P R A D E S H
Thursday, February 18, 1999
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H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H |
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Thursday, February 18, 1999 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Protest by Congress
activists Police
officers to face action |
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Will Verma continue as
Vice-Chancellor? Pratibha
Singh on HPCC executive Confusion
about CM’s route Leftist
unions form morcha |
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Protest by Congress activists SHIMLA, Feb 17 — Congress activists marched in procession in the district town of Nahan today to protest against the "failure" of the BJP-HVC combine government to solve problems of the area. The procession was led by Thakur Kaul Singh, former Speaker and a sitting MLA. Slogans were raised against the BJP government. All five Congress MLAs, Mr Kush Parmar, Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, Mr Prem Singh, Mr Harshwardhan Chauhan and Mr Rattan Singh, participated in the rally. They submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner regarding their demands. While addressing the rally, Thakur Kaul Singh and other leaders alleged that the BJP-HVC combine government of Mr P.K. Dhumal, was vindictive towards the Sirmaur district as all five Assembly seats were won by the Congress. They accused the Dhumal government of being anti-farmer and anti-poor people. They alleged that the BJP government was trying to malign the image of Mr Virbhadra Singh by cooking up cases for the CBI. They said that the hike in the domestic power tariff would further burden the common man. They criticised the government for its failure to provide ration supplies in the depots of the Civil Supplies Corporation. The memorandum demanded that the trans-Giri area of the Sirmaur district should be granted Scheduled Tribe status and steps taken to channelise the Batta river. The controversy pertaining to the Shamlat lands should be sorted out without delay. The memorandum also
demanded that all vacant posts of doctor and teacher
should be filled immediately. Many posts in health and
education institutions were lying vacant for the past
many months. |
Hamirpur episode DHARMSALA, Feb 17 — The Himachal Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, said today that action would be taken against the senior police officers, responsible for grave misconduct and indiscipline, in the Circuit House in Hamirpur, a few days back. Mr Dhumal, said that "irresponsible behaviour from the police officers would not be tolerated. "We did not want to take action in a haste and as such after the inquiry is completed into the incident, the guilty will be punished," he made it clear. During recruitment in Hamripur certain police officers, were involved in a brawl, which also resulted in the beating up of junior officers. The Himachal Director General of Police, Mr T.R., Mahajan, also made it clear that action against these officers was in the pipeline, and such behaviour would not be tolerated. He made it clear that action was being initiated against these officers. He added that proper behaviour and discipline was a must among the police force. Mr Dhumal, today arrived at Palampur, for the passing out parade, of the recruits, at the Police Training College, at Daroh. A total of 666 recruits, today passed out of the college, after having received a training for nine months, here. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Dhumal, said that the police force, today needed to be "people friendly". He said that police should curb social evils. The Chief Minister said that though the people of Himachal were peace-loving and law abiding, but the danger of militancy, was posing a big threat to the state. He said that the police must guard against all such outside militant forces, which wanted to choose soft targets in Himachal, as had been the case in Chamba, where 35 innocent persons were killed by J and K militants. He said that the government was trying to provide the forces with sophisticated equipments and the creation of village defence committees. Mr Dhumal, said that the police force must have respect for its uniform. The government was committed to provide better service conditions and the latest weapons to the force. He said that a Rs 50 lakh would be provided immediately for the construction of teaching blocks, barracks and armoury building at the police training college. He said that the 36 posts of instructor would also be filled immediately. The Director General Police, Mr T.R. Mahajan, disclosed that a committee had been set up under the ADGP (CID), for the formulation of a new police policy. The committee, called vision 2020, would formulate the new policy, as per the latest needs. Mr Mahajan, pointed out that problems like insufficient buildings and instructors at the college were creating problems for the recruits. The DIG of the College, Mr
Vijay Pal Singh, detailed activities of the college and
its expansion over the years. The Chief Minister, took
the salute at the march past by the recruits and gave
away the prizes. Mr Naveen Sharma, won a prize for the
best overall cadet. Out of the 666 cadets, there were 95
women cadets and 132 ex-servicemen. |
Plans for ‘Year of
Sanskrit’ SHIMLA, Feb 17 — Mr Chamu Krishna Shastri, a member of the Sanskrit Varsh Ayojan Samiti and All- India Organising Secretary of Sanskrit Bharati, said here today that concerted efforts would be made to salvage the over 35 lakh precious ancient manuscripts, which are lying in a state of neglect across the country, during the "Year of Sanskrit". Addressing a press conference here today he said while about 20 lakh manuscripts were with propel in villages, over 12 lakh were virtually dumped in 400 libraries of the country. Besides, about three lakh manuscripts had been taken out of the country and most of these were with different libraries. Most of these manuscripts were decaying due to lack of proper care and needed immediate steps for preservation. The manuscripts in various libraries were also in bad shape and most of them had not been even properly catalogued. For instance, at Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya, Varanasi, alone 1.10 lakh manuscripts had not been catalogued. An elaborate plan was being worked to preserve these rare manuscripts in computers so that these could be published and translated later. He said about one-third of manuscripts pertained to science and thus would be of great importance for the modern scientists. The eight Sanskrit universities in the country would be made the nodal agencies for manuscript salvage project. The "Year of Sanskrit" was being celebrated to mark the dawn of the 52nd century of "Kaliyuga" beginning on March 18,1999. As many as 52 seminars would be organised during the year to bridge the gap between the ancient and the modern science which had come to exist due to lack of knowledge of Sanskrit among the present day scientists. Mr Chamu Shastri said Sanskrit Bharati had over the past 17 years trained 25 lakh people in Sanskrit speaking and it had also put its programme for propagation of the language on the Internet. Referring to the efforts to use Sanskrit in computers, he said, the experts of IIT, Kanpur, Central University, Hyderabad, and Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Tirupati, had achieved a major success in developing a software which would help translate Hindi into Telugu using Sanskrit as the intermediate language. Sanskrit, being the only perfect language, was most suitable for computers. He said Sanskrit was the vehicle of Indian culture and its revival would go a long way in preserving the country's great cultural heritage. He suggested that Sanskrit should be made compulsory at the school level. Mr Shastri said the
Sanskrit Bharati would soon send a team to Malana village
in Kulu to study the similarity between the local
language and Sanskrit. |
Will Verma continue as
Vice-Chancellor? SHIMLA, Feb 17 — A question mark has been put on the further continuation of Dr L.R Verma as Vice-Chancellor of the prestigious Horticulture and Forestry University, with the Executive Council of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) deciding against extending his leave. The decision to reject the leave of Dr Verma was taken by the Executive Council which met here today under the chairmanship of Mr S.K. Gupta, Vice-Chancellor of the HPU. Dr Verma has been working as Vice-Chancellor of the Solan-based horticulture university for the past four years keeping his lien with the HPU where he is a professor in the department of bio-sciences. Dr Verma has been on leave since 1988. During the period he worked with the ICIMOD in Nepal and held other positions. It is learnt that steps to make Dr Verma join his post in the HPU were intensified ever since the BJP Government came to power in the state. This was allegedly being done to create yet another vacancy for the post of vice-chancellor to accommodate a BJP loyalist. Sources said that the university ordinances provide that any teacher could avail leave only for a period of five years. Dr Verma was actually supposed to join in the HPU in October, 1994, HPU sources claimed. The Executive Council has decided to give two special last and final chances to the candidates under the old syllabus for MA classes with Rs 125 fee per semester instead of Rs 500 at present. The Vice-Chancellor said that the Executive Council also decided to introduce new courses in a phased manner at the regional centre of the HPU at Dharamsala. The M.Sc, physics (electronic sciences) course will be started at Dharamsala next year. It wad decided to cancel all examination results of those candidates who were involved in the fake certificate racket. The Executive Council also decided to curtail the operational period of elections from 60 days to 10 days for the election of teachers and employees to the executive council and the university court. Mr Gupta said the executive council decided to increase the junior research fellowship to Rs 2000 from the existing Rs 1000 and the senior research fellowship to Rs 4400 from Rs 2200. The enhanced scholarship will be effective from April 1, 1999. The Executive Council cleared appointments, including a professor, two readers, a lecturer, besides other posts. It was decided to
computerise the examination wing and provide the Internet
facility on the campus. |
Pratibha Singh on HPCC executive SHIMLA, Feb 17 — Mrs Pratibha Singh has been nominated a member of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) executive by the AICC President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi. She is among the 14 women activists of the Congress who were today included in the PCC executive by Mrs Sonia Gandhi under the policy of 33 per cent reservation for women in the party set up. Mrs Pratibha Singh, who is the wife of Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, had resigned from the post of vice-president of the PCC following her defeat in the Lok Sabha election. The AICC chief while reconstituting the PCC, has appointed Mrs Anita Verma Vice-President and Mr Kuldeep Rathore Secretary. Other women nominated on the PCC executive are Mrs Manbhari Devi, Chairperson, Zila Parishad, Kangra, Mrs Nirmala Devi, Chairperson, Zila Parishad, Solan, Ms Krishna Mohini, MLA, Mrs Rana Manchand (Palampur), Mrs Anita Thakur, Chairperson, Municipal Committee, Chamba, Mrs Durga Bhardwaj (Solan), Mrs Chander Abha (Kulu), Mrs Krishna Devi (Una), Mrs Asha Deevan (Dharamsala), Mrs Padma Sharma (Sundernagar), Mrs Kanta Sood, President, INTUC and Mrs Usha Malhotra. Mr Kishori Lal (Baijnath)
has also been nominated a member of the PCC executive. |
Confusion about CM’s route SUNDERNAGAR, Feb 17 — Wrong information given by the police station here regarding the route of the Chief Minister from Mandi to Karsog caused inconvenience to the residents of Mahadev village, who made arrangements to receive the Chief Minister. The residents of the village had started gathering at the welcome gate since 7.30 a.m. Mr Dile Ram, a former BJP minister was also present along with many top officials of the HPSEB and Forest Department. But when they did not see any sign of the Chief Minister’s motorcade they inquired from the Sundernagar police and were told that the Chief Minister had left for Karsog via Chailchowk and not from Sundernagar route. On getting this information all officials left for Karsog along with Mr Dile Ram and other workers, leaving the disappointed villagers behind. However, the villagers were surprised to find the Chief Minister’s motorcade approaching their village. Mr Dhumal was received by some villagers and he also visited the ancient Mahadev temple in the village along with other leaders and left for Karsog. The incident, however, was
termed as a major security lapse by a police official. |
Leftist unions form morcha SHIMLA, Feb 17 — A dozen Leftists trade unions have formed a joint forum "Sanyukt Trade Union Morcha" in the state to fight the anti-worker policies of the government unitedly. The morcha has decided to organise a rally at Jhakri on February 18 where a common minimum programme would be announced. Mr Ravinder Kumar, spokesperson of the morcha, said the rally was being held at Jhakri to highlight the plight of workers engaged by various construction companies executing the 1500 MW World Bank-financed Nathpa Jhakri project. Since 1992, over 200 workers had lost their lives and several others had been disabled due to injuries sustained while working on the project. The high temperature inside the tunnel and poisonous cases had caused breathing problem among workers. Even the principle of equal wage for equal work was not being followed. The morcha would fight
tooth and nail the move to dismantle the state
electricity board by setting up an electricity regulatory
authority. It would also oppose the move to open the
insurance sector to foreign companies. |
Virbhadra's ex-aide transferred SHIMLA, Feb 17 — The Himachal Government today transferred Mr T.C. Janartha, Chief Editor, State Gazetteer, as Resident Commissioner, Pangi. Mr Janartha was a close
confident of the former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra
Singh, and remained his private secretary during his
four-year term in office. |
HP BSP's ad hoc executive
body UNA, Feb 17 — The national president of the BSP, Mr Kanshi Ram, has appointed a 14-member ad hoc State Executive Committee in Himachal Pradesh. This was stated by Mr Ganesh Dutt Bharwal, state president of the BSP, here today. He said following ad hoc members had been appointed: general secretary Mr P.C. Azad; vice-presidents — Mr Balwant Singh, Mr Gian Chand Dhiman and Mr Dharampal; joint secretary — Mr Kashi Ram Himachali; treasurer — Mr B.D. Jassal; executive members — Mr Manmohan Dhiman and Mr Puran Chand; and district presidents — Mr Roshan Lal (Hamirpur), Mr Hem Raj (Una), Mr Ami Chanda (Kangra), Mr Sant Ram Badhan (Mandi) and Mr Madan Lal (Bilaspur). Mr Bharwal said state
office-bearers of the BSP had met Mr Kanshi Ram recently,
and he had asked them to be prepared for midterm
elections. |
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