‘Letter bomb’ to haunt BJP
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Dec 6 — Though the crisis in the ruling BJP is over but the letter which shook the Dhumal government will continue to haunt the party for quite some time.

The party will have a tough time defending serious charges like irregularities in recruitment and award of contracts as alleged in the letter by the dissidents. The issues have provided the much-needed ammunition to the Opposition Congress to attack the government which so far had a smooth sailing in the state Assembly and outside.

Already much embarrassment has been caused to the government and the episode has hurt the image of the party and eroded its credibility. Things could improve if the party manages to do well in the ensuing panchayat and urban local bodies poll.

The rebellion in the party did not build up overnight. Its genesis could be traced to the Solan Assembly byelection held in February. The denial of party ticket to Mr Mohinder Sofat, a staunch Shanta loyalist, who fought a protracted legal battle to get the election of Congress candidate Quashed, created a fear psychosis among others that they would meet the same fate in days to come. The ill-conceived resignation drama further deepened their apprehensions.

The impending threat to their political future brought the three ministers and many legislators together and they decided to fight the battle collectively.

In the first signs of dissidence the six leaders started dinner meetings and also met Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, and the party President, Mr Jaikrishan Sharma, collectively in July to air their grievances. In the second phase of their campaign they met central leaders and sought their intervention but to no avail.

However, as is apparent now, the party leadership failed to gauge the gravity of the situation and made no serious attempt to contain the growing discontent. Even the letter with such explosive contents failed to move the party machinery, its serious implications were realised only after it was leaked to the media. Had Mr Dhumal and Mr Jaikrishan Sharma initiated a dialogue with dissidents after receiving the letter, the party would have been saved the embarrassment. The inexplicable delay in resolving the crisis worsened the situation.

Although the old party guards Mr Suresh Bhardwaj and Mr K.D. Dharmani, along with youth leader Mr Jai Ram managed to work out a compromise formula to clinch the issue, the dust raised by the “letter bomb” will take much time to settle down.

It has been, in fact, a crisis of confidence between the Chief Minister and the dissidents. Now that Mr Dhumal has shown willingness to accommodate them he should ensure that accord was implemented in the right earnest. This is essential to restore the lost confidence. It goes to the credit of Mr Dhumal that he was able to resolve the crisis without the intervention of the high command.

Surprisingly, Mr Narinder Modi, the powerful general secretary and in charge of Himachal affairs, was no where in the picture during the worst-ever crisis faced by BJP-led government in the state. The dissidents had been accusing him of being partisan in handling the party affairs and had even urged the high command to shift him. It was perhaps for this reason that he chose to remain a silent spectator during the 10-day drama.

HP Cong stand ‘vindicated’
From Our Correspondent

NURPUR, Dec 6 — The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, has said that the resignation of the Public Works Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, from Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal’s government vindicated the charges framed and submitted by the state Congress to the Governor a few months ago against government irregularities.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, Mr Mahajan said the 10-day political crisis in the BJP was its own doing and the Congress had nothing to do with its internal squabbles. He said that dropping of the controversial Public Works Minister was not the demand of the Congress. It had been demanding the dismissal of the Dhumal government in the wake of the allegations of corruption and irregularities stated in the charge sheet framed by the Kaul Singh Committee of the Congress.

He reiterated that the Congress had also urged the Governor to order a CBI probe into the corruption allegations against the ministers implicated in the charge sheet.

He alleged that BJP activists had been violating the model code of conduct in the panchayat elections and intimidating Congress supporters. He urged the State Election Commission to enforce the code of conduct strictly so that the people could exercise their franchise fearlessly.

Mohinder made scapegoat: HVP
From Our Correspondent

UNA, Dec 6 — An emergency meeting held here last evening under the chairmanship of Mr O.P. Rattan, president of the HVP, said news reports saying that Thakur Mohinder Singh had resigned and the Governor had accepted the resignation were false.

Mr Mohinder Singh himself clarified that he did not submit any fresh resignation, but it was same one which he had submitted along with other ministers on April 18, expressing faith in the leadership of Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal. They said the government should have held an inquiry before taking action against Mr Mohinder Singh. They alleged that he had been singled out and made a scapegoat.

Fund shortage holds up bridge
From Bipin Bhardwaj

KOT-HATWAR (Ghumarwin) — The construction of a bridge over Sanail khud, which will link Bilaspur district with Hamirpur at Jahoo village, has come to a standstill due to paucity of funds with the state government.

Villagers are using a makeshift bridge to cross the khud as construction of approach roads to the main bridge has been stopped. A temporary road under the incomplete bridge on the khud bed is being used by vehicles.

Besides, alleged “political interference” and the indifference of the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (HPPWD) have put a spanner in the works, delaying the construction of approach roads to the bridge near Jahoo village.

The foundation stone of the bridge was laid in 1991. Since then construction of the bridge has proceeded at a snail’s pace: it took over nine years just to lay the slab.

Expenditure of Rs 41.36 lakh for construction of the bridge was accorded by the state government on March 1991. The construction work was allotted to a contractor but due to litigation he had to abandon the project. The department had to refloat tenders in 1996 and construction work was restarted by another contractor about a year later.

Construction of approach roads came to a standstill due to lack of funds with the department only after laying a RCC deck slab over 15 spans by spending huge amounts, which were much more than the estimates stated in tender. Though the structure of the bridge has been erected on the khud bed, yet the embankments, approaches and the railings are still to be constructed.

Commuters of the area have to cross more than three feet deep water to reach their destination. Despite the partially completed bridge, the commuters are forced to set up a temporary plank to cross the khud. There has to be change in the buses passengers as it becomes difficult to cross the khud during the rainy season.

Residents of the area complain that they were not provided any facility despite spending a lot of money on erecting the “structure” of the bridge. Hopes of the residents of nearly 25 surrounding villages, to avail the facility of a bridge, were dashed to ground soon after the work on the approaches of the bridge was abandoned.

According to departmental sources, the department had ignored the land which was acquired for approach roads. The villagers are not giving their agriculture land for the approach roads. The issue has generated controversy.

Mr Ravi Dutt, a resident of Kot village, said though the department had claimed that the bridge would be opened to vehicular use by June, yet it seems that the dispute among the PWD and the villagers would not be solved for years. ‘‘The government had spent a lot on the bridge and it should be better if a little more is spent to settle down the issue. This will not only be helpful in solving the issue but also ease the flow of traffic”, he opined.

The HPPWD officials, despite repeated attempts, were not available for comment.

Commuters from Dehra and Hatwar and surrounding villages have to travel about 15 km more to reach Jahoo either via Ladrour or Bum village. Students from the surrounding villages use to go to Government Degree College, Sarkaghat, to attend classes, are the worst affected as they have to take buses to the college from Jahoo by crossing the khud and then back to their houses.

Dalits’ conference violates code: JD
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, Dec 6 — The Himachal Pradesh Janata Dal (United) chief and former MLA, Capt. Partap Chaudhary, today sought the intervention of the State Election Commission to ban the conference of Dalits and other Backward Classes here tomorrow. It is to be attended by the Agriculture Minister, Mr Vidya Sagar and some other ministers and parliamentary secretaries.

The conference is allegedly aimed at wooing voters in view of the ongoing panchayat, nagar parishad and zila parishad polls and is thus violative of the election code of conduct he said.

In a complaint to the Election Commission and the local Deputy Commissioner Captain Chaudhary said that the conference was being held to influence the voters of these communities.

The Janata Dal chief in a statement here today alleged that the BJP was voted to power as it had promised 27 per cent reservation for the OBCs. In view of the Mandal Commission report but it did not fulfil its promise. On the contrary it reduced the reservation for Dalits and the OBCs in the panchayats and nagar parishads.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister when contacted denied the allegations of misuse of the government machinery. He said several Dalit and OBC organisations were involved in taking the decision to hold the conference which was taken a fortnight ago. He said the conference was being held to redress the grievances of these communities.

Striking students burn furniture
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, Dec 6 — Striking students of Kala Amb Engineering College set on fire furniture and some other articles in the college compound today at Kala Amb.

Fire tenders were rushed from Nahan and fire was brought under control. No major loss of property has been reported.

A senior administrative officer said, “there was nothing serious, talk between the college management and the students may held tomorrow.

The strike and chain hunger strike of the students entered the sixth day today. Students of the information technology course have alleged that they have been cheated by the college management as this course was not recognised by the university and now their future was hanging in the air as university has refused to take their examination.

Tributes paid to Dr Ambedkar
From Tribune Reporters

SHIMLA, Dec 6 — Bharat Ratna Bhim Rao Ambedkar was remembered and on his 44th death anniversary here today. The state-level function was organised at Ambedkar Chowk where prominent leaders and people from all walks of life paid homage to Dr Ambedkar. The Himachal Pradesh Governor, Mr Suraj Bhan, offered floral tributes at the statue of Dr Ambedkar. The Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, also paid tributes to Dr Ambedkar. Mr Narender Bragta, Minister of State for Horticulture, Mr Roop Dass Kashyap, Minister of State for Urban Development, Mrs Janney Prem, Mayor, and councillors of the Municipal Corporation, Shimla, also paid floral tributes.

Rs 50,000 loss in fire
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Dec 6 — Property worth Rs 50,000 was gutted in a fire that broke out in the house of Joginder Singh, a Dalit of Mohin village in the district today. The fire was accidental. Villagers extinguished the fire with the help of the fire tenders from Hamirpur. However, no loss of life has been reported.