Chandigarh, August 13
The flagging off of the Vijay Sankalp Yatras by BJP president Amit Shah from Mahendragarh tomorrow will mark the launch of the party’s election campaign for the Haryana Assembly elections.

Aggressive in its stand, the BJP will follow up this rally with one in Jind on August 16, where, Shah is expected to induct some prominent Congress leaders into the BJP. Among those could be former Finance Minister Briender Singh. The final poll bugle will be sounded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will address a rally in Kaithal on August 19.

According to party sources, the venue in Mahendragarh was used by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Modi to launch previous poll campaigns in the state.

There will be four such yatras in the state in the coming week.

The Mahendragarh rally has assumed importance for more reason that one. This venue is the home constituency of state BJP president Ram Bilas Sharma. Not only would the Congress, INLD and HJC will keep a close watch on the response the rally evokes, but BJP insiders, too, will keep a close eye on this rally as Sharma is considered a contender for the Chief Minister.

Shah’s maiden rally of the state in Mahendragarh is happening in spite of soft opposition from several state leaders has not only elevated the position of Sharma within the party, but also gives a strong message to his detractors.

This is the second time that Sharma is the state BJP president. He has been two-time minister and four-time MLA from Mahendragarh.

Sharma is the only senior of the party who has worked under the leadership of former Prime Minister Vajpayee and founder state president Dr Mangal Sain.

Sharma has been a consistent face of the party since the Jan Sangh. A former RSS pracharak, he was politically active before the formation of the BJP. He was the sangathan mantri (organisational secretary) of the Jan Sangh Haryana (1975-1977) and, subsequently, general secretary of the Janata Party Haryana.

Sources said BJP spokesperson Capt Abhimanyu, Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar, senior leader Manohar Lal Khattar, BJP Kisan Morcha president OP Dhankhar and Ambala Cantt MLA Anil Vij were making efforts to ensure Shah visits their respective constituencies.

The yatra starting from Mahendragarh, will cover 23 Assembly segments and areas of Rewari, Gurgaon, Mewat, Faridabad and Palwal in 11 days. Union Ministers Rao Inderjit Singh and Krishan Pal Gurjar will accompany Shah during the yatra.

The yatra will focus on corruption and favoritism in government jobs, land acquisition and regional bias in development.

Meham (Rohtak), August 13
The Meham constituency has traditionally been a game-changer in Haryana politics. This Jat-dominated constituency is famous for its Chaubisi chabutara, a platform representing 24 villages which has decided the political fortunes of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, OP Chautala, besides other prominent personalities of this region.

So much so that it’s backing is considered vital for the success of any candidate contesting from this constituency which made headlines for the mayhem during the Assembly byelection in the 90s.

Poll calculation

At present, the Assembly segment is represented by Anand Singh Dangi of the Congress who is likely to be fielded again in view of his popularity and track record.

Curiously, the BJP, which never had a considerable presence in the segment and got less than 1 per cent votes in the last elections held in 2009, is the most sought-after party for any wannabe MLA this time.

Shamsher Kharkara, who had contested the last election as an Independent and gave a tough fight to Dangi, is all set to enter the battlefield once again. He contested the recent Lok Sabha election as an INLD nominee, but has parted ways with the party and is hopeful of getting BJP ticket. Nonetheless, he is prepared to contest the election as an independent in case he does not get the ticket from the saffron party.

Buoyed up by the brilliant performance of the BJP in the recent LS polls, many old as well as new faces are in the queue for the party ticket this time. These include Ramesh Balhara, Saurabh Farmana, Balraj Kundu and Meena Chaudhry.

Recently, a university professor, Prof Vazir Singh Nehra, who hails from the constituency, has joined the BJP and expects to the get the ticket. A prominent leader of various college and university teachers at state as well as national level, he was Registrar, Chaudhary Devi Lal University at Sirsa, his candidature has made the electoral fight interesting.

Matters that matter

The constituency has witnessed development in terms of establishment of colleges, polytechnic institutes and ITIs, model school, electricity substation, mini-secretariat and judicial complex, railway reservation centre, waterworks, up-gradation of Community Health Centre at Meham to general hospital, four-laning of Rohtak-Hisar highway, sewage-treatment plant and so on.

Unimplemented ambitious projects like development of HUDA sectors in the area despite repeated public announcements, establishment of a cargo airport and unfinished sports centre have also become bones of contention between the residents and the administrators.

People are also irked at the poor upkeep and maintenance of public facilities. 

Sirsa, August 13
Former ministers Chhatrapal Singh and Dr ML Ranga, also ex-vice chancellor of Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (GJUST), are likely to join the BJP in the presence of Amit Shah at Mahendergarh on Thursday. 

Chhatrapal Singh emerged on the state political scene by defeating then Deputy PM Devi Lal from Gherai Assembly seat in Hisar in 1991. Dr Ranga was elected on the INLD ticket from Bawal seat in 2000 and became a minister in the OP Chautala Cabinet. 

New Delhi, August 13
The first list of candidates for the forthcoming Haryana Assembly elections would be out in early September with the Congress today deciding to hold the meeting of its central election committee on September 7.

The meeting of the CEC headed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi was finalised today, days after the party chief and vice-president Rahul Gandhi received a detailed report on potential quitters in the ranks.

As first reported by The Tribune, the party has drawn up a list of around 17 leaders who are likely to quit. Most would go if denied party tickets, which is why the Congress Haryana Pradesh Election Committee decided against fixing rigid criteria for allocation.

Though the discussions earlier were around denying party tickets to people who have lost twice, the same was left unsaid after the PEC under the chairmanship of Congress general secretary in-charge of Haryana Shakeel Ahmed thought it was wiser to leave options open to accommodate “difficult leaders” in the end.

Congress sources today confirmed to The Tribune that in the first list to be announced after the September 7 meeting, there are likely to be leaders who the party believes might leave in case not assured electoral space.

Sources in the AICC said ahead of the CEC on September 7, the party’s screening committee will meet to short list candidates for the first list. This exercise will follow the second meeting of the Haryana Pradesh Election Committee which is scheduled to be held on August 25.

Importantly, this is the first time the party is working hard to have its first list out much ahead of announcement of polls. The term of Haryana assembly expires around October.

The exercise has been warranted by a sudden exodus of a large number of senior leaders from the party beginning from state leaders Rao Inderjit ahead of LS polls, Vinod Sharma, Gopal Kanda, and most recently three-time Faridabad MP Avtar Bhadana.

The tallest leader of Haryana Congress Birender Singh is expected to join the BJP at a rally on August 16. It was the feared exit of Birender and later Avtar Bhadana that triggered party’s response to collate a list of potential defectors ahead of elections so that the party could “engage them well in time to stop their imminent exit”.

The list was submitted by Shakeel Ahmed to both Sonia and Rahul.

Sonepat, August 13
Former Haryana Minister Ved Singh Malik (in pic) today resigned from the Congress. He is expected to join the BJP at Rajya Sabha MP Birender Singh’s Jind rally on August 16.

“The Congress has lost people’s confidence. They look up to the BJP for better governance, rule of law and welfare of every section of society,” Malik told the media in his office at Gannaur.

Malik was elected legislator from Kailana (now Gannaur) Assembly constituency in 1987 on the Lok Dal (B) (now INLD) ticket and served as minister from 1987 to 1991. He, however, quit the INLD in 2008 and joined the Congress.

Jind, August 13
There’s no stopping the exodus from the Congress. The latest being of former minister Kulbir Malik. He sent his resignation to the party today. “I will be joining the BJP at the Jind rally on August 16,” he said.

Malik is a relative of another disgruntled leader of the Congress, Birender Singh, who is expected to join the saffron party on August 16 in the presence of BJP chief Amit Shah.

“Only sycophants and money-minded leaders have been getting their work done from Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, while loyal workers are being isolated. I have sent my resignation to the party,” said Malik, who successfully contested from the Julana Assembly segment twice on the Janata Dal ticket. He was a minister in the Janata Dal-BJP Government and the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly as well.

Malik, who joined the Congress in 1994, claimed that more than two dozen senior Congress leaders were in line to resign from the party, as they had been sidelined during the Hooda’s tenure.

He is second senior leader from the city after Singh to resign from the Congress. Last month, state Congress spokesperson and close confidant of Hooda, Karambir Saini, had resigned from the party after leveling allegations of regional discrimination against the CM. He joined the HJC.

Sources close to Singh said several other disgruntled leaders of the Congress have consented to join the BJP on August 16 to project him as a big leader of the state for his “suitable” adjustment in the party. But some leaders confirmed that several of them are discussing with their supporters to prepare the final strategy.

“During meetings, almost all participants have assured Singh that they are his supporters and not of the Congress and they will join another party after getting his direction,” said a Congress leader, who is accompanying Singh to almost all meetings.

Jind/Kaithal, August 13
The INLD’s legislator from the Guhla (reserved) Assembly constituency, Phool Singh Kheri, resigned from the party today to protest against the denial of ticket to him for the Assembly elections. His supporters followed suit.

“I have resigned from the party as INLD senior leaders denied me the ticket without giving any valid reason. All SC voters are annoyed with the INLD after I was denied the ticket. The INLD will be defeated in all constituencies of Kaithal,” Kheri said.

He said that in his place, a former MLA, who was expelled from the INLD for his anti-party activities, had been fielded from Gulha. He was taken back in the party fold and was told that he would not be fielded for ticket in future.

“If the party reconsiders its decision and allots the ticket to any other dedicated party worker, I will support him or her,” Kheri said.

On joining any other outfit, he said all options were open, but he would take a decision after taking consulting his supporters.

INLD leader Abhay Chautala, during a workers’ meeting in Jind today, said only opportunists were leaving the party. 

Faridabad, August 13
The Centre has given nod to the construction of a bridge on the Yamuna river and it will connect Faridabad with Noida, said Krishan Pal Gurjar, Union Minister of State for Roads, Transport and Shipping.

Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari will lay the foundation stone of the Rs 200-crore project at Manjhawali village in the district on Friday. The Union Government will bear the cost of the bridge. The project would take 30 to 36 months to complete.

Gurjar said the ministry had prepared a detailed project report (DPR) on the project. “The bridge will connect Manjhawali (around 15 km from the Main Mathura Road on the National Highway 2) with Atta Naurangpur of Uttar Pradesh’s Noida district,” Gurjar said, adding that the project was a major milestone, as the demand for connectivity between Faridabad and Noida was a long-standing one. The bridge will reduce the travelling distance between Faridabad and Noida from 56 km to 15 km. At present, it takes an hour to commute between the two cities, as commuters have to travel via Kalindi Kunj in south Delhi that sees traffic congestion during peak hours. The bridge will provide a direct access to Noida and parts of Uttar Pradesh to villages and sectors located in Greater Faridabad. The bridge in UP will lead to Pari Chowk and will enable one to access the expressway to reach Noida and Greater Noida in a short span of time. 

Hisar, August 13
Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU) has been granted patents for two of its technologies meant for detection of cattle meat and buffalo meat.

These new methods of detection of cattle and buffalo meat, developed by Drs. Minakshi, Hari Singh and Gaya Prasad, have been issued patent no. 261631 and 261685, respectively, by the Patent Office, Indian Government.

Vice-Chancellor Dr KS Khokhar said this was the second time in the recent past that varsity technologies had been patented. Earlier, last month, a patent had been granted for an Axial Flow Thresher.

Dr Khokhar said both were rapid and reliable DNA-based tests that were able to identify cattle and buffalo tissue in raw, cooked as well as spoilt meat. He said these tests were very useful to guard against socio-religious and public health concerns and to prevent adulteration and misrepresentations. — TNS

Kurukshetra, August 13
Irked with the indifferent attitude of the state government towards their demands, employees under the banner of Sarva Karmchari Sangh, Haryana, today courted arrest at the Mini Secretariat, as part of their ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’.

Criticising the Hooda government, the employees gathered at a park near the new bus stand and took out a protest march to reach the Mini Secretariat.

Their demands include salaries as per the rate fixed by the deputy commissioner (DC); regularisation of services; elimination of all terms and conditions from regularisation policy; regular jobs for employees, who have completed two years in service; end of contract system; cashless medical facilities on actual expenses and cancelation of over 3,500 bus route permits.

Sant Kumar, SKSH district president, said, “The Haryana government has failed to fulfil our demands. All the employees unions have been staging continuous protests to press their demands but to no avail.”

He said, “The Haryana government has formed a policy of regularising employees, which needs amendments and it should make all amendments immediately else the state employees will renew their protest.”

Sirsa: On a call given by the Sarva Karamchari Sangh and other organisations, employees from different government departments today courted arrest in support of their demands. The agitating employees assembled at the Tau Devi Lal Park at Sirsa in the morning. 

Sirsa, August 13
While other parties are going all out criticising Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the Congress, for Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) president Gopal Kanda, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), seems to be its enemy number one.

Kanda’s attack during his speeches in various villages of Sirsa today were focused on former CM Om Prakash Chautala and his party, while he more or less ignored other political parties, including the ruling Congress.

Kanda, who is on a state-wide tour to mobilise support for his August 17 rally at Jind, today took time for a whirlwind tour of his own Sirsa Assembly constituency to invite people for the event.

Addressing the villagers, Kanda alleged that the INLD and its leaders had always believed in practicing dirty politics to fool the public and gain power.

Kanda, who represented Sirsa Assembly segment from May 2009 till May this year, resigned from the State Assembly to constitute his own party. He is facing business tycoon Makhan Lal Singla fielded by the INLD at his turf.

Sirsa, August 13
The state’s cotton crop is under a twin attack from whiteflies and thrips, upsetting growers’ calculations of a bumper crop. The infestation is being seen throughout the state’s cotton-producing districts, though the attack is more pronounced in some areas. Sirsa and Fatehabad alone produce half of the state’s cotton yield.

Whiteflies feed on the juice of cotton leaves and are found on the underside of the leaves. Thrips are tiny slender insects with fringed wings. These, too, suck the juice of the plants and hamper their growth.

Gurjeet Singh Maan, a progressive farmer from Kirpal Patti, said the pests attacked the crop every year, but the deficient rainfall and hot and humid weather provided conducive conditions for these pests. “Good monsoon can wash away both these pests,” he said.

Besides damaging cotton plants, the whiteflies work as a carrier for cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV), a more potent threat to the crop. The virus curls the leaves of the plants and impedes their growth of plants by hampering photosynthesis process.

The infestation, if not controlled in time, can considerably affect production in the state, according to experts. However, Wazir Singh, Deputy Director, Agriculture, said there was no need for panic. “The pests have attacked the crop, but it is below economic threshold level (ETL) and farmers need not panic,” he said. He said the presence of the whitefly was more pronounced in Ellenabad and Dabwali areas of Sirsa, as the pest is more likely to be found near orchards. 

Ambala, August 13
Unwarranted overlapping of BSNL mobile signals from Himachal Pradesh in Haryana has forced thousands of BSNL mobile users in the state to shell out roaming charges. This even as they did not go out of their home circle causing a lot of resentment among the users.

According to highly placed sources at BSNL, around 7,000 BSNL mobile users in Haryana were facing this problem since the last few months. Though, the BSNL authorities are aware of the problem, they have been unable to find a permanent solution to this problem.

The areas were the mobile signals of the Haryana and HP circles overlap include Shahzadpur, Sadhoura, Mullana and Naraingarh, among other adjoining areas that are close to the HP border.

The BSNL consumers of Haryana circle have brought it to the notice of the BNSL authorities. The sources said BNSL authorities had already held a few meeting to discuss this problem, but a solution continues to elude them. Though, the authorities have pressed for increasing the mobile signals of Haryana circle along the areas bordering the Himachal Pradesh, but the consumers say that this has so far not rectified the problem.

Meanwhile, BSNL general manager GP Gupta said the department was aware of the problem and the matter was being looked into. He said it had been observed that the network from HP overlapped in Haryana only when some mobile towers in the bordering areas were not working properly. He said other then maintaining these towers, new towers were being erected in Dosarka and Adoya segments, which would help rectify the problem to a great extent. 

Chandigarh, August 13
In a significant judgment, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that a prosecution witness in a murder case cannot be recalled to resile from his statement. Justice Rajan Gupta has also made it clear that compromise cannot to be allowed in a murder case, as the offence under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code is non-compoundable.

The ruling came on a petition filed by Jai Parkash against the state of Haryana and another respondent. He had challenged the order passed by the trial court for recalling witness Jai Singh for re-examination and cross-examination. An FIR in the case was lodged by Jai Singh, who said he had some dispute with Rati Ram. On October 18, 2001, he along with his father was standing at the bus stand. At that time, Rati Ram along with other accused came and started threatening them. Jai Singh boarded an autorickshaw, while his father rushed to a shop. Before his eyes, all accused went into the shop and shot his father at point-blank range before fleeing from the scene.

The state told the court that all prosecution witnesses had been examined and the case was at the stage of defence evidence. But an application was moved by accused Jai Prakash for recalling Jai Singh for cross-examination. The trial court did not found merit in the application and rejected the same.

Taking up the matter, Justice Gupta from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, asserted: “I am not convinced with the plea. Jai Singh, who is an eye-witness to the incident, was examined by the prosecution. He was thoroughly cross-examined by the defence. The petitioner, who is an accused, has relied upon a compromise and affidavit for recalling Jai Singh to make him resile from his statement….

“I am of the considered view that there is no illegality with the order passed by court below and same is totally sustainable. Possibility that eye-witness Jai Singh is being pressured to resile from his statement cannot be ruled out….

Chandigarh, August 13
The state government has revised the honorarium for mayors, senior deputy mayors, deputy mayors, presidents, vice-presidents and members of municipal corporations, councils and committees ahead of the state Assembly election.

An official spokesman said in case of a municipal corporation, the mayor would now get Rs 20,500 a month instead of the existing Rs 7,500. The senior deputy mayor will draw Rs 16,500 a month as against Rs 6,000. Similarly, Deputy Mayor would get an honorarium of Rs 13,000 a month instead of the current Rs 5,000 and a member would get Rs 10,500 a month instead of Rs 2,500.

In case of a municipal council, the president would now get an honorarium of Rs 10,500 a month instead of Rs 3,000. Similarly, vice-presidents and members, who are currently drawing Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,500 per month respectively, will now get Rs 7,500 a month. In case of a municipal committee, the president, who was earlier drawing Rs 2,500 a month, will now get Rs 6,500. Likewise, the vice-president and member will now get Rs 4,500 a month as against the current Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000, respectively.

In neighbouring Punjab, the mayor gets a monthly honorarium of Rs 30,000, the deputy mayor Rs 28,500 while a councillor is paid Rs 12,500. — TNS

Sonepat, August 13
On the direction of the court, a case of cheating has been registered against four senior officials of Parsvnath Builders LTD Company, at the Murthal police station.

Murthal police station SHO Ranbir Singh said Sunil Kumar of Ramnagar lodged a complaint against the officials and submitted that as per deal, he paid a sum of ~7 lakh to the alleged accused to buy a 500 square yards plot in Parsvnath Builders LTD Company. However, the company did not register the plot in his name and was not willing to refund the money. — OC

Faridabad, August 13
The police have booked a man for barging into a house in Santosh Nagar locality during a power cut and abducting and raping a seven-year-old.

According to the complaint lodged by the child’s mother, a man entered their house during a power cut on Monday night and took her away. He dropped the child back and she was found crying by her mother. He allegedly told the girl he was her elder brother. The accused is absconding.

The police registered a case on Tuesday after a medical examination under Section 376 and 6 of the POCSO Act.

In another incident, the police registered a case of molestation on the complaint of a woman of Khori village. She said an unidentified person forcibly entered her house when she was alone. He claimed to be a friend of her husband’s and said he had come to hand over some money. He tried to assault her, but fled when she raised the alarm. A case under IPC Sections 354-A, 452 and 506 has been registered. — TNS