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Haryana Votes 2014
Fatehabad farmers to boycott poll over waterlogging woes
Top state cops in pursuit of political power float parties
Constituency watch: Badli |
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INLD accuses 2 poll panel officials of bias
Vijayvargiya downplays rebel trouble
Faridabad Cong MLA withdraws candidature
Arora rips into ‘No. 1 Haryana’ claim
HJC campaign panel chief Batra won’t contest
DCs, SPs discuss steps for smooth elections
CEO Walgad appeals to people to vote
BJP alleges regional bias in growth
Clash over land
Arrest warrants against five Bharti officials in fraud case
Jhajjar villagers ban entry of cattle traders from
Mewat, UP
Cop among six held; 31 vehicles recovered
Dairying ‘brings nutritional security’ to people
BKU demands early purchase of paddy
Two vehicle-lifters’ gangs busted
Traders protest raids by police, garment firm
Police rescue 6-yr-old child
2 killed in road mishap
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Fatehabad farmers to boycott poll over waterlogging woes
Badopal, September 19 “Waterlogging and salinity have affectedour agricultural land where it is difficult to grow a single crop in a year. Most of us owed debts to banks or private lenders and are unable to repay them.We have knocked every possible door in the last 10 years, but to no avail, said Mahender Singh, a farmer, who is leading the agitators. He said the farmers took up this problem with every DC who occupied the chair in Fatehabad, the local MLA, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Prahlad Singh Gillankhera and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and requested them to take measures to reduce salinity of our landby installing shallow tubewells or any other method, but no step has been initiated in this direction. The villagers said the water table at certain points was less than one-footdeep while on some other points, stagnant water can be seen on the surface of the land. “Year after year, we sow crops and spend money on seeds, fertilisers and pesticides in anticipation of good produce. But before we are able to reap the harvest, a day’s rain is sufficient to damage them beyond redemption,” said another farmer. “We have been helplessly watching our families ruined, as the authorities are doing nothing to reclaim barren land,” said one of the villagers. ‘Authorities of no help’ Waterlogging and salinity have affected fields. It is difficult to grow a single crop in a year. Most of the farmers are in debt. The authorities have not helped us. — Mahender Singh, farmer Helpless situation We sow crops and spend money on seeds, fertilisers and pesticides in anticipation of good produce. But before we reap the harvest, a day’s rain damages the crop. — Badopal farmer |
Top state cops in pursuit of political power float parties
Hisar, September 19 These Assembly elections have again lured a number of retired IPS officers to dabble in politics. Two recently retired IPS — ADGP Ram Chander Jowal and IGP Ranbir Sharma — have floated their own parties, while another cop, Raj Singh
Mor, is the INLD nominee from the Narnaund Assembly segment of Hisar. The wife of Faridabad DCP Rajesh
Duggal, Sunita Duggal, is also a claimant for the BJP ticket. Two former DGPs — Mahender Singh Malik
(INLD) and AS Bhatotia (BJP) are also active in politics, but unlikely to join the poll fray this time. However, former ADGP PV
Rathi, who puts in his papers as the principal adviser to the Chief Minister, is said to be keen on contesting the poll on the Congress ticket. Senior policemen who failed to make good of their poll debut include DD Kashyap (Assembly poll), HR Swan
(Lok Sabha on the Haryana Vikas Party ticket from Sirsa), DGP Malik’s wife Krishna Malik (contested as an INLD nominee from
Sonepat) and Rashem Singh (Assembly poll from Pataudi for the BJP). Earlier, IPS officer Chander Bhan of Jind district had also met the same
fate. Jowal, who hails from Jakhoda village of Jhajjar district, has floated a political outfit, Apna Raj Front, with the promise to provide equal opportunities to people of all castes and communities in power politics. During his debut public meeting at his native village last Sunday, Jowal said, “The system is rotting and needs to be changed. The party is gearing up to field maximum number of candidates in the coming poll,” he said. Another cop-turned-politician Ranbir Sharma, who had joined Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during the Lok Sabha poll but deserted the party to get his own outfit, Lok Swaraj Party
(LSP), registered for the Assembly elections, has also vowed to make the electoral debut with the eagerness to change the system. But some lower rank cops have been lucky enough to win the poll. Former MLAs Bali Pahlwan from Meham in
Rohtak, Udey Singh Dalal from Badli in Jhajjar, Dharm Singh Chhoker from Samlkha had served as constables before they joined politics. Pawan Bansal, a poll expert and author, said during service, these IPS officers commanded fear and not people’s respect. They remain under false illusion that they were popular. “They draw people’s support due to the power they wielded in uniform. But once in electoral politics, people have no sympathy for them,” he added. For political gains
The lucky lot
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Chaubisi panchayat holds key to victory
Ravinder Saini Tribune News Service
Badli, September 19 Sitting Congress MLA Naresh Sharma romped home to victory in the 2005 and 2009 poll following the panchayat’s support, says Surat Singh of Badli village. “Villages outside the cluster support the Chaubisi panchayat out of bhaichaara (brotherly relation) and go by its decision on whom to vote,” says Mahavir Gulia, another villager. “Given the panchayat’s power, every candidate wants its support.”
What matters
Residents are a harried lot due to power shortage, poor public transport and improper drainage system. Due to poor service by Haryana Roadways, villagers are forced to travel by their vehicles or by private jeeps and buses. “People from the area visit Bahadurgarh and Gurgaon every day. Since the numbers of roadways buses on this route are inadequate, commuters make their own arrangement,” alleges Somveer, a shopkeeper. Anish Badliya, another shopkeeper, points out a related problem. “A bus stand for Badli was announced many years ago but nothing was done. Several roadways buses don't pass through the village and people have to go to the bypass to board them.” Erratic supply of potable water is another concern in several villages. Poor drainage system leads to waterlogging in villages. SEZ row
Reliance purchased more than 8,000 acres in 22 villages at Rs 22 lakh an acre during 2006-09 to develop a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The project did not materialise and was denotified. Now, farmers want their land back since the project for which the land was bought was scrapped.Some farmers have started cultivating the land without permission. Development initiatives
Problems apart, Badli has witnessed development in terms of concrete roads connecting all villages in the segment. The outreach OPD of AIIMS-II has been set up. Foundation stones of National Cancer Institute and extension campus of IIT-Delhi have been laid. “Panasonic and Denso have set up units here, but haven’t provided locals’ employment," said Ramesh Dhankhar, a farmer. |
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INLD accuses 2 poll panel officials of bias
Chandigarh, September 19 “Due to the involvement of these officials, there is tardy progress in redressing the INLD complaints. We urge you to get Maheshwar Sharma transferred and get the extension of Gulshan Gandhi terminated with immediate effect,” the complaint demanded. Meanwhile, the INLD demanded that the audition for the Mohammad Rafi nite (September 22) and the all-India Mushaira ‘Jashn-e-Haryana’ (September 20), both at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh, should be postponed as they were not part of the annual calendar of the Cultural Affairs Department. Two BJP, INLD
leaders get notice
Gurgaon: Taking strong exception to the advertisements published in various newspapers without certification, the district administration has issued notices for the violation of model code of conduct to two more candidates contesting from the Pataudi Assembly segment of Gurgaon. They have been asked to reply within 24 hours. Bimla Chowdhary, BJP candidate from Pataudi, got an advertisement published in a local daily without taking requisite permission from the Pataudi returning officer, which is mandatory under election rules. Similarly, Ganga Ram, the INLD candidate from Pataudi, has also been served notice for getting an advertisement published in a local daily without permission. They have to file their replies to Pataudi SDM Virender Chaudhary, who is also the returning officer for the Pataudi Assembly segment. Kurukshetra BJP chief put on notice Kurukshetra: The district administration on Friday put BJP district chief Dhuman Singh Kirmach and Jaat Dharamashala manager on notice for violating the model code of conduct. BJP district chief today organised a party meeting at Jaat Dharamshala without taking prior permission. Both of them have been asked to give their replies by September 20. — TNS |
Vijayvargiya downplays rebel trouble
Bhiwani, September 19 Talking to mediapersons at Dadri town today, Vijayvargiya said he had been visiting the entire state. “There was some resentment in Dadri but it has been resolved”, he said. He also ruled out any impact of the drubbing in the UP, Gujarat and Rajasthan byelections on the party’s prospects in the assembly poll. Lambasting former ally
HJC, the BJP leader claimed that the party would not be able to open its account in the state. Terming HJC supremo Kuldeep Bishnoi as immature, Vijayvargiya stated he had unilaterally announced to part ways in the media. “But it was good riddance for the BJP as we have now realised that the HJC has no political base in the state”. Training guns on CM Bhupinder Singh
Hooda, he said it was Hooda’s political game plan to urge his confidants such as Venod Sharma and Gopal Kanda to float new outfits and contest the poll on anti-Congress plank. Confident of getting a majority, he stated there was no rival of the BJP in Haryana and no political party would be able to win enough seats to get the status of Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. Defending the decision not to name the chief ministerial candidate, the BJP leader argued that even Congress leader Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi never declared the CM candidate before the election during their regime. “We have a strong leader in Narendra Modi and he would be the party’s face in the assembly elections too. The party leadership would take only 15 minutes to decide the CM after the elections”. It (end of ties with HJC) is good riddance for the BJP. We have realised the HJC has no political base in the
state. — Kailash Vijayvargiya, bjp
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Faridabad Cong MLA withdraws candidature
Faridabad, September 19 “Personal comments have been passed against me and some party leaders have also been made to issue statements against me and my candidature,” said Rathore, Ballabgarh MLA since 2005. Claiming to be a loyal Congress worker, she said she would remain with the party, though may not contest. “The recent developments have promoted an atmosphere that could be damaging and could result in whitewash of the party in the Assembly poll,” she added. Rathore hit headlines last month after media reports of her meeting with BJP leaders. Recently, she said she was still in the Congress and would contest as a party candidate. Tanwar serves
show-cause notice
Chandigarh: Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar today shot off a show-cause notice to Congress legislator Sharda Rathore for alleged anti-party activities. He accused Rathore of going to the press against him and suggesting rivalry between him and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. |
Arora rips into ‘No. 1 Haryana’ claim
Fatehabad, September 19 Addressing party workers at Gopi Ram Dharamshala here today, Arora said voters had made up their mind to wipe out the Congress and the bypoll result had shown where the BJP stands. He exhorted workers not miss this opportunity to end the INLD’s 10-year exile and called upon them to persuade those who have left the party to return to reap the harvest of their efforts. Lambasting Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the Arora said he squandered Rs 113 crore of public money to show his face on television. Pooh-poohing the government’s “Number One Haryana” claims, Arora said 10 ministers and MLAs of the government were accused of demanding cash for CLU norms and two were in jail for receiving bribes for jobs. “The world views Haryana as the rape capital of India, Dalits felt unsafe in the state, people don’t have access to drinking water, hospitals don’t have doctors and schools are functioning without teachers. Yet, the state government is brazenly trying to project itself as the country’s top state,” he said. |
HJC campaign panel chief Batra won’t contest
New Delhi, September 19 Sources said the HJC is presently on the backfoot and has been compelled to revise its poll strategy. The party is of the view that Batra should not be confined to one Assembly constituency, which would be the case if he were made a candidate. As chairperson of the party’s Election Campaign Committee, he should work for party candidates, especially among the Punjabi community, across the state, it is felt. Batra has been espousing the cause of Punjabis for nearly three years under the banner of NGO Akhil Bharatiya Punjabi Jagriti Manch. Batra, considered to be temperamental and fickle, had won from the key Rohtak seat on a Congress ticket in 1991. Subsequently, he was made minister in the Bhajan Lal government. After it snapped ties with the BJP, the HJC tried to negotiate with the BSP to patch up an alliance. The party held unsuccessful talks with former Congress MP Arvind Sharma, who recently joined the BSP. Although talks hit a roadblock on the issue of chief ministership, the BSP formally conveyed to HJC that Sharma was not authorised to hold talks. Sharma wanted the HJC to agree to share the CM’s post with him on an annual basis, which the latter shot down. |
DCs, SPs discuss steps for smooth elections
Sirsa, September 19 Seeking cooperation from officials of the neighbouring states for smooth conduct of the assembly elections, Sirsa Deputy Commissioner Anshaj Singh urged them to set up police barricades on inter-state borders a week ahead of the polling day. He told the returning officers of the assembly segments as well officials from Punjab and Rajasthan to impose a ban on the sale of liquor in
Sirsa, Fatehabad and areas of other states bordering Haryana three days ahead of the October 15 poll. He said all vehicles crossing the
inter-tate borders should be checked for liquor as well as arms and ammunition. He also urged the officials to provide a list of bail jumpers and proclaimed offenders of their respective states, who lived near Haryana’s border. |
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CEO Walgad appeals to people to vote
Yamunanagar, September 19 He said steps were being taken to ensure the smooth conduct of free, impartial and peaceful elections in the state. Deputy Commissioner Mandip Singh Brar, Superintendent of Police Shashank Anand, Additional Deputy Commissioner Satbir Singh Saini, general secretary of the Mukand Lal institutions Ramesh Kumar, DDPO Gagandeep Singh, DRO Satish Bhardwaj and DIPRO Suresh Yadav were present on the occasion. |
Prohibitory orders continue in Yamunanagar village
Shiv Kumar Sharma
Yamunanagar, September 19 Inspector General of Police, Karnal range, Rajbir Deswal today visited the village and directed officers concerned to keep a vigil over the situation.Deputy Commissioner Mandip Singh Brar met members of the peace committee and asked them cooperate in police investigation. The village is still under the police cover. Villagers were allowed to go to their fields and out of the village. However, the entry of outsiders to the village has been banned. Thirty persons were injured after members of an upper caste and those belonging to other caste clashed over six acre of panchayat land on Wednesday. While members of the upper caste wanted to construct a stadium on the land, the other side opposed the move saying it would become a source of nuisance for dwellers of a nearby Harijan Basti. Yamunanagar Superintendent of Police Shashank Anand said three FIRs had been registered at the Sadar police station and an FIR was registered against 10 persons of the Schedule Caste on the complaint of members of the upper caste. He said the second FIR was registered against 27 persons of the upper caste under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act and the IPC on the complaint of Reena Rani, chairperson of Zila Parishad. The SP said the third FIR was lodged against 42 persons of both communities on the complaint of Ashok Kumar, in charge, Kalnaur police post. Ashok Kumar had alleged that the people of both communities attacked the police, injuring three police men. A special investigative team (SIT) has started its probe into the clash. |
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Arrest warrants against five Bharti officials in fraud case
Hisar, September 19 Amit Pruthi, a lawyer, moved court in June alleging he was given expired eatables and charged more than the MRP at Easyday stores in Hisar. He alleged it was a multi-crore fraud being run in the country in Bharti stores. The court directed the police to register and investigate the case on June 17 after which a case was registered against Sunil Bharti Mittal, CEO of Bharti Enterprises, and 17 others on charges of selling expired food products and cheating people by displaying one price and charging another. However, after initial investigation, the Hisar police served notices to five persons asking them to join the probe. They did not join the probe despite adequate evidence against them The complaint
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Jhajjar villagers ban entry of cattle traders from
Mewat, UP
Jhajjar, September 19 The mahapanchayat held at Gulia Chaubisi Chabutra in Sondhi village yesterday resolved to launch a nationwide campaign under the leadership of Sant Gopal Dass. A protest march to Jantar Mantar, Delhi, has been planned on October 31 to mount pressure on the Centre to enact a strict law against cow slaughtering. The meeting was called in the light of cow carcasses found in Nimani and Majri villages on Sunday. A day after, villagers thrashed 17 cow smugglers in Goyla Kalan village. The mahapanchayat decided to form a five-member committee at the village level to undertake a regular “thikri pehra” (night patrol) to prevent cow smuggling. Hundreds of villagers attended the panchayat presided over by Gulia Chaubisi chief Capt Ramphal and it lasted around four hours. “Since cattle traders of Mewat and Uttar Pradesh smuggle cows, the mahapanchayat has banned their entry in the 40 villages. Sarpanches and five-member committees will execute the decision in their villages,” said Sunil Nimana, chief of the gau chikitsalya
(hospital for cows) at Matanhel village. He further said, “Traders visit villages during the day on the pretext of buying calves. And smuggle
the cattle during the night.” The mahapanchayat called upon villagers to sell their cattle in fairs, Nimana added. |
Cop among six held; 31 vehicles recovered
Yamunanagar, September 19 District police spokesman Jagbir Singh said Naresh Kumar, a member of the detective staff, got a tipoff that several youths were sitting on the bank of ‘old Yamuna river’ and planning to loot a petrol pump situated at Ghoro Pipli village . The police raided that place and arrested Sumer Chand of Tabi Take Singh village, Praveen Kumar of Shahpur village, Satish Kumar, Manoj Kumar of Hakikat Nagar Colony, all belonging to Jind district; Sunil Kumar of Kanheri village in Fatehabad district and Vinod Kumar (policeman) of Dhanana village in Bhiwani district. Jagbir Singh said the accused confessed in preliminary interrogation they used to loot people disguised as policemen. In another case, the detective staff arrested three persons and recovered 31 stolen vehicles, including 25 motorcycles and six cars, from their possession. |
Dairying ‘brings nutritional security’ to people
Karnal, September 19 He says many children and women are underfed and malnourished. Dairying has proved again that it brings nutritional security and income to rural people. Explaining about the NDDB’s future plan, he said, “With the funding of Rs 2,200 crore and cooperation of the government, the NDDB is working on genetic improvement by a breeding policy, feed and fodder availability for animals and improvement in processing technology and the quality assurance system.” He said, “We want to involve 1.2 million farmers in the cooperative sector to increase the
clean milking and milk processing in India.” |
BKU demands early purchase of paddy
Kuruksehtra, September 19 The protesters burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
submitted a memorandum to City Magistrate Gagandeep Singh for the PM and the Chief Secretary of the state. Gurnam Singh Charuni, BKU president, said, "Private firms have been exploiting the farmers. Last year, the 1,509 paddy variety was sold between Rs 4,000-4,500 a quintal, but this year the same variety is being purchased between Rs 2,500- 2,800 by private firms. The private players have formed a pool and HAFED should be sent to mandis for bidding, so as to break the nexus of private players." |
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