Chandigarh November 5
In a move that will benefit BJP’s loyalist trader community as well as manufacturers of Haryana, the newly elected government today paved the way for offering an “amnesty scheme” for tax arrears amounting to Rs 5560.43 crore, pending for more than 12 years.

On the last day of probably the shortest-ever Assembly sitting that lasted only 15 minutes, four Bills, including the Haryana Value Added Tax (second amendment) Bill, 2014, offering the scheme were cleared. With the passage of the Bill, the government has made its intention clear of offering a waiver in interest, penalty or pending amount though the contours of the scheme are still to be worked out.

A Cabinet meeting, held in July during the previous the Congress regime, had approved a proposal of the Excise and Taxation Department to incorporate the enabling provision in the HVAT Bill for bringing the scheme. Had the BJP government not brought the Bill, the ordinance would have lapsed.

Sources said outstanding arrears stood at Rs 5560.43 crore as on June 30. Since a part of these have been recovered, the amount now stands at Rs 5,168.68 crore, including Rs 3,080 crore as outstanding tax, Rs 1,789 crore as penalty and Rs 298 crore as interest.

In the HVAT Bill, the government has acknowledged that it is difficult to recover arrears and getting the outstanding amount would require incentivising this. “This is merely an enabling provision. With this done, the government will take a call on whether it wants to offer a waiver on interest, penalty or tax amount partially. The government may decide to give no waiver at all,” an official said.

FISCAL HEALTH

Rs 5,168.68 crore Arrears

Rs 3,080 crore Outstanding tax

Rs 1,789 crore Penalty

Rs 298 crore Interest

The House on Wednesday passed the Haryana Value Added Tax (HVAT) (second amendment) Bill, 2014 

* With this, the government has made its intention clear of offering a waiver in interest, penalty or pending amount though the contours of the scheme are still to be worked out

* In the Bill, the government has acknowledged that it is difficult to recover arrears and getting the outstanding amount would require incentives for traders

Former Speaker Kuldeep Sharma today demanded that the INLD should be allotted seats on the Treasury Benches since the party had failed to perform the role of a principal Opposition in the state Assembly. He said that the conduct of the INLD had been pro-government so now the party cannot claim the status of an opposition party. — TNS

INLD Legislature Party leader Abhay Chautala was on Wednesday designated Leader of the Opposition. A letter has been issued to the Chief Secretary to provide him security and facilities as per entitlement.

Sirsa, November 5
Former Speaker Kuldeep Sharma today demanded that the INLD should be allotted seats on the Treasury Benches since the party had failed to perform the role of a principal Opposition in the state Assembly.

Speaking to TNS after the house was adjourned sine die, he said that the conduct of the INLD had been pro-government so now the party cannot claim the status of an opposition party.

Even when the Congress raised farmer’s issues like prices of paddy and cotton, the INLD members remained silent and did not support his party.

He said the INLD members remained silent on the reply to the Governor’s when they were suppose to say yes or no. It appears that the INLD members had decided to give tacit support to the BJP government out of fear, he alleged. “They are not playing the role of an Opposition but were aligned with the government. The Congress should be declared the principal opposition party, in the house.

The former Speaker also criticized the government for ending the Assembly session so early even though CM ML Khattar had assured the house that there would be longer sessions from now on.

He alleged that the session was held for barely 10 minutes today and it was adjourned even before all the members could reach the house. “This decision shows that the Khattar government is not interested in deliberating over the important issues of the people,” he added. 

Ambala, November 5
The supporters of former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former union minister Kumari Selja raised slogans against each other at Baldev Nagar chowk in Ambala City during Hooda’s short halt here this noon.

Sources said Hooda, who was enroute to Rohtak, halted here and had tea with his supporters. His former media coordinator, Dilip Chawla Bittu, a former DCC chief Harish Sasan, Himmat Singh who contested the Assembly election from the city and his supporters were also present there.

When some of Himmat’s supporters alleged that a faction of the party had worked against the Congress candidate by supporting Jan Chetna Party candidate Venod Sharma, Hooda’s supporters opposed it. They later raised slogans against each other. Some of the senior leaders present there persuaded the opposing parties and brought the situation under control.

Later, taking to mediapersons, Hooda refused to answer any query about Robert Vadra. He also said that he was unaware whether Sharma was rejoining the Congress. 

Rewari, November 6
The District Election Office (DEO) has served notices on 41 candidates who had contested the recent assembly elections from three seats— Rewari, Bawal (reserve) and Kosli— but have not yet submitted their poll expenditure details.

Sources said all candidates had been asked to submit their poll expenditure accounts by November 18 .

Haryana Cooperative Minister Bikram Singh Thekedar and former minister Ajay Singh Yadav and Jaswant Singh are among those who have been sent the notices for not submitting their election expenditure details.

Thekedar has romped home victorious from Kosli while Yadav and Jaswant lost from Rewari and Bawal, respectively. Besides, Randhir Singh Kaprivaas and Dr Banwari Lal, BJP legislators from Rewari and Bawal, respectively, are also yet to submit their poll expenditure accounts.

As many as 44 candidates were in the fray from the three assembly segments but merely three candidates- Tara Chand (Bawal) and Vinod Kumari and Pankaj Kumar (Kosli)- have so far submitted their election expenditure details, said an official.

The candidates themselves or their election agents can submit expenditure details along with self-attested vouchers before November 18,” said the official, adding that those failing to do so would be disqualified from contesting the elections for three years.

Rewari Deputy Commissioner RC Verma told ‘The Tribune’ that the Election Observer (expenditure) was coming here on November 19 to inspect the poll expenditure details of the candidates. 

Chandigarh, November 5
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the police to arrest Sant Rampal, the controversial head of Karontha’s Satlok Ashram, and his close aide Ram Kanwar Dhaka and bring them to court on Monday.

Rampal failed to appear before the court today and sent a medical certificate through his counsel stating that he was unwell. Coming down heavily on them, a Division Bench issued non-bailable warrants of arrest against them.

The Bench of Justice M. Jeyapaul and Justice Lisa Gill also directed the Haryana Director-General of Police and the Home Secretary to ensure execution of the non-bailable warrants. They have been asked to ensure “both of them are arrested and brought before this court for the hearing”.

Sant Rampal of Karontha Ashram is facing allegations of interfering in the judicial proceedings during the hearing of a case before the Hisar sessions court. The High Court had earlier taken suo motu cognizance of the alleged gherao of the court complex by the godman’s supporters when he had gone for a hearing. The Bench also directed the registry “to put up the records concerning grant of bail to Sant Rampal by this court on May 14, 2008” in the case.

The High Court complex turned into a police cantonment, with cops and more cops positioned behind barricades all over the place. The heavily-cordoned area was, in fact, declared virtually out of bound for anyone who failed to establish his identity.

As the Bench took up the case, counsel Rampal’s produced a medical certificate purportedly issued by Dr OP Hooda. Displeased, the Bench observed that Dr Hooda himself was a co-contemner in the case and had, in fact, been summoned for issuing a medical certificate to the godman at an earlier date.

“On perusal of the medical certificate, it is found that Dr OP Hooda has certified that Sant Rampal was afflicted with conjunctivitis. We are not satisfied with the certificate issued for the absence of Sant Rampal. At any rate, conjunctivitis problem cannot be sufficient to excuse the presence of contemner… It is a lame excuse invented resourcefully for not complying with the directions of this Court to appear for hearing today. Further, we find no application was filed praying to excuse his absence today on medical ground. Therefore, the medical ground projected through the counsel for Sant Rampal stands rejected,” the Bench said.

Dhaka’s counsel, meanwhile, submitted all out efforts were made by him to appear before the court, but he was prevented by “committee members” from doing so. A retired headmaster, Dhaka runs a private organisation called National Social Service Committee.

“Such an audacious explanation given by Ram Kanwar Dhaka is deprecated by this court. Inspite of our direction that he should join the main contemner Sant Rampal to prevail upon committee members /followers /disciples not to come down to Chandigarh, senior counsel for UT Chandigarh would submit that about 40,000 members had assembled at the Railway Station today and in fact they had the audacity to break the barriers put up by police officials,” the Bench observed.

The Bench directed both Rampal and Dhaka to prevail upon members and other followers not to assemble in Chandigarh on Monday.

Hisar, October 5
Sant Rampal has never been shy of courting controversy. Even after spending 22 months in jail on charges of murder following a violent clash with Arya Samaj supporters in Karontha village about eight years ago, he never hesitated to take on his rivals and authorities by organising shows of strength during court appearances.

Born in Sonepat’s Dhanana village, he joined Haryana’s Irrigation Department as a junior engineer in 1977 after completing a diploma in engineering. The 63-year-old continued with his job till he established the Satlok Ashram in Karontha village in 1995, though he had started giving ‘naam daan’ (initiation) in 1994 while still in service.

He later became self-styled head of Kabir Panthi sect. He resigned from the job on May 21, 1995, which was accepted by the government on May 16, 2000, with retrospective effect. He started facing resistance soon after. He was embroiled in a controversy over the purchase of land on which Satlok Ashram stands in Karontha village.

His conflict with Arya Samajis following derogatory references to the sect turned violent on July 12, 2006, when supporters attacked Satlok Ashram. Inmates opened fire from inside resulting in the death of a youth and injuries to many others.

A subsequent police raid on the ashram led to recovery of objectionable material and Rampal was also charged with murder and attempt to murder. His ashram was attached by the district administration.

Rampal spent 22 months in jail in the murder case and finally got bail in April 2008. He shifted base from Karontha to Hisar’s Barwala town where he currently has his headquarters. His following seems to be growing since.

In 2010, Rampal moved court to seek possession of Karontha ashram and won the case in 2013. The administration did not give him possession due to opposition from Arya Samaj supporters, who again turned violent resulting in the death of two persons and injuries to many in police firing. 

Sonepat, November 5
The police today arrested three more persons for their alleged involvement in the Gohana bank heist and recovered the tools used by them. With this, seven 
persons have been arrested in the case.

Thieves had dug an 84-foot-long tunnel to access lockers in the strongroom of the PNB’s main branch in Gohana on the night of October 26 and 27.

Superintendent of Police Arun Singh said those arrested today are Rohit of Kutubgarh in Delhi and Praveen and Sonu of Rohtak’s Nindana village. They are learnt to have been involved in digging the tunnel and breaking the lockers.

Praveen and Sonu are nephews of Balraj, one of the three prime accused already in police custody. Two other main accused – Satish and Surender of Katwal village, 10 km from Gohana — are already in police custody. Fourth main accused Rajesh is still on the run. Police teams are raiding his suspected hideouts in and around the state to nab him.

Victims of the theft continued their dharna outside the bank on Day 10. They expressed concern over reclaiming recovered valuables through court. Rather, they want to get back the stolen property through the bank.

Senior PNB officers led by Brij Mohan Pada, GM (Field), held an hour-long meeting with members of the committee of bank heist victims at Gohana today. Gohana SDM Satbir Singh Lochab and other officers were also present. The meeting ended in a stalemate as the bank officers asked the victims to end their dharna first 
but they refused, saying that the dharna would continue till their stolen valuables were returned to them. 

Karnal, November 5
Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today lashed out at the Haryana Government for its failure to provide appropriate price to farmers for their paddy, resulting in the “loss of Rs 25,000 per acre”.

In a surprise visit to the Taraori grain market while on his way to Delhi today, the former Chief Minister reviewed the procurement process and interacted with farmers.

“Farmers did not face any problem during my regime. The new BJP government has given them a tough time by purchasing paddy at throwaway prices,” he claimed and added that the Congress would raise the issue in the entire state.

“Basmati was sold at Rs 6,000 per quintal during the Congress’ rule but, under the BJP government, it is being sold at half the earlier price,” Hooda said.

To a query on the increase in pension for elderly and others, Hooda said: “The previous government had decided to increase the monthly pension to Rs 1,500, but it seems this government is unwilling to implement the decision. Though the BJP has assured in its manifesto to raise the pension to Rs 2,000, it is not inclined to fulfil the promise.”

The Congress would give time to the BJP to fulfil its promise and, if it failed, the party would decide its future strategy, he added.

Sirsa, November 5
Activists of the Haryana Kisan Manch stopped officials of the Sarva Haryana Gramin Bank, Sahuwala – 2 to auction the land of three farmers’ at Sherpura village of Sirsa today.

The bank had notified the auction of 25 Kanal 11 Marla (slightly more than 3 acres) land owned by three brothers - Ranjit, Rajinder and Surinder – for their failure to repay the bank loan.

However, activists of the manch led by state president Prahlad Singh Bharukhera reached the village and stopped the bidders from participating in the auction following which the bank officials left the village.

Singh alleged that the brothers had taken a loan of Rs 80,000 from the bank but due to the small landholding and poverty they failed to repay it and the amount had now swelled to Rs 1.50 lakh.

“Banks do not take any action against big defaulters but whenever a small farmer fails to clear his loan, his land was auctioned without delay,” he alleged. The bank had also named and shamed the farmers by publishing their pictures in the newspapers in a discriminatory manner, he added.

“We have no objection to the banks’ action but they should follow the same procedure for everyone. Industrialists are offered concessions worth thousands of crore to help them revive their business but small farmers were being treated shabbily, he pointed out. 

Sirsa, November 5
The Haryana Kisan Manch held demonstration against the government’s failure to provide remunerative prices of crops to the farmers here on Tuesday.

Led by Prahlad Singh Bharukhera, state president, HKM, and a state executive member of the Aam Aadmi Party, the agitating farmers raised slogans against the government and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Agriculture Minister.

The memorandum said the BJP government had come to power by promising implementation of the Swaminathan report, but after assuming power, it had forgotten about it.

The HKM demanded the government to implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission without further delay.

The farmers also demanded the government’s immediate intervention for ensuring remunerative prices of crops to the farmers.

Yamunanagar, November 5
High drama was witnessed at Guru Nanak Khalsa College here today after the management locked the administrative block to bar the entry of the principal, whose services were terminated in September. As a result, non-teaching staff did not work.

The governing body of the college had, on October 11, 2013, suspended Verinder Kaur from the principal’s post and terminated her services on September 9, 2014.

When she reached the college today, she was confronted by the management officials. Kaur told them that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had, on October 30, stayed the termination of her service.

“I joined as principal yesterday after the court decided in my favour. But the management is not allowing me to enter my office in the administrative block,” she said.

Officiating general secretary of governing body, Jeetinder Singh Anand, said the matter was pending in court and Kaur should wait for the final decision.

“Kaur locked the principal’s office yesterday and kept the keys with her illegally. The management informed the police about this. Later, it locked the building of the administrative block,” Prof PR Tyagi, senior vice-president of the Haryana College Teachers’ Association, said.

Ambala, November 5
Health and Sports Minister Anil Vij today had a miraculous escape when his private car was hit a by truck on the NH1 here this morning.

The accident took place near Vij’s residence when he was on his way for routine interaction with people at a local tea stall this morning. As Vij drove his car on to the NH1 from his Shashtri Colony residence, a truck going towards Kurukshetra rammed into the vehicle. While Vij escaped unhurt, a portion of his car was badly damaged.

He was immediately taken to his house, where a large number of his supporters gathered on getting information. Anil Vij immediately sent out an SMS, saying that “all is well’. Vij later proceeded to Chandigarh in his official car to attend the assembly session. The police have booked the truck driver. 

Chandigarh November 5
On the basis of reports submitted by the State Vigilance Bureau, the Haryana Government has suspended seven Irrigation Department officials for irregularities.

The irregularities pertained to preparing bills and using substandard material in flood-protection works at Tajewala complex under Hathnikund barrage circle in Yamunanagar district . 

Action would be taken as per service rules against six officers who have retired. The cost of work was over ~31 crore which was allotted in 2010-11.

A spokesman said those suspended included Executive Engineer RK Bhoria, Subdivisional Engineer Chaman Lal Gupta, junior engineers Rakesh Kamboj, Satpal Singh, Rajiv Kumar, Ved Pal and Jasbir Singh.

Those who would face action post-retirement included Chief Engineer Rajinder Singh, Superintendent Engineer Balbir Singh, Subdivisional Engineer Attar Singh and junior engineers Yogesh Bhardwaj, ML Sharma and Rajender Singh.

Sirsa, November 5
A nagar kirtan was organised at Sirsa and Fatehabad on the eve of the parkash utsav of Guru Nanak Dev today. The kirtan started from gurdwara Chilla Sahib at Sirsa in the morning and after passing through various markets of the town, culminated at the same gurdwara in the evening.

The devotees cleaned the roads with brooms from where the palanquin carrying the Guru Granth Sahib passed. Sikh youths exhibited their fighting skills by performing ‘Gatka’.

At Fatehabad, the nagar kirtan started from gurdwara Singh Sabha situated in the Main Bazaar and after passing through Jawahar Chowk, Thana Road, Fawara Chowk, Hans Market, Bus Stand, Laal Batti, Jagjiwan Pura, old Bus Stand, Bhuna Road and DSP Road, it returned to the gurdwara.

Harcharan Singh, president of the gurdwara committee, Mahinder Wadhwa, Ajit Singh Sachdeva, Mahinder Grover, Harpal Singh and several prominent Sikh leaders accompanied the nagar kirtan.

Chandigarh November 5
The SS Jain Mahasabha, Panipat, today presented a draft for Rs 4,11,301 to Chief Minister Manohar Lal towards the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the Jammu and Kashmir flood victims.

A delegation led by mahasabha president Gautam Kumar Jain called on the Chief Minister and presented the draft.