Resource crunch to continue
SHIMLA, March 23 — A steady march from an unstable coalition to stability notwithstanding, it has been a tight rope walk for the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, on the political and financial front during his first year in office.

Christians 'pouring money' into India
KANGRA, March 23 — The recent incidents in Orissa and Gujarat were a reaction to the Christian missionaries' decision to construct nine lakh churches in India by the end of the 21st century and make the Bible reach nine lakh house holds in the tribal areas of the country.

Move on power panel opposed
CHAMBA, March 23 — The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Employees Union has opposed the state government's move to set up a state electricity regulatory commission.

Mahila Congress flays insurance scheme for rape victims
SHIMLA, March 23 — Activists of the Mahila Congress today submitted a memorandum to the Governor seeking immediate withdrawal of the central insurance scheme for rape victims.

Postal staff's warning
SHIMLA, March 23 — The All-India Postal Employees Union has expressed concern about the inordinate delay in the implementation of an agreement for the upgradation of selection grade posts arrived at between the employees and the postal board on December 18.

Himurja staff's grouse
SHIMLA, March 23 — The Himurja Employees Association has condemned the anti-employee attitude of the organisation's executive committee, which, it alleged, had not been implementing orders of the government.

Father kills son
SHIMLA, March 23 — Rajinder Pal, a resident of Lakkar Bazar locality, was shot dead by his father, Sher Singh, here last evening.

Resource crunch to continue
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 23 — A steady march from an unstable coalition to stability notwithstanding, it has been a tight rope walk for the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, on the political and financial front during his first year in office.

Mr Dhumal, assumed the leadership of the state BJP after a bitter power struggle, and went on to form government with a razor-thin majority of one vote in the House. His rise to the high office was preceded by high drama, lasting 18 days, during which the lone Independent switched sides to pave for the installation of a coalition government. It was a fragile coalition comprising four legislators of the Himachal Vikas Congress an Independent and 28 BJP members.

A first timer in the state politics, Mr Dhumal gave the first taste of his political acumen when he made Mr Gulab Singh, a Congress member, the Speaker. The victory in the elections to the three tribal assembly seats and byelections to Pragpur and Baijnath seats further bolstered the party and helped the Chief Minister in consolidating his position.

However, there was no respite from the arm-twisting tactics of the coalition partner, the HVC which gave several anxious moments to Mr Dhumal. Despite the fact that all five HVC legislators, two of whom had joined the BJP, were given ministerial berth or rewarded with equivalent position, pressure for accommodating more party men in boards, corporations and other representative bodies continued.

But it was the HVC's demand for a CBI probe into charges against Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Congress Legislature Party which brought differences between the coalition partners to a flashpoint more than once.

The government inherited empty coffers from the Congress regime and the financial situation continues to be grim despite the Rs 300 crore special assistance which Mr Dhumal managed to secure from the Centre during the year. The state's interest liability, increased from Rs 179 crore in 1992-93 to Rs 600 crore in 1998-99 and the committed liabilities created by the government have further pushed up the interest component by Rs 170 crore for the ensuing financial year.

Establishing a close rapport with the Centre has been a major achievement of Mr Dhumal which helped not only in getting liberal funds but also in settling some contentious inter-state issues like imposing of cess on hydel power generation, the Shah Nehar project and resumption of work on the stalled railway projects. The signing of an agreement with the National Hydro Power Corporation for the execution of 2051 MW Parbati Project, the upgradation of three important state roads into national highways and the revival of the Chamera State-II Project, work on which is likely to start shortly, were other major achievements of the coalition government. Launching a number of new schemes for the uplift of various section of people, the decentralisation of the administration, the devolution of power to panchayats and the enhancement of the upper age limit for government jobs from 35 to 38 years are the other achievements.

On the other hand the government could not fulfil its promise to declare the assets of all its legislators. It had promised to do so within three months but it is still vacillating on the issue even after the lapse of one year.

Similarly, it has been dragging its feet on the promise to bring out a white paper on the financial position, particularly the payment of commission on the raising of loans, and expose the irregularities in recruitment to government jobs during the Congress regime. These two issues had been the main planks of the BJP and the HVC during the assembly elections.

The government has gone back on the issue of white paper, taking refuge in the argument that the Budget presented by it is a white paper in itself.

Although two separate inquiries were instituted to probe irregularities in recruitment in various government departments and public sector undertakings but they have virtually failed to take off. As a result no action could be taken against officers responsible for fiscal mismanagement and irregularities in recruitments. In these officers are back in the driving seat and justifying actions of the previous regime.

The Dhumal government has high hopes from the 11th finance commission but its recommendation will come into force only after 2000. Thus the government will have a hard time on the financial front over the next two years. It will be dependent on the Centre and as such its success will also depend on the survival of the Vajpayee government.

Christians 'pouring money' into India
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, March 23 — The recent incidents in Orissa and Gujarat were a reaction to the Christian missionaries' decision to construct nine lakh churches in India by the end of the 21st century and make the Bible reach nine lakh house holds in the tribal areas of the country.

Mr Ram Singh, National President of the Ithas Sankalan Yojna, while addressing a press conference here today, said the influx of huge amounts of money from outside the country was contributing towards making this project a reality in India.

Mr Ram Singh is here in connection with a seminar on "Trigarh through ages" starting from March 27 in Kangra fort. It is aimed at rewriting the history of Trigarh, at present known as Kangra valley. He said British rulers had distorted Indian history and to correct it and rewrite it was the project of Ithas Sankalan Yojna, which was established in the country in 1974.

He said the history of the 10 historically important cities in the country was rewritten and Trigarh was the 11th place. Giving names of these historical centres — Ayodhya, Kurukshetra, Ujjain, Dahar, Vrindavan, Prayag, Kashi, Meerut and Jallandhar — Ram Singh said the distortions in the history of these places were removed and the history was rewritten. He said "Panchal through ages" was completed and was awaiting publication. He said in Himachal Pradesh Kulu was yet another place where 360 deities were being worshipped in each village. The history of this place was to be rewritten.

He said history was being rewritten on the basis of it revolving round time and not a person. He said the Mahabharata was made the watershed point for the rewriting of Indian history.

He said 60 historically important places were identified where the British rulers and foreign historians had distorted history. He said history had to be rewritten on the district level. As many as 700 such districts had been identified. These were connected to 41 provinces and linked with 100 universities of the country. He stressed on integrated history and described it to be the need of the hour.

Mr Ram Singh said 400 scientists, archaeologists, historians and allied experts were collecting documents for this project. He said the theory of Aryans coming to India was disproved by the evidence collected by the yojna. It had proved they had gone to other parts of the globe from India.

Government gives go-by to norms: Virbhadra
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 23 — The Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh has said that the one year rule of the BJP-HVC combine government in Himachal Pradesh has been an unmitigated disaster.

In a statement issued here today, Mr Virbhadra Singh took exception to the BJP-HVC violating the conventions by organising a rally at the Ridge here tomorrow to celebrate the completion of one year in office of their government.

Mr Virbhadra Singh alleged that the government born out of an unholy alliance based on "compromise with corruption and corrupt people" had given a go-by to rule of law, norms, traditions, fair play and decency which was the basis of any good government.

Contrary to the claims made by the state government about its "so called" achievements in the past one year, The state had witnessed a sharp decline in growth and development works, except in a few chosen pockets.

He alleged that the government had gone out of the way to promote regionalism and casteism thereby seriously jeopardising the emotional integrity of the people. Attempts are being made even to divide the government employees on the basis of caste and region.

Law and order in the state had touched a new low and atrocities on the Dalits, women and the weaker sections of society had not only increased but the police had failed even to arrest the culprits due to political interference,

The spurt in prices of essential commodities, increase in the cost of electricity, foodgrains, fertilisers and road transportation had hurt the vulnerable sections of society. There had been an all around "deterioration" in the quality of administration. Schools and medical institutions particularly in the remote and backward areas were without teachers, doctors and para-medical staff. The government had failed to protect the interests of the state particularly in the matter of hydroelectric projects.

HP plan to boost rural economy
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, March 23 — The Himachal Governor has put forward a 20-year hypothetical plan based on a notional amount of Rs 92,000 crore till 2020 with a view to revitalising rural economy and making the state self-sufficient. The plan requires an investment of 75,000 crore in the private sector.

Addressing a news conference at Chamba today, Mr Kishori Lal Himachal Industries Minister, said that the plan envisaged bringing Himachal among one of the five well-developed states of the country by 2020. Mr Kishori Lal said the plan also envisaged generating 15,000 mw of hydroelectric power during the period.

The Industries Minister said the state government had planned to set up 650 small-scale industrial units thereby generating 5,500 new employment avenues besides handloom industries generating employment opportunities by about 3000 persons.

He said that the state government had decided to construct helipads at Salooni, Khundi Mural, Satrundi and Bhanjraru in Chamba district bordering Jammu and Kashmir with a view of combating militancy.

Move on power panel opposed
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, March 23 — The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) Employees Union has opposed the state government's move to set up a state electricity regulatory commission.

Addressing a public meeting at Chamba yesterday, the union president Mr Karam Singh Thakur and the general secretary, Mr Chander Singh Mandiyal, described the move as anti-consumer and anti-employee which would play havoc with the working of the HPSEB as well as its employees.

The two leaders said the union resolved to fight against the move.

They criticised the state government and the board management for its indifferent attitude to the demands of the employees.

They demanded the release of bonus on the basis of the previous year, a notification on the accepted demands pertaining to the field technical, the ministerial and the drawing staff of the board.

They also asked the state government to withdraw its proposed move on the formation of the committee.

Mahila Congress flays insurance scheme for rape victims
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 23 — Activists of the Mahila Congress today submitted a memorandum to the Governor seeking immediate withdrawal of the central insurance scheme for rape victims.

The activists also held a demonstration against the "outrageous and ill-conceived" scheme launched by the Centre.

Ms Krishna Mohini, MLA, and president of the state Mahila Congress, said that it was outrageous to compare a rape victim with that of an accident. It was shameful that instead of providing stringent punishment to the criminals, the BJP government had played another trick with the women of the country.

The memorandum regretted that launching of the scheme mean that the government had failed to provide security to women against rape and wanted them to get insured against the heinous crime.

The memorandum demanded that the law should be amended to provide immediate punishment to culprits involved in rape.

Other women legislators of the Congress, Mrs Vidya Stokes, Mrs Viplove Thakur and Mrs Asha Kumari have also criticised the BJP government for launching the scheme. They described the step as condemnable beyond words. Money was no compensation for the trauma and rejection faced by a rape victim.

Postal staff's warning
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 23 — The All-India Postal Employees Union has expressed concern about the inordinate delay in the implementation of an agreement for the upgradation of selection grade posts arrived at between the employees and the postal board on December 18.

The local unit of the union which held its biennial conference here on Sunday warned that the employees would not hesitate to start a direct action if the agreement was not implemented forthwith.

It also urged the government to fill vacant posts and create new ones, particularly in groups "C" and "D" and the post men's cadre to cope with the workload. It pointed out that the shortage of the staff was affecting the postal services.

Himurja staff's grouse
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 23 — The Himurja Employees Association has condemned the anti-employee attitude of the organisation's executive committee, which, it alleged, had not been implementing orders of the government.

The association regretted that despite clear instructions from the government regarding the regularisation of the daily wage and the minimum wage staff, no step had been taken to implement the decisions.

It demanded the filling of vacant posts of project officer, junior engineer and clerk, repatriation of deputationists, creation of a maintenance wing for the upkeep of non-conventional energy devices installed in different parts of state and the finalisation of the recruitment and promotion rules.

Father kills son
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 23 — Rajinder Pal, a resident of Lakkar Bazar locality, was shot dead by his father, Sher Singh, here last evening.

According to police, a family dispute led to the murder. The relations between the father and the son had been strained ever since the latter married a Nepali girl against the wishes of the former four years ago. They were also engaged in legal battle.

Shamsher Singh shot his son with his gun from close range when he returned home from office. He died on the spot. The culprit has been arrested by police.