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| Monday,
October 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Results of 64 constituencies out Cong elections a murky
affair Poll authority member
‘not consulted’ HP teachers flay
govt decision Kulu Dasehra gets off to colourful
start Seva Dal supports |
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CM orders probe
into conversions Mahajan
for consensus on next party chief Family threatens
self-immolation
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Results of 64 constituencies out SHIMLA, Oct 8 — Unmoved by the storm of protests raised by the Virbhadra Singh camp over the alleged rigging and other malpractices in the ongoing
Congress organisational elections, the three-member Pradesh Election Authority (PEA) today declared the election results for 64 out of the total 68 Assembly constituency-level Congress committees. The declaration of election results has come as a rude shock to Mr Virbhadra Singh, leader of the Congress Legislative Party, as it virtually amounts to the outright rejection of all complaints filed by his loyalists about rigging and giving a clean chit to all returning officers. Mr Virbhadra Singh had expressed apprehensions of large-scale rigging, the very day the PEA appointed returning officers. He had termed the entire election process as a farce and complained to the party high command and the Chairman of the Central Election Committee (CEC), Mr R.N. Mirdha. Apparently, his pleas did not find favour with the central leadership and failed to cut much ice with the CEC. Releasing the list of elected PCC delegates, Mr K.D. Sultanpuri, a member of the PEA, said the results of four Block Congress Committees could not be declared. While the election process was stayed by the court in case of Dharampur, final results for Karsog and Kinnaur were yet to be received by the authority. In Chopal there was a dispute and the election was claimed to the held at two places. The authority is looking into the matter. He denied that there was any large-scale rigging and maintained that there were no complaints. When his attention was drawn to several complaints referred to by Mr Virbhadra Singh, he said the authority had not received any signed complaints and it could not take action based on newspaper reports and fax messages. He said aggrieved partymen should have come to the authority with proper complaints and evidence to seek redressal. He said the PEA had gone through the record of elections sent by the returning officers of each block and it was satisfied with the manner in which the elections were conducted. Mr Sultanpuri said the first phase of the election had been completed. In the second phase, elections of 13 District Congress Committees would be held and the programme for it would be finalised at the meeting of the district returning officers here tomorrow. The electoral college would be completed with the election of four delegates from the Congress Legislative Party and cooption of women delegates to ensure them 33 per cent representation. Seven former PCC chiefs would also be members of the college. He said those who were not satisfied with the elections could appeal to the CEC. Replying to a question, Mr Sultanpuri said there was no provision in the constitution of the party for moving court in organisational matters. He said it was for the state party high command to initiate action against those who had gone to court. Reacting to the declaration of results, Mr Virbhadra Singh said it was shocking that the PEA did not even consider the complaints. Those who filed appeals were not even given a chance to plead their case. Obviously, the announcement of the list of PCC delegates was an attempt on the part of Mr Sultanpuri to put the seal of approval on the large-scale fraud perpetrated in the name of organisational elections, he alleged. This would not be acceptable to the rank and file of the party, he added. He urged the CEA to intervene in the matter and see to it that all appeals, rejected by the PEA, were looked into. He said it was strange that the PEA relied on the reports of the returning officers and assistant returning officers whose conduct was already under question. |
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Cong elections a murky
affair DHARAMSALA, Oct 8 — There seems to be no end to the squabbling and bickering over the party organisational elections in the Congress as a sitting MLA and state general secretary G.S. Bali today accused PCC chief Sat Mahajan of indulging in activities which had demoralised the party workers. “I was never satisfied with the style of functioning of Mr Mahajan but now I have lost complete faith in him,” stated Mr Bali. Promoting individuals at the cost of the party interest was something which would not be tolerated, even if it was at the behest of the state party chief, he added. Mr Bali, who is a staunch Virbhadra Singh loyalist, has always been opposed to Mr Mahajan but it is for the first time that he has made a direct attack on the PCC chief. Interestingly, Mr Bali’s attack on the party chief has come at a time when Mr Mahajan is making his best efforts to maintain cordial relations with all functions. Today itself he issued a press statement that he was not aligned with any particular group as his responsibility as the party chief was to bring about unity. Maintaining the balancing act, Mr Mahajan said reports about his differences with Mr Virbhadra Singh and his deserting the CLP leader were merely wishful thinking on the part of some people. In his statement, Mr Mahajan has tried to send across the impression that he is adopting a completely neutral stance by keeping away from all factions. The developments in Kangra district will have an important bearing on the elections of the PCC chief as well as it is the biggest district having 16 assembly segments. The political alignments taking place in Kangra at the moment can be crucial in the election of the state party chief. A number of senior leaders, including the PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, the All-India Mahila Congress president, Mrs Chandresh Kumari, the state general secretary and MLA, Mr G.S. Bali, and former minister, Mr Vijai Mankotia, are playing their own game. It is the dispute in the Kangra block elections that has infuriated Mr Bali, who has gone to the extent of saying that he no longer has faith in the leadership of Mr Mahajan, whose functioning is far from being “crystal clear”. “I have not only aired my opinion openly in the party meetings but I also brought the matter to the notice of the party high command in Delhi,” he stated. Though there have been all sorts of allegations, including those of rigging and fraud, in the party elections all over Himachal, when the charges are made against the party chief and that too by an MLA and the state general secretary the matter can be serious. Mr Bali demanded that the PCC chief should make his position clear as to when Mr Chand Saini was admitted into the Congress party as there are two conflicting opinions on this. Mr Bali said as per the orders of the HPCC, Mr Saini’s suspension was revoked on December 18, 1998. “We would like to know from Mr Mahajan that if he had been taken back at that time then why was a function held in September 1999 to welcome him back in the party”, quipped Mr Bali. He claimed that Mr Saini had not completed the required 365 days’ membership condition and as such was not eligible to contest the elections. With Mr Bali making a major issue out of this it appears the party elections will become even murkier in the coming days. |
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Poll authority member
‘not consulted’ SHIMLA, Oct 8 — The controversy over the Congress organisational elections in the state took a new turn today with Mr M.R. Sharma, one of the three members of the Pradesh Election Authority, (PEA), maintaining that he was not taken into confidence by the other two members while declaring the results of the elections to 64 Block Congress Committees. Mr Sharma informed TNS on telephone from Jammu that he was not associated in the finalisation of the list of elected PCC delegates which was prepared and released by Mr Hanumant Rao and Mr K.D. Sultanpuri by a majority decision. He said the authority met on September 29 at Delhi and it decided not to take any decision until the results of all blocks were available. At that time, results from about a dozen blocks were awaited. It decided to hold another meeting after a week and Mr R.N. Mirdha, Chairman of the Central Election Authority was informed accordingly. Mr Sharma said he was of the view that facts regarding the conduct of the elections in each block should be placed before the authority and complaints, if any, be looked into. In case of bunglings, a repoll should be ordered. Mr Rao and Mr Sultanpuri had assured him that a meeting would be convened before taking any final decision. However, two days ago, Mr Rao informed him that he was releasing the list of PCC delegates. He said when he raised an objection he was told that they had taken a majority decision. Mr Sharma said he immediately brought the matter to the notice of Mr R.N. Mirdha, who assured him that without his participation the action of the authority would not be valid.
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HP teachers flay
govt decision NURPUR, Oct 8 — The Himachal Pradesh Government Teachers’ Union has taken exception to the government’s decision to empower Panchayati Raj institutions to supervise the administrative work and daily attendance of government officials. Mr Onkar Rana, president of the Kangra unit of the union, in a statement said today that the move would politicise government institutions. He alleged that Panchayati Raj institutions were affiliated with political parties. Moreover, the state government was also considering to conduct the forthcoming election of the institutions on party symbols, he said. Mr Rana urged the Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, to revoke the “anti-employee” decision and stop the direct interference of Panchayati Raj institutions into the working of government officials.
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Kulu Dasehra gets off to colourful
start KULU, Oct 8 — The week-long Kulu Dasehra got off to a start today with the colourful procession and rath yatra of Raghunathji, chief deity of the district. More than 200 gods and goddesses accompanied Lord Rama from Raghunathpur here to the historical Dhalpur ground. Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Alexander M. Kadakin, Ambassdor of the Russian Federation to India, Mr J.P. Nadda, Health Minister, Mr Chet Ram, Parliamentary Secretary, and Mr Chander Sen, MLA and Vice-Chairman of the HPMC, were seated on a dais made near the starting point of the rath yatra. The Governor expressed his greetings to the people of India on the occasion. He said the people should follow the path shown by Lord Rama and work for upholding truth and religion. He said Lord Rama had left a permanent mark on the hearts of the people by his sacrifices, struggles and selfless deeds for the cause of humanity. The Russian Ambassador told this correspondent that Russia had a special love for Indian festivals and the Kulu Dasehra was the favourite. In reply to a question, Mr Kadakin said, “Russia loves India” and that was why the Russian President visited the country recently. “I rushed from Mumbai to Kulu to see the Dasehra festival”. To another question the Russian Ambassador said the cultural troupe from Russia could not come because of some problems but he said in future the troupe would participate in the Kulu Dasehra. Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, Governor, Himachal Pradesh, inaugurated the seven-day international folk dnce festival at the Lal Chand Prarthi Kala Kendra, today evening by lighting a lamp. In his address, the Governor asked people to dedicate themselves to the welfare of the masses. Emphasising the need for preserving and enriching the cultural tradition and heritage, he congratulated the people of the state to carry forward folk culture. Earlier, the Governor inaugurated an exhibition put up by various departments and private organisations. He said such exhibitions portrayed the development of the state and helped in promoting the handicraft and handloom industry. |
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Seva Dal supports BILASPUR, Oct 8 — Mr Baldev Singh Thakur, chief organiser of the Himachal State Congress Seva Dal, has extended full support of the Dal to former Chief Minister and Congress Legislature Party leader Virbhadra Singh. Addressing mediapersons here today Mr Thakur strongly criticised the leaders who were issuing statements in favour of the state party election incharge, Mr V. Hanumantarao, who has been denying that there has been any irregularity or partiality in the conduct of party elections in the state and has thus been trying to humiliate and downgrade Mr Virbhadra Singh. Mr Virbhadra Singh repotedly has proofs of irregularities and breach of high command’s instructions in more than two dozen assembly constituency units during party election. Mr Thakur said had there been no irregularities there world have been no complaints from these unit. He demanded that the state Election Tribunal should behave in an impartial manner by holding an inquiry in every case and by ordering re-election in all these units. Mr Thakur said if detractors of Mr Virbhadra Singh were sure of their Majority in these units then they should have no objection to the fresh, election. Mr Thakur said it was essential to ensure that party elections were held according to constitution and democratic norms and no faction was allowed to capture the party by adopting objectionable means since such an event would weaken the party and may even lead to its unfortunate division. Mr Thakur appealed to all leaders to see reason and appreciate the provision which provides for re-election in case of any objection. |
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CM orders probe
into conversions
SHIMLA, Oct 8 — The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has ordered an inquiry into the alleged attempts by certain Christian missionaries to convert flood-hit Dalit Hindus in Kinnaur district to Christianity by allurement. He said reports regarding conversion of 65 members of 16 Dalit families in Kashmir village of the tribal district had been brought to his notice and he had asked the Home Department to conduct an in-depth probe and submit its report within three days. He said the government was committed to secularism but no organisation or sect could be allowed to carry out illegal religious conversion by force or allurement. According to reports, the families were allegedly promised financial help of Rs 1500 per month if they converted to Christianity. However, the promise was not kept and they were being paid only Rs 500 per month. The local tribals alleged a group of missionaries had been operating in the region with funds made available by a Chandigarh-based Christian organisation. The local Christian leaders, however, denied the allegations and maintained they were there only to help the suffering people and spread the message of Christ. |
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Mahajan for
consensus on next party chief SHIMLA, Oct 8 — Mr Sat Mahajan, president of the Pradesh Congress Committee, is in favour of electing the next state party chief by consensus. In a statement, here today, he said he would make efforts to evolve a consensus on the issue and the process would be initiated by electing the president of Kangra, the biggest district, unanimously. He said he did not belong to any group and his endeavour had been to carry along all sections of the party. Mr Mahajan said there was no question of factionalism in the party and claimed that the state Congress would unanimously support the candidature of Mrs Sonia Gandhi for party president. Regarding the allegations of rigging and irregularities in the organisational elections in the state, he said such complaints were lodged with returning officers, the state election authority and the Central Election Authority and only they could decide them. |
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Family threatens
self-immolation KANGRA, Oct 8 — All four members of a Scheduled Caste family, which includes two children, of Ansoli village in the district, have threatened to immolate themselves in front of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on the Republic Day next year, as the family’s only male member, Mr A.B. Raajbansh, an engineering diploma-holder, has allegedly been denied job opportunities by the government for the past 12 years. Mr Raajbansh (40) completed a diploma in mechanical engineering in 1988 with 56.5 per cent marks and did a one-year post-diploma proficiency course through the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. However, according to him, he has failed to get a government job because he lacks political push. He is the son of late Naik Basant Ram, recipient of the Sena Seva Medal and the Raksha Medal, 1965. His wife Sapna is the granddaughter of freedom fighter and INA soldier No. 158 Khaimdi Ram of Bhadrol. A first-division matriculate, Mr Raajbansh said in a statement that he and his family were starving and he had been moving from pillar to post to get a suitable government job but the opportunity for the same had repeatedly been denied to him. Mr Raajbansh, a recipient of a commendation certificate from the vigilance Department for supplying information in a corruption case, said he had applied for the post of teacher in 1991 but to no avail. A candidate with only 37 per cent marks in matric had been given the job, allegedly due to political push, while he had been left in the lurch. He said he had approached the President of India, Mr K.R. Narayanan, the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Himachal Pradesh former Governor, Mrs V.S. Rama Devi, Union Ministers Shanta Kumar and Ram Bilas Paswan and the Chief Minister, Prof P.K. Dhumal, among others, but none had replied except the President, who had referred the matter to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary on August 5, 1998. He alleged that the state Chief Secretary had not responded in this regard. |
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