H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

BJP poll to generate heat
SHIMLA, March 19 — The organisational elections of the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress are expected to generate much heat as the rival groups within the both parties have become active with the elections drawing nearer.

Woman seeks CBI probe into husband's murder
SHIMLA, March 19 — Mrs Pushpa Devi has demanded a CBI probe into the alleged torture of her husband Ashwani Kumar Sood by the police in the Sairi police post in Solan district and his subsequent murder by some influential persons of the village.

HP to have nine development blocks
HAMIRPUR, March 19 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, while presiding over annual prize distribution function of Senior Secondary School at Tounidevi in Hamirpur district today announced that the state government would restructure development blocks, tehsils and revenue subdivisions in the state to restrict their jurisdictions to respective assembly constituencies.

'Restore' facility to handicapped
SHIMLA, March 19 — Mr D.S. Verma, a Municipal Councillor of the Congress, has urged the state government to revoke its order of withdrawing the free travel facility in HRTC buses for the handicapped.

Holi celebrated with gaiety
KANGRA, March 19 —Holi was today celebrated here with enthusiasm and traditional gaiety with men, women and A children seen playing with colours in this temple town and its suburbs.

Resentment among Shanta supporters
KANGRA, March 19 — Resentment prevails among BJP workers supporting Shanta Kumar as the government has not adhered to the protocol of receiving a Union Minister by at least two state Cabinet Ministers.

Shanta releases children's film
KANGRA, March 19 — The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution System, Mr Shanta Kumar, last evening released a children feature film 'Nanaiy Munaiy Veer Sipahi" directed by Parmesh Chadda in Dharamsala.

Advani to address rally in Shimla
SHIMLA, March 19 — The Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, will address a rally here on March 24 to celebrate the completion of two years in the office of the BJP-HVC government.

BJP poll to generate heat
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 19 — The organisational elections of the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress are expected to generate much heat as the rival groups within the both parties have become active with the elections drawing nearer.

While the election of the new president of the state BJP will be held in May, that of the state Congress chief is slated for June.

One section of the BJP was in favour of giving another term to the present incumbent, Mr Suresh Chandel, but the other faction has been reportedly hurt' because of his sudden shifting of the loyalty towards the group led by the union minister, Mr Shanta Kumar.

Mr Chandel was earlier considered close to Chief Minister, P.K. Dhumal, but difference surfaced between them during the by-election for the Solan seat when the former backed Mr Mohinder Nath Sofat for the party ticket. Mr Sofat is considered close to Mr Shanta Kumar. Efforts were being made to remove the misunderstandings between Mr Dhumal and Mr Chandel.

The last election of the BJP which was held at Jawalamukhi created bad blood among the two factions when they indulged virtually in street fights. Thereafter, the group led by Mr Dhumal has not allowed the Shanta Kumar faction to raise its head.

Some senior BJP leaders want that selection of the new party chief should be held by consensus instead of going in for an election which might further deepen the bitterness between the two factions.

Moreover, supporters of Mr Shanta Kumar have lost the enthusiasm which they had acquired following his induction in the union Cabinet as he has so far failed to take care of the interest of his loyalists here. Only one of his man was given the party ticket out of the six assembly seats for which the election was held after the BJP-HVC came to power in the state two years ago. His nominee was denied the ticket for the Rajya Sabha seat for which polling will be held on March 29.

On the other hand, various factions were trying to grab the post of the pradesh Congress chief in the coming election. The present incumbent, Mr Sat Mahajan, was a nominated PCC chief. The last party election was held in 1992 when Mr Virbhadra Singh was elected the PCC chief in a trial of strength with the group led by Mr Sukh Ram, who was in the Congress at that time.

However, the nomination of Mr Sat Mahajan came as the formula of one man-one post was applied here by the Congress high command when Mr Virbhadra Singh became Chief Minister.

In between, Mr Sant Ram, a Virbhadra Singh loyalist was made the PCC chief, but Mr Mahajan again managed to grab the post.

There were reports that the president of the All-India Women Congress, Mrs Chandresh Kumari, was also a hot contender for the post of the PCC chief as she had come closer to the AICC President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi. However, she was not acceptable to most of the partymen here.

Some party activists have warned that they would not accept thrusting of such "rootless" person as head of the organisation here by the party high command. They point out that Mrs Chandresh Kumari, her husband and her son, miserably lost the assembly election in the Kangra district and she was virtually cut off from the state political scene as she mostly remained in Delhi. She was elected to the Rajya Sabha during the Congress regime.

In a bid to keep the Virbhadra Singh supporters out of power in the organisation, certain groups were trying to convince the party leadership for nominating the new PCC chief instead of holding the election.

Mr Sat Mahaja, who has reportedly sent feelers for another term in office, has irritated the Virbhadra Singh men as some of his trusted people in the party were allegedly hobnobbing with Mr Sukh Ram and his other detractors.

Woman seeks CBI probe into husband's murder
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 19 — Mrs Pushpa Devi has demanded a CBI probe into the alleged torture of her husband Ashwani Kumar Sood by the police in the Sairi police post in Solan district and his subsequent murder by some influential persons of the village.

In a letter to Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, she has complained that she had no faith in the local police and the CBI should be asked to inquire into the murder of her husband.

She said her husband was murdered by a violent mob. Her pleading for mercy fell on deaf ears when he was murdered on the village road on February 23.

She alleged that certain influential persons wanted her husband to vacate his agriculture land and give its possession to them. He was allegedly murdered when he refused to oblige them.

She alleged that the police in the Mamleeg area of Solan district was patronising those involved in the murder. She said her complaints were not registered and she and her 16-year-old son were being threatened.

HP to have nine development blocks
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, March 19 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, while presiding over annual prize distribution function of Senior Secondary School at Tounidevi in Hamirpur district today announced that the state government would restructure development blocks, tehsils and revenue subdivisions in the state to restrict their jurisdictions to respective assembly constituencies. Due to this, nine more development blocks would be opened in the state this year. He said it would help elected representatives of the people in utilising their discretionary funds properly.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of the office complex of the Public Works Department and dedicated to the people two rooms of the local school. He also inaugurated a sarai at Tounidevi Temple complex.

Mr Dhumal said he had urged the union government to raise a regiment in the name of Himachal Pradesh to honour the soldiers belonging to state who had sacrificed their lives during the Kargil conflict with Pakistan.

The Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs 3 lakh for the construction of more rooms for the school.

'Restore' facility to handicapped
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 19 — Mr D.S. Verma, a Municipal Councillor of the Congress, has urged the state government to revoke its order of withdrawing the free travel facility in HRTC buses for the handicapped.

In a statement issued here yesterday, Mr Verma alleged that the BJP Government had implemented the proposal before the Budget was passed by the assembly.

The orders for allowing the handicapped free travel only within their respective home districts were issued on March 8. The handicapped were earlier allowed the free travel facility throughout the state.

Holi celebrated with gaiety
From Tribune Reporter

KANGRA, March 19 —Holi was today celebrated here with enthusiasm and traditional gaiety with men, women and A children seen playing with colours in this temple town and its suburbs.

A three-day Holi festival was inaugurated in the famous Jain temple at Purana Kangra last evening with thousands of the members of the Jain community converging here from all over the country to attend this festival. Members of the Jain community had a flag hoisting ceremony at the ancient temple of Rishav Dev Bagwan Adi Nath in the famous Kangra fort.

The three day festival was inaugurated by the president of Jain community, Mr Kewal Gain Jain, which will conclude tomorrow.

KULU: Holi was celebrated here ear with great enthusiasm and gaiety on Sunday. The Himachal Governor Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, performed puja at Lord Raghunath Temple at Sultanpur here and celebrated Holi in Rupi Palace with the Raja's family, Mr Maheshwar Singh, MP and Mr Karan Singh, Minister of State for Primary Education, and other members of the family.

Earlier in the day the Governor visited famous Roerich Art Gallery at Naggar village on the left bank of Manali-Kulu road. He showed keen interest in the paintings of Roerich. According to reports Holi was celebrated all over the Kulu valley.

Resentment among Shanta supporters

KANGRA, March 19 — Resentment prevails among BJP workers supporting Shanta Kumar as the government has not adhered to the protocol of receiving a Union Minister by at least two state Cabinet Ministers.

Mr Shanta Kumar, the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution System, who reached Gaggal Airport on Friday on his three-day tour to the state was neither received by a minister nor the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police.

Mr Shanta Kumar was received by the Additional Deputy Commissioner and Additional Superintendent of the Police.

Marandi: 850 crore to be spent on forests
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, March 19 — The Union Government has decided to spend Rs 850 crore on an ecological conservation in the current fiscal year. This was stated here yesterday by Mr Babu Lal Marandi, Union Minister of State for Environment and forests.

The Minister said Rs 700 crore had been spent on the development of forest in the current financial year. He stressed on the need of conserving the natural resources of the country. An ecological conservation was significant from the tourism point of view in the alpine regions of Himachal Pradesh, he added.

Mr Marandi stressed on the need for the cultivation of medicinal plants in the forest in order to meet the requirement of the pharmaceutical industry engaged in the manufacturing of ayurvedic medicines as well as to provide employment opportunities to the local residents.

Shanta releases children's film
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, March 19 — The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution System, Mr Shanta Kumar, last evening released a children feature film 'Nanaiy Munaiy Veer Sipahi" directed by Parmesh Chadda in Dharamsala.

Mr Shanta Kumar appriciated the efforts of Mr Parmesh Chadda, who is writer, director and photographer of this one-hour long film. He said this film would inspire the children to be patriotic.

The film is based on the story of a family of a soldier who was fighting on Indian borders against Pakistan during 1971 war. His son inspired by his father dreams of fighting against the enemies along with other children. Children between the age group of three to nine played the role of army men is the film. Most of the child artistes have now reached the age of 30.

The film starts with 1971 Indo- Pakistan war and concludes with the Operation Vijay in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Advani to address rally in Shimla
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 19 — The Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, will address a rally here on March 24 to celebrate the completion of two years in the office of the BJP-HVC government.

Mr Advani along with the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Mr Shanta Kumar, the BJP General Secretary, Mr Narendera Modi and other BJP and HVC leaders will address the rally at the Ridge.