H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Rebels forced Modi’s removal
Shimla, June 7
The removal of Mr Narinder Modi, BJP general secretary, as the in charge of party affairs in Himachal Pradesh has come as major victory for the dissidents who had been gunning for his removal for the post over six months.

Dhumal govt “ignoring” HVC partner
Dharamsala, June 7
The state Joint Secretary of the Himachal Vikas Congress, Mr Deepak Sharma, said today that despite their party being responsible for the formation of the coalition government in Himachal, the HVC was being given step-motherly treatment and not being taken into confidence on issues of public interest.

Make Simla pact basis for talks: Oscar
Shimla, June 7
Mr Oscar Fernandes, General Secretary of the AICC, has said that the forthcoming talks between Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan military ruler Parvez Musharaff should be held in the context of the Simla agreement for lasting peace.

Cattle-feed traders make hay
Solan
Cattle-feed traders are doing good business here these days as cattle owners have no other option but to depend on them because of official hassles in obtaining subsidy which the government has announced in view of the severe drought in Himachal Pradesh.

Punjabi pop singer enthrals
Dharamsala, June 7
The Dharamsala Summer Festival got off to a colourful start with Punjabi pop singer Babbu Mann regaling the audiences with his numbers well past midnight.

JEs demand action against contractor
Palampur, June 7
The Himachal Pradesh Junior Engineers Association has decided to resort to direct action if the government failed to initiate action against a contractor who had threatened to murder a Junior Engineer, Mr Y.K. Dhoru, posted at Palampur. Mr Dhoru had refused to pass the contractor’s bills which were not in order.

Governor flags off trekking expedition
Mandi, June 7
Himachal Governor Suraj Bhan today flagged off trekking campaign 2001 of All-India NCC at Jogindernagar in this district. Nearly 1000 girl cadets from all over the country are participating in the adventure. The participants would trek 80 km in difficult terrain of Mandi and Kulu districts.

Oil tankers a traffic hazard
Parwanoo, June 7
Almost half of the width of the National Highway No 22 from Hotel Shivalik to the ESI Hospital here remains occupied by a long line of parked oil tankers. The other half of the road has to take the load of vehicles from both directions. When vehicles overtake each other on a blind curve on the stretch, it often leads to serious accidents.

Rebels forced Modi’s removal
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 7
The removal of Mr Narinder Modi, BJP general secretary, as the in charge of party affairs in Himachal Pradesh has come as major victory for the dissidents who had been gunning for his removal for the post over six months.

The seven dissidents including four ministers, had openly revolted against Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, on the eve of the budget session to press the demand. They kept Mr Dhumal on the tenterhooks throughout the session and relented only when the party high command gave an assurance to shift Mr Modi. A tacit understanding was reached between the dissidents and the top functionaries of the sangh parivar on the issue.

The sangh parivar favoured the removal of Mr Modi, but the high command differed on the timing for making the change so that it did not and out wrong signals and encourage dissidents in other states.

The exit of Mr Bangaru Laxman as party President in the wake of the Tehelka episode provided an ideal opportunity to carry out the exercise as the new president, Mr Jana Krishnamurthi, had to choose his team of office-bearers.

Mr Modi had earned the wrath of Shanta loyalists during the bitter rivalry for the post of state party chief in 1997 which culminated in the unsavoury Jwalamukhi episode. Their main grouse was that he had been acting in a blatantly partisan manner to undermine the position of Mr Shanta Kumar.

There was temporary thaw in the hostilities between the two camps when the party was voted to power and Mr Dhumal became the Chief Minister with the help of Mr Ramesh Dhwala, a staunch Shanta loyalist, who won as an Independent after being denied the party ticket. However, the raw deal meted out to Mr Mohinder Sofat, who was denied party ticket in the Solan byelection set the pot of dissidence boiling again.

It became a turning point as the dissidents organised into a group thereafter and started attacking the government by raising inconvenient issues like corruption. In November they forced Mr Dhumal to drop Mr Mohinder Singh former PWD Minister, from the Cabinet and remove his private secretary, Mr Onkar Thakur.

However, Mr Modi was their main target and to seek his removal they again revolted in February and this time they threatened to bring down the government in the House. Alarmed over the situation, the sangh parivar intervened at the highest level to buy peace at the cost of Mr Modi.

Mr Modi had become irrelevant virtually ever since, the dissidents started demanding his removal. He had no role to play in the party affairs at the time of the revolt and the party had to look towards RSS leaders to broker peace. He was conspicuous by his absence during the recent week-long sojourn of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Manali last month. During all his earlier visits, Mr Modi remained stay put at Manali.

A section of the party started campaigning for the appointment of Mr Pyare Lal Khadelwal as the in charge of party affairs when the removal of Mr Modi became inevitable. The high command did not oblige and made Mr O.P. Kohli, a senior RSS leader, as in charge after taking both Mr Dhumal and Mr Shanta Kumar into confidence. The replacement of the Mr Modi, political observers feel, will ensure lasting peace between the warring factions and enable the party to improve its image which had taken a severe beating due to allegations of corruption levelled by the dissidents.

Dhumal govt “ignoring” HVC partner
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, June 7
The state Joint Secretary of the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC), Mr Deepak Sharma, said today that despite their party being responsible for the formation of the coalition government in Himachal, the HVC was being given step-motherly treatment and not being taken into confidence on issues of public interest.

Talking to reporters here today, he said that the BJP had lost credibility as a coalition partner as it was not taking the HVC into confidence on important issues. “Our only compulsion in withdrawing support from the government is that we do not wish to be responsible for creating instability in the state”, he said.

He said that the HVC was never consulted by the government before ordering hike in power and water tariff. “We are strictly opposed to giving of big power projects to the industrial houses as the interests of the Himachalis were being ignored,” he stated. He added that it would be in the interest of the people of the state if micro hydel projects were set up by the State Electricity Board, as this would also ensure employment to the locals.

He accused the BJP of trying to hatch conspiracy against the HVC chief Mr Sukhram, by bringing about a split in the party. He said that the HVC had not got its due from the BJP and the lone HVC minister Mr Ram Lal Markanday, had not even been given financial powers of his department.

Mr Sharma ruled out possibility of the HVC merger with the Congress. “It is only Congress leaders or their workers who are spreading such rumours as the question of a merger does not arise, he added.

He said that the HVC would contest the next elections on their own, with a possible alliance with any political party. He said that today the Congress was a house divided, which had failed to play the role of a constructive opposition. On the contrary it is the HVC, despite being a coalition partner, that is playing the role of an effective opposition.

Make Simla pact basis for talks: Oscar
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 7
Mr Oscar Fernandes, General Secretary of the AICC, has said that the forthcoming talks between Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan military ruler Parvez Musharaff should be held in the context of the Simla agreement for lasting peace.

Mr Fernandes, talking to mediapersons here today, said the Congress had always demanded that Pakistan be made a party to the talks on the Kashmir issue. Talking to militant outfits alone was not sufficient. However, the centre had not accepted the demand at that time.

He said keeping Pakistan outside the talks would not have yielded any results. After giving two extensions to the ceasefire, the Centre had finally realised that cross-border terrorism could not be contained without talking to Pakistan.

Mr Fernandes, who was on a private visit here, met the CLP Leader, Mr Virbhadra Singh, and the PCC chief, Mrs Vidya Stokes, and discussed various issues pertaining to groupism in the party.

Mr Fernandes said all complaints of irregularities in organisational elections in Himachal Pradesh and other states would be heard by a committee by July 31.

To a question whether some people from the Virbhadra Singh camp would be included on the executive of the PCC, Mr Fernandes said there was always justification for more people, but it would be seen whether there was any reason for doing so. Moreover, the elected PCC members had authorised the AICC chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, to nominate the PCC chief.

He demanded that delimitation of Assembly constituencies should be speeded up in the newly formed state of Uttaranchal so as to enable elections there along with those in UP, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

The Congress was gearing up for elections in these states and the recent Assembly elections in the five states had clearly indicated that people were not in favour of the BJP.

Cattle-feed traders make hay
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Solan
Cattle-feed traders are doing good business here these days as cattle owners have no other option but to depend on them because of official hassles in obtaining subsidy which the government has announced in view of the severe drought in Himachal Pradesh.

All 2,337 villages of Solan district with a population of 3.82 lakh have been badly hit by the drought.

No fodder could be grown because of extremely dry winters. Against the normal rainfall of 97 mm, the district went without any rain in the winter which has created problems for farmers now.

Men and women purchasing wheat stem cattle-feed from truck operators coming here from Ambala and certain areas of Punjab is a common sight these days on the Kalka-Shimla highway.

Mr Vinod Sharma of Dadhok village, near Solan, said he preferred to buy the cattle-feed from truck operators, who sold it at Rs 2 per kg against Rs 3 per kg by the local traders. The feed was available at Ambala for Rs 1.50 per kg, but small farmers like him could not afford to purchase an entire truckload of it.

It was quite a problem to get freight subsidy and one had to run after district officials for obtaining it, Mr Sharma said.

The rabi crop on 26,000 hectares has been affected due to drought, which has hit small and marginal farmers in particular. Only a small number of farmers in the district have their own tubewells for irrigation.

The worst-hit areas are Nalagarh, Barotiwala, Changer and Arki. Farmers are dependent on rain for irrigation. The off-season vegetable crop has also been adversely affected.

Reports from other parts of the state indicate that farmers and cattle owners are facing similar problems. Hill slopes, too, are almost barren and fodder is being brought from outside the state.

Rain during the past some days has brought a ray of hope for the farmers, who expect that the problem of scarcity of fodder will get solved in the next few months.

Punjabi pop singer enthrals
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, June 7
The Dharamsala Summer Festival got off to a colourful start with Punjabi pop singer Babbu Mann regaling the audiences with his numbers well past midnight.

Despite the sound system not being up to the mark, Babbu Mann had the crowd swinging to his numbers. His most popular number “Nindran ni aundian” was a big hit with the crowd at the Police Ground, venue of the festival.

Expressing displeasure over the sound system, the artist asked that all video-cameras of the local city channel be removed. With the videographers still trying to record the show, the police had to use force, leading to an ugly situation.

“Folk Dances of India”, a presentation by Vimla Thakur’s dance group from Delhi, was appreciated by the public. The local Municipal Council, which has for the first time organised the festival, had made good seating and lighting arrangements. As compared to the previous years, the show was well-managed.

The police in their effort to keep the crowd disciplined, dragged off anyone who tried to get near the stage.

The Transport Minister, Mr Kishan Kapoor, was the chief guest.

JEs demand action against contractor
Our Correspondent

Palampur, June 7
The Himachal Pradesh Junior Engineers Association has decided to resort to direct action if the government failed to initiate action against a contractor who had threatened to murder a Junior Engineer, Mr Y.K. Dhoru, posted at Palampur. Mr Dhoru had refused to pass the contractor’s bills which were not in order.

Talking to newsmen here today, Mr P.C. Kaundal, zonal president of the association, said the matter had been taken up with the higher authorities of the department, but no report had been lodged with the police so far. He said since the contractor had links with the ruling party, no officer of the department could dare to register a complaint against him. He said in such circumstances it had become difficult for them to perform their duties according to the norms fixed by the government.

Mr Kaundal said increasing political interference in the functioning of the department had made the matters worse. Expressing serious concern over such incidents, he said this was not the first instance. In the past too, members of the association had been manhandled by anti-social elements and the government had remained a silent spectator.

He appealed the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, to intervene into the matter and save the situation from worsening.

Governor flags off trekking expedition
Our Correspondent

Mandi, June 7
Himachal Governor Suraj Bhan today flagged off trekking campaign 2001 of All-India NCC at Jogindernagar in this district. Nearly 1000 girl cadets from all over the country are participating in the adventure. The participants would trek 80 km in difficult terrain of Mandi and Kulu districts.

Addressing the cadets the Governor stressed the significance of the adventure sports, involving courage and enthusing confidence in the participants. He said children should be imparted training in adventure sports to make them bold.

The Governor lauded efforts of the organisers and added that such events built bonds of friendship and national unity as persons of various parts of the country come to understand each other and make the concept of unity in diversity true. Mr Suraj Bhan said the NCC had played a pivotal role in disciplining students.

Himachal Vidhan Sabha Speaker Thakur Gulab Singh pleaded for more fund for the NCC. Himachal Education Minister I.D. Dhiman, said the NCC had played an important role in raising a second line of defence.

Oil tankers a traffic hazard
Our Correspondent

Mr Sanjay Sharma, Assistant Commissioner of Parwanoo, said two sites had been earmarked for developing parking lots there. One lot near the oil depots is ready and the other is unfinished due to financial problems. Mr Sanjay Sharma said a committee had been formed by the Deputy Commissioner of Solan to develop these sites, but the investment promised by owners of oil depots had not been received so far.

Signboards defaced along highway
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, June 7
All important signboards along the Kalka-Shimla national highway from Parwanoo to Barog have been defaced. Advertisers have not even spared the Solan police signboards asking motorists to follow traffic rules. At some places, the signboards showing the distance of places are covered with handbills, pamphlets and posters.

The most-affected areas on the highway are here and near Dharampur where almost every signboard put up by departments like forest, agriculture, health and PWD have been badly defaced by the advertisers. At Dharampur, the advertisers have even put schools, hospital and religious place to use. The signboard of the community health centre at Dharampur is smutted with handbills. The same is the situation at Government Senior Secondary School there. Handbills can be seen pasted on walls of the government offices.

Sewerage plants work inspected
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 7
Mr Ramesh Chand, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, yesterday inspected work on the construction of sewerage treatment plants at Lalpani and Maliyana and directed the officials concerned to complete it by December.

He also inspected the ongoing work for the replacement of the old water distribution pipeline. The minister was informed that the sewerage treatment plants were also being constructed at Golacha, Summer Hill and Snowdon at a cost of Rs 22 crore. Besides Rs 25.70 crore was being spent on replacing the old water pipes in the town.