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4% market tax on paddy not new: CM
Mayawati, Sushma descend on Jind district
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Anti-incumbency haunts Hooda in election battle
in tune with times
Yadav vying to become Haryana CM
New to state politics, Khattar gains ground
HSGMC may swing votes in Sikh-majority areas
Shakeel takes on Modi for Pak shelling
Hepatitis C haunting Cong in Ratia
20% extra force deployed for keenly watched
poll
campaign
trail: Capt Ajay Yadav, Congress nominee: Rewari
Candidates get creative with a day left for canvassing
INLD nominee’s nephews booked for rape
Bansi Lal still a force to reckon with here
Colourful turbans set the tone in canvassing
Karnal to witness tough contest
Campaigners now want SUVs, other luxuries
PM’s praise revives hopes of khap chiefs
Many in Uchana Kalan join INLD
Urgent need to ‘change’ our political system
Deepender promises Faridabad makeover
Rallies, quiz to encourage voting
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4% market tax on paddy not new: CM
Karnal, October 12 Addressing a rally at the city’s old grain market in support of Congress Karnal candidate, Surinder Narwal, Hooda said the tax had been continuing for long and slammed the Centre for playing with the emotions of farmers. “I had written to the Prime Minister demanding bonus for farmers. In response, the Agriculture Minister told me state farmers were already getting more price than the cost of the produce, which hurt their feelings. The farmers will give a befitting reply on October 15,” he said. BJP leaders, including the PM, party chief Amit Shah and Union Agriculture Minister Dr Sanjeev Balyan, have charged Hooda with imposing 4 per cent market tax on paddy in Haryana. They said the Punjab government has removed such a tax on the Centre’s appeal, resulting in low paddy price. Hooda promised interest-free crop loan to farmers if voted to power. “When the INLD was in power, farmers paid 11 per cent interest on crop loan. But, our government charged only 4 per cent interest,” Hooda said. Attacking the BJP government on its 100 days in office, the CM said, “Ceasefire has been violated more than 100 times during these days, but the government has done nothing. Bypolls were held in 54 segments, of which 42 were held by the BJP. The BJP could retain only 21 seats. Now, after four-months, the result would be zero as the Modi magic is over.” Taking a jibe on the “lack” of Chief Ministerial candidates in the BJP and the INLD, Hooda said, “The BJP has no CM candidate. The INLD’s candidate is in jail and dreaming of taking oath there. He is making a fool of the people and will form the government of convicts in jail itself.” Attacking the BJP for giving ticket to turncoats, he said the party was like a Chinese product that does not last long. He called upon the people to vote for Surinder Narwal for more development. The CM later addressed a public meeting in support of party candidate Subhash Chaudhry in Yamunanagar’s Radaur town. He said the people of the state were intelligent and knew who worked for them and would vote for the Congress. “I ensured all-round and equal development in the state. Our government spent Rs 450 crore on the development of Radaur Assembly segment while the INLD government had only spent only Rs 58.26 crore,” said Hooda. ‘I’m Cong’s CM choice’
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the Congress had already announced his name for CM, but both the BJP and the INLD were keeping voters in the dark on this issue. The people have the right to know their CM candidate before polling, he said while addressing a meeting at Rai’s Nahri village in support of party candidate Jai Tirath Dahiya. Tanwar differs, says CM to be named after result
(Inputs from Shiv Kumar Sharma in Yamunanagar & BS Malik in
Sonepat) |
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Mayawati, Sushma descend on Jind district
Jind, October 12 “If you want to see development of Haryana, you must vote for the BJP. Only the BJP can bring prosperity in the state. After forming the next government in the state, we will bring in a lot of development and provide best facilities here for all,” said BJP’s senior leader Sushma Swaraj, while addressing a rally in the Pillukhera area of Safidon constituency in support of party candidate and her younger sister Dr Vandana Sharma. Hooda addressed a rally at the Old Grain Market of Jind to support the local Congress candidate. He alleged that the BJP had “failed” within the first few months of coming to power at the Centre and people should see through the “false promises” of that party. “The BJP is like a Chinese item and its durability is not much. The party made tall promises of controlling inflation and cross-border infiltration and bringing back black money, but now the Prime Minister has forgotten his promises. Voters are very smart and they would reject the BJP and the INLD both and elect the Congress again,” claimed Hooda. Another senior BJP leader and Union Health Minister Dr Harshvardhan was also in city today. He held meetings of party workers to support party candidates. “The Haryana Government has made a new record of corruption by working as a property dealer. There is no development in Haryana. We will bring development to Haryana after forming the next government as there is a strong BJP wave in the state,” said Dr Harshvardhan. BSP chief Mayawati, while addressing a rally here, said all the governments of Haryana had “exploited poor and Dalits” and never thought about their development. “The BSP is the only party which takes care of all the communities. Other parties are working to divide the society on caste lines. But this time, people know everything and they will elect the BSP government in Haryana,” said
Mayawati. Quote unquote
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Anti-incumbency haunts Hooda in election battle
Chandigarh, October 12 Skewed development and nepotism in government jobs, especially in favour of CM Hooda’s home turf Rohtak and adjoining areas are twin issues which are being exploited by the Opposition to target the CM. “What to talk of anti-incumbency in the state, he is facing anti-incumbency even in Rohtak. In fact, the strong anti-incumbency will result in Congress’ worst-ever performance in Haryana’s electoral history,” said R.S. Choudhary, the INLD national general secretary. Haryana BJP election in- charge Kailash Vijayvargiya claimed that the anti-incumbency against the government coupled with the ‘Modi wave’ would pave the way for the formation of a BJP government in the state. “There is no anti-incumbency, rather there is pro-incumbency. People vote for development, they are wise and understand who can further accelerate this pace of development,” Hooda had claimed. Senior Congress leaders like Rao Inderjit Singh and Birender Singh (both with the BJP now) and Kumari Selja had been flagging the issue of skewed development and nepotism in government jobs in the run up to the polls. However, the Congress hopes to cash in on the ‘uniform’ development across the state. To beat anti-incumbency, Hooda announced a slew of incentives for a cross-section of the society at the November 10, 2013, Gohana rally ahead of the recent LS polls. However, the sops failed to impress the electorate with the result that the Congress, which won 9 out of 10 seats in the 2009 LS polls, could retain only one seat in the 2014 parliamentary elections. Point & counter-point Hooda is facing anti-incumbency even in his home district Rohtak. This will result in the Congress’ worst-ever performance in the Assembly poll. — RS Choudhary, inld gen Secy The anti-incumbency against Hooda coupled with the ‘Modi wave’ will pave the way for the formation of BJP government. — Kailash Vijayvargiya. bjp election in charge for Haryana There is pro-incumbency. People vote for growth and they know who can accelerate this pace of development. — Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Chief Minister
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Parties turn to pop songs for campaigning
Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service
Hisar, October 12 The main players — the Congress, INLD and BJP — have come up with original songs sung by professional singers. The influence of the social, visual and broadcast media has made the parties to replace the old style of campaign with a new one. The experts say that the launch of several Haryana-based television channels and FM radio stations have helped usher in this change, as these platforms provide wide publicity to the parties. The practice of campaigning through vehicles carrying loudspeakers playing patriotic songs have been done away with to cut expenses. The Congress unleashed the “Haryana number 1” campaign ad blitz to showcase the “growth story” during the Congress regime in the past decade. The promotional jingle directed by Bollywood artiste Harvinder Malik, who launched a news channel in the state recently, is a mix of pop and rap music. The lyrics describe the development works by the government. The INLD came up with “jeetega Haryana” campaign by roping in rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh. The fast beats of his catchy song “jeetaga jeetega jeetega, Haryana jeetega” is all the rage. It features Honey Singh and INLD leaders, including Devi Lal and Om Prakash Chautala. The ad campaign of the HJC has targeted the friend-turned-foe BJP while projecting Kuldeep Bishoi its CM candidate. In a compilation of past speeches of top BJP leaders, they are shown announcing Bishnoi as the alliance leader. The ad calls BJP leaders betrayers. And it carries a tagline “Samaj vikas samaj rojgar, imandar and jawabdeh sarkar”. In a belated ad blitzkrieg, the BJP has embarked on an aggressive campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its face. In its campaign, the party urges people to give the party majority in the Assembly. The black and white ad — “Badle Haryana ke halaat, chalo chale Modi ke saath” — indicates that the state still lags behind in development. “With a number of news channels and print media outlets in the state, the parties know that ad campaign through these platforms is more impressive as well as cost effective than old practice of distributing party literature, and displaying flags,” Virender Phogat, a media expert, said.
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campaign
trail: Capt Ajay Yadav, Congress nominee: Rewari Ravinder Saini Tribune News Service
Rewari, October 12 This poll mantra is being used by Yadav during his campaigning to convince people to vote for him for the sake of unprecedented development in this backward region. It is 7 am and the house of Yadav at Model town locality is abuzz with activity. People in several groups are sitting in every nook and corner of the house. Some of them are going through the newspapers while others are sipping tea discussing the current poll equations. Dressed in a white kurta pyjama, Yadav steps out from his room and sits in his SUV after instructing his workers to wait for him. “I spend two hours in the morning to placate people who are miffed. You cannot win elections by ignoring your supporters,” Yadav told TNS. He comes back around 9 am where his wife Shakuntla, sister Meenakshi along with other family members are busy chalking out a plan for day’s canvassing. Having fruits for breakfast, he hits the road. En route, he calls a poll manager who informs him that 250 people are waiting for him at the New Grain Market. There, he is presented a turban by the grain market traders who announce their support for him. Striking an emotional chord, Yadav says “You are the people who are behind the success of my political journey. I was a minister but now the fight is for the top position but this is not possible without your support. We need to bring chaudhar (supremacy) to this belt,” he adds amidst applause. He enumerates the development works undertaken in Rewari in his address before leaving for another meeting at Mahabir Chowk.
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Campaign trail: Manohar Lal Khattar,
BJP nominee: Karnal Naveen S Garewal and Parveen Arora Tribune News Service
Karnal, October 12 His endorsement as a front runner for the chief ministerial berth by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put him ahead of the competition. “The implications of this are being drawn by the media. I have nothing to say more than the fact that I am a loyal soldier of the party and a parcharak (RSS trainer). So whatever duty is given to me, I will do it to the best of my ability,” Khattar tells the media. But in his speeches he talks about “kartavya”. Living out of a suitcase, literally, this senior RSS activist does not talk ill of rivals that include former minster Jai Parkash contesting as an Independent or INLD candidate Manoj Wadhwa. His attack is on the Congress and not on its candidate Surinder Narwal. “I don’t believe in making things personal. It is a war of ideologies and not personalities,” Khattar tells a gathering. After all, he fears none. After the initial black flag reception during the Vijay Sankalp Rally, the party cadre has understood the mood of the high command. As his convoy moves from a Jat segment to Punjabi Colony, he shifts from chaste Hindi to fluent Punjabi and then to bits of English. He is perhaps telling his voters that he is not only educated, but capable of handling the state affairs if he gets an opportunity to do so. His ability to take others along has had a magnet-like effect on local leaders, as many key leaders of the Congress and other parties joined the BJP. Morning prayer
keeps him going Khattar’s day starts with a vegetarian breakfast and then he spends around 16 hours in canvassing. But before he eats, it’s a two-minute pooja soon after waking up at 5 am. This, he says, “is must for him to remain calm. I have been practicing it for long. It gives me inner strength and keeps me at peace with myself.” Other than seeking votes in the name of Modi, he asks people at gatherings and “nukkad” meetings to adopt the “two-minute prayer” mantra to succeed in life. By 7am, when he is ready, the control of his day’s activities is handed over to the RSS team leader who then regulates his day. “Hundreds of parcharaks from the country are camping in Karnal to help me,” he says and adds, “not many women come out for canvassing. Perhaps the societal norms don’t permit that”. His thoughts at the Railway Colony meeting are measured and concentrated around Karnal’s development. Dispelling his outsider tag that somehow appears to bother him, he tells the crowds: “Now, I am the resident of Karnal, as I have a house here. Being an RSS parcharak, I have lived in all districts and blocks of the state. So, the entire state is my home.” He knows the local issues well, thus comes the attack on the Congress for the slow pace of work on Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College. But at the same time, he promises to fulfill the demands of industries such as footwear, agriculture implements, dairy, rice, pharmaceutical and many others that have a base in the constituency. As his convoy moves to the Gandhi Ground, Act 1, Scene 1 is replayed. But in spite of the repetition, he moves to the next venue, hoping that this support will translate into votes on October 15.
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HSGMC may swing votes in Sikh-majority areas
Karnal, October 12 He said the separate committee could play a decisive role in the Sikh-dominated areas. The prestige of the leaders of the SGPC and the HSGMC is at stake in Karnal district also, as the prominent leaders of the outfits, including Jagdish Singh Jhinda, HSGMC president, and Raghujeet Singh Virk, senior vice-president, SGPC, are residing in Karnal. Following the HSGMC call, Jhinda and other members are canvassing in the favour of Congress candidates, while Raghujit Singh Virk, senior vice-president of the SGPC is campaigning for the INLD-SAD candidates and a member of the HSGMC, Amrinder Arora, has announced to extend support to the BJP. Sources said there was a sizeable number of the Sikh community members in Karnal district, which could affect the outcome of the elections. To know the ground reality, The Tribune team interacted with residents of all five segments and found out that at many places, the separate committee card is playing well and community members are thanking the Congress for forming a separate committee. On the other hand, some are accusing the Congress for dividing the community in the name of a committee. Instead of the committee for which these two groups are fighting, many residents want development and other basic facilities to improve. “The Congress has fulfilled the long-pending demand of the Sikh community and it is our duty to fulfil the promises we have made. A separate committee will give advantage to the Congress,” said Jhinda. Prestige at stake
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Shakeel takes on Modi for Pak shelling
Addressing a press conference here today, Ahmed said the BJP made a lot of noise in the Opposition about the then “weak Prime Minister” and said that a 56 inch chest was needed to show Pakistan its place. “I just want to know if Modi’s chest has shrunk to 5.6 inches after assuming power since shelling on the border is at an all-time high, making 40,000 persons leave their homes along the LoC,” he said. He was accompanied by party secretary in charge Asha Kumari. Defending the Robert Vadra land deals in Haryana, Ahmed maintained that a PIL had already been “withdrawn as dismissed” from the Supreme Court and the matter was unnecessarily being raked up. “Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad is now giving away facts. Why didn’t he appear in court and give his arguments if they held so much water,” questioned Ahmed. On the euphoria around Modi’s America and Japan visits, Ahmed said there was a difference between “event management and diplomacy”, stating that the truth about the success of the visits would also come out. Questioning the “truthfulness” of Modi’s speech on women’s security in Gurgaon, Asha Kumari asked “How can a man who has retained a “rapist” in his Cabinet talk of women’s security? It only means there is a difference between what the BJP says and how it acts,” she said. Holding that the Congress was going to form the government in the state for the third time, Ahmed said the Congress position had considerably improved after the Lok Sabha results. “We are looking to improve our tally this time. We are expecting a clear majority and win about 50 seats. Everybody knows the BJP is in a mess after
ticket distribution,” Ahmed said. Taking a dig at INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala, Ahmed said only the CBI could find out what ailed the leader. “It is beyond any doctor to find out since Chautala came out on medical grounds and went about packing his days with so many rallies,” he said. He said former Congress leader Birender Singh, too, must be finding it difficult to sing praises of a party whose ideals he was opposed to. “We treated him with respect after he lost the last election, made him general secretary in chage of elections, among others. When the Congress lost, he turned his back on the party and switched loyalty,” Ahmed said. On Vadra-DLF deal
The PIL on the Vadra-DLF land deal had been “withdrawn as dismissed” from the Supreme Court and the matter was unnecessarily being raked up On PM’s Japan, US trips
There’s a difference between “event management and diplomacy”... the truth about the success of the visits would come out On OP Chautala
Only the CBI could find out what ailed the leader. It is beyond any doctor to find out since Chautala came out on medical grounds and went about packing his days with so many rallies |
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Hepatitis C haunting Cong in Ratia
Ratia (Fatehabad), October 12 By the health department’s own figures, merely 110 patients from Ratia were getting free treatment at PGIMS, Rohtak, where the government has set up special centre for Hepatitis C patients. Repeated representations of local residents to provide treatment at Ratia or Fatehabad, as poor people are unable to go to Rohtak every week and to provide treatment free of cost to all patients, have fallen on deaf ears of the government. People infected by the disease have to purchase their weekly injection for a cost of Rs 7000 and above depending upon the maker of the drug. Residents of Ratia town have now been asking difficult questions for which the Congress candidate Jarnail Singh does not have any satisfactory answers. During a byelection held at Ratia in 2011 after the death of Gian Chand Odh, Hooda had promised to provide free treatment to Hepatitis C patients after a complete survey. “We voted for his candidate and helped Congress snatch Ratia seat from INLD after 29 years. Congress candidate Jarnail Singh won that election by a huge margin of 12700 votes. However, the government did not honour its promise and patients have to purchase costly treatment (nearly Rs 4 to 6 lakh per patient) on their own,” alleged a resident Gagandeep Singh. He said that the actual number of patients is much more than 1848 as the heath teams had taken samples of merely 7500-odd people. “Wherever I have gone in Ratia town during my campaign, people allege they have been betrayed by the government on this issue,” said Bhartiya Janata Party candidate Sunita Duggal, who quit the plum post of Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax to contest the poll. The INLD candidate Ravinder Baliyana has also been trying to fish in on the hurt sentiments of the voters. Jarnail Singh, however, said that Hepatitis C was not an issue in these elections. “Poor and BPL patients are already getting this treatment free of cost. The only demand of the residents was to provide the treatment at Ratia or Fatehabad, so that they did not have to go to PGIMS. I had brought this to the notice of Hooda saab, but somehow this could not materialize. I will try to shift the treatment centre here after election,” said Jarnail Singh, when
The Tribune contacted him for his version. |
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20% extra force deployed for keenly watched
poll
Chandigarh, October 12 IG (Law and Order) Navdeep Singh Virk said 57,000 cops, Home Guards and personnel from various agencies are keeping vigil in 90 constituencies while 95 paramilitary companies have been deployed till the end of polling. “Deployment in each constituency has been worked out as per a formula that takes into account its polling booths and other parameters. Two control rooms have been set up, one exclusively to deal with issues of deployment and another to keep a watch on VVIP movement in pre-election days and poll-related violence on October 15. Haryana DGP SN Vashisht and ADGP (Law and Order) Mohd Akil are monitoring reports being received in the control room,” Virk said. As many as 256 inter-state border nakas have been set up to keep tabs on smuggling of illicit liquor and flow of cash and arms from adjoining states. A whopping 374 internal nakas have been set up while a two-member team comprising a deputy superintendent of police and an inspector with anti-riot force are holding fort in each segment. Two cops will be deployed at each of the 16,357 booths at 9,817 locations. As many as 800 patrolling parties have been formed. Each party will patrol 12 polling locations. Also, for the first time, five police observers will oversee deployment in an election where 30 per cent booths have been categorised “sensitive” and “hypersensitive”. “The police have 270 static surveillance teams and 270 flying squads to check poll code violations and carry out seizure of illicit arms, narcotics and cash,” AIG (Law and Order) Simardeep Singh said. The state police have augmented its force by cutting down staff in auxillary units and withdrawing men from non-district units. “We have got 30 extra companies over the last election. As many as 3,000 additional police personnel have been deployed and 5,000 Home Guard
volunteers have been hired from neighbouring Rajasthan, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh,” Virk said, maintaining only four instances of pre-poll violence have been reported so far. Flag march in
Sonepat Sonepat: Contingents of the CISF and the Sonepat police today took out a flag march in villages of the Gannaur and Rai assembly constituencies and localities of Sonepat in view of the polling on October
15. DSPs Jitesh Kumar and Ajit Singh, who led the contingents, interacted with prominent citizens in the villages to have information about anti-social elements. The flag march was also carried out in villages of the Gohana and Baroda constituencies yesterday. Police spokesman Jagjit Singh said that besides four CISF companies (360 personnel), more than 3,400 police personnel and home guard jawans would be on duty on the polling day to ensure peaceful and fair polling. |
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Yamuna floods key issue in Radaur
Yamunanagar, October 12 “We will vote for the candidate who will promise to construct an embankment from Kalanaur to Gumthala Rao village to save
us from the fury of floods every year,” said Anil Kaushik of Lal Chhappar Majari village. BJP candidate Shyam Singh Rana said he was aware of the problem and if chosen MLA, he would make efforts to get the embankment constructed on priority. “Flood waters of Yamuna wreak havoc in nearly 50 villages every year. Besides causing extensive damage to standing kharif crop and green fodder over thousands of acres, the Yamuna has eroded soil from about 2,000 acres and washed away 400 tubewells in the past eight years,” said Shiv Kumar Sandhala, a Zila Parishad member. The Uttar Pradesh government had started constructing an embankment near the active edge of the Yamuna River in Tabar village in its side in July in violation of the guidelines of the Central Water Commission’s Yamuna Standing Committee. Senior authorities intervened and the Committee order halting of the construction work. “If the Uttar Pradesh government had built
the 3.5-km embankment along the Yamuna’s eastern bank on its side, it would have pushed
the bulk of the river water towards 34 villages of Jathlana area of Radaur segment every monsoon and caused massive
loss to life and property,” said Sandhala. |
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Candidates get creative with a day left for canvassing
Karnal, October 12 In this series, sitting MLA and INLD candidate from Gharaunda Assembly segment Narinder Sangwan today reached Begumpura village riding a combine. His move not only attracted attention but voters turning to him in hordes. He used the opportunity to seek votes from the villagers and ueged them to ensure that INLD gets clear majority, so that the remaining development work could be completed. A few days ago the INLD candidate sought votes by riding a horse. He also held a road show in the segment. At the Karnal segment, INLD candidate Manoj Wadhwa adopted unique ways for canvassing. He hired a small aircraft, carrying his and circled the segment in the afternoon. It not only attracted people’s attention, but also helped Wadhwa to seek votes. Wadhwa held around 16 jansabhas on Sunday in various parts of the segment. Former minister and two-time MLA Jai Parkash Gupta, who is contesting from Karnal, today took out a road show to show his strength. He appealed to the people to support him and ensure his victory. Manohar Lal Khattar, BJP candidate from Karnal, started his door-to-door campaign and addressed many jansabha in the segment. He assured the people of inclusive development in the state. |
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INLD nominee’s nephews booked for rape
Sirsa, October 12 Ellenabad MLA Abhay Singh Chautala has accused the Haryana Lokhit Party chief Gopal Kanda of hatching a conspiracy against his candidate. “Kanda’s character is known to everyone. He can go to any extent. My candidate Makhan Lal Singla belongs to a very religious family. However, I demand that the police should inquire the matter impartially and bring to book whoever is guilty,” said Abhay Singh. Kanda could not be contacted as he was “busy” at a music programme organised by him, where singer Mika and some actors were performing. The girl, a resident of Delhi, has alleged that on September 13, she was called to Sirsa from Delhi for a job and raped at a hotel by Rahul, Munish and Pankaj (Makhan Lal’s nephews), after being given a cold drink laced with intoxicants. She alleged that Manish had also prepared an MMS of the incident. She alleged that they had threatened her with dire consequences due to which she had returned to Delhi. The girl, with her face covered, was presented before mediapersons at a hotel today by an associate of Kanda and the “news” was first telecast on “Haryana News”, the news channel owned by him. The girl left the press conference when she was asked about how she came in contact with the accused. She had approached Amar Colony Police Station in Delhi, where an FIR was registered under Sections 376 of the IPC. Suresh Pal, Station House Officer of the City Police Station, said an FIR had been registered in Sirsa on October 7 on the basis of the FIR lodged in Delhi and the investigation was on. |
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Bansi Lal still a force to reckon with here
Bhiwani, October 12 This is why his image still looms large in this district years after his death and his kith and kin always receive adulation at both social and political platforms. In fact, any election cannot be imagined without their active participation here. This time too, four of his kin are in fray from different Assembly segments of the district to to bank on his political legacy. Such was the four time CMs persona that all these candidates are seeking votes on his name by naming the development works undertaken here during Lal’s tenures. Those contesting include Bansi Lal’s son Ranbir Mahendra, daughter-in-law Kiran Choudhry and son-in-law Somveer Singh who are trying their fortune as Congress candidates while Lal’s daughter Sumitra is in fray on a BSP ticket. Mahendra and Kiran are contesting from Badhra and Tosham, respectively, while Somveer and Sumitra are battling it out in Loharu. “Bhiwani is the “karambhoomi” of Bansi Lal and Surender Singh who devoted themselves to ensure overall development of this region. That’s why the people acknowledge their work,” said Kiran, wife of Surender Singh. Krishan, a resident of Golapur village, said “No one can forget the ‘vikas purush’ in Bhiwani as the progress one sees here is due to him. He provided basic amenities like drinking and irrigation water besides laying an extensive network of roads.” Rajender Khatri, a political analyst, said that owing to the development due to the sincere efforts of Bansi Lal a significant numbers of voters in six Assembly segments of this district feel it’s their homage to vote for either his kin or any candidate supported by the family. |
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Colourful turbans set the tone in canvassing
Jind, October 12 “Since Haryana people have a great respect for turban, politicians want to develop some emotional connection with them by introduction their own colour for turbans. Initially, when the INLD chose green, it got a massive response. But when other parties started following the trend, voters understood the game,” said Jugal Kumar, a Jind resident. Initially, colours helped parties promote their candidates. But now, when political mudslinging has crossed all limits, politicians have started using this “symbol of respect” to disrespect their political opponents. The INLD has launched a special campaign, “gulabi (pink) gang” government, to target the Congress. “Corruption, unemployment and regional discrimination have been troubling Haryana residents for long. They are not able to get basic amenities, but CM Bhupinder Hooda wants to show everything is fine with the pink,” alleged Karmbir
Saini, BSP candidate from Safidon, who left the Haryana Congress some months ago. But during campaigning, the colour fight appears to have gone beyond turbans, as political parties have started promoting
dupattas, kurta pyjamas, pants, shirts, vehicles, mobile covers, hand bands and pens of their respective
colours. “Though politicians are trying to divide the Haryana voters by promoting different
colours, the majority of voters is aware of their manoeuvers and have left wearing party turbans,” said Kuldeep
Dhanda, a senior khap leader. |
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Karnal to witness tough contest
Karnal, October 12 First timer Khattar is confident of winning but is not taking any risks and campaigning rigorously. He promises good governance, inclusive development. Wadhwa is also a first timer and relies on personal contacts with the residents the segment. He also uses the social media for raising important issues. The Congress has swiped its candidate for Karnal and Assandh due to which Narwal is contesting from Karnal while incumbent MLA Sumita Singh is the nominee from Assandh. Narwal is also a first timer but he assures the people of more development and has succeeded in pacifying several rebel Congress leaders. Gupta is fighting his seventh election but this time as an Independent. He won twice earlier. Matlauda, a former AICC member who unsuccessfully contested on a Congress ticket in 2000, is in fray as an Independent this time. He too raises the issues of discrimination in jobs and development.. HJC candidate Tejpal Garg is also trying hard to garner support among the residents of this segment. His campaigning style on a tractor is an attraction among the voters.
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Campaigners now want SUVs, other luxuries
Jind, October 12 A visit to the office of the candidate of any political party is enough to asses the changing style of campaign as a fleet of SUVs is there to ferry his supporters to various areas of the constituency. A new army of youngsters carrying smart phones, ipads is there . Since the new generation does not want to travel in uncomfortable vehicles, politicians have hired all SUVs from all taxi stands of the state. “We know these youngsters travelling in SUVs do not leave a good impression on our poor voters but we do not have any alternative as if we do not provide SUVs with all facilities, there would be no one to campaign for us” said a senior politician. Since all politicians have been paying more than the rates fixed by the Election Commission of India to hire
SUVs, they refused to even disclose the numbers of vehicles hired by them. But some travel agency owners in Jind , Gurgaon and Chandigarh confirmed that the shortage of SUVs in Haryana have forced them to arrange SUVs from New Delhi, Punjab and Chandigarh at higher rates. “A majority of the politicians booked SUVs almost two or three months back. But those, who did
not, have to pay more as they have arranged thses from outside Haryana. ” said Anil, who works as a commission agent
to arrange vehicles. Some youngsters sitting in an SUV, campaigning for a local Independent, told The Tribune campaigning for them meant enjoying AC comfort all day. “We do not get out of the vehicle as there is another team to go with our leader to all meetings, ” said
Dhaninder, sitting in an SUV in the Jind grain market while their candidate was busy in a meeting. |
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VK Singh promises one rank, one pension
Arienpura (Karnal), Oct 12 At a meeting organised in support of BJP candidate Harvinder Kalyan from Gharaunda segment, he said, “The Union Government is serious about one rank, one pension. Around Rs 2,000 crore has been kept for this purpose and I assure you it will be given to all ex-servicemen. The previous government did not implement it.” The ex-Army chief called upon people to vote in the same manner as they did during the Lok Sabha elections and make the BJP victorious for inclusive development in the state. He urged people to end the “era of corruption” by supporting the
BJP. The Union minister criticised the Congress government for neglecting farmers and said the Union Government led Former MLA Rekha Rana also appealed to the people to cast their vote in favour of the BJP on October 15 as it would focus on “good governance with inclusive development” in the
state. Harvinder Kalyan assured the gathering that if he was voted to power, he would bring development in the segment by “solving all the problems” it had been facing for many years. |
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PM’s praise revives hopes of khap chiefs
Jind, October 12 Political pundits see it as a shrewd move of the Prime Minister to attract khaps towards his party in the forthcoming elections, but for khap chiefs, his endorsement has revived their hopes for early fulfillment of their long-pending demands. Despite nationwide criticism of these kangaroo courts, Modi, who supports modernisation, showered praises on khaps and said Jind was the land of khaps and he had great respect for these caste councils of the state. “I bow down my head before these khaps of Haryana,” Modi had said. As there are more than 100 khaps in the state, which command immense influence in Bhiwani, Jind, Sonepat, Rohtak, Panipat, Mahindergarh, Gurgaon, Jhajjar, Karnal, Kaithal, Faridabad and Palwal areas of the state, a majority of political pundits strongly believe that it is a “master stroke” of Modi to attract Jatt votes for his non-Jatt party in the forthcoming Assembly elections. A majority of khap leaders are already working for various political parties. Kandela khap chief Tek Ram Kandela joined the Congress last month. Santosh Dahiya, president of Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat, Satrol khap president Sudesh Chaudhary, Aithgama khap leader Shamsher Kharkara, Malik Khap chief Baljit Singh and many others have recently joined various political parties. Modi’s move is unlikely to help the BJP in attracting these khap votes. Meanwhile, many youngsters are not impressed with Modi’s statement. “Khaps are not legal bodies and the Prime Minister should not encourage these just to get their votes,” said Suresh, a local youngster. |
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Many in Uchana Kalan join INLD
Jind, October 12 Former sarpanch of Dumrakha Kalan, Dariya Singh along with his Sardool family and Hafed director Daya Valmiki along with his community people left the BJP candidate to join the INLD. Others who joined the INLD included Sukhbir Shiyokand, Beed Shiyokand, Manjit Shiyokand and Ranbir Shiyokand. Welcoming all into the party fold, Dushyant said due respect would be given to all of them for reposing faith in the INLD. Addressing election rallies in the constituency, the INLD MP said like the Congress-led UPA at the Centre, the BJP government was also using the CBI as a tool to politically victimise its opponents. The CBI’s motivated stand, Dushyant said, against the bail to INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala was one just example of the Modi government misusing the investigating agency. |
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Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of imposing a state-specific 4 per cent market tax on paddy, the CM today said the tax was not new.
Trying his luck in the battle of ballot for the seventh consecutive time, Haryana Irrigation Minister and Congress nominee Capt. Ajay Yadav is pulling all stops for his victory.
Success this time will not only add to his political stature in the party but also give a good shot at becoming the CM, something the Ahirwal region has been waiting for past 47 years.
Karnal, October 12
Chandigarh, October 12
State Congress president Ashok Tanwar today reiterated that the issue of Chief Minister was open in Haryana and the party high command would take a decision on this only after the results after consulting the newly elected MLAs. He said there had always been a tradition in the Congress not to announce its Chief Minister in advance and take a decision after knowing the MLAs’ preference. He, however, clarified that he was not a candidate for the post.
The Haryana Government has made a new record of corruption by working as a property dealer. There is no growth
in the state. — Dr Harshvardhan Union Health Minister
The BJP is like a Chinese item. Its durability is not much. The party has failed to fulfil its
promises. — Bhupinder Hooda, Chief Minister
Chandigarh, October 12
Besides beefing up security at sensitive and hypersensitive booths, the state police will, probably for the first time, have special security arrangements in place in 94 “volatile” villages identified on the basis of the current situation as per reports from the civil and police field administration.