|
|
|
|
|
Roadways strike cripples life in state
Heavy rain poses threat to cotton crop
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Haryana Votes 2014
BJP’s first list likely next week
BJP keeping people in dark: Deepender
Deepender promises lifting ban on student elections
SAD: INLD, BJP working on common goal
HJC gen secy declares own candidature
Rs 5 lakh to kin of deceased civic staff
5 sandalwood smugglers held
Japanese engineer held
Labourers electrocuted
|
|
Roadways strike cripples life in state
Chandigarh, September 6 Thousands of commuters had a harrowing time as the message of flash strike spread across the state in the morning, with staff unions holding protests to demand scrapping of new permits to private bus operators. Union leaders alleged that besides the proposed bus permits, the state government had allowed extended routes to 923 private bus operators, putting Haryana Roadways at a disadvantage. Yamunanagar: Employees of Haryana Roadways proceeded on indefinite strike at 9 am. They parked buses, sat on ‘dharna’ and raised slogans against the government. Passengers had to face inconvenience as they had to travel by other means of transport. All Haryana Roadways Workers Union state president Hari Narayan Sharma said the new transport policy had been challenged in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and was sub judice. He claimed that the government had committed contempt of court by extending existing routes and inviting applications for new permits. Kurukshetra: Commuters had a tough time today following the strike. Employees held a demonstration, burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and did not allow plying of buses after 8 am. Union leader Arun Atri said, “The state government is responsible for this. We will not allow the government to give licences to private operators at any cost.” Buses of private operators and other state roadways were plied. Those operating other commercial vehicles made a quick buck. Kaithal: Maxi-cab drivers had a field day and there were reports of passengers being fleeced. Bus counters wore a deserted look. Some state-level leaders held consultations to decide their future strategy. Sirsa: Commuters travelled in jeeps and other vehicles as Haryana Roadways workers organised a ‘chakka jam’ and sat on ‘dharna’ outside Sirsa and Fatehabad depots. Haryana Roadways Workers Union state president Sarbat Singh Punia said they would not allow the government to succeed in its plan. He said the union had demanded purchase of 10,000 buses after cancelling the 3,519 route permits so that 60,000 youths could get jobs. Hisar: Commuters bore the brunt of the strike by Haryana Roadways staff. The public transport system was affected in Hisar and Bhiwani districts. There was a heavy rush of commuters outside the bus stand in Hisar, where private buses and maxi-cabs resulted in a traffic jam. “I had to travel by private vehicles from Rohtak to Hisar and paid around double the fare. I will return by train to avoid further harassment,” said a commuter. Union leader Dalbir Kirmara said, “The protest is a wake-up call to the government. We will go to any extent to scuttle the move to issue licences to private operators.” Rohtak: Hundreds of commuters were put to inconvenience due to the strike. They had a harrowing time waiting for buses. Protesters locked the main gate of the main bus stand, sat on ‘dharna’ and raised slogans against the state government. Panipat: No Haryana Roadways bus plied and most commuters travelled in buses of other state roadways. Haryana Roadways Karamchari Mahasangh leader Rajpal said they would continue the stir. Gurgaon: There was chaos as thousands of commuters were left stranded. The employees assembled in front of the bus depot and raised slogans against the government. Faridabad: “I was shocked when I was told that there was no bus towards Delhi after 10 am,” said Suresh Kumar of Ballabgarh. He said there was hardly any option and he had to cancel the plan. Hundreds of commuters were stranded at the local bus depot around 10 am and many of them travelled in private vehicles and buses. Why the strike
Unionspeak "The protest is a wake-up call to the government. We will go to any extent to scuttle the move to issue licences to private operators" Dalbir Kirmara "The state government is responsible for this. We will not allow the government to give licences to private operators at any cost" Arun Atri
|
|
Heavy rain poses threat to cotton crop
Sirsa, September 6 Dr Dalip Monga, head of the CICR, Sirsa, said similar reports of heavy rains had been received from Dabwali, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Abohar, Fazilka, Ganganagar and other areas of the three states where cotton is largely grown. “Cotton is a dry weather crop and any rain above a certain level is bound to harm it. Opening of boll have just started and heavy rain can damage it. Similarly, rain accompanied by winds can lead to logging of plants and stagnant water in fields can cause anaerobic conditions where plants can wither due to lack of oxygen to the roots,” said Dr Monga. He said any rain above 30 to 40 mm was likely to damage the crop and can dampen the prospects of a bumper crop this year. Gurjeet Singh Mann, a farmer from Kirpal Patti village of Sirsa, said as of now, there was no damage to his crop. He said the rain might rather wash away the whitefly, which could have further threatened the infestation of cotton leaf curl virus. He said the biggest problem for the farmers was to manage stagnant water in their fields. “Fields in our areas have clay soil, which does not absorb much of water. In these conditions, the biggest challenge is where to drain out the stagnant water,” he added. Meanwhile, the Integrated Agromet Advisory Service Unit of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, has predicted the possibility of partly cloudy weather from September 6 to 9 and light rain or thundershowers at many places on September 6 and 7. Farm scientists of the university said due to cloudy and humid weather, whitefly and other pests might infest the crop. The advisory issued by the university said if the insect population was above the economical threshold level, they would spray insecticide when weather was clear. |
|
Hooda waives Rs
154.75-crore debt to woo BC, SCs
Jind, September 6 He also expressed willingness to face his estranged relative Chaudhary Birender Singh, who has recently joined the BJP, in Assembly elections if the BJP gives the ticket against him. “I am ready to face Birender if he wants to fight me,” he said. About the reports that the Congress wants to fight the elections under the collective leadership of senior party leaders and not under only his leadership, Hooda said the Congress always fought elections under collective leadership and there was nothing wrong in it. “The Congress will introduce new faces in the Assembly elections. Candidates who lost the last Assembly elections with a small margin may also get the ticket,” said Hooda. He also denied any difference with HPCC chief Ashok Tanwar as is being claimed by some opposition leaders. “The Congress election committee is analysing many aspects of ticket aspirants to finalise the names of Congress candidates,” said Hooda. During a state-level function at Jind new grain market today, the Haryana State Finance Development Corporation waived debt of 1,20,787 loan defaulters of Rs 73.52 crore. The Haryana Backward Corporation Kalyan Nigam announced a waiver of Rs 81.23 crore for loan defaulters of the SC and BC categories. The CM also announced to give 50 per cent interest waiver over loan amounts in future to all those who would repay their loans in time. “Everyone knows that only opportunistic are leaving the Congress without having any valid reasons against the party. These deserters would face bleak future as they will never get the same respect in other parties as they got in the Congress,” said Hooda. Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal, who also attended the function, claimed that Hooda was going to take the party to victory third time in a row. Eyeing BC, SC votes
|
|
Cong ticket only to winnable candidates, says Hooda
Bijendra Ahlawat Tribune News Service
Faridabad, September 6 In a reply to a query during an interaction with mediapersons at a function in the MCF auditorium here today, Hooda said a panel had been set up to consider the candidature of the applicants and only those would be fielded who were capable of making the party get the required majority in the elections. Regarding the absence of Sharda Rathaur, MLA from Ballabhgarh at the function of the civic employees earlier today, he said she might have been unable to make it due to some reason and it was not the first time that an MLA had been unable to attend such a programme. The organisers had invited Rathaur to the function. When asked if Rathaur was absent due to the reported move of her to join the BJP, Hooda said he had no information about it. He reiterated his claim that the Congress was in a comfortable position and there was no threat from any party or alliance. Scoffing at the Gujarat model, Hooda challenged the BJP to implement it in the state if it come to power in the next elections. He said if the Gujarat model was implemented here, the state government would have to reduce the old-age pension and withdraw several other schemes and benefits implemented by his government.
|
|
|
BJP’s first list likely next week
New Delhi, September 6 While panels for all the 90 Assembly constituencies are ready, the party is likely to delay announcements on “contentious seats” where the leadership is anticipating trouble from rebel candidates. The candidature here
may be delayed “till the last moment to minimise the damage”. Apart from the problem of one too many, there are also worries in view of “unfavourable reports” from regions where rival parties—Congress, INLD and now HJC—hold sway. Officially, the BJP has maintained a care free attitude towards the prospects of top Akali Dal leaders canvassing for INLD candidates, but sources indicate a back-up plan for seats in the Chautala’ stronghold. There is a possibility that the party may opt for “a friendly contest” on some seats, the sources added. Apart from facing a deluge of ticket aspirants, the central leadership is also besieged with requests by senior leaders seeking tickets for their kin. |
|
BJP keeping people in dark: Deepender
Sonepat, September 6 “The BJP has not even decide its chief ministerial candidate yet,” he said and alleged that the party had been confusing the voters by keeping them in dark about the name of CM candidate. He said the people had every right to know who would be the chief minister before they make up their mind to vote for the party. On the other hand, the INLD would be no where in the picture in the Assembly elections, he remarked. He appealed to the voters for the Congress and return Kuldeep Sharma in the Assembly from this constituency in the upcoming elections. |
|
|
Deepender promises lifting ban on student elections
New Delhi, September 6 He stated this while interacting with mediapersons at meeting with office-bearers of the NSUI, including those who won in the just concluded elections in Punjab University. Deepender said if his party came voted to power, he would lift the present ban on the students union elections in the universities and colleges. He said it would part of party’s poll manifesto. He said the ban had been imposed by the HVP-BJP coalition government. The measure had been taken on account of the alleged INLD-inspired election-related violence in universities and colleges. “The state government has taken a number of measures to empower the youth. This will be intensified if the party comes to power,” he added. |
|
SAD: INLD, BJP working on common goal
Kurukshetra, September 6 On BJP’s objection to Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal’s decision to campaign for the INLD, Chandumajra said: “The SAD has old relations with the INLD. Besides, Akalis have a poll pact with the INLD. It has given two tickets to the SAD.” — TNS
|
|
HJC gen secy declares own candidature
Rewari, September 6 He made the announcement while addressing a public meeting in Rewari on Friday evening. “I will contest the Assembly election from Rewari whether or not the party gives me the ticket,” he
said. Raghu Yadav asserted that he would contest the upcoming election as an independent candidate if the party denied him the ticket from
Rewari. After breaking ties with the BJP and forming an alliance with the Jan Chetna Party, HJC supremo Kuldeep Bishnoi has been working on an electoral strategy for a grand alliance with the support of
non-BJP and non-Congress parties ahead of elections. Raghu Yadav is widely known as ‘jal yudh
nayak’ for his agitation for equitable distribution of water to south Haryana and police firing during his public meeting on the issue in 1993. |
|
Rs 5 lakh to kin of deceased civic staff
Faridabad, September 6 He hailed the decision as a historic one and asked the Additional Principal Secretary, Local Bodies, who was present at the function, to ensure issuance of a notification in this regard. Hooda, appeared to be appeasing all categories of employees in the state prior to the Assembly elections, claimed his government had given attention to the demands of the civic employees. He enumerated his government’s “pro-employee” decisions: disbanding of contractual system, providing regular jobs to employees working on ad hoc or daily wage basis for the past several decades, raising the age bar for entering the government sector, generating employment and providing risk allowance of Rs 2,000 to the sewermen. As for Faridabad, Hooda said the MCF had been granted Rs 120 crore for improving the infrastructure, besides creating 1,920 posts. “The government will continue with its policies of improving the financial health of employees and civic authorities, and providing facilities in urban and rural parts of the state,” he added. |
|
Students protest lathi charge in Sirsa
Sirsa, September 6 Led by activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), girls protested outside the college and raised slogans against the state government and district administration. They demand construction of the college building since the existing one is in a bad shape. “The building built in the British era is in a dilapidated condition. Besides, facilities such as a library, a common room and clean toilets are missing,” one of protesters said. Student leaders Puja, Geetu, Reena and Neetu said they had been drawing attention of the authorities towards their problems for long, but all they got were hollow assurances. They alleged that when they protested outside the Deputy Commissioner’s house to raise demands, the police lathicharged them. The students announced that a candle march against the police action would be taken out on September 8 in the city. They appealed to social, religious, women’s and labour organisations to support their cause. |
|
5 sandalwood smugglers held
Sonepat, September 6 DSP Ajit Singh said today that the team also seized 250 logs of sandalwood worth crores of rupees, 495 boxes of illegal liquor and duplicate seals from their hideout near Sisana village last evening. The team raided the hideout, seized the stock and arrested the alleged accused. They were produced in court today and the court remanded them in police custody, said the DSP.
— OC |
|
Gurgaon, September 6 The engineer, Karooja Fujeeta (27), was inspecting a machine when it abruptly started. His hands were trapped and, subsequently, died. Another company official, Chhabata, who was also working there, sustained injuries. Company manger accused Chhabata of negligence that led to Fujeeta’s death. — TNS
|
|
|
Labourers electrocuted
Gurgaon, September 6 One of them, Vinod (25), accidentally touched a 11,000-kV wire connected to an Universal Tower building. He died on the spot. The injured — Kamod Sahni, Vinesh, Rajender and Arun — were hospitalised.
— TNS |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
