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| Tuesday, January 18, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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BJP ridicules Virbhadra's remarks HP not going soft on graft cases:
CM BJP recommends two names for Solan Selection of new lama 'a panic
reaction' Where wood is heating fuel |
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| Federation plans rally SHIMLA, Jan 17 — Mr Gopal Dass Verma, Secretary, National Government Employees Federation, has criticised the decision of the Centre to reduce the rate of interest on public provident fund by one per cent. Kashmiri
militants ‘active’ in Kangra Shalini crowned Winter Queen Order against BDO quashed Crucial posts in Chamba vacant
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BJP
ridicules Virbhadra's remarks SHIMLA, Jan 17 — The state BJP has ridiculed the statement of Mr Virbhadra Singh, a former Chief Minister, criticising the Election Commission and termed it as an "outburst" of a feudal lord who had no faith in constitutional bodies. In a statement here today, Mr Ganesh Dut, the media in charge of the party and vice-chairman of the State Housing Board, said the Congress leader was in the habit of making such wild allegations. In the last Assembly elections he had branded Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill as an "Akali" and of late he had been even attacking the Himachal Public Service Commission. Such an irresponsible conduct did not behove a leader who had occupied the post of Chief Minister for over 12 years. Referring to Mr Virbhadra Singh's criticism for the raising of loans by the BJP--HVC Government, he said the present regime had been forced to resort to borrowings to meet the debt liabilities created by the Congress Government. In fact, it was Mr Virbhadra Singh's Government which had plunged the state into a perennial financial crisis by concealing the actual budget deficit from the ninth Finance Commission. Mr Ganesh Dut also refuted the charge of irregularities in appointments and said it was only during the Congress regime that even medically unfit persons were recruited to the state police. While the previous
Congress Government had hushed up all scandals, Mr P K
Dhumal, Chief Minister, lost no time in ordering an
inquiry into the alleged bitumen emulsion scam and even
suspended the Chief Engineer concerned. |
HP not
going soft on graft cases: CM JAWALAMUKHI, Jan 17 — The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has refuted the charge that his government was going soft on corruption cases against the previous Virbhadra Singh government. All such cases were being investigated into at appropriate levels, Mr Dhumal told newsmen at the local degree college here yesterday. The CBI had been entrusted with the task of investigating into the HVC charge against the former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh. The Congress had more faith in probes by Central agencies than the State machinery. The findings of the Abhey Shukla committee on irregularities in recruitments during the Congress regime vindicated the Bharatiya Janata Party's stand. Total loan liability had crossed Rs 6,000 crore, while the annual interest payment was around Rs 650 crore, which was high on a state like Himachal with a total budget of Rs 300 crore. He cleared that there was not any financial problem in the state. The BJP had never
opposed the implementation of the Mandal Commission
report and the Supreme Court directives pertaining to the
commission. |
BJP
recommends two names for Solan SHIMLA, Jan 17 — The state election committee of the BJP has recommended two names for the Solan Assembly byelection scheduled for February 17. Besides Mr Mohinder Sofat, the party candidate who lost the seat by a narrow margin during the last Assembly elections, the committee is learnt to have recommended the name of Mr Rajeev Bindal, a local party leader from Solan town. The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Mr Suresh Chandel, the state party President, at Bilaspur yesterday, also discussed the names of Mr Virender Kashyap and Mrs Rakesh Kumari Sharma. While the name of Mr Kashyap was considered in view of the reports that the Congress may replace its candidate, Miss Krishna Mohini, whose election was quashed by the Supreme Court, by Mr Krishan Dutt Sultanpuri, a senior Congress leader, who belongs to a scheduled caste. Mrs Rakesh Kumari's name figured when some members suggested that the party should field a woman to challenge Miss Mohini. After prolonged discussions the committee recommended the names of Mr Sofat and Mr Bindal. Besides Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, and Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Mr Maheshwar Singh, MP, J.P. Nadda, Mr Kishori Lal, Mr Mohan Lal and Ms Shyama Sharma attended the meeting. The final decision on the candidate will be taken by the Parliamentary Board of the party at a meeting in New Delhi tomorrow. Meanwhile, the party has drawn up a programme to strengthen the organisational set up and mobilise workers at the grassroots level in the state. Party President Suresh Chandel, will tour various districts to listen to the grievances and problems of partymen and evaluate the performance of district unit. The progress of tasks assigned to each units will be monitored. This will include the setting up of Shakti Kendras, district offices and enrolment of members. Mr Chandel will visit
Sirmaur district from January 21 and wind up his tour
with a meeting of the District unit at Sarahan on January
24. He will carry out the exercise in other districts in
a phased manner. |
CM cancels
meeting, rushes to Delhi DHARAMSALA, Jan 17 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, after cancelling tomorrow's Cabinet meeting here, rushed to Delhi today. This is speculation that the Chief Minister had to cancel the Cabinet meeting, as the party candidates for the assembly byelection to the Solan constituency is to be decided. Ever since Mr Virbhadra Singh started the practice of the winter move here, the state Cabinet holds one meeting at Dharamsala. The sudden decision of the Chief Minister to leave for Delhi is being considered very significant in political circles, as within the BJP there are a number of claimants for the Solan ticket. While former minister Mahender Singh Sofat is being backed by Union Minister Shanta Kumar, the Chief Minister is learnt to be supporting the candidature of Mr Virender Kashyap and Mr Rajender Bindal. Meanwhile, Mr Dhumal, while presiding over the meeting of the Gorkha Welfare Board, here said the government was committed to the welfare of the weaker sections of society. He said a number of welfare schemes had been implemented for the welfare of the Gorkhas and Rs 24 crore were being spent for the welfare of the backward classes. The Chief Minister, who also presided over the meeting of the Gaddi and Gujjar Kalyan Board, said the state government was committed to give the Scheduled Tribes status to these communities in the new areas. He stated that the state
assembly had adopted a resolution in this regard, so that
the discrepancy between the Gaddis and Gujjars in the new
areas could be removed. |
BSP to
contest Solan byelection SHIMLA, Jan 17 — The BSP has decided to contest the Solan byelection. The decision was taken at a party meeting held at Solan. The party has recommended the names of Mr Kishori Lal Hans and Mr Jia Lal Kashyap for the seat. The final decision on the candidate will be taken by Mr Kanshi Ram, BSP President. The BSP will make the
failure of the BJP-HVC Government on various fronts as
the main poll plank. The issues identified by the party
include non- implementation of reservation for Scheduled
Castes and backward classes in toto and the diversion of
funds sanctioned under the special component plan for
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. |
Where wood
is heating fuel CHAMBA: The remote area of Pangi in Chamba district is known for its difficult life as well as for its rich culture and heritage. Pangwals are simple but hard working. To reach Pangi one has either to cross the Sach pass at an altitude of 4,390 metres through a bridle path or has to come to Rohtang pass by road. From Rohtang one has to come down to Tandi, the confluence of the Chandra and the Bhaga rivers, and then to Udaipur. The road is fairly good by hill standards. The Pangi tribal sub-division starts from Udaipur. The road is narrow and weather-beaten but the colourful vegetation in patches on both sides of the river gives a respite. After crossing Tindi and Purthi, one reaches Killar, the headquarters of Pangi subdivision. There is abundance of big game (wild life), including the prized ibex and bharal and two varieties of mountain goat. There is an oasis of green fields and willow trees along water courses and around villages. The golden yellow coloured leaves of willow and other broad-leaf trees provide a unique scenery in patches, which attract the attention of passers-by. According to the local residents, the winters are severe in Pangi and temperature falls well below the freezing point. Life in sub-zero temperature is very difficult. Despite progress in science and technology, most people in this region still use wood for cooking and heating. In the tough terrain and hostile environment, the Himachal Pradesh Government has entrusted the state Forest Corporation with the job of carrying wood to this far-flung region — a Herculean task. Official sources reveal
that since green trees are not being marked in Himachal
Pradesh, the Forest Corporation is undertaking the
arduous task of harvesting forest produce to meet the
needs of tribesmen. And to fulfil the total requirement
of the Pangwals for the snowy weather, about 5000
quintals of wood has been supplied by the corporation to
this tribal valley well in time. |
Federation
plans rally SHIMLA, Jan 17 — Mr Gopal Dass Verma, Secretary, National Government Employees Federation, has criticised the decision of the Centre to reduce the rate of interest on public provident fund by one per cent. He said the decision was a blow to common man who earned through small savings. The federation, he said,
would organise a rally at New Delhi on February 22 in
support of the demand of employees. He said the BJP had
promised to raise the income tax limit for salaried class
to Rs 1 lakh but it failed to do so after coming to
power. |
Kashmiri
militants ‘active’ in Kangra KANGRA, Jan 17 — The Himachal Government and the central government have failed on all fronts, including curbing of the militancy which has now spread to Himachal also. This was stated by Swami Virandranand Giri, state president of the Sanatan Dharam Math and the Mandir Suraksha Samiti here today. He blamed the intelligence agencies for their failure in curbing movement of infiltrators from China and Pakistan into India. He said Kashmiri militants had spread their activities in different parts of Kangra district. He said government had failed in nabbing even a single militant in the district. He alleged that Kashmiri militants were roaming in the town and other parts of this district as businessmen. He demanded that the
Centre should stop plying of the Delhi-Lahore and
Caulcata-Dhaka buses as these two routes were used by
militants to sneak into the country. |
Selection
of new lama 'a panic reaction' DHARAMSALA, Jan 17 — The Tibetan government-in-exile said today the selection of the reincarnation of the sixth Reting Lama by China was a panic reaction, nothing more than political manoeuvring by the communist regime. Reacting to the selection of a two-year-old boy as the reincarnation of the sixth Reting Lama, who died in 1997, the Minister for Religion and Culture in the Tibetan government, Mr Tashi Wangdi, said the latest move was in no way connected with the escape of the 17th Karmapa from Tibet as the search had been on for the past quite sometime. "Without the approval of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan people and other Buddhists will never accept the selection of a Chinese," he said. The entire process will prove to be a futile exercise till the proper procedure is followed. "Under the established tradition, the search for the reincarnation has to be undertaken by the monks of the Reting monastery and the final choice will be of the Dalai Lama," he informed. Mr Wangdi said the reincarnation of the Reting Lama would meet the fate like the Panchen Lama, selected by the Chinese. Despite the fact that the Chinese had enthroned their own selection as the Panchen Lama, the Tibetan people refused to accept him as the word of the Dalai Lama was final for them, he added. Regarding the grant of political asylum to the 17th Karmapa, Mr Wangdi said the Government of India was aware of all facts and after getting a response from it, the Tibetan government would act. Meanwhile, senior monks
of the Kagyu sect from Sikkim, Nepal and Varanasi met the
17th Karmapa, at the Gyuto monastery in Sidhbari. |
Shalini
crowned Winter Queen MANALI, Jan 17 — Miss Shalini of Vipasha Yuvak Sangathan Katrain (Kulu) was crowned Winter Queen at winter carnival 2000 last evening. Miss Jagriti Bhandari of Yashwant Rao Chauhan College Kola, Mumbai, and Miss Tripati Lalwani of Scope (Pune) were adjudged first and second runners up, respectively, at the six-day carnival here. Results of other competitions are: Personality contest (men) 1, Narender Kumar, Muktsar Kala Manch, Mukatsar (Punjab); 2, Shishu Upmanyu Rydum (Jammu); 3 Shanta Parshad Lala Lajpat Rai College, Mumbai. Photography, Scope (Pune) Street play: Rydum (Jammu) 2, Muktsar Kala Manch, 3 Srijan Kala Sangam, Bhauntar (Kulu) Jhanki 1 Mukatsar; 2 Ahyan Kala Sangam, Bhuntar; 3 Him Vikas Mandal, Parsha (Kulu). Film song: 1 Avant Sharuv; 2 Vashali and 3, Nitin Skit: 1 Srijan Kala Manch, 2 Akash Kala Sangam and Vipasha Kala Manch. Fancy dress: 1 Vipasha Kala Sangam; 2 Y.C. College; 3 Lala Lajpat Rai College. Fashion Show: 1 Akash Kala Sangam; 2 Srijan Kala Kendra; 3 Lala Lajpat Rai College. Snow craft: 1 Scope (Pune); 2 Y.C. College; 3 Ashyan Kala Manch. Folk dance: 1 Mukatsar Kala Manch; 2 Seena Pali (Orissa) and Scope (Pune). Jhanki's by mahila mandals: 1 Nasogi; 2 Gadherni; 3 Chhyal. Local bands (badya yantar): 1 Aleo; 2 Bhanara; 3 Seonsa. Over all trophy was won by Muktsar Kala Manch, Mukatsar (Punjab). The concluding function was presided over by the Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports, Parveen Sharma. He announced that
sitting capacity of the Manu Rang Manch stadium would be
increased. For this funds to the tune of Rs 12 lakh would
be released immediately on receiving of a plan from the
district authorities. He also gave away prizes to the
winners. |
Order
against BDO quashed KANGRA, Jan 17 — Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal has quashed the state government's order prematurely retiring a Block Development Officer (BDO) of Dhera in this district and quashed the adverse entries made in his annual confidential report in 1983-84. The order has been passed by the two-member Bench of the tribunal, comprising the Chairman, Justice A.L. Vaidya and a member, Mr V.K. Bhatnagar, on a petition moved by Mr R.L. Vashistha, a former BDO of Dhera block. The tribunal ruled that
the two vigilance inquiries, on the basis of which the
order of premature retirement was passed, did in any way
prove that the petitioner was inefficient in the
day-to-day discharge of his official duties. |
Crucial
posts in Chamba vacant CHAMBA, Jan 17 — The entire district administration here is being run by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) as some crucial posts have been lying vacant for the past sometime. The State Government has escaped its attention to appoint officers on these posts. At the moment, the posts of Assistant Commissioner, District Revenue Officer, Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, Divisional Tourism Development Officer, Tehsildar (Sadar) and Tehsildar (Recovery) have been lying vacant. Residents of the region
have asked the State Goverment to fill these posts for
the convenience of the public and to boost tourism. |
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