H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Dalai Lama seeks more autonomy, not freedom
DHARAMSALA, June 19 — The Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibetans, has ruled out a violent struggle to free Tibet from Chinese rule as long as he is alive, but said he could not give a similar guarantee for the future when he was “no more”.

BJP MLAs to declare assets soon
SHIMLA, June 19 — Mr Jai Krishan Sharma, president of the state unit of the BJP, today gave a categorical assurance that all his party legislators would declare their assets shortly.

RSS men dominate office-bearers’ list
SHIMLA, June 19 — RSS men dominate the new team of state office-bearers of the BJP announced by Mr Jaikrishan Sharma; the newly-elected party president, here today.

Cops had no role in examining girls: SP
NAHAN, June 19 — The Superintendent of Police, Sirmour, Mr S.P. Singh, denied the role of the Rajgarh police in the Medical Examination of two village girls, one of them a minor, in connection with a case under Section 318 of the IPC.

HVC (M) elections held
MANDI, June 19 — Mr Jawahar Singh and Mr Ashok Gupta were unanimously elected president and general secretary of the HVC(M) in the organisational elections held here last evening under the supervision of Thakur Sada Ram, the HVC(M) in charge for Mandi district.

A trekker’s paradise
MANALI: Colourful tents under the blue sky,around the crystal clear waters of the Chandratal lake is a sight. Reflections of snowtopped high mountains in the lake are simply enchanting.

• Screening test cleared
  

Dalai Lama seeks more autonomy, not freedom

DHARAMSALA, June 19 (IANS) — The Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibetans, has ruled out a violent struggle to free Tibet from Chinese rule as long as he is alive, but said he could not give a similar guarantee for the future when he was “no more”.

“There will be no violent struggle till I am alive,” the Tibetan god-king, whose espousal of the cause of peace has won him a Nobel Peace Prize, said in an interview with IANS in this hill town the base of his government-in-exile.

“I cannot guarantee this in future, though, after I am no more,” said the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule.

The Nobel laureate said that by advocating an armed struggle, young Tibetans were merely expressing their frustration. There had been reports of arms smuggling into Tibet through the Indian and Nepali borders.

“This feeling of taking up arms was born out of frustration as China was not responding to my middle path approach,” the Dalai Lama said. “Some individuals may be, could be doing this smuggling if it existed at all,” he said, but ruled out the involvement of the Tibetan Youth Congress in the smuggling.

He reaffirmed that he wanted greater autonomy for Tibet and not freedom. “Tibet cannot survive, otherwise, without being part of China,” he stressed.

The Dalai Lama laughed at a question about the “reported preconditions” set by him for talks with China. He said “on my part there are no preconditions at all. It is they who are putting conditions. From the beginning, I am not seeking independence for Tibet.”

He said, “I am seeking genuine autonomy which is meant to preserve Tibetan culture, primarily. China, on the other hand, wants the Dalai Lama to first declare that Tibet was always part of China. This point relates to history and law. Let the historians and legal experts decide this issue. My position is that Tibet may get more benefits if it remained within China, provided China gave some guarantees for preservation of Tibetan culture, spirituality and environment.”

“Four Chinese provinces adjoining Tibet consist of many Tibetans too and they are also worried about preservation of their culture. That is why I want greater autonomy for all this area. They trust me and if I speak of independence for Tibet, I cannot speak on their behalf,” he added. All these four provinces have a wealth of wildlife that must be protected, he said.

When asked whether refugees from Tibet were still coming to India via Nepal, he said, “Yes, in thousands, in fact, the flow has increased due to oppressive conditions by China within Tibet.”

To a question whether 14-year-old Karmapa Lama, who fled from Tibet recently and has been living here as a refugee in India, was planning to seek asylum in the USA, the Dalai Lama said the Karmapa’s main centre was in Sikkim.

He said it was only logical that the Karmapa came here, noting that a major section of his friends and followers were living in India. He might have asked for asylum in some other country if India had not allowed him to stay here, he said.

About the issue of his successor if something happened to him, the Dalai Lama said, “I made it clear long back that a traditional method of reincarnation of the Dalai Lama would take place outside of Tibet when the majority of Tibetans felt that the work done by the previous Dalai Lama had to be carried out and completed.”

BJP MLAs to declare assets soon
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 19 — Mr Jai Krishan Sharma, president of the state unit of the BJP, today gave a categorical assurance that all his party legislators would declare their assets shortly.

The assurance came at his first press conference after taking over as president of the party on the issue. He admitted that the party had in its manifesto promised that its legislators would made their assets public within 90 days of the election.

He denied that the party was dilly-dallying and asserted that the delay was on account of the fact that the Dhumal government wanted to enact a law to make the declaration of assets mandatory for all legislators. He said even a Bill was introduced in the House last year but it was referred to a select committee of the House on the request of the Congress.

However, he promised that he would ensure that all BJP legislators disclosed their assets irrespective of fact when the Bill, referred to the select committee was passed.

Referring to the resignation of Mr Des Raj from the chairmanship of the state Finance Commission and his open criticism of the government, Mr Sharma said that he was an experienced leader and the party would discuss the issue and find some positive solution. However, he said the BJP was a disciplined party and it would not allow partymen to wash their dirty linen in public.

RSS men dominate office-bearers’ list
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 19 — RSS men dominate the new team of state office-bearers of the BJP announced by Mr Jaikrishan Sharma; the newly-elected party president, here today.

While selecting the leader, Mr Sharma, has tried to strike a balance between rival factions and taken into consideration the caste and regional faction. However, the lion’s share has gone to the Sangh Parivar which has six office-bearers, including Mr Sharma, in the 12-member team. Besides the party president the trio key posts of general secretaries have also been given to the RSS men.

All but two office-bearers of the previous team have replaced and a number of new faces inducted. Only Mr Kripal Parmar, and Mr Chander Mohan, both staunch Dhumal loyalists, have been retained. Parmar continues as general secretary, Mr Chander Mohan, who earlier held the post of secretary, has been made vice-president.

Most notable is the omission of Mr Khushi Ram Balnatah, a Staunch Shanta supporter and Mr Randhir Sharma, a close aide of the outgoing president Mr Suresh Chandel, who held the posts of general secretary and secretary, respectively in the previous body. However, Mr Sharma had tried to even out things by including Mr Suresh Bhardwaj (vice president) and Sunil Manocha (secretary) in the new team.

Women have been given representation by including Mrs Vimla Kashyap, who was earlier heading the state mahila morcha, as secretary.

The following is the team: vice presidents — Mr Chander Mohan, Mr Suresh Bhardwaj and Mr Anand Swaroop; general secretaries — Mr Kirpal Parmar, and Mr Ram Swaroop; secretaries — Mr Alam Chand, Mr Sunil Manocha, and Mrs Vimla Kashyap; treasurer — Mr Kapil Sood; press secretary and spokesperson Mr Ganesh Dutta; and office secretary — Mr Sanjeev Katwal.

Cops had no role in examining girls: SP
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, June 19 — The Superintendent of Police, Sirmour, Mr S.P. Singh, denied the role of the Rajgarh police in the Medical Examination of two village girls, one of them a minor, in connection with a case under Section 318 of the IPC.

The SP has said in a written statement that the local police was being unnecessarily accused of high-handedness and harassment. He claimed that both girls and their relatives themselves were keen to get the medical examination done to clear their names from allegations levelled against them. The medical examination was conducted in Rajgarh hospital with their consent.

According to the investigation and the FIR, Mr Sher Singh Thakur, the president of the Tikkar gram panchayat, reported to the Rajgarh police on June 3 that the body of an infant was found in the Mandhera village. The infant was buried by the local people of conceal its birth. The two girls were named in this case on the suspicion of having delivered the child.

During the investigation, the body of the infant was exhumed and sent to the IGMC, Shimla, for a post-mortem examination

The SP also said that the police was under no political pressure to hush up the case, the Rajgarh police had recorded nine statements and interrogated 24 persons in this regard so far.

HVC (M) elections held

MANDI, June 19 — Mr Jawahar Singh and Mr Ashok Gupta were unanimously elected president and general secretary of the HVC(M) in the organisational elections held here last evening under the supervision of Thakur Sada Ram, the HVC(M) in charge for Mandi district.

Briefing newsmen after the elections Thakur Mahinder Singh, PWD Minister, claimed that the outcome of elections had proved that “we represent the real HVC”.

Both elected persons were holding the same posts earlier. The only difference was that they had been nominated by Mr Sukh Ram. Now they were elected in a democratic process.

Thakur Sada Ram lamented that the unfortunate split in the party was due to the “stubborn” attitude of Mr Sukh Ram, who closed his doors for “us” when we went to his house on April 25 to enter into a compromise keeping in view the past associations.

A trekker’s paradise
From M.C. Thakur

MANALI: Colourful tents under the blue sky,around the crystal clear waters of the Chandratal lake is a sight. Reflections of snowtopped high mountains in the lake are simply enchanting.

The mountains peaks with snow caps and slopes around the valley rise up to 3000 metres to 6300 metres. The mountain ranges are called Moulkila and Chandrabhaga which challenge mountaineers.

The Chandratal lake, once a halting place for traders who went to Spiti and the Kulu valley from Tibet and Ladakh attracts a large number of adventure lovers.

The lake in Lahaul and Spiti district is situated at an altitude of 4270 metres. It lies between a low ridge and the main Kunzum range. This lake is also known as Moon Lake.

The lake is 1.5 km long and .75 km wide. A circular trek can be attempted from both Batal on the Manali-Kaza road and the Baralacha pass on the Manali-Leh Highway. Its meadows nestle many wild flowers.

With opening of the Manali-Leh road to foreign visitors in 1989, the number of trekkers for the Batal-Chandratal Lake-Baralacha Pass trek and vice versa has increased .Now a trek is possible up to the Baralacha Pass and from there tourists can board a vehicle to Leh or travel up to the Baralacha Pass by a vehicle from Leh and trek down to Batal.

But with the opening of Spiti and Kinnaur inner line area to foreigners in 1992, trekkers can complete a full circuit of the cold desert areas of the tribal belt.

From June to September a large number of tourists visit the lake. This is also the time when shepherds from Kangra, Mandi and Kulu can be seen with their herds of sheep at Chandra pastures.

This year the Kalchakra ceremony at the key monastery in the Spiti valley shall be held in August. Tourists are likely to visit this area. Many adventure lovers visiting Leh-Ladakh are also expected to trek the Baralacha Pass, Chandratal Lake-Batal route.

Screening test cleared
From Our Legal Correspondent

SHIMLA, June 19 — The HP State Administrative Tribunal has directed the Subordinate Service Selection Commission to continue with the screening test to be held on June 21 for 34 posts of Shastri class III, but the final result would be subject to the decision of the pending case.