P R A D E S H
Tuesday, July 27, 1999
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H I M A C H A L P R A D E S H |
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Tuesday, July 27, 1999 |
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Dhumal confidant meets
Shanta |
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Cong castigated for
politicising Kargil Congress mandal appointments Cong activists lock IPH office HP first in 20-Point
implementation Violation of poll code alleged Torture of soldiers condemned ABVP dharna outside VC's office |
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Dhumal confidant meets Shanta DHARAMSALA, July 26 — Great political significance is being attached to the closed-door meeting between the Revenue Minister, Dr Rajan Sushant, a close confidant of the Chief Minister, with Mr Shanta Kumar at Nurpur yesterday. During the recent past Dr Sushant, has been keeping a low profile as he is reportedly unhappy with the importance being given by the Chief Minister to others in Kangra district. Keeping in view all this, the meeting between the two has given birth to a lot of political speculation. The state executive of the BJP met at Nurpur yesterday to chalk out the poll strategy and decide on the names of the candidates to be fielded. It was while the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, had gone to the village of Kargil martyr to offer condolences to the bereaved family that the meeting was reported to have taken place. It is common knowledge that Dr Sushant has remained one of the most bitter critics of Mr Shanta Kumar and had even contested the Lok Sabha elections against him. It is being felt that Mr Shanta Kumar too realises that a patch up with Dr Sushant will certainly go in his favour during the coming elections. Dr Sushant has indicated obliquely on a number of occasions in the past that he is not too happy with the political ongoings in Kangra district. He remained conspicuously absent from the press conference convened by ministers and MLAs' of Kangra to express solidarity with the Chief Minister in Shimla recently. Despite being the closest confidant of the Chief Minister in Kangra he chose to stay away on this important occasion. All this has sent a signal that all is not well and Dr Sushant is perturbed over the importance being given to another first-timer MLA from Kangra district. At yesterday's meeting in Nurpur also, the Revenue Minister stayed for a short while only and left early to carry on with his pre-scheduled programmes. Another sore point for Dr Sushant is the claim of the Shanta loyalists and Cabinet ministers from Kangra that the Chief Minister had assured them that the issue of the chairmanship of the District Grievances Committee would be settled soon. It may be recalled that despite being a minister of state Dr Sushant was made the Chairman of the committee. Senior ministers from the district had expressed their resentment over the matter as they contest that as is the tradition the seniormost minister is made the head of the committee. They had termed it as their humiliation simply because they were Shanta loyalists. The supporters of Dr Sushant on the other hand point out that since he has been a die-hard supporter of the Chief Minister he should be rewarded by being elevated to the status of a Cabinet minister. This way the controversy of a minister of state heading the District Grievances Committee will also be resolved amicably, opine his supporters. Political analysts on
the other hand say the coming together of Mr Shanta Kumar
and Dr Sushant assumes significance, as this will
strengthen the hands of the former Chief Minister who
till date has complete control over his supporters in
Kangra district, which is considered to be his citadel.
The loyalists of the Chief Minister in Kangra say they
were getting frustrated as Mr Dhumal was readily giving
in to the pressure tactics of the Shanta camp which was
very humiliating for them. |
Regional issues to dominate poll:
CM JAWALAMUKHI, July 26 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, told mediapersons here today the present Lok Sabha elections in the state would be contested on regional issues. Various successive Congress governments had failed to fulfil their election promises and Congress leaders in order to hide their failings were creating communal hatred and exploiting regional sentiments of the people, he alleged. He asked the people to beware of the "sinister campaign" launched by the Congress and exhorted them to maintain peace and harmony in the state. He elaborated that the election would be a referendum on the issue of national unity and integrity of the country. He claimed that the BJP was the only party which had the support of all sections of society. When Mr Virbhadra Singh was the Chief Minister all sections, including farmers, apple growers and government employees, were disappointed with him. He said people had then been fed up with the Congress rule and they should not commit a blunder now by voting for the Congress. The BJP could bring prosperity to the state by getting maximum assistance from the Centre, the Chief Minister asserted. He said if the Congress was voted to power people should not expect any development as the earlier experience showed. Only the BJP could provide a stable government at the Centre, he claimed. He said Mr Sat Mahajan and other Congress candidates would lose the Lok Sabha election again since the BJP candidates had emerged stronger. He said the BJP government in the past 16 months had quickened the pace of development activities in the state therefore, there was a strong undercurrent in its favour. The Chief Minister said he had been touring the state in the past 30 days and all sections of society, including the youth, women, daily wage earners and government employees, had been extending full support to the BJP. He said the issue of stability raised by the Congress had no impact on the voters. Referring to the allegation of Mr Mahajan regarding the diversion of funds, he said the charge levelled by him was baseless. He said rather it was during the Congress regime that the government funds had been misutilised. The Congress government had diverted the Plan allocation to non-Plan project which benefited Congress leaders, he alleged. He asked the people not
to get misled by the false propaganda of the Congress
party which is exploiting the issue of regionalism in the
election campaign. He said people must reject those
parties which had been following anti-people and
anti-development policies in the state.He said it was the
Congress which had terminated the services of several
hundred daily wage workers when it had assumed power. |
High lift rates keep locals
away SHIMLA: Apathy and mismanagement as well as administrative or managerial failures within has led to a serious setback to tourism in Himachal, it appears. One such example of neglect and lack of concern is Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation run exclusive lift in Shimla. The condition and maintenance of this lift which connects Cart Road to the Mallroad, is going down day by day and surprisingly the rates are hiked quite often. Originally started with a rupee the rate hiked to Rs 2, then to three and now straight to Rs 5, for just one way. It has become really expensive, especially for locals. I have stopped using it", says Mr Rohit Mohan, a resident who was using it for 10 years. A number of local employees living in Lower Bazar, Mall Road, Jakhu, Lakkar Bazar who are regular users of this facility till now are seen cursing the HPTDC and have to take dirty lanes downhill to reach the HP Secretariat, Nigam Vihar, Kasumpati or New Shimla, where most offices are located. With increased bus fare these days and Rs 10 per day in lift, local travel has become difficult and out of reach for most employees and local residents. This 70 pc increase in the lift fare from April has virtually not left any local travelling in this, says, a HPTDC employee". We are least concerned with the locals or the general public, the lift is meant for the tourists and the rich, proudly says a lift attendant. The management gives another reason for the hike. "We have to do it for our survival, we are told to generate income from our sources and that is why the increase", says a top TDC official. But he personally agrees that it is too much for the locals and daily users. Some alternative can be worked out for them but they have not taken any initiative so far, he says. The income of this lift goes up to Rs 20,000 per day during the season "goldmine" for the HPTDC. All medical bills. TA bills and other small payments are made with the lift money, say sources. Then why such little attention is paid to this money spinner, ask people inside & outside HPTDC. The four small elevators on the premises are still run without a generator. "Its shocking the lift has no generator, say some tourists, who were caught for 25 minutes inside a few days back. The generators can be installed with a week's income, it is felt. But it is the head office which has to take the decision, says the lift manager. We have two supply lines and can evacuate people in five to 10 minutes and there was never a major problem so far, claim the lift staff. It is clearly written on the board outside. "All efforts will be made to take out the stranded passengers due to electricity failure or technical fault, which may take up to 20 to 25 minutes," the board says for the past four years no painting or whitewashing has been done inside or outside this lift and the premises bears a shabby and squalid look. No beautification has been done in the passage connecting the two elevators and the approach to the entrance is improper. The name of apparel shops is written on the doors. The inlet from Cart Road side is totally slummy. There is no HPTDC booking counter or reception on this first halt for tourists working for private hotels and surprisingly no individual or office for guidance from HPTDC, which is running hundred plus properties in Himachal. There is no drinking water or toilet in the HPTDC establishment. all corners in lift emit a stink of urine. The staff sounds helpless. A large inflow of tourists has to want if the operator has gone to the toilet. Just a day's income of this lift is sufficient to make a small toilet for us, says a staffer. Most of the operators in this lucrative and thriving HPTDC property are on contract. The workers have no uniform, and they even misbehave at times says a local journalist. At times sweepers are seen operating the lift, he adds. The advertising rates inside are kept sky high, though most of the space is vacant and can be used. The entrance from the Mall side is used by dozens of fruit sellers and vendors. "I am sitting here for the past 11 years", says Abdul Wahid, selling bananas. We pay in cash or kind to police and the lift staff, some of them said without revealing their names. The manager and staff, on the other hand refused this allegation. This lift can earn much
more revenue if advertised and marketed properly, feel
some officials. Installation of generators, proper
maintenance and facilities for staff can help in
increasing the earnings manifold, they say. |
Cong castigated for
politicising Kargil DHARAMSALA, July 26 — Former Himachal Chief Minister Shanta Kumar has advised the Congress not to politicise the Kargil issue, as it will boomerang on them as they are answerable to the nation for the deaths of thousands of soldiers in 1948, 1965, 1962 and 1971. Addressing a press conference here today, the BJP leader said the success in Kargil was not the victory of a particular party but of the soldiers who fought on the war front. However, the credit for diplomatic victory and complete alienation of Pakistan does go to the Prime Minister, he added. He said it was on the basis of political issues that the Congress should jump into the election arena. Criticising the Congress for politicising the Kargil issue, he regretted that they could not even wait for the crisis to get over as the fear of the Lok Sabha elections was looming large over them. "Today, the Congress party stands completely exposed as the people of the country will punish them for forcing elections on them by bringing about the fall of the BJP government," he said. During the past wars that the country had to face the opposition had unitedly stood behind the Prime Minister and the country unlike the Congress today, he lamented. Mr Shanta Kumar said he was in favour of transparency as hiding facts was not in the interest of the nation. He admitted that there had definitely been a lapse at some level and for this the government had already set up an inquiry committee. "If the Congress wants a reply from us on Kargil, then it should first give an answer to the nation on the 1.11 lakh deaths of soldiers in 1948, 1962, 1965, 1971 and when the IPKF was sent to Sri Lanka," he said. Mr Shanta Kumar criticised the Congress for handing over 93,000 prisoners of war of Pakistan without getting the 150 Indian PoWs released. He disclosed that the BJP government had taken up the issue with the Pakistanis to secure the release of these 150 PoWs. The BJP leader lashed
out at the Congress for opposing the right of proxy vote
to the defence personnel whose number was over 40 lakh.
"Why should those who are fighting for the security
of the nation be denied the right to vote," he
queried. He added that the main election issue will be a
stable government under the leadership of the BJP and the
role of the Congress in bringing about the fall of the
government. |
Congress mandal appointments NAHAN, July 26 — Mr Sahi Ram Chauhan, senior Congress worker of Renuka Assembly segment, has been appointed acting President and Mr Randeep Singh Chauhan of Sangrah acting Vice-President of the Congress mandal, Renuka, yesterday. This decision was taken unanimously by the workers of Renuka Congress Mandal at a party meeting held at Nohra Dhar yesterday. The meeting was called to resolve the party crisis which had risen after its president, general secretary and several other senior Congress workers left the Congress last month and joined the BJP. It was presided over by the president of the District Congress Committee, Mr Naik Singh Tomar. Mr Sahi Ram Chauhan,
President of the mandal, has said he would announce the
new mandal committee within a week. |
Cong activists lock IPH
office SHIMLA, July 26 — Irate Congress activists today locked the office of the Irrigation and Public Health Department at Dadasiba in Kangra district where no official was present on duty to listen to their grievance of shortage of drinking water. Mrs Viplove Thakur, Congress MLA of the area, said that only one clerk was present in the IPH office this afternoon. She said that the party
workers blocked the main road at Dadasiba to protest
against failure of the government to deploy adequate
number of doctors in the 30-bedded hospital in the town.
Against the sanctioned strength of eight doctors, only
one doctor was posted there. |
HP first in 20-Point
implementation SHIMLA, July 26 — Himachal Pradesh has retained the first position in implementation of the 20-Point Programme during 1998-99. Mr K D Dharmani, Vice-Chairman, 20-Point Programme, said here today that Himachal Pradesh stood first in the country in implementation of the 20-Point Programme. This had been indicated in the assessment report received from the Department of Programme Implementation and Planning, Government of India. This had been possible as a result of intensive monitoring of the programme implementation at all levels, on the one hand, and concerted efforts of all the implementing departments, on the other. The physical achievement in all the programmes had been assessed as "A" category which meant higher than 90 per cent performance in all the programmes. The achievement in
employment generation under the Jawahar Rozgar Yojna had
been 101 per cent, 108 per cent in the coverage of
"NC" category habitations under drinking water
supply programme, 110 per cent in assistance to Scheduled
Caste families, 125 per cent in assistance to the
Scheduled Tribe families, 117 per cent in provision of
EWS houses, 107 per cent in tree plantation on private
lands, 118 per cent in pumpset energisation, 109 per cent
in installation of smokeless chullah, 106 per cent in
installation of bio-gas plants, 94 per cent in
immunisation of children, 92 per cent in provision of LIG
housing and 90 per cent in the coverage of slum
population. |
Violation of poll code alleged SUNDERNAGAR, July 26 — The HP Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation Employees' Union and the HPMC Workers' Union have accused the government of violating the Model Code of Conduct by transferring employees of the HPMC, Jarol unit. In a press note issued
here, the unions demanded that the transfers be
immediately stopped. |
Torture of soldiers condemned SHIMLA, July 26 — The torture inflicted on five Army personnel and their subsequent killing by the Pakistani intruders in the Kargil area was today condemned by the Himachal Pradesh State Red Cross Society. The society, which held its annual general meeting here today under the chairmanship of the Governor, Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, adopted a resolution condemning the brutality of Pakistani intruders. Mrs Rama Devi, called upon NGOs and other social groups to lend their whole-hearted support in giving a fillip to Red Cross activities in the state for providing assistance and instant succour to the suffering humanity. She urged people to contribute a part of their income and service for helping the poor, needy and sick people which would be a real service to mankind. She directed the Deputy
Commissioners, who are ex-officio District Red Cross
Society presidents, to constitute Red Cross branches at
the sub-divisional level for involving more people in
social work at the grassroot level. She stressed on
taking Red Cross movement to the villages for ensuring a
healthy living. She asked Red Cross volunteers to create
awareness among the masses about health and personal
hygiene. |
ABVP dharna outside VC's
office SHIMLA, July 26 — Activists of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidayarthi Parishad (ABVP) today staged dharna outside the office of the Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University and principals of various colleges in support of their demands. According to Mr Kamal Nayan, state secretary of the ABVP, such demonstrations were held at Sundernagar, Mandi, Jogindernagar, Sarkaghat, Kulu, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Dharamshala, Una, Palampur, Chamba and several other places. Their demands include elections for the Students Central Association without further delay, withdrawal of increase in the fees, checking of commercialisation of education and a complete ban on ragging. The ABVP has threatened
to intensify the agitation if their demands are not met
soon. |
Last date extended SHIMLA, July 26 —
Himachal Pradesh University has extended the last date
for admission to undergraduate classes up to July 31 with
a late fee of Rs 20, according to a release of the
university. |
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