Recycled boxes caused '4 cr loss'
KULU: Fruit growers of Himachal Pradesh suffered a loss of Rs 4 crore due to the "substandard" and "recycled" apple packing boxes supplied by the government undertaking corporations Agro Packaging Industries Limited and the HMPC.


BJP men intimidating voters: Sat Mahajan
DHARAMSALA, Sept 14 — The PCC chief and the party candidate from Kangra, Mr Sat Mahajan, today said that realising that they were fighting a losing battle.

Prove charge, Kapoor dares Cong men
NURPUR, Sept 14 — Mr Kishan Kapoor, Transport Minister and BJP election in charge for the Kangra parliamentary constituency, has dared Congress leaders to prove their allegation of irregularities in the recruitment for 378 vacant posts in the HRTC.

CITU to oppose BJP, HVC
SHIMLA, Sept 14 — The state unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions would work for the defeat of the BJP-HVC combine in the ensuing Lok Sabha poll.

Seven acquitted of murder
SUNDERNAGAR, Sept 14 — Mr Samsher Singh, Additional Sessions Judge, Mandi Division, in a significant judgement which was delivered yesterday has acquitted all seven accused from the charge of murdering Ramji Dass, of Bhatoli village, Gohar subdivision. He was murdered when he was cutting grass.

Gunner Raju Mandyal cremated
JWALAMUKHI, Sept 14 — The mortal remains of 24-year-old gunner Raju Mandyal, who laid down his life in the Baramula sector on September 11, were consigned to flames in his native village 'Kalri' near Jwalamukhi today.

Police moves HC for bail cancellation
SHIMLA, Sept 14 — The district police has moved an application in the Himachal Pradesh High Court for the cancellation of bail of six activists of the Students Federation of India who were convicted by the sessions court for attempt to murder a worker of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

Chandel seeks postal employees’ support
JAWALAMUKHI, Sept 14 — The President of the state unit of the BJP, Mr Suresh Chandel today called upon the employees of Postal Department and asked them to extend their support to the party which can ensure territorial integrity of the country.

• PM to visit Kangra on Sept 21

Recycled boxes caused '4 cr loss'
From Subhash Sharma

KULU: Fruit growers of Himachal Pradesh suffered a loss of Rs 4 crore due to the "substandard" and "recycled" apple packing boxes supplied by the government undertaking corporations Agro Packaging Industries Limited (APIL) and the HMPC. This was stated by Kanwar Rupinder Singh, President of the Lower Kulu Fruit Growers Association, at a meet the press.

Kanwar Rupinder Singh demanded a judicial probe into the bungling of government funds in the production of these boxes. He said the packaging corporation had altered the disposed of boxes of various items like TVs, shoes etc and supplied the cartons to the farmers. He alleged the wastage of manufactured boxes was sold in the market at Rs 2 per kg whereas APIL had supplied the boxes, initially at Rs 12.60 per box weighing around half a kilogram and later at Rs 10.50 per box because the private manufacturers were supplying the cartons at that rate.

The fruit growers' association president said the state government had cheated the farmers and supplied "kachra" on "so-called subsidised rates". The usual standards fixed for the private manufacturers of cobb value, compression, puncture and busting strength were overlooked by the government. Even the size of the boxes was not up to the standard. He showed the boxes to media persons, alleging that the 10 kg box standard size was 487x205x225 (in mm) whereas the boxes supplied were of the size 470x218x235 (in mm). He said because of the bigger sized boxes supplied the farmers were put to loss as about 10 to 12 extra apples were going in each box.

It was learnt that 20,000 boxes were sold in Kulu and 50,000 were supplied to Chamba apple growers. The same number was sold in Upper Shimla areas also.

Kanwar Rupinder Singh said the apples sent in these boxes could not fetch a good price as the boxes could not stand the weight and collapsed in transit and the apples were damaged. He said on one hand the total produce of apples in this district had been only about 10 per cent in comparison to last year's yield and on the other the HP Government added fuel to the burning economy of the farmers.

The fruit growers' association also demanded the Kulu valley should be declared as "drought-hit". The banks should be directed to defer the interest on the loans taken by the farmers. The farmers who had stocked apple packing boxes in bulk keeping in view the average produce should be given relief. Either boxes should be purchased from them or soft loans provided to them.

As the farmers did not have enough space to stock the boxes the government should provide godowns so that the boxes were not damaged. He also demanded that the apples and allied fruits should be taken out of the OGL list. At least the government should stop importing apples till the time the apple growers were in a position to compete with international standards.

The president of the association demanded immediate relief on the forthcoming necessities of the apple growers like the "SO" (spray oil) which needed next month. He said the subsidy on the fungicides and pesticides should be enhanced to compensate the farmers' loss.

BJP men intimidating voters: Sat Mahajan
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Sept 14 — The PCC chief and the party candidate from Kangra, Mr Sat Mahajan, today said that realising that they were fighting a losing battle. BJP leaders had started intimidating people.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Mahajan, said BJP leaders had become a terror for the people as they were threatening them that all development work would be stopped in their area if they did not support the BJP. He alleged that the Transport Minister, Mr Krishan Kapoor, had threatened some panchayat pradhans and government employees that a vigilance inquiry would be initiated against them if they did not support the BJP candidate Mr Shanta Kumar.

Mr Mahajan said the panchayat pradhan of Kuhala Mr Sher Singh, was threatened and beaten up by BJP men in the presence of the Transport Minister and the Agriculture Minister Mr Vidyasagar, when he wanted to say a few words at the public meeting being addressed by them.

"It is very unfortunate that a normal accidental death of a woman of the nearby Sukoh village was being blown out of proportion simply to get political mileage out of it," said the PCC chief. Mr Mahajan, said the death of the woman, who was hit by a vehicle, which formed part of the convoy of vehicles accompanying him, was sad, but it was unfortunate that the BJP was trying to give it political tinge. Citing instances he said that Mr Shanta Kumar's own vehicle had once hit Mr Kewal Singh Pathania's son-in-law, and instead of making it a political issue, the Congress was gracious enough to even withdraw the case. "It appears that the BJP has no concrete election issue, which is why it is even trying to get political mileage out of an accidental death," he regretted.

Mr Mahajan, said no Chief Minister, other than Mr Shanta Kumar, had lost election in the state. It was a measure of Mr Shanta Kumar's unpopularity. Mr Mahajan, also expressed the apprehension over the infiltration of anti-social elements from Punjab, as they were trying to take advantage of the late elections in Himachal.

The Kangra district senior vice-president of the Himachal Vikas Congress, Mr Rakesh Narayan, announced his decision to join the Congress in the presence of Mr Mahajan. He was the HVC candidate from the Dharamsala constituency, during the last assembly elections.

Cong leaders "made" Sonia’s origin issue
From Tribune Reporters

KANGRA, Sept 14 — The General Secretary of the BJP and in charge Himachal Pradesh, Mr Narender Modi, today said that his party had never made the foreign origin of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, an issue.

Talking to newspersons here he said the BJP had never raked up the issue of the foreign origin of Mrs Gandhi. On the contrary, it was a section of Congress leaders who had objected to it. He said as far his party was concerned, it was not making her foreign origin an election issue but a person who wished to head the nation must have at least some experience in public life.

Later Mr Modi addressed an election meeting at Shahpur.

JAWALAMUKHI: The BJP on Tuesday said it was confident of winning at least 190 to 200 seats of the 268 Lok Sabha constituencies that went to the polls in the first and second phase of the election up to September 11.

Mr Modi said a majority of parties were only talking of ways and means to keep the BJP out of power and nobody was talking about their manifestos. He said if a BJP government was formed it would give importance to those issues on which there was a consensus in the 12th Lok Sabha, like electoral reforms, women’s reservation Bill and the Lok Pal Bill.

HAMIRPUR: Mr Modi blamed the Congress for the plight of the Muslims. Addressing an election meeting at Jolsapper village, 15 km from here, on Tuesday he gave a call to the Muslims and other minority communities to join hands with the BJP for taking the nation forward.

BILASPUR: Addressing a largely attended election rally organised by Health Minister Jagatprakash Nadda here, Mr Modi charged the Congress with repeated "machinations and conspiracies" for destabilising three Central Governments.

He said the Congress was responsible for imposing the elections on the country.

Cong sore at EC’s inaction against BJP
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 14 — The state unit of the Congress has expressed concern over the failure of the Election Commission to take action against the ruling BJP. Which is allegedly trying to influence the electorate through bribes and threats.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Vineet Gautam, the party spokesperson, said that prominent BJP leaders, including Mr Shanta Kumar and Mr P.K. Dhumal, had been openly stating in their election meetings that funds for development would be given for only those panchayats and Vidhan Sabha segments from where the party would get a lead in the Lok Sabha poll. Another leader, Mr Dulo Ram had allegedly declared that the government would give Rs 1 lakh to panchayats where the people did not allow the Congress to set up polling booths.

The Chief Minister, Mr Dhumal, even announced during a rally at Arki on September 9 that the party would come out with a special package for assembly segments which gave a lead to the party, he further alleged.

Mr Gautam said the party had met the Chief Election Commissioner at Delhi and the state Election Officer here and brought these facts to their notice but so far no action had been taken. If Mr O.P. Chautala could be sent out of Haryana to ensure a fair poll, what restrained the commission from taking effective measures against the BJP leaders here, he asked. He also alleged that the instruction regarding defacing of public buildings was also not being implemented by the BJP and HVC.

Prove charge, Kapoor dares Cong men
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, Sept 14 — Mr Kishan Kapoor, Transport Minister and BJP election in charge for the Kangra parliamentary constituency, has dared Congress leaders to prove their allegation of irregularities in the recruitment for 378 vacant posts in the HRTC. He claimed that recruitments were done by a selection committee on merit and without prejudice, Mr Kapoor was addressing media persons here last evening after holding a number of poll meetings in the Nurpur assembly segment.

He claimed that Mr Sat Mahajan the Congress candidate was not comfortable even in his own native assembly segment. There was a wave in favour of the BJP in all 17 segments of the Kangra Lok Sabha seat. He alleged that Mr Mahajan who remained a minister for 15 years had failed to carry out development in the rural areas of Nurpur.

Mr Kapoor alleged that the Congress had never protected the interests of the state. He also denied the allegation of the Congress that Kangra district was being discriminated against by the Dhumal government. He said the Shah Nehar and Kholi projects, mini secretariat and regional centre of HP University at Dharamsala, CRPF group centre at Kopra (Nurpur), the installation of new technology for Rs 3 crore at HRTC workshop at Jachh (Nurpur), Rs 5 crore for developing Maharana Pratap Sagar and ropeway for Rs 2.5 crore at Palampur were the major milestones in the development of Kangra district in the past 15 months.

CITU to oppose BJP, HVC
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 14 — The state unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) would work for the defeat of the BJP-HVC combine in the ensuing Lok Sabha poll.

Stating this at a press conference here today, Mr Hem Raj, Vice-President of the union, alleged that the ruling combine had not only failed to fulfil its promise to increase the daily wage to Rs 60 but also let loose a reign of terror on workers who had been agitating for the enforcement of labour laws.

He claimed that even the settlements arrived at on the intervention of the administration were not being implemented. For instance, as per the agreement signed between the Nathpa Jhakri Joint Venture Workers Union and the management in the presence of the Deputy Commissioner, the company was to take back 348 retrenched, workers. However, the company instead of reinstating the workers, paid them retrenchment benefits and employed them afresh in gross violation of the agreement. The union moved the court and secured appropriate orders but even these were not being implemented.

The union would hold rallies all over the state on September 16, hold corner meetings and distribute 50,000 pamphlets to ensure the defeat of the BJP-HVC combine. It would support the Congress candidates in Mandi, Hamirpur and Kangra and the CPI candidate in Shimla constituency.

Seven acquitted of murder
From Our Correspondent

SUNDERNAGAR, Sept 14 — Mr Samsher Singh, Additional Sessions Judge, Mandi Division, in a significant judgement which was delivered yesterday has acquitted all seven accused from the charge of murdering Ramji Dass, of Bhatoli village, Gohar subdivision. He was murdered when he was cutting grass.

The accused persons Parma Ram, Maya Ram, Krishan, Sundru Devi, Raveti Devi, Hima Devi and Parma, alias Purkhu, residents of Bhatoli village were booked under Sections 147, 148, 149, 323, 324 and 302, IPC.

The prosecution examined 19 witnesses in its favour, including six eye witnesses. The eye witnesses deposed that the accused persons inflicted injuries on the victim and his brother, Churamani.

The court accepted the arguments of the defence counsel, Mr M. Sharma, that the witnesses were deposing falsely as the accused persons were also injured, but the witnesses didn't say anything. The court further said, the defence had proved that the plot in which the incident took place was in possession of the accused persons and the complainant tried to evict the accused persons and thereby taken law in their hands. The accused had done committed the act to save their lives and their property.

Gunner Raju Mandyal cremated
From Our Correspondent

JWALAMUKHI, Sept 14 — The mortal remains of 24-year-old gunner Raju Mandyal, who laid down his life in the Baramula sector on September 11, were consigned to flames in his native village 'Kalri' near Jwalamukhi today.

A sea of mourners started pouring into old bus stand near Jwalamukhi shrine early in the morning to pay their homage to the brave son of Jwalamukhi. A two-hour delay in the arrival of the coffin did not deter anyone from braving the scorching heat.

Raju Mandyal of Top Khana Regiment, 28 R/R joined the Army in July, 1994 and was elder son of Krishna Devi. His body was received amid slogans 'Bharat mata ki jai' and 'Raju Mandyal amar rahe.' Slogans against Pakistan rent the air as the truck carrying the coffin entered the town.

Army pall bearers led by Col Dharam Chand carried the coffin as hundreds of mourners stood on both sides of the road to salute the hero. The pyre was lit by his brother Ramu Mandyal.

Police moves HC for bail cancellation
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 14 — The district police has moved an application in the Himachal Pradesh High Court for the cancellation of bail of six activists of the Students Federation of India who were convicted by the sessions court for attempt to murder a worker of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

It has been pointed out in the application that the activists namely, Kushal Bhardwaj, Tikender Singh, Nagendra Sharma, Jagdish Thakur, Prem Raj Negi and Vidya Sagar had been indulging in violent activities while on bail and some criminal cases had registered against them.

The Additional Sessions Judge had convicted and sentenced them to four years rigorous imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs 1000 on March 31, 1997. However, while admitting their appeal the high court released them on bail.

Chandel seeks postal employees’ support
From Our Correspondent

JAWALAMUKHI, Sept 14 — The President of the state unit of the BJP, Mr Suresh Chandel today called upon the employees of Postal Department and asked them to extend their support to the party which can ensure territorial integrity of the country.

While addressing the delegates of the Himachal circle of the All-India Postal Employees Union (Class-III), Mr Chandel, who is contesting the election from Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, warned that if the mandate was not given in favour of a party which could provide a stable government at the Centre, then the 13th Lok Sabha poll would have no meaning. He pointed out that the country was passing through a critical juncture.

Lauding the role of the postal employees towards the development of the country, he exhorted that there were certain other means in the democratic set up to achieve the goals rather than agitate. He assured the employees that he would ventilate their genuine demands.

Earlier various employees leaders spoke about their demands in their speeches.

PM to visit Kangra on Sept 21
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Sept 14 — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, will visit this district on September 21 and would address a public meeting at Rehan, near Nurpur, in this district.

According to the well placed party sources, Mr Vajpayee will also address a public meeting at Amb in Una district the same day. He would address poll meetings in support of Mr Shanta Kumar and Mr Suresh Chandel in Kangra and Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituencies, respectively.