The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

‘Tarun Tejpal was with Tiwari Congress’
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 10
Mr Ram Nath Kovind, President of the All-India Bhartiya Janata Party Scheduled Caste Morcha, has said the Tehelka “conspiracy” was not aimed at maligning Dalits but to undermine the credibility of the BJP and destabilise the Vajpayee government.

Addressing a Press conference here today he said the veracity of the Tehelka tapes was doubtful as the journalists concerned were associated with the Congress in one way or the other. For instance, Tarun Tejpal was media in would look into these aspects, he said.

Earlier, tehelka.com had exposed the match-fixing scandal with the help of Manoj Prabhakar, who contested election as a Tiwari Congress candidate, but the CBI ultimately found him guilty of match-fixing. It had also done stories against Mr Chandra Babu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, which turned out to be false. It had even apologised to Mr Naidu.

Tehelka.com had claimed that it had footage of about 100 hours but it only showed tapes of about four hours.

Replying to a question, he admitted there was corruption in the system.

But in the case of Mr Bangaru Laxman it was a result of “loose talk” which landed him in trouble. The party did not approve of his conduct.

He should have been more cautious, he said.

He said the Congress had adopted an unreasonable stand on the issue.

It was not allowing Parliament to function even though the government had offered to discuss the issue and had ordered any inquiry.

He said in the case of telecom scandal, the BJP had also stalled proceedings of the House but only because the Narasimha Rao government was not ready for any kind of inquiry or debate in the House.

Senior manager ‘behind attack’ on CITU chief
Our Correspondent

Kulu, April 10
The mishandling and involvement of a private construction company’s senior manager in the affairs of the labour had led to commotion yesterday at the Larji hydel project, leaving seven persons, including the Deputy Superintendent of Police and the CITU state leader, injured. This was stated by Mr Ravi Inder Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, who is admitted at the zonal hospital here with serious injuries, today while talking to the correspondent.

Mr Ravi Inder Singh said he was camping at the project site as labour unrest was going on. He said on April 8 a few persons came to the site and started getting a paper signed by the labourers working with the Satyam Group of Companies. On enquiries they stated that they were the security staff of the private company. A few labourers who refused to sign the paper were threatened.

The labour leaders and the HPSEB authorities agreed to meet on April 9 and sort out the problems. On April 9 workers came on the road after they were told that no talks would take place that day. Later, the management of Satyam company agreed on having talks and traffic was restored only after the leaders were invited for negotiations. The DSP stated that Rakesh Singha was allegedly attacked by the so-called security personnel of the private company. He added that when it was learnt that four of the labour leaders accompanying Mr Singha were missing, the DSP went in search of them at the Satyam office at Bhuntar near here. There he found the same vehicle which was involved in the alleged attack on Mr Singha. He further said the papers, which were being used for getting the signatures of the labourers at the dam site, were also found.

On being asked, the occupants of the vehicle said they were deputed by Rathi, a senior manager of the company. The same statement was given by two other miscreants Gianu and Dola Ram at Aut police station that they were directed to get the signatures of the labourers by Rathi. The satyam management was not available for comments as there was no one present at the office at Bhunter. It was learnt that negotiations were on at the Sharabai Rest House here among the leaders of CITU, HPSEB authorities and the administration of Kulu and Mandi Districts today.

	Labourers set afire 3 vehicles Tribune News Service Shimla, April 10 The Chief Minister, Prof P.K. Dhumal, today said the Himachal Pradesh Government would not allow the exploitation of labourers engaged in the construction of power projects in the state. The Chief Minister, who was giving a statement in the Vidhan Sabha on yesterday’s violence near the Larji power project, while replying to a query of Mr Kaul Singh (Cong), said labourers should not have taken the law in their hands as the project had already been delayed. Mr Kaul Singh said the construction company was exploiting the labourers by making them work in the tunnel for more than 14 hours. In his statement, Prof Dhumal said the labourers set on fire three vehicles of the construction company and a police motor cycle at Aut. Later, they proceeded to the primary health centre at Nagwain and damaged the shop of an employee of the company. Some vehicles of the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board were damaged in stone pelting and a police bus was also damaged. Mr Ravinder Singh, DSP, received a head injury and was rushed to the district hospital at Kulu. The DC and the SP, Mandi, reached the spot and persuaded the labourers to reopen the highway which was blocked at Thalaut. Trouble started when Mr Rakesh Singha, CITU chief, along with some other labour leaders, was waylaid by about 15 activists of the Rashtriya Mazdoor Sangh at Nagwain and attacked with iron rods and stones. Mr Singha received minor injuries, while four other CITU leaders suffered serious injuries. They were attacked while they were going to the office of the chief engineer for negotiations after having blocked the highway for sometime. Tension was brewing since April 8 among a section of workers of the construction company associated with CITU over the alleged enrolment drive for a newly set up workers’ union, the Rashtriya Mazdoor Sangh. The Chief Minister said four criminal cases had been registered by the police.
	Telephones in remote areas Tribune News Service Dharamsala, April 10 The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Mr Shanta Kumar, has said as part of its endeavour people residing in remote and far-flung areas in the districts of Kangra and Chamba will be provided with telephones by the end of the financial year. Mr Shanta Kumar was speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of a telephone exchange constructed at a cost of Rs 40 lakh at Kothi-Kohad village falling in the remote area of Chotta Bhangal in Baijnath constituency yesterday. He stated that the new exchange would benefit 22 villages in the area. The Union Minister said the government would focus on the strengthening of the telecom services in the rural areas of Kangra and Chamba districts as it proposed to open 20 new telephone exchanges. He said the under-privileged and the rural masses would remain the priority of the NDA government. He said it was with this very motive that the Antodaya Yojna had been launched to provide subsidised ration to five crore families below the poverty line. He added that other schemes like the Annapurna Yojna and food for work had also been launched. The Union Minister said a total of Rs 60 crore would be spent on construction of roads under the Prime Minister’s Gramin Sarak Yojna. Speaking on the occasion the local MLA and district BJP chief, Mr Dulo Ram, said a number of welfare schemes had been launched for the welfare of the people residing in remote areas. He added that a power house was being constructed in the area to provide electricity to the people of Bara Bhangal area in Baijnath.
	Himachal to review grant policy Tribune News Service Shimla, April 10 Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, said today that the government would review its present grant-in-aid policy to prevent the misuse of funds by private educational institutions. Replying to the debate on a resolution under Rule 130 regarding the improper utilisation of 95 per cent grants by privately-managed institutions moved by Mr Chander Kumar, he said financial assistance was being given to promote quality education. The misuse of grants would not be allowed at any cost, particularly when the government was facing a severe financial crunch. He said it if was found that any institution had violated the norms while recruiting staff, its grant would be withheld. Mr I.D. Dhiman, Education Minister, said the government would take all necessary steps to streamline the functioning of private institutions. Earlier, moving the resolution, Mr Chander Kumar said private institutions were violating rules with impunity. He cited the example of a school in his area where the entire family had been employed. The House also discussed a resolution moved by Mr Rajeev Bindal underlining the need to promote tourism to provide employment. Replying to the debate, Mr P.K. Dhumal said the government would consider opening casinos for the tourists. He said the government was prepared to take any step to boost tourism. The state government had urged the Centre to subsidise air fares in the state on the pattern of the Northeastern states. The Pathankot airport of the Indian Air Force would be opened to civil flights shortly, he said. The terminal facilities and the infrastructure were being developed by the Civil Aviation Ministry. The three air strips in the state were being extended to facilitate the landing of big planes which could help bring down the fares, he added. Besides, adventure sports like river rafting and parasailing were also being promoted in a big way, he said. Earlier, moving the resolution, Mr Bindal said steps should be taken for exploiting the tourism potential of the state and strengthen the state’s economy.
	HP invites corporate tea planters Tribune News Service Shimla, April 10 The Himachal Pradesh government will give preference to corporate plantation under its scheme to promote tea cultivation in the state. Stating this during question hour, Mr Vidya Sagar, Agriculture Minister, informed the Vidhan Sabha that tea planters from other states had been invited to set up processing units. A minimum of 200 hectares would be leased out to each planter. The process had been started and a committee headed by the Chief Secretary set up for the purpose. The public sector, joint sector and private companies registered under the Companies Act and cooperative societies and garden colonies registered under the State Cooperative Act will be eligible. He said only those companies which had the financial and technical capabilities would be considered. Replying to a question, Mr P.K. Dhumal, Chief Minister, said that the crime graph in the state had been showing a downward trend. Quoting figures, he said against the total number of 16,762 cases in 1996 and 15,230 in 1997, there were only 14,976 cases in the 2000. Referring to incidence of major crime, he said between April 2000 and February 2001, as many as 120 cases of murder, 629 of theft, seven dacoities and 125 rapes, took place. Besides, 121 cases of sexual harassment and 919 of atrocities on women were also registered. He said there was no increase in crime against women but more victims were coming forward to lodge complaints with the police as women constables had been posted in all the police stations. In the all male set-up, women hesitated to report the matter to the police. Answering another question, he said the backlog of posts reserved for disabled persons was 541. The maximum number 258 posts were in the Primary Education Department, followed by 106 posts in secondary education. These were being filled in routine depending on the availability of eligible candidates. Mr Prakash Chaudhary, Minister for Rural Development, told Mr Harsh Mahajan that out of the total 78,770 families to be provided subsidised ration under the Antyodaya Annapurna Yojna, 76,903 families had been identified and the remaining, 1867 would be identified. So far, 9840 quintals of wheat and an equal quantity of rice had been received for distribution under the scheme.

Residents demand civic amenities
Our Correspondent

Parwanoo, April 10
Residents of Sector 5 here are sore over the apathy of the local nagar panchayat towards their long-pending problems. The residents say that this sector came into existence about 20 years ago but remains neglected and even basic amenities have not been provided.

Residents add that the condition of inner roads is deplorable. The circular road has deep potholes and is broken at many places and the drivers of heavy vehicles are uncomfortable driving on this road. There is also drinking water problem here. The water is lifted from a dirty nullah for supplying to the houses. Proper treatment is not given to the water. The water sometimes smells. Residents added that there is no proper street-lighting in the sector. The sewerage system of the sector is also not working properly.

Residents added that there is no police post here and the local police station is also about 4 km away and it becomes very difficult to inform the police about any incident that takes place here.

Pradhan threatens indefinite fast
Our Correspondent

Jaisinghpur, April 10
The pradhan of gram panchayat, Haler, has threatened to sit on an indefinite fast along with his supporters, on Thursday in protest against the indifferent attitude of the Administration and Mining Department of the state regarding a proposed stone crusher at Sanghol Khud and illegal mining being carried out on the bank of the Beas river.

Releasing copies of the memorandum addressed to the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, SDM, Jaisinghpur, and District Mining Officer, Dharamsala, the pradhan, Mr Onkar Chand, said some persons belonging to Chadhiyar had taken some land on lease in Sanghol Khud near Khalta village to install a stone crusher.

	Laparoscopic surgery workshop Tribune News Service Dharamsala, April 10 Over 100 eminent surgeons from all over the country will attend the two-day laparoscopic surgery workshop to be organised at Dr Rajindra Prasad Medical College, here from April 14. The workshop will be the first of its kind in which advanced laparoscopic operations will be performed by a top surgeon, Dr Pradeep Chaubey. Operation of kidney stones will also be performed by a technique called PCNL, which is not available in the region. The workshop is likely to be beneficial for the doctors of Himachal who will get an opportunity to improve their skills in the operation of herina, gall bladder and kidney stones, appendectomy and other operations. The Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, will inaugurate the workshop.
	14 huts gutted, girl burnt alive Our Correspondent Nahan, April 10 Fourteen huts were reduced to ashes and four-year-old Manisha was burnt to death when a fire broke out at Nagal, village, 28 km from here, last evening. The Deputy Commissioner of Sirmour said the SDM and the DSP (Police) had rushed to the spot and made arrangements for food and lodging for the affected families. He said revenue officials had left for Nagal village, today to assess losses. Mr Rameshwar Thakur, ASP, said the fire broke out due to a short-circuit and the huts caught fire. The girl died due to suffocation. After receiving information, the Kala Amb police immediately rushed to the spot and called the fire brigade from Nahan. Fire brigade drivers may move tribunal Our Correspondent Una, April 10 A state-level meeting of the HP Fire Brigade Employees Mahasangh was held here yesterday. In a press note, Mr Babu Ram Narnol, state vice-president of the mahasangh, said a contempt of court application would be filed against the government for not implementing the state tribunal’s decision to give fire brigade drivers special pay from December 1989. He said the association would wait until May 2 and if the government failed to grant them special pay, it would file a contempt of court application before the tribunal. Members also expressed resentment over the failure of the government to give one-day extra pay in lieu of second Saturday holiday.
	CM’s assurance on recruitment hailed Our Correspondent Dalhousie, April 10 Mrs Renu Chadha, President of the Municipal Council, Dalhousie, and a prominent leader of BJP of the Banikhet constituency and Mr Surinder Singh Kalia, Chairman, Panchayat Samiti Salooni, Chamba district, have expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, who assured them that preference would be given to youths belonging to the border belt of Salooni in the recruitment to the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) and Special Police Officers (SPOs).
	AITUC secy for govt’s resignation Our Correspondent Bilaspur, April 10 Prof Kameshwar Pandit, CPI leader and secretary of the Himachal unit of AITUC, addressing a state-level conference of AITUC at the local Kisan Bhavan on Saturday said that the Central Government had lost its moral right to continue following the Tehelka expose and it should resign at the earliest.
	Reservation sought on economic basis Our Correspondent Nurpur, April 10 The Shri Rajput Sabha, HP, at a meeting in Nagrota Surian yesterday urged the government to grant the facility of free books to poor Rajput students as in the case of SC/ST and backward classes. It asked the government to grant reservation in jobs and admissions only on the basis of economic status and not on a caste basis.
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