Bilaspur Chamba Hamirpur Dharamsala Shimla Solan

Israel to organise workshop in HP
MANALI, Sept 9 — The Centre for International Cooperation of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mashav, will organise a workshop on horticulture in November in Shimla district. He said the workshop would be held at Manali and Kulu also.

Protest against police ‘inaction’
DHARAMSALA, Sept 9 — About 200 persons of Sukoh village, including a large number of women, blocked traffic for two hours in the town to protest against the failure of the police to arrest the persons whose vehicle had hit a woman resulting in her death on the day the Congress candidate, Mr Sat Mahajan, filed his nomination.

Poll observers for Kangra, Mandi
CHAMBA, Sept 9 — The Election Commission has appointed three observers for the Kangra Lok Sabha constituency and three observers for the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency.

IA to resume Kangra flights
SHIMLA, Sept 9 — Indian Airlines will resume its commercial flights to Kangra on September 16. The flights were suspended about four years ago.

Sultanpuri denies rumours
SOLAN, Sept 9 — Former M.P., Mr K.D. Sultanpuri, who was replaced as Congress candidate for the Shimla constituency by Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, yesterday denied the 'rumours' describing his replacement to his being perceived as a "losing candidate".

36 injured as bus falls into gorge
BILASPUR, Sept 9 — Thirtysix passengers of a private bus were injured, three of them seriously, when the bus while coming from Jahu to Ghumarwin, skidded of the road and fell into a gorge on the Kutheda road, 36 km from here, this morning.

• Doctor's bail plea rejected
• Land Ceiling Act opposed

• Reports denied

Congress created instability: CM
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Sept 9 — The ruling BJP-HVC alliance organised a public meeting as part of their election campaign at Dharampur, 15 km from here, yesterday. About 300 persons, including party enthusiasts, specially transported from Solan and other adjoining areas, attended the meeting.

The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, once again singled out the Congress as a party responsible for creating an atmosphere of instability in the country. He said owing to the ‘‘machinations’’ of the Congress six Union Governments were toppled in the last 20 years. This had caused a loss of over Rs 70,000 crore to the public exchequer besides inflicting serious setbacks to the pace of development in the country.

He lauded the achievements of the BJP-led alliances both at the Centre and in the state and claimed that the BJP in the event of being voted back to power would usher in an era of unprecedented progress in the country.

The HVC chief, Mr Sukh Ram, said that his main aim was to end feudalistic rule — a veiled attack on the regime of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. He accused the Congress of neglecting the power generation sector. He was of the view that the state, which had to run to the Centre with a begging bowl every now and then, could become economically self-reliant simply by exploiting it's proven and vast hydel power potential.

The Chairman, State Marketing Board, Mr Virendra Kashyap; former Minister, Mohinder Nath Sofat; PWD Minister, Mr Mahinder Singh and former MLA, Mr Sat Pal Kamboj also spoke.

Lathi charge on HPU students
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 9 — The police resorted to a lathi charge on activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) who were demonstrating outside the office of the Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University here today.

As many as 28 agitating students were taken into custody.

While a spokesman of the HPU has claimed that the students became violent and smashed windowpanes, the SFI has alleged that the police started the lathi charge when they were peacefully squatting outside the office of the VC.

Mr Rakesh Singha, a former MLA, and the DYFI have also criticised the authorities for the lathi charge. They have demanded a judicial enquiry into the incident.

The SFI has claimed that 12 students received injuries in the lathi charge, which was "unprovoked".

The spokesman of the HPU has alleged that the SFI has backtracked from the agreement of August 30 in which it was decided to set up a committee to suggest reforms in the pattern of elections for the Students Central Association.

Meanwhile, the NSUI president, Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, has alleged that a function was recently organised by RSS workers on the campus in which the Vice-Chancellor also participated.

Mr Pathania alleged that RSS and BJP activists were being appointed to various posts flouting rules and regulations. The educational institutions were being "saffronised" in the state, he alleged.

Apology sought for Chandel's remarks
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Sept 9 — Mrs Anita Verma, Vice-President of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee has demanded an apology from the BJP candidate for Hamirpur seat, Mr Suresh Chandel, for his utterances against Mrs Sonia Gandhi, in which he reportedly stated that she (Mrs Sonia Gandhi) gave nothing to the nation, except Rahul and Priyanka. She said this statement was not only against Mrs Sonia Gandhi but the women folk as a whole.

Addressing mediapersons here yesterday, she criticised the BJP leader for making such irresponsible comments. She asked Mr Chandel to make a public apology.

She alleged that the official machinery, was being used during the BJP rally here two days ago in which the Chief Minister was also present.

Mrs Verma said the addressing of a press conference by the Chief Minister and Mrs Chandel at the district courts was a violation of the model code of conduct and the election commission should take a note of it. She said the party would meet the election observers and apprise them of the whole matter.

The press conference was also attended by Mr Kuldip Singh Pathania, ex MLA, Mr Prem Kaushal and Mr Anil Verma, Press Secretary of the district unit of the party.

She dubbed the BJP as a party of highly unscrupulous elements. She said neither the party had any policy nor any programmes and would be wiped out from the political scene of the nation after the Lok Sabha poll.

She claimed that there was a Congress wave in the state and the party would win all seats.

Israel to organise workshop in HP
From Our Correspondent

MANALI, Sept 9 — The Centre for International Cooperation of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mashav, will organise a workshop on horticulture in November in Shimla district. He said the workshop would be held at Manali and Kulu also.

Stating this Mr Dan Stav, Minister councillor, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Istael, stated that two experts would be invited from Israel to participate in the proposed workshop to be organised for two week each. He was addressing the media persons here yesterday. The minister councillor said the main objective behind the convening of the proposed workshop was to discuss the main cause behind the failure of the apple crop in Himachal Pradesh and the premature defoliation caused by mite this year. He further said the experts in horticulture would be engaged in the research work and create awareness among apple growers. Mr Dan Stav said a free eye camp had been started at Manali by Mashav from August 28 to September 12 in collaboration with Lady Willingdon Hospital, the Rotary Club and Share organisation of Manali.

He said during the eye camp the experts would provide surgery and care to patients and would also provide equipment from Israel to provide facilities for such services.

Protest against police ‘inaction’
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Sept 9 — About 200 persons of Sukoh village, including a large number of women, blocked traffic for two hours in the town to protest against the failure of the police to arrest the persons whose vehicle had hit a woman resulting in her death on the day the Congress candidate, Mr Sat Mahajan, filed his nomination.

The agitated villagers raised slogans against Congress leaders as the vehicle, which reportedly bore a Delhi registration number, was part of Mr Mahajan's convoy.

They also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr B.K. Aggarwal, demanding that vehicles entering Himachal from outside should be checked properly, especially in view of the elections

Poll observers for Kangra, Mandi

CHAMBA, Sept 9 — The Election Commission has appointed three observers for the Kangra Lok Sabha constituency and three observers for the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency.

According to an official spokesman, the observers for the Kangra Lok Sabha constituency are Mr C.K. Misra, Mr Gireesh B. Pradhan (general observers) and Mr Rajiv Bhatia (expenditure observer).

The observers for the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency are Mr S.G. Kumar, Mr D.V. Prashad (general observers) and Mr Mahender Singh (expenditure observer). They can be contacted at Mandi.

IA to resume Kangra flights
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 9 — Indian Airlines will resume its commercial flights to Kangra on September 16. The flights were suspended about four years ago.

The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, told mediapersons here today that the flights would operate three days in a week from the Gaggal airport in Kangra.

He said he had suggested to the Civil Aviation Ministry to operate the flights in such a manner that the entire circuit of the tourist places of Shimla, Kulu and Kangra was covered. This would help promote tourism in the state.

The flights to Kangra were cancelled as the runway at Gaggal had sunk at a few places. The runway has now been repaired and was recently examined by civil aviation experts.

Sultanpuri denies rumours
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Sept 9 — Former M.P., Mr K.D. Sultanpuri, who was replaced as Congress candidate for the Shimla constituency by Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, yesterday denied the 'rumours' describing his replacement to his being perceived as a "losing candidate".

He told mediapersons here the changing of the candidates had been done keeping in view the long term interests of the party and with his full consent. He denied reports, published in a section of the Press, that he had been asked to step down after a large section of partymen threatened to revolt.

Mr Sultanpuri appealed to his partymen to stay united and work wholeheartedly for the success of the party candidate, Mr Musfair.

36 injured as bus falls into gorge
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Sept 9 — Thirtysix passengers of a private bus were injured, three of them seriously, when the bus while coming from Jahu to Ghumarwin, skidded of the road and fell into a gorge on the Kutheda road, 36 km from here, this morning.

Both the driver and conductor were also injured. Three seriously injured were rushed to district hospital. The remaining 33 passengers were admitted at government community health centre at Ghumarwin.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mr B.L. Raghav, and a team of doctors rushed to the site of the accident.

Reports denied
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, Sept, 9 — Ms Shyama Sharma, Vice Chairperson, Himachal Pradesh State Planning Board has denied reports appearing in a section of the press that there were sharp differences between the BJP-HVC alliance workers and BJP leaders in the district. Describing these allegations as biased and totally baseless she said the recent joint election tour of Sirmour district by Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, and the HVC leader, Mr Sukh Ram evoked tremendous public response.

Doctor's bail plea rejected
From Our Correspondent

SHIMLA, Sept 9 — The Judicial Magistrate here today rejected the bail application of Dr S.K. Ahluwalia, Head of Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, and sent him in police custody.

Dr Ahluwalia's name was mentioned in the suicide note of a junior doctor, Harpal Singh, who committed suicide on August 21.

Land Ceiling Act opposed
From Our Correspondent

PALAMPUR, Sept 9 — The Himachal Pradesh Tea Growers Association has opposed the recent amendments made in the H.P. Land Ceiling Act. At an emergency meeting held here yesterday, the association urged the President, Mr K.R. Narayanan, to withhold his assent to the Bill.

Briefing newsmen here Mr Rajinder Singh Thakur, spokesman for the association, said the Bill was against the tea growers. He said it was against the norms to implement the Bill from July, 1973.