Hisar, August 17
In an unprecedented step, the Haryana Police Sangathan (HPS), a representative body of the Haryana police, has decided to take a political stand in the upcoming assembly elections.

The HPS, which claims to have 80,000 members including serving and retired cops, has been demanding revised pay scale at par with their Punjab counterparts besides implementation of police reforms to get the force rid of politicisation.

HPS chief Dilawar Singh informed today that they were holding district wise meetings and urging the members to procure postal ballots to exercise their franchise. “We are collecting feedback from across the state. We would take a decision on supporting any political party which supports our demands and intimate the members via SMSs and other means of communication before polling day”, he said.

“It would be for the first time that the cops would exercise their franchise in an organised way. Many political parties have included our demands in their manifestoes but a final decision would be taken after scrutinising the promises made by the parties,” he added.

The HPS president maintained that despite the Election Commission’s (EC) commitment for facilitation for casting votes by police personnel in a reply to the Punjab and Haryana High court on a petition by the Haryana Police Sangathan, in 2013, the cops on election duty are not able to exercise their franchise in absence of proper implementation.

“We have decided to file a contempt case against the EC as it had failed to provide hassle free facilities for employees for casting their votes. We are deployed on the duty much before the voting day and thus it’s not possible for the cops to requisition the ballot papers by completing formalities and then cast the votes. It is the duty of the EC to ensure that all cops on duty get the ballot papers and exercise their franchise while discharging their duties,” he pointed out.

Of its 80,000 members, the HPS has 55,000 serving cops up to the head constable rank and around 20,000 retired cops up to inspector rank besides 2,500 cops posted in jails and the 3,500 dismissed Haryana Industrial Security Force (HISF).

He said their outfit had demanded pay parity with their counterparts in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. They had already rejected the government’s announcement to provide risk allowance and interim relief to the policemen. The HPS also demanded the implementation of the Dharam Vira National Police Commission report which recommended checking political meddling in the police functioning which results in politicisation and corruption.

Chandigarh, August 17
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has asked the INLD which levelled false allegations against him in a memorandum to Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki to tender a public apology or face a defamation suit. Describing the memorandum as a bundle of lies, he said:” I would file a case of defamation against them if they did not tender a public apology.”

Addressing mediapersons after presiding over a Cabinet meeting here today, Hooda said it was ridiculous that those leaders against whom charges had been framed in a court of law for amassing disproportionate assets were levelling allegations against him.

“I have decided that first I will serve notice on them and if they don’t offer a public apology, he would file a defamation suit ,” he said. Asked when he would serve notice on them, Hooda said he would do so after seeking legal opinion.

Asked to comment on the leaders who are joining other parties ahead of the Vidhan Sabha poll, Hooda said everybody had a right to take a decision in a democracy. The Congress was strong in the state and those leaders whose only aim was to seek the ticket were welcome to leave the party. Such leaders had lost their political ground and they were trying to regain it by joining other parties, Hoods added.

Without naming anyone, Hooda questioned that how those who had could not win in the Vidhan Sabha elections during a Congress wave would be able to secure their position in the BJP . If someone joined a party after 10 years, one could easily size up his intention, he said.

Hooda said lakhs of people would attend the August 24 Congress rally at Panipat. “I would present the report card of my nine-and-a-half-year tenure and also unfold my vision for the future at the rally”, he said. The rally would also be attended by Shakeel Ahmed, AICC general secretary in charge of party affairs in Haryana.

Reacting to reports about some sitting Congress MLAs who could not apply for the party ticket in the coming Vidhan Sabha elections, Hooda said such leaders could apply to the AICC.

Sonepat, August 17
Vidhan Sabha Speaker and MLA from Gannaur Assembly constituency, Kuldeep Sharma, today said he was ready to contest the coming Assembly elections from any seat finalised by CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda. He was addressing a public meeting at Gannaur after laying the foundation stone of the main gate of the Bhagwan Parshuram Ashram. He also said if any other person was fielded as Congress candidate from Gannaur constituency, he would “fully support him” in the elections.

“I am a Congress man and will serve the people by remaining in the party. The people leaving the party are opportunists with selfish motives,” he said.

Kaithal, August 17
Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Krishan Pal Gurjar today announced introduction of electronic toll collection (ETC) system at toll barriers. He said the government had roped in ICICI Bank to implement the scheme under which a chip would be installed in vehicles and these would not have to stop at the barrier and toll tax will be automatically debited.

Gurjar, who was here today to review the arrangements for the proposed visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 19, during his interaction with mediapersons in Koel Tourism Complex here, said Modi would perform ‘bhumi pujan’ and lay foundation stone of the ~1,394 crore 166-km-long four-laning project of the Kaithal-Siwani national highway here. He said seven bypasses would be constructed in Kalayat, Narwana, Danouda, Barwala, Hisar, Barwa and Siwani Mandi and four road over bridges (ROBs) will be constructed on the stretch.

He said all farmers whose land had been acquired for the project would be given compensation. On the four laning of the Kaithal-Ambala highway, Gurjar said the tenders would be called in two months and work would start in six months.

Shahabad (Kurukshetra)
Development at a snail's pace, delayed projects and other local issues will play a crucial role in the forthcoming assembly election in the Shahabad constituency.

The constituency, a general category seat, was reserved in 2009 post delimitation. It is currently being represented by Congress legislator Anil Dhantori who is riding high and feeling confident on the basis of development work done by the Hooda government in the past five years. However, the opposition is ridiculing all such claims and lack of development and discrimination in all fields could be key factors in the forthcoming elections.

Anil, who contested his first ever election in 2009 won by defeating INLDs Jitender Kumar, said the people were with him and he will retain his seat.

The constituency has favoured the Congress which won the seat six times since 1967. The BJP won thrice while the JNP and the CPI once each.

Of the 1.43 lakh voters in this constituency, around 20,000 are Jats while Brahamin, Punjabis and other communities are in the range of 10,000-12,000.

Interestingly, during the 2009 Assembly elections, Ram Karan, an independent, managed to get 14,352 votes (15.47%) pushing Krishan Kumar of the BJP (11.42%) to the fourth position.

• Total voters: 1,43,369
• Men: 76,949
• Women: 66,420

bjp: Krishan Bedi and Prem Hingakheri

INLD: Ram Karna Kala

Sirsa, August 17
Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Karan Singh Chautala today said that the exit of Rania MLA Krishan Kamboj — or any other leader who has left the party due to denial of ticket — would not affect the poll prospects of the party in the Assembly poll.

Karan Singh, who addressed a series of meetings in the Rania Assembly segment of Sirsa for party nominee Ram Chander Kamboj, said the INLD drew its strength from its workers and not from the leaders.

“The day our workers start leaving will definitely be a cause of worry for us. But a leader quitting the party because he has been denied a ticket does not affect the party in any manner,” Karan Chautala said.

Karan Chautala told villagers that votes to Ram Chander Kamboj would eventually work towards making Om Prakash Chautala the next CM of Haryana.

“Sirsa’s drought of development and jobs will end only after Chautala ‘saab’ comes to power. He is already serving a jail term for providing employment to the poor youths. Our family is always ready to go to jail for the empowerment of our people,” the INLD leader said.

He claimed that the INLD would get majority on its own and form the next government in Haryana.

Jasbir Singh Jassa, a state executive member of the INLD, also accompanied Karan Singh Chautala, who addressed meetings in nearly 20 villages of Rania today.

Jind, August 17
The past is back to haunt Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) chief Gopal Kanda. When he was making claims for women empowerment and to contain crime against women from the stage during a rally at Safidon today, deceased air hostess Geetika Sharma’s posters, under the name of “Justice for Geetika Sharma”, surfaced.

Kanda is an accused of abetting the suicide of air hostess Geetika, who was found dead on August 5, 2012 at her Delhi residence. She left a suicide note accusing Kanda of “harassment”. Kanda remained behind bars for over 14 months.

The first much publicised rally of the party too failed to get the required number of attendants.

Apart from Geetika’s posters, a video showing Kanda using abusive language and his supporters beating up two unidentified persons in the presence of police commandoes has also gone viral on WhatsApp, during the last 24 hours.

The rally, which must have cost lakhs to HLP leaders, was projected as the biggest rally of the party and the party leadership had directed its leaders to bring maximum number of their supporters to the rally venue here on Safidon road. Special big screens were installed and bouncers were also called to manage the rally.

“People of Haryana are well aware about the past of Gopal Kanda. He will have to reply about his all wrong acts whenever he would go to public,” said Jind district BJP president Dr O P Pehal.

Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) state spokesman Karmbir Saini alleged that Kanda had made politics a profession and was luring youngsters with money and wine to attend his rallies.

“But Kanda should not forget that politics is not a business and money could not help anyone in winning elections as electorates give their votes only on merit,” said Karmbir.

Though it is not confirmed as to who pasted Geetika posters in many parts of city, as all local leaders of INLD, Congress, BJP and HJC feigned ignorance, the posters have attracted the attention of a majority of passersby as many were seen reading the posters and discussing the case.

Sirsa, August 17
Former minister and Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) president Gopal Kanda’s latest poll strategy, of distributing ration among poor, has drawn flak from his rival and former minister Lachman Dass Arora’s daughter Sunita Setia.

Under his strategy, Gopal Kanda’s men have been distributing packets of ration among people in slum areas and colonies inhabited by weaker sections of the society.

Surender Minchnabad, Kanda’s close aide and president of Sirsa Grain Market Traders’ Association, said the ration packets contain five kg wheat flour, two kg rice, besides pulses, tea leaves, salt and spices etc, each.

The process of distributing ration packets is in progress in Sirsa, where Kanda is likely to contest and at Rania, from where his younger brother Gobind Kanda is the candidate, for the past one week.

Recently, the police had to be called due to a clash during distribution of ration packets.

Sunita Setia, a former chairperson of Sirsa Improvement Trust, and an aspirant for Congress ticket from Sirsa, today said those who have been hoping to enter Vidhan Sabha “by luring voters with their money would not succeed in their designs”.

Karnal, August 17
Three-time MP Arvind Sharma today quit the Congress and joined the BSP. After losing the parliamentary elections from Karnal by a huge margin, Arvind had been missing from political circles and was not even visible at any functions organised by the Congress.

Arvind Sharma

But today, he broke his silence and explained his absence from political engagements for the past two months. His exit is a jolt to the Congress before the Assembly elections as he is a prominent leader of the party in Karnal.

Political experts say that the BSP has played its social engineering card in the state as it has done in Uttar Pradesh and how it would affect the political environment of Haryana would be seen at the later stage, but this step of Arvind Sharma, known as a major Brahmin leader in the Congress at the state level, is a major setback to the party.

A senior Congress leader, on the condition of anonymity, reacted, “We never expected this from Arvind Sharma, but his absence from political meetings had conveyed his disappointment with the party. His step may have some effect on the Congress in the poll.”

Though he had raised the issue of discrimination with Karnal and Panipat by the state government in public meetings during 2004 to 2009 many times, but later he fell silent on the issue, said a political expert.

Arvind Sharma, who had won the Sonepat Lok Sabha seat in 1999 as an Independent, was given the Congress ticket from Karnal in 2004, ignoring the claim of Kuldeep Sharma (present Speaker of Haryana Vidhan Sabha). He won the election by a huge margin of 1,64,762 to beat ID Swami (then Union minister) and also Kuldeep Sharma, who revolted against the party and contested as an Independent.

In 2009, Arvind Sharma — on a Congress ticket — retained the Karnal Lok Sabha seat defeating his nearest rival Varinder Singh Maratha (BSP) by 76,246 votes.

BSP’s CM nominee

Panipat: Former Congress MP Arvind Sharma’s supporters expressed joy at the declaration of his name by BSP chief Mayawati as the CM candidate in Assembly elections. They distributed sweets in some parts of Panipat falling under the Karnal parliamentary segment over his joining the BSP and the declaration of his name as BSP’s CM candidate

Fatehabad, August 17
Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Independent MLA from Fatehabad Prahlad Singh Gillankhera gave an account of developmental works taken up in his Assembly constituency due to his efforts to a select gathering of persons from all walks of life last night and sought their support for the upcoming polls if they felt his performance was up to the mark.

Gillankhera’s website www.prahladsinghgillankhera.com — uploaded with developmental works carried out in Fatehabad during his term — was launched by a local lad Dipesh Rahi, who brought laurels to the town by winning the PTC Voice of Punjab title last year.

A booklet Fatehabad 2009 - 2014 “Sewa Hamari Anklan Aapka” (our service and your assessment) was also released by Gillankhera.

The booklet also contained details of the developmental works done during the MLA’s tenure.

His son Anandbir Singh Gillankhera, president of the Sirsa parliamentary constituency unit of the Congress, gave an account of developmental works completed in the constituency and also those that were in the pipeline. Gillankhera, who won the 2009 Assembly poll from here as an Independent by defeating Congress nominee Dura Ram, had supported the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government and was appointed CPS in the government. The CPS told The Tribune that he had given a slogan of “Abki Baar Vishwas Par Aur Agli Baar Vikas Par” (vote for me on trust this time, but I will seek votes on development next time).

Yamunanagar, August 17
The Haryana Government seems to have multiplied the woes of rice millers by levying penalties on them in the name of fine for delay in delivery of custom milled rice (CMR).

The paddy which was allotted to the rice millers for the purpose of milling by the state agencies in kharif marketing season 2013-14 had excess damage due to untimely rains.

Millers said when they milled the said paddy and started delivering CMR to the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the latter rejected the consignments stating that the damage content of rice exceeded the permissible limit of three per cent. Therefore, the milling process in the state came to a halt for three months.

On the request of the state government, the Centre Government formed a joint team comprising officers of the Centre Government, state government and FCI to assess the situation.

On the basis of the report of this team, the Union Ministry of Food and Supplies decided to increase the acceptable limit of the damage content in resultant rice with full value cut.

Millers said the supply of CMR to Central pool resumed in January 2014, instead of October 2013, as the process of arrival of team had completed in three months and the notification came on January 2, 2014. Therefore, the schedule of supply of CMR must have been revised from October 2013 to January 2014.

Rajender Aggarwal, president, Haryana Rice Miller and Dealers Association and Ashish Mehta, spokesperson, said the delay in issuance of notification for the relaxation in specifications of rice was only reason for the delay in delivery of rice and any such penalty should not be levied on them as they were not at fault.

They said the Central Government had authorised the state government to custom milling of paddy and it did not charge any penalties from the state for delay in delivery of rice till June 30, 2014.

They demanded that Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda withdraw the penalty levied on them in the name of fine.

Chandigarh, August 17
The Haryana Cabinet today approved a policy for innovative financing of mass rapid transit systems (MRTS) projects.

Transit oriented development will be allowed only on the designated Metro corridors to provide opportunities for city restructuring and optimum utilisation of the land along these designated Metro corridors. A 500-metre-wide belt on both sides from the boundaries of the acquired ROW (right of way) of the road on which an MRTS corridor is proposed to be provided, is being designated as a TOD zone. This zone will be shown on the development plans prepared under the provisions of the Punjab Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restriction of Unregulated Development Act, 1963.

Presently, this policy will be applicable on the MRTS corridors, namely Delhi Metro extension along the Gurgaon- Mehrauli road up to Sector 29 (City Centre), Gurgaon; Metro link from Badarpur (Delhi) to Ballabgarh, Faridabad; Metro link from Mundka (Delhi) to City Park, Bahadurgah; Metro link along the northern periphery road as proposed in the Final Development Plan 2031 of the Gurgaon-Manesar urban complex, Metro link along the southern periphery road as proposed in the Final Development Plan, 2031, of the Gurgaon- Manesar urban complex and Rapid Metro developed by HUDA.

Karnal, August 17
Enraged over the non-implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report, the members of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) protested against the Centre on Independence Day here. They took out a procession and staged a dharna in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Meanwhile, BKU members also decided to show black flags to PM Narendra Modi on August 19 in Kaithal.

However, the BKU had decided to observe Independence Day as a captivity day, but keeping in mind the sacrifices of the great freedom fighters, they decided to take out a protest march in support of their demands, said BKU leaders.

Earlier, BKU members from all over the state assembled at the Old Grain market and held a mahapanchayat. Hundreds of women also participated in it. They criticised the Centre’s apathetic behaviour towards farmers and demanded the implementation of the commission report.

The protest was led by Rattan Mann, national vice-president, BKU. He said when the BJP was in the opposition, their leaders had protested the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report and blocked a railway track also. “After coming to power, it was unfortunate that the BJP has retracted its stand,” he said.

“Being frustrated by the Congress government, the farmers of the country have given their mandate to the BJP, but it is also neglecting us,” he added.

Prem Shahpur, president Rohtak range BKU, said, “Now the BJP is dreaming of coming to power in the state. It would be difficult for them to do if they neglect the farmers of the state.”

Ambala, August 17
Rail traffic on the Ambala-Chandigarh section remained disrupted for more than six hours on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday after three bogies of a goods train got derailed near the local yard.

The bogies got derailed around 11:40 pm and it took the railway engineers more than six hours to put the train back on track.

Given the fact that this was second such incident in the last fortnight, the authorities constituted a four-member committee to look into the matter and rectify the problem to avoid such occurrences in future.

On August 2, engine of a goods train had got derailed near the Ambala Cantonment railway station, leading to diversion of several express trains and cancellation of some passenger trains. The engine was then sent to Ludhiana Loco Shed for inspection and a final report in this regard is still awaited.

Kaithal, August 17
A team of senior civil and police officials and National Security Guards (NSG) today reviewed security arrangements in town for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on August 19. The PM will perform ‘bhoomi pujan’ and lay foundation stone of Rs 1,394 crore 166-km-long highway project from Kaithal to the Rajasthan border.

The Inspector General, NSG, Piyush Pandey, held meeting with local civil and police officials and chalked out the details of the programme. Besides NSG commandos, RAF and thousands of policemen from various parts of the state have already reached here. According to an official press release, the Governor and Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Deputy Commissioner and SP will receive the Prime Minister.

Ambala, August 17
A sensitisation workshop is being held by the School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh, in partnership with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Haryana, at the District Training Centre, Civil Hospital, Ambala City, tomorrow for building the capacity of health workers and counsellors in the National Health Mission and the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetic, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDCS).

This workshop is part of a development strategy for implementation and finalisation of a manual under the project integrated model of health promotion in district setting. The project is being funded by the ICMR, New Delhi.— TNS

Karnal, August 17
A 22-year-old youth was yesterday stabbed to death after an altercation at Kohand village in the district. The victim has been identified as Johny of the same village.

Sources said Tinka of Kohand village had an altercation with a group of five youths. He informed about the incident to his friends Johny and Ravi. Both of them rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the youths. However, the youths stabbed Johny in the chest. He was rushed to a private hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

Yamunanagar, August 17
The Buria police have booked a ply board factory owner on charge of murdering an employee of his factory.

In his complaint, Surinder Kumar said his brother was working in the ply board factory. The accused informed him that his brother had died due to electrocution. Surinder alleged that the body of his brother was lying on the roof of the factory and there was no electric wire there. His brother did not die of electrocution but was killed, he said.

The police booked the factory owner under Section 302 of the IPC.

Sonepat, August 17
Mahavir, an ex-serviceman, shot dead his wife Rani Devi (46) and son Kaptan Singh (25) in his house at Purkhas village on Thursday night. Routine domestic quarrel was suspected to be the reason behind the crime.

Though he escaped after committing the crime, he was arrested on Friday. He was yesterday produced in a court which sent him to judicial custody. On the complaint of his other son, a case of murder was registered at the Gannaur police station. The bodies were handed over to family members.— OC