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Wednesday,
November 20, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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NEWS ANALYSIS Panel hearings from Dec 5 When India proposed, Pak disposed
NCP for tie-up with Cong |
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CM refuses to meet minister Forest Minister flays Virbhadra Kanta to step down for INTUC unity Parmar gives 10
lakh for building stadium Concessions for diploma engineers Customs Dept destroys cannabis crop Rally held for press workers
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NEWS ANALYSIS Shimla, November 19 The draft proposals notified by the commission yesterday make it clear that Section 9(C) of the Delimitation Act has not been given due consideration while reserving seats for the Scheduled Castes. The provision lays down that “the constituencies to be reserved for the Scheduled Castes shall be distributed in different parts of the state and located as far as practicable in those areas where the proportion of their population to the total is comparatively large”. However the seats to be reserved as per the proposals are contiguous. For instance, Kasauli, Solan, Pachhad and Renuka are in a line. Similarly, Rohru, Rampur, Ani, Karsog, Nachan and Balh present a spectrum of reserved seats. In Kangra district by reserving Baijnath in place of Pragpur, Baijnath and Panchrukhi (earlier called Rajgir) will be contiguous. Mr Shanta Kumar, Union Minister for Rural Development, pointed out this to the commission and suggested that instead of reserving two constituencies in the same subdivision, Jaswan, which also had a high percentage of the Scheduled Castes population be reserved to ensure even distribution as required unless the act. His suggestion was not accepted. Had Section 9 (C) been followed in letter and in spirit a few reserved seats, which are in contiguity, could have been deserved and some others reserved to ensure even distribution. Further, confining the delimitation process to the existing districts made no sense as the problem of contiguity, plaguing the constituencies like Ani, Lahaul-Spiti, Pangi will continue. Ideally the exercise should not have been an inter district affair which could have enabled to sort out existing problems by clubbing Ani to Shimla or Kinnuar, the Spirit area of Lahaul-Spiti with Kinnaur the and the Pangi area of Chamba with Lahaul Spiti. A sizeable area of Mandi, which was closer to Kulu could have been adjusted in Kulu. All this would have made the exercise worthwhile. The manner in which the exercise has been carried out has evoked a sharp reaction from various leaders. Mr Virbhadra Singh, leader of the Opposition, has termed the delimitation as part of the Chief Minister’s political agenda to eliminate his rivals by creating a situation that they could not contest elections. Mr Shanta Kumar who had earlier demanded the deferment of the exercise till the assembly elections had recorded a strong dissent on the proposals which had been duly published as per the provisions of the Act. He had objected to the reduction of seats in Kangra district on the plea that it would amount to penalising the district for effectively implementing the family planning programme. He had suggested that instead of reducing one seat in Kangra and increasing a seat in Kulu, the population of Lahaul-Spiti, which was just 31,294, and Kulu which has a population of 3,02,432 be clubbed to have four constituencies with an average of population around 76,042, the figure worked out for a constituency in the state. As such, there would be no need to increase the seat in Kulu. Independent observers also feel that the government should have stressed for carrying out delimitation across the districts to not only remove the existing discrepancies but also to reorganise the districts in a rational manner. The exercise is likely to have a fallout for the ruling BJP, particularly in Kangra district, where the partymen had virtually revolted against the party to stall the exercise. The congress has not much to lose as the proposals were not likely to change the electoral arithmetic much. |
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Panel hearings from Dec 5 Hamirpur, November 19 According to Mr C.R. Brahaman, Secretary of the commission, it will start hearing objections and suggestions from the public at Kangra, Mandi and Shimla on December 5, 7 and 9, respectively. In respect of Hamirpur district, the suggestions will be heard on December 5 after 11 a.m. The commission has issued fresh proposals in respect of all five assembly segments of the district. It has named the assembly segments as Nadaun, Sujanpur, Hamirpur, Bhoranj (SC) and Barsar. The following is the detailed list of the areas included in every segment: NADAUN: Nagar panchayat, Nadaun, the kanungo circles of Nadaun, Kangu, Rail and the patwar circles of Karha, Sarehri, Badaran, Kashmir, Mansai and Phahal of the Galore kanungo circle. SUJANPUR:
Tehsil Sujanpur, Nagar panchayat, Sujanpurtira, the kanungo circles of Nalti, Jhaniara and the patwar circles of Bouru, Utpur, Kadhyar and Lag of the kanungo circle of Ugialta of Hamirpur
tehsil. HAMIRPUR: Kanungo circle, Hamirpur, Nagar parishad, Hamirpur, the patwar circles of Amned, Tal, Tikker, Gahlian, Dhalot, Langwan, Bohni, Sawahal and Dugha of the Tal kanungo circle and the patwar circles of Lohakhar, Gwarroo, Patnaun, Siswan, Thana , Kot, Kakkriyar, Lambloo, Balyut and Baloh of the kanungo circle Ugialta and the kanungo circle of Bamsan of Bhoranj tehsil. BHORANJ (SC): Kanungo circles of Mewa, Bhoranj and Mehalta in full, the patwar circles of Patera, Bhota, Dhamani, Jhiralri, Lohdar, Saur of the kanungo circle Salauni, nagar panchayat, Bhota and patwar circles of Ukhli, Mair and Aghar of the kanungo circle of
Tal. BARSAR: Sub tehsil, Dhatwal, the kanungo circles 1 and 2, the patwar circles of Karer, Makker, Nanawan and Har of the kanungo circle Salauni and the patwar circles of Hareta, Gahli, Palwin, Mangul and Kotlu of the kanungo circle of Galore. |
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When India proposed, Pak disposed Shimla, November 19 It was, however, revelations by Mr S.K. Singh, a former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to Pakistan, regarding the initiatives which aroused the interest of scholars. Dealing with the subject of “War and Peace in South Asia” at length, Mr S.K. Singh spoke about the series of confidence-building measures which India unilaterally proposed to take when Gen Zia-ul-Haq was at the helm of affairs. Besides giving admission to 500 Pakistani students in reputed schools, another 100 students in engineering and medical colleges and a few in famous IIT’s, the measures also proposed exchange of “trainee groups” between the National Defence College and the Army Staff College and doctors in military hospitals to bring the army establishments of the two countries closer. Further, a border management code, which took care of all aspects — height of observation posts, exchange of intelligence information at check-posts to prevent smuggling of narcotics and gold and regular meetings between the Border Security Force and Pakistani Rangers and home Secretaries of the two countries. These measures were to be initiated unilaterally but Pakistan was expected to reciprocate after an appropriate gap of time. Had the move taken off, the relations between the two countries would have taken altogether a different shape. Pakistan apart, India was having internal and external problems with all SAARC countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This was good reason to ponder over what had prevented India from emerging as a regional power. Mr Hari Jaisingh, Editor of The Tribune, traced the genesis of the bitter ties between the two countries since pre-Partition days. Things would have been different had the country evolved a viable policy and programme for the Muslims who preferred to stay back, he opined. A blueprint for modern India, with a special deal to Muslims, should have been worked out to give them a sense of belonging to a forward-looking, secular nation with a composite culture. The Muslims should have been given modern education and job opportunities to create a feeling in them that they were better off than those who had opted for Pakistan. He maintained what India required was a “marshal plan” for massive rehabilitation and reconstruction with international assistance to be implemented within a specific time-frame. Nehru did a lot to set the pace for a modern India, but that was not quite adequate, he said. India was only limping ahead as a nation because of the legacy of the past. Communal riots only worked to the advantage of Pakistan. Indeed, the failures of past and the absence of corrective measures had become a major handicap in tackling the problem of Pakistan effectively and decisively. Prof Charles Doren, Professor of International Relations in the School of Advanced International Studies, Washington, analysed the relationship on the basis of the power cycle theory. Mr Anand Verma, a former Director of the RAW, chaired the conference. |
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NCP for tie-up with Cong Shimla, November 19 Addressing a press conference he said the NCP was prepared to have an alliance with the Congress as it was sharing power with it in Maharashtra. Mr Kamal Nath, a senior Congress leader, had held a series of meetings with the state Congress leadership to arrive at an electoral understanding. However, the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, did not approve it. Mr Dubey said the NCP was very clear about its stand. It was prepared to have an alliance with the Congress to oust the BJP. Regarding the political scenario in Himachal Pradesh he said his party was not a force to reckon with. However, it would like to play an effective role in forging a third political front with like-minded parties like SJP, SP, Left parties and even the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC). Mr Dubey said time was ripe for the NCP to expand its base in the state as the people were thoroughly disillusioned by the Dhumal government. Even the survey conducted by the Union Home Ministry through the intelligence agencies had concluded that the BJP would not secure fewer seats. Moreover, there was widespread dissidence in the party and many of its leaders had even contacted the NCP leadership for electoral understanding. He said the party would hold a meeting on December 9 during which many prominent leaders were expected to join the party. |
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CM refuses to meet minister Kangra, November 19 Mr Sagar had yesterday told mediapersons that he was scheduled to meet the Chief Minister here today to discuss the issue of demands he had raised on Saturday last and threatened resignation. The Chief Minister told this correspondent that he had no scheduled programme of holding any meeting with Mr Sagar here today. |
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Forest Minister flays Virbhadra Shimla, November 19 Mr Thakur also took exception to Mr Virbhadra Singh defaming the bureaucracy. |
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Kanta to step down for INTUC unity Shimla, November 19 Ms Sood, who had already set up INTUC units in 22 states, said here today that the division in the organisation was hurting the interest of the workers. Ms Sood said she had already conveyed to Mr Kamal Nath, who had been deputed by the party to sort out the matter, that she would quit, provided a third person, other than Mr G. Sanjiva Reddy, who is heading the rival factions, was appointed as President. She said the issue would be discussed during the meeting which Mr Nath had convened on November 25 in New Delhi. Meanwhile, efforts to forge unity in the state unit of the INTUC gained momentum with the setting up of a five member committee headed by Mr Kalyan Bakshi, for holding fresh elections on December 22. The committee was formed at meeting of affiliated unions held at Dharamsala in which 71 out of the total 95 unions were represented. |
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Parmar gives 10
lakh for building stadium Dharamsala, November 19 The Chief Minister said Rs 17.09 crore had been spent during past four years for modernising the police force and 914 family quarters had been completed for the welfare of other ranks. He said ration money of Rs 100 per month had been paid to jawans and other ranks from August this year. The Chief Minister sanctioned Rs 5 lakh for supplying potable water at Sakoh while the Rajya Sabha member, Mr Kirpal Parmar, gave Rs 10 lakh for constructing a stadium at the local police grounds. Earlier the DGP, Mr A.K. Puri, welcomed the chief guest and recalled the achievements of police force in sports and other activities. Central unit was adjudged the best team while Pawan Kumar, constable, of Southern Zone, was adjudged the best athlete. |
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Concessions for diploma engineers Kangra, November 19 He made this announcement at the eight in general conference of the HPSEB Junior Engineers and Additional Assistant Engineers Association at the local Polytechnic College auditorium here today. He announced that 40 posts of Assistant Engineer had been created, which would be filled by 30 electrical and 10 civil diploma engineers on promotion basis in the board. The Chief Minister said junior diploma engineers serving in the grade of Rs 2000-3500 would
henceforth be given the grade of Rs 6750-11050 on the Punjab pattern. He said during the past four and a half years 12,278 daily wage earners and 5,470 “work charge” employees were regularised. Besides, 965 appointments were made on compassionate grounds. He said those who were employed by the previous Congress Government in “violation” of norms were also regularised. Mr Vidya Sagar, Agriculture Minister, Mr Rajan Shushant, Revenue Minister, Mr Kishen Kapoor, Transport Minister, BJP state chief Jai Krishan Sharma, Mr Ganga Ram Teja and Mr G.S. Bali, Congress MLA, were also present on the occasion. |
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Customs Dept destroys cannabis crop Kulu, November 19 The crop was destroyed in villages falling in the Garha Gushaini panchayat area of Mandi district and Mohini, Seraj, Khabal and Sarahan panchayat areas of Kulu. It was the third such operation by the department in this district. Ms Renate Ehmer, Regional Representative (South Asia), United Nations International Drug Control Programme, and Mr R. Bhattacharji, Commissioner of Customs, Amritsar, had visited this region during the first week of October and taken serious note of the mass cultivation of cannabis. The villagers were warned to desist from growing cannabis and educated about the legal implications of indulging in such a practice. The villagers also joined the operation after an initial hesitation and promised not to cultivate it again. |
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Rally held for press workers Shimla, November 19 Mr Vardrajan flayed the policies of the Central Government in following the privatisation path in public sector units. He said CITU MPs would take up the issue of closing down Shimla press in Parliament and not leave the workers in the lurch. Mr Rakesh Singha flayed the state government’s attitude towards the workers in hydel projects and said CITU would launch a struggle for their rights. |
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