H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

BJP suspends Sofat
Shimla, October 7
In a determined bid to curb dissidence, the state BJP chief, Mr Jai Krishan Sharma, today cracked the whip on the organisers of “mitra milan” and suspended Mr Mohinder Sofat, a former minister, from the primary membership of the party.

Himachal Jan Morcha formed
Shimla, October 7
With the Assembly elections round the corner, efforts to forge a third political front have gained momentum in the state. Leaders of the Janata Dal (S), Samajwadi Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party met here last evening and decided to form Himachal Jan Morcha (HJM), to bring the non-NDA and non-Congress parties under one umbrella.

Row over Ravi Fair collections
Shimla, October 7
The historic Lavi fair is mired in controversy. The Nagar Parishad of Rampur and students of the Government College have locked horns over the Tehbazari issue. The students are demanding 25 per cent of the Tehbazari from the shops which are set up in the mela for the development of the college premises.

CM’s gesture to Paraur students
Dharamsala, October 7
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said yesterday efforts were on to provide laboratory facilities at Shaheed Capt Vikram Batra Government Degree College at Paraur but if it was not possible, the classes would be shifted to Palampur. He said the students would not be allowed to suffer for lack of facilities at Paraur.

Medicos go on strike
Dharamsala, October 7
Students of Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, today served notice on the college management and proceeded on strike in support of their demands.

Community building at Chamunda opened
Dharamsala, October 7
Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal announced that Rs 4 crore would be spent on the second phase of the construction of a mini-secretariat building which is nearing completion here. Talking to mediapersons at Chamunda after inaugurating the Rs 37 lakh community building in the temple complex yesterday, the Chief Minister said as soon as the delimitation work was over the new districts would be created.

HP to implement decision on Punjabi
Chandigarh, October 7
The Himachal Government has at last agreed to fully implement its decision of introducing Punjabi as an optional subject from the middle class onwards. It was conveyed by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal during his meeting with members of the National Commission for Minorities in New Delhi on October 4.

CRI may be shifted from Kasauli
Kumarhatti, October 7
The Central Research Institute may be shifted from Kasauli. An indication to this effect was given to the leaders of the CRI Employees Union by the institute Director at a meeting this morning.

BJP suspends Sofat
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 7
In a determined bid to curb dissidence, the state BJP chief, Mr Jai Krishan Sharma, today cracked the whip on the organisers of “mitra milan” and suspended Mr Mohinder Sofat, a former minister, from the primary membership of the party.

He also expelled Mr Narinder Thakur, son of the late party stalwart Jagdev Chand, who had been spearheading the dissident campaign along with Mr Sofat. Mr Thakur was earlier suspended for anti-party activities. The two leaders, along with some other dissidents have been organising public meetings and other activities in the garb of “mitra milan”.

Mr O.P. Kohli, All-India Secretary of the party and in charge of Himachal affairs, had only three days ago warned the dissidents and said that “mitra milan” was an anti-party activity which would attract disciplinary action. He said no one would be allowed to carry out parallel party activities under any pretext.

However, the dissidents adopted a defiant attitude and continued with the “mitra milan” programme. They also mooted “sakhi milan” to provide another forum to women dissidents. They had even announced their plans to organise a “mitra mela” in Solan in November.

The action is likely to have serious ramifications for the party as Mr Sofat happens to be a staunch supporter of Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister for Rural Development, who has a large following in the state.

The denial of the party ticket to Mr Sofat for the Solan byelection, had triggered off a factional fight in the BJP which culminated in a revolt against Mr P.K.Dhumal, Chief Minister, last year. The issue was settled after the BJP high command agreed to remove Mr Narinder Modi as in charge of the party affairs in the state. Mr Modi had been instrumental in dislodging Mr Shanta Kumar and installing Mr Dhumal as the Chief Minister.

However, while Mr Dhumal was able to buy peace with the rebel ministers who were re-inducted into the Cabinet, the factional divide at the lower levels continued to widen. The dissidents then came out with the “innovative mitra milan” plan to carry out political activities without violating the party discipline. The increasing phenomenon of “mitra milan” which had spread to Solan, Hamirpur, Una and Sirmaur districts had been causing much unease in the party. With elections drawing near, it finally decided to initiate action against the dissidents.

Mr Sofat said the party had done injustice by suspending him and maintained that “mitra milan” was not an anti-party activity. He vowed to fight it out at all levels.

Mr Narinder Thakur, who was seen as a natural successor to his father Jagdev Chand, was also denied the party ticket. Anticipating that they would be denied the ticket again, the two leaders had been preparing to contest elections on their own and had been carrying out their activities in the garb of “mitra milan”.

Hamirpur (OC): Mr Narinder Thakur has described his expulsion from the party as most unfortunate. Talking to TNS here, he said he would contest the next Assembly elections as an Independent.

He said his expulsion was the handiwork of the Chief Minister.

Himachal Jan Morcha formed
Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 7
With the Assembly elections round the corner, efforts to forge a third political front have gained momentum in the state.

Leaders of the Janata Dal (S), Samajwadi Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party met here last evening and decided to form Himachal Jan Morcha (HJM), to bring the non-NDA and non-Congress parties under one umbrella. The Theog Vikas Manch, a non-political organisation, has also joined the morcha.

Mr Ranjit Singh, former MP, was unanimously elected convener of the morcha. A steering committee comprising heads of all constituent parties along with two more representatives was also constituted. Besides, a committee headed by Mr Devraj Duggal comprising Mr I.C. Gupta, Mr Madan Gopal, Col Daulat Singh Chauhan (retd.) and Mr Daulat Ram Verma as members was set up to draft a common minimum programme.

Mr Ranjit Singh said the representatives of the CPI and the CPM appreciated the formation of the morcha and were keen to join the morcha after consulting their respective high commands. He said unlike the Him Loktantrik Morcha, which had been registered as a political party, the constituents could retain their separate identity in the HJM.

Regarding the ensuing elections he said the number of seats to be contested would be decided only after conducting a seat-wise survey which would take some time.

The significance of the third front can not be undermined as it had played a vital role in bringing the BJP to power. The BJP which had formed the government thrice in the state had to join hands with the Janata Dal in 1990 and take the support of the HVC in 1998. It was a part of the Janata party in 1977.

Row over Ravi Fair collections
Our Correspondent

Shimla, October 7
The historic Lavi fair is mired in controversy. The Nagar Parishad of Rampur and students of the Government College have locked horns over the Tehbazari issue. The students are demanding 25 per cent of the Tehbazari from the shops which are set up in the mela for the development of the college premises.

The students are united in their demands and are putting pressure on the parishad by gheraoing the officials. The parishad in a mood to pacify the students has agreed to paint the college building.

Even the district administration favours the parishad in collecting Tehbazari from the shops in the mela. The Deputy Commissioner has promised all possible help to the parishad in organising the trade fair. The D.C. categorically told the parishad that if the college students interfere with the Lavi fair functions, they would be dealt with severely.

Mr P.C. Katoch, DC, has rejected the students demand for 25 per cent Tehbazari for college works.

Mr Pavitra Negi, president of the SCA, has charged the DC with adopting an anti-student stand. He said the district administration was trying to instill fear among the students by threatening them with police action.

CM’s gesture to Paraur students
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, October 7
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said yesterday efforts were on to provide laboratory facilities at Shaheed Capt Vikram Batra Government Degree College at Paraur but if it was not possible, the classes would be shifted to Palampur. He said the students would not be allowed to suffer for lack of facilities at Paraur.

It may be recalled that the college, despite resistance from students and residents of Palampur, was shifted to a remote village near Paraur. A section of students and parents had filed a petition with the Himachal High Court which ordered status quo. With the examinations approaching, the demand for laboratory facilities was gaining momentum.

HAMIRPUR: The Chief Minister on Monday lauded the efforts of the Sangh Privar to rewrite ancient history of India and added that the facts must be brought before the public as the distorted version of history was taught in schools and colleges by the previous Congress government.

Addressing a gathering at Neri village, about 15 km from here he said the Himachal government would ensure that only factual version of history was taught in educational institutions.

Earlier, he laid the foundation stone of a research centre of the Sangh Parivar.

Talking to mediapersons he said accommodation for staff would be provided once funds were made available with the government.

Medicos go on strike
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, October 7
Students of Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, today served notice on the college management and proceeded on strike in support of their demands.

According to agitating students, the state government has failed to keep its promise regarding starting construction work of the main hospital building on the college campus. The students said the government had given an undertaking to the MCI that the hospital building would be completed before the end of 2003.

They argued that the work had not started and the delay might result in the withdrawal of the provisional recognition to the college.

The students alleged that the Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, had asked them to defer their agitation for a month, with an assurance that work would start, but it had proved false. They alleged that the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, had adopted an indifferent attitude towards the college, which had forced the students to resort to an indefinite strike.

Community building at Chamunda opened
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, October 7
Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal announced that Rs 4 crore would be spent on the second phase of the construction of a mini-secretariat building which is nearing completion here. Talking to mediapersons at Chamunda after inaugurating the Rs 37 lakh community building in the temple complex yesterday, the Chief Minister said as soon as the delimitation work was over the new districts would be created.

Mr Dhumal, while ridiculing his critics, said the decision for the creation of new districts and second capital were taken after due consideration regarding the financial expenditure involved and the state government was capable of meeting them. He said the video conferencing facility created here would help in running the government from the second capital.

Talking of threat perception in the border areas of the state the Chief Minister said after taking such issues in to consideration, the creation of smaller districts was necessary. He also declared that feasibility of the aerial ropeway from Chamunda to Adi Chamunda temple would be studied. A grant of Rs 10 lakh for the auditorium building at Government College, here, was also approved by him.

HP to implement decision on Punjabi
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 7
The Himachal Government has at last agreed to fully implement its decision of introducing Punjabi as an optional subject from the middle class onwards. It was conveyed by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal during his meeting with members of the National Commission for Minorities in New Delhi on October 4.

Though the Himachal Government as a part of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa in 1999 took a decision to introduce Punjabi in select schools for students of Class IX onwards, it was haphazardly implemented in some areas and totally ignored in others.

One of the reasons given for half-hearted implementation of the order was a shortage of Punjabi teachers. Though in certain areas, a number of volunteer teachers came forward to conduct Punjabi classes, education officials in certain districts came down heavily on some of these schools for using the services of volunteer teachers. The plea taken by the authorities concerned was that after a while, these volunteers teachers would agitate to get permanent adjustment in the department.

According to Mr Tarlochan Singh, Vice-Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal was very positive on the implementation of the Cabinet decision on the teaching of Punjabi. He said the process of recruitment of Punjabi teachers would be expedited and Punjabi classes would not be discontinued anywhere.

Mr Dhumal assured the National Commission for Minorities that the formal orders in this connection would be issued on his return to Shimla.

Meanwhile, the state government has also agreed to name Government High School, Andretta, after great artist Sobha Singh. The Palampur-Andretta Road has also been named after Sobha Singh. These decisions were also taken at the October 4 meeting.

Teachers stage dharna
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, October 7
Members of the HP Government Teachers Union staged a day-long dharna outside the office of the Deputy Director of Education here today in support of their demands. They have been demanding the acceptance of their 15-point charter of demands, which includes a rational transfer policy for them, grant of facility to tenure teachers as enjoyed by ad hoc teachers and better pay scales to them.

The dharnas was led by Mr Roshan Lal Sharma and Mr Shiv Dayal Chaudhry, president and general secretary, respectively, of the union, and Mr Daler Singh Jamwal, president of the district unit of the union.

At a rally, leaders alleged that the attitude of the Education Minister was anti-teachers.

They announced that they would hold a state-level rally at Bhoranj in Hamirpur district on November 11, the home town of the Education Minister, to “expose” the real face of the minister and the BJP government.

Students block traffic
Our Correspondent

Chamba, October 7
Students of various schools blocked traffic for two hours near Baloo on the outskirts of the town today in protest against the delay in the recovery of the body of Pankaj, plus one student who drowned in the local mini powerhouse dam. They also expressed resentment against certain authorities for supplying false information to the media regarding the recovery of the body.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman said a search had been launched to find the body and divers had been called from the Pong dam reservoir.

CRI may be shifted from Kasauli
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, October 7
The Central Research Institute may be shifted from Kasauli. An indication to this effect was given to the leaders of the CRI Employees Union by the institute Director at a meeting this morning.

The Director told the leaders that the Health Secretary had forwarded a proposal to this effect to the Central Government a few days ago.

In the evening, around 550 employees held a gate meeting in which they decided to oppose the proposed decision. We are going on an agitation from tomorrow and gherao the Director, said Mr Karan Dass, president of the union.