Shimla, February 9
The main issues that figured in the Congress chargesheet against the previous BJP regime could be handed over to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau for investigation.

This came up during the last Cabinet meeting and directions were issued that the document be placed before the Cabinet so that it could be handed over to the Vigilance Bureau for a probe. The Cabinet will vet the chargesheet and decide on the issues to be probed.

The Congress chargesheet was prepared by a five-member committee headed by Transport Minister GS Bali. It had handed it over to the President and the Governor, seeking a probe.

The government has already ordered a review of all land deals done in violation of Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reforms Act which allows the purchase of land by non-Himachalis in the state. Land purchases made for setting up private universities is one major issue which will come in for close scrutiny.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, before assuming power, had said a special investigation team (SIT) would be constituted to look into all irregularities committed by the previous regime, but that had not been done so far. After taking over as the Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh had said the constitution of the SIT would depend on the volume of cases.

The biggest allegation levelled by the Congress against the BJP regime was putting Himachal on sale by allowing outsiders to buy land in violation of norms. This pertained to land deals both by private universities and individuals.

The land purchases made by Swami Ramdev in Solan district and by Prashant Bhushan in Palampur are already under the scrutiny of the Revenue Department.

The other issues that could be handed over to the Vigilance Bureau are the land purchases made near the Annandale ground which the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association wanted to convert into a multi-sports stadium after getting it back from the Army.

The posh housing complex amid a thick deodar forest at Bemloe could also be one of the issues which the Congress regime would like to get probed. The delay in acquisition of the heritage building Bantony, the palace of the erstwhile rulers of Sirmaur, could also be investigated.

The Cabinet will decide the issues to be handed for a probe as its chargesheet contained allegations against some ministers in the PK Dhumal Cabinet.

Manali, February 9
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said his government would make all-round efforts for the beautification of Manali to make it more attractive for tourists.

He urged all stakeholders, including the hospitality sector, to make the stay of tourists comfortable so that they could take back happy memories with them.

The Chief Minister performed the traditional puja at the Hidimba Devi shrine in Dhungri to start the colourful procession of the five-day winter carnival.

The colourful procession of tableaux by mahila mandals, government departments and cultural troupes from different states showcased the colourful cultural heritage of the Kullu valley.

After inaugurating the winter carnival at Manu Rangshala, the Chief Minister asserted that Manali had become an international tourist destination.

He said the state government had made concerted efforts to preserve and protect the beauty and cultural heritage of the place and would do everything possible for its development.

He said Manali was an international tourist destination and had to keep pace with international standards.

He added that to ensure this, the responsibility lay with hoteliers, local residents, the district administration, the local legislator and political parties.

Virbhadra Singh said the government would take up work on channelising the Beas and building an artificial lake on it. He did not make any public announcement on demands raised by municipal council president Rup Chand Negi.

Virbhadra Singh said Himachal Pradesh had excelled in all spheres and there was scope for further development in which the participation of the common man was a must.

He said India’s strength lay in its unity and integrity and the same was the case with Himachal Pradesh. He added that the government would ensure all-round development of the state.

The Chief Minister said the winter carnival would grow from strength to strength and achieve national and international recognition in the near future.

Manali legislator Govind Thakur of the BJP and development council chairman Harichand Thakur also spoke. Legislators Karan Singh of Banjar, Ravi Thakur of Lahaul-Spiti and Khub Ram of Anni were present.

Congress rebel Dharamvir Dhami and his supporters, Himachal Lokhit Party president Maheshwar Singh and Bhuvneshwar Gaur, who lost from Manali on the Congress ticket, were also present.

Palampur, February 9
Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal today assailed the ruling Congress government, headed by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, for reversing major policy decisions taken by the previous BJP government during its five-year tenure.

Addressing a news conference at a hotel here, Dhumal said the first Cabinet meeting of the Congress government devoted most of its time in reversing the decisions taken by the previous BJP government like the suspension of the MoU signed for the Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi ropeway project with the Punjab Government, shifting offices from constituencies of Opposition leaders and opening of those educational institutions which were closed earlier due to poor strength of students.

He said, “The Congress government has launched a political vendetta against BJP leaders and workers in the state. A number of relatives of BJP leaders, particularly MLAs and former ministers, have been shifted to far-flung and tribal areas of the state. Their only fault is they are related to me and my MLAs.”

He quoted a number of employees who were shifted before the completion of their stipulated tenure.

Dhumal said in the past one month, around six offices had been shifted from Hamirpur, Balakrupee and Deharagopipur to the constituencies of ruling party MLAs and ministers. The government had also planned to shift the technical university from Hamirpur to some other place.

He said he was not opposed to the opening of new offices in the areas of ruling party MLAs, but instead of shifting the existing infrastructure and well-established offices, the government should open new offices.

He categorically stated that in such cases the BJP would move the state high court to get relief.

He said it took years to convince Punjab for the Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi ropeway project.

“It was done because of my personal relations with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and an MoU was signed in this regard at Shimla in the presence of Badal in 2012,” he said.

Now, the new government had put this project on hold merely because of personal ego. All these issues would be raised in the Budget session of the state Assembly and the BJP would grill the ruling party.

Earlier, Dhumal inaugurated a hotel in the town. Speaking on the occasion, Dhumal told party workers that the BJP would follow the policy of wait and watch as it was too early to launch agitation against the Congress government.

Kangra, February 9
There will be three daily flights from Kangra to Delhi from March 31. Two flights will be operated by SpiceJet and one by Alliance Air. This was stated by airport director Kuldeep Kumar Sharma here today.

He said the summer schedule issued by the Director-General of Civil Aviation received by his office mentioned that there would be three daily flights connecting Delhi with Kangra from March 31.

He said the first flight would land at 12 noon and take off at 12:20 pm, the second land at 2:45 pm and take off at 3:05 pm and the third land at 3 pm and take off at 3:20 pm.

He said SpiceJet would operate a 70-seater aeroplane and Alliance Air a 48-seater aircraft. He said the summer schedule would continue till October 26.

Solan, February 9
The Congress has started the exercise of suspending those who acted against official candidates in the polls.

A beginning has been made with four Youth Congress office-bearers, including three from Solan district, being suspended by Amit Punia, in charge, Youth Congress Himachal. These are Sanjay Thakur, Arki Youth Congress chief, Ajay Kanwar from Kasauli and Tarsem Chowdhary from Doon.

District Congress Committee president Rahul Thakur said he had received reports from Block Congress Committees (BCCs) of Arki, Doon and Nalagarh, while one from Kasauli was awaited.

He added that he would forward these reports to the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president.

The Congress had suffered maximum damage in Arki, where apart from party dissidence, a section of party leaders had worked against the official nominee. The Arki BCC has forwarded names of 12 office-bearers. The list included names of those who had been expelled in 2007 for similar reasons, but had been inducted back in 2009.

The list includes the names of HPCC member Prakash Karar, Block Mahila Congress committee president Neelam Raghuvansi, Arki Youth Congress president Sanjay Thakur and state Mahila Congress vice-president Nirmala Devi.

In Nalagarh, a list of 13 names has been forwarded to the DCC which included two former constituency presidents and in Doon a list of 18 leaders has been finalised.

PCC chief Sukhvinder Singh will have a task in taking a tough stance and instilling discipline. He said he was awaiting reports from the DCCs after which strict action would be taken.

Kangra, February 9
All barriers in the state will be equipped with CCTV cameras and floodlights so that buses and other vehicles being plied without valid permit can be checked and activities of those involved in car theft curbed.

Minister for Transport, Technical Education and Food and Civil Supplies GS Bali disclosed this today while addressing public meetings at Malan, Ambari and Hatwas in Nagrota Bagwan constituency, where he was redressing grievances.

The minister said the Chamunda-Amritsar bus service would be named as the Dera Beas Express and would be a direct bus service to Dera Beas.

He said Choudhry Hardayal OBC Community Hall would be constructed in Nagrota Bagwan at a cost of Rs 1 crore. He said 600 solar lights would be installed at villages in Nagrota Bagwan.

He said the Revenue Department in the Nagrota Bagwan tehsil area would be computerised.

He directed the HPSEBL authorities to improve power voltage of Malan area and announced Rs 50,000 for Malan link road drains, Kutia boundary wall and a hand pump.

He said the first phase of Rs 20 lakh was sanctioned for a tube well at Bunaid village and the IPH Department had been directed to construct two tanks with a capacity of 25,000 litres.

He also directed the PWD authorities to take steps for the repairs of the Aoldi-Massal, Baniyari-Bassi and juice factory-Bunaid link roads on a war footing.

Kangra district Congress committee general secretary Manoj Mehta, block Congress president Partap Choudhary and block Congress joint secretary Maan Singh were present.

Shimla, February 9
The Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Foundation awarded scholarships to meritorious students of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and gave powered wheel chairs to patients of muscular dystrophy here today.

To mark its silver jubilee, the SJVN has started the Jubilee Merit Scholarship Scheme and gave scholarships to 146 students from these two states.

RP Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SJVN Limited, gave scholarships of Rs 24,000 per year each to 146 students.

Nine powered wheelchairs were also given to patients of muscular dystrophy. The wheelchairs were provided through the Indian Association of Muscular Dystrophy, a leading NGO working for people suffering from muscular dystrophy.

RP Singh gave details of the corporate social responsibility being rendered by the SJVN and said Rs 118 crore had been spent on such activities.

He emphasised that education was the most powerful tool to change the world, adding that the SJVN Silver Jubilee Merit Scholarship Scheme would inculcate competitive spirit amongst students.

He assured the association that the SJVN would fully support the former’s Integrated Treatment Centre at Solan for patients of muscular dystrophy.

Nand Lal Sharma, Director (Personnel), SJVN, said for rewarding the merit and talent in Himachal and Uttarakhand, the SJVN had started the Silver Jubilee Merit Scholarship Scheme.

A presentation on muscular dystrophy was also given by Sanjana Goyal, president, Indian Association of Muscular Dystrophy, on the occasion.