H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Monk not to be moved till govt decision
DHARAMSALA, Jan 20 — The Tibetan Government-in-exile, today justified India’s stand of cross-checking all facts before taking a final decision on the issue of granting political asylum to the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, who fled from Tibet and arrived here on January, 5.

Medical officers threaten strike
DHARAMSALA, Jan 20 — The Himachal Medical Officers Association, has decided to observe a two-hour pen down strike from February 1.

2 kids killed, couple hurt
NAHAN, Jan 20 — Two children were killed and their parents injured when a loaded truck first hit their car, then overturned and fell on the car on the Nahan-Shimla road, near here, today. Mr Panna Lal Sharma Senior Assistant in the office of the Additional CJM, Kandaghat, was coming towards Nahan with his wife and two children, Shilpa (16) and Ankur (14), in a Maruti car (HP 03-0641). A truck loaded with sugar hit the car.

HP to be made fruit bowl by 2020
HAMIRPUR, Jan 20 — The Himachal Pradesh Government is committed to making the state the fruit bowl of India by 2020.

Monk not to be moved till govt decision
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Jan 20 — The Tibetan Government-in-exile, today justified India’s stand of cross-checking all facts before taking a final decision on the issue of granting political asylum to the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, who fled from Tibet and arrived here on January, 5.

The Minister for Religion and Culture in the Tibetan Government, Mr Tashi Wangdi, said that the Government of India had all relevant information and it was for it to take a decision now. "We understand the position of the Indian Government as these kind of matters can take time," he stated.

When asked if a temporary arrangement other than political asylum would be acceptable to them, he said that it would be inappropriate to comment till they heard directly from the government. Setting aside all speculation on the Karmapa being shifted either to the Sherbaling Monastery near Baijnath or the Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, he said that till a final decision on the issue of political asylum was taken, he would not be moved to another place.

Meanwhile, the 14-year-old Karmapa is setting down at the Gyuto Monastery, near Sidhbari. Spending most of the time reading the Tibetan religious scriptures, he can often be seen on the terrace, on a bright sunny day. Cautious of media persons, he moves away from the terrace the moment he spots video cameras or inquisitive reporters.

Though the Karmapa spends most of the day studying, so far no arrangement has been made for religious teachers for him. The Tibetan officials said that after things become more clear and a decision was taken on his permanent abode, only then could his serious studies begin.

The Karmapa, along with the six others who accompanied him from Tibet are also living at the Gyuto Monastery. The place is now guarded by armed police personnel from all sides. However, senior Tibetan monks from Sikkim, Bhutan and other places in the country are being allowed to seek his blessings. Ordinary Tibetans are being given the traditional scarves blessed by the Karmapa.

Medical officers threaten strike
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Jan 20 — The Himachal Medical Officers' Association, has decided to observe a two-hour pen down strike from February 1.

The association had been compelled to take such a decision as the government had refused to accept its genuine demands, a spokesman for the doctors body said.

The association, resented the posting of an HAS officer as the Additional Director, Health Services, and demanded his immediate removal. They warned that the doctors will be forced to boycott emergency services if they were not given 10 per cent house rent allowance or rent-free accommodation.

The association further demanded that the time scale of 4, 9 and 14 years of service, which has been withheld by the Finance Department should be released and post-graduate increments also given. They further said the posts of Registrars in Indira Gandhi Medical College and Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, for which interviews had been held two months back, should be filled at the earliest.

2 kids killed, couple hurt
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, Jan 20 — Two children were killed and their parents injured when a loaded truck first hit their car, then overturned and fell on the car on the Nahan-Shimla road, near here, today.

Mr Panna Lal Sharma Senior Assistant in the office of the Additional CJM, Kandaghat, was coming towards Nahan with his wife and two children, Shilpa (16) and Ankur (14), in a Maruti car (HP 03-0641). A truck loaded with sugar hit the car.

Both children, who were sitting on the back seat, died on the spot. The injured parents were immediately rushed to Nahan Hospital. The police has registered a case. The driver and conductor of the truck have absconded.

HP to be made fruit bowl by 2020
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Jan 20 — The Himachal Pradesh Government is committed to making the state the fruit bowl of India by 2020.

This was stated by Mr Narendra Bragta, Minister of State for Horticulture, here today. He said that while apple cultivation would be promoted in the upper hill areas of the state, all-out efforts would be made to encourage the production of mangoes, citrus fruits and litchis in the lower hills.

The minister said that 500 more nurseries would be enrolled in the state during the next fiscal year. As many as 100 nurseries were set up in the state last year and plants produced there would be lifted by the department for sale to the farmers and horticulturists.

He reiterated the resolve of the state government to have a regional research centre of horticulture in Hamirpur district. He said that the office of the Project Director had already started working at Hamirpur and the land and its main office would also be selected and its possession taken shortly.

Earlier, Mr Bragta laid the foundation stone of community fruit processing plants at in the district.

The main aim of the state government was to go to the farmers and to adopt the Lab-to-Land programme. The department was holding training camps for farmers in their fields rather than at various district or block headquarters.

Dr Gagman Singh, Director of Horticulture, was also present.