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Shandil files papers for Shimla seat BJP for probe into lottery scam, illegal mining BJP exploiting religious sentiments: CM |
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BJP wave in HP, claims Chandel 4 more file papers for Hamirpur AITUC urges govt to strengthen Labour Dept
Dhumal’s Pvt Secy quizzed in job scam MCI team inspects medical college 10 kids contract jaundice after drinking juice Panchayat struggles to run water supply scheme Canadian envoy calls on Governor B.Ed entrance tests’ dates clash
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Shandil files papers for Shimla seat Shimla, April 21 Senior Congress leaders, including Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, Mrs Vidya Stokes, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee chief, and Mr Sukh Ram, who rejoined the party last week, accompanied him to the Deputy Commissioner's office. Several Congress legislators were among the party men who had assembled outside the DC's office to support Dr Shandil. Later, they marched to the Panchayat Bhavan in a procession and held a rally. Talking to newspersons, Mr Virbhadra Singh said his party had taken exception to the "threats" being given by Mr P.K. Dhumal, a former Chief Minister, and other leaders that the Congress government in the state would be sacked once the NDA returned to power at the Centre. He said such threats were against the spirit of the Constitution and reflected the fascist attitude of the BJP. The Congress has brought the matter to the notice of the Election Commission, he said. Dr Shandil said his top priority, if given a second term, would be to strengthen the TV network in the remote pockets, bring apple under the crop insurance scheme and build stadia in rural areas. Besides, his endeavour would be to create as many employment opportunities as possible. He said he had released Rs 11.50 crore from his MP's Local Area Development Fund for various development works. |
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BJP for probe into lottery scam, illegal mining Shimla, April 21 Dr Rajiv Bindal, spokesperson of the party, said the manner in which the authorities had allowed unauthorised mining at Maulani Khale in Kamrao forest made it evident that the beneficiaries enjoyed the blessings of the Congress leaders. This fact was also borne out from a letter written by senior Congress, leader Durga Ram Gaur to the Chief Minister. He had pointed out that some party workers were involved in illegal mining and they claimed to be close to some top leaders. At a time when the government had launched a crusade against corruption stern action was warranted in such matters. He also released copies of the letter. Dr Bindal also alleged that the sale of lotteries of other states was allowed by the government for extraneous reasons. He said the government had failed to bring out a white paper on the issue and had also not revealed how much revenue the state earned. Its silence proved its guilt. Similarly, a private company which was paid Rs 6.16 lakh even after it had withdrawn its claim, had been granted distributorship of the HPMC for New Delhi. It would get 10 per cent of sales and thus earn over Rs 15 lakh without doing anything. The HPMC had not reduced its staff and it was carrying out the marketing. The company had its office in the Pragati Maidan in the Pavillion of the state Industries Department. |
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BJP exploiting religious sentiments: CM Mandi, April 21 Addressing a Congress rally at Rewalsar near here the Chief Minister asserted, “ I am an elected representative of he people and not a domestic servant of Mr Dhumal of the Prime Minister who can dismiss me at their pleasure. I am holding the office of the Chief Minister for the fifth time now because the people of the state have reposed their faith in me. In fact, the plight of Mr Dhumal while out of power is like a fish out of water.” He said the BJP had been raking up the issue of Ram temple only during the elections. In fact, they were not interested in solving the temple issue. They were merely exploiting the sentiments of the Hindus for their narrow political ends. Mr Sukh Ram, who recently merged his HVC with the Congress, claimed that he as Union Communication Minister had brought about a telecom revolution in the state by spending crores of rupees in Himachal. In sharp contrast, he maintained that Mr Shanta Kumar as Rural Development Minister at the Centre could do pretty little for the state. |
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BJP wave in HP, claims Chandel Hamirpur, April 21 Addressing election meetings of the party in Nadaun and Nadaunta Assembly segments of Hamirpur district today and yesterday, he said the days of the Congress-led state government were numbered. The BJP leader blamed the Congress and the state government for ignoring the interests of all. This government had done nothing for these communities except befooling them with false promises, he said. |
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4 more file papers for Hamirpur Hamirpur, April 21 Those who filed their papers today were Gopi Ram, Matwar Singh, Rameshwari Kanwar and Khushi Ram. |
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AITUC urges govt to strengthen Labour Dept Shimla, April 21 In a memorandum submitted to Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, here today, the AITUC unit demanded the creation of two posts of Deputy Labour Commissioner and a post of Additional Labour Commissioner for effective implementation of labour laws. The posts could be filled without incurring any additional financial burden by rationalising the deployment of manpower in the employment wing of the department, the memorandum said. |
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Dhumal’s Pvt Secy quizzed in job scam Shimla, April 21 A team of police officers led by Mr R.S. Negi, Superintendent of Police (Enforcement), Dharamsala, who has been camping here for the past three days, questioned the officials of former Chief Minister’s office regarding the data retrieved from the computer hard disks. They were specifically questioned about the recommendations for the selections of commerce teachers. As many as 30 recommended candidates had been selected and three of them were given over 90 per cent marks in the interview. While in one case marks were tampered with to ensure selection. According to sources in the department during interrogation the officials revealed that the data fed in the computer was known to Mr Dhumal. However, they were not aware what happened to the lists. Mr S.M. Katwal, former Chairman of the board and the main accused in the case, has been evading arrest for the past fortnight. |
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MCI team inspects medical college Dharamsala, April 21 Dr Vijay Anand and Dr Aggarwal were the other two members of the team. The MCI team held discussions with the state Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ms Chandresh Kumari , Health Secretary, Mr P.C. Kapoor, Principal of the college, Dr L.S. Pal, and other faculty members about the facilities required as per norms and those existing in the college and hospital. Ms Chandresh Kumari said detailed discussions were held with the team and she was confident that the team was satisfied. She said the shortcomings were pointed out after the inspection held about nine months ago and efforts had been made to set things right. However , she added that it would only be known after the team submited its report to the MCI and communication regarding grant of provisional recognition was received by them. She said the government was committed to start the OPD at Tanda by November this year. She said on the suggestions of the MCI team , purchases of the essential equipment would be started soon. When contacted , the Principal, Dr
L.S. Pal, said it was premature to predict about the report but hoped that the team took a positive view as all-out efforts had been made to remove the deficiencies pointed earlier. |
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10 kids contract jaundice after drinking juice Kangra, April 21 The Block Medical Officer, Tiara, Dr Suresh Koul, said here today that the children, in the age group of 5 to 10 years, were under treatment at local sub divisional hospital. Dr Koul said he had visited the village along with the field staff and no other child was found infected with the disease. He said the children infected were from a locality of the village where the water supply was from a water pump. He suspected that contaminated water might have resulted in the outbreak of the disease. Meanwhile, the Irrigation and Public Health authorities rushed to the village today and took samples of water from the pump. Mr K.K. Kapoor, SDO, IPH, said the water supply in the locality was from an energised underground water pump. He said there was no possibility of contamination of the water. He stated that samples of this water have been collected and sent for tests today. Mr Madan Verma, a village resident, said the affected children told the village panch, Mr Ranee Ram, that they had consumed fruit juice sold in pouches in the village. The samples of the fruit juice were yet to be collected for testing. Mr K.K. Kapoor confirmed that family members of the children had told him that the latter had consumed fruit juice in packed pouches outside their school before they were infected with jaundice. |
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Panchayat struggles to run water supply scheme Jahoo (Hamirpur), April 21 The water supply scheme for the pocket, formulated two decades ago, is the only one in the state under the direct control of the local gram panchayat. This scheme caters to the needs of all nine wards of the gram panchayat with two wells in the town. Both wells had cost the gram panchayat Rs 20 lakh and the entire amount was spent by the panchayat from its funds. It has two motors of 10 and 20 horsepower and these draw around 1.80 lakh litres of water everyday. Now half of the water is being drawn from both motors due to prolonged drought-like conditions prevailing in the state. Mr Ram Rakha, Gram panchayat pradhan, says that the gram panchayat charges Rs 20 per month from every household and the water is supplied from tanks located near Haur village and another near the panchayat ghar through the gravity system. The panchayat pradhan wants the scheme should be taken over by the state government. With meagre fiscal resources at its disposal, the gram panchayat is finding it difficult to run the scheme. He wants either the takeover of the scheme or the reimbursement of electricity bills amounting to Rs 2 lakh per annum. Moreover, the panchayat spends Rs 60,000 per annum as salary of its staff running the scheme. The panchayat pradhan says that he has made many representations to the state government for its takeover but without any result. Mr Atul Karohta, president of the district Youth Congress and member of the Hamirpur zila parishad, also wants its takeover by the state government. According to him, this scheme suffers for want of adequate finances and the state government should come forward to help the gram panchayat. However, Mr Prakash Chand, a former pradhan of the gram panchayat, is unhappy with the present and past functionaries of the gram panchayat for not running the scheme properly. He wants it to be taken over by the Irrigation-cum-Public Health Department of the state government. Mr R.M. Sharma, Superintending Engineer (IPH), said it was not possible for the department to take over the scheme as the state government was considering to handing over all other water supply schemes of the state to gram panchayats. |
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Canadian envoy calls on Governor Shimla, April 21 They discussed various issues of mutual interest. The Governor apprised her of the scope for development of tourism and hydroelectric projects in the state. He said agriculture and horticulture were also the areas where investment could be made by various foreign investors. Mr Kokje suggested that she should visit agriculture and horticulture universities of the state. He honoured the High Commissioner with a Himachali shawl and cap. |
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B.Ed entrance tests’ dates clash Kumarhatti, April 21 |
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