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| Wednesday, September 27, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Sukh Ram heads real HVC:
EC HP to develop tea
plantations Rival Cong men rush to
Delhi SJP for revision of farm
policy Minocha refutes graft charges of
Kapoor 3 wasteland development
projects okayed |
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Wadali brothers
enthral Sentence for life
reduced More kids taking to
drugs
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Sukh Ram heads real HVC:
EC SHIMLA, Sept 26 — With the Election Commission declaring the party headed by Mr Sukh Ram as the real Himachal Vikas Congress, a debate has started about the status of the rival faction headed by the PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh. The decision of the Election Commission has come as a big setback to the Mohinder Singh faction which has been all along claiming to be the real HVC. In fact, the faction had lost the second important battle. Earlier, the Speaker, Mr Gulab Singh, had declared him as an unattached member after he was expelled from the party by Mr Sukh Ram. The Mohinder Singh faction, as is evident from the decision of the Election Commission, committed a tactical blunder by not splitting the party after holding a parallel meeting at which Mr Sukh Ram was removed as the party chief and made him adviser. Since both the party’s elected members of Parliament two of the three legislators were with Mr Sukh Ram, he was clearly better placed in the game of members than the rival faction. The decision has put Mr Mohinder Singh in a difficult situation as being an expelled member he can not float a new party, though outside the House his supporters could do so. It has been deprived of the telephone election symbol and in case a new outfit is floated by the faction it would have to look for some other symbol. Mr Kewal Ram Chauhan, general secretary of the splinter faction, said the party would soon meet to decide its future strategy. Mr Sukh Ram, HVC chief, said his stand had been vindicated by the Election Commission and its decision should serve as an eye-opener for the rival faction. Mr Sukh Ram has been demanding ouster of Mr Mohinder Singh from the Cabinet ever since he revolted against him and held a rally to demonstrate his strength on March 1. Mr Sukh Ram retaliated by issuing show-cause notices to him and some other prominent leaders who participated in the rally. Finally, Mr Sukh Ram expelled Mr Mohinder Singh from the party on April 25. Mr Sukh Ram’s plea has been that Mr Mohinder Singh was made a minister in the coalition under HVC’s quota and as such he could remain in the Cabinet after expulsion. Now that the Election Commission has given a decision in his favour Mr Sukh Ram is likely to pursue his demand more vigorously.
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HP to develop tea
plantations SHIMLA, Sept 26 — The Himachal Government has drawn up an ambitious plan to develop new tea plantation in non-traditional areas under which the 7,700 hectares of additional area will be brought under tea cultivation. This was stated by Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, while presiding over a meeting of the HP State Tea Development Board here yesterday. He said agro-climatic conditions in the state were most suitable for production of organic tea. The tea industry in the state was more than 150 year’s old and was mainly concentrated in Kangra and parts of Mandi district. At present 2,300 hectares was under tea cultivation and the production of tea in the state was 1.7 million kg, which was just a fraction of the country’s total production of 830 million kg. Revenue from tea was Rs 9.50 crore annually and this industry was providing employment to at least 6000 persons, he added. Mr Dhumal said the government intended to invite professional investors and private entrepreneurs for opening up new areas. Such investors would also act as a model for
improvement of traditional areas. Facilities of long-term leasing would be provided for tea plantation, he added. He sought liberal financial assistance from the Tea Board of India for rejuvenating the existing tea gardens and area extension to non-traditional areas. He also sought research support for tea development in the state from the CSIR. Earlier, Mr Vidya Sagar, Agriculture Minister welcomed the Chief Minister. Members of the Tea Development Board presented the draft tea policy before the board for consideration. He said the draft tea policy had also been prepared in consultation with the Tea Board of India. He said the government was providing various incentives for the development of tea. |
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Rival Cong men rush to
Delhi SHIMLA, Sept 26 — Senior leaders of the two warring factions of the Congress have rushed to Delhi to put their point of view across to the Pradesh Election Authority (PEA), which is meeting tomorrow to scrutinise the complaints of rigging of the organisational elections in Himachal Pradesh. The leaders of the dissident group, including Thakur Ram Lal and Mrs Vidya Stokes, are already camping at Delhi, while Mr Virbhadra Singh, the CLP leader, who heads the other group, landed there this afternoon. It is virtually a do-or-die situation for the anti-Virbhadra Singh camp this time which claims proximity to Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Supporters of Mr Virbhadra Singh were annoyed that the PEA, headed by Mr Hanumantha Rao, had decided to scrutinise the complaints of poll irregularities while sitting at Delhi, where most of the complaints were not in a position to reach. They had been demanding that the PEA should scrutinise the complaints here and provide an opportunity of personal hearing. The PEA has already come under severe criticism for having allegedly allowed the elections to be rigged by the other group by not taking any measures to check the irregularity. There were allegations that at many places, the delegates for the PCC, who will elect the Congress chief in the state on November 1, were declared successful even without holding the election. This is perhaps for the first time that the elections are causing turmoil within the Congress party here. The anti-Virbhadra Singh group, including Thakur Ram Lal, Mrs Stokes and Mr Anand Sharma, has been claiming that the elections were free and fair. Whatever might be the outcome of the current wrangling in the party, what the opponents have achieved this time is that they succeeded in weaning away Mr J.B.L. Khachi, who was so far the thinktank of Mr Virbhadra Singh. This has caused a setback to the Virbhadra Singh camp. The Virbhadra Singh supporters have challenged, among other things, the election of Mr Anand Sharma, a spokesman for the, AICC, from the Shimla (urban) area where they have alleged that several voters were deleted from the electoral list and the list of successful persons was announced by the district and the assistant returning officers from a restaurant and not the PCC headquarters, which was the venue of the election. They point out that a member of the PEA, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, was stopped at Kangra while on his way back to Jammu and forced to hold a “genuine” election of the DCC in his presence there as the assistant returning officer had allegedly declared the list of “elected” persons without an election from the residence of a senior leader of the other group. Mr Khachi told TNS that the impression that the party was in disarray should be dispelled, otherwise it might lead to the rout of the Congress in the coming panchayat elections. The pro-Virbhadra Singh camp was also annoyed that their genuine complaints were being ignored by the party high command. No action was taken even on their written complaints which were faxed to Mrs Sonia Gandhi and other leaders, the camp members claimed. |
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SJP for revision of farm
policy SOLAN, Sept 26 — The Samajwadi Janata Party has demanded an immediate revision of the national agriculture policy. The SJP General Secretary, Mr Sham Singh Rana, who addressed a press conference here on Sunday evening, regretted that the framers of the policy had not taken into account of food plenty. He said the Union Government today held four times the size of normal buffer stocks of food needed to tide over situations caused by crop failures. The Food Corporation of India’s godowns were overflowing with stocks procured four years back. A substantial portion of these had started rotting. Additionally, the government was spending about Rs 240 per quintal of grains as storage costs. This in other words meant that the government was overspending. All this called for radical changes in the national food policy, especially when the Indian farmers were feeling hit by the spiralling costs of inputs and their inability to dispose of their produce at remunerative rates. He said the only way out lay in enabling the farmers to export their grains. Prices of Indian wheat and paddy were far lower than those of other countries. The SJP General Secretary said there was also a need to abolish what he called negative subsidies. The present subsidies like those on fertilisers and chemicals were in a way meant for the industrialists producing these agricultural inputs. The farmer would be really benefitted if he was given the subsidy in cash. This would enable him to provide for his basic needs while exploring foreign markets. He said the SJP was also for rethinking on the country’s liberalised economy. The Indian industry would not be able stand up to foreign players. This would result in snuffing out of the indigenous industry. Mr Rana said the party President, Mr Chandra Shekhar, had convened a meeting of the party’s national leaders at Allahabad on October 14 and 15, for finalising the SJP’s stand on the national agriculture and economic policies. |
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Minocha refutes graft charges of
Kapoor DHARAMSALA, Sept 26 — A BJP leader and president of the local Municipal Committee, Mr K.K.
Minocha, while refuting corruption charges, levelled by supporters of the Transport Minister, said that he would not only complain to the party high command but oppose divisive policies of Mr Kishan Kapoor. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Minocha, said that all this had been done to defame and politically damage him as the allegations levelled against him and the Municipal Committee, were totally baseless and wrong. He regretted that all these charges were made against the BJP dominated committee, by its own workers and that too in the presence of the local MLA and Minister, Mr Kishan Kapoor, at a meeting held on Sunday. “Despite being a dedicated party worker my installation as the committee president, was opposed by our own partymen, simply for the reason that I too was a claimant for the BJP Assembly ticket against Mr Kishan Kapoor, from Dharamsala,” he stated. These corruption charges were made against the committee, as I along with some partymen had opposed the election of the BJP, mandal president, he added. Launching an attack on the Transport Minister, he said that Mr Kapoor, has always tried to create a divide amongst the people of his constituency on caste and rural-urban basis. He added that from now onwards they will oppose this divisive policies of Mr Kapoor. Mr Minocha, threatened that if Mr Kapoor, along with his supporters failed to provide documentary evidence in support of the corruption charges levelled by them, he would not hesitate to file a defamation case against them. He added that he would welcome a
high-level probe into the complaints of irregularities by the Municipal Committee. Mr
Minocha, said that till date Mr Kapoor, had, failed to give even a single penny from his MLA Development Fund, to the local Municipal Committee. “On the contrary the Congress MP, Mrs Chandresh Kumari, had given Rs 48 lakh from the MP Area Development Fund and Mr Shanta Kumar Rs 15 lakh to the Municipal Committee for various development works,” he disclosed. Regarding the allotment of shops and stalls by the Municipal Committee, he said that all this had been done as per the rules in order to supplement the income of the committee. Mr Minocha, said that he did not belong to the Shanta camp and had been a dedicated party worker for the past so many years. He said that he had no intimation of the BJP Dharamsala Block Workers, meeting, held at Sheila Chowk, on Sunday, where serious allegations were made against the Municipal Committee. |
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3 wasteland development
projects okayed SHIMLA, Sept 26 — The Centre has sanctioned three projects of Rs 13 crore under the Integrated Wastelands Development Programme for Himachal Pradesh. These projects are for the districts of Kulu (Rs 4 crore), Hamirpur (Rs 5 crore) and Sirmour (Rs 4.79 crore). Disclosing this here yesterday, a spokesman of the Rural Development Department said under these projects 58 micro watersheds would be taken up for development covering 34,707 hectares. The project period for each project is five years. Land resource development, water resource development, afforestation and pasture development, horticulture and agriculture development are some of the main activities to be taken up under these projects, he added. He said these projects would be implemented with full participation of people by forming micro-watershed associations and committees. At least 50,000 persons will benefit from these projects, the spokesman added. |
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Wadali brothers
enthral CHANDIGARH, Sept 26 — It was an entertaining evening for the staff and students of Army Public School, Dagshai, when the internationally acclaimed singing maestros, Puran Chand and Pyare Lal, took the audience by storm with their live concert yesterday. Better known as the Wadali brothers, their presentations included numbers like “Duma dum mast
kalander”, “Saudaekko jya” and “Man atkaya be parva de naal”, which captivated the audience. The Wadali brothers belong to the Patiala gharana and promote Sufi kalaam. Later, while interacting with the students, they explained the difference between Sufi kalaam and classical Indian music. This was the second live concert organised at the school by
SPICMACAY.
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Sentence for life
reduced SHIMLA, Sept 26 — A Division Bench of the high court comprising Mr Justice L.S. Panta and Mr Justice R.L. Khurana has partly allowed the appeals filed by Subhash and Naresh who were involved in a murder case. The court converted their conviction from Section 302 to Section 304 of the IPC and reduced the sentence from life imprisonment as was awarded by the Sessions Judge Bilaspur, to punishment for eight years each. The prosecution story was that Subhash and Naresh were not on good terms with Prabhat. Prabhat used to tease Subhash because he had kept a woman in his house. When Prabhat was passing by the house of the accused Naresh and Subjash dragged him to the lintel of their house and Naresh stabbed him to death. The accused Subhash inflicted an iron rod blow on the deceased. According to the prosecution Prabhat made a dying declaration to his aunt who had rushed to the spot on hearing his cries. Mr Anup Chitkara and Mr Vinay Thakur contended the dying declaration was fabricated because the doctor opined after receiving the knife injury Prabhat had become unconscious and thereafter never regained conscious. It was furher argued that the police had reached the spot within one hour of the incident but still the FIR was registered after six hours and this time was utilised by the police to cook up a false case against the accused. |
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More kids taking to
drugs KULU: The situation have become alarming in this district as children are becoming more inclined towards drugs, alcoholism and tobacco in many variants. This habit has not only spelt a dark future for many youngsters but has also become infectious. Drug abuse affects innocent lives. Many young lives in this district are lost due to depression and frustration caused by addiction to ‘charas’ and other drugs. School children are seen smoking “charas” and drinking liquor openly in a park near the Senior Secondary School, Dhalpur, as well as at most video-game parlours in the town and at the Lanka Baker area, near Government College. It is also learnt that these children have become addicted to chemical products as well. With restrictions on sales of many cough syrups, which contain a high percentage of alcohol, the children have allegedly switched over to ‘Iodex’, boot polish and even paint thinner (used to polish furniture). The administration has to know from where these children get these intoxicants. It is learnt that many people having small shops near educational institutions, including canteens, are allegedly involved in the trade. It is alleged that “charas-filled” cigarettes are available at such shops. It is time that the government and the administration intensifies efforts to curb the availability of drugs. The people involved in such kind of trade should be dealt with harshly and punished, not only by law but also by society. Ten years back, local youth organised a drug deaddiction camp at the Arya Samaj Mandir here in which about 30 boys were treated. Those indulging in the trade of hashish and smack (brown sugar) were taken on donkeys in a procession through the streets with their faces blackened. This was possible then as the administration and the police supported the organisers. The time has come again while affected families desire that such camps be arranged and all spoilt youth be put on the right track. Although the participation of society would help in bringing about the reversal of the trend, yet support from the government and the administration is a must. Their joint efforts would certainly provide the required impetus to many NGOs for continuing their crusade against this social evil. |
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HP transfers SHIMLA, Sept 26 — Mrs Manisha Nanda, Director, Social and Women Welfare, has been transferred and posted as Registrar, Cooperative Societies.
Mr R. D. Dhiman, Registrar, Cooperative Societies, takes over as Director, Town and Country Planning, relieving Mr Tarun Kapoor of the additional charge.
Mr Manoj Kumar, Commissioner, Shimla Municipal Corporation, will be the new Director of Social and Women Welfare. Mr J.S. Rana, Secretary, State Electricity Board, has been posted as Director, Urban Development, vice Mr J.P. Singh who will now function as Labour Commissioner-cum-Director Employment. |
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Held for stealing soft drink bottles KUMARHATTI, Sept 26 — The police arrested six youths yesterday for allegedly stealing soft drink bottles and some other goods from a shop near Jangsu on the Kasauli-Parwanoo road.
According to police sources, Vivek, Rajpal, Harsh, Kunder, Nitesh Kumar, Amandeep and Lakhwinder, all ten plus two students of Sanatan Dharam School, Sector 32, Chandigarh, allegedly broke open a lock of the store and decamped with 22 bottles of soft drinks and some other goods. The youths were nabbed at the Parwanoo barrier and the stolen goods were recovered from them.
The police has impounded the Maruti car (PB-11-7-4114) used by the youths and registered a case under Section 545 and 380 of the IPC against them. |
Scribe beating: DSP,
SI transferred SHIMLA, Sept 26 — The DSP, Kangra, Mr Pritam Thakur, and his wife, Sub-Inspector Sunita Thakur, were today transferred following the incident of the beating of Prakash Badal, a newsman, outside Kangra police station yesterday.
The transfer was ordered after a delegation of the Shimla Journalists Association, led by Krishan Bhanu, met the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, here today and alleged that the beating had been engineered by the police.
The Chief Minister also ordered an inquiry into the incident, by the DIG, Kangra, Mr
K.C. Sadyal.
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HC grants bail
to Cong MLA SHIMLA, Sept 26 — A single Bench of the High Court comprising, Mr Justice L.S. Panta yesterday granted bail to Congress Legislator Kashmir Singh who was allegedly involved in a case registered under Section 3 of the SC/ST. Atrocity Act and Section 506 and 323 of the IPC.
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“... jab fasal cut jayegi” CHANDIGARH, Sept 26 — The tall claims of the Department of Telephones that phone connections are released within a few months after one applies for these are difficult to believe if one goes by the sufferings of Mr Prem Singh Thakur, a resident of Bala village in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh.
In a letter to The Tribune Mr Thakur said that he had applied for a telephone connection on September 18, 1997. He deposited Rs 1,000 with the subdivisional engineer, as required under the DoT rules. However, until now he had not been given the connection.
After repeated requests from him, the DoT laid the telephone wire. However, the connection was not released. Some time ago the DoT had hold him that this would he done “jab makki ki fasal cut jayegi.” Although the “fasal” had been cut, the DoT had not honoured its promise. |
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NCTE approval for 2
colleges of education SHIMLA, Sept 26 — The National Council for Teachers’ Education has approved the newly set up Nalanda College of Education, Hamirpur, and Swami Vivekanand College of Education, Bhoranj.
A spokesperson of Himachal Pradesh University said here yesterday that admission to B.Ed. course in these colleges would be done on the basis of the entrance test conducted by the university. Counselling for admissions for general candidates with a score of more than 73 in the medical category, 71 in non-medical and 69 in arts would be held on September 30 at the Department of Education. |
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