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| Friday, September 15, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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BJP,
allies may part ways in panchayat poll ‘Dinner diplomacy’ boomerangs Kangra women a distressed lot MLAs fear rigging in
HP Cong poll Zoo
under scrutiny as 2 deer die |
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Statements recorded in Mahajan’s case CM justifies policy on encroachment 18 hurt as cops, workers clash HP contribution to
Central Excise Retarded man
injures three Parents of special
kids meet experts Bhawa valley
opened to heavy traffic
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BJP,
allies may part ways in panchayat poll SHIMLA, Sept 14 — The ruling BJP and its alliance
partners, the HVC and HVC(M), are likely to contest the coming
panchayat elections separately without any electoral adjustment. There are indications that none of the HVC factions, which are sharing power in the state, are in a mood to go along with the BJP in these elections. The BJP too has reportedly not yet offered any seat adjustment to its alliance partners. The state BJP chief, Mr Jai Kishen Sharma, told TNS here yesterday that since the panchayat election was not to be fought on party lines or symbols, the issue of any electoral adjustment had not been discussed. He said that the BJP would field people with a clean image for the panchayat elections. Adjustments at the local level would be made where suitable candidates were not available. It is also learnt that the HVC(M) was decided to go alone in the elections in view of the resentment among the masses against certain controversial decisions of the BJP government. The issue of levying user charges on patients in the hospitals has not been welcomed by the common man. There are apprehensions among the rural farmers on certain points pertaining to the recent amendments in the revenue law, which might reflect in the panchayat elections, the alliance partners of the BJP fear. The elections for 2922 panchayats, 72 panchayat samitis, 12 zila parishads and 49 municipal committees and notified area committees will be held in December when their five-year term ends. The Congress, which secured an overwhelming majority in the last panchayat elections in 1995, will again go alone. The elections are being considered as a rehearsal for the next assembly elections which are two years away. The panchayat and local bodies elections provide an opportunity to the parties to re-establish their contacts at the grassroot level. The BJP is already facing the anguish of its grassroot workers particularly in Mandi district where the party had virtually surrendered its interests to the HVC of Mr Sukh Ram during the initial days of its alliance with his organisation for coming into power in the state. The annoyance of the BJP activists was visible during the no-confidence motion against the Congress-controlled Municipal Committee of Mandi when most of them abstained from voting to prevent the HVC from gaining control of the civic body. It might become a headache for the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, even the BJP leadership decided to have truck with the HVC in the panchayat elections. At certain places, the workers of both parties are at loggerheads because of local politics. |
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‘Dinner diplomacy’ boomerangs SHIMLA, Sept 14 — The “dinner diplomacy” started by the new state BJP chief, Mr Jaikrishan Sharma, to end groupism in the party and ensure better coordination between the government and the organisation seems to be proving counter-productive. This was quite evident from the absence of six dissident ministers and legislators from the dinner held at the residence of Mr Praveen Sharma, Excise and Taxation Minister and a close confidant of the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, after the meeting of party office-bearers on Monday. The dissidents used the occasion to express their resentment against the party bosses by holding a parallel dinner at the residence of Mr Krishan Kapoor, Transport Minister and known supporter of the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Mr Shanta Kumar. Interestingly, the lone minister from the HVC Sukh Ram faction, Dr Ram Lal Markandey, was also present at the dinner. The dissidents, it is learnt, noted with concern that no effort had been made to redress their grievances since their meeting with the Chief Minister and the party chief more than the tainted PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, should be removed from the Cabinet. They also alleged that a systematic attempt was being made to destabilise established party leaders by propping up “rootless” persons. No concrete steps had been taken to set the house in order. On the contrary, there was certain developments which were disturbing. Parallel centres of power were being created in the constituencies represented by them, one of the leaders lamented. The dissident camp appears to be thoroughly disillusioned with Mr Shanta Kumar, who has not taken any stand to protect them from humiliation at the hands of party bosses. They have decided to fight without his support. Mr Shanta Kumar, who has no intentions to return to the state politics, wants to remain aloof from the factional fight plaguing the party. The dissidents plan to meet Mr Dhumal once again to know what action was being taken on the issues raised by them earlier. Their future course of action will depend on his response. They would have raised the matter earlier but for the flash floods in the Sutlej. They did not want to distract the attention of the government from relief and rehabilitation measures. The presence of Dr Markandey indicates the changing political equations within the coalition. The HVC supremo, Mr Sukh Ram, has been pressing for the removal of Mr Mohinder Singh from the ministry ever since he split the party in March. With Mr Dhumal in no mood to oblige the coalition partner, it is hardly surprising that Dr Markandey has joined hands with the BJP dissidents. Coming on the eve of the panchayat and local bodies elections in the state, these developments do not augur well for the BJP-HVC combine. Infighting can seriously undermine the party’s prospects in the elections. |
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Kangra women a distressed lot DHARAMSALA, Sept 14 — A large number of women of Kangra District are vulnerable to crime and injustice within the four walls of their homes. This is the view of the women cell of Himachal Pradesh. The complaints being made at the women’s cell, here, which came into existence on August, 29 that husbands and other members of the family ill-treat them. Nearly 90 per cent of the cases takes place within the four walls of their homes and the women do not dare to approach the police. Since the women’s cell was opened, seven cases of molestation, ill-treatment and beating apart from forgery and cheating have come to light. Fortunately, due to the counselling, which is an important function of this cell, half of these cases were settled without, registration of an FIR. The news about the creation of a separate cell for women seems to have reached even the remote villages of Kangra, district which registers maximum crime against women in the otherwise peaceful state of Himachal Pradesh. “In most of the cases, complaints were addressed to the women cell, so it confirms the fact that women have become aware of the functioning of the cell,” according to Sub-Inspector Babita Rana, in charge of the cell. While confirming that most of the crime against women takes place within the four walls of their homes, she says that the police can either settle the case by discussing it with the two parties or can provide help and support to a women. Staff of the cell said women were more comfortable while relating their tale of woes, which in itself helps in further investigation of the case. A women from Ladwara village, under Chahpur police station had accused her brother-in-law of molesting her. In another case a hapless 60-year-old mother-in-law complained against the ill-treatment and denial of food to her by her daughter-in-law she had distributed her property among her sons. Today she is being pushed from one house to the other, facing starvation. The case was, however, settled when the family members were summoned by the police, according to the in charge of the cell. The in charge of the cell said not only women but men also had approached them for justice. “A man from the Gopalpur has complained to us that his wife, leaving behind her three children, has started living with another person,” she said. Though legally no action can be taken against the wife, but efforts will be made with the help of NGO to convince her to come back to her husband, who is willing to accept her, for the sake of his children, she added. At present there are two women head constables and five women constables in the cell. |
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Zoo under scrutiny as 2 deer die SHIMLA, Sept 14 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has asked the Chief Warden, Wildlife, to inquire how the Municipal Committee of Solan, was running a zoo without the mandatory approval of the Central Zoo Authority
(CZA). Mr Roop Singh Thakur, Forest Minister, said that the government had taken serious notice of the death of a deer in the zoo two days ago, and if it was found that the animals were being kept in captivity illegally, it would order its closure. He said notice would be served to the municipal body and action taken after completion of the
inquiry. The zoo neither conforms to the minimum standards laid by the CZA for keeping animals in captivity nor is it managed on scientific lines by the municipal committee which does not have the required resources or the trained manpower. Death of animals by neglect and negligence has been a regular feature in the zoo. At one time, the number of deer had increased to nine, but now it is left with just two does. In 1995, two male deer died and ever since, the committee had failed to find a mate for the female
deer. The zoo is in bad shape due to prolonged neglect. There have been instances when animals died after being entangled in the
fencing. The zoo was set up in 1984 but the CZA, the regulatory body was constituted in 1992. All zoos, nature parks and other institutions where animals were kept in captivity were required to secure permission from the
CZA.Permission is granted by the CZA only after it inspects the zoo concerned to ascertain whether it conforms to the standards laid down by it. Since the zoo at Solan does not
fulfill the norms, it has not been approved by the authority. The state Wildlife Department which is supposed to implement the decision of the CZA, has not taken any action in the matter all these years. |
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MLAs fear rigging in
HP Cong poll SHIMLA, Sept 14 — As many as 17 MLAs of the Congress have urged the AICC chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, to ensure a free and fair organisational poll in Himachal Pradesh in view of the “efforts” being made by certain leaders to rig the elections. It is learnt that in a jointly signed letter to Mrs Gandhi, these legislators have alleged that two of the three members of the state election authority, who were entrusted the task of holding a free and fair poll, were functioning in a partisan manner. These legislators also issued a separate statement here today, expressing concern over the manner in which the organisational elections were being conducted. The signatories to the statement, who are supporters of the CLP leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, alleged that the manner in which some district and assistant returning officers have been specially picked up for conducting the elections indicates that efforts are being made by some people to rig the elections by unfair means. The signatories are Mr Kaul Singh, Mr Kashmir Singh, Mr Singhi Ram, Mr Voyendera Chandra, Mrs Asha Kumari, Mr B.B. Butail, Mr Ram Lal Thakur, Mr Dharam Pal, Dr Prem Singh, Mr Harshwardhan Chauhan, Mr Raghu Raj, Mr G.R. Musafir, Mr Kuldeep Kumar, Mr Virender Gautam, Mr G.S. Bali, Mr Tek Chand and Mr Ishwar
Dass. |
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Statements recorded in Mahajan’s case NURPUR, Sept 14 — In a day-long exercise yesterday the statements of five oral evidences were recorded in connection with the voting right of Mr Sat Mahajan, pradesh Congress chief and a former MP, by revising authority-cum-Subdivisional Magistrate, here. The voting right of Mr Mahajan has been challenged by Mr Atul Sudan, a BJP activist and confidant of Mr Rakesh Pathania, Vice-Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Corporation and the local MLA, by filing to objections against the enrolment of the names of Mr Mahajan and his family in the voters’ list of ward no. 2 of the local municipal council. The revising authority has been reviewing the whole case while disposing of the appeal filed by the objector against the decision of the revising authority which had upheld the voting right of Mr Mahajan on August 14. The objector while pleading his case during the review of the summary trial and submitted a list of 10 oral evidences and 15 documents supporting his objections. The reviewing authority had summoned all oral evidences but only five turned up yesterday, which included SDO, Irrigation-cum-Public Health, Nurpur, sub-division, Sub-Post Master, Nurpur, and two employees of the municipal council and one of PSEB. The statement, of the objector was also recorded and cross examined by the counsel for Mr Mahajan. The next hearing date has been fixed on September 23 for recording statements of remaining oral evidences. They are being summoned by the authority again. |
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CM justifies policy on encroachment DHARAMSALA, Sept 14 — Justifying the encroachment policy of his government, the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, today said the poor would not be harassed but big sharks would not be allowed to go scotfree. Speaking on the occasion of the foundation stone-laying ceremony of an ayurveda hospital building at Dehra, he warned the people not to get misled by the false propaganda being made by some vested interest. He said the government was aware of the problems of the common man and would always safeguard their interest. The hospital would be constructed at a cost of Rs 1 crore and a Rs 11 crore stadium would be completed at the earliest, he said, adding that the stadium would be named after Bhuvnesh Dogra, who laid down his life fighting insurgency. The Chief Minsiter distributed 143 kisan passbooks in the Jwalamukhi, Pragpur and Jaswan areas. He said the government had taken a revolutionary
step by transferring the ownership of trees grown on private land to the farmers, deleting the entry of Khudro Darakhtan Malkiyat sarkar, by amending the 143-year-old law. He disclosed that steps had been taken to solve the problems of Pong Dam oustees. Mr Dhumal said mango had been brought under the Market Intervention Scheme for the first time and its support price was Rs 3.75 per kg. HAMIRPUR (FOC): The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has said his
government was committed for the allround development of the state. He announced that a bridge costing about Rs 25 lakh would be constructed over the Kunah khad near Rail village in this district. He said this while dedicating to people a Rs 1.20 crore RCC bridge over the Kunah khad near Ranga village on the Hamirpur-Dharamsala highway on Wednesday. Mr Dhumal said the government had been able to get a clearance for four national highways. He said Rs 23 crore were being spent under Nabarad in Hamirpur district during the current fiscal year for the construction
of roads and bridges. The Chief Minister said a judicial court would soon start functioning at
Nadaun. |
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18 hurt as cops, workers clash SOLAN, Sept 14 — Eighteen persons, including two lady and two male constables, were injured in a clash between agitating CITU-affiliated workers and the police outside Birla Textile Mills, Baddi, today. The CITU, in pursuance of its long-standing demand for the implementation of Supreme Court orders concerning payment of wages and allowances to those workers who had migrated to Baddi when Birla mills was shifted from Delhi to that town, had given a call for “dehat bandh” today. Trouble started when about 250 agitating workers came in a procession to the mill gates, shouting anti-management and anti-Labour Department slogans, at about 3.30 p.m. The workers’ representatives claimed that the processionists who wanted to present a memorandum to the mill management, were stopped by the police which had been deputed in large numbers in front of the mill. When the workers demanded right of way into the mill compound for hanging over their memorandum, the police resorted to lathi charge in which peacefully agitating workers were injured. It was also claimed that the police beat up two farmers and a khokha owner who had nothing to do with the agitation. On the other hand, a press note issued here by the police said that the workers, who were armed with lathis and stones, tried to break into the mill complex by force. This resulted in injuries to two male and two lady constables. The workers were injured when the police acted in self defence. Cases under Sections 452, 147, 148, 149, 353, 332 (mainly for
trespass, rioting and preventing government servants from discharging their lawful duty) were registered against the agitating workers. Prominent CITU leaders Kashmir Singh Thakur, N.D. Ranot, Manoj Kumar, Sailendra Kumar, Jai Ram, Rama Kant Mishra and Inder Singh were named in the FIR. Tension built up when news about the alleged beating up of two farmers reached the villages around Baddi. About 400 villagers reached the mill gates and started a dharna in front of it, demanding action against the police. Earlier, while addressing the workers, CITU State General Secretary Kashmir Singh Thakur and district Secretary ND Ranot alleged that the state government was not interested in a peaceful settlement of the workers’ demands. They said a former labour commissioner who had tried to resolve the issue” in favour of the workers” was
unceremoniously transferred. They threatened that their struggle against what they called injustice to the workers would continue till the mill paid up the workers’ lawful dues. |
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HP contribution to
Central Excise SHIMLA, Sept 14 — Although industrially backward Himachal Pradesh is contributing more than Rs 400 crore towards the Central Excise and Customs duty annually. Stating this while talking to newsmen here yesterday Mr Inder Raj
Soni, Commissioner, Central Excise and Customs, Chandigarh division, said the small states accounted for as much as 37 per cent of the excise revenue of Rs 1,100 crore collected in the division covering Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, Ropar and Chandigarh, besides Himachal Pradesh. Solan district alone contributed Rs 218 crore during 1999-2000. It was followed by Kulu (Rs 77 crore), Shimla (Rs 53 crore) and Sirmaur (Rs 37 crore). He said the excise revenue had been increasing at the rate of 8 per cent annually over the past four years and for this year a target of Rs 450 crore had been fixed. This might not be achieved due to shifting of some tobacco chewing units from Solan to Agartala. The two cement plants at Barmana and Darlaghat alone were contributing Rs 130 crore. |
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Retarded man
injures three DHARAMSALA, Sept 14 — Three persons were seriously injured when mentally-challenged Rajinder of Harsar Pahalth village under the Jwali subdivision, allegedly attacked them with a sickle. According to the police, 26-year-old Rajinder injured Manohar Lal, Vijay and Sanjeev Kumar. Manohar Lal, who is in the Army, has been taken to Pathankot in a critical condition. The other two have been admitted to the zonal hospital here. A case has been registered against Rajinder who has been taken into custody. |
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Parents of special
kids meet experts UNA, Sept 14 — A two-day workshop for the parents of mentally retarded children organised by Prem Ashram, (a home for mentally retarded children) concluded here yesterday. The aim of the workshop was to establish a parent-professional partnership so that the children with the disability could give their maximum, said Mr
K.N. Ojha, officer in charge, National Institute for Mentally Handicapped, Ministry of Social Justice and Employment, while addressing the parents. He said this would help the parents as well as the community to set realistic goals, besides making parents realise the hardships professionals face in dealing with the children. More than 70 parents participated in the workshop which was addressed by Ms Anita Kumari of
Asha, AWWA Centre, Udhampur, Jammu, and Ms Reena Sharma, Principal, Asha
Keeran, Hoshiarpur. |
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Bhawa valley
opened to heavy traffic SHIMLA, Sept 14 — The Bhawa valley has been opened for heavy traffic after having remained cut off from rest of the country due to flash floods in the Sutlej. The road has been opened to heavy traffic by repairing the road from new Wangtoo bridge to the old Wangtoo bridge. The road would now enable fruit growers of Bhaba and Katgaon valley to transport their apples to
the market. The Chief Secretary, Mr A.K. Goswami, while reviewing the progress of various departments at the meeting of the crisis-management committee here today directed Food and Supplies officials to launch the distribution of essential
commodities on a war-footing to land locked areas of Kinnaur district, besides adequate storage at focal points. He also directed the monitoring of the supply of
essential commodities on daily basis in the affected areas. The Food and Supplies officials stated at the meeting that 400 mules had been pressed into service to supply essential
commodities to the cut off areas of Kinnaur district. It was also decided at the meeting that three additional spans for
transhipment of essentials commodities, apples and other materials would be installed within a week at Malling which would help to gear up the supply to the affected areas. |
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Resentment
among PG diploma docs SHIMLA, Sept 14 — Resentment prevails among postgraduate diploma doctors in the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) here, as their demand for doing thesis work during registrarship and for appearing in the final exam of DNB (Diplomate of National Board) has been hanging fire for the last several months despite repeated requests for the same to the college authorities and the state
government. The IGMC branch of the Himachal Medical Officers Association (HMOA) in a resolution passed today demanded the immediate acceptance of the demand, which, it said, would benefit a large number of PG diploma-holder doctors who have limited career
opportunities. The HMOA said it was surprising that at a stage when the state was facing a shortage of PG MD/MS doctors, the administration was dilly-dallying over meeting the above demand. |
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Labourers
hold rally SHIMLA, Sept 14 — About 250 labourers of the Indian, Hume Pipe Company held a rally at the Nathpa-Jhakri power project today to protest against the non-payment of their wages by the
management. According to CITU leader, Mr Rakesh Singha, 100 workers of the company had not been paid their wages for
August. The workers have threatened that work on the project will be stopped in case they are not paid the wages before September 18. |
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Leopard
chases dog into house MANDI, Sept 14 (UNI) — A leopard chased a stray dog into a house at Paloti village in this district last night, forcing inhabitants to bolt for safety
outside. Once locked inside the three-room house, the villagers informed forest officials at Mandi and Jogindernagar. The feline was tranquilised and transported to Gopalpur Zoological Park in Kangra district today. |
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Naik
cremated NURPUR, Sept 14 — Naik Shamsher Singh (35) of 12 Rashtriya Rifles, who laid down his life at Banihal area of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir, when a group of militants ambushed an army patrol on Wednesday, was cremated today at his native village Kotpalari, near here, with full state
honours.The body of the Naik was received at Kandwal barrier at 3 p.m. by the local MLA and Vice-Chairman, Himachal Tourism Corporation, and officials of the civil administration and the
police. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. |
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