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Congress workers burn effigies of BJP leaders
CD Issue |
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Report sought on video CD may hit BJP MP
Thakur, Kaundal lock horns over CD issue
Resignation demand evokes strong reactions
Nadda not averse to taking over as BJP chief
171 logs of deodar seized
NSUI burns effigies of CM, Manhas
LIC employees hold protests
AIDS control programme
Tributes paid to Basu
Mango crop insurance date
extended
Dharna staged
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Congress workers burn effigies of BJP leaders
Shimla, January 21 The party has decided to meet the Governor and submit a memorandum in this regard. PCC chief Kaul Singh said the content of the CDs had put the Dhumal and Kashyap in the dock and they had no moral right to continue in theirs positions they were holding. He would lead a delegation to the Raj Bhawan on January 21 and impress upon the Governor the need for a CBI probe. The party has convened a meeting of state office-bearers, district and block party presidents and MLAs on January 23 to chalk out the strategy to expose the BJP and finalise plan for a statewide stir on the issue. General secretary of the party Kuldeep Rathore said the CID inquiry by an officer of lower rank in a matter involving the chief minister who is also the home minister and a director-general of police was nothing but a crude attempt to wriggle out of the crisis. The exercise was aimed at sweeping the case under the carpet. If government was serious, it should handover the case to CBI without any delay. Party spokesperson Sudhir Sharma said the conversation in the CDs provide enough indications that the vigilance department was being used to target the Congress leaders. As many as 18 MLAs of the party had written to union home minister P.C.Chidamabaram in this regard and also complained to him about tapping of phones. The CDs needed to be investigated seriously by the CBI. Meanwhile, activists of the Dal went in a procession from the DC office raising slogans against the BJP government. They also burnt the effigies of Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal, MP VIrender Kashyap and DGP DSManhas. The state chief of the Dal Indra Dut Lakhanpal called for immediate resignation of the all those who featured in the CDs and demanded a CBI probe in the matter. Similar demonstrations were staged at various places in the state. |
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CD Issue
Shimla, January 21 Addressing a press conference here, he said when the party was in power its own Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh refused to resign after a former member of his Cabinet released a CD containing his conversations pertaining to money deals. As such Congress leaders had no moral right to make such a demand. Moreover, the CDs released recently were unclaimed, doctored and the conversations were interpolated and out of context. He alleged that it was a deep-rooted conspiracy to destabilise the Dhumal government, which was doing exceptionally well on the development front. The CDs were sent through private courier but the sender’s name was missing. The government had already ordered an inquiry by the CID, which would look into all aspects, including who tapped the phone, made the CDs and distributed these further. It was an attempt by the political adversaries to create a political stir in the state and unnecessarily put some leaders in the dock. If the inquiry brought out certain facts, which required probe by a higher investigating agency, including the CBI, the government would not hesitate to do that. It would all depend on how the CID probe proceeds. In contrast the Congress government did not even bothered to get the CD released by former minister Vijay Singh Mankotia properly
investigated. |
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Report sought on video CD may hit BJP MP
Solan, January 21 Though the state government has ordered an inquiry into other two audio CDs which surfaced along with this video CD two days back, no inquiry has till date been ordered into this video CD. Inquiries conducted from the local police revealed that Kashyap, who was then contesting the parliamentary elections, had approached them with a complaint claiming that a couple had come to meet him in context with some work at hotel Paragon on April 17, 2009, and he discovered a packet after they had left. This packet when opened contained Rs 25,000 and he had handed over this amount to the police as being anonymous property. However, soon after this, BJP leader Tirath Ram had approached the police of having misplaced Rs 25,000 at the same hotel the same evening. The police officials confided that since they failed to locate the identity of the couple the money had remained unclaimed and the amount had been deposited in the government treasury in August. Interestingly, while no question mark has been put over the authenticity of this video CD as no inquiry was instituted by the state government, it has clearly shown Kashyap accepting cash and he was also seen inquiring about this amount. As a cover up after the media got wind of this CD in April, Kashyap had very cleverly enacted a missing cash story involving Rs 25,000 with the connivance of the local police but nothing has been said about the remaining cash. After accepting the cash Kashyap had carried it out of the room and had placed in a white Scorpio, which was parked outside. All pleas of innocence therefore proved weak. Congress spokesman Kuldeep while condemning the incident said, “The BJP, which talked of morality, has lost moral grounds to remain in power as their leader has been seen accepting cash even before being elected as a MP. It appeared to be a well-entrenched tradition in the BJP as earlier too their MP Suresh Chandel was caught accepting cash and their former party chief Bangaru Lakshman too had faced similar allegations. Promising help to an institute was also tantamount to corruption and the MP should resign owing moral responsibility.” |
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Thakur, Kaundal lock horns over CD issue
Bilaspur, January 21 State Congress vice-president Ram Lal Thakur has demanded that the Chief Minister should help in finding truth in the CD episode by resigning from his post. Thakur questioned the propriety and justification of an inquiry by the state CID and said does anybody believe that this inquiry, whatever is its result, would infuse any confidence among anybody in the state as everybody knows the status of the CID officials here, particularly when the inquiry involves the CM and one of the highest officials of the Police Department. He said the BJP government had registered an FIR against former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on the basis of a questionable CD and now why the government was shirking its same responsibility of getting an FIR registered against all those involved in this case. On the other hand, BJP leader and Deputy Speaker Rikhi Ram Kaundal retorted by asking Congress leaders that why should the CM resign, when it was clearly known that the CDs were a total lie and a conspiracy of the Congress. He said the Congress also wanted to divert attention of the people from the CD of its own leader Virbhadra Singh who was at present in the dock. He asked whether any leader in power in the Congress ever resigned on basis of CDs. Kaundal said the Congress leaders were now worried that the CID inquiry would expose their conspiracy and that was why they were opposing it and want that this case should be assigned to the CBI where they could pull some strings at the Centre with the help of their top leaders with a view to maligning fair name of the CM. |
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Resignation demand evokes strong reactions
Shimla, January 21 Health minister Rajiv Bindal said that hue and cry being raised by Congress leaders only reflected their desperation. By demanding resignation the PCC chief Kaul Singh has only betrayed his lack of wisdom. In the modern era of technology voices and images could be morphed and fabricated by anti-social elements. The demand was politically motivated and it appeared to be manifestation of the frustration of the Congress which recently lost the Shimla Lok Sabha seat and Rohru assembly seat. State BJP general secretary Khushi Ram Balnatah termed it a well-planned conspiracy against the government to undermine the growing popularity of the Dhumal government. The Congress leaders were not even wiling to wait for the outcome of the CID inquiry ordered by the government on such a serious matter involving tapping of the telephones of the Chief Minister and the Director General of Police. They should refrain from making misleading
statements on the issue and rather wait for the inquiry report. Vice-chairman of HIMUDA Ganesh Dut said telephones of the chief monster and seniormost police officers could not be tapped without the support of influential persons at the Centre and central
agencies. The government must inquire into the matter and bring the culprits to book. |
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Nadda not averse to taking over as BJP chief
Shimla, January 21 Under attack from the Congress, which is demanding resignation of
Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, and a CBI probe into the CDs, the party needs to
put up a united front and back the government to the hilt. Obviously, the
leadership will like to see that the election of the new president scheduled
for January 31 turns out to be a smooth affair as any rivalry or bickering on
the choice of incumbent could fuel factionalism. The Dhumal government has not
faced any major challenge over the past two years and it is for the first time
that it has been pushed to the backfoot. The Chief Minister has been keen on
continuation of Khimi Ram who took over the reins of the party after the Jai
Ram Thakur joined the ministry. In case the party opts for status quo, he would
remain in the saddle. However, if the party is in favour of a change, the
choice will fall on forest minister J.P.Nadda who is not averse to donning the
mantle of party president. Nadda maintains that he is not a claimant and as
such question of lobbying for the post does not arise. He got into picture
after the high command asked for his willingness to shoulder organisational
responsibility for which he would have to quit the ministry. He had given his
consent to work in the organisation for which he was prepared to give up the
ministerial berth. He asserted that he was not a candidate of any faction
but that of the party. He would be willing to take up the job if there was
consensus. The normal process adopted was that senior state party leaders
discussed various names and tried to zero in on a single name. In case
consensus eludes the state leadership, the matter goes to the high command
which carries out a similar exercise and the issue is settled to the
satisfaction of all. He expressed confidence that the issue would be decided by
consensus who so ever may don the mantle. |
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63 bottles of banned drug seized
Bilaspur, January 21 The police also recovered a pistol from the car and has arrested Amit Bawa under various sections of the law after registering a case against him. Bawa said he had taken a hotel named Seagul at Manali on lease and was heading there from Kalka. He said he takes corex himself but he could not explain that why he required such a large consignment of this contraband with him. He could also not give any reply to the red beacon on top of his car which was prohibited in the state, except for those who are entitled for it. Further, he could also not satisfy the police on the presence of a pistol in his car. Superintendent of Police Kuldip Sharma said they were investigating if some more persons were also involved in this matter as the placement of the red beacon seemed an attempt to hoodwink and befool police to save the vehicle from checking. He said he had given clear instructions that cars using PRESS label and also those bearing red beacons must be stopped and courteously checked if the vehicle was being used by the entitled person or was being used as a ploy to cover up some illegal activity as number of such vehicles have been found befooling the police.
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171 logs of deodar seized
Mandi, January 21 Though the police has lodged an FIR
under Sections 379 of the IPC and 41 and 42 of the Indian Forest Act at Sadar police station, it is yet to nab the owner or the jeep
and smugglers. The police and forest officials have yet to ascertain the source of the smuggled timber. The police said it had seized the logs and impounded the vehicle and efforts were afoot to nab the culprits. |
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NSUI burns effigies of CM, Manhas
Mandi, January 21 Taking the BJP head-on, NSUI activists led by state president Yadhupati Thakur hassled up with the police at the Chobata bazaar, the venue of the protest rally. The policemen on duty snatched away the “joint effigy that carried the names of Dhumal, Manhas and Kashyap on its limbs” that led to scuffle. The activists snatched the torn effigy and torched it up shouting anti-government slogans. Though the state Congress had demanded resignation from the Chief Minister on moral grounds over the controversial CDs, the BJP leadership had been pushed on the defensive on the similar audio CD issue case involving Mandi MP and Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh and his wife. District Congress president Puran Chand at a press conference held here today accused the BJP regime of being deep in corruption and Dhumal, Manhas and Kashyap should resign from their posts on moral ground. Dhumal dismissed the CD issue as “fake and a conspiracy against him hatched by his political enemies”, stating that a probe had been ordered in the case and inquiry entrusted to the CID. “The truth regarding the authenticity of the CDs will come out soon,” he said in a press conference at Una. |
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LIC employees hold protests
Hamirpur, January 21 A corner meeting was held in front of their office, which was addressed by divisional president H. Verma, pensioners’ association president AC Chauhan and Manhas. They said with the consistent hard work of the employees the LIC had earned the profit of Rs 9 lakh crore and maintained the first position for the past five years but it was shocking that company had not made any effort to revise their pay scales which were pending since 2007 despite unprecedented price rise. The LIC employees also observed a two-minute silence to mourn the death of former Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu. NURPUR: Following a call given by the Northern Zone Insurance Employees’ Association, employees of the LIC branch office here went on a daylong strike in protest against apathy of the UPA government for its failure to revise pay scales of LIC employees for the past two years. Led by KN Singh, president of local unit of the LIC, the employees held a protest demonstration and raised slogans demanding revision of existing pay scales. |
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AIDS control programme
Hamirpur, January 21 While free medicines to the HIV-affected people are being provided through this centre, financial help for various purposes is also provided to them. The society is giving to and fro bus fares to the patients and their one attendant for coming for checkup and seeking medicines from the ICTC. The children up to 15 years of age are also provided a monthly allowance varying from Rs 300 to 700 per month to cover their education. |
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Tributes paid to Basu
Shimla, January 21 Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the towering leader had some great qualities worth emulating by all and he had learnt a lot from him. The best thing about him was he held his party in high esteem and being a disciplined soldier of the party honoured to its decisions. While referring to other parties, including his own, he said it was difficult to emulate him as when leaders grow big, the parties become small. In case of Jyoti Basu the reverse was true, he said.
— TNS |
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Mango crop insurance date
extended
Nurpur, January 21 According to Nurpur Horticulture Development Officer DP Singh, the insurance scheme for mango crop has been launched by the department in November last year, in Nurpur, Indora, Fatehpur and Nagrota-Surian development blocks. The scheme was launched as a pilot project, in which 50 per cent of the premium
was to be paid by the Centre and the state, and the rest by the beneficiary. He advised the kisan credit card holders to approach their banks
for getting their crop insured. |
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Dharna staged
Hamirpur, January 21 The Sewa Dal has also demanded the resignation of the Dhumal government for its alleged involvement in corruption cases.
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