Kaithal, July 5
The threat of protests against the likely announcement of a separate gurdwara committee for Haryana during the Sikh convention on Sunday appears to have compelled the authorities to restrict the movement of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda within 100-200 meters.

Hooda will not come out of the ‘high-security zone’ of the stadium before or during the function. After the completion of the convention, his chopper will leave from the stadium, apparently to scuttle any possible attempts to block his way.

Kuldeep Singh Yadav, SP Kaithal, had yesterday confirmed that they had not started preparations to depute security for the July 6 Sikh sammelan in Patta Afghan Stadium, which is being called Shri Guru Gobind Singh Stadium for the past two days.

But Rajbir Singh Deswal, Karnal range IGP, along with other senior officers, visited the spot today and ordered for the best security arrangements to scuttle any possible attempt to spoil the function.

The police have divided the area into eight sectors and a police officer of inspector rank has been appointed in-charge of each sector. Also, 1,000 police personnel and other rank officers have been deputed for the security of the stadium.

Two DSP have been deputed to directly report to the IG. Apart from it, 10 special personnel have been deputed in each sector and 20 policemen will be at the barricades to keep a check on the activities of the participants.

“We have made the best security arrangements. We would not allow anyone to create a problem,” said IGP Deswal, after inspecting the security arrangements.

In front of the building of the stadium, the administration has made sitting arrangements for more than 20,000 people. On the left and backside of the building, parking arrangements have been made.

The CM’s chopper will land at the back of the building. From there, he would walk to the main building and reach the stage to address the gathering. After the function, Hooda is likely to go back through the same route.

“The CM will land in the stadium and leave from there itself. We have been coordinating with senior police officers and making all necessary arrangements,” said N K Solanki, Kaithal Deputy Commissioner.

Kalanwali (Sirsa), July 5
A day ahead of the Sikh sammelan at Kaithal, where he is likely to announce a separate SGPC for Haryana, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today made it clear that he was not bothered about protests, led by SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar, or opposition from Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal. He would do what Sikhs from his own state wanted him to, he said.

Hooda, along with state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, addressed a rally at Kalanwali today. He said he would take a decision on the separate gurdwara panel for the state based on the wish of Sikhs living in Haryana as well as on the report of the Harmohinder Singh Chatha committee, that was already with his government.

He said the opposition parties had never done anything for Sikhs of the state, while he had accorded the status of second language to Punjabi and announced the setting up of a road after Guru Gobind Singh from Sirsa to Rajasthan border.

On their part, members of the Haryana Mazhabi Sikh Sabha presented Hooda a portrait of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th and last Guru of the Sikh community, today.

Addressing the first of a series of Assembly segment-level rallies planned by the state Congress ahead of the upcoming Assembly poll, Hooda asked people to judge him by his performance and bring Congress back to power.

Hooda announced a slew of development projects for Kalanwali, including setting up of sub-tehsils at Rori and Baragura.

Earlier, Hooda had announced the elevation of Kalanwali as a sub-division during his rally in Dabwali before parliamentary poll on Tanwar’s request. Hence, today’s rally had been named “dhanyawad rally.”

“Chautalas are in the habit of befooling people by spreading canards. They did nothing for Kalanwali or Sirsa when they were in power and are now trying to mislead you,” Hooda said.

Hooda said Chautalas had spent ~143.64 crore on Kalanwali and ~749.27 crore on the entire Sirsa when they were in power, but his government had already spent ~544.80 crore on Kalanwali and ~3,896.13 crore on Sirsa.

“Have Chautalas ever thought of giving 100-yard plots to poor, scholarships to children, Rs 1,000 per month as old-age pension, electricity at 10 paisa per unit to farmers and waiver for farmers’ loans?” Hooda asked. Poor farmers were put in jails for their failure to repay petty loans during the INLD regime, he added.

Tanwar said though Narendra Modi government had come to power less than two months ago, people were already feeling cheated as the prices of diesel, petrol, LPG, fruits and vegetables had gone up. Tanwar alleged that the Modi government was working for the welfare of the corporate world, which had helped him come to power.

Ambala, July 5
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) took out a protest march against the demand for a separate gurdwara committee for Haryana, here on Friday. In a memorandum, addressed to the Union Home Minister, the SAD said the Congress government wanted to divide the Sikh community for its political interests.

SAD state president Sharanjit Singh, vice president Raghujit Singh Virk, spokesperson Sant Singh Kandhari, senior Akali leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Sukhdev Singh Gobindgarh took part.

Later, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar told the media at Gurdwara Manji Sahib that some Sikh leaders of the state had been challenging the supreme authority of Akal Takht and that would not be tolerated.

Makkar said Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha misguided the Sikh community about Miri Piri Medical College, Shahabad. “The SGPC has been running a number of educational institutions in Haryana and spending a lot on community’s welfare,” he added. — OC

Kaithal, July 5
The spokesman for All-India Congress Committee (AICC) and state Cabinet Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala today defended the steps being taken for the formation of a separate gurdwara committee in Haryana. He warned Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal against interfering in the state’s affairs.

“Sukhbir Badal’s meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, to put pressure on the state government to stall formation of a separate gurdwara committee, is direct interference in the affairs of the state. It is a violation of the Constitution and injustice to the Haryanvi Sikhs. We warn the Punjab Government to mend its ways,” said Surjewala at Kaithal Kisan Bhawan today.

He requested Rajnath Singh that he should not adopt a biased approach to favour its allies in Punjab Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

Haryana had all the rights to form a separate committee for its gurdwaras andSukhbir Badal and president of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Avtar Singh Makkar were giving baseless statements, he added.

There was a overwhelming demand for the formation of such a committee for the past several years and the Congress government, led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, was of the view that the demand was based on principles of justice. Hence, it extended the support to the idea of a new committee, he added.

Surjewala asserted that the community also wanted a separate panel like that of New Delhi.

Surjewala said the gurdwaras in state owned more than 6,500 acre land and had an income of Rs 200 crore. The state’s Sikhs had all the rights to form a separate committee for the best utilisation of the money of gurdwaras. “By not forming a separate committee, we are not doing justice to the Haryana Sikhs. Congress would not tolerate more injustice towards the community,” he said.

Ateli (Mahendragarh), July 5
Raking up the Sutlej-Yamuna link (SYL) canal issue ahead of Assembly elections, HJC chief Kuldeep Bishnoi on Saturday said Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was misleading the people of south Haryana by spreading misinformation as no case regarding the canal was pending in any court.

Bishnoi was addressing a gathering during a ‘parivartan’ rally organised by former MLA Naresh Yadav in Ateli. He said the SYL canal case had been decided, but Hooda was deliberately terming it as sub judice with the intention of evading responsibility.

“Disposing of the case, the court had asked the Punjab Government to release SYL canal water to Haryana as per its share. Hooda is fooling residents of south Haryana by claiming that he was committed to get Haryana’s share of canal water, but waiting for the court verdict,” he added.

Targeting Om Prakash Chautala family over the issue, the HJC supremo said the family had been indulging in politics over the SYL issue as it had not made any serious effort to resolve the issue despite family ties with Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal.

“Over 90 per cent work of the canal was completed during my father Bhajan Lal’s tenure as Chief Minister. Neither Chautala nor Hooda did anything during the last 15 years to ensure SYL water for dry areas of south Haryana,” said Bishnoi.

He added that the SYL canal was the lifeline of the state and he would bring the canal water from Punjab if the HJC was voted to power in the upcoming Assembly elections. Charging Hooda with discriminating against south Haryana in terms of development, the HJC leader called upon people of Mahendragarh district to uproot the Congress government in the Assembly elections.

“The time has come to show the power of south Haryana by voting against the government, which has failed to provide employment, development and basic amenities like power, water and roads in the area,” said Bishnoi.

He announced that former MLA Naresh Yadav would be the HJC nominee from Ateli in the Assembly elections if the party was allotted the seat by its alliance partner, the BJP. Yadav exhorted the people to give a chance to the HJC to lead them. Former minister Kripa Ram Punia, Raghu Yadav and Mukesh Yadav also spoke.

Sonepat, July 5
Eight farmers were seriously injured in a group clash over possession of one acre of disputed land in Khewra village on Saturday morning.

Phool Kumar, Anil, Dalbir and Harender of the same group were referred to the PGIMS in Rohtak. Sat Pal and three others of the rival group were referred to the Government Medical College in Khanpur Kalan.

Phool Kumar, Anil, Dalbir and Harender were in the fields when Sat Pal and at least eight others reached there and claimed ownership of the disputed land.

After heated exchanges, the groups attacked each other with ‘lathis’ and sharp-edged weapons. Other villagers rushed to the spot and stopped the fight.

The injured were taken to the local Civil Hospital. After preliminary treatment, the injured were referred to Rohtak and Khanpur Kalan.

Daya Chand, SHO of the Rai police station, said the investigating officer would record the statements of the injured before registering a case.

Rewari, July 5
Employees and other political and social organisations held a protest against the state government in Haryana Power Minister Capt Ajay Yadav’s home town here.

Charging the government with not fulfilling its promise, employees of various government departments led by Haryana Karamchaari Mahasangh not only organised a demonstration in the city, but also gheraoed the local residence of the minister at Model Town here today.

The protesting employees also submitted a memorandum to Chiranjeev Rao, son of Capt Yadav, wherein they threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike if the government did not accept their demands soon.

Kanwar Singh Yadav, state president of the mahasangh, claimed Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had accepted their 15-demands during a meeting with a delegation of Karamchari Taalmel Committee on February 26, but not a single demand had been implemented so far, causing acute resentment among the employees.

Earlier, the employees gathered at Nehru Park this morning and reached the ministers’ house at Model town via Shiv Chowk, shouting slogans against the government.

Meanwhile, Power Minister Ajay Yadav said most of the demands of the employees had already been met by the government and the rest would be implemented soon.

Kurukshetra, July 5
The Rs 150 crore, Miri Piri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Shahabad Markanda, project has been in the lurch for the last 10 years as the state government has not issued a no objection certificate (NOC) to it, yet.

The initiative that was taken by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, is awaiting a nod from the state government. Besides being a matter subjected to the SGPC and the Haryana government, Sikh leaders of both the states have been critical up to a level that a case related to this institute is under the consideration of the Supreme Court.

In the current scenario, the 400-beds which were bought for the institute are rusting in the store room of the hospital. Currently only an OPD is being run here and a footfall of 400-450 patients visits the institute on a daily basis.

About ~17.56 crore have been spent on the infrastructure and staff of this medical college and an aid of ~5 crore is provided each year by the SGPC.

Raghujeet Singh Virk, senior vice president Shiromani Gurdawra Prbandhak Committee (SGPC), said, “It has been 10 years now since we have been awaiting a NOC from the state government. If we get the NOC today, the institute would be operational within two years.”

SGPC member Bibi Ravinder Kaur, said, “All the documents are complete. Earlier we were told that the construction was unauthorised as it falls within the 45-metre-wide sector road and 60-metre-wide green belt along the NH-1, but the problem has been rectified as its boundaries have been pushed back by 100 feet.”

She also alleged that the present Haryana government was against the project from the beginning because its foundation stone were laid by Badal and the state does not want to give the credit for this project to the Badals.

On the other hand, Didar Singh Nalvi who filed a petition in the Supreme Court and has also been advocating the case, said, “The SGPC itself does not want to complete the project. They have been violating the rules and regulations. Earlier it was decided that SGPC would take care of all the matters related to the institute, but later on it made a trust comprising members like the Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, his son Sukhbir Badal, which was unlawful. The SGPC itself is a trustee and it cannot appoint any further trustee to take care of the matter.”

He added, “I had filed a case against the SGPC in the High Court, however the court gave its decision in its (SGPC) favour and later I moved to the Supreme Court where our petition was accepted. The SGPC had demanded from the Supreme Court an acceptance to run the college by starting the admission process, which they got, but still the SGPC never started operations.”

Hisar, July 5
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and Haryana Government seem to be at loggerheads on the issue of forming a special investigation team (SIT) for a fresh investigation into the incidents of land row between Dalits and Jats and abduction and rape of four Dalit girls in Bhagana village of the district.

Ishwar Singh, NCSC member, who visited the village today to take stock of the situation, stated that the state had not given any reply to the commission for setting up the SIT. The commission had got to know through media reports that the government was against forming such a team to re-probe the incident.

“I have not yet got a reply from the chief secretary but will definitely seek clarification if he decides against forming the SIT. There is a need to reinvestigate the whole issue, including the land row and the rape case, which has led to a rift in the upper caste and the Dalits in the village”, he stated.

Singh said he also visited the sites where plots under the Mahatma Gandhi Gramin Basti Yojana (MGGBY) would be allotted to Dalits and other BPL families . “Two sites, one near a pond and another on the outskirts of the village, have been identified. I have urged the village panchayat to adopt a resolution to carve out plots for all the Dalit families”, he informed.

He said both the groups had moved towards resolving the issues and hopefully the social ties would be restored soon. “I talked to both the groups and got positive response”. He also held a meeting with DC ML Kaushik and SP Vikas Dhankar and discussed ways to find out an amicable solution to the issues.

Ambala, July 5
A retired physical education instructor committed suicide by shooting himself with his licensed pistol this morning. The deceased, identified as Jarnail Singh, 67, was a resident of Rampur Sarseri village, near Ambala Cantt.

According to information, Jarnail was residing on the first floor of the house. When his maid servant Palo Devi went to his room to give him a glass of water this morning, she found that Jarnail was lying in a pool of blood and his pistol was also lying there.

Later it was found that Jarnail Singh had allegedly shot himself with his revolver. — OC

Hisar, July 5
Two persons were killed and ten others injured when an Innova car collided with an autorickshaw on the Delhi-Sirsa road near here today.

According to information, the auto carrying employees of a catering service agency was coming to Hisar from Sirsa. The car was going towards Sirsa, when it collided with the auto and then rammed in a tree along the road.

Two persons travelling in the auto identified as Ashok and Suraj died on the spot while 10 others including eight occupants of the car sustained injuries. They were rushed to the civil hospital in the town. — TNS