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Monday,
July 22, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Divisive agenda ‘won’t pay’ in Gujarat poll IGMC seats may be increased Himalayan studies centre to be set up Irate villagers block road against murder No breakthrough in Kaushal murder case |
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Chamba set for Minjar fair Slum
kids steal show with ‘Charan Das Chor’ Move on new districts makes CPM see red ‘Give land free of cost to farmers’ ‘Accept’ demands of schoolteachers 2 die
as jeep falls into gorge One killed, 5 hurt in road mishap Man kills aunt, damages wife’s eyes ‘Cancel’ transfers of Chamba paramedics
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Divisive agenda ‘won’t pay’ in Gujarat poll Shimla, July 21 Talking to newspersons here he said the Congress would fight to defeat the BJP which had fallen back on the “hardcore Hindutvaagenda” following a series of electoral debacles, losing power in one state after the other. The party had been forced to shed its secular mask as reflected in the recent changes in the organisational set up and the government. The professed loyalty of Mr Venkaiah Naidu, the new BJP chief, to Mr Advani who now not only presided over the all party meetings, conventionally chaired by the Prime Minister, but also that of party office-bearers. All this made it quite clear what the party was upto. The BJP dominated the NDA and other parties in the alliance had been reduced to mere subordinates. This was amply demonstrated in the case of Gujarat. The new dispensation in the BJP had gone on an overdrive to glorify the Modi regime, which had, by deliberate default and alleged connivance in the communal carnage, lowered the image of the country and eroded its secular credentials. Mr Sharma saw the demand for trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir as a sinister plan of the Sangh Parivar to divide the state on communal basis. This was unacceptable to the Congress, he said. |
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IGMC seats may be increased Shimla, July 21 As per the proposal the seats in the dental college are to be doubled from the present 20 to 40 and for the MBBS course in the IGMC from 65 to 100. The authorities see no problem in getting the seats in the dental college increased as the norms laid down by the Dental Council of India (DCI) for 20 seats and 40 seats are the same. In fact the council gives approval for a minimum of 40 seats are the same. In fact the council gives approval for a minimum of 40 seats. The Himachal Government, which did not seek the mandatory approval of the council, somehow started the college with 20 seats. Thus, the government had to provide the infrastructure facilities and staff as per the norms laid down for 40 seats. The case for increasing the number of seats will be sent in a day or two to the DCI. It will carry out an inspection before granting the approval. The IGMC had 65 seats initially but the government increased them to 100 in 1994-95 without the approval of the Medical Council of India (MCI). While the council refused to grant recognition for the excess seat, the government continued to make admissions every year. However, when the council threatened to withdraw the recognition to the college the government was left with no option but to reduce the number of seats to 65. The proposal will be sent to the MCI next month. The college authorities claim that it had removed the deficiencies pointed out by the council. An examination hall had been constructed and it was likely to be inaugurated on July 30. Separate laboratories had been set up for pathology and microbiology and some vacant posts had been filled. One of the main hurdles earlier was the condition of a 700-bed hospital for 100 seats. This has been taken care of by the MCI itself by reducing the minimum number of beds to 500, which the college already has. The college, however, may find it difficult to fulfil the norms with respect to the minimum teaching staff. It has not been able to recruit the required staff at the Tanda college over the past four years and has been temporarily deputing teaching faculty from the IGMC. The system of sending staff to the Tanda college on rotation basis has affected the IGMC functioning. Senior doctors want that the MCI should conduct a joint inspection of both colleges. It is widely believed that the MCI is aware of the “tricks” being played by the health authorities but for reasons best known to it no stringent action was being taken by it in the matter. A joint inspection may compel the MCI to even derecognise the IGMC. Moreover, in a bid to fulfil the requirement of staff at Tanda even those who are not eligible have been promoted as professors. |
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Himalayan studies centre to be set up Shimla, July 21 The centre, to be set up at a cost of Rs 5 crore, will be one of the outstanding international centres engaged in research on the Himalayas in the world. Its objective will be to study every aspect of the Himalayas, — the environment, its people and their culture — and help improve the quality of life through integrated and comprehensive research, teaching, training and service. The challenges and limitations of the hill topography apart, the university has been keeping pace with the rest in developments on the academic front. It has become sufficiently large and at present has 12 faculties (of which eight are campus based), 29 teaching departments, 15 specialised teaching, research and training centres, and seven “Chairs”. About 3,651 students are receiving education in the different teaching departments and as many as 108 conventional and professional colleges are affiliated to it. The university is catering to the needs of about 1.35 lakh students. Of these, 45,000 students living in the remote areas of Himachal Pradesh and distant parts of the country are receiving education through the distance mode. Academic Staff College of the university has vigorously pursued its mission of spreading education. It has been conducting orientation programmes, refresher courses, seminars for college principals and training sponsored by the UGC and other national bodies. It has a well-stocked central library with a repository of 1,83,689 books. It subscribes to 541 journals, including 156 international journals. The university has been carrying out specialised inter-disciplinary research and attention was being paid to issues relating to the state's economy and its resource base, hill development, demography, regional and human geography, cartography, remote-sensing, area-specific developmental perspectives, eco-development, sustainable development, hydro-electric power, trade and commerce, socio-biology, ethno-botany, polymer chemistry and there is a special focus on Himachali wool and
biofertilisers. |
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Irate villagers block road against murder Kangra, July 21 According to eyewitnesses, the protesting villagers, including women, blocked the national highway raising anti-police slogans and demanding the arrest of the culprit in the murder case. According to the police, Hem Raj, 38, a driver in the municipality and a resident of Kachari village was attacked last night by Parveen Kumar of the same village with a sharp-edged weapon. Parveen Kumar stabbed him in the abdomen and slit his throat killing him on the spot. The police said some old enmity was behind the crime. It said in March they had quarrel too and last night there was an argument between the two when Parveen Kumar allegedly took out a sharp-edged weapon and killed Hem Raj, father of two children. The police has registered a case under Section 302, IPC, and sent the body for a post-mortem. It said Parveen Kumar was absconding after allegedly committing the crime. The parents and family members of Parveen Kumar were rounded up for questioning, the SSP, Mr Sanjay Kundu, said. The SSP said raids were conducted to nab the culprit but he could not be arrested. |
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No breakthrough in Kaushal murder case Solan, July 21 The SP, Mr S.Z.H. Zaidi, said a strict vigil was being kept on all entry and exit points. However, a computer-simulated portrait of Kaushal’s killer has been made with the help of three eyewitnesses. Copies of the portrait have been flashed over the Internet to all important police posts and stations at all interstate barriers. The police has managed to ascertain that the scooter used in the crime had been plied for about 60 km after allegedly being stolen. Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (Law and Order), Mr Kashmir Singh Rana, reached here today and met the Superintendent of Police. The two persons who had been rounded up in connection yesterday had been let off. Another person, who happened to be almost of the same age as that of the murderer, was apprehended while trying to snatch the purse of a woman at Sairi village near here last night. |
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Chamba set for Minjar fair Shimla, July 21 The week-long fair which commences on the last Sunday of July has been playing an important role in preserving the rich hill culture. Rooted in religious traditions, the fair is also linked with the prosperity of the people. There are different stories about the origin of the Minjar fair. One of the legends has it that the fair was started by the ruler of Chamba, Sahil Verman, and his tantrik guru Charpat Nath in the 10th century. It is believed that the Ravi once flowed through the Chaugan of Chamba, with the temples of Harirai and Champavati, situated on the opposite banks. A mahatma staying at Champavati temple used to swim across the river every day to offer prayers at Harirai temple. Sahil Verman and some others urged the mahatma to use his spiritual powers to change the course of the Ravi, so that others could also visit the temple at the opposite bank. The mahatma, using a specially prepared seven-coloured rope, with each colour representing a day of the week, performed a “havan” for seven days continuously to make the river change its course. The magic rope was called minjar. The fair is celebrated since then every year. According to another legend, an old woman wanted to meet the king of Chamba to pay her regards. As she was too poor to offer anything to greet the king, she took “minjar” (hair-like structures of the maize cob) with her. The king was very pleased by the affection and ordered the day to be celebrated as a fair. The fair starts with religious ceremonies at the local Lakshmi-Narain temple during which the melodious notes of Malhar rent the air. People take part in the rituals and distribute sweets and fruits amongst themselves. “Minjars” made of silken or find shining metallic threads adorn the traditional costumes as the people come out in their colourful best. There is a virtual riot of colour at Chaugan, the venue of the fair, as villagers from far off places converge on the lush green meadow for celebrations. Besides cultural programmes, sports meets are also organised during the festival and teams from the neighbouring states also participate. The fair concludes on the first Sunday of August with the taking out of a procession from the historical palace of Chamba, “Akhand Chandi Mahal”, in which idols of Lord Reghuvir, Raja Verman and various Gods and Goddesses are taken out in palanquins. People turn out in thousands to take part in the procession, which is followed by the old shahi flags of the Raja of Chamba. The procession culminates at the banks of the Ravi, with the offering of minjars, coconuts, fruits and prayers to God Veruna for a good crop and prosperity of the people. The minjar is finally immersed in the river by the people and the idols of Gods and Goddesses and shahi flags are taken back to Akhand Chandi Mahal after the ceremony. |
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Slum
kids steal show with ‘Charan Das Chor’ Shimla, July 21 The play was enacted by 24 children from the slums of Delhi, who had been adopted by the organisation to enable them to pursue education. The play came to life with scintillating performances from the children all in the age group of six to 14 years, and songs by Palash Sen and Shibari Kashyap. It was directed by Ish Amitoj and Shivardhan Trivedi. Addressing the gathering Dr Suraj Bhan, Governor, who was the chief guest, emphasised the need for providing opportunities to the underprivileged children for ensuring their all-round development. He said the potential of children should be channelised properly in a positive direction. The Governor appreciated the efforts of Literacy India. Capt Indraani Singh, founder secretary of Literacy India, said the aim was to bring out the cultural and theatrical talent of underprivileged children. Shivardhan
Trivedi, director of the play, sought better equipment for the theatre
with the requisite theatrical appliances and equipments. |
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Move on new districts makes CPM see red Shimla, July 21 Keeping in view the topography of the state and this exercise could not be carried out without reorganising the existing one. It cautioned that a hasty decision in the matter could divide the people and shelter the emotional integrity of various reforms of the state, besides putting an additional burden on the state exchequer. The party demanded that a committee of experts comprising representatives of non-government organisations, panchayati raj institutions and prominent people of the areas concerned be set up to take a final decision. |
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‘Give land free of cost to farmers’ Shimla, July 21 Mr Omkar Shad, president of the sabha, pointed out that the government had given hundreds of acres of land to tea companies and big contractors on long lease for a song and as such there was no point in asking for money from poor farmers. Even the application form for the regularisation of encroachment was being sold at Rs 50. The sabha has decided to organise protest rallies all over the state on August 12 to express its resentment. |
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‘Accept’ demands of schoolteachers Shimla, July 21 Mr Vinod Kumar, district president of the confederation, said the government had agreed to appoint teachers of private schools in government schools against vacant posts on a contract basis. He said while some teachers were deployed in remote areas, there were over 209 vacant posts in various schools located in the interiors. He also demanded regularisation of the services of part-time workers. |
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2 die as jeep falls into gorge Mandi, July 21 Eye-witnesses said the jeep was on its way from Marhi to
Ghumarwin. Driver Suresh Kumar (26) of Bharoli Kalan died on the spot while Chhota Ram of Shah Talai succumbed to injuries on way to the Civil Hospital at
Sarkaghat. The bodies have been sent for a post-mortem examination. UNI |
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One killed, 5 hurt in road mishap Dalhousie, July 21 The deceased had been identified as Kailash Raina, an assistant officer in the Chamera hydroelectric project. The injured, who belonged to nearby places, have been identified as Pushap Raj, Vikas, Ashok Kumar, Roshan and Mann Singh, driver of the vehicle. They were admitted to a nearby hospital. The condition of two of the injured, Pushap Raj and Vikas, was stated to be serious. The Dalhousie police has registered a case in this connection. According to an FIR, the driver had failed to negotiate the curve because of which the vehicle went out of control. Meanwhile, the Chamera project officials rushed to the accident site for rescue and relief operation. |
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Man kills aunt, damages wife’s eyes Mandi, July 21 According to reports, on reaching home in the evening he started beating up his wife. His aunt Devku came in and admonished him for assaulting his wife. This infuriated him and he attacked her. She died on the spot. Manohar Lal was arrested when he was trying to escape by boarding a Jogindernagar-Chandigarh route bus. His mother was also arrested. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. Meanwhile Rimpi, wife of Manohar Lal, has been referred to the regional hospital here where she is still lying unconscious. |
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‘Cancel’ transfers of Chamba paramedics Chamba, July 21 The district president of the federation, Mr Sat Pal Thakur, today demanded the cancellation of transfers of paramedical staff from Chamba as the health institutions in this remote region were understaffed. He added 475 posts of paramedical staff and doctors in Chamba district had been lying vacant for the past few years. The malaria laboratory in the zonal hospital and been lying closed for the past two months. As a result, the patients were facing problems. |
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Poll petition dismissed Shimla, July 21 |
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