H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Dhumal-Shanta tussle hots up
DHARAMSALA, May 18 — With the Jwalamukhi episode still fresh in the minds of people, the countdown for the elections of the presidents of the state and district units of the BJP took off with both the Dhumal and Shanta factions literally waging a war against each other in Kangra district considered to be citadel of the Union Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar.

I’ve never penned vulgar lyrics: Kaifi Azmi
DHARAMSALA, May 18 — Refusing to compromise with the current trend in Hindi cinema, noted Urdu poet and lyricist Kaifi Azmi feels that maintaining a certain degree of decency and chastity in his works has been his greatest achievement in life.

Ex-CM demands urgent relief
SHIMLA MAY 18 — The leader of the opposition, Mr Virbhadra Singh has urged the Government to provide immediate relief to the families whose houses were gutted in a fire in Pujarli village of Chirgaon in the Shimla district.

Tax adalat for traders
DHARAMSALA, May 18 — In order to solve the problems of traders, the Excise and Taxation Department will be hold a "tax adalat at" here on June 2.

1 held in Fire Dept scam
SHIMLA, May 18 — The police today arrested Gopal Das Verma, a former president of the State Non-Gazetted Services Federation, in connection with a financial scandal unearthed in the Fire Department last week.

Dhumal-Shanta tussle hots up
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, May 18 — With the Jwalamukhi episode still fresh in the minds of people, the countdown for the elections of the presidents of the state and district units of the BJP took off with both the Dhumal and Shanta factions literally waging a war against each other in Kangra district considered to be citadel of the Union Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar.

In a desperate bid to penetrate its roots in the biggest district of Kangra, the Dhumal faction tried to put up a rival candidate for the post of the constitutency President in practically all the 16 Assembly segments. Out of the 16 constituencies, elections at three places have been deferred, while at one place the matter has been dragged to court.

After the organisational elections in the Baijnath segment have been completed, one of the party workers moved court with some objections regarding the electoral rolls. In the Baijnath constitutency, ever since the byelection was held, party workers have been divided in the Shanta and Dhumal factions. While the MLA, Mr Dulo Ram, owes allegiance to the Shanta group, Ms Indu Goswami, who was a strong contender for the Assembly ticket, is a staunch supporter of the Chief Minister.

The constituency President election in the Dharamsala segment had to be deferred on the 15th of this month, after serious objections were raised, regarding the ignoring of active party members and non-verification of the electoral rolls. Here also the Transport Minister, Mr Kishan Kapoor, is facing stiff opposition from Dhumal supporters, which include party office-bearers, Mr Sunil Minocha.

The situation in the Jwali Assembly segment is no different. Here supporters of the Revenue Minister, Dr Rajan Sushant, and the BJP district President, Mr Harbans Singh Rana, are pitted against each other. While Mr Rana is backing his own man for the post, Mr Bhikham Padgotra, a Dhumal loyalist and confidante of Dr Sushant, is holding ground. With counter-allegations and disputes over the electoral rolls, party elections have not been held here also.

I’ve never penned vulgar lyrics: Kaifi Azmi
From Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, May 18 — Refusing to compromise with the current trend in Hindi cinema, noted Urdu poet and lyricist Kaifi Azmi feels that maintaining a certain degree of decency and chastity in his works has been his greatest achievement in life.

Undaunted by old age and failing health, he continues to work with the same zeal, raising his voice against fundamental forces, be it any religion. He was here, along with his wife, to take treatment from Tibetan doctors in McLeodganj.

Pained at the continuous degradation in the quality of Hindi songs and films, he says, "It gives me immense pride and satisfaction to think that I did not adopt the path of commercialisation by penning down vulgar and obscene couplets." He regretted that while one the one hand our government had no cultural policy, at the same time each one of us was responsible for encouraging these kinds of films as we enjoyed watching them.

Commenting ont the controversy that dogged the shooting of Deepa Mehta’ movie, "Water", he termed as shameful and disgraceful the behaviour of those who indulged in vandalism while opposing the movie. "I am against this kind of behaviour not because I am linked with the film world, but as a citizen of a free nation, I feel it amounts to the throttling of the freedom of expression," he emphasised. He added that similarly he was also against the issuing of a fatwa against Salman Rushdie after he wrote "Satanic Verses".

Pained at the spreading tentacles of communalism in the country he said pulling down a temple or a mosque would bring nothing but hatred and intolerance amongst people.

Commenting on the failure of the government to give the Urdu language due recognition, he said despite having adopted a language policy they failed to figure out as to which country Urdu belonged. "I am quite hopeful that Urdu will continue to flourish as a language as it is the language of the masses which will not only give them ghazals but also help them in getting a job," he said sounding very optimistic. He added that today Urdu had become an international language which was bringing together people of different nationalities, including Indians and Pakistanis.

"A government which has failed to give us the basic necessities of life like food and job can’t be expected to popularise a language which it feels belongs to Pakistan," he lamented. He said though Partition in 1947 had divided the people of India and Pakistan, there was a lot they had in common, be it in the field of art, literature or sports.

When asked about the best films of his daughter, Shabana Azmi, he said "Swami" and "Sparsh" were amongst his favourites. He added that he was proud to be Shabana’s father as she excelled in whatever she did, whether was the stage, films or being a Rajya Sabha member.

Ex-CM demands urgent relief
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA MAY 18 — The leader of the opposition, Mr Virbhadra Singh has urged the Government to provide immediate relief to the families whose houses were gutted in a fire in Pujarli village of Chirgaon in the Shimla district.

In a statement here yesterday, Mr Virbhadra Singh demanded that foodgrains, clothing, utensils and beddings should be rushed to the village where property worth Rs 5.50 crore was destroyed.

He said the three heritage temples which were excellent specimen of the hill architecture should be rebuilt.

The former Chief Minister said the government should step in to provide relief package to those who suffered losses during the fire.

Tax adalat for traders
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, May 18 — In order to solve the problems of traders, the Excise and Taxation Department will be hold a "tax adalat at" here on June 2.

Disclosing this, the Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr Rohit Chauhan, said the adalat was being held so as to given an opportunity to the traders to air their grievances before the minister and other senior officers.

This adalat, which will be held at Zila Parishad Hall, will be chaired by the Minister for Excise and Taxation, Mr Praveen Sharma.

1 held in Fire Dept scam
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 18 — The police today arrested Gopal Das Verma, a former president of the State Non-Gazetted Services Federation, in connection with a financial scandal unearthed in the Fire Department last week.

According to the police Rs 25.37 lakh were fraudulently withdrawn from bank by officials of the department on the basis of fictitious bills.

Three other officials — Chief Fire Officer Balkrishan, Office Superintendent, Jagan Nath and Cashier Sant Ram — were already in judicial custody.