Polling for 90 seats of Haryana and 288 constituencies of Maharashtra began at 7 am today and will continue till 6 pm. The electoral fate of over 4,400 candidates -- 1,169 in Haryana and 3,237 in Maharashtra will be sealed in EVMs by the voters who will exercise their democratic franchise in the assembly elections.

India Votes: Voting underway in Haryana and Maharashtra

<p>&nbsp;A day after the Election Commission announced dates for the Haryana Assembly elections, the manifesto committee of the Haryana Congress will hold its first meeting here on Sunday.</p>

<p>The committee under the chairperson of Kiran Choudhary will discuss and mull over the party`s manifesto for the upcoming elections.</p>

<p>The Congress party has already requested people of the state to come up with suggestions for its manifesto.</p>

<p>Prominent leaders of Haryana Congress, including state president Kumari Selja, former Chief Minister and Congress legislature party leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda and others, will be present at the meeting.</p>

<p>"We have been receiving suggestions from all sections of society including farmers and their organizations, employees, contractual teachers, etc. We will include the suggestions in our manifesto to make it an inclusive one. Our manifesto will be 'Jan Goshna Patr' that will cater to all sections of society including Dalits, backward, women, youth, etc," said Kumari Selja.</p>

<p>"BJP in its last manifesto promised almost 150 things but delivered none," she added.</p>

<p>Amid dissidence in Haryana unit of the Congress, earlier this month the party-appointed Rajya Sabha MP Kumari Selja as the president of the state unit and also named senior leader Hooda as the CLP chief and Chairman of the State Election Committee.</p>

<p>The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced the single-phase voting for Haryana Assembly elections on October 21, while the counting of votes will take place on October 24.</p>

<p>Haryana has a strength of 90 seats out of which 17 are reserved for SC and none for ST.</p>

<p>There are 1.82 crore registered voters in the state out of which 1.07 lakh are service voters.</p>

<p>Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government is in power in Haryana after the party won 47 out of a total of 90 seats in the 2014 Assembly elections, while the Congress was restricted to just 15 seats.</p>


A day after the Election Commission announced dates for the Haryana Assembly elections, the manifesto committee of the Haryana Congress will hold its first meeting here on Sunday.

A day after the Election Commission announced dates for the Haryana Assembly elections, the manifesto committee of the Haryana Congress will hold its first meeting here on Sunday. The committee under the chairperson of Kiran Choudhary will discuss and mull over the party`s manifesto for the upcoming elections. The Congress party has already requested people of the state to come up with suggestions for its manifesto. Prominent leaders of Haryana Congress, including state president Kumari Selja, former Chief Minister and Congress legislature party leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda and others, will be present at the meeting. "We have been receiving suggestions from all sections of society including farmers and their organizations, employees, contractual teachers, etc. We will include the suggestions in our manifesto to make it an inclusive one. Our manifesto will be 'Jan Goshna Patr' that will cater to all sections of society including Dalits, backward, women, youth, etc," said Kumari Selja. "BJP in its last manifesto promised almost 150 things but delivered none," she added. Amid dissidence in Haryana unit of the Congress, earlier this month the party-appointed Rajya Sabha MP Kumari Selja as the president of the state unit and also named senior leader Hooda as the CLP chief and Chairman of the State Election Committee. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced the single-phase voting for Haryana Assembly elections on October 21, while the counting of votes will take place on October 24. Haryana has a strength of 90 seats out of which 17 are reserved for SC and none for ST. There are 1.82 crore registered voters in the state out of which 1.07 lakh are service voters. Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government is in power in Haryana after the party won 47 out of a total of 90 seats in the 2014 Assembly elections, while the Congress was restricted to just 15 seats.

Haryana Congress to meet today to discuss manifesto for Assembly election

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amit-shahs-call-for-hindi-as-national-language-triggers-political-row-249706">Union Home Minister Amit Shah</a> chaired the 29th meeting of the Northern Zonal Council (NZC) here on Friday.</p>

<p>The Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar, who is also Vice-Chairman of the Council, hosted the meeting.</p>

<p>The Northern Zonal Council consists of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, and Delhi.</p>

<p>Chief Ministers from the member states in the zone along with two ministers each, administrators of Union Territories, Chief Secretaries and senior officers from the State Governments and the Central Government are members of NZC.</p>

<p>The Council takes up issues involving Centre and States and one/many States falling in the Zone. The Zonal Councils thus provide a forum for resolving disputes and irritants between Centre and States and among many States in the Zone.</p>

<p>The Zonal Councils discuss a broad range of issues which include boundary-related disputes, security, infrastructure-related matters like road, transport, industries, water, power, matters pertaining to forests and environment, housing, education, food security, tourism, transport, etc.</p>

<p>Five Zonal Councils were set up in the year 1957 under the States Reorganization Act, 1956. The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these five Zonal Councils and Chief Ministers of the host State (to be chosen by routine every year) is the Vice-Chairman. Two more Ministers from each State are nominated as Members by the Governor.</p>


Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 29th meeting of the Northern Zonal Council (NZC) here on Friday. The Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar, who is also Vice-Chairman of the Council, hosted the meeting.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 29th meeting of the Northern Zonal Council (NZC) here on Friday. The Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar, who is also Vice-Chairman of the Council, hosted the meeting. The Northern Zonal Council consists of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, and Delhi. Chief Ministers from the member states in the zone along with two ministers each, administrators of Union Territories, Chief Secretaries and senior officers from the State Governments and the Central Government are members of NZC. The Council takes up issues involving Centre and States and one/many States falling in the Zone. The Zonal Councils thus provide a forum for resolving disputes and irritants between Centre and States and among many States in the Zone. The Zonal Councils discuss a broad range of issues which include boundary-related disputes, security, infrastructure-related matters like road, transport, industries, water, power, matters pertaining to forests and environment, housing, education, food security, tourism, transport, etc. Five Zonal Councils were set up in the year 1957 under the States Reorganization Act, 1956. The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these five Zonal Councils and Chief Ministers of the host State (to be chosen by routine every year) is the Vice-Chairman. Two more Ministers from each State are nominated as Members by the Governor.

Home Minister Amit Shah chairs 29th meeting of Northern Zonal Council

<p>Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday announced to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state.</p>

<p>"We will implement the NRC in Haryana as well," Khattar told reporters in Panchkula after meeting retired Judge SS Bhalla, who is going to review the NRC process in Assam.</p>

<p>Khattar met Bhalla, as a part of the five-day-long <em>'Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan'</em>&nbsp;by the BJP in which leaders from the party meet the prominent members of the society to discuss various issues.</p>

<p>"The state government is working on a fast pace on family identity card and its data would also be used in the National Register of Citizens (NRC)," the Chief Minister said.</p>

<p>Khattar, who is seeking his second term as Haryana Chief Minister, also appreciated the efforts of the retired justice who even after retirement, is going on a tour of Assam to study the NRC data.</p>

<p>Khattar said that in a way, it would also be better for the government as Bhalla`s services would be useful for the NRC to be established in the state.</p>

<p>Speaking about the 'Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan', Khattar said, "The party is running a five-day Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan at the national level, in the same sequence today, I met the dignitaries in Panchkula. Apart from former chairman, Haryana State Human Rights Commission, Justice (Retd) HS Bhalla, I also met former Admiral Mr J.S. Lamba, Sector-6, MCD and Lt. Gen. (retired), Baljit Singh Jaiswal and discussed national and international news with them."</p>

<p>The Chief Minister said that the aim of such campaigns is to reach out to people about the work done by the present state government during the last five years.</p>

<p>The NRC is a register maintained by the Government of India containing names and certain relevant information for identification of all genuine Indian citizens. In Assam, a final list of the NRC was published on August 31.</p>

<p>More than 19 lakh people were excluded. However, those left out can still apply to the designated Foreigners'&nbsp;Tribunals within 120 days for their cases to be heard.&nbsp;</p>


Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday announced to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state. "We will implement the NRC in Haryana as well," Khattar told reporters in Panchkula after meeting retired Judge SS Bhalla, who is going to review the NRC process in Assam.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday announced to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state. "We will implement the NRC in Haryana as well," Khattar told reporters in Panchkula after meeting retired Judge SS Bhalla, who is going to review the NRC process in Assam. Khattar met Bhalla, as a part of the five-day-long 'Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan' by the BJP in which leaders from the party meet the prominent members of the society to discuss various issues. "The state government is working on a fast pace on family identity card and its data would also be used in the National Register of Citizens (NRC)," the Chief Minister said. Khattar, who is seeking his second term as Haryana Chief Minister, also appreciated the efforts of the retired justice who even after retirement, is going on a tour of Assam to study the NRC data. Khattar said that in a way, it would also be better for the government as Bhalla`s services would be useful for the NRC to be established in the state. Speaking about the 'Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan', Khattar said, "The party is running a five-day Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan at the national level, in the same sequence today, I met the dignitaries in Panchkula. Apart from former chairman, Haryana State Human Rights Commission, Justice (Retd) HS Bhalla, I also met former Admiral Mr J.S. Lamba, Sector-6, MCD and Lt. Gen. (retired), Baljit Singh Jaiswal and discussed national and international news with them." The Chief Minister said that the aim of such campaigns is to reach out to people about the work done by the present state government during the last five years. The NRC is a register maintained by the Government of India containing names and certain relevant information for identification of all genuine Indian citizens. In Assam, a final list of the NRC was published on August 31. More than 19 lakh people were excluded. However, those left out can still apply to the designated Foreigners' Tribunals within 120 days for their cases to be heard.

Will implement NRC in Haryana as well: CM Manohar Lal Khattar

<p>In the run-up to Assembly polls, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday announced a package worth Rs 4,750 crores for farmers in the state.He waived off penalty and interest on crop loans in three schemes to give relief to farmers.</p>

<p>"In total, we have announced a package of around Rs 5000 crore package for farmers. It will be a big relief to farmers. 10 lakh farmers will get benefits," he told reporters in a press conference here.</p>

<p>The Chief Minister also waived penalty on loans taken from Primary Cooperative Agriculture Societies (PACS) saying that 8.25 lakh farmers have defaulted in repayment of loans.</p>

<p>"In PACS, 13 lakh farmers have taken loans out of which 8.25 lakh have become NPAs. They pay 7 per cent interest in which state government pays 4 per cent and 3 per cent is paid by the central government through a scheme. In case of failure, a 5 per cent penalty is also imposed. We are waiving 5 per cent penalty of farmers," he said.</p>

<p>"3 per cent amount paid by the central government through a scheme and from now on the government will pay 1.5 per cent and the remaining 1.5 per cent will be borne by PACS. Now, full interest and penalty have been waived off and farmers will have to pay the only original loan amount. They should deposit the money and convert their accounts into normal. Farmers will get the benefit of Rs 2,500 crore," Khattar added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also announced a package of Rs 1,800 crores to waive penalty on crop loans, which has been taken from District Cooperative Central Banks (DCCB)"85,000 farmers have taken loans from DCCV. 32,000 accounts have become NPAs. Farmers who have taken loans of amount Rs 5 lakhs will now have to pay only 2 per cent interest instead 12-15 per cent," Khattar said.</p>

<p>"Farmers who have taken loans of Rs 5-10 lakhs will pay 5 per cent. Those with loans above Rs 10 lakhs will pay 10 per cent interest. Their penalties have been waived off. The last date of depositing money is November 30. Farmers will be benefitted with Rs 1,800 crores," he added.</p>

<p>The Chief Minister also made an announcement for farmers who have taken loans from the Land Mortgage Bank."1.5 lakh farmers who have taken loans through Land Mortgage Bank, 70,000 have become NPAs. The total amount is Rs 1,400 crores. The principal amount is Rs 700 crores. We have waived off penalty and farmers will only have to 50 per cent of the interest. The rest 50 per cent will be paid by the government. The scheme will cost Rs 450 crore, he said. The Chief Minister also said that the state government has purchased the crop that was not sold.</p>

<p>Taking to Twitter, Haryana BJP president Subhash Barala lauded Khattar for the package.</p>

<p>"The Chief Minister announced the waiver of penalty and interest amount on crop loans of Rs 4,750 crore. Ten lakh farmers of the state will be benefited.Indebted farmers of Primary cooperative, agricultural marketing, District Central Cooperative Banks and Haryana Land Reforms and Development Bank will benefit with this," he said.Haryana Assembly elections are due in October-November this year.</p>


In the run-up to Assembly polls, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday announced a package worth Rs 4,750 crores for farmers in the state.He waived off penalty and interest on crop loans in three schemes to give relief to farmers.

In the run-up to Assembly polls, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday announced a package worth Rs 4,750 crores for farmers in the state.He waived off penalty and interest on crop loans in three schemes to give relief to farmers. "In total, we have announced a package of around Rs 5000 crore package for farmers. It will be a big relief to farmers. 10 lakh farmers will get benefits," he told reporters in a press conference here. The Chief Minister also waived penalty on loans taken from Primary Cooperative Agriculture Societies (PACS) saying that 8.25 lakh farmers have defaulted in repayment of loans. "In PACS, 13 lakh farmers have taken loans out of which 8.25 lakh have become NPAs. They pay 7 per cent interest in which state government pays 4 per cent and 3 per cent is paid by the central government through a scheme. In case of failure, a 5 per cent penalty is also imposed. We are waiving 5 per cent penalty of farmers," he said. "3 per cent amount paid by the central government through a scheme and from now on the government will pay 1.5 per cent and the remaining 1.5 per cent will be borne by PACS. Now, full interest and penalty have been waived off and farmers will have to pay the only original loan amount. They should deposit the money and convert their accounts into normal. Farmers will get the benefit of Rs 2,500 crore," Khattar added. He also announced a package of Rs 1,800 crores to waive penalty on crop loans, which has been taken from District Cooperative Central Banks (DCCB)"85,000 farmers have taken loans from DCCV. 32,000 accounts have become NPAs. Farmers who have taken loans of amount Rs 5 lakhs will now have to pay only 2 per cent interest instead 12-15 per cent," Khattar said. "Farmers who have taken loans of Rs 5-10 lakhs will pay 5 per cent. Those with loans above Rs 10 lakhs will pay 10 per cent interest. Their penalties have been waived off. The last date of depositing money is November 30. Farmers will be benefitted with Rs 1,800 crores," he added. The Chief Minister also made an announcement for farmers who have taken loans from the Land Mortgage Bank."1.5 lakh farmers who have taken loans through Land Mortgage Bank, 70,000 have become NPAs. The total amount is Rs 1,400 crores. The principal amount is Rs 700 crores. We have waived off penalty and farmers will only have to 50 per cent of the interest. The rest 50 per cent will be paid by the government. The scheme will cost Rs 450 crore, he said. The Chief Minister also said that the state government has purchased the crop that was not sold. Taking to Twitter, Haryana BJP president Subhash Barala lauded Khattar for the package. "The Chief Minister announced the waiver of penalty and interest amount on crop loans of Rs 4,750 crore. Ten lakh farmers of the state will be benefited.Indebted farmers of Primary cooperative, agricultural marketing, District Central Cooperative Banks and Haryana Land Reforms and Development Bank will benefit with this," he said.Haryana Assembly elections are due in October-November this year.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announces Rs 4,750 cr package for farmers

<p>Wrestler <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/winning-olympic-medal-my-ultimate-goal-wrestler-babita-phogat-133797">Babita Phogat</a> on Monday joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju at party headquarters in Delhi.</p>

<p>Along with Babita, her father Mahavir Phogat, a Dronacharya Awardee, too joined the BJP. He was chief of the Jannayak Janata Party's sports cell, which was floated by former Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ace wrestler Babita Phogat won Silver medal at 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. It was Phogat's third Commonwealth Games medal after winning silver and gold in Delhi (51kg) and Glasgow (55kg), respectively.<br />
<br />
Sisters Babita, Geeta and their father Mahavir Phogat inspired critically&nbsp;acclaimed movie <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-aamir-khan-didnt-want-to-play-older-character-post-dangal-rajkumar-hirani-141019">'Dangal'</a> starring Aamir Khan.</p>

<p>Phogats said that they are impressed with the policies and programmes of Narendra Modi-led BJP government and also praised Manohar Lal Khattar-led government in Haryana.<br />
<br />
Babita recently came out in support of the Haryana chief minister&nbsp;over his remark on Kashmiri women, saying there was nothing offensive in what he said. "Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has not made any such statement that is offensive to our sisters and daughters. I urge the media to not misinterpret his statement," she tweeted.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">हरियाणा के मुख्यमंत्री मनोहर लाल खट्टर जी ने ऐसा कोई बयान नहीं दिया है जिससे हमारी बहन बेटियों के बारे में गलत बोला गया हो मेरी मीडिया से प्रार्थना है कि उनके बयान को गलत तरीके से जनता के सामने पेश ना करें <a href="https://twitter.com/mlkhattar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mlkhattar</a> <a href="https://t.co/9nsSYPGRJd">https://t.co/9nsSYPGRJd</a></p>
— Babita Phogat (@BabitaPhogat) <a href="https://twitter.com/BabitaPhogat/status/1160151060587040769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Assembly elections will be held in Haryana later this year.</p>

<p><br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Wrestler Babita Phogat on Monday joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju at party headquarters in Delhi. Along with Babita, her father Mahavir Phogat, a Dronacharya Awardee, too joined the BJP.

Wrestler Babita Phogat on Monday joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju at party headquarters in Delhi. Along with Babita, her father Mahavir Phogat, a Dronacharya Awardee, too joined the BJP. He was chief of the Jannayak Janata Party's sports cell, which was floated by former Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala. Ace wrestler Babita Phogat won Silver medal at 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. It was Phogat's third Commonwealth Games medal after winning silver and gold in Delhi (51kg) and Glasgow (55kg), respectively. Sisters Babita, Geeta and their father Mahavir Phogat inspired critically acclaimed movie 'Dangal' starring Aamir Khan. Phogats said that they are impressed with the policies and programmes of Narendra Modi-led BJP government and also praised Manohar Lal Khattar-led government in Haryana. Babita recently came out in support of the Haryana chief minister over his remark on Kashmiri women, saying there was nothing offensive in what he said. "Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has not made any such statement that is offensive to our sisters and daughters. I urge the media to not misinterpret his statement," she tweeted. हरियाणा के मुख्यमंत्री मनोहर लाल खट्टर जी ने ऐसा कोई बयान नहीं दिया है जिससे हमारी बहन बेटियों के बारे में गलत बोला गया हो मेरी मीडिया से प्रार्थना है कि उनके बयान को गलत तरीके से जनता के सामने पेश ना करें @mlkhattar https://t.co/9nsSYPGRJd — Babita Phogat (@BabitaPhogat) August 10, 2019 × Assembly elections will be held in Haryana later this year. (With inputs from agencies)

Wrestler Babita Phogat, father Mahavir join Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of Haryana Assembly elections

Watch this segment of India Election Watch, Will BJP retain in Haryana in 2019?

India Election Watch: Will BJP retain in Haryana in 2019?

<p>Ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of 211 development projects of different departments costing Rs 4,106 crore.</p>

<p>According to an official release, the chief minister inaugurated projects and laid foundation stones in all districts of the state through video conferencing in Chandigarh.</p>

<p>These included inauguration of 63 projects at a cost of Rs 408 crore and foundation stones of 148 projects at a cost of Rs 3,698 crore.</p>

<p>On the occasion, Khattar said, "Inauguration and laying foundation stone of development projects in such a large number and that too in a single day would usher in a new era of development in the state."</p>

<p>The chief minister said earlier also he had laid foundation stone of 22 government colleges simultaneously in different districts of the state through video conferencing "which was a huge step".</p>

<p>Khattar said these projects would prove to be a milestone in ensuring uniform development of the state and claimed the BJP government in Haryana has also set a new record in terms of chief minister's announcements.</p>

<p>He said that during the four-and-a-half years of the present government, he has made 7,916 announcements pertaining to various development works according to the area requirement.</p>

<p>"Contrary to this, during the ten years rule of the previous Congress government in the state, only 6,500 announcements were made by the chief minister," Khattar claimed.</p>

<p>He urged the secretaries to complete the ongoing work of "chief minister's announcements" concerning their departments at the earliest so that the pace of development in the state could be further accelerated.</p>

<p>Assuring officials that there is no dearth of funds for the development works, the chief minister said a lot of development has taken place in the state and would continue in the same pace in the future.</p>

<p>He said apart from development works, the BJP government in Haryana has announced several schemes for the progress and prosperity of farmers, the poor and labourers.</p>

<p>To ensure that people avail benefits of the various schemes of state and central governments under one roof, Saral Kendras and Antyodaya Kendras have been established at subdivision and block level and at district headquarters, the chief minister said.&nbsp;</p>


Ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of 211 development projects of different departments costing Rs 4,106 crore.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of 211 development projects of different departments costing Rs 4,106 crore. According to an official release, the chief minister inaugurated projects and laid foundation stones in all districts of the state through video conferencing in Chandigarh. These included inauguration of 63 projects at a cost of Rs 408 crore and foundation stones of 148 projects at a cost of Rs 3,698 crore. On the occasion, Khattar said, "Inauguration and laying foundation stone of development projects in such a large number and that too in a single day would usher in a new era of development in the state." The chief minister said earlier also he had laid foundation stone of 22 government colleges simultaneously in different districts of the state through video conferencing "which was a huge step". Khattar said these projects would prove to be a milestone in ensuring uniform development of the state and claimed the BJP government in Haryana has also set a new record in terms of chief minister's announcements. He said that during the four-and-a-half years of the present government, he has made 7,916 announcements pertaining to various development works according to the area requirement. "Contrary to this, during the ten years rule of the previous Congress government in the state, only 6,500 announcements were made by the chief minister," Khattar claimed. He urged the secretaries to complete the ongoing work of "chief minister's announcements" concerning their departments at the earliest so that the pace of development in the state could be further accelerated. Assuring officials that there is no dearth of funds for the development works, the chief minister said a lot of development has taken place in the state and would continue in the same pace in the future. He said apart from development works, the BJP government in Haryana has announced several schemes for the progress and prosperity of farmers, the poor and labourers. To ensure that people avail benefits of the various schemes of state and central governments under one roof, Saral Kendras and Antyodaya Kendras have been established at subdivision and block level and at district headquarters, the chief minister said.

Manohar Lal Khattar lays foundation stone, inaugurates development projects amounting to Rs 4,106 crore in Haryana

<p>Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has courted a controversy over his remarks on rape incidents, with the Congress condemning the statement, saying the state government's "anti-women mindset" was exposed.</p>

<p>At a function in Kalka town of Panchkula district on Friday, Khattar said, "The incidents of rape have not increased... Rapes used to take place in the past and even today as well. (Only) the concern (over such incidents) has increased.</p>

<p>"The biggest concern is that in 80 to 90 per cent of rape and eve-teasing cases, the accused and the victim know each other. In many cases, they know each other for a long time and, on one day, when there is an argument (between them over some issue)... An FIR is lodged, saying: 'He has raped me'," Khattar had said.</p>

<p>Hitting out at the chief minister, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the statement deplorable.</p>

<p>"Anti-Women Mindset of Khattar Govt Exposed! Haryana CM Khattar ji makes an utterly condemnable remark. Blaming Women for complete failures to control Rapes &amp; Gangrapes? Deplorable!," Surjewala tweeted.</p>


Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has courted a controversy over his remarks on rape incidents, with the Congress condemning the statement, saying the state government's "anti-women mindset" was exposed.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has courted a controversy over his remarks on rape incidents, with the Congress condemning the statement, saying the state government's "anti-women mindset" was exposed. At a function in Kalka town of Panchkula district on Friday, Khattar said, "The incidents of rape have not increased... Rapes used to take place in the past and even today as well. (Only) the concern (over such incidents) has increased. "The biggest concern is that in 80 to 90 per cent of rape and eve-teasing cases, the accused and the victim know each other. In many cases, they know each other for a long time and, on one day, when there is an argument (between them over some issue)... An FIR is lodged, saying: 'He has raped me'," Khattar had said. Hitting out at the chief minister, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the statement deplorable. "Anti-Women Mindset of Khattar Govt Exposed! Haryana CM Khattar ji makes an utterly condemnable remark. Blaming Women for complete failures to control Rapes & Gangrapes? Deplorable!," Surjewala tweeted.

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar’s rape remark sparks controversy, invites Congress's wrath

<p>Bangladesh-born Taslima Nasreen, 55, who fled her country after a fundamentalist blacklash over her book Lajja in the 90s, backed Haryana chief minister's move to not to allow namaz in public places.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reacting to the increased number of incidents of disrupting namaz in different areas of Gurugram, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/namaz-should-be-performed-in-mosques-rather-than-public-spaces-haryana-cm-manohar-lal-khattar--134938">Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar </a>on Saturday said namaz should only be offered in mosques/eidgahs.</p>

<p>Taslima who now lives in Sweden and had spent considerable time in West Bengal spoke out against Nawaz in public places.</p>

<p>Speaking out against the practice of offering Namaz at public places, Taslima Nasreen tweeted: "Namaz should be offered at mosque and Eidgah. &nbsp; Makes sense. &nbsp;Should be applicable for other worshipers too. Blocking public places not good."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Namaz should be offered at mosque and Eidgah. Makes sense. Should be applicable for other worshipers too. Blocking public places not good. <a href="https://t.co/cs76oKVFf6">pic.twitter.com/cs76oKVFf6</a></p>
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) <a href="https://twitter.com/taslimanasreen/status/993160799630843911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Taslima who now lives in Sweden and had spent considerable time in West Bengal spoke out against Nawaz in public places.

Bangladesh-born Taslima Nasreen, 55, who fled her country after a fundamentalist blacklash over her book Lajja in the 90s, backed Haryana chief minister's move to not to allow namaz in public places. Reacting to the increased number of incidents of disrupting namaz in different areas of Gurugram, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said namaz should only be offered in mosques/eidgahs. Taslima who now lives in Sweden and had spent considerable time in West Bengal spoke out against Nawaz in public places. Speaking out against the practice of offering Namaz at public places, Taslima Nasreen tweeted: "Namaz should be offered at mosque and Eidgah. Makes sense. Should be applicable for other worshipers too. Blocking public places not good." Namaz should be offered at mosque and Eidgah. Makes sense. Should be applicable for other worshipers too. Blocking public places not good. pic.twitter.com/cs76oKVFf6 — taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) May 6, 2018 ×

Namaz should be offered only at mosque and eidgah: Taslima Nasreen

<p>Reacting to the increased number of incidents of disrupting namaz in different areas of Gurugram, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said namaz should only be offered in mosques/eidgahs.</p>

<p>Khattar stressed maintaining law and order in the state was his responsibility and there has been a rise in namaz prayers being offered at public places.</p>

<p>“Hamara kahna hai ki jo namaj padane ke satahn hain…namaz padni hi chahiye, namaj masjid me padni chahiye, namaj Eidgah me padni chahiye aur namaj padane ka unka sathan kam padta hai to apane niji sathan par padani chahiye. Ye aese visay nahi hai jinka sarvajanhik sathano par pardarshan ho (In our point of view, namaz should be offered at their designated places. Namaz should be offered at mosque and Eidgah. If there is shortage of place for namaz, then it should be offered at personal place. These are not such issues which should be displayed at public places),” Khattar said while speaking to journalists in Chandigarh.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It is our duty to maintain law & order. There has been an increase in offering namaz in open. Namaz should be read in Mosques or Idgahs rather than public spaces: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on increase in the number of incidents of disrupting namaz in Gurugram <a href="https://t.co/82ZQw6M2WN">pic.twitter.com/82ZQw6M2WN</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/993001874231087105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Notably, some Hindutva outfits recently disrupted namaz at some places in Gurugram.</p>

<p>Namaz was disrupted in Gurugram in as many as 10 locations, said multiple reports. However, there was no violence outbreak.</p>

<p>They claimed Muslim worshippers didn't have permission to offer namaz at public places.</p>


There has been a rise in namaz prayers being offered at public places.

Reacting to the increased number of incidents of disrupting namaz in different areas of Gurugram, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said namaz should only be offered in mosques/eidgahs. Khattar stressed maintaining law and order in the state was his responsibility and there has been a rise in namaz prayers being offered at public places. “Hamara kahna hai ki jo namaj padane ke satahn hain…namaz padni hi chahiye, namaj masjid me padni chahiye, namaj Eidgah me padni chahiye aur namaj padane ka unka sathan kam padta hai to apane niji sathan par padani chahiye. Ye aese visay nahi hai jinka sarvajanhik sathano par pardarshan ho (In our point of view, namaz should be offered at their designated places. Namaz should be offered at mosque and Eidgah. If there is shortage of place for namaz, then it should be offered at personal place. These are not such issues which should be displayed at public places),” Khattar said while speaking to journalists in Chandigarh. It is our duty to maintain law & order. There has been an increase in offering namaz in open. Namaz should be read in Mosques or Idgahs rather than public spaces: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on increase in the number of incidents of disrupting namaz in Gurugram pic.twitter.com/82ZQw6M2WN — ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2018 × Notably, some Hindutva outfits recently disrupted namaz at some places in Gurugram. Namaz was disrupted in Gurugram in as many as 10 locations, said multiple reports. However, there was no violence outbreak. They claimed Muslim worshippers didn't have permission to offer namaz at public places.

Namaz should be performed in Mosques rather than public spaces: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar

<p>A mall in Kurushektra, Haryana has been vandalised by 20-22 miscreants allegedly in protest of &quot;Padmaavat&quot; renamed from Padmavati.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A mall in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Haryana?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Haryana</a>&#39;s Kurukshetra vandalised by 20-22 miscreants allegedly in protest against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a>; eye-witnesses alleged a group of people opened fire &amp; attacked the place with hammers &amp; swords (21.01.18) <a href="https://t.co/qN1Dh1As6n">pic.twitter.com/qN1Dh1As6n</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/955320867440902144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to the eyewitness, that protestors opened fire and attacked the place with hammers and swords, claimed by eyewitness.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We suspect this act was against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a>. 20-22 people suddenly entered the mall at 6:48 pm, vandalised it &amp; escaped without saying a word. We have identified a few of them. Further Investigation is underway: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Haryana?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Haryana</a> Police <a href="https://t.co/ThAwR6S63d">pic.twitter.com/ThAwR6S63d</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/955320870800572416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>The protesters fled the scene without having any words.</p>

<p>Police have identified few of the protestors and investigation is underway.</p>

<p>&quot;Padmaavat&quot;&nbsp;is facing protest across the Rajasthan by fringe groups, mainly from Karni Sena.</p>

<p>Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar asked that if cinema halls do not screen the film it would be good however he further assured that the security would be provided to halls screening the film.</p>

<p>Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial &quot;Padmaavat&quot;&nbsp;is facing a massive protest by Rajput and Kashtriya community in few states like Haryana, Rajasthan Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.</p>

<p>The film &quot;Padmaavat&quot; previously banned in four states, Haryana, Rajasthan Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, is now scheduled to release&nbsp;on January 25, a day before Republic day.</p>


According to the eyewitness, that protestors opened fire and attacked the place with hammers and swords, claimed by eyewitness

A mall in Kurushektra, Haryana has been vandalised by 20-22 miscreants allegedly in protest of "Padmaavat" renamed from Padmavati. A mall in #Haryana's Kurukshetra vandalised by 20-22 miscreants allegedly in protest against #Padmaavat; eye-witnesses alleged a group of people opened fire & attacked the place with hammers & swords (21.01.18) pic.twitter.com/qN1Dh1As6n — ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2018 × According to the eyewitness, that protestors opened fire and attacked the place with hammers and swords, claimed by eyewitness. We suspect this act was against #Padmaavat. 20-22 people suddenly entered the mall at 6:48 pm, vandalised it & escaped without saying a word. We have identified a few of them. Further Investigation is underway: #Haryana Police pic.twitter.com/ThAwR6S63d — ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2018 × The protesters fled the scene without having any words. Police have identified few of the protestors and investigation is underway. "Padmaavat" is facing protest across the Rajasthan by fringe groups, mainly from Karni Sena. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar asked that if cinema halls do not screen the film it would be good however he further assured that the security would be provided to halls screening the film. Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial "Padmaavat" is facing a massive protest by Rajput and Kashtriya community in few states like Haryana, Rajasthan Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The film "Padmaavat" previously banned in four states, Haryana, Rajasthan Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, is now scheduled to release on January 25, a day before Republic day.

Mall vandalised in Kurukshetra Haryana, suspected to be in protest against 'Padmaavat'

<p>Protests against the movie Padmaavat -- the movie is scheduled for release on January 25 -- are gathering pace around the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh approached the Supreme Court Tuesday to rethink its stay on their ban of the movie. The movie had been banned by two other states -- Gujarat and Haryana, but the court had last week ordered the bans to be lifted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The court had said then that if the movie Bandit Queen (on the life of dacoit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi) could be <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/padmaavat-cleared-by-the-supreme-court-in-four-states-stays-ban-29917" target="_blank">released, then why not </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/padmaavat-cleared-by-the-supreme-court-in-four-states-stays-ban-29917" target="_blank">Padmaavat</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In Jaipur meanwhile, the Rajput Karna Sena staged a protest against the movie, saying, &quot;We are confident that no cinema hall will screen the film and if someone does they should be ready to bear the consequences.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Consider it a warning or request,&quot; the self-styled Sena added. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rajput Karni Sena staged protest in Jaipur against screening of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a>, say &#39; We are confident that no cinema hall will screen the film &amp; if someone does they should be ready to bear the consequences. Consider it a warning or request&#39;. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rajasthan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rajasthan</a> <a href="https://t.co/IJosg8jQo7">pic.twitter.com/IJosg8jQo7</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/955328111725363201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>In Chittor meanwhile, Rajput women took out a &quot;Chetavani rally&quot;. They said they would commit jauhar (mass sati) should the movie be released.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And ANI reported that a youth in Bhilwara had climbed a 350-foot-tall mobile tower along with a bottle of petrol. ANI added that the protester was saying he &quot;will come down only when Padmaavat is banned in the country&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said Monday that any cinema hall screening the movie would be given security but that &quot;if someone decides not to screen the film it will be good.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">If someone decides not to screen the film it will be good but if someone screens the film, they will be provided security. It is our duty to comply with Supreme Court&#39;s order: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a> <a href="https://t.co/0ZpfKOFG86">pic.twitter.com/0ZpfKOFG86</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/955322116622073856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;It is our duty to comply with the Supreme Court order,&quot; he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Police in Haryana said a mall in Kurukshetra had been vandalised on Sunday evening in protest against the movie. They said a group of 20 to 22 miscreants had attacked the mall with swords and hammers.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We suspect this act was against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a>. 20-22 people suddenly entered the mall at 6:48 pm, vandalised it &amp; escaped without saying a word. We have identified a few of them. Further Investigation is underway: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Haryana?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Haryana</a> Police <a href="https://t.co/ThAwR6S63d">pic.twitter.com/ThAwR6S63d</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/955320870800572416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Protesters had also blocked roads and set buses on fire in Gujarat on Sunday evening, again in protest against the movie.</p>

<p>Senior state minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said afterwards that such protests were &quot;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/violent-protests-in-gujarat-against-padmaavat-minister-calls-it-natural-30310" target="_blank">natural</a>&quot; and that the government was looking for a legal opinion following the Supreme Court&#39;s order.</p>


'We are confident that no cinema hall will screen the film and if someone does they should be ready to bear the consequences,' the Rajput Karni Sena said

Protests against the movie Padmaavat -- the movie is scheduled for release on January 25 -- are gathering pace around the country. The two states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh approached the Supreme Court Tuesday to rethink its stay on their ban of the movie. The movie had been banned by two other states -- Gujarat and Haryana, but the court had last week ordered the bans to be lifted. The court had said then that if the movie Bandit Queen (on the life of dacoit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi) could be released, then why not Padmaavat. In Jaipur meanwhile, the Rajput Karna Sena staged a protest against the movie, saying, "We are confident that no cinema hall will screen the film and if someone does they should be ready to bear the consequences." "Consider it a warning or request," the self-styled Sena added. Rajput Karni Sena staged protest in Jaipur against screening of #Padmaavat, say ' We are confident that no cinema hall will screen the film & if someone does they should be ready to bear the consequences. Consider it a warning or request'. #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/IJosg8jQo7 — ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2018 × In Chittor meanwhile, Rajput women took out a "Chetavani rally". They said they would commit jauhar (mass sati) should the movie be released. And ANI reported that a youth in Bhilwara had climbed a 350-foot-tall mobile tower along with a bottle of petrol. ANI added that the protester was saying he "will come down only when Padmaavat is banned in the country". Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said Monday that any cinema hall screening the movie would be given security but that "if someone decides not to screen the film it will be good." If someone decides not to screen the film it will be good but if someone screens the film, they will be provided security. It is our duty to comply with Supreme Court's order: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/0ZpfKOFG86 — ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2018 × "It is our duty to comply with the Supreme Court order," he added. Police in Haryana said a mall in Kurukshetra had been vandalised on Sunday evening in protest against the movie. They said a group of 20 to 22 miscreants had attacked the mall with swords and hammers. We suspect this act was against #Padmaavat. 20-22 people suddenly entered the mall at 6:48 pm, vandalised it & escaped without saying a word. We have identified a few of them. Further Investigation is underway: #Haryana Police pic.twitter.com/ThAwR6S63d — ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2018 × Protesters had also blocked roads and set buses on fire in Gujarat on Sunday evening, again in protest against the movie. Senior state minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said afterwards that such protests were "natural" and that the government was looking for a legal opinion following the Supreme Court's order.

As Rajasthan, MP go to Supreme Court, protests against Padmaavat gather pace

<p>Amidst the several rape cases that were reported in Haryana this month, BJP leader RK Saini has come out with a controversial statement saying that such cases do not take permission from the government before happening.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Saini said &quot; These rape&nbsp;incidents do not ask the government before taking place. They have been happening for ages.&quot;</p>

<p>He said that with the increase in social activities and population such cases are also on the rise.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Sarkaar ko puchkar to ye maamle nahin hote. Ye to aadikaalon se hote rahe hain. Ye hai ki kabhi kam kabhi zyada hue hain. Jaise jaise social activities aur jansankhya badhti jaa rahi hai, us tarah ki ghatnayein badhti jaa rahi hain: RK Saini, BJP on rape incidents in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Haryana?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Haryana</a> <a href="https://t.co/5sdkYCXHI3">pic.twitter.com/5sdkYCXHI3</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/954694961764581377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/haryana-rape-cases-cm-khattar-talks-of-capital-punishment-if-girls-below-12-raped-30167" target="_blank">Haryana rape cases: CM Khattar talks of capital punishment if girls below 12 raped</a></p>

<p>The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/another-rape-in-haryana-the-sixth-in-six-days-29983" target="_blank">recent Haryana rapes</a> have included the gang rape of an&nbsp;11-year-old&nbsp;in Panipat. The police said, she was strangled to death and was raped again after her death.</p>

<p>A&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/now-3-year-old-raped-by-minor-in-haryana-29873">three-year-old</a>&nbsp;daughter of a labourer was abducted and allegedly raped by a 14-year-old boy, her neighbour.</p>

<p>A 15-year-old was&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/haryana-rape-and-murder-class-12th-suspect-found-dead-in-kurukshetra-29852">raped and murdered</a>&nbsp;in Kurukshetra and her mutilated body was later found a 100 km away in Jind.</p>

<p>A 45-year-old labourer was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl and inserting a wooden stick inside her private parts near Pinjore.</p>

<p>The latest incident reported was of a college student raped from Gurugram district&#39;s Farrukhnagar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Saini said 'These rape incidents do not ask the government before taking place. They have been happening for ages'

Amidst the several rape cases that were reported in Haryana this month, BJP leader RK Saini has come out with a controversial statement saying that such cases do not take permission from the government before happening. Saini said " These rape incidents do not ask the government before taking place. They have been happening for ages." He said that with the increase in social activities and population such cases are also on the rise. Sarkaar ko puchkar to ye maamle nahin hote. Ye to aadikaalon se hote rahe hain. Ye hai ki kabhi kam kabhi zyada hue hain. Jaise jaise social activities aur jansankhya badhti jaa rahi hai, us tarah ki ghatnayein badhti jaa rahi hain: RK Saini, BJP on rape incidents in #Haryana pic.twitter.com/5sdkYCXHI3 — ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2018 × Also read: Haryana rape cases: CM Khattar talks of capital punishment if girls below 12 raped The recent Haryana rapes have included the gang rape of an 11-year-old in Panipat. The police said, she was strangled to death and was raped again after her death. A three-year-old daughter of a labourer was abducted and allegedly raped by a 14-year-old boy, her neighbour. A 15-year-old was raped and murdered in Kurukshetra and her mutilated body was later found a 100 km away in Jind. A 45-year-old labourer was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl and inserting a wooden stick inside her private parts near Pinjore. The latest incident reported was of a college student raped from Gurugram district's Farrukhnagar.

Rape incidents don't take permission from government: BJP leader RK Saini

<p>After President Ram Nath Kovind approved the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/opinion-undue-process-why-aap-mlas-being-disqualified-is-a-win-win-situation-for-arvind-kejriwal-30339" target="_blank">disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs from&nbsp;Delhi</a> over office for profit, demand is being made to disqualify four BJP MLAs from the Haryana assembly.</p>

<p>Four&nbsp;BJP MLAs, Shyam Singh, Bakhshish Singh Virk, Seema Trikha and Kamal Gupta had resigned&nbsp;after the High Court had set aside their appointment in July 2017.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The High Court&#39;s decision had come after a&nbsp;petitioner filed a case against the four BJP MLAs&nbsp;demanding their disqualification due to office for profit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the recent disqualification of the AAP MLAs the petitioner has again demanded their&nbsp;disqualification questioning the different functioning of the same law.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Haryana chief minister responded to it saying that the situation in Haryana and Delhi is different.</p>

<p>He said the law was already in place in Haryana as the MLAs were removed after the court&#39;s decision.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Haryana chief minister said the situation in Haryana and Delhi is different and the law was already in place in Haryana as the MLAs were removed after the court's decision.

After President Ram Nath Kovind approved the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs from Delhi over office for profit, demand is being made to disqualify four BJP MLAs from the Haryana assembly. Four BJP MLAs, Shyam Singh, Bakhshish Singh Virk, Seema Trikha and Kamal Gupta had resigned after the High Court had set aside their appointment in July 2017. The High Court's decision had come after a petitioner filed a case against the four BJP MLAs demanding their disqualification due to office for profit. After the recent disqualification of the AAP MLAs the petitioner has again demanded their disqualification questioning the different functioning of the same law. However, Haryana chief minister responded to it saying that the situation in Haryana and Delhi is different. He said the law was already in place in Haryana as the MLAs were removed after the court's decision.

Disqualification of 4 BJP MLAs demanded in Haryana

<p>Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said today that while it was his duty to comply with the Supreme Court order and provide security for the screening of &quot;Padmaavat&quot;, &quot;it will be good&quot; if someone decided not to screen the film.</p>

<p>&quot;If someone decides not to screen the film it will be good but if someone screens the film, they will be provided security. It is our duty to comply with Supreme Court&#39;s order,&quot; the Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">If someone decides not to screen the film it will be good but if someone screens the film, they will be provided security. It is our duty to comply with Supreme Court&#39;s order: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a> <a href="https://t.co/0ZpfKOFG86">pic.twitter.com/0ZpfKOFG86</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/955322116622073856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Haryana had earlier banned the film along with the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat until the makers of the film approached the Supreme Court which stayed the ban.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read - <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/stay-on-padmaavat-ban-rajasthan-madhya-pradesh-ask-supreme-court-to-reconsider-order-30308">Stay on &#39;</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/stay-on-padmaavat-ban-rajasthan-madhya-pradesh-ask-supreme-court-to-reconsider-order-30308">Padmaavat</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/stay-on-padmaavat-ban-rajasthan-madhya-pradesh-ask-supreme-court-to-reconsider-order-30308">&#39; ban: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/stay-on-padmaavat-ban-rajasthan-madhya-pradesh-ask-supreme-court-to-reconsider-order-30308">ask</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/stay-on-padmaavat-ban-rajasthan-madhya-pradesh-ask-supreme-court-to-reconsider-order-30308"> Supreme Court to reconsider order</a></p>

<p>The Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed film, which stars Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, is up for release on January 25.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said today that while it was his duty to comply with the Supreme Court order and provide security for the screening of 'Padmaavat', 'it will be good' if someone decided not to screen the film

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said today that while it was his duty to comply with the Supreme Court order and provide security for the screening of "Padmaavat", "it will be good" if someone decided not to screen the film. "If someone decides not to screen the film it will be good but if someone screens the film, they will be provided security. It is our duty to comply with Supreme Court's order," the Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said. If someone decides not to screen the film it will be good but if someone screens the film, they will be provided security. It is our duty to comply with Supreme Court's order: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/0ZpfKOFG86 — ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2018 × Haryana had earlier banned the film along with the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat until the makers of the film approached the Supreme Court which stayed the ban. Also Read - Stay on 'Padmaavat' ban: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh ask Supreme Court to reconsider order The Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed film, which stars Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, is up for release on January 25.

Will be good if someone decides not to screen 'Padmaavat': Haryana CM

<p>Haryana on Tuesday became the fourth state to announce a ban on the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed &quot;Padmaavat&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Haryana minister Anil Vij confirmed the decision after a meeting with the cabinet.</p>

<p>Earlier, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan were the other three states to put up the ban.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">CM earlier said we will take decision after censor board passes it. In this meeting, I said it should be banned in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Haryana?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Haryana</a> keeping in view law &amp; order situation in state. Cabinet supported this &amp; we decided it will be banned in Haryana: Anil Vij, Haryana Minister on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a> <a href="https://t.co/GNJZSI0Mvb">pic.twitter.com/GNJZSI0Mvb</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/953198176768372736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>However, Haryana Chief Minister&nbsp;Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier said the government will take a decision after watching the movie.</p>

<p>&quot;Padmaavat&quot;, which was earlier named as&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/padmavat-finally-gets-release-date-may-clash-with-padman-28763">Padmavati, is scheduled to hit theatres on January 25</a> after it was cleared by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-cuts-proposed-on-padmavati-only-5-modifications-says-central-board-of-filmcertification-28132">Central Board of Film Certification</a>&nbsp;(CBFC) in December.</p>

<p>The board had asked for several&nbsp;modifications, including a change in the title.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-padmavat-wont-release-in-gujarat-madhya-pradesh-29351">Padmavat won&#39;t release in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh</a></strong></p>

<p>Rajasthan, where the protests against the film are loudest,&nbsp;demanded a nationwide ban on the movie.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dholpur: Rajput Karni Sena protest against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a> movie, Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi says, &#39;want nothing less than nation-wide ban on the movie&#39; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rajasthan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rajasthan</a> <a href="https://t.co/cNP0s49oBH">pic.twitter.com/cNP0s49oBH</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/953199410602655744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor,&nbsp;&quot;Padmaavat&quot; is based on character Padmavati which was first mentioned in a&nbsp;16th-century poem Padmaavat by Malik Muhammad Jayasi.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Haryana has become the fourth state to ban the movie after Gujarat, Rajasthan and MP

Haryana on Tuesday became the fourth state to announce a ban on the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed "Padmaavat". Haryana minister Anil Vij confirmed the decision after a meeting with the cabinet. Earlier, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan were the other three states to put up the ban. CM earlier said we will take decision after censor board passes it. In this meeting, I said it should be banned in #Haryana keeping in view law & order situation in state. Cabinet supported this & we decided it will be banned in Haryana: Anil Vij, Haryana Minister on #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/GNJZSI0Mvb — ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2018 × However, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier said the government will take a decision after watching the movie. "Padmaavat", which was earlier named as Padmavati, is scheduled to hit theatres on January 25 after it was cleared by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in December. The board had asked for several modifications, including a change in the title. Also read: Padmavat won't release in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan, where the protests against the film are loudest, demanded a nationwide ban on the movie. Dholpur: Rajput Karni Sena protest against #Padmaavat movie, Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi says, 'want nothing less than nation-wide ban on the movie' #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/cNP0s49oBH — ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2018 × Starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, "Padmaavat" is based on character Padmavati which was first mentioned in a 16th-century poem Padmaavat by Malik Muhammad Jayasi.

Haryana becomes fourth state to ban 'Padmaavat'

<p>A day after the Haryana government wrote to Centre to fix minimum qualification for MPs and MLAs for contesting elections, Congress leader Bhupendra Singh Hooda said that before minimum qualification,&nbsp;priority should be set to achieve 100 per cent literacy in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said &quot;We are living in a democratic set up where less educated or even uneducated have the right to contest. I think before we suggest that minimum qualification criteria be put in place, our first target should be to make the country 100 per cent literate&quot;.</p>

<p>He said under present scheme of things such criteria may restrict candidates who otherwise may be equally capable as the educated ones.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday wrote to the central government to fix minimum qualification for MPs and MLAs for contesting elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The state government had earlier issued to fix minimum qualification for panchayat elections, which was upheld by the court.</p>

<p>In September 2015, the state assembly had passed a bill for fixing the minimum qualification for contesting elections to Panchayati Raj institutions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>


He said under present scheme of things such criteria may restrict candidates who otherwise may be equally capable as the educated ones

A day after the Haryana government wrote to Centre to fix minimum qualification for MPs and MLAs for contesting elections, Congress leader Bhupendra Singh Hooda said that before minimum qualification, priority should be set to achieve 100 per cent literacy in the country. He said "We are living in a democratic set up where less educated or even uneducated have the right to contest. I think before we suggest that minimum qualification criteria be put in place, our first target should be to make the country 100 per cent literate". He said under present scheme of things such criteria may restrict candidates who otherwise may be equally capable as the educated ones. The Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday wrote to the central government to fix minimum qualification for MPs and MLAs for contesting elections. The state government had earlier issued to fix minimum qualification for panchayat elections, which was upheld by the court. In September 2015, the state assembly had passed a bill for fixing the minimum qualification for contesting elections to Panchayati Raj institutions.

Ensure 100 per cent literacy before fixing minimum qualification for MLAs, MPs: Hooda

<p>The chief minister of India&#39;s northern state Haryana, Manohalal Khattar, today ruled out&nbsp;his resignation saying he was satisfied with his government&#39;s handling of the Dera Sacha Sauda violence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Khattar&#39;s statement comes after he met BJP chief Amit Shah today when he submitted a report on the violence that erupted&nbsp;after the conviction of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.</p>

<p>He said that his government had acted with &quot;restraint&quot; adding that their first priority was to get the Dera chief to appear before the court in Panchkula, Haryana.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;We acted with restraint. We achieved our aim,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Khattar also said that there will not be any change in the party leadership.</p>

<p>&quot;Anybody can say anything... We are satisfied with our work. Whatever we did was right. There will be no change.&quot;</p>

<p>Khattar had been accused by the opposition of mishandling the Dera protest which claimed at least <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/special-cbi-court-convicts-gurmeet-ram-rahim-singh-in-rape-case-19498">38 lives in the violence that broke out after the Special CBI Court pronounced him guilty for the rapes of two </a><em><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/special-cbi-court-convicts-gurmeet-ram-rahim-singh-in-rape-case-19498">sadhvis</a></em><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/special-cbi-court-convicts-gurmeet-ram-rahim-singh-in-rape-case-19498"><em>&nbsp;</em>(spiritual practitioners)</a> from his Dera.</p>

<p>After the violence, it was speculated that Khattar might be replaced.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Khattar justified the government&#39;s actions by saying that if something had happened before August 25 when Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh appeared before the Special CBI Court, he would have used it as an &quot;excuse&quot; for not turning up in court.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The chief minister also rejected claims of providing exceptional treatment to the Dera head saying that he was <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/post-conviction-ram-rahim-was-kept-at-this-lavish-so-called-jail-19679">temporarily put up&nbsp;in a guest house</a> till arrangements were being made in the jail</p>

<p>Ram Rahim Singh has been sentenced to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/dera-sacha-sauda-chief-sentenced-to-20-years-in-jail-for-rape-19583">20 years in jail in the two rape cases</a>. A case of murder is also pending against him in the same court for allegedly ordering the killing of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chandra Chhatrapati in 2002 after his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/he-exposed-dera-sacha-saudas-truth-in-2002-was-shot-down-anshul-slain-journalists-son-19602">newspaper &#39;Poora Sach&#39;</a> published an anonymous letter detailing the nefarious activities going on inside the Dera including the sexual abuse of female followers.&nbsp;</p>


Khattar's statement comes after he met BJP chief Amit Shah today. He submitted a report on the violence that erupted?after the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief

The chief minister of India's northern state Haryana, Manohalal Khattar, today ruled out his resignation saying he was satisfied with his government's handling of the Dera Sacha Sauda violence. Khattar's statement comes after he met BJP chief Amit Shah today when he submitted a report on the violence that erupted after the conviction of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. He said that his government had acted with "restraint" adding that their first priority was to get the Dera chief to appear before the court in Panchkula, Haryana. "We acted with restraint. We achieved our aim," he said. Khattar also said that there will not be any change in the party leadership. "Anybody can say anything... We are satisfied with our work. Whatever we did was right. There will be no change." Khattar had been accused by the opposition of mishandling the Dera protest which claimed at least 38 lives in the violence that broke out after the Special CBI Court pronounced him guilty for the rapes of two sadhvis (spiritual practitioners) from his Dera. After the violence, it was speculated that Khattar might be replaced. Khattar justified the government's actions by saying that if something had happened before August 25 when Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh appeared before the Special CBI Court, he would have used it as an "excuse" for not turning up in court. The chief minister also rejected claims of providing exceptional treatment to the Dera head saying that he was temporarily put up in a guest house till arrangements were being made in the jail Ram Rahim Singh has been sentenced to 20 years in jail in the two rape cases. A case of murder is also pending against him in the same court for allegedly ordering the killing of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chandra Chhatrapati in 2002 after his newspaper 'Poora Sach' published an anonymous letter detailing the nefarious activities going on inside the Dera including the sexual abuse of female followers.

Haryana chief minister Khattar satisfied with handling of Dera Sacha Sauda protest, will not resign

<p>By <strong>Chhavi Bhatia</strong></p>

<p>There is an eerie silence that hangs over the beautiful, planned city of Panchkula.</p>

<p>The satellite town is still coming to terms with the worst mob violence that it witnessed in recent times.</p>

<p>Panchkula was the epicentre of violent clashes that erupted after the conviction of controversial self-styled Godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh by a CBI court on Friday.</p>

<p>Ram Rahim&#39;s Dera Sacha Sauda may say that the conviction was an &quot;injustice&quot;, but the ground reality is quite different.</p>

<p>What is more baffling is the fact that the Haryana Police underestimated the Dera followers, the DNA has learnt from sources.</p>

<p>The two hours after the verdict changed the face of the city.</p>

<p>According to the sources DNA spoke to, there were three groups that were responsible for the violence.</p>

<p>The three groups of Dera followers were camping in three different locations.</p>

<p>The first group was camping near Shimla-Zirakpur National Highway near Old Panchkula.</p>

<p>The second group was camping in Sector 3 near Tau Devi Lal Stadium. It is said that they didn&#39;t cause much of the damage.</p>

<p>The third group was based in the Green Belt in Sector 5 of Panchkula.</p>

<p>As soon as the verdict was announced, convicting Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the 15-year-old rape case, in a seemingly coordinated manner, these three groups quickly took over the city and began what was one of the worst episodes of mob violence that India has seen in recent times.</p>

<p>What is shocking is that despite the &#39;intel inputs&#39;, and strict orders from the court, the police failed to contain the mob.</p>

<p>DNA has learnt from its sources that the Haryana Police had &quot;assumed&quot; that the devotees had gathered to catch a glimpse of their beloved Guru. The reason may be because for 72 hours, nearly 1.5 lakh &quot;Premis&quot;, as the Dera followers are popularly knowns, remained completely peaceful without any report of even minor skirmishes from any part of the town.</p>

<p>The police, despite heavy bandobast, coudn&#39;t envisage the extent of the Dera followers&#39; reaction.</p>

<p>Old Panchkula has been burnt down to some extent by the furious mob. Though the curfew is still on in the city, power supply has been restored in most sectors of Panchkula.</p>

<p>The DNA has also learnt that the majority of those who were killed in the violence were stone-pelters.</p>

<p>After the first tear gas was fired in Sector 2 near the Shimla-Zirakpur Highway, the city was engulfed in complete mayhem. The protesters used the legs of cots and tree branches as weapons.</p>


Two hours after the Ram Rahim verdict, the face of the city had changed

By Chhavi Bhatia There is an eerie silence that hangs over the beautiful, planned city of Panchkula. The satellite town is still coming to terms with the worst mob violence that it witnessed in recent times. Panchkula was the epicentre of violent clashes that erupted after the conviction of controversial self-styled Godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh by a CBI court on Friday. Ram Rahim's Dera Sacha Sauda may say that the conviction was an "injustice", but the ground reality is quite different. What is more baffling is the fact that the Haryana Police underestimated the Dera followers, the DNA has learnt from sources. The two hours after the verdict changed the face of the city. According to the sources DNA spoke to, there were three groups that were responsible for the violence. The three groups of Dera followers were camping in three different locations. The first group was camping near Shimla-Zirakpur National Highway near Old Panchkula. The second group was camping in Sector 3 near Tau Devi Lal Stadium. It is said that they didn't cause much of the damage. The third group was based in the Green Belt in Sector 5 of Panchkula. As soon as the verdict was announced, convicting Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the 15-year-old rape case, in a seemingly coordinated manner, these three groups quickly took over the city and began what was one of the worst episodes of mob violence that India has seen in recent times. What is shocking is that despite the 'intel inputs', and strict orders from the court, the police failed to contain the mob. DNA has learnt from its sources that the Haryana Police had "assumed" that the devotees had gathered to catch a glimpse of their beloved Guru. The reason may be because for 72 hours, nearly 1.5 lakh "Premis", as the Dera followers are popularly knowns, remained completely peaceful without any report of even minor skirmishes from any part of the town. The police, despite heavy bandobast, coudn't envisage the extent of the Dera followers' reaction. Old Panchkula has been burnt down to some extent by the furious mob. Though the curfew is still on in the city, power supply has been restored in most sectors of Panchkula. The DNA has also learnt that the majority of those who were killed in the violence were stone-pelters. After the first tear gas was fired in Sector 2 near the Shimla-Zirakpur Highway, the city was engulfed in complete mayhem. The protesters used the legs of cots and tree branches as weapons.

How Haryana Police failed to control Dera Sacha Sauda mob: Ground report from Panchkula

<p>Haryana is on the edge as the ongoing Jat agitation seeking reservation in education and government jobs has once again raised the spectre of last year&#39;s violence that killed 30 people.</p>

<p>Members of the Jat community have been sitting on dharnas in 19 of the state&#39;s 22 districts since January 29.</p>

<p>The fresh protests come at a time when Haryana is observing golden jubilee of its formation.</p>

<p>The images of mobs setting houses, schools, eateries and other places on fire during last year&#39;s quota agitation are still fresh in public memory.</p>

<p>The Delhi-Ambala National Highway, the gateway for travel to Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, had remained blocked for days.</p>

<p>The Manohar Lal Khattar government had drawn flak from various quarters, including the opposition, for its alleged inept handling of the situation last year.</p>

<p>A complete breakdown of the official machinery was witnessed between February 19 and 22 last year.</p>

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<h5>Members of the community have been staging dharnas in 19 of the state&#39;s 22 districts since January 29. Last year, there had been a complete breakdown of the state machinery between February 19 and 22</h5>
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<p>Later, a committee headed by former Uttar Pradesh DGP Parkash Singh probed the acts of omission and commission of officers during the Jat quota violence and indicted several officers for not taking appropriate steps, thus allowing the situation to worsen.</p>

<p>As many as 1,196 shops were set ablaze, 371 vehicles torched, 30 schools/colleges were burnt, 75 houses were set on fire, 53 hotels/marriage palaces were devastated, 23 petrol pumps were attacked and vandalised, the committee had observed in its report.</p>

<p>An industry body had pegged the loss at around Rs 34,000 crore in last year&#39;s violence.</p>

<p>The mode of protests this year is giving sleepless nights to the first ever BJP government in Haryana, a state carved out in 1966.</p>

<p>Despite the government assuring the Jats that it will do whatever possible within the ambit of the law and the agitation leader promising that the stir will be peaceful, the growing number of protesters with each passing day is proving a tightrope walk for the Khattar government, which does not want to allow a repeat of last year&#39;s situation.<br />
<br />
Notably, opposition parties -- the Indian National Lok Dal and the Congress -- have given their support, asking the Khattar government to fulfil the promises it had made to the Jat community.</p>

<p>Jats are demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, besides withdrawing of criminals cases registered against several youths of the community during last year&#39;s agitation, release of those lodged in jail, and compensation and government jobs to the next of kin of those killed in last year&#39;s agitation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Like last year, this year too the epicentre of the stir is Rohtak, Sonipat, Hissar and Jhajjar districts.</p>

<p>The All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti (AIJASS) is spearheading the fresh stir and is being led by its national president Yashpal Malik (55), who hails from Uttar Pradesh and has no link with Haryana.</p>

<p>Last year, Haryana Police had slapped a sedition case against him. However, Malik has been active and has been criss-crossing the state this year during fresh round of the stir to drum up support.</p>

<p>The Haryana government&#39;s decision to grant reservation to Jats and five other communities in jobs and educational institutions under the newly created Backward Class &#39;C&#39; category was challenged last year after a PIL was filed in this regard before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.</p>

<p>The PIL was filed by a Bhiwani resident, who challenged the constitutional validity of the Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Admission in Educational Institutions) Act, 2016, passed by the assembly on March 29 last year.</p>

<p>The Act provides 10 per cent quota in Class III and IV posts and educational institutions and six per cent quota in Class I and II posts to Jats, Jat Sikhs, Rors, Bishnois, Tyagis and Muslim Jats in Schedule-III.</p>

<p>The government has been trying to defend its quota law since. While reservation continues to be the main demand of the Jats, the protesters are also putting pressure on the government for other demands as well.</p>

<p>The state had last year enacted a law for providing reservation to Jats in consultation with all stakeholders, but later on the court has stayed it and now the matter would have to be dealt with in a legal manner only, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said.</p>

<p>The state government has appointed a senior advocate to plead the case in the court, Khattar had said earlier.</p>

<p>&quot;Once the stay is vacated, the state government would request the Centre to include the Act (granting reservation to Jats and others) in the 9th Schedule,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>The Khattar government has also announced a fresh compensation, this time for &quot;innocent persons&quot; who were injured during the 2016 Jat reservation stir.</p>

<p>The BJP government in the state had last week formed a five-member committee, headed by Chief Secretary D S Dhesi, to hold talks with the agitating Jats.</p>

<p>Recently, a meeting between representatives of a Haryana government-appointed committee and leaders of the Jat agitation remained inconclusive.</p>

<p>The fresh round of stir is a sort of tightrope walk for the BJP government, which does not want to let the law and order situation get out of hands this time, even as it is wary of taking any strict action that alienates the predominant Jats totally.</p>

<p>In view of the fresh Jat stir, paramilitary forces have been deployed in sensitive areas, while the state police is maintaining a strict vigil.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


The Jats are demanding reservations in govt jobs & educational institutions

Haryana is on the edge as the ongoing Jat agitation seeking reservation in education and government jobs has once again raised the spectre of last year's violence that killed 30 people. Members of the Jat community have been sitting on dharnas in 19 of the state's 22 districts since January 29. The fresh protests come at a time when Haryana is observing golden jubilee of its formation. The images of mobs setting houses, schools, eateries and other places on fire during last year's quota agitation are still fresh in public memory. The Delhi-Ambala National Highway, the gateway for travel to Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, had remained blocked for days. The Manohar Lal Khattar government had drawn flak from various quarters, including the opposition, for its alleged inept handling of the situation last year. A complete breakdown of the official machinery was witnessed between February 19 and 22 last year. Members of the community have been staging dharnas in 19 of the state's 22 districts since January 29. Last year, there had been a complete breakdown of the state machinery between February 19 and 22 × Later, a committee headed by former Uttar Pradesh DGP Parkash Singh probed the acts of omission and commission of officers during the Jat quota violence and indicted several officers for not taking appropriate steps, thus allowing the situation to worsen. As many as 1,196 shops were set ablaze, 371 vehicles torched, 30 schools/colleges were burnt, 75 houses were set on fire, 53 hotels/marriage palaces were devastated, 23 petrol pumps were attacked and vandalised, the committee had observed in its report. An industry body had pegged the loss at around Rs 34,000 crore in last year's violence. The mode of protests this year is giving sleepless nights to the first ever BJP government in Haryana, a state carved out in 1966. Despite the government assuring the Jats that it will do whatever possible within the ambit of the law and the agitation leader promising that the stir will be peaceful, the growing number of protesters with each passing day is proving a tightrope walk for the Khattar government, which does not want to allow a repeat of last year's situation. Notably, opposition parties -- the Indian National Lok Dal and the Congress -- have given their support, asking the Khattar government to fulfil the promises it had made to the Jat community. Jats are demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, besides withdrawing of criminals cases registered against several youths of the community during last year's agitation, release of those lodged in jail, and compensation and government jobs to the next of kin of those killed in last year's agitation. Like last year, this year too the epicentre of the stir is Rohtak, Sonipat, Hissar and Jhajjar districts. The All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti (AIJASS) is spearheading the fresh stir and is being led by its national president Yashpal Malik (55), who hails from Uttar Pradesh and has no link with Haryana. Last year, Haryana Police had slapped a sedition case against him. However, Malik has been active and has been criss-crossing the state this year during fresh round of the stir to drum up support. The Haryana government's decision to grant reservation to Jats and five other communities in jobs and educational institutions under the newly created Backward Class 'C' category was challenged last year after a PIL was filed in this regard before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The PIL was filed by a Bhiwani resident, who challenged the constitutional validity of the Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Admission in Educational Institutions) Act, 2016, passed by the assembly on March 29 last year. The Act provides 10 per cent quota in Class III and IV posts and educational institutions and six per cent quota in Class I and II posts to Jats, Jat Sikhs, Rors, Bishnois, Tyagis and Muslim Jats in Schedule-III. The government has been trying to defend its quota law since. While reservation continues to be the main demand of the Jats, the protesters are also putting pressure on the government for other demands as well. The state had last year enacted a law for providing reservation to Jats in consultation with all stakeholders, but later on the court has stayed it and now the matter would have to be dealt with in a legal manner only, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said. The state government has appointed a senior advocate to plead the case in the court, Khattar had said earlier. "Once the stay is vacated, the state government would request the Centre to include the Act (granting reservation to Jats and others) in the 9th Schedule," he said. The Khattar government has also announced a fresh compensation, this time for "innocent persons" who were injured during the 2016 Jat reservation stir. The BJP government in the state had last week formed a five-member committee, headed by Chief Secretary D S Dhesi, to hold talks with the agitating Jats. Recently, a meeting between representatives of a Haryana government-appointed committee and leaders of the Jat agitation remained inconclusive. The fresh round of stir is a sort of tightrope walk for the BJP government, which does not want to let the law and order situation get out of hands this time, even as it is wary of taking any strict action that alienates the predominant Jats totally. In view of the fresh Jat stir, paramilitary forces have been deployed in sensitive areas, while the state police is maintaining a strict vigil. (PTI)

India: Haryana on edge as ongoing Jat agitation raises fears of last year's violence

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