2 pilgrims killed in vehicle collision
KANGRA, Oct 13 — Two pilgrims were killed on the spot and six others injured when a truck collided with their Tata Sumo collided at Damtal in this district today, police said.

Charas worth 5.5 cr seized, 4 held
KULU, Oct 13 — The Narcotic Control Bureau and the police seized 36 kg of charas worth Rs 5.5 crore in raids on the residences of Gupat Ram at Mohal and Sultanpur, yesterday.

Shanta inclusion may embolden Dhumal
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 13 — Himachal Pradesh has been lucky this time in getting a place in the Union Council of Ministers that was sworn in today. A former Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, has found a place in it. But the Akali Dal (Badal) and the Indian National Lok Dal, two alliance parties, do not figure in the list and for various reasons.

Mr Shanta Kumar's inclusion solves some problems. One, the dissident faction within the Himachal BJP would have no grouse and, therefore, the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, will try to assert more and be a parallel centre of power with his new clout. This inclusion could work either way.

The Akali Dal (B), a time tested ally of the BJP could manage just two Lok Sabha seats out of 13 seats. The BJP could win just one out of the three it contested. None of the three is a political stalwart to demand on his own a position in the Union Cabinet. Mr Surjit Singh Barnala and Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, two members of the outgoing ministry, have been defeated. Two present members, Mr Zora Singh Mann and Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur, lack that status. But much more than this there is a serious tussle in the Akali Dal as to who should represent the Dal and thus Punjab.

There are two contenders, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, both members of the Upper House. Both were defeated in the assembly polls and since they enjoyed close relationship with Mr Badal, they managed to get to the Rajya Sabha. But Mr Badal scared of the present energy mood of the Akali Dal's rank and file is not recommending any name. While in case of Mr Bhunder's candidature, he may find be hard to convince anyone in Delhi about his efficiency. Mr Dhindsa's case is openly being opposed by certain Akali ministers. At least one senior minister, Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura holding charge of Cooperation, told the Political Affairs Committee that Mr Dhindsa at no cost should represent the Akali Dal in the union ministry as he has opposed the official Akali candidate, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, in Sangrur. Mr Barnala also supported the allegation that he lost at the hustings because of his own misdeeds and poor performance. Unless Mr Barnala is pacified and adjusted somewhere as Governor, Mr Dhindsa cannot be adjusted. In the present context, it is good for Mr Badal if none is there in the Cabinet. He has no love lost for Mr Barnala and therefore, there is no need for him to plead his case, observers here feel.

In case of Haryana, Mr Vajpayee has adjusted Mr I.D Swami, M.P from Karnal who defeated Mr Bhajan Lal with a big margin as a Minister of State. Earlier, there was none. In fact, the Uttar Pradesh Governor, Mr Suraj Bhan has been a cabinet minister in the first 13-day-old Vajpayee ministry. Later he was shifted to UP. No one from the Indian National Lok Dal headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala finds a place in the ministry. Earlier too, as the arrangement was first with the Haryana Vikas Party, no one could be adjusted in the Cabinet although Mr Chautala's support was crucial. This time, Mr Chautala, according to observers, is keen that first the BJP joins his government in Haryana, and then he will have a seat in the Union Council of Ministers. Also, if he is to go for Assembly elections soon, he would like to wait. His recommendation would be for none other than his son, Mr Ajay Singh Chautala, Lok Sabha member from Bhiwani. At this stage there could be some heart burning and in order to have smooth elections, Mr Chautala might like to avoid this.

Kangra celebrates Shanta’s induction
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Oct 13 — There was jubilation and celebrations in Kangra today on the former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar, who represents this Lok Sabha seat, becoming the first MP from Himachal, to have been given Cabinet rank, in the Union Council of Ministers.

It has been a long wait for Mr Shanta Kumar, who won in 1998 Lok Sabha elections as well but was not inducted into the the union cabinet, Mr Shanta Kumar, who defeated Mr Sat Mahajan, by a margin of over one lakh votes, won the Lok Sabha elections in 1998 and 1989 as well. While in 1989 he defeated Mr Vikram Mahajan, he has won the other two elections against the PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan.

BJP supporters burst crackers as soon as they saw Mr Shanta Kumar take the oath on television and came out in the streets to distribute sweets in Palampur and Dhara msala. Having remained the Chief Minister of Himachal in 1977 and 1990, Mr Shanta Kumar, was going through a bad patch in his political career, after losing the Assembly election in 1993. He later lost the Lok Sabha election to Mr Sat Mahajan in 1996.

Mr Shanta Kumar faced reverses not only in electoral politics but stiff opposition within his party. Thus despite the majority of the party delegates supporting him, Mr Suresh Chandel managed to grab the post of state president and the party high command selecting, Mr P.K. Dhumal to lead the party in the Assembly elections and later made him the Chief Minister. Following this Mr Shanta Kumar, slipped out of the limelight, and confined himself to the Kangra area.

This time too the supporters of Mr Shanta Kumar were apprehensive, that the Dhumal faction which was backing Mr Maheshwar Singh, MP from Mandi, for a Cabinet post, might triumph and Mr Shanta Kumar could once again be the loser. Now the supporters of Mr Shanta Kumar are hoping that he be given an important portfolio from which Himachal can derive maximum benefit.

Our Correspondent adds: The induction of the former Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, into the Union Cabinet has been welcomed by the party leaders, workers and people at Mandi.

The district President of the BJP and former MLA, Mr Kanhayya Lal, congratulated Mr Shanta Kumar and thanked the Prime Minister for giving Himachal Pradesh representation in the Cabinet.

Mr Avninder Singh, Mr Kulbir Singh and Mr Ved Prakash Mittal, all BJP leaders, and Mr Anil Kumar of Yuva Morcha have congratulated Mr Kumar.

Installation of the NDA ministry led by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and the inclusion of Mr Shanta Kumar, as the Cabinet minister was hailed by people of Hamirpur district on Wednesday.

This is for the first time in the history of Himachal Pradesh that any MP from here has been inducted into the Union Cabinet as Cabinet minister. Earlier, Himachal Pradesh used to get berth in the Cabinet as minister of state.

Supporters of Shanta Kumar jubilant
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 13 — The induction of the BJP stalwart Mr Shanta Kumar into the Union Cabinet has come as a shot in the arm for his supporters who had been demoralised ever since the BJP-HVC combine government headed by Mr P.K. Dhumal came to power 18 months ago in Himachal Pradesh.

This is the first time that someone from Himachal has been made a Cabinet minister. Himachal always had ministers of state at the Centre during the Congress regime.

With the induction of Mr Shanta Kumar, Himachal has got representation in the union ministry after about four years.

The induction of Mr Shanta Kumar has been widely welcomed. A rally was held near The Mall here to convey thanks to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, for making Mr Shanta Kumar a minister. Reports of jubilation have also been received from various parts of Kangra district.

It was on honour to him. He said he would take care of the interests of the state.

Mr Shanta Kumar was elected to the Lok Sabha for the third time. The rival group in the BJP had allegedly stalled his induction earlier.

The functioning of the ruling BJP may no longer be a one-sided affair as the Shanta supporters might seek equal participation in the government. There are indications that the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, might reshuffle his ministry to give more representation to Mr Shanta Kumar’s supporters.

Senior leaders of the BJP have been making futile efforts to bury the hatchet. Mr Dhumal is learnt to have pleaded the case of Mr Shanta Kumar before the party’s central leadership this time.

On the other hand, the HVC which is an alliance partner of the BJP has not been obliged by Mr Vajpayee. The party was demanding that a ministerial berth should be given to one of its MPs. The party has one member each in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

While Mr Sukh Ram was reportedly trying to get a ministerial berth for his son, Mr Anil Sharma, the PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh and certain others were demanding that Lt Col Dhani Ram Shandil (retd) should be made a minister. Mr Mohinder Singh also demanded that Col Shandil should be given the Defence portfolio.

Meanwhile, Mr Dhumal has thanked the Prime Minister for giving representation to the state by inducting Mr Shanta Kumar.

The Speaker, Thakur Gulab Singh, said the pace of development would be further speeded up in the state with Mr Shanta Kumar becoming a minister.

The Congress leader and a former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, has wished Mr Shanta Kumar success and has hoped that he will pay special attention to the overall development of the state.

Mr Prakash Chaudhary, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, has expressed the hope that the state would make development under the "dynamic" leadership of Mr Shanta Kumar.

Move to reduce holidays hailed
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Oct 13 — Mr Ram Singh, Chief Adviser, Himachal Pradesh State Employees Confederation, and former President, Himachal Pardesh NGOs Federation, has welcomed the proposal of the Chief Minister to reduce gazetted holidays in government offices and to ensure more working days for the benefit of people.

Addressing mediapersons here yesterday, he urged the Chief Minister to constitute a state-level high-powered committee, including all sections of employees' leaders, for finalising the transfer policy to which the BJP-HVC alliance was "committed".

He said the finalisation of the policy should not be delayed and it should be enforced within three months. He also demanded that the government should come forward to accept all demands of the state employees and implement all allowances and other financial benefits which were being given by the Punjab Government to its employees.

2 pilgrims killed in vehicle collision
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Oct 13 — Two pilgrims were killed on the spot and six others injured when a truck collided with their Tata Sumo collided at Damtal in this district today, police said.

District police chief K.C. Sadiyal said that those killed were identified as Vinod Thakur, 42, and his daughter Priti, 22, who died on the spot.

The six injured include Chanderwati, 40, wife of Mr Vinod Kumar, who was admitted to a Pathankot hospital in critical condition.

Charas worth 5.5 cr seized, 4 held
From Our Correspondent

KULU, Oct 13 — The Narcotic Control Bureau and the police seized 36 kg of charas worth Rs 5.5 crore in raids on the residences of Gupat Ram at Mohal and Sultanpur, yesterday.

The police has arrested Gupat Ram (70), his daughter-in-law, his wife and one other.

In another incident, the police busted a gang of juvenile thieves involved in small thefts.

The five juvenile delinquents of the age group between 11 and 14 used to steal car stereos and other accessories.

A stolen VHP set has been recovered from their possession.

The SP said they would be sent to a reforming centre at Una.