H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

HP’s hydel potential to be tapped: Advani
SHIMLA, March 24 — Union Home Minister L.K. Advani has said that the Centre will provide every possible assistance to Himachal Pradesh for tapping its hydroelectric potential and achieving the status of the “power state” of the country.

Advani takes a coffee break
SHIMLA, March 24 — Finding the charm of the historic Mall irresistible, Mr L.K. Advani, the Union Home Minister, today brushed aside his Z plus security to have a stroll and taste the delicious “baras” and hot coffee of the famous Indian Coffee House.

District YC units dissolved
MANDI, March 24 — The newly nominated District Youth Congress President, Mr Kashmir Singh, today dissolved district and all subdivisional units of the Youth Congress to pave the way for the appointment of new office-bearers.

Paonta Sahib Hola Mohalla fair ends
NAHAN, March 24 — The six-day-long Hola Mohalla fair of Paonta Sahib concluded at the Paonta Sahib Gurdwara complex, 40 km from here, peacefully today. A large number of devotees visited the hola fair and paid obeisance at the gurdwara and took dip in the Yamuna.

Special chance to students
KANGRA, March 24 — Himachal Pradesh Directorate of Technical Education has decided to provide one special chance to detained students of polytechnic colleges to appear in examinations.

Jawan killed in accident
SOLAN, March 24 — Tul Prakash Gurung, a jawan of 8 Gurkha Rifles, currently stationed at Dagshai, near here died when a jeep which he was driving fell into a 600 metres deep khud near Barog, about 7 km from here today.

HP’s hydel potential to be tapped: Advani
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 24 — Union Home Minister L.K. Advani has said that the Centre will provide every possible assistance to Himachal Pradesh for tapping its hydroelectric potential and achieving the status of the “power state” of the country.

He said this while addressing a public meeting at The Ridge here today in connection with the completion of two years in office of the BJP-HVC government headed by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

He stressed that development was possible only when the borders of the country were secure and there was no fear among people.

Mr Advani said the Centre would provide all help to Himachal for meeting its security requirements in view of the killings by Pakistani terrorists in Chamba district two years ago. He also justified the demand of Mr Dhumal for raising a Himachal regiment in the Army.

He appreciated the steps taken by Mr Dhumal for development of the state during the past two years and stressed that the population explosion had to be checked in the country for making the impact of development felt.

The Home Minister said the two foremost objectives before the BJP government at the Centre were to create a sense of security among people and ensure speedy development of the country so as to make India a frontline nation.

Mr Advani said the biggest achievement of the NDA government at the Centre was that it succeeded in removing the atmosphere of uncertainty and disappointment which prevailed in the country during the previous regime of the Congress. Those who considered the BJP as untouchable were now a part of the NDA government, he claimed.

He said various government institutions lost their credibility during the 50-year rule of the Congress and the BJP government had taken steps to restore confidence of people in these institutions. However, people have also to play a key role in re-establishing trust in these institutions.

He said the BJP was committed to provide good governance at the Centre and other states where it was in power.

The Home Minister advised youth to be computer-literate.

Mr Dhumal, Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Mr Narendera Modi, General Secretary, BJP, Thakur Gulab Singh, Speaker of the Himachal Assembly, Mr Sukh Ram, HVC chief and Mr Suresh Chandel, BJP state chief, were among those present on the occasion.

This was for the first time after the formation of the Dhumal government that Mr Shanta Kumar came here to participate in an official function.

Almost all leaders, who addressed the rally, appreciated the steps taken by Mr Dhumal for harnessing the water potential for hydroelectric generation and sought liberal assistance of the Centre for the purpose.

The Chief Minister hoped that Himachal would become financially self reliant in the next 10 years when about 10,000 mws of power would be generated here.

Mr Modi suggested that the government should encourage cooperatives to construct and maintain mini and micro hydroelectric projects.

Mr Shanta Kumar said a new direction had been given to development by Mr Dhumal to expedite construction of power projects.

He said the BJP government at the Centre had restored top priority to the hydroelectric sector which the Congress regime had neglected.

Mr Sukh Ram denied reports that he was planning to return to the Congress or merge the HVC with the party. He would continue to support the BJP, he added.

Advani takes a coffee break
From Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, March 24 — Finding the charm of the historic Mall irresistible, Mr L.K. Advani, the Union Home Minister, today brushed aside his Z plus security to have a stroll and taste the delicious “baras” and hot coffee of the famous Indian Coffee House.

On his way to Peterhof State Guest House after addressing a rally on the Ridge Mr Advani suddenly asked his driver to stop the car and expressed his desire to walk down the posh but busy street. The security personnel were taken by surprise as Mr Advani and his son, Jayant alighted from the vehicle near Gaiety Theatre and started walking towards Scandal Point.

Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Mr Narinder Modi, General Secretary of the BJP, and Mr Suresh Chandel, the State BJP president and a few scribes joined him.

By the time the VVIP strollers reached the coffee house they had gathered a big crowd behind them.

The security personnel had a hard time in restricting entry to the coffee house. Even while sipping his own coffee, Mr Advani saw to it that everyone around him was also served “coffee and baras”.

During an informal chat with scribes, he said it was for the first time since he became Home Minister, that he had moved without security or had coffee in a crowded place.

He told scribes that the state’s demand for raising a Himachal regiment in the Army was justified in view of the services rendered by the brave men of the state to the services and the country. He said he would take up the matter with the Defence Minister.

The security personnel heaved a sigh of relief when Mr Advani boarded his car near the Central Telegram Office and drove off to Peterhof.

District YC units dissolved
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, March 24 — The newly nominated District Youth Congress President, Mr Kashmir Singh, today dissolved district and all subdivisional units of the Youth Congress to pave the way for the appointment of new office-bearers.

This has been apparently done to question a section of defiant office-bearers who had revolted against the appointment of Mr Kashmir Singh by Mr Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, President, Himachal Pradesh Youth Congress.

Briefing mediapersons, Mr Kashmir Singh said he had taken this step to refurbish the youth wing of the Congress.

He said the youth Congress would build public opinion against the BJP governments in the state and the Centre for its various “anti-people” measures.

Paonta Sahib Hola Mohalla fair ends
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, March 24 — The six-day-long Hola Mohalla fair of Paonta Sahib concluded at the Paonta Sahib Gurdwara complex, 40 km from here, peacefully today.

A large number of devotees visited the hola fair and paid obeisance at the gurdwara and took dip in the Yamuna. Elaborate security arrangements were made by the district administration to maintain law and order and to make essential commodities available to the visitors.

The gurdwara authorities had made free boarding, lodging and medical facilities for the thousands of visitors. No untoward incident was reported throughout the fair.

Even after 300 years the beginning of the fair, which was started by Guru Gobind Singh, the character and nature of the fair has remained purely religious.

Twentynine Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu poets from different parts of the country took part in the traditional kavi darbar held as part of the fair.

Special chance to students
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, March 24 — Himachal Pradesh Directorate of Technical Education has decided to provide one special chance to detained students of polytechnic colleges to appear in examinations.

The decisions was taken at a meeting of principals of Polytechnic Colleges and representatives of the H.P. Takniki Shiksha Board held under the chairmanship of the Additional Secretary-cum-Director, Technical Education, Mr Chamel Singh, at Sundernagar yesterday.

Jawan killed in accident
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, March 24 — Tul Prakash Gurung, a jawan of 8 Gurkha Rifles, currently stationed at Dagshai, near here died when a jeep which he was driving fell into a 600 metres deep khud near Barog, about 7 km from here today.

Major Mahesh Bisht and naik Tejinder Bahadur Thapa, also of 3 Gurkha Rifles, who were also in the ill-fated vehicle received serious injuries. They were rushed to Army Hospital, Chandimandir, in a specially requisitioned Army helicopter.