Gharaunda (Karnal), Aug 23
Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Steel and Mines Narendra Singh Tomar today said the audience did not boo Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in Kaithal on August 19, but simply wanted to hear their “favourite leader” speak.

Interacting with mediapersons at the PWD Rest House in Gharaunda, Tomar said, “Narendra Modi is more popular than Hooda. It (the crowd) was just their eagerness to listen to the PM.” He was in town in connection with a series of visits by Union ministers to Assembly segments to boost the morale of party workers.

On the government’s claim of being the number 1 state in the country, he said: “If the CM thinks Haryana is number one, he should not worry about such a reaction from the public. In fact, he is not in a condition to face the people.”

Narrating initiatives taken by the NDA government in his ministry, Tomar said, “Many steps have been taken by the Central Government for the betterment of labourers and traders. To abolish Inspector Raj in the Labour Department, the Centre has started an online system. An inspector cannot inspect any factory or commercial establishment on his own and will have to follow the list given to him by the authorities.

After completing inspection, he will have to upload his inspection report on the same day. This will help bring transparency and stop harassment.”

He said the Centre was trying to amend the Apprentice Act to boost skill development. “The amendment will see the number of apprentices increase from four lakh to 23 lakh a year,” said Tomar.

Ambala, August 22
As the Jan Chetna Party (JCP) tries to consolidate its base in the state, political observers say the party would most likely dent the vote bank of both BJP and the Congress in the upcoming elections.

According to them, some major political parties were pursuing the JCP to forge an alliance, which would alter the political scenario of the state prior to the Assembly elections.

Sources said the JCP was in talks with the BJP and given the fact that the saffron party was running short of persuasive leaders in most of the constituencies of Haryana, the possibility of an alliance or complete merger was not being ruled out. They also said given the scenario, the BJP high command was considering that a merger of two parties would be helpful for the BJP in forming the next government in the state.

While leader of the BJP’s legislative party Anil Vij refused to comment on this possibility, JCP chief Venod Sharma said the party had never been against an alliance with like-minded political parties.

He said if no alliance was formed, the party would go it alone in the elections.

Bhiwani, August 22
Congress MP from Rohtak Deepender Singh Hooda has stated that the Congress’ Panipat rally would prove which way the wind is blowing in the state ahead of the Assembly elections.

Addressing a public meeting in Dadri town of the district, Deepender stated that it would be a decisive rally which would decide the fate of Haryana. Confidence of returning to power for the third time in a row, the MP urged the party workers to gather in record numbers in Panipat to give a befitting reply to critics.

Attacking the BJP and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Deepender said: “The BJP has become a dumping ground for worthless leaders nursing personal ambitions. Such leaders have no concern for the issues affecting the common man. The INLD has lost ground in the state as nobody likes to be associated with the party anymore.”

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 22
The crucial meeting between HJC chief Kuldeep Bishnoi and BJP president Amit Shah took place last Tuesday after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat put in a word to the BJP quarters, highly placed sources said.

The Tribune reported in its Tuesday edition that Bishnoi had met senior RSS functionaries, including Mohan Bhagwat, in the preceding five days and sought their intervention to save the tottering HJC-BJP alliance forged in 2011. Bishnoi urged the RSS leaders to impress upon the BJP to abide by the “alliance dharma”. He lamented that the HJC had abided by its terms of alliance, especially with regard to the sharing of seats with the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections. However, after a good showing in the parliamentary elections, the BJP wanted to change the terms of alliance.

Bishnoi’s complaint was that Shah had not given time for meeting despite his attempts to seek clarity about the status of the HJC-BJP alliance.

Sources said Bishnoi met Bhagwat on Tuesday morning hours before his meeting with Shah took place in the Capital. 

Sirsa, August 22
In a major jolt to the Congress, Sunita Setia, daughter of former minister Lachhman Dass Arora, today quit the party her father represented for decades and joined the BJP in the presence of state BJP chief Ram Bilas Sharma in Gurgaon today.

“My biggest aim is to fulfil the dreams of my bauji and take Sirsa on the path of development and I trust the BJP will do this by the party’s policy of equitable development,” Sunita told The Tribune.

Accusing Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of adopting a discriminatory attitude towards development activities in Sirsa, Sunita said both the state government and local MLA Gopal Kanda were to be blamed for the poor plight of local people.

Interestingly, Sunita was present at a party workers’ meeting addressed by State Congress president Ashok Tanwar in Sirsa last evening when he arrived here under his “Haryana Jodo Abhiyan”.

She was almost certain to get the Congress ticket being the first choice both for Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, her father’s old friend, and Ashok Tanwar, whose wife Avantika Maken Tanwar had a good equation with Sunita Setia.

Reacting to the development, Tanwar said everyone had the freedom to join the party of his or choice but people were watching everything and would give a befitting reply to opportunist politicians.

Rebellious tone

* Sunita Setia (in pic) is the daughter of former minister Lachhman Dass Arora

* She says her objective is to fulfil the dreams of her bauji and take Sirsa on the path of development

* Accuses Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of lopsided development 

Kurukshetra August 22
A senior Congress leader, Subhash Sudha, from Thanesar today quit the party and joined the BJP in the presence of state BJP chief Ram Bilas Sharma in Gurgaon.

He said: “I have no grudge against anyone. The Congress has done well in the state and I was given due respect and importance. But I got impressed with the working style and honesty of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which made me join the BJP.”

He said: “I wouldn’t say that the Congress has done nothing during the past 10 years but there were several development tasks which had not taken place.”

Sudha was elected as a member of the State Finance Commission in 2013. He unsuccessfully contested the 2009 Assembly elections from Thanesar as an Independent.

Sudha was eying the Congress ticket from Thanesar. On being asked if the BJP denies him the ticket, he said: “If the BJP denies me the ticket, I will not contest elections.”

Sirsa, August 22
The Congress manifesto for the upcoming Assembly polls will include a medical college for Sirsa and a university for Fatehabad.

State Congress president Ashok Tanwar, who was in Sirsa today in connection with his ‘Haryana Jodo Abhiyan’, said the party had collected inputs from across the state and these would be suitably included in the manifesto.

Tanwar said the Sirsa parliamentary seat has the maximum number of farmers living in dhanis (hamlets) set up in fields and many of them got electricity on agriculture mode only for eight hours a day. “The Congress will include electricity on rural domestic mode for at least 14 hours a day at all dhanis in the state in its manifesto,” Tanwar said, adding that the Congress government had ensured all-round development of the state in the past nine-and-a-half years.

Accusing the BJP of doublespeak, Tanwar said its president Amit Shah had called the INLD a party of goons, but is welcoming scores of INLD leaders into the party fold. 

Jind, August 22
Hours after he joined the Congress on Thursday, INLD leader and Kandela Khap head Tek Ram met supporters in various villages today to mobilise support for Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s August 24 Panipat rally.

Behind the scenes, there is talk the switch may upset party calculations in Jind City constituency, though INLD leaders are unwilling to openly admit it. “The voters are with the INLD. They are fed-up with the corrupt Congress government. I am confident of winning by a huge margin,” local INLD MLA Dr Harichand Midda said.

Several Congressmen are in the fray for the ticket and Kandela’s entry has only made the list longer. Tek Ram, who was associated with the INLD for 35 years, exit the party after being refused ticket. He contested the 1991 poll from Jind City on the INLD ticket and secured around 22,000 votes, but was never considered again for ticket despite repeated claims.

Tek Ram, it is learnt, was in touch with some BJP leaders as well, but chose the Congress after Hooda assured him dignity in the party and that the party may consider his name for the Assembly ticket.

“The INLD used me and my influence for 35 years and never gave me the respect I deserved. Though I have joined the Congress unconditionally, I will request the party to consider me for the Jind City ticket. The Kandela Khap has 25 villages in the Assembly constituency and over 45,000 votes,” Tek Ram said.

In the recent General Election, BJP Sonepat candidate Ramesh Kaushik secured 50,789 of the 1.61 lakh votes polled in Jind Assembly constituency. Padam Singh Dahiya (INLD) polled 29,862 votes and Congress’ Jagbir Malik 16,719 votes. 

Man with the key to 45,000 votes

* INLD leader Tek Ram (in pic) who joined the Congress on Thursday heads the Kandela Khap

* The khap has 25 villages in the Jind City Assembly constituency and over 45,000 votes

* Tek Ram, who was associated with the INLD for 35 years, exit the party after being refused ticket

Nuh, August 22
Just a few miles away from glitzy Gurgaon are the backwaters of Mewat with its headquarters at Nuh. The region continues to be a black spot on Haryana’s development index.

Largely inhabited by Meo Muslims, this constituency is representative of the backwardness of the entire Mewat belt which cries for proper infrastructure and educational facilities. But above all, the caste factor is the key driving point of politics here and the Meo’s hold the key to the victory of any candidate here.

The 2014 Lok Sabha elections gave Nuh national media attention with Sonia Gandhi trying to counter Modi’s Gujarat development model with the Congress’s Mewat model she unveiled here. All round development of the region was the catchword she stressed on.

However, the caste factor here manifested itself in the LS polls with Muslim elders deciding that the men had the right to vote on behalf of their womenfolk. Although the constituency registered a 78 percent voter turnout it was without the participation of women. The men queued up at the polling centres and forced the staff to allow them to cast the votes of their women family members.

After a hue and cry against this malpractice and rampant booth rigging, the AAP and BJP complained to the Election Commission ordered a re-poll in several booths in Nuh. This was followed by community clashes in Punhana leading to a week-long curfew.

A few months later, similar clashes were reported from Tawdu. These clashes sent across a message to all that Nuh is still bound by the diktat of the community leaders making free, fair and development centric elections the biggest challenge of the forthcoming Assembly polls.

While all parties are yet to open their cards one thing appears decided that all parties shall go in for fielding Meo candidates. INLD was the first to declare Zakir Huissain as its candidate. He unsuccessfully contested the lok sabha polls this time.

The Congress, which won with a record margin last year, may field its minister, Aftab Ahmad, yet again. He would bank upon getting votes for various development projects announced in Mewat during his tenure.

All eyes are, however, on the BJP. The party won the LS poll riding high on the Modi wave. The party scored a good amount of votes in Mewat which is not its traditional vote bank. It faces a big challenge to repeat the LS win and is taking time to pick its candidate.

Sirsa, August 22
Ellenabad MLA Abhay Singh Chautala’s son, Karan Singh, today kicked off his father’s poll campaign by addressing meetings in over 10 villages of the Ellenabad assembly seat.

Former Rajya Sabha member Vidya Beniwal reiterated today that she supported the INLD and had nothing to do with her nephew Pawan Beniwal’s leaving the party.

Karan Singh Chautala sought votes for his father from people in Makhosarani, Shakarmandori, Rupana Bishnoian, Rupana Jatan, Jogiwala, Chaharwala, Rampur Bagrian, Shahpuria, Tarkanwali, Gigorani, Jasania and Kagdana villages.

Karan Singh said former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal and his family had always considered Ellenabad seat and the erstwhile Darba Kalan seat (included in it now) as its own constituency and it was for this the reason that members of his family had contested this seat on most of the occasions.

He urged the villagers to vote for Abhay Singh Chautala in large numbers so that he could concentrate his energy on other seats if the state.

While former Rajya Sabha member and former MLA from Darba Kalan Vidya Beniwal’s son, Vinod Beniwal accompanied Karan during his tour, his mother today issued a statement pledging her loyalty to the INLD.

She clarified that she did not approve her nephew Pawan Beniwal’s resignation from the INLD and said her entire family would support Abhay Singh Chautala and the INLD.

Jhajjar, August 22
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has fielded new faces in all four Assembly segments of this district, considered a stronghold of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

The INLD has announced the candidature of Teja Pahalwan from Bahadurgarh, Sadhu Ram Jhamri from Jhajjar (reserved), Sumitra Gulia from Badli and Santosh Dahiya from Beri Assembly segments.

Of them, the nominations of Pahalwan and Dahiya have surprised some in the party as their names were not in the list of aspirants. Their candidatures have rubbed senior leaders up the wrong way since they were lobbying hard for the ticket.

Two-time INLD legislator Nafe Singh Rathi is peeved over Pehalwan’s candidature. He had been carrying out public contact programme in the hope of getting the ticket.

Sources said Pahalwan was fielded to end factionalism in the party. They said what might have tilted the opinion in his favour was his gotra. He belongs to the Dalal gotra that wields influence in Bahadurgarh villages.

Two-time legislator Om Prakash Beri and former minister Kanta Devi have quit the INLD after being denied the ticket from Beri and Jhajjar segments.

As for Jhamri, she is the district chief of the INLD Scheduled Caste cell and has been a member of Zila Parishad. Gulia is the wife of former minister late Dheerpal Singh who was elected MLA five times consecutively from Badli.

Faridabad, August 22
A local court has sentenced five persons, including an owner of a drug manufacturing company, to five years’ imprisonment for preparing and supplying fungus-laced injection fluid. Two suspects in the case are absconding.

The case surfaced in November 2003 when a team of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) department raided premises of two suppliers — Harsh Medical and Surgical Centre in Old Faridabad and JP Medical Agencies in Ballabgarh. The team seized samples of Mannitol Injection IP (glucose solution) after it found suspended particles in the bottles.

“The test report received on March 1, 2004, brought out that the solution was ‘adulterated’ and was not of standard quality,” said a department official.

On investigation, the two drug suppliers told officials that they had bought the solution from another supplier, SK Enterprises, based in Rohtak.

When the Rohtak agency was questioned about the source of the adulterated drug, its owner said glucose was manufactured by Ess Gee Pharmaceuticals in Delhi. When FDA officials went to Delhi for investigation, the factory was found to be closed.

It was later learnt that the drug was manufactured at a Bahadurgarh unit under the same name. Officials and employees at the unit admitted to have manufactured the drug and supplied it to wholesale dealers.

FDA officials lodged a complaint in a local court on December 12, 2005. A case was booked under Sections 16, 17 and 17-B of the Drug and Cosmetic Act against the accused and the firms.

Besides a five-year jail term, the convicts — Gyan Chand Gupta, the owner of Ess Gee Pharmaceuticals; his brother SP Gupta; Sushil Bansal of SK Enterprises; Jitender Kumar of JP Medical Agencies and Madan Lal of Harsh Medical and Surgical Centre — have been penalised Rs 10,000 each.

Two suspects in the case, Sarabjit and Rajiv Chauhan, are absconding and have been declared proclaimed offenders.

“This is first time that such five persons have been convicted in drug case,” said GL Singhal, State Drugs Controller. 

Hisar, August 22
Peeved over the denial of Arjuna Award for the fourth time in a row, super heavyweight boxer Paramjit Samota has decided to return his Commonwealth Games gold and Asian Games bronze medals that he won in 2010.

Samota, posted as the DSP in the Uklana block of the district, alleged favouritism in selecting players for the Arjuna Award. “Players who have not much to show have been given the award. I have been applying for four years, but have been ignored every time,” he said today.

“The neglect has hurt me and thus I have decided to return the medals. I sought a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to return the medals, but was denied the audience. I have sought a fresh appointment,” he said.

The boxer’s father, Pradeep Samota, said he had gathered information regarding the selection criteria and nomination process for the Arjuna Award and would move the Delhi High Court.

Kurukshetra, August 22
The state government has adopted zero-tolerance policy against fake drugs and the drug department is opening 20 stores in Gurgaon on Sunday which will provide medicines on low cost. This was stated by Dr GL Singal, State Drugs Controller-cum-Joint Commissioner, FDA, Haryana.

He was speaking as the chief guest on the first day of the first annual conference of the Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India, Haryana state branch, organised by the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kurukshetra University, RK Sadan. Dr Singal said, “Drug abuse is rampant and the situation in Kurukshetra, Ratia, Dabwali, Kalanwali and Panchkula is alarming. Cough syrups are being used as drugs. Over 250 chemist shops have been sealed in the last three years.” —TNS

Kaithal, August 22
Kalayat councillor Surinder Kumar has accused a SHO of using derogatory words against his community and threatening to implicate him in a rape case. He has sent a complaint to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; DGP, Haryana; IG, Karnal range; and SP, Kaithal.

The councillor of ward number 12, who belongs to the Balmiki community, said that on August 18, he and other members of his community went to a police station in Kalayat to sort a family dispute.

The SHO, Subhash Chand Sheokand, objected to Kumar’s presence. He allegedly made casteist remarks against him and threatened to implicate him in a rape case. Kumar said the police officer asked him to leave the police station immediately or he would be evicted forcibly.

New Delhi, August 22
The tale of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Birender Singh’s lasting acrimony acquired a fresh twist today with the state government withdrawing former Congress leader’s security, triggering strong reactions from him and his supporters.

“The state government will be squarely responsible if any harm comes to me, considering the Assembly elections are round the corner,” Birender, who joined the BJP on August 16, said while talking to The Tribune today.

Birender also shot off a strongly worded letter to Chief Secretary Shakuntala Jakhu today, questioning the manner in which the state government withdrew his security. “I was not even informed. The head of my security escort got a phone call day before yesterday. Since then I have no security cover. It was withdrawn through verbal orders and I had no clue about it,” said Birender. He said in his letter to the Haryana Government, he objected to the unfortunate manner in which the security was pulled back.

Copies of the letter, which Birender submitted in original to Haryana Resident Commissioner PK Mahapatra here today, have been marked to the state Home Secretary and the DGP.

In the letter, he has stated that since his security was being withdrawn on the eve of the Haryana elections and without prior intimation to him, the “Haryana government will be responsible if anything happens to him”.

Birender had an escort comprising one sub inspector and four commandos.

The former Congress leader argued today that the state had given him security after he asked for it in his capacity as the Congress general secretary in charge of Himachal, Uttarakhand and Delhi.

“I had asked for security in writing at that time. On account of my unplanned travels ahead of elections, I needed some security personnel. Even today, the grounds are the same, as Haryana is going to the polls. How can the state simply take away security of an MP without extending him the courtesy of information?” Birender asked.

In Chandigarh, no senior official contacted by The Tribune was willing to comment on the development.

DGP S Vashishtha said, “I can’t talk to you like this.” Two IGPs, CID, declined to make a comment. 

Chandigarh, August 22
The Haryana Government today issued the transfer and posting orders of four IAS and four HCS officers.

Amneet P. Kumar, Director, Renewable Energy, Haryana, has been given the additional charge as Director and Special Secretary, Women and Child Development; MD, Women Development Corporation; Secretary, Haryana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights; and Member Secretary, Haryana State Food Commission, during the training period of Renu S.Phulia.

Praveen Kumar, Administrator, HUDA (Headquarters), Panchkula, has been given additional charge as Administrator, HUDA, Panchkula, Special Secretary, Home-II Department’ and Joint Commissioner, Gurdwara Elections, during the training period of CG Rajini Kaanthan. Renu S.Phulia, Director and Special Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, has been given additional charge as Member-Secretary, Haryana State Food Commission.

Sanjay Joon, Deputy Commissioner, Mewat at Nuh has been given additional charge as Chief Executive Officer, Mewat Development Agency, Nuh. Geeta Bharti, Controller, Printing and Stationery, Haryana, has been given the additional charge as Member-Secretary, Haryana State Commission for Women, Panchkula.

Ashwani Maingi has been posted as SDM, Kalayat, against a newly created post.

Naveen Kumar Ahuja, Joint Director (Administration), Women and Child Development, Haryana, has been given additional charge as Deputy Secretary, Haryana Women and Child Development Department.

Alka Chaudhary, Zonal Administrator, HSAMB, Gurgaon, has been given additional charge as Joint Commissioner, MC, Gurgaon, during the leave period of Ashok Kumar Garg. —TNS 

Chandigarh, August 22
Major concessions to realtors by the ‘builder-friendly’ Hooda government at the fag end of its tenure have earned the ire of the Opposition.

In fact, the decision to increase the floor area ratio (FAR) from 175 to 300 within the radius of 500m of the Metro corridors at the August 17 meeting of the state Cabinet has been dubbed as ‘mala fide’ and aimed at benefiting a big real estate player in Gurgaon.

“The decision would benefit a big developer close to CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda which has huge chunks of land near Metro stations. The decision is certainly not in public interest as it will further choke the already inadequate and ill-planned basic civic infrastructure such as sewerage lines, water supply lines, roads, electricity and other community services,” alleged RS Chaoudhary, INLD general secretary.

The Hooda government, in the last one year, has tried its best to revive the recession-hit realty sector by giving concessions to the realtors.

On August 6 last year, Hooda unveiled the Affordable Housing Policy-2013, providing a slew of incentives to the builders, including exemption from licence fees and infrastructure charges, FAR of 225 instead of current 175, and higher ground coverage of 50 per cent against 35 per cent. The most attractive part of the policy was the government-fixed maximum allotment rates for Gurgaon, Faridabad and the Pinjore-Kalka urban estate of Rs 4,000 per square feet. 

CM’s largesse

* Major concessions to builders owning land near Metro stations

* The Affordable Housing Policy-2013 provides bonanza to the builders

* Licence validity period increased from four to five years for builders

Chandigarh, August 22
The Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday put Haryana on notice on a petition alleging that the government had already spent about Rs 100 crore in the last three months in the name of public awareness.

The petition filed in public interest by Panchkula resident Lt Col Nand Kishore added that money was being used to project politicians and the ruling government in the run-up to the Assembly elections.

The petitioner is seeking directions to restrain the state government from releasing funds from the state-cum-public exchequer for furtherance of political motives.

The petitioner has alleged the state government was circulating unregulated, paid advertisements via various modes of telecommunication, print and social media.

He added more than Rs 113 crore had been sanctioned for the intensive media campaign for the 2014-15 financial year.

The state government has already spent more than the estimated cost of Rs 65.62 lakh on 14 short advertisements, films, jingles submitted by a single agency.

“These 14 short films include famous jingles ‘Hooda ji ka Haryana’, ‘Mhara Chief Minister Sahab’ etc., highlighting the name of Bhupinder Singh Hooda,” reads the petition.

It has been submitted that 36 more advertisement films costing Rs. 1.28 crore have been submitted for the state government’s approval by the same agency.

Chandigarh, August 22
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that an educational institution is required to explicitly mention that a particular subject was required to be studied in each and every year of the qualifying course if the establishment wanted it that way.

Simply referring to a particular subject as “one of the subjects” essential for admission would mean that a student can seek admission even if she has studied that subject in just one year of the qualifying course.

The ruling came in the case of Sonia, who had studied mathematics for a year. She was denied admission to MSc (mathematics) as she had not studied the subject in all the years.

In her petition against Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology and another respondent, her contention was that eligibility requirement for the MSc course was mathematics as one of the subjects. It was nowhere stipulated that mathematics must be a subject in each one of the years.

Taking up the matter, Justice Kannan asserted: “We have extracted the eligibility criterion above that shows that mathematics shall be one of the subjects. The petitioner has filed the degree certificate of Manav Bharti University where she has taken the first semester exam in January, 2011, with discrete mathematics as one of the subjects….