Sukh Ram’s rap to BJP
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 15 — Mr Sukh Ram, President of the Himachal Vikas Congress, today cautioned the BJP that it could not take his party’s support for granted, without showing a spirit of accommodation and reciprocity and taking it into confidence on all important matters.

Talking to newsmen here today he said rank and file of the HVC had been thoroughly disappointed by the manner in which the coalition government had functioned over the past seven months. There was a general feeling that despite the sacrifices made by the party to dislodge the Virbhadra Singh government, it was being handed out a raw deal.

The soft attitude of the party, which had cautiously avoided any move to undermine the stability of the government, should not be misconstrued as a weakness. He said there were no differences within the HVC and, if required, all its ministers, including Mr Mansa Ram and Mr Prakash Chaudhary, who had joined the BJP in a tactical ploy to thwart the efforts of Mr Virbhadra Singh to install a Congress government, would resign on his direction. The petition filed by the Congress against their joining the BJP was still pending with the Speaker.

Mr Sukh Ram asserted that he had never pressurised the Chief Minister, Mr PK Dhumal, on any issue and given his unstinted support and cooperation, however, the manner in which the BJP had been acting was not conducive to smooth functioning of the coalition. The HVC men felt ignored as the BJP virtually did not give any representation to it in various boards and corporations.

Citing an example, he said, the party was not taken into confidence at all during the recent expansion of ministry. He came to know about it only through his wife who telephoned him while he was in Delhi. He said the HVC legislator, Dr Ram Lal Markanday, should have been inducted into the ministry.

However, he hastened to add that all these matters had been sorted out following his meeting with Mr Dhumal in the presence of Mr Narinder Modi, All-India General Secretary of the BJP and in charge of Himachal affairs. He said he had been assured that corrective steps would be taken and the party would be given due representation. He was hopeful that Dr Markanday would also get proper representation.

Regarding the byelection to the Baijnath Assembly seat, he said both parties had staked claim and a final decision would be taken shortly.

He said as far as he was concerned he would like the coalition government to last its full term, but the continuation of support would largely depend on the attitude of the BJP.

Dacoity in Una village
From Our Correspondent

UNA, Oct 15 — A dacoity took place in the house of Flying Officer (retd) Sukhdev Singh in Mawa Sindhia village, 32 km from here, at about 1.30 a.m. today.

His son Vijay Singh heard some noise outside the house, opened the door and went out. He was attacked by dacoits with iron rods and lathis and he fell unconscious. The dacoits, numbering four entered the house, snatched golden ear-rings from Mrs Sheela Devi after beating her and Mr Sukhdev Singh and took away four attache cases and one trunk along with them.

When he gained consciousness Vijay raised the alarm. People came out and one of them telephoned Gagret police station. The police reached there after some time. Later, the Superintendent of Police, the ASP and the Dy SP arrived and a manhunt was started. Two empty attache cases and the trunk were found on the bank of the Swan river.

Mr Sukhdev Singh, Mrs Sheela Devi and Vijay who were injured have been admitted to Gagret Government Hospital.

According to information, the Gagret police has rounded up three persons for interrogation.

5 die as Punjab bus falls into khud
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 15 — Five passengers of a Punjab Roadways bus were killed and 18 injured when the vehicle plunged about 250 feet down near Shogi, about 13 km from here, today.

The Superintendent of Police, Mr A.N. Sharma, said there bodies had been recovered. Men of the ITBP, police, fire services and HRTC were engaged in rescue work.

Eyewitnesses said the driver of the ill-fated Chandigarh-bound bus (PB-12-8313) was driving the vehicle negligently while taking over another vehicle. The bus went out of control and fell.

The injured have been admitted to the IGMC and Rippon Hospital. Three passengers escaped unhurt.

The Punjab Chief Minister, S.Parkash Singh Badal, has expressed grief over the tragedy. He has directed the Punjab Transport, police and health authorities to send teams of senior officers to supervise rescue operations and undertake the necessary relief measures and provide medical aid. He conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families.

Governor V.S. Rama Devi and Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal expressed shock over the accident and conveyed sympathies to the bereaved families.