H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Muslim leader for status quo at Babri site
SHIMLA, Jan 16 — Mr Nazir Hussain, a senior BJP leader and treasurer of the minority cell of the party, has called for maintaining status quo at the Babri Masjid site so that Hindus could continue the worship of Lord Rama, and appealed to both communities to create an atmosphere conducive for an amicable solution of the dispute.

Inquiry into shop allotment ordered
JAWALAMUKHI, Jan 16 —The Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mr Parkash Choudhary, today ordered a high-level inquiry into the allotment of shops of the local shopping complex constructed by the Dehra block samiti.

Plan to set up cement plants kicks up row
MANDI, Jan 16 — The proposal to set up cement plants in Sundernagar subdivision of the district and elsewhere in Himachal Pradesh has met with opposition from the local people and environmentalists.

Cong benefits from divided BJP
UNA, Jan 16 — The Congress won the post of vice-chairperson in the Gagret Block Samiti elections yesterday. The BJP, though in majority in the Gagret Block Samiti, but being divided could win post of chairman.

Meenakshi elected MC President
PARWANOO, Jan 16 — Ms Meenakshi Sharma and Mr Chunni Lal Chauhan were elected unanimously as the President and Vice-President of the Municipal Council , Parwanoo, respectively in the elections held here today. The name of Ms Meenakshi Sharma was proposed by Mr Chunni Lal Chauhan and seconded by Mr Ravinder Garg for the post of President. 

ZP chief’s election again postponed
CHAMBA, Jan 16 — The election to the post of chairperson of zila parishad here was put-off for the third time today as it could not form a quorum of at least 12 members.

Cong wins block samiti posts
SOLAN, Jan 16 — Ms Satya Devi and Mr Gian Chand, both Congress nominees, were today elected unopposed chairperson and vice-chairman, respectively, of the block development samiti, Kandaghat.

Reckless quarrying a threat
PALAMPUR: The town has been facing a serious environmental threat because of unscientific quarrying in the area.

Indian Army’s attitude indifferent: porter
DHARAMSALA, Jan 16 — It is not the torture by Pakistanis which pains, says 19-year-old Charan Singh, who remained in captivity in Pakistan for five months, but the indifference and shabby treatment meted out to me by the Indian Army.

PR official Kaushik dead
SHIMLA, Jan 16 — Mr Kamal Prakash Kaushik, Deputy Director of the Public Relations Department, Himachal, died here today following a massive heart attack.

Renuka HP NCP youth wing chief
KULU, Jan 16 — Ms Renuka Dogra, an expelled leader of the Congress, has been appointed president of the Himachal youth wing of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).This was stated in a press note issued by Mr Ravi Thakur, general secretary of the state unit of the NCP here today.

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Muslim leader for status quo at Babri site
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 16 — Mr Nazir Hussain, a senior BJP leader and treasurer of the minority cell of the party, has called for maintaining status quo at the Babri Masjid site so that Hindus could continue the worship of Lord Rama, and appealed to both communities to create an atmosphere conducive for an amicable solution of the dispute.

Hailing the initiative taken by a section of Hindus and Muslims to hold direct talks for a settlement, Mr Hussain said the Muslim community respect the sentiments of the majority community, which wanted to build a temple at the birth place of Lord Rama.

While the Hindus had been offering prayers there since Independence, unlike the Muslims. As such it would be misleading to call the demolished structure a mosque as it was only a building.

He said scores of old mosques in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh had crumbled due to neglect and it had not affected the Muslim community. The Babri Masjid dispute had been politicised to the hilt and now a stage had reached where it would not benefit any party.

Mr Hussain appreciated Mr Vajpayee’s effort in encouraging the Muslims to join the national mainstream.

Inquiry into shop allotment ordered
From Our Correspondent

JAWALAMUKHI, Jan 16 —The Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mr Parkash Choudhary, today ordered a high-level inquiry into the allotment of shops of the local shopping complex constructed by the Dehra block samiti.

Stating this during a press conference at a local rest-house, he asked the Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, Mr R.C. Kapil, to submit a report in this connection.

Various complaints had been received by the government from old and new shopkeepers, he said. It had been revealed that the panchayat samiti had committed irregularities in the allotment of newly constructed shops at the local bus stand and violated Section 112 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act 1994, he added.

He said the state government was determined to root out corruption at all levels and make Panchyati Raj institutions more purposeful. Panchayati vigilance committees had been set up according to a provision of the Panchayati Raj Act rather than as tool of political vendetta, he said. The minister appealed to the people to keep track of various development works undertaken by gram panchayats. He, however, cautioned them to avoid unnecessary conflicts with panchayats and refrain from throwing spanner in the functioning of local bodies.

Plan to set up cement plants kicks up row
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Jan 16 — The proposal to set up cement plants in Sundernagar subdivision of the district and elsewhere in Himachal Pradesh has met with opposition from the local people and environmentalists.

The Environment Preservation Forum set up recently at Sundernagar, has sent petitions to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr T.R. Balu, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, and the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ms Maneka Gandhi, urging them to impose a blanket ban on cement plants in Himachal Pradesh in view of their “environmentally destructive effect”.

The chairman of the forum Lieut-Col Bhim Singh Raghwa (retd), said today that people had resolved to stall the move to construct cement plants in the state as these would play havoc with the lives of humans and animals and render the fertile Balh valley useless.

The limestone dust would make people vulnerable to lung ailments and the worst victims would be infants, he said. The effects of the cement plants at Barmana and Darlaghat had already assumed alarming proportions, he lamented.

Experts have been stressing for the past many years that only eco-friendly industries should be allowed in the state. They have emphasised a three-pronged strategy to make Himachal Pradesh econonically viable by the development of forests, generation of hydel power and promotion of tourism.

Experts have also warned that blasting in the Sundernagar belt would revage the already fragile strata around the hills through which the Beas-Sutlej link (BSL) tunnel passes and irreparable damage could be caused to the water conductor system.

Cong benefits from divided BJP
From Our Correspondent

UNA, Jan 16 — The Congress won the post of vice-chairperson in the Gagret Block Samiti elections yesterday. The BJP, though in majority in the Gagret Block Samiti, but being divided could win post of chairman.

In Gagret, the BJP was divided into the Shanta Kumar group and the Dhumal group. The Shanta Kumar camp led by Mr Tilak Raj Chadha joined hands with the Congress and won chairman’s post. Mr Tilak Raj Chadha got 11 votes while BJP’s office candidate Mr Hoshiar Singh scored nine votes only.

Congress’s Kamlesh Kumari received 13 votes while BJP’s official candidate, Mr Khajodha Singh could get only seven votes. While Gagret’s Congress MLA Kuldeep Kumar won the first vice-chairperson for party, Mr Praveen Kumar, State Minister for Excise, who was campaigning for the election failed to get either of the seats.

Meenakshi elected MC President
From Our Correspondent

PARWANOO, Jan 16 — Ms Meenakshi Sharma and Mr Chunni Lal Chauhan were elected unanimously as the President and Vice-President of the Municipal Council , Parwanoo, respectively in the elections held here today. The name of Ms Meenakshi Sharma was proposed by Mr Chunni Lal Chauhan and seconded by Mr Ravinder Garg for the post of President. The name of Mr Chunni Lal was proposed by Mr Surinder Aggarwal for the post of Vice-President and seconded by Mr Manmohan Sharma. the post of the President of the Municipal Council was reserved for the women member.

The elections were held just after all the newly elected nine members took oath in the presence of the Assistant Commissioner, Parwanoo. Mr Chunni Lal Chauhan, just after the elections, told Chandigarh Tribune that the elections were held in cordial atmosphere. He added that he was aware of the main problems of the town like non-availability of a bus stand, pitiable condition of roads, inappropriate sewerage system and many other problems.

Mr Chunni Lal said that he will try to work hand in hand with the present BJP government in Himachal Pradesh and would try to take the maximum financial help from the government for the development of this town. Mr Varinder Sehgal, member, Pradesh BJP Working Committee, was also present on the occasion. While talking to mediapersons he said that this was decided at a meeting under his Chairmanship that Ms Meenakshi Sharma and Mr Chunni Lal Chauhan will be elected unanimously and all the members will work for the upliftment of Parwanoo township. 

ZP chief’s election again postponed
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Jan 16 — The election to the post of chairperson of zila parishad here was put-off for the third time today as it could not form a quorum of at least 12 members.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr T.D. Negi, who is also the Returning Officer for zila parishad elections, has now fixed January 22 as the next date of elections, an official spokesman told reporters here today.

Cong wins block samiti posts
From Our Correspondent

SOLAN, Jan 16 — Ms Satya Devi and Mr Gian Chand, both Congress nominees, were today elected unopposed chairperson and vice-chairman, respectively, of the block development samiti, Kandaghat.

The BJP, which had only five members in the 15-member house, did not field any candidates for two posts.

Reckless quarrying a threat
From Ravinder Sood

PALAMPUR: The town has been facing a serious environmental threat because of unscientific quarrying in the area.

Residents are worried over large-scale quarrying being carried out in the adjoining village of Lohna as it is leading to the destruction of valuable forests.

Records indicate that officials of the Mining and Forest Departments had granted permission for quarrying and mining in the area and that, too, without allegedly visiting the site. The departments have also not bothered to inquire into the harm being done by such activities to the forest wealth.

Environmentalists are concerned over the continuing quarrying, to which the government authorities concerned have been a silent spectator for the past one year. The reckless quarrying, say environmentalists, has disturbed the ecological balance. It is surprising that all this has been happening under the nose of officials of the Forest Department whose office is situated not far from the site.

Residents of Lohna village have been going from pillar to post to get the activities stopped but to no avail. Their letters to the Forest Minister and senior officers have remained unanswered.

Villagers say that the quarrying has been going on under the “patronage” of certain leaders of the ruling party. If efforts are not made to stop it, the result could be large-scale landslides in the coming rainy season. Besides, hundreds of green trees will be destroyed.

Hills in the state have been indiscriminately stripped of forest cover during the past 10 years, resulting in flash floods, landslides and a change in the rain pattern.

Despite tall claims made by the government, nothing worthwhile has been done to check illegal mining and quarrying. In many parts of the state, certain political leaders have been encouraging such activities and amassing wealth. Though the state government has set up special courts and amendments have been made to the forest Act, most of the offenders go scot-free as they enjoy political patronage. Mining permits in the state are often issued to influential persons on the recommendation of Ministers and MLAs. 

Indian Army’s attitude indifferent: porter
From Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Jan 16 — It is not the torture by Pakistanis which pains, says 19-year-old Charan Singh, who remained in captivity in Pakistan for five months, but the indifference and shabby treatment meted out to me by the Indian Army.

Charan Singh, who worked as porter with the Indian Army in Kargil, was taken hostage along with a Nepalese on the night of July 26 last year. After being released by the Pakistani army, he returned to his native village Boh, near Shahpur, last evening.

“I do not fear the Pakistanis as I am willing to go back to Kargil to work as a porter, but seeing the indifferent attitude of our own Army, I feel there is no point in risking my life for those who do not value life or the sentiments of family and relatives,” says a disheartened Charan Singh.

Charan Singh, who was given a warm reception by his relatives and residents of Boh and Rirkumar, says the Army authorities are yet to give him over Rs 40,000 for the services rendered by him. “Leave aside the money, they did not even consider their duty to inform my family about my being taken captive by the Pakistanis,” he says, adding that he will go back to Kargil when the roads open to take the money.

He says the indifference of the Indian Army can be gauged by the fact that it had not even informed the family of another porter, Pa Sang Dorjee, about his safe return from Pakistan. Dorjee, who hails from Nepal, is settled with his family in Ladakh. After being released by Pakistani Rangers, he along with Charan Singh came to Kangra as it was not possible for him to go to Ladakh. “The least the Army could have done was to arrange Dorjee’s journey back home, but instead it asked me to take him with me and send him to Ladakh once he earns enough,” says Charan Singh.

After their release, the Army did not give them shoes or clothes and it was only when Charan Singh’s relatives came that they were taken care of.

Recalling the night of July 26, he says 24 civilians and three guards of the Army were caught in Pakistani ambush. Some managed to escape while others were killed. The two of them were taken hostages. They were caught in the ambush while they were carrying kerosene cans up a hill.

He recalled he was immediately blindfolded, handcuffed and taken to an unknown destination in a vehicle. “I was kept in complete isolation in a prison cell where for 10 days I was pricked with needles and beaten up to get information about the Indian Army and its location,” he stated.

Once they were sure that I was a civilian, they stopped torturing me and provided me with good food and regular medical check-ups, he said.

“While I was in captivity, I felt that they would either kill me or keep in jail all my life. I had lost all hopes of returning home, but efforts of the Indian Government saved me,” he says.

PR official Kaushik dead
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Jan 16 — Mr Kamal Prakash Kaushik, Deputy Director of the Public Relations Department, Himachal, died here today following a massive heart attack.

Officers and employees of the department mourned his death and observed a two-minute silence to pay respect to the departed soul. Mr Kaushik is survived by wife and two sons.

Renuka HP NCP youth wing chief
From Our correspondent

KULU, Jan 16 — Ms Renuka Dogra, an expelled leader of the Congress, has been appointed president of the Himachal youth wing of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). This was stated in a press note issued by Mr Ravi Thakur, general secretary of the state unit of the NCP here today.

He said the NCP would organise a state-level youth convention in Manali for which the date would be shortly announced. He said Mr P.A.Sangma and the general secretary in charge of the state would participate in it.

He said the list of the state youth wing of the party would be released soon.

Girl dies in accident
From Our Correspondent

PARWANOO, Jan 16 — Neetu Saini (22), a resident of Sector 3 of this town, succumbed to injuries at the PGI, yesterday evening. As per information, Neetu Saini, who was coming to Parwanoo on scooter driven by one of her relatives, was hit by a speeding truck from behind near the Bitta Petrol Pump, Mani Majra.

The girl and boy were seriously injured and were taken to the PGI where Neetu succumbed to her injuries in the evening and the boy was still struggling for life. The body of the girl, after post-mortem was handed over to her parents today morning and brought to Parwanoo for cremation.