Sharma Chandigarh, March 19 (TC):

Haryana can have a maximum of 14 ministers, including the Chief Minister. Nayab Singh Saini and five ministers were inducted into the Cabinet last week. Two-time legislators Kamal Gupta and Seema Trikha were administered oath as new Cabinet ministers by Governor Bandaru Dattatreya in Chandigarh on Tuesday. While Gupta, a doctor by profession, is the legislator from Hisar, Seema Trikha, the lone woman minister in the Haryana Cabinet, represents the Badkhal Assembly constituency.

Gupta was a minister in the previous Manohar Lal Khattar Cabinet as well. Panipat (Rural) legislator Mahipal Dhanda and Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel took oath as Ministers of State (independent charge). Goel, a commission agent-turned-legislator, emerged as a giant killer as he defeated former minister Venod Sharma. The others who took oath as Ministers of State with independent charge include Abhe Singh Yadav, who represents the Nangal Chaudhry constituency, Thanesar legislator Subhash Sudha, Bishambar Singh Balmiki, the legislator from Bawani Khera, and Sanjay Singh, who represents Sohna.

Nayab Singh Saini was sworn in as the Chief Minister on March 12, along with five Cabinet colleagues. Saini’s name was unanimously decided during the party’s meeting after incumbent CM Manohar Lal Khattar and the entire Cabinet, comprising three members of Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala’s JJP, stepped down on the morning of March 12.

With a stronghold over the OBC community that comprises 8 per cent of the state’s population, Nayab Saini will be the Chief Minister for seven months till the state goes to the polls. Besides CM Saini, the others who took the oath on March 12 were Kanwar Pal Gujjar, Mool Chand Sharma, Ranjit Singh Chautala, J.P. Dalal, and Banwarilal. At present, the Haryana Cabinet has 13 ministers — 12 from the BJP and one Independent — apart from the Chief Minister.(IANS)

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He further said that four months ago, on November 3, 2023, four years of the tenure of the current 14th Haryana Assembly had been completed. The first session of the state assembly was called on 4 November 2019. According to Article 172 of the Constitution. Every Legislative Assembly of every State shall, unless sooner dissolved, continue for five years from the date appointed for its first session, and that assembly will be dissolved with the expiry of the said period of five years.

However, the tenure of the current 14th Haryana Assembly is till November 3, 2024, this year, although it can be dissolved before time. To do this, the State Cabinet headed by the Chief Minister is competent to make decisions on which the Assembly, with the approval of the Governor, is dissolved before the stipulated period of 5 years.

Hemant further said that after November 3, 2023, i.e. after the completion of the four-year term of the present 14th Haryana Assembly, if any assembly seat becomes vacant due to the death, resignation, or disqualification of a sitting MLA and is declared vacant. If it is done, then no by-election can be conducted by the Election Commission of India on that vacant assembly seat because from the date of 3rd November 2023, the remaining tenure of that previous MLA will be less than one year, and as per the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Under Section 151(A), the by-election is not conducted by the Election Commission on such vacant seat on which the remaining tenure of the previous MLA is less than one year.

Meanwhile, giving a variation of the above, Hemant said that if during the last year of the tenure of the Legislative Assembly, a person is appointed as the Chief Minister or Minister of the State, like today Naib Saini has been made the Chief Minister of Haryana, who is not a member of the present Haryana Legislative Assembly, then in that situation duly By-election can be conducted by the Election Commission on any vacant assembly seat. In this regard, Hemant gave the example of the year 1986 when Bansi Lal, who became the Chief Minister of Haryana, had won the by-election from Tosham Assembly constituency of Bhiwani district despite having less than a year left in the term of the then Haryana Assembly.

Hemant said that since there is no vacant seat in the present 14th Assembly of Haryana state as of date, a by-election can be held in the next 6 months only if any sitting MLA resigns from the seat, the possibility of which is very less. However, in such a situation, that is, Nayab Singh Saini cannot become MLA before the next 6 months i.e. before 11 September 2024. So they will have to dissolve the current 14th Haryana Assembly in time before the scheduled time i.e. before 3rd November 2024 so that the next general elections of the Assembly can be conducted.

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Sharma Chandigarh:

After leaving Raj Bhavan senior BJP Leader Kanwar Pal Gujjar said “CM and the cabinet ministers have resigned and the Governor has accepted the resignations.” On being asked who will be the next Chief Minister Gujjar said ” The CM will continues to be the CM.” The legislative meeting of the party is likely to be held later in the day in which 41 MLAs of BJP will be present. Senior BJP leaders including Tarun Chugh, Union minister Arjun Munda and BJP’s Haryana in-charge Biplab Kumar Deb will also attend the meeting. 

The BJP leaders are also expected to meet the 5 independent MLAs and Gopal Kanda of the Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) who are in support of the BJP government in Haryana. In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, the BJP has 41 MLAs. It also enjoys the support of 5 independent MLAs and the HLP MLA Gopal Kanda. Earlier, after meeting Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Independent MLA Nayan Pal Rawat on Tuesday claimed that the BJP-JJP alliance was at break point but some independent MLAs who support the ML Khattar government will ensure its survival.

“I met the Chief Minister yesterday. We have already extended our support to CM Manohar Lal-led government. We also discussed the strategy for the Lok Sabha elections. I got the impression that the process of breaking the alliance with JJP has already started,” Haryana Independent MLA Nayan Rawat said on Tuesday after his meeting with the Chief Minister Nayan Pal Rawat was elected to the Haryana Legislative Assembly from Prithla in the 2019 Haryana Legislative Assembly election as a member and Independent candidate.

Another independent MLA Dharampal Gonder said that the independent MLA were already supporting the BJP led government.Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) MLA Gopal Kanda claimed that the alliance between the BJP and the JJP was at break point but the BJP can win all 10 Lok Sabha seats from the state on its own. He also said that there would be another meeting with the Chief Minister after which future course of action will be determined.

Sirsa MLA and President-Haryana Lokhit Party, Gopal Kanda said, “…I think the alliance (BJP-JJP) has almost broken. In Lok Sabha elections, BJP will win all 10 seats. Even without JJP, the Haryana government will stay, and all independent candidates will continue to support BJP.” On March 10 trouble in the BJP Haryana unit was flagged when Brijendra Singh, the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Haryana’s Hisar joined the Congress after resigning from the ruling party.

Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won all 10 parliamentary seats while JJP, which had contested the elections in alliance with AAP, could not put up a fight on 7 seats it contested. The Lok Sabha polls are expected to be held sometime between April and May this year. (ANI)

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The Chief Minister said that 5 acres of land has been identified for the establishment of Guru Ravidas Memorial at Pipli Kurukshetra. The design of the memorial is being prepared by HSVP in consultation with experts and stakeholders. The establishment of the memorial will help in commemorating the life and teachings of Guru Ravidas.

The first group of pilgrims will leave for Ayodhya in the first week of March

Manohar Lal said that ‘Haryana Pilgrimage Yatra’ will be launched in December, 2023 to facilitate senior citizens to go on pilgrimage at significant destinations such as Ayodhya, Patna Sahib, Ajmer Sharif, Varanasi, Amritsar, Ujjain, Katra, and Nanded. 

The registration process for the scheme has commenced, with the first group scheduled to embark on a pilgrimage to Ayodhya in the initial week of March. Subsequent groups will undertake journeys to one pilgrimage site per week. 

Under the scheme, a senior citizen from a family with annual family income up to Rs 1.80 lakh will be eligible for free travel to these pilgrimage sites.

193 media persons are taking benefit of monthly pension of Rs 15,000

He said that the state government has taken many steps for the welfare of media persons. Last year, the pension of media persons was increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month. 

Presently 193 media persons are availing the benefit of monthly pension. The government has increased the insurance coverage of media personnel from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, the entire premium of which is paid by the government, he added.

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Chief Postmaster General Colonel SFH Rizvi said that the Department of Posts has prepared a set of postal tickets for the occasion of the consecration ceremony in the Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The printing process of these tickets involved the use of water and soil from the sacred land of the Ram Janambhoomi, imbued with the divine sentiments and blessings associated with Lord Rama. He said that these postal tickets are scented with the fragrance of sandalwood. Gold foil printing has been applied to certain parts of this miniature sheet to enhance the illumination of the postal tickets with divine light.

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Chief Minister Sh Manohar Lal was virtually addressing a workshop on the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) organized in Panchkula today.

Manohar Lal stated that the Haryana Parivar Pehchan Patra project was initiated by the current government with the aim of ensuring that all eligible individuals receive the benefits of various government schemes and services. While the Aadhaar card system existed for citizenship identification, there was previously no comprehensive societal mechanism for accurate family data, encompassing children to the elderly. He said that numerous welfare schemes in the state relied on data from the 2011 census, underscoring the need for a more up-to-date system. With the collaborative efforts of officials, the implementation of Parivar Pehchan Patra has yielded remarkable outcomes, he added.

Encouraging officials to further enhance the public’s satisfaction with Parivar Pehchan Patra, the Chief Minister highlighted that prior to its implementation, ineligible individuals often accessed government welfare scheme benefits while eligible ones were overlooked. Presently, with accurate family data accessible to the government, eligible individuals are receiving scheme benefits conveniently from home, including provisions like old age pensions, BPL cards, and various other welfare initiatives.

Manohar Lal emphasized the importance of ensuring that officials rectify income-related errors in the Parivar Pehchan Patra without causing any disappointment among the people. He stressed the need to strengthen public confidence in the PPP while also actively incorporating the most valuable suggestions received from the people to ensure the project’s success. He expressed his belief that the Parivar Pehchan Patra project will serve as a significant milestone in bringing happiness to every family in the state.

During the event, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister V Umashankar, who attended the workshop from Panchkula, today this workshop has been organized for 11 districts which yield valuable suggestions from officials across various sessions. He provided insights into the sessions conducted during the workshop, underscoring the collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the PPP initiative.

On this occasion, Chief Executive Officer of Haryana Family Identification Authority, Mr. Vikas Gupta and Secretary of Citizen Resource Information Department, Mrs. Sophia Dahiya were also present.

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The Home Minister said that the cabinet has approved ‘The Haryana Registration and Regulation of Travel Agents Bill, 2024’ in the cabinet meeting. This bold initiative has been taken to reduce the troubles of people, especially from Punjab and Haryana states, who are victims of fraudulent activities related to immigration by corrupt travel agents. Directions given to the Police Commissioner, Faridabad to take action in the dowry case.

Home and Health Minister Sh. Anil Vij was informed by a complainant from Faridabad who said that despite complaining to the police about the dowry case, no action is being taken against the accused. In this case, the Home Minister phoned the Police Commissioner, Faridabad, and directed to form an SIT and take action in the case. In another case, a resident from a village in Barara subdivision informed the Home Minister that their son, who was employed as a tube well operator, was murdered, but no accused has been arrested yet. In response, the Home Minister directed the CIA to conduct a thorough investigation in the matter.

A resident from Bhiwani complained of fraud worth lakhs of rupees by his nephew in the name of getting him a job in the police. The Home Minister directed to investigate the matter by forming an SIT.  Similarly, a person from Hisar complained about the lack of police action in the case of his younger brother’s murder case, which held five months ago. The Home Minister phoned and directed the SP, Hisar, to take stringent action in the case.

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Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday took a jibe at Congress after the party dubbed the pran pratishtha ceremony at Ram temple as a ‘BJP/RSS event’, saying that every day and year belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Speaking to the reporters, Khattar said that everyone should ‘pack up’ and sit as the people of the country are with the BJP.
“They (Congress) has nothing. Every day and year belongs to the BJP these days and this is the era of the BJP. Therefore, in the BJP era, everyone should pack up and sit (Sab log bistar gol karke baith jaiye). The public is with the BJP,” Khattar said.

Notably, several leaders of the opposition, including Congress’ Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have declined the Ram temple pran pratishtha invite calling it a ‘BJP/RSS’ event.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that RSS and the BJP have made the January 22 function at Ram Temple in Ayodhya “a completely political Narendra Modi function” and that it is difficult for Congress leaders “to go to a political function which is designed around the Prime Minister of India and around the RSS”.

Rahul Gandhi, who addressed a press conference during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra here, said that the biggest authorities of the Hindu religion have made their views public about what they think about the January 22 function.

Answering queries, Rahul Gandhi said he does “not try to take advantage” of his religion, lives by its principles and does not have to wear it on his sleeve like those “who do not believe in it”.

“The RSS and the BJP have made the January 22 function a completely political Narendra Modi function. It’s a RSS BJP function and I think that is why the Congress President said that he would not go to the function. We are open to all religions, all practices. Even the authorities of the Hindu religion, the biggest authorities of the Hindu religion have made their view public about what they think about the 22nd January function that it is a political function.

So it is difficult for us to go to a political function which is designed around the Prime Minister of India and designed around the RSS,” Gandhi said.The Haryana CM offered prayers at Gurudwara Lakhnaur Sahib in Ambala today, on the birth anniversary of Sikh guru Guru Gobind Singh on Wednesday.

“Today is the birth anniversary of Guru Govind Singh Ji. It is celebrated all over the world with great fervour… Lakhnaur Sahib is the maternal village of Guru Gobind Singh Ji… My greetings to everyone on this occasion…” the Haryana CM said.

The Pran Pratishta ceremony will be held in Ayodhya on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with several other leaders will attend the event. Several celebrities and noted personalities have also been invited to the ceremony. (ANI)

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In addition, he also announced that the government would cover half of the college fees for girls from families with incomes ranging from Rs 1.80 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. The fees for private colleges, where applicable, will be borne by the Haryana Government.

The Chief Minister also announced the conversion of Samalkha from a municipality to a Municipal Council. He made these announcements during the Jan Ashirwad rally organized at Samalkha in Panipat district on Sunday.

In a grand gesture, Chief Minister Manohar Lal unveiled a substantial development plan for the residents of Samalkha. He disclosed plans to establish two sectors, each spanning 100 acres, wherever land is available in Samalkha. 

Furthermore, he announced that the existing 50-bed CHC in Samalkha would be converted into a 100-bed hospital. 

Addressing infrastructural concerns, the Chief Minister announced the construction of a straight 1-kilometer road connecting the mini secretariat to the hospital provided people provide land for this purpose. This will make the commute more convenient.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal outlined several other developmental initiatives, including an 8-kilometer-long road as an eastern bypass on the minor road from Karhans village near Pattikalyana, Rs 11 lakh grant each to Ravidas Sabha and Kashyap Rajput Dharamshala, and construction of an underpass at Narayana Gate in Samalkha with Rs 6.80 crore.

 He also announced construction of by-pass on highway in front of Samalkha bus stand, stalled work of Punjabi Sabha building will be completed, announced to give Rs 2 crore for installation of lights and beautification at Chulkana Dham.

Other projects announced included the development of a vegetable market in Bapauli with Rs 1.25 crore, a bus stand in Bapauli village, and the construction of the bridge on Nangla R Drain at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore. The Chief Minister also allocated Rs 8.5 crore for nine roads of the Marketing Board and Rs 25 crore for the repair of PWD roads. Chief Minister said that 2012 land dispute of the Agarwal community will be swiftly resolved. Out of the 57 announcements made for Samalkha, 42 have been successfully completed, and work on the remaining is in progress, he added.

He assured that Bhapra Stadium, inaugurated last year, would be handed over to the Sports Department within the next month. He said that the previous government had kept 500 acres of land in Gannaur for years, and an international fruit and vegetable market is being built on it by spending Rs 5600 crore. 

He also discussed the development of a rapid metro train from Delhi Sarai Kale Khan to Panipat, with the Haryana government already depositing its share of funds for the project. He also addressed challenges in the foundry industry of Samalkha, assuring resolution, and revealed plans to acquire 100 to 500 acres of land for industries near Dekadla through HSIIDC.

Chief Minister. Manohar Lal highlighted the government’s achievements since 2014, emphasizing the commitment to eradicating corruption, reducing crime, and eliminating caste-based politics. He underscored the state’s appeal for investment, focusing on education, health, security, self-respect, self-reliance, service, and good governance.

The government’s initiatives include providing free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh for families with incomes up to Rs1.80 lakh and naming medical colleges and universities after prominent individuals. MP Sanjay Bhatia, BJP leader Sanjay Chokkar, BJP District President Archana Gupta, Zilla Parishad Chairperson Jyoti Sharma and other officials were also present on this occasion.

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Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government over the rising prices of petrol and diesel, former Haryana Minister and Congress leader Sukhbir Kataria blamed the Central government and the BJP-led Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana and sought an immediate rollback of the increase in the prices of petroleum products. He asserted that under the BJP dispensation, prices of other products like dal, rice and sugar are continuously increasing.

“The people were battling coronavirus pandemic and the Central government has increased price of diesel and petrol. The fuel price has crossed Rs 100 per litre in several states. It’s like the Central government and the state government don’t even think about the problems faced by the common man,” Kataria said.

“The government is profiteering at the expense of the people, it is an example of extorting money from people,” he added. We urge the Centre through this protest to rollback the rise in excise duty on petrol and give its benefit to the people, Kataria said. Kataria claimed that more than 200 farmers have died at the borders of the national capital during the protests but the Central government is still adamant over the three contentious farm laws.

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