Follow Buddha's teachings: Governor
SHIMLA, May 1 — Governor V.S. Rama Devi has urged the people to join hands for eliminating all social evils and establishing a healthy social order based on equality, independence and respect for all.

DDT spraying delayed
HAMIRPUR, May 1 — Nearly 40 workers employed for spraying DDT in Hamirpur district are uncertain about their future as the Department of Health and Family Welfare has still not started DDT spraying which normally begins in April each year.

Sat Mahajan prefers state politics
DHARAMSALA, May 1 — The Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, has said keeping in view the sentiments and wishes of the people of Nurpur, he will prefer to remain in state politics rather than contest the Lok Sabha elections from Kangra.

TYC hunger strike ends after 26 days
DHARAMSALA, May 1 — The Tibetan Youth Congress today called off its hunger strike in Geneva after 26 days, with a commitment to continue their struggle for the freedom of Tibet.

3 killed as truck overturns
UNA, May 1 — Three persons were killed and three others injured today when a truck coming from Nawanshahr to Industrial Area, Tahliwal, 17 km from here, rammed into a rain shelter and overturned.

Dhumal likely to meet CEC
SHIMLA, May 1 — The Chief Minister, Prof P.K. Dhumal, today urged the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr M.S. Gill, to order the Lok Sabha elections in June.

Follow Buddha's teachings: Governor
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 1 — Governor V.S. Rama Devi has urged the people to join hands for eliminating all social evils and establishing a healthy social order based on equality, independence and respect for all.

The Governor was speaking at a function organised by the Ambedkar Mission Society on the occasion of Buddha Purnima to mark the end of Dr B.R. Ambedkar's birthday celebrations at Kali Bari Hall here yesterday.

She said the teachings of universal love, compassion and brotherhood of Lord Buddha needed to be emulated for peace and social harmony. She asked the people to imbibe good character and righteous conduct.

Speaking of Dr. Ambedkar, she said he was a great visionary and a crusader of the rights and interests of the poor. We should all work for realising his dreams of a casteless and creedless society based on equality, she said.

She announced that the Dr Ambedkar chair at HP University would be filled very soon. She directed the Vice-Chancellor of the university to initiate the process without delay. She suggested that social activists of repute might also be considered for the chair.

Mr Vidya Sagar, Agriculture Minister, said the government was doing its best for the welfare and uplift of the downtrodden. He said "Ambedkar medhavi chhatra yojna" was being implemented in the state to provide scholarships and benefit of higher education to 1,000 students belonging to the Scheduled Caste.

Mr Narinder Bragta, Minister of State for Horticulture, said Rs 1 lakh had been sanctioned for the beautification of Ambedkar Chowk here and for giving a face-lift to the statue of Dr Ambedkar installed there. He said a committee had been set up to provide land to the Ambedkar Mission Society for the construction of an Ambedkar Bhavan.

Dhumal in a lighter vein?
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, May 1 — The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, while speaking at a public meeting at Darlaghat, 80 km from here, yesterday made certain derogatory and offensive remarks against two past Prime Ministers, a former Chief Minister and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

During his 45-minute-long speech he repeatedly referred to former Prime Minister Deve Gowda as "Doda Gowda Deve Gowda" and Mr Inder Kumar Gujral as "that French cut".

While describing a meeting between Mr Virbhadra Singh and Mr Deve Gowda, he particularly chose to be unkind and poked fun at their way of speaking. Mr Virbhadra Singh had a slight congenital speech defect, though a gifted orator, the former Chief Minister sometimes made a slurred speech. The former Prime Minister's spoken words often appeared to be running onto each other. Mr Dhumal poked fun by saying that when the two met neither could understand each other's language and the meeting proved to be futile.

The Chief Minister also made a dig at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose when he referred to a famous saying of the legendary hero of India's movement for Independence, "Tum mujhe khoon do, mein tumhein azaadi doonga"

(I promise you that the country will be free when each one of us is willing to make the supreme sacrifice). Lampooning these famous words which once fired the imagination of every patriot in the 1940s, Mr Dhumal said, "Netaji ki tareh mein tumhara khoon nahin maanguga. Sirf tumhara sahyog maangu ga. Tum mujhe sahyog do, mein tumhein vikas doonga."

(Like Netaji, I will not ask for your blood but only for your cooperation and support. Give me your support and I will give you development in return).

Dhumal supporters here said these remarks were made in a lighter vein and should not be taken seriously.

DDT spraying delayed
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, May 1 — Nearly 40 workers employed for spraying DDT in Hamirpur district are uncertain about their future as the Department of Health and Family Welfare has still not started DDT spraying which normally begins in April each year. DDT spraying is part of the malaria eradication programme of the central government.

Mr Hoshiaru Ram, a leader of the DDT sprayers, told reporters here today that though the department had held interviews last month they had not given appointment letters to anyone so far. When workers went to the CMO office today they were told that the state government had discontinued spraying DDT.

He said they had been performing these duties each year for the past 20 years, but now all of a sudden, they had been given marching orders. In season they are paid Rs 45-75 daily by the government.

When contacted, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Guleria, said DDT spraying would be started shortly. Due to the non-arrival of supply from Shimla spraying was delayed. Against the demand of 300 bags, only 40 bags had been supplied to the district so far. He ruled out discontinuing spraying.

Meanwhile, people of the district are also awaiting the start of spraying to check the mosquito menace.

Sat Mahajan prefers state politics
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, May 1 — The Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, has said keeping in view the sentiments and wishes of the people of Nurpur, he will prefer to remain in state politics rather than contest the Lok Sabha elections from Kangra.
Addressing a press conference here today, he said he would abide by the orders of the party high command. He, however, added that regarding his contesting the Lok Sabha elections, the decision lay with the party high command. "I will convey the wishes of the people of Nurpur to the high command as I want to honour their sentiments, but the ultimate decision lies with the party leadership," he clarified.

Mr Mahajan, when asked who were the other leaders who could give a good fight to the BJP from the Kangra Lok Sabha seat, enlisted the names of Rajya Sabha member, Chandresh Kumari, sitting MLAs Chander Kumar and G.S. Bali and former Tourism Minister Vijay Singh Mankotia.

He said the Congress was in no way responsible, for the fall of the BJP government as it happened due to the withdrawal of support by Ms Jayalalitha. "It is not the duty of the Congress to help the BJP in running the government whose regime was marked by inefficiency, non-governance and economic crisis," he remarked.

He said the main election plank of the Congress would be to provide a stable and experienced government which would control prices and lawlessness.

He accused the government of failing to foresee the severe drought condition in the state.

The Congress chief thanked the AICC president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, for appointing Mrs Chandresh Kumari president of the All-India Mahila Congress.

TYC hunger strike ends after 26 days
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, May 1 — The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) today called off its hunger strike in Geneva after 26 days, with a commitment to continue their struggle for the freedom of Tibet.

In a statement issued by the TYC President, Mr Tseten Norbu, the strike, which began on April 5, had succeeded in drawing the attention of the delegates to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, to the plight of Tibetans inside Tibet. He regretted that though some of the demands raised by them had not been addressed during the commission's session, their action had generated concern in UN circles.

The TYC leader said the end of the hunger strike was not the end of their action.

The US High Commissioner to the UN, Ms Mary Robinson in her visit to the hunger strikers had assured them that she would take up seriously the issues raised by them with China. In her written communication she remarked that the situation in Tibet would continue to be addressed. She had made a special appeal to them to call off their hunger strike. The TYC resumed its hunger strike on April 5 after calling it off temporarily after 67 days in New Delhi, last year.

3 killed as truck overturns
From Our Correspondent

UNA, May 1 — Three persons were killed and three others injured today when a truck coming from Nawanshahr to Industrial Area, Tahliwal, 17 km from here, rammed into a rain shelter and overturned.

Driver of the truck, Biru and Tarsem Lal, who was also in the truck, died on the spot. Prithi Singh of Manowal village, who was standing under the rain shelter, died when the roof of the shelter collapsed. The injured have been referred to the PGI.

Meanwhile, residents of Tahliwal blocked traffic and demanded that the road be widened.

Dhumal likely to meet CEC
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, May 1 — The Chief Minister, Prof P.K. Dhumal, today urged the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr M.S. Gill, to order the Lok Sabha elections in June.

He has written a letter to the Election Commission saying that in June the electorate in the tribal areas of the state would be able to exercise their franchise along with the rest of the country.

Prof Dhumal, who flew to Delhi this afternoon, is likely to call on the Chief Election Commissioner to seek the Lok Sabha elections in June.

In his letter, he pointed out that in June farmers would be free from harvesting and necessary statutory period required for holding the elections would be available to political parties and the Election Commission.

To postpone these elections for a single day after June would result in extension of uncertainty prevailing in the country.