Chandigarh :
The Manohar Lal Khattar government suspended BB Bharti, Chairman of the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC), after a row over an objectionable question pertaining to Brahmins in an examination conducted by the board. Bharti had been handpicked by Khattar.

Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma made the announcement after several Brahmin MLAs, MPs and representatives of Brahmin organisations met Khattar and demanded strict action against those responsible for the faux pas.

“A high-level commission will investigate the issue of a question pertaining to Brahmins. Besides, it has also been decided to register an FIR against the Delhi-based company tasked with preparing the question paper, the paper-setter, and the publisher,” Sharma said, adding that Bharti would remain suspended till the inquiry ends.

Sharma said since the HSSC was an autonomous body, the inquiry would be conducted by a high-level officer, a retired or sitting High Court judge. “Advice of the Advocate General, Haryana, is being sought,” he asserted.

In the Junior Engineer (JE) examination conducted on April 10, one of the questions asked was: “Which one among the following is not a bad omen in Haryana — seeing an empty pot, a casket, a black Brahmin or a Brahmin girl?” The question, which was later recalled by the board, sparked statewide protests by the Brahmins.

Bharti has been in the thick of controversies over the past few months. During the budget session of the Assembly in March, the Opposition had demanded his sacking when an audio clip with Pehowa Municipal Committee Chairman Ashok Singla purportedly telling former state minister Balbir Saini (BJP) that he had paid Bharti’s son Rs 45 lakh for a job went viral. At the time, Khattar had rejected the demand, assuring the Vidhan Sabha of an “impartial” inquiry.

Last month, the Opposition again sought his removal when the CM’s flying squad unearthed a “cash-for-job” scam at the HSSC headquarters in Panchkula. The Opposition claimed the scam could not have been possible without the alleged connivance of senior functionaries. The INLD, meanwhile, has dema-nded Bharti’s dismissal. 

Sonepat :
Deepender Singh Hooda, Congress MP from Rohtak, alleged that there had been a spike in cases of crime and atrocities against women in the state. He said Haryana was ahead of Bihar in such cases and blamed the BJP for failing to maintain law and order situation in the state.

He was addressing a party rally at Kharkhoda in the district to prepare a ground for the ‘Jan Kranti Yatra’ scheduled to be undertaken by the former Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, on June 3 from Samalkha in Panipat district.

He blamed the BJP for dividing society in the name of caste, region, religion and language and said the development work had stopped in the state ever since the BJP came to power.

He claimed that the Congress would come to power in the state in the next Assembly elections.

He termed the political developments in Karnataka as ‘murder of democracy’ and a resolution to condemn it was passed in the rally.

He also supported the demands of the safai karamcharis and asked the government to accept their demands.

Congress MLAs from the district were also present in the rally.

Hisar :
A man hurled ink at Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here, creating a commotion at a public event and revealing chinks in the politician’s security. Khattar was in the city for a raodshow.

Security personnel accompanying the Chief Minister grappled with the man as he raised slogans and then handed him over to the local police.

Most of the ink fell on the security personnel, but some landed on Khattar’s clothes, face and hair. He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and was seen wiping the ink off.
The incident took place moments after the Chief Minister stepped out of his car on reaching a temple before starting his roadshow.

The man, identified as Praveen of Jakhod Khera village in the Adampur Assembly segment, raised slogans in favour of Jat reservation and Devi Lal before being taken into custody.

He claimed to be an INLD activist, but party spokesperson Satish Beniwal denied he was a member. “He (Praveen) is an aide of Congress’ Adampur MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi,” Beniwal claimed.

The INLD posted on social media a picture of Praveen with Bishnoi.
Later, the Chief Minister said frustrated people would continue with their acts, but the BJP government would continue with its development agenda.
The incident has left the security staff and the district police red-faced. The police had been making security arrangements for two days by diverting routes causing inconvenience to local residents.

Inspector General of Police (Hisar Range) Sanjay Kumar said prima facie, it appeared Praveen threw oil on the Chief Minister. “He is in police custody,” he said.
Police officers said the reason behind his action was being investigated.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Maneesh Chaudhary, incharge of the CM’s security, took charge of the spot and reviewed the arrangements in the temple and the 3.7-km route designated for the roadshow.

Sources said the CM was irked and summoned Superintendent of Police Manisha Chaudhary and Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Meena in the temple. The CM reportedly reprimanded them for the security breach.

Meanwhile, Youth Congress activist Manoj Tank showed black flags to the Chief Minister during the roadshow. He was arrested.

Was it mobil oil? 

Some police officers said it appeared the man, identified as Praveen, threw mobil oil on Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. He carried mobil oil in a bottle. Initially, it appeared ink was thrown on the CM. None of senior police officials, including the SSP, DSP and SHO, could be contacted for a version. Sources said the police were planning to book register Praveen.

Jhajjar :

A farmer of Karontha village in Rohtak district launched an indefinite fast at the local grain market in protest against non-procurement of mustard. The farmer, Pardeep, claimed he would not end his fast till the government re-started procurement of the produce. Government agencies have stopped procuring mustard; May 10 was the last day of procurement. "Farmers are making rounds of the mandi to sell their crop, but the agencies are not procuring mustard. How the farmers will make ends meet if their produce will not be purchased? I am raising the voice of distressed farmers," Pradeep said.

Chandigarh :

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said that 10 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) have been signed with the UK for various projects that would bring in investment worth Rs 1500 crore to the state and provide direct employment to about 1,000 persons.
Khattar stated this while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday. The delegation led by Khattar arrived here on Tuesday after visiting Israel and UK. He said six MoUs were signed during a meeting with Lord Raj Loomba at the House of Lords.
He said that during the visit, the delegation explored the possibility of collaboration with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre at Sheffield for setting up a facility in Haryana.

The CM said the state would adopt best practices from the National Health Scheme of UK besides collaborating with universities and colleges for skill development programmes. TL Satyaprakash, Managing Director, Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC), has been designated as the Nodal Officer for Haryana Leeds Gateway initiative.

He said the delegation also visited the POD car facility at Terminal 5 of the Heathrow Airport, London. He said it was the only Personal Rapid Transport system operational in the world and had been mooted by the Centre for Delhi and Gurugram.