Cong says ridge misused, walks out
SHIMLA, March 26 —The Budget session of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha resumed after an eight-day recess with the Opposition Congress staging a walkout on the issue of misuse of the historic Ridge for political purposes by the coalition government.

Crime against women on the rise in HP
SHIMLA, March 26 — Crime against women is growing in Himachal Pradesh. The incidents of dowry death and rape have witnessed a sudden spurt, particularly in Kangra district.

Token strike by Left bodies
SHIMLA, March 26 — Members of various Left organisations today observed a day's token strike in support of the demands of the Nathpa-Jhakri workers.

Dr R.P. Awasthy is new V-C
SHIMLA, March 26 — Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, Governor, has appointed Dr R.P. Awasthy, Director of Research at Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, as the Vice-Chancellor of the university.

R.C. Joshi dead
NAHAN, March 26 — Mr R.C. Joshi, a correspondent of The Tribune, died in Delhi yesterday. He was 70. He served the newspaper as its Nahan correspondent for 20 years.

Alert jawan prevents fire
HAMIRPUR, March 26 — An alert Home Guards jawan, Mr Chhabinder Banyal, saved the local main bazar from being burnt on Wednesday.

• Six khokhas gutted
• CPM workers hold rally

Cong says ridge misused, walks out
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 26 —The Budget session of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha resumed after an eight-day recess with the Opposition Congress staging a walkout on the issue of misuse of the historic Ridge for political purposes by the coalition government.

Mr Virbhadra Singh, Leader of the Congress Legislative group, was on his legs as soon as question hour was over to move an adjournment motion for a discussion on the political rally organised by the BJP- HVC combine on The Ridge to mark the completion of one year of the coalition government in "violation of rules, regulations and conventions" and ignoring the public outcry against it.

He said it was purely a political rally as evidenced by the posters brought out by the two parties and use of party flags. He displayed a poster to substantiate his charge. He recalled that during the Janata rule, the then Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, had refused permission to Mr Raj Narain for holding a public meeting which had led to a protest and serious political consequences.

Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, asserted that it was a state-level official function which was presided over by Mr L.K. Advani, Union Home Minister. He said The Ridge was chosen as the venue keeping in view the security aspect as Mr Advani was country’s most threatened public figure with a "Z" plus security.

He said the previous Congress regime had given The Ridge for an industrial fair in 1997.

Mr Gulab Singh rejected the adjournment motion after hearing the two sides. This enraged the Congress members who left the House raising slogans against the government. Mr B.B. Butail, the lone Congress member who kept sitting in the House, was taken away by Mr G.S. Bali, another legislator of the party a few minutes later.

Mr Dhumal condemned the behaviour of the Opposition and said the manner in which Mr Butail had been forcibly taken away from the House was an insult to democracy. He said the Congress had been held captive by "Rajwarashahi". Having a dig at Mr Virbhadra Singh, he said the walkout reflected the frustration of the party which failed to get support for its agitation. In fact, Mr Virbhadra Singh had to bring in his children to carry party banners in absence of workers.

He announced that the government would organise such functions on The Ridge on March 24 every year. He said the failure of the Congress to appreciate the assurance by Mr Advani that the Centre would extent all possible help to the state for combating militancy in Chamba and his decision to sanction another reserve battalion reflected the party’s lack of concern for the people.

Later talking to media persons, Mr Virbhadra Singh said the Chief Minister’s statement that it was an official function was an afterthought. Had it been so, invitations would have been sent to all legislators, which was not done. Similarly, the example of industrial fair cited by Mr Dhumal was also not relevant as The Ridge had been used for holding volley ball, boxing and other sport tournaments and the Republic Day function. It’s objection was to a political rally at The Ridge.

Later the House adopted a private member resolution moved by Mr Jai Krishan Sharma (BJP), urging the government to take effective steps to eradicate lantana, weed which had invaded grasslands and fertile land and choked village paths. He said large tracts of fertile land had been transformed into wasteland by the unchecked spread of the weed. He called for a comprehensive plan for the control and management of lantana and for exploring the possibility of putting it to gainful use like making baskets.

Mr Roop Singh, Forest Minister, said a survey conducted by the Forest Department had revealed that 1.30 lakh hectares had been covered by lantana in the state. He said the eradication of the weed by using herbicide was an expensive proposition as the cost came to over Rs 4000 per hectare. He said the problem could be tackled effectively with joint efforts by the Forest, Horticulture, agriculture and Revenue Departments.

The House adopted a private member resolution moved by Mr Jai Ram Thakur (BJP) urging the Centre to open a separate passport office at Shimla. Moving the resolution, he said since there were few job opportunities in the state, a large number of persons from the state were seeking employment abroad. They had to go to Chandigarh repeatedly for securing a passport.

Mr P.K. Dhumal said the number of Himachalis seeking passport was increasing every year. It had risen from 6034 in 1997 to 7651 in 1999. He said the government had been pursuing the matter with the Centre and a resolution to this effect would strengthen the case.

Crime against women on the rise in HP
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 26 — Crime against women is growing in Himachal Pradesh. The incidents of dowry death and rape have witnessed a sudden spurt, particularly in Kangra district.

According to official figures, 42 cases of crime against women were registered between January 1 and February 23 this year (54 days).

The gruesome murder of a six-year-old Dalit girl in Mandi district took place recently.

It is alleged that the police has changed certain cases of dowry death into suicides because of various reasons. Of the 12 suicide cases registered during the above 54-day period, 10 were committed by women. The highest number of suicides by women was reported in Kangra district, with the police registering six cases, followed by two in Mandi and one each in Una and Kulu districts.

Of the 19 murder cases registered during the period, five were of women, with Kangra again topping the list, with two cases.

As many as 12 cases of rape were registered in which Shimla district topped with four cases, followed by two each in Solan and Una districts.

Reports of kidnapping and abduction of women have been registered in Mandi, Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Kulu, Chamba, Bilaspur, Sirmour and Solan districts.

There were also reports of some Himachali women having been sold outside the state. However, only one such case has been registered in Sirmour district, where the girl has been recovered and restored to her parents.

The sudden disappearance of a minor girl in Solan district over a year ago has remained unsolved. It is alleged that the girl was murdered by a "tantrik".

The incident of a Dalit woman having been burnt to death in the Jawalamukhi area after being tied to a tree a few months ago was perhaps the first of its kind in the state.

Seven dead, 36 hurt in HP road mishaps
Tribune News Service and PTI

SHIMLA, March 26 — Seven persons were killed and 36 others were injured, 13 of them seriously, in two separate road accidents in Solan and Shimla districts of Himachal Pradesh.

Four persons were killed and three injured when the vehicle in which they were returning here after offering prayers in the Bhima Kali temple near Rampur rolled down at Matiana today.

According to the police the four persons, Mr Satish Shandil, Mr Ashok Sharma, Mr Ravinder Thakur and Mr Prem Lal died on the spot. The injured had been brought here for treatment.

In another road accident three persons were killed on the spot and 33 others were injured, 11 of them seriously, when a private bus fell into a gorge near Arki, 40 km from here this afternoon, the police said.

The seriously injured had been brought to IGMC Hospital at Shimla.

Further details were awaited.

Token strike by Left bodies
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 26 — Members of various Left organisations today observed a day's token strike in support of the demands of the Nathpa-Jhakri workers.

The strike evoked a partial response in various industrial areas of the state. In Shimla town, the hotel industry was affected. Members of the CITU, SFI, DYFI and Kisan Sabha held a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office.

Members of the SFI observed a strike at Himachal Pradesh University to highlight the growing problem of unemployment and to press for the demand for elections to the Students Central Association.

Dr R.P. Awasthy is new V-C
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 26 — Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, Governor, has appointed Dr R.P. Awasthy, Director of Research at Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, as the Vice-Chancellor of the university.

The post fell vacant last month after Dr L.R. Verma, was recalled by the Himachal Pradesh University, his parent institution, where he was serving as a professor in Biosciences Department.

R.C. Joshi dead
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, March 26 — Mr R.C. Joshi, a correspondent of The Tribune, died in Delhi yesterday. He was 70. He served the newspaper as its Nahan correspondent for 20 years.

He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

The Sirmour Journalists Association and over 12 social organisations of Sirmour district mourned Mr Joshi's death.

Alert jawan prevents fire
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, March 26 — An alert Home Guards jawan, Mr Chhabinder Banyal, saved the local main bazar from being burnt on Wednesday. The jawan was on patrol duty when he saw a shop in flames. He immediately informed the fire station and in the meantime fought the flames.

Mr Swaroop Chand, owner of the shop, said a short circuit had caused the fire. The jawan was suitably rewarded by the owner.

Meanwhile, traders of the main bazar have urged the district administration to reward Mr Banyal.

Six khokhas gutted
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, March 26 — Six khokhas were gutted here in a fire which broke out yesterday. According to eye-witnesses the fire started from a lottery shop at 11.45 p.m.

Property worth thousands was destroyed in the fire. Local residents controlled the fire by destroying two khokhas. The fire brigade reached at 1.30 a.m. from Dharamsala. But by then the fire was already controlled.

CPM workers hold rally
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, March 26 — Communist Party of India Marxist (CPM) workers today held a rally at Dharamsala and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in support of the demands of the Nathpa-Jakhri workers.

The protesting CPM workers condemned the lathi charge on the Nathpa-Jakhri workers and sought an inquiry into the incident.