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| Tuesday, July 24, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Himachal cops put on high alert Virbhadra seeks ‘white paper’ on fiscal mess
Hunt on for abode for Karmapa Lok Janshakti stir from Aug 9 |
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Cloudburst: NHPC
suffers loss 100 cases of gastroenteritis reported Traffic chaos unabated Threat to sue
Cong MLA over allegations Welfare
body gives memo to Shanta 923 cr to be spent on education: Dhumal Dhumal told of Labanas’ woes Teachers withdraw
stir call
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Himachal cops put on high alert Dharamsala, July 23 The Jammu and Kashmir police, in one of its raid on a militant hideout, took into
possession, some diaries, having specific information about their plan to strike in bordering area of Chamba. Apart from this, they also intercepted a wireless message of the militants in the Bhaderwah area. In wake of the latest killings by the militants in the Doda area and attack on the Amarnath pilgrims, the state police is not willing to take any chances and has put its forces in Chamba on high alert. The fact that the wireless message was intercepted from the Bhaderwah area of Jammu and Kashmir which is very close to the Kehar sector of Chamba, patrolling has been intensified along the borders. Being the most vulnerable part all police posts have moved back to the summer locations, to prevent any infiltration into Himachal. At least 16 mountain passes, generally used by the militants to enter Chamba becomes surmountable during the summer, when the snow melts, and as such the threat is more. The most sensitive mountain passes are that of Satrundi, Mahilwar Gulli, Bharathi Gulli, Baju Ka Bag and Padri Gulli in the Kehar area. Mr K.C. Sadyal, DIG (North), said the forces had been put on high alert and an extensive patrolling was being undertaken. “We have sensitised the local people and activated the SPO’s and the Village Defence Committees, as they play a vital role in collecting intelligence and getting local feedback, which is crucial, he added. He said to be on the safe side the police and security forces had been asked to accompany the locals who were going to the higher reaches to fetch grass to prevent any attack by militants. The Jammu and Kashmir along with the state police had recently conducted a raid on a militant hideout after approaching the place from Chamba side but the militants had already fled. There has been no militant related incident in Chamba since the massacre of 35 innocent labourers on August 2, 1998. Apart from the first and second battalion of the state police, the ITBP is also guarding the Chamba borders against any infiltration. |
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Virbhadra seeks ‘white paper’ on fiscal mess Shimla, July 23 Mr Virbhadra Singh, who was talking to mediapersons here, said the Dhumal government was not only being condemned by the common man and the Opposition for “patronising” corruption, but his own ministerial colleagues had levelled serious allegations of corruption, nepotism, favouritism and regionalism against him. He criticised the government for inconveniencing the poor by levying user charges in hospitals. He announced that the first steps the Congress would take after returning to power would be to withdraw these charges. Mr Virbhadra Singh warned that he would launch an agitation in case the anti-people user charges were not withdrawn immediately. He said corruption would be the main issue in the next Assembly elections and all allegations of amassing of wealth by ministers and the ruling coterie would be got investigated and action taken against the guilty. He said influential individuals were becoming rich by ‘eating’ public money while the exchequer was being burdened with unproductive expenditure. Corruption and development could not go hand in hand and although Mr Dhumal had been raising loans and claiming huge Central assistance to his government, development had come to a grinding halt. Mr Virbhadra Singh said the general feeling was that instead of fighting corruption, Mr Dhumal was protecting corrupt elements. Bureaucracy was being divided on caste lines, he alleged. He said serious allegations of corruption and nepotism had been made in Himachal Pradesh University, the Public Service Commission, the Subordinate Services Selection Board, the Health Department, the Cooperative Bank and various other institutions. The Health Department was plagued with scams and the Chief Minister had turned a blind eye to this. The CLP leader said Mr Dhumal and the BJP had opposed market borrowing when they were in the Opposition but had now recklessly raised loans to the tune of Rs 5000 crore. Budget papers were conveniently “fabricated” to hide the actual financial position to mislead the people. He demanded that the Dhumal government should present a ‘white paper’ on the financial position in the coming monsoon session of the Assembly. The paper should include details of Central grants, market borrowing, loans from Nabard and other loans against various projects. He accused Mr Dhumal of having adopted an “escape” route by putting the entire blame for the present financial mess on the previous Congress government. Mr Virbhadra Singh said the Dhumal government had become a “rollback” government and had withdrawn many decisions of the Cabinet. He said the biggest failure of the BJP government was of having failed to safeguard the interests of the state by throwing the entire employment sector at the mercy of the private sector. Mr Virbhadra Singh demanded that the portrait of Indira Gandhi be reinstalled at Raj Bhavan without any delay. |
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Parties urged to back women’s quota Bill Shimla, July 23 Addressing a press conference here today Ms Sethi said most political parties were not sincere about granting 33 per cent reservation to women in parliament and state legislatures and they were not cooperating with the BJP on the issue. The Vajpayee government presented the Bill in the House but it could not be taken up for discussion or voting due to negative attitude of the CPM, RJD, BSP and other parties. She said even the Congress was not sincere on the issue. It had been supporting the Bill outside the House under pressure from its women MPs but its stance inside the House was far from positive. Referring to the “empowerment of women” she said the morcha had set up legal cells in all states to educate the women about their rights and create social awakening among them. Similar cells would be set up on district level and these would also provide legal aid to women for securing their rights. At the national level the morcha had been suggesting amendments in various law to ensure a fair deal to women. For instance the government recently accepted its demand for raising the upper limit of interim maintenance to destitute women under the Section 125 of the Cr.P.C. and fixing a limit for deciding the cases. In fact the government waived the upper limit altogether and fixed a period of 60 days for the disposal of cases. It had urged the government to start hotline service for lodging complaints against atrocities on women across the country. The service would enable victims, who were subjected to torture at odd hours to lodge their complaints instantly. Simultaneously, the morcha was also taking up activities for the economic upliftment of the women. The handicraft and edible products made by women are also being marketed through the mahila cooperative banks with success. The morcha had urged the Prime Minister to bring out a stamp and issue a coin to commemorate the women empowerment year. She said a national policy was being formulated by the Centre for the upliftment of women. It was likely to be released shortly. |
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Hunt on for abode for Karmapa Dharamsala, July 23 The Gyuto monastery at Sidhbari, on the outskirts of this town, was meant to be a temporary residence for the Karmapa, who landed here in India, on January 5, last year. With the Indian Government reluctant to grant permission to the Karmapa to go to the Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, search is on for a permanent abode for him in Himachal Pradesh. Though the Karmapa has been keen to move to the Sherabling monastery near Bhattu, about 70 km from here, the Centre is not keen on allowing him to be at the monastery set up by Tai Situ Rimpoche, a senior regent of the Kagyu sect headed by the Karmapa. The minister for Religion and Culture in the Tibetan Government, Mr Tashi Wangdi, said they were trying to look for a big and safe place for the Karmapa, so that he could be comfortable and continue his religious studies. “Though the Sherabling monastery is appropriate for the Karmapa from the point of view of security, comfort and religious studies, but with the Indian Government having reservations about the place, we are still looking for a place,” he stated. He said the Karmapa, could be shifted to any monastery in districts of Kangra, Mandi or Chamba. He said Rewalsar was being considered, but there was no immediate move to shift him there. Dalhousie was another option as there was a Tibetan settlement and school there. Mr Wangdi said that though Lahaul Spiti, was another option, but with the Karmapa having a large following and his followers visiting him daily, it was essential for him to be accessible to them. Mr Wangdi said that it was the Indian authorities, the Tibetan Government and Karmapa aides, who would take a decision on this after mutual consultations. |
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Lok Janshakti stir from Aug 9 Dharamsala, July 23 Addressing a press conference here today, he said party workers all over Himachal Pradesh would launch the agitation on a call given by the party’s All-India president, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan. He said a memorandum would be given to the Governor regarding the demands made by the party for the uplift of weaker sections of society. He said that as part of the state-wide agitation, a dharna would be held here in support of the demands made by the party. He said the party demanded according special status to Himachal Pradesh, as had been done in the case of Uttaranchal. He said the crop insurance scheme was yet to be implemented in the state. He demanded that the Central Government should immediately come up with programmes for population control, provide housing facility, right to health services, right to employment, free education to girls and boys below the age of 14 and formulate welfare schemes for farmers, labourers, women, OBCs and the poor. |
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Cloudburst: NHPC
suffers loss Kulu, July 23 Unconfirmed reports said a Nepalese labourer was washed away in the flash floods at Siund in the Jiwa nullah. The flash flood has caused heavy losses to the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) who was undertaking the construction work of the 2051 mw Parvati hydel-electrical project in this district. Mr N. Venu Gopal, superintendent of police, told this correspondent today that a bridge under construction, four generators, five welding machines, five heavy duty pumps, one compressor besides building material of the NHPC were washed away. He said two pedestrian bridges across the Jiwa nullah were also washed away. The superintendent of police said two pucca houses and 15 kiosks were also washed away. More than 150 fully grown trees were also washed away in the cloud burst flood. He said the link to the second phase of the Paravati hydel project was broken as about 9 km of road from Sainj to Siund was washed away. He further said several telephone and electricity poles were uprooted causing total disruption of communication and power in the area. Reports of heavy to very heavy rains have also been received from other parts of this district causing land slides and road blockade during the past 24 hours. The National Highway 21 was also temporarily blocked at Pirdi, about 4 km from here, last night. |
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100 cases of gastroenteritis reported Nahan, July 23 According to residents, seven persons have died due to the disease, but the Health Department claims that no one has died and that not a single case has been reported in the past 24 hours. A large number of patients suffering with vomiting, diarrhoea and pain in the abdomen have been reporting for the past three weeks in Dadahu, Sangrah, Nohradhar and Rajgarh hospitals or treated by the medical team of the Health Department in their villages. The authorities have stated that cause of illness was consumption of unhygienic food. Dr V.K. Chopra, Chief Medical Officer, Sirmaur, has visited more than six villages of Sangrah tehsil. He denied that there has been any death due to gastroenteritis. He admitted that cases of gastroenteritis were reported from the villages around Haripurdhar which but the situation was controlled by the medical teams. Dr Chopra said he had visited Lana Cheta area from where a large number of cases with diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms were reported. He said that on the inquiry, it was found that people fell ill due to consumption of unhygienic food. |
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Traffic chaos unabated Kasauli Policemen on duty seem helpless when the drivers of 400-odd vehicles struggle to find parking space. This not only leads to haphazard parking but also problems for pedestrians. Even though some additional parking space has been created by the cantonment authorities, the heavy influx of vehicles at weekends makes the arrangements go haywire. Five roads converage at Garkhal with houses on both sides, leading to traffic congestion in the area. There is no bus stop or parking space and occasional traffic jams occur there. The problem is compounded by the fact that a number of repair workshops have sprung up on the roadside and vehicles stay parked. Traffic often gets obstructed on the way to Kasauli. Vehicles parked carelessly make it difficult for two heavy ones to cross each other in the Garkhal market area. Policemen on duty do precious little to control traffic during rush hours. |
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Threat to sue
Cong MLA over allegations Dharamsala, July 23 Talking to mediapersons, Mr Sodhi claimed that the worker, Paras Ram, was working as a gardner at his factory in Nagrota and was found dead on July 6. He alleged that Paras Ram had committed suicide by hanging himself and the post-mortem report too had confirmed the fact. He said on July 21 the wife, son and brother-in-law of the deceased had approached him for some compensation. “I assured them that apart from giving a job to the son of the deceased, I will help in the marriage of their daughter,” he stated. Mr Sodhi said Mr Bali had threatened that he would hold a dharna in front of his office as there was foul play in the death of Paras Ram. “The government is free to hold any inquiry, be it the CBI, to find out the reason behind the death of Paras Ram,” he said. |
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Welfare body gives
memo to Shanta Nurpur, July 23 The committee apprised Mr Shanta Kumar of the acute shortage of drinking water in the town and urged him to expedite action in getting clearance from the Central Government. The augmentation was proposed under the centrally-sponsored augmentation of urban water supply programme. In its memorandum, the delegation also demanded that an Army recruitment centre be set up at Nurpur as youths had to travel to far-off places for the purpose. The delegation led by Mr Rakesh Mahajan, chairman of the committee, was assured by the minister that these issues would be taken up with the ministries concerned. |
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923 cr to be spent on education: Dhumal Shimla, July 23 Speaking after dedicating the “Sabhagar” constructed by the Manohar Lal Sood Charitable Trust at a cost of Rs 10 lakh at the school, Kasumpti, he said such schools were also supplementing government’s efforts in providing qualitative education. The government will spend Rs 923 crore on education during the current financial year, he added. |
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Dhumal told of Labanas’ woes Shimla, July 23 He was presiding over a meeting of the Labana Welfare Board here today. This follows a complaint by members of the board that Himachalis were not being given employment in industrial units by the private entrepreneurs. The Chief Minister directed that it be ensured that Hmachalis get employment in industrial units in the state as per the new industrial policy formulated by the state government. He said that the government was seized of the unemployment problem and had taken various steps to solve it. It had made mandatory to private entrepreneurs to provide employment to the Himachalis in their units. Reiterating his government’s resolve for the uplift of weaker sections, Mr Dhumal said that 2000 students of other backward classes, including those of the Labana community, were being given scholarship of Rs 10,000 each in plus one and plus two classes every year. The OBCs also had 18 per cent reservation in Class III and IV posts and 12 per cent in Class I and II posts. |
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Teachers withdraw
stir call Solan, July 23 The association president, Mr P.S. Thakur, told newspersons here today that the decision to withdraw the call was taken after the S.P. Mr Rakesh Aggarwal, had conveyed his decision to drop all charges framed against the lecturer. Earlier, the SP had visited the college campus and recorded statements of some lecturers and also of the owner of the shop from where a sword, a khukri and a conduit pipe was recovered by the lecturer who was subsequently arrested. The arrest sparked off widespread protests. Mr Thakur demanded that the police officer who had arrested the lecturer be transferred immediately. He alleged that the officer had used derogataory language while talking to lecturers who had gone to the police station to meet their colleague “who had been illegally confined”. The police officer had denied the allegations. |
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Thakur elected Kulu BJP chief Kulu, July 23 |
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