SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI



THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
H A R Y A N A

Haryana Votes 2014

Fatehabad farmers to boycott poll over waterlogging woes
Badopal, September 19
Nearly 700 farmers of Badopal village of Fatehabad have decided to boycott the October 15 polls, citing the state government’s failure to solve the problems of waterlogging and soil salinity of their agricultural land.

A field rendered barren due to waterlogging and salinity near Fatehabad’s Badopal village. Tribune photo

Top state cops in pursuit of political power float parties
Hisar, September 19
Men in khakhi have a special penchant for power. They wield immense authority while being in service. After retirement, many top policemen in Haryana try their luck in politics. However, few have reached the echelons of power so far.

Constituency watch: Badli
Chaubisi panchayat holds key to victory
Badli, September 19
The Badli Assembly segment near the Delhi-Haryana border is one of the constituencies in the state where panchayats play a crucial role in deciding the prospects of candidates. The Gulia Chaubisi panchayat, an influential cluster of 24 villages, has been deciding the fate of candidates for 32 years.



YOUR TOWN
Chandigarh
Hisar


EARLIER STORIES



INLD accuses 2 poll panel officials of bias
Chandigarh, September 19
The INLD today accused two senior officials of the Election Department of ‘bias’ towards the complaints of the party against the Congress. In a complaint to VS Sampath, Chief Election Commissioner, RS Choudhary, INLD general secretary, alleged Maheshwar Sharma, Additional Chief Electoral Officer, and Gulshan Gandhi, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, were dilly-dallying on taking action on the INLD complaints against the Congress.

Vijayvargiya downplays rebel trouble
Bhiwani, September 19
Playing down the rebel trouble that has been brewing over ticket allocation, Kailash Vijayvargiya, the BJP’s central election in charge for Haryana elections, claimed it was a minor problem and had been sorted out.

Faridabad Cong MLA withdraws candidature
Faridabad, September 19
The ruling Congress appears to be heading for a showdown following allegations of political conspiracy levelled by Ballabgarh MLA and chief parliamentary secretary Sharda Rathore. She has announced her decision to exit the fray in view of infighting and has dared the high command to get another candidate to win from her seat. In a statement, Rathore said she had agreed to contest from Ballabgarh on party MP Deepender Singh Hooda’s request. However, some senior party leaders had been issuing statements targeting her.

Arora rips into ‘No. 1 Haryana’ claim
Fatehabad, September 19
INLD state president Ashok Arora today claimed the Assembly poll results would end the party’s 10-year wait for power and it would win enough seats to constitute the government on its own.

HJC campaign panel chief Batra won’t contest
New Delhi, September 19
Former state Home Minister and HJC campaign committee chairperson Subhash Batra will not contest the Assembly election. A HJC leader said not fielding Batra is part of the party’s new strategy as it prepares to face the election with an ally. Its talks with the BSP to forge an alliance with it for election have not made headway and it has only managed to forge an alliance with Venod Sharma’s Haryana Janchetna Party.

DCs, SPs discuss steps for smooth elections
Sirsa, September 19
The Deputy Commissioners and the Superintendents of Police from Bathinda, Mansa and Muktsar districts of Punjab, Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan and Fatehabad and Sirsa districts of Haryana today met here to discuss measures to hold peaceful elections in Haryana.

CEO Walgad appeals to people to vote
Yamunanagar, September 19
State Chief Electoral Officer Shrikant Walgad today appealed to the voters to cast their votes on October 15 to strengthen the democratic system of the country. Addressing students at the Jai Parkash Institute of Management and Technology (JMIT), Radaur, said today that the voters should use their right to vote after consideration.

BJP alleges regional bias in growth
Chandigarh, September 19
Haryana BJP spokeman Virender Singh Chauhan today accused the Hooda-led Congress government of bias in development and jobs. Chauhan dared the Chief Minister to contest the Vidhan Sabha poll from some constituency in the badly neglected districts of north or southern Haryana. The skewed development is going to be a major election issue, Chauhan asserted. Chauhan accused the Chief Minister of spending hundreds of crores from the public exchequer on a ‘misleading’ publicity campaign. About fielding certain candidates facing criminal cases, the BJP leader claimed that the party would take appropriate action in due course. TNS

BJP spokesman Virender Chauhana (left) talks to the media in Chandigarh on Friday.


Clash over land
Prohibitory orders continue in Yamunanagar village
Yamunanagar, September 19
The situation in violence-hit Tigra village remained peaceful today even as prohibitory orders continued for the second day in the village. The orders were issued on Wednesday night after 30 persons, including the Zila Parishad chairperson, were injured in a clash between two communities over land.

Arrest warrants against five Bharti officials in fraud case
Hisar, September 19
A local court today issued arrest warrants against five Bharti Mittal Group officials on charges of fraud. The court of judicial magistrate Bharat Bhushan Kaushik issued warrants against Raj Jain (chief executive officer of Bharti Retail), Pankaj Madan (chief financial officer), Vinod Sahney (executive officer), Rana Varun Pratap (store manager, Easyday, Sector 13) and Alok Bajaj (store manager, Easyday, Sector 15).

Jhajjar villagers ban entry of cattle traders from Mewat, UP
Jhajjar, September 19
To check cow smuggling and slaughtering, a mahapanchayat of 40 villages in the Badli Assembly segment has banned cattle traders of Mewat and Uttar Pradesh from entering the villages.

Cop among six held; 31 vehicles recovered
Yamunanagar, September 19
The detective staff arrested six persons, including a policeman, who used to loot people disguising themselves as policemen. The police also recovered a car with a blue beacon, a mouser, a desi pistol, iron rods, sticks, police dresses and fake currency notes of Rs 21,000 from their possession.

Dairying ‘brings nutritional security’ to people
Karnal, September 19
National Dairy Development Board (NDBB) chairman T Nanda Kumar today emphasised nutritional security in India while addressing the seventh national seminar on “Dairy sector- the key player for nutritional security in India.” The seminar was jointly organised by National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) and NDRI Graduate Association (NGA).

Dr Jagjit Singh Pujrath (third from left) being felicitated at NDRI in Karnal on Friday. Tribune photo: Ravi Kumar

BKU demands early purchase of paddy
Kuruksehtra, September 19
Seeking early purchase of paddy and expressing resentment with the lower prices being given to farmers for aromatic (basmati) varieties by private firms, the BKU (Charuni group) held a demonstration at the Mini-secretariat today.

Two vehicle-lifters’ gangs busted
Panipat, September 19
The district police have busted two inter-state gangs of bike lifters with the arrest of gang leaders. Fifteen bikes have been recovered from their possession. Stating this, DSP Jitender Gehlawat said one bike-lifter gang had been busted by CIA 2 Auto Vehicles Tracking (ATV) wing and the other by the City Thana police. A police team, headed by CIA ATV in charge SI Chabil Singh, caught Saalim of Kairana in Uttar Pradesh near Chhotu Ram Chowk and recovered seven stolen bikes from his possession, the DSP said. He further said City Thana SI Bhin Sen nabbed Dinesh and recovered eight stolen bikes from him. The DSP said further investigations were on. TNS

Traders protest raids by police, garment firm
Karnal, September 19
City traders today protested the raids conducted by a garment company along with the police at some shops in the city yesterday. The protest was led by Krishan Lal Taneja, president, Karnal Nagar Veopar Mandal, and Krishan Garg, senior deputy mayor. They said some firms had been harassing them on the pretext of the Copyright Act by conducting such raids. They said it was just to extort money from them. Garments worth several lakhs were confiscated in the raids. The garments, which were taken into custody by the firm, were not proven fake as alleged by the firm, said Krishan Lal Taneja. TNS

Members of the Veopar Mandal protest at Sabzi Mandi Chowk in Karnal on Friday. Tribune photo: Ravi Kumar

Police rescue 6-yr-old child
Rohtak, September 19
The child, who was rescued by the police after an encounter with the kidnapper here last evening, had been abducted for ransom. The kidnapper, Jitender of Gumana Majri village in Jhajjar district, has a criminal record and was reportedly under debt. In order to repay the loan, he plotted to kidnap six-year-old Pratham for ransom. After monitoring the child’s schedule for a few days, Jitender finally struck yesterday. As soon as Pratham got down from his school bus, Jitender bundled him into a Santro car and fled the scene. However, he was captured by a CCTV camera. The kidnapper also called Pratham’s mother on her mobile phone. The police located the car and intercepted it near Delhi bypass. An encounter ensued in which the kidnapper sustained bullet injuries. He has been admitted to the local PGIMS. TNS

2 killed in road mishap
Rewari, September 19
Two persons — Jagroop of Solkha village and Dalip Rai of Samastipur (Bihar) — were killed when a vehicle hit an auto near Jaatuvaas village on the Rewari-Bhadavaas road last evening. The vehicle driver sped away after the accident. The mishap took place when auto driver Jagroop and Dalip were coming towards Rewari city. The auto overturned after the vehicle hit it. The vehicle driver has been booked for rash and negligent driving. TNS





Top











 

Fatehabad farmers to boycott poll over waterlogging woes
Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service

Badopal, September 19
Nearly 700 farmers of Badopal village of Fatehabad have decided to boycott the October 15 polls, citing the state government’s failure to solve the problems of waterlogging and soil salinity of their agricultural land. They sat on a dharna on the Badopal – Kumharia road yesterday. They said their dharna would continue till the polling day and they would shift it to Fatehabad from October 16.

“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

 

Top state cops in pursuit of political power float parties
Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service

Hisar, September 19
Men in khakhi have a special penchant for power. They wield immense authority while being in service. After retirement, many top policemen in Haryana try their luck in politics. However, few have reached the echelons of power so far.

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

  • Two recently retired IPS officers — ADGP Ram Chander Jowal and IGP Ranbir Sharma — have floated their own parties
  • Raj Singh Mor, another cop, is the INLD nominee from the Narnaund Assembly segment of Hisar
  • The wife of Faridabad DCP Rajesh Duggal, Sunita Duggal, is a claimant for the BJP ticket
  • Former ADGP PV Rathi, who puts in his papers as the principal adviser to the CM, is said to be keen on contesting the poll on the Congress ticket
  • Ranbir Sharma, who had joined AAP during the Lok Sabha poll, has floated Lok Swaraj Party

The lucky lot

  • Some lower rank policemen have been lucky enough to win elections
  • Former MLAs Bali Pahlwan from Meham in Rohtak, Udey Singh Dalal from Badli in Jhajjar, Dharm Singh Chhoker from Samalkha had served as constables before they joined politics

Top

 

Constituency watch: Badli
Chaubisi panchayat holds key to victory
Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service

Badli, September 19
The Badli Assembly segment near the Delhi-Haryana border is one of the constituencies in the state where panchayats play a crucial role in deciding the prospects of candidates. The Gulia Chaubisi panchayat, an influential cluster of 24 villages, has been deciding the fate of candidates for 32 years. Former minister late Dheerpal Singh Gulia was the Badli MLA five times (from 1982 to 2005) consecutively and, every time, the Chaubisi panchayat threw its weight behind him.

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.

Top

 

INLD accuses 2 poll panel officials of bias
Says they dilly-dallied on complaints against Cong
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 19
The INLD today accused two senior officials of the Election Department of ‘bias’ towards the complaints of the party against the Congress. In a complaint to VS Sampath, Chief Election Commissioner, RS Choudhary, INLD general secretary, alleged Maheshwar Sharma, Additional Chief Electoral Officer, and Gulshan Gandhi, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, were dilly-dallying on taking action on the INLD complaints against the Congress.

“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

Top

 

Vijayvargiya downplays rebel trouble
Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service

Bhiwani, September 19
Playing down the rebel trouble that has been brewing over ticket allocation, Kailash Vijayvargiya, the BJP’s central election in charge for Haryana elections, claimed it was a minor problem and had been sorted out.

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”.

‘All is well’

  • Kailash Vijayvargiya, BJP's central election in charge for Haryana elections, claimed that it was a minor problem which had been sorted out
  • He ruled out any impact of the drubbing in the UP, Gujarat and Rajasthan bypoll on the party's prospects in the state
  • He defended to not name the CM candidate and argued even the Congress did not do so
  • 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

Top

 

Faridabad Cong MLA withdraws candidature
Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, September 19
The ruling Congress appears to be heading for a showdown following allegations of political conspiracy levelled by Ballabgarh MLA and chief parliamentary secretary Sharda Rathore. She has announced her decision to exit the fray in view of infighting and has dared the high command to get another candidate to win from her seat. In a statement, Rathore said she had agreed to contest from Ballabgarh on party MP Deepender Singh Hooda’s request. However, some senior party leaders had been issuing statements targeting her.

“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.

Top

 

Arora rips into ‘No. 1 Haryana’ claim
Tribune News Service

Fatehabad, September 19
INLD state president Ashok Arora today claimed the Assembly poll results would end the party’s 10-year wait for power and it would win enough seats to constitute the government on its own.

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.

Top

 

HJC campaign panel chief Batra won’t contest
Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 19
Former state Home Minister and HJC campaign committee chairperson Subhash Batra will not contest the Assembly election. A HJC leader said not fielding Batra is part of the party’s new strategy as it prepares to face the election with an ally. Its talks with the BSP to forge an alliance with it for election have not made headway and it has only managed to forge an alliance with Venod Sharma’s Haryana Janchetna Party.

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.

Top

 

DCs, SPs discuss steps for smooth elections
Tribune News Service

Sirsa, September 19
The Deputy Commissioners and the Superintendents of Police from Bathinda, Mansa and Muktsar districts of Punjab, Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan and Fatehabad and Sirsa districts of Haryana today met here to discuss measures to hold peaceful elections in Haryana.

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.

Top

 

CEO Walgad appeals to people to vote
Our Correspondent

Yamunanagar, September 19
State Chief Electoral Officer Shrikant Walgad today appealed to the voters to cast their votes on October 15 to strengthen the democratic system of the country. Addressing students at the Jai Parkash Institute of Management and Technology (JMIT), Radaur, said today that the voters should use their right to vote after consideration.

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.

Top

 

Clash over land
Prohibitory orders continue in Yamunanagar village
Shiv Kumar Sharma

Yamunanagar, September 19
The situation in violence-hit Tigra village remained peaceful today even as prohibitory orders continued for the second day in the village. The orders were issued on Wednesday night after 30 persons, including the Zila Parishad chairperson, were injured in a clash between two communities over land.

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.

Top

 

Arrest warrants against five Bharti officials in fraud case
Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service

Hisar, September 19
A local court today issued arrest warrants against five Bharti Mittal Group officials on charges of fraud. The court of judicial magistrate Bharat Bhushan Kaushik issued warrants against Raj Jain (chief executive officer of Bharti Retail), Pankaj Madan (chief financial officer), Vinod Sahney (executive officer), Rana Varun Pratap (store manager, Easyday, Sector 13) and Alok Bajaj (store manager, Easyday, Sector 15).

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

  • 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 Bharti stores across the country

Top

 

Jhajjar villagers ban entry of cattle traders from Mewat, UP
Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, September 19
To check cow smuggling and slaughtering, a mahapanchayat of 40 villages in the Badli Assembly segment has banned cattle traders of Mewat and Uttar Pradesh from entering the villages.

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.

Top

 

Cop among six held; 31 vehicles recovered
Our Correspondent

Yamunanagar, September 19
The detective staff arrested six persons, including a policeman, who used to loot people disguising themselves as policemen. The police also recovered a car with a blue beacon, a mouser, a desi pistol, iron rods, sticks, police dresses and fake currency notes of Rs 21,000 from their possession.

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.

Top

 

Dairying ‘brings nutritional security’ to people
Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service

Karnal, September 19
National Dairy Development Board (NDBB) chairman T Nanda Kumar today emphasised nutritional security in India while addressing the seventh national seminar on “Dairy sector- the key player for nutritional security in India.” The seminar was jointly organised by National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) and NDRI Graduate Association (NGA).

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.”

Top

 

BKU demands early purchase of paddy
Nitish Sharma
Tribune News Service

Kuruksehtra, September 19
Seeking early purchase of paddy and expressing resentment with the lower prices being given to farmers for aromatic (basmati) varieties by private firms, the BKU (Charuni group) held a demonstration at the Mini-secretariat today.

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."

Top

 





HOME PAGE | Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Opinions |
| Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi |
| Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail |