H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

End ceasefire confusion: Shekhar
NAHAN, Nov 27 — The former Prime Minister Mr Chandra Shekhar criticised the Central Government for keeping the nation in the dark regarding its agenda and other developments relating to Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Shekhar, who was addressing a press conference here today, asked the Centre to remove the confusion regarding the Kashmir issue adding that the government should make it clear that why and on whose initiative was the ceasefire declared in the valley.

Bus conductor refuses to accept smart card
KUMARHATTI, Nov 27 — The driver and conductor of a New Delhi-Shimla bus (HP-07-4946) of the Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC) refused to honour the smart card issued by the Regional Manager, Solan, to Mr Kuldeep Singh, who is also a general secretary of the State Kisan Sabha, yesterday evening.

Hoteliers resent budget cut
MANDI, Nov 27 — The Mandi Hoteliers Association at its meeting held here today resented that the government has been neglecting the development of tourism infrastructure in the state over the past three years.

End ceasefire confusion: Shekhar
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, Nov 27 — The former Prime Minister Mr Chandra Shekhar criticised the Central Government for keeping the nation in the dark regarding its agenda and other developments relating to Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Shekhar, who was addressing a press conference here today, asked the Centre to remove the confusion regarding the Kashmir issue adding that the government should make it clear that why and on whose initiative was the ceasefire declared in the valley. He was here to see the BJP leader Ms S. Sharma’s ailing mother.

He said the first reaction of the people regarding the ceasefire was not encouraging. In the valley the terrorist outfits have already rejected the declaration of the ceasefire and increased their attacks on public and the armed forces. Mr Shekhar said the present government had failed to protect the lives and properties of its citizens.

He alleged that recently an American Muslim national had made a statement that the ceasefire had been declared on his initiative and that he was a mediator between the Indian Government and the militants. Till date this statement had not been contradicted by the government and the people were confused as to way the government was bent upon its decision of ceasefire when it had been rejected by those against whom our forces were fighting, he said.

He alleged that the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee was further misleading the country by saying that the ceasefire was a ‘follow up’ of his Lahore bus yatra. In fact Kargil war was the follow up of Lahore bus yatra and the declaration of ceasefire the ‘follow up’ of Kargil war, he said.

The former Prime Minister said he was not against coalition governments but it should follow a common minimum agenda agreed upon by the partners. But the present government was wasting most of its time trying to convincing its angry leaders and reverting its own decisions. It has become a regular activity with the government, keeping aside all important nation’s issues, he said.

He refuted the news that former Prime Ministers were going to form any ‘third front’ in the country, although they had met a few times to address the main issues of the country which were being ignored by the government and the main opposition party. But they had never discussed the issue of a ‘third front’ as being publicised by the media, he said.

The former Prime Ministers were going to Calcutta to attend a party in honour of the former Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mr Jyoti Basu, and not to discuss formation of any front, he added.

Mr Shekhar also criticised the economic policies of the Vajpayee government and said these policies were leading the nation towards unemployment, economic slavery and instability. He said the promotion of ‘swadeshi’ on the Gandhian pattern was the only way to save the economy of the country and bring happiness on the faces of villagers.

Bus conductor refuses to accept smart card
From Our Correspondent

KUMARHATTI, Nov 27 — The driver and conductor of a New Delhi-Shimla bus (HP-07-4946) of the Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC) refused to honour the smart card issued by the Regional Manager, Solan, to Mr Kuldeep Singh, who is also a general secretary of the State Kisan Sabha, yesterday evening.

Mr Kuldeep Singh asked the conductor for a ticket from Kumarhatti to Chambaghat near Solan along with the required money and smart card, according to which holders who are 60 years and above are entitled to 10 to 20 per cent discount on the actual fare. But the bus conductor, Dharam Dutt refused to honour it.

It may also be recalled that the HRTC, in order to check the decreasing number of passengers had launched smart card scheme in the state. The scheme was introduced to compete with the private buses, which were carrying more passengers by offering less fare as compared to the HRTC buses.

According to Mr Kuldeep Singh, the conductor denied the entitlement of the card saying that it was not valid in case where the ticket was less than Rs 10. Neither the conditions written behind the smart card nor any other guidelines say anywhere that the smart card would not be applicable in case the fare is less than Rs 10. ‘‘I have on many occasions availed the discount facilities through the smart card even in cases where the fare was less than Rs 10’’, said Mr Kuldeep Singh.

Enquiries revealed that the smart card holders were entitled to get discount in the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Chandigarh also, whereas the crew of the HRTC buses were entertaining the cards inside the state territory only.

Hoteliers resent budget cut
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Nov 27 — The Mandi Hoteliers Association at its meeting held here today resented that the government has been neglecting the development of tourism infrastructure in the state over the past three years.

Briefing newspersons Mr Munish Sood, president of the association, said while the government was claiming to promote tourism, the facts were contrary to its contentions. The government had been drastically reducing its budget for the development of infrastructure.

The budget for tourism was Rs 11.96 crore in 1998-99. It was cut to Rs 9.04 crore in 1999-2000, while it had been drastically reduced to Rs 3.12 crore for the current year, Mr Sood said. Consequently all incentives announced by the Department of Tourism for promoting the industry had been stopped, he added. He regretted that despite repeated requests the government had not done away with the minimum monthly charges which had been adversely hitting the hotel industry in Himachal Pradesh.

The association reiterated its demand for charging industrial rates from hotels which had been recognised as industry by the government.

It was further demanded that luxury tax rate should be reduced and made at par with other states.