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Dhumal joins chorus against bus fare hike
Suspense continues over CPS Dharmani's resignation
BSP to contest all LS seats in state: Nayyar
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2008 land deal puts Anurag in spot
12 hurt in HPU campus brawl
‘Ethical reporting must to maintain credibility’
Hamirpur-Mandi road still incomplete
Circuit Bench in Palampur welcomed
Mobile phones banned in school
MTB-2013
Athletics meet, group dance in Sanawar school on Day 2
Man injured in bear attack
Two animals burnt alive
Doon MLA’s kin booked for cheating
2 held with contraband
Woman held with poppy husk
‘Market forces damaging faith in media’
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Dhumal joins chorus against bus fare hike
Hamirpur, October 3 Addressing BJP activists, Dhumal criticised the Congress government for increasing the bus fare. He said: “While the bus fares have affected the common man, one has to pay Rs 5 as the minimum fare, besides paying 30 per cent extra fare after the recent hike and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh’s statement, declining any withdrawal in the bus fare is shocking.” Dhumal also criticised the decision of the state government for increasing the prices of subsidised sugar and oil supplied through PDS ration shops and reduction of grain and rice quota per person. Highlighting the alleged failures of the Congress government, Dhumal said, “During the nine months of the Congress rule in the state, the incidents of crime have increased. The Congress has failed to give unemployment allowance and two cases of rape in Shimla have ashamed the land of gods.” Dhumal has threatened to continue the struggle till the bus fare hike is withdrawn. District BJP president Vijay Agnihotri and former MLA Urmil Thakur also addressed the gathering. The BJP leaders also submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the DC, Hamirpur, urging him to prevail upon the state government to withdraw the recent hike. DHARAMSALA: BJP workers organised a march against the 30 per cent hike in bus fares. The workers led by former minister Kishan Kapoor and former MLA Sanjay Chaudhary marched to the office of the DC, Kangra, and submitted a memorandum. Kapoor, addressing the BJP workers, alleged that the bus fare hike was exorbitant. Most of the residents of Himachal used public transport and such a hike in bus fares would affect everyone. They also raised slogans against the government. MANDI: BJP leaders staged a protest here and submitted a memorandum to the Governor. BJP president, Mandi, Jawahar Thakur claimed that the bus fare hike would break the backbone of the common man. The BJP claimed that the government had increased the minimum bus fare from Rs 2 to Rs 5 which had hit each section of the society. BJP leaders participated in the protest. The ABVP burnt the effigy of Transport Minister GS Bali. SUNDERNAGAR: A procession of workers, led by Nachan BJP MLA Vinod Kumar, presented a memorandum which was addressed to the Governor through the SDM, Sundernagar. The BJP unit termed the decision anti-public and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the bus fare hike. As per a notification issued by the government, demonstration was banned near the premises of the SDM office, but police officers did not stop them. The Block Congress Committee has demanded an inquiry into the matter and demanded immediate action against the police officers.
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Suspense continues over CPS Dharmani's resignation
Shimla, October 3 The Chief Minister had invited Dharmani for a meeting which was to be held here this evening. Virbhadra Singh had gone to Delhi to make a courtesy call to Soni who was going abroad on October 6 for a fortnight. However, party insiders maintain that the issue was discussed and the outcome would be known after the meeting of Virbhadra and Dharmani. The meeting was likely to take place tomorrow as Dharmani was away to Bilaspur. He said he had to attend a public function and he would come to Shimla on October 4. Skipping the function could send a wrong signal. He said the step should not be construed as a “pressure tactic” as he had no ambition to achieve. The sole reason was that he was not feeling comfortable as the post of Chief Parliamentary Secretary did not carry any power. There was no way he could justify his job. He was least interested in enjoying the facility of vehicle, personal staff and other perks without making any contribution. However, sources close to Dharmani revealed that he was unhappy over the undue weightage being given to Bambar Thakur, MLA from Bilaspur who had been made the chairman of the District Grievances Committee ahead of him. Further, he was reportedly unhappy over the manner in which the Forest Department was functioning. All suggestion given by him in policy matters and improving the functioning of the department were ignored. He is the second leader to quit the post of Chief Parliamentary Secretary. In July, Rakesh Kalia had resigned to uphold the principle of one-man, one-post after he was made secretary of the All-India Congress Committee. The resignation had been accepted.
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BSP to contest all LS seats in state: Nayyar
Nurpur, October 3 This was stated by state BSP president Vijay Nayyar at a press conference after presiding over a district-level meeting of office-bearers of the party here this evening. He said party supremo Mayawati and party in charge of the state Avtar Kreempuri would give the final nod to the shortlisted candidates. He asserted that the BSP was strengthening its cadre at the booth level in the state keeping in view the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. Lashing out at the Virbhadra Singh government, Nayyar alleged that the law and order position in the state was in a bad shape and women even in the state capital Shimla were not safe as cases of gang rape had been reported from there recently. — OC |
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2008 land deal puts Anurag in spot
Dharamsala, October 3 The case pertained to 32 marla land purchased by Anurag near Kala Pul on the Dharamsala-McLeodganj road in 2008. The vigilance has alleged that Anurag purchased the land from Premu of Kajlot village illegally. It is being alleged that Premu was allotted land under the Himachal Pradesh Village Common Land Vesting Utilizing Act 1972 by the state government as he was landless. He could not sell the land for 20 years from the date of allotment. However, Anurag purchased the land. The land was purchased for Rs 7 lakh. A case has been registered against Anurag and revenue officials. The name of Arun Singh, brother of Anurag, who held the General Power of Attorney for the land, has also been included in the FIR. HPCA case
The vigilance has accused the HPCA of encroaching on government land and damaging public property in connivance with government officials. In the FIR it has been alleged that HPA encroached upon 720 sq metre land belonging to the Sports and Youth Services Department and demolished a residential facility for the staff of Government College, Dharamsala, without taking permission from any department. A case has been registered against the HPCA and other government officials by the vigilance bureau. This is the second case registered by the vigilance against the HPCA. In the first case, the HPCA has been accused of changing its nature from a society to a company without the permission of the state government. Political vendetta, says Anurag
Jalandhar: Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur today came down heavily on the Congress-led UPA government for adopting a soft approach towards Pakistan. Responding to a media query on the issue of the registration of a case against him in a land acquisition matter in Himachal Pradesh, Thakur, who is also the president of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, said the registration of an FIR against him was nothing but a conspiracy and “political vendetta” being unleashed by the HP government. |
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12 hurt in HPU campus brawl
Shimla, October 3 About a dozen students, mostly SFI members, were injured in the clash which took place near the university gate near the Summerhill Chowk in the morning before the start of classes. The condition of two SFI leaders was stated to be serious. Sharp-edged weapons were used in the attack and blood stains could be seen on the campus after the clash. The two groups had fled the scene by the time the police reached the spot. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Soumya said the leaders of the two students organisations blamed each other for the clash. The SFI has lodged an FIR against for attempt to murder against the ABVP and the police has arrested nine students. The SFI alleged that ABVP activists had launched a pre-planned attack on former Students Central Association secretary Hoshiyar Singh and vice-president Gopal Singh. Other activists of the federation were also assaulted and suffered injuries, Dinesh
Mehta, state secretary of the SFI, said. The seriously injured students Hoshiyar Singh and Gopal Singh have been admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College
(IGMC) in a critical condition. Four other injured SFI activists had also been
hospitalised. Senior Medical Superintendent Ramesh Chand said the condition of the seriously injured students was stable and they were both out of danger.
HPU Vice-Chancellor ADN Bajpai visited the hospital to enquire about the well being of those injured in the clash.
SFI state secretary Kushi Verma, alleging it to be a pre-planned conspiracy, said the ABVP were not only responsible for vitiating the academic atmosphere of the university, but also carrying weapons on the campus with the intent to physically assault others. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Dullar has urged the Vice-Chancellor to initiate disciplinary action against the students involved in the clash to prevent such incidents in future.
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‘Ethical reporting must to maintain credibility’
Shimla, October 3 Inaugurating the conference, Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) ADN Bajpai said news and events must be portrayed in a sensitive manner and the effort should be to channelise the sentiments of people in the positive direction through logical interpretation. The tendency to create and manipulate news to meet commercial ends should be avoided. The media had changed radically with the advent of information technology and there was need for academicians and neuroscientists to study the impact of the virtual "bombardment of information" on the human mind, emotions and actions from diverse modes, particularly the emerging Internet-based social media. Vir Bala, Chairperson, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, which organised the conference, spoke about the challenges being posed by the advancement of technology. The corporatisation and crass commercialisation of the media had created a "crisis of credibility" as owners of media houses had finals say in deciding the news content. It was no longer a tool for social transformation but only a commercial venture for making profits. Director, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Pritayu Mondal said the media had a vital role in ensuring effective implementation of massive welfare programmes such as the food security scheme. Assistant Inspector General Police Ashok Kumar said the social media could not be ignored anymore. It had already started making impact and what it could do was evident during the recent riots in Muzaffarnagar.
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Hamirpur-Mandi road still incomplete
Hamirpur, October 3 The upgradation of the Una-Kalkhar road was started about five years ago under a World Bank project and the work was undertaken simultaneously in three stretches - Una-Badsar, Badsar-Jahu and Jahu-Kalkhar. The work on two stretches, Una-Badsar and Badsar-Jahu, was completed about two years back, but work on the third stretch is still incomplete and dust and potholes make the journey on this road arduous. The state government has been attributing much importance to the construction of this road since this will provide an alternative route to tourists and travellers coming from the Una side and ease traffic on the link road to Mandi and Manali via Swarghat, besides widening one of the oldest roads linking Hamirpur and Mandi. Officials of the Contract Management Unit (CMU), established by the state government to oversee progress of the World Bank projects in the state, had been reportedly asking the contractor to complete the work, but have failed to take strict action "due to his alleged high political links" and despite the condition of completing the work in 33 months. The contractor and the CMU officials have been blaming frequent land slips due to loose strata for the inordinate delay in the completion of the work. Project Director, CMU, Naresh Sharma, who is now holding the post of Engineer-in-Chief of the PWD, had said about two years back they had asked the contractor to first construct a culvert and retaining walls on the road, but nothing seemed to have worked. It is learnt that CMU officials are now contemplating putting a penalty on the contractor and to reassign the work if he fails to complete it soon. The Project Director said, "In the review meeting we had discussed the matter and asked the contractor to complete the work by December 31, 2012, for which a back-mounted drilling machine was also being procured." "We will inspect the work after a month and take appropriate action after that," he added.
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Circuit Bench in Palampur welcomed
Palampur, October 3 Talking to mediapersons here today, Butail said now residents would go to Palampur instead of visiting Dharamsala on legal matters. Palampur Bar Association president Ajay Sarotri said this decision would minimise the burden of litigants.
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Mobile phones banned in school
Bilaspur, October 3 The Principal said students should know that there was total ban on carrying mobile phones in school and any breach of this rule would be viewed seriously. He said earlier even the School Management Committee had taken a serious note of this situation. If at all any student came to school with a mobile phone by mistake, he should deposit it in the Principal's office and take it back after school time. |
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Pinto is overall champion
Tribune News Service
Shimla, October 3 He was followed by Purna Bahadur Pradhan and Surendra Singh, both from Team Army, at the second and third place, respectively. Bad weather continued to chase the riders on the final day of the event and they faced interruptions during their downhill journey from Narkanda to here. The first stoppage was at the Jimmu nallah and the second at Manan as rain and clouds moved with the riders hand in hand. There was yet another stoppage as the road from Bekhalti to Mashbra turned slushy due to rain. The total distance for the last day's ride was 92 km out of which the competitive distance was 83 km. Results: Open Men Solo: Luis Leao Pinto - 17:33:21 Purna Bahadur Pradhan - 21:27:17 Surendra Singh - 21:42:16 Open Women Solo: Laxmi Magar (Nepal) - 32:06:25 Sowmya Urs (Indian) - 42:59:33 Shital Vitthal Chavan(Indian) - 45:37:28 Masters Solo: Van Belle Jean Louis (Belgium) - 25:46:02 Michael Mclean (UK national living in India) - 27:43:22 Luis Canto Moniz (Portugal) - 29:14:46 Team of Two: Naresh Deb Burman and Shishir Man Karki - 22:25:04 K Venkateswarlu Reddy and Devappa CJ - 22:37:42 Kulwinder Ojala and Manjeet Singh - 24:44:26 Downhill Champion: Laxmi Magar (Nepal) Zoe Beesley (UK) Uphill Champion: Luis Leao Pinto (Portugal).
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Athletics meet, group dance in Sanawar school on Day 2
Solan, October 3 The athletes displayed the "Never Give In" spirit as embedded in their school motto. Headmaster Praveen Vasisht bestowed a token of appreciation upon the chief guest and extended a vote of thanks. This was followed by the parent-teachers meeting. Soccer and basketball matches between the present and old Sanawarians were also held. Fateh Pal Cup was bagged by Harish Sinam in the under-14 boys category and Bala Cup for the best athlete was bagged by Bhavika Singh while Kalinga Cup for the best athlete was won by Rohit Sinam. The march-past cup was awarded to Himalaya House while the Shiwalik House bagged three honours, PD Cup, GD Cup and BD Cup and also the overall trophy. A variety of entertainment items were presented by the students. A tattoo show was also performed. Besides a brilliant display of dance, mass PT, gymnastics, high-horse, bugle band and yoga show were presented. There were two group dances. The first group dance displaying the flavour of Holi was performed by 450 boys and girls while the second group dance called "Black & White" was performed by 130 students. The show concluded with spectacular fireworks. General Gaurav Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana, chief of the Nepalese army and distinguished alumnus of Sanawar (1971 batch, Himalaya), was the chief guest.
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Man injured in bear attack
Chamba, October 3 The victim was identified as Bazeeru Ram, a resident of a village near the forest. The report said on hearing his cries for help, residents of nearby houses came to his rescue and chased the bear away. The victim in a serious condition was rushed to the Tissa hospital. Villagers have urged the government to take preventive measures in getting rid of wild bears and monkeys. |
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Two animals burnt alive
Bilaspur, October 3 Reports said the cowshed was housed in a pucca building and it was feared that the fodder kept in this cowshed had caught fire due to short circuit. Loss of about Rs 3 lakh has been caused by the fire. Jamuna is said to have given fodder to her cattle for the night at about 9 pm and then she returned to her adjoining house for the night. The district administration has provided relief of Rs 4,000 to her, while the total loss is being assessed by the revenue authorities.
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Doon MLA’s kin booked for cheating
Solan, October 3 According to complainant Geeta Ram Bhardwaj, then councillor, contract of works worth crores had been given to favourites by Bhupinder Kaur and Madal Lal Chaudhary who chaired the Nagar Parishad from 2002 to 2009. Madan Lal Chawdhary’s family has dominated the Baddi Nagar Parishad ever since the town was carved out. The issue was raised by BJP leaders earlier too but no action was taken in this case despite conduct of an inquiry. According to the complaint, a link road was constructed from Sai Road in Baddi to Time Packaging Unit by incurring an expenditure of Rs 1,47,025 by the Nagar Parishad while on inspection conducted by a senior engineer, it was found that no such road was constructed and a road was built in the area of a gram panchayat. Similarly, the contract of a road project worth Rs 67,486 from Baddi to Saraswati Vidya Mandir in ward number 3 on September 22, 2004, was given to a friend of Chaudhary. The Nagar Parishad also spent Rs 54,493 in March 2005 on widening of 800 m road from Dharam Kanta to Billawali and Rs 49,864 was also spent in July 2006 while the complainants alleged that the road was maintained by the Public Works Department. A sum of Rs 1,15,419 was also spent on constructing a retaining wall near Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Labana Colony, in July 2006 which, the complainant alleged, had benefited a favourite of the couple. Madan Lal Chaudhary, President, Nagar Parishad, said the case was politically motivated and all works had been executed for the public. These complaints had been inquired into even in the past where no irregularity was found.
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2 held with contraband
Nahan, October 3 They were coming from Chandigarh in their Nano car (HP-18-B-1761), along with the sedative drugs. Both the youths who are local residents were carrying these drugs for illegal sale. |
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Woman held with poppy husk
Nurpur, October 3 DSP Rajiv Atre said a case under the NDPS Act had been registered
against the accused who would be produced in the court tomorrow. |
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‘Market forces damaging faith in media’ Shimla, October 3 Inaugurating the conference, Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) ADN Bajpai said news and events must be portrayed in a sensitive manner and the effort should be to channelise the sentiments of people in the positive direction. The tendency to create and manipulate news to meet commercial ends should be avoided. Vir Bala, Chairperson, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, which organised the conference, spoke about the challenges being posed by the advancement of technology. The corporatisation and crass commercialisation of the media had created a "crisis of credibility" as owners of media houses had finals say in deciding the news content. It was no longer a tool for social transformation but only a commercial venture for making profits. Director, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Pritayu Mondal said the media had a vital role in ensuring effective implementation of massive welfare programmes such as the food security scheme.
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the BJP today staged a dharna at the Gandhi Chowk to protest the recent bus fare hike in the state in which former Chief Minister PK Dhumal participated.
Shimla, October 3
Participants at the two-day "National Conference on Mass Media and the Indian Public Sphere: Issues and Challenges" underlined the need for pursing ethical journalism to maintain the credibility of the media and face the challenges being posed by the unbridled market forces.
