ideals of India and its future aspirations. The ‘Tiranga’ or the Tricolour he said enshrines the very soul of the Indian republic and the ideals of its Constitution. India, he said had the largest youth population in the world and it is for the younger generation to keep this Tiranga flying high,” he remarked.

It is revealed that the Flag Foundation of India has installed a total of 16 monumental flagpoles in Haryana so far. While Kaithal got the first such flag in 2009 concept of monumental flagpoles was conceived by Jindal in 2009 , it was followed by commissioning of such flagpoles at Hisar, Ladwa, Sonipat, Gannaur, Gurgaon, Kurukshetra and Rohtak, said a spokesperson of the foundation.

The flag weighing about nine kg is made from knitted polyester fabric known as ‘Denier Polyester’ and manufactured in Mumbai. The ‘Chakra’ of the flag has been printed by using specialised printing process.

The ‘Monumental Flag’ is not lowered at the sunset as it was adequately illuminated during nighttime. This comes after a policy decision by the Ministry of Home Affairs in December 2009, which allowed the National Flag to fly day and night. 

Bhiwani, July 21
In what points to a widening rift between the BJP and the HJC ahead of the Assembly elections in the state, state BJP president Ram Bilas Sharma stated that the party had started poll preparations for all 90 Assembly seats.

Addressing a press conference here today, Sharma said: “Under the directions of BJP president Amit Shah, the state unit has started preparations for all 90 Assembly segments.

Elaborating the party strategy for the Assembly poll, Sharma maintained that the party would reach out to people in each of the 16,129 booths in the 90 assembly segments with its team of union ministers and other senior central and state leaders.

Any decision on the future of the alliance would be taken by the central party leadership. The state unit has apprised the leadership about its wishes and the situation on the ground.

Attacking the state government, Sharma accused the Congress of toeing the British policy of ‘divide and rule’ for forming a separate SGPC for Haryana Sikhs. “We give full regard to the sentiments of the Sikh brethren. But the Congress has been playing with the sentiments of the community”, he alleged. 

Ambala, July 21
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) activists continue to hold the fold at Manji Sahib and Panjokhra Sahib, the historical gurdwaras here.

The number of devotees at the two gurdwaras was normal today with the fear of clashes between SGPC and HSGPC (ad hoc) subsiding. The police and state intelligence agencies, however, maintained round-the-clock vigil at the gurdwaras.

The SAD activists are firm on not leaving the gurdwaras, while the HSPGC (ad hoc) leaders and supporters are mounting pressure on the state government to get the shrines vacated.

Sources in the police said the agencies were on alert and efforts were afoot to prevent any showdown in the gurdwaras.

Former Punjab Cabinet minister JS Garcha and his supporters, meanwhile, visited Manji Sahib yesterday. “Sikhs will not let the Haryana Government take over the gurdwaras,” he said.

Sonepat, July 21
A resident of Rathdhana village, Pradeep, has been sentenced to six month imprisonment by Additional Sessions Judge Jagdeep Singh, convicting him of power theft.

The court also ordered him to pay the penalty amount imposed by the Bijli Vitran Nigam. According to information, Pradeep owned an ice factory in the village, and a vigilance team from the Power Supply Department from Rohtak, raided the factory premises in 2012.

The team detected power theft in the factory and imposed a penalty of Rs 6,55,276. Despite repeated notices to make payment of penalty, Sandeep did not respond and finally the NIGAM authorities filed a case of power theft against him with the police.

Commenting on the court’s decision, Superintendent Engineer of the Nigam’s Sonepat circle, VS Mann, said it was a rare occasion when a person accused of power theft had been convicted. The court decision would prove as deterrent in the incidents of power thefts in future, he added. 

Sonepat, July 21
A seven-year-old student was brutally beaten up and a case was registered today at the Kharkhoda police station against the principal and a teacher of Happy Modern School at Jharonth village.

In a complaint to the police, Kuldeep of Gopalpur village stated that he had admitted his Aryan (7), at Happy Modern School for coaching classes to prepare for admissions at Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Rai.

Last Saturday, when Kuldeep brought back Aryan from the school hostel in the village, Aryan was taking a bath, when his grandmother noticed scars on his body. Aryan then informed his parents that he was beaten mercilessly by principal Ramesh Malik and a teacher.

Kuldeep got Aryan medically examined at the government hospital at Kharkhoda and lodged the complaint with the police. The police confirmed that a case under section 323 of Indian Penal Code and section 23 and 34 of the Juvenile Act has been registered against the alleged accused.

Karnal, July 21
After facing dowry harassment, a 26-year-old married woman allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself in Shastri Nagar yesterday.

While the victim’s family members allege she was murdered by her in-laws; sources in the police said after the woman committed suicide, her husband too swallowed a poisonous substance, and is under treatment in a private hospital.

The deceased Seema of Randoli village got married to Pardeep of Shastri Nagar in 2009. Demanding arrest of the accused, family members of the deceased woman held a protest march in the city and met SP Abhishek Garg. They also threatened not to take the body with them, until the accused were arrested.

Sunita, sister of the deceased, said Seema was tortured by her in-laws for bringing in more dowry; she added that her family had given sufficient dowry at the time of the marriage.

Seema’s in-laws demanded more dowry after the deceased’s father retired from the marketing board as they knew that her father had got a lot of retirement benefits, Sunita added.

Sunita alleged her sister was murdered by her in-laws and she could not commit suicide as she was intelligent and a hard worker.

When the family members came to know that no arrests had been made in the morning, they held a protest march and reached the Mini-Secretariat, where the SP pacified them. After the assurance of the SP they took the body away.

“A case has been registered against the victim’s husband, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, under section 304B and 120B of the Indian Penal Code.

The police arrested the mother-in-law and father-in-law; while efforts were on to nab the remaining accused. The deceased’s husband is under treatment, said Narinder Kumar, Station House Officer of the Sadar police station here.