The Hindu : Other States / Haryana News : Chautala doesn't give a damn about CEC remarks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 17, 2004

Other States

Other States - Haryana

Chautala doesn't give a damn about CEC remarks

By Rajesh Ahuja

CHANDIGARH, DEC.16. Absolutely unmindful of the observation made by the Chief Election Commissioner yesterday that it was "morally incorrect'' for the Haryana Chief Minister to make announcements to woo the voters especially when the State was about to face the Assembly polls, Mr.Om Prakash Chautala today announced package after package of sops for various sections of society at rallies and public meetings.

Speaking at a re-union rally at Charkhi Dadri in Bhiwani district, he announced a bonanza of incentives for ex-servicemen and their dependents. These sops include enhancement in the rate of financial assistance to orphan children of ex-servicemen, paraplegic and tetraplegic ex-servicemen, blind and disabled ex-servicemen and for those above 60 years of age and widows. He also announced to double the rates of annuity to gallantry award winners of Armed Forces.

Mr.Chautala said the financial assistance admissible to the orphan children of the ex-servicemen and blind ex-servicemen would be enhanced from Rs.450 to Rs.600 per month and the rate of financial assistance for the paraplegic, tetraplegic and hemiplegic ex-servicemen would be increased from Rs.600 to Rs.800 per month. And the disabled ex-servicemen would now get Rs.500 per month. Ex-servicemen who are above the age of 60 and widows would also get Rs.500 per month.

The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) supremo also announced to waive off tax on cars and scooters being sold through the CSD canteens. The backlog of vacancies of ex-servicemen would be filled up on priority basis and they would get reservation for professional courses, he added.

Getting into full election mode, he charged that the Congress had always supported the capitalists and tried to divide the common man on "casteist and religious'' lines to gain political mileage. The Congress Government at the Centre was anti-farmer as it had hiked the Minimum Support Price of wheat and sugarcane only marginally. Appealing to the ex-servicemen to launch a one-to-one contact programme to create political awakening among the masses to make the people understand who was their well-wisher.

He appreciated the gestures of the former Union Defence Minister, George Fernandes, for approving the projects of a Defence Park, Defence University and Sainik School at Matanhail.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Fernandes sharply flayed the Congress leaders for levelling false and baseless allegations against him especially the "coffin'' deal.

Later addressing a public meeting at Kalanaur in Rohtak district, Mr.Chautala announced that the financial assistance of Rs.20,000 being given to the poor people for construction of houses would be enhanced.

He also laid the foundation stone of a Rail Over Bridge to be constructed at a cost of Rs.24.66 crores at Jind road. He also laid the foundation stone of a remodeling project of Sunaria minor. He inaugurated a waterworks booster at Model Town, Rohtak.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Chautala doesn't give a damn about CEC remarks

Education officers appointed