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Monday,
December 23, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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BJP’s ‘vishwas yatra’ begins
Virbhadra, Stokes pose questions to govt Panchkarma gaining popularity in state |
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Shanta blamed for Chamba’s neglect Oust BJP:
Wasnik
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BJP’s ‘vishwas yatra’ begins Manali, December 22 Before riding the tastefully decorated “vishwas rath” at the Hadimba temple complex, the Chief Minister also offered prayers at the ancient Lord Manu Rishi Temple at old Manali village and at the newly built temple of Siyali Mahadev. The Chief Minister today laid the foundation stones for the mini-secretariat building and a parking lot for heavy vehicles at Hokhi Ra Calu near Manali. Addressing a gathering at the local Ram Bagh stadium, the Chief Minister said the “vishwas yatra” launched by the BJP would prove to be a “vinash yatra” for the Congress. He added that the yatra would expose the Congress about its failure to carry out developmental activities in the state in the past 50 years. He said through the “gaurav yatra”, Mr Narendra Modi restored the lost pride of Gujarat and now the “vishwas yatra” would win the trust of the masses in the state. The Chief Minister said a sum of Rs 18 lakh had been initially released for the construction of the mini-secretariat building at Manali and work would start before March 31 next year. He added that keeping in view the parking problem being faced during tourist season in Manali a parking lot for 300 light and heavy vehicles measuring 15000 square metres would come up at a cost of Rs 4.36 lakh. He announced that the DA instalment due on July last to employees would be released by January 1, next year. He announced that the employees working in the corporate sector would be entitled for pension after retirement and the Centre had accorded approval to this effect. Managing directors and chairpersons of the boards and corporations had been issued directions to extend pensionery benefits to their employees after constituting trusts. He said Himachal Road Transport Corporation employees had already been getting pensions as the trust had been formed for the purpose by the HRTC. The Chief Minister alleged that employees were being victimised in Congress-ruled states. He accused the Madhya Pradesh Government of retrenching 60,000 daily wagers, 28,000 permanent employees. He further charged the governments in Congress ruled Kerala, Delhi and Punjab with imposing ban on fresh recruitments. He claimed that the state BJP government was a govt of farmers, fruit-growers, labourers, government employees adding that no agitations was launched in the state by the employees during the present regime. He added that to benefit farmers and fruit growers, particularly, the apple growers two winneries had been established at Pragati Nagar in Shimla and Nagwain in Mandi, from where wine would be exported. Besides, the Chief Minister announced to set up a tourist reception office on the demand of the local Hoteliers’ Association. He also said the Kulu-Manali airport, Bhuntar, would be expanded at a cost of Rs 30 crore to ensure the landing of bigger aircraft. He gave the credit for the construction of proposed Rohtang tunnel to the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, with whose efforts a sum of Rs 13 crore had been sanctioned. Prominent among those present on this occasion were Mr Praveen Sharma, Minister of State for Excise and Taxation, Mr Kishori Lal, Industries Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, Health Minister, Mr I.D. Dhiman, Education Minister, Mr R.D. Kashyap, Minister of State and former minister and veteran BJP leader, Mr Thakur Kunj Lal. KULU: Prof Dhumal addressed a public rally at Bajaura, about 15 km from here, today on his first stop after starting the vishwas yatra. He said the present government, during the last five years has generated 5800 mw of power and in the next five years would not have to beg for development from the Centre
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Virbhadra, Stokes pose questions to govt Shimla, December 22 By embarking on a “vishwas yatra” the party had only acknowledged that its government had lost the confidence of people. Indeed, the party had a lot to explain to the people on the charges of corruption, nepotism, irregularities in recruitment and various scams and scandals. It should come clean on these issues during the “vishwas yatra”, the two leaders asserted. The “vishwas yatra” must enable the people to know why the BJP legislators failed to declare their assets with in three months of the election as promised by the party in its manifesto. The people must also be told how many relatives of BJP leaders and outsiders were given jobs at the cost of meritorious candidates, they asked. They said people were anxious to know what happened to the charges of corruption, particularly pertaining to the health purchase scam and assigning of hydel power projects to private parties, levelled by BJP ministers. If the charges were false why the four ministers continued in the Dhumal’s cabinet, if true what action had been taken to nail the guilty, the two leaders asked. They alleged that the politics of deceit, and distortions pursued by Prof P.K. Dhumal, the Chief Minister, had not only eroded his credibility in the eyes of people but also distressed his own partymen. It was not without reason that wives of senior party leaders like Mr Shanta Kumar and Late Mr Jagdev Chand were pointing an accusing finger towards Prof Dhumal. It was hardly surprising that aggrieved partymen who had been at the receiving end of Prof Dhumal’s vindictive politics were organising “mitra milans” to defeat their own party. The number of “mitras” was increasing with each passing day. In such a situation “vishwas yatra” was a big fraud on the people of the state. Congress leaders advised Prof Dhumal to win the confidence of his own party leaders, ministers and workers before going to the people. Both Mr Virbhadra Singh and Mrs Stokes maintained that the Gujarat poll outcome would have no implications on Himachal Pradesh. Mr Narender Modi was the role model of Prof P.K. Dhumal but he could only aspire to be a “miniature Modi”. Unfortunately, there was no room for a “miniature Modi” in the peaceful hill state where people refused to be provoked even at a time when terrorism was at its peak in Punjab. A political gimmick like the “vishwas yatra”, the two leaders stressed, would not help the BJP in diverting the attention of the people from the burning issues like corruption, transfer scam, irregularities and nepotism in recruitment of the government which crossed the Rs 15,000 crore mark and increasing unemployment. Mr Virbhadra Singh took an exception to the manner in which the government appointed additional deputy commissioners in certain places to give an impression as if new districts had been created. He said if new districts were indeed being created the government should make public the Cabinet decision or notification issued in this regard. He said it was yet another example of “deception and deceit” in which the Dhumal government had been indulging in for the past five years. He said as per the directive of the Delimitation Commission no new administrative unit, even a patwari circle, could not be created until the exercise to redraw the boundaries of constituencies was completed. Mrs Stokes on the other hand drew the attention to the Prof Dhumal’s inauguration spree on the poll eve. She said in his anxiety to perform maximum in inauguration ceremonies, the Chief Minister had dedicated to the people several projects which were not yet complete. She cited the example of the tourism complex at Phagu and some primary health centres in Kinnaur in the regard. Morover, new schools, colleges and other institutions were being announced with a stipulation that these would be opened next year, which was just a ploy to befool the people. |
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Panchkarma
gaining popularity in state Shimla, December 22 As the name indicates, Panchkarma involves a five-fold procedure for the elimination of “doshas”, disease-causing toxic material, from the body. This classical form of treatment works well on the principles of ayurveda with a holistic approach to curing ailments. The therapy had been all but completely wiped out from the country and it was only due to the efforts made by the government recently which has helped in its revival. It is, in fact, the most comprehensive method for the internal purification of the body and thus, also termed as evacuation or elimination therapy. Panchkarma has been effective to cure obesity, facial paralysis, spinal injuries, premature aging, neuro-muscular diseases, hemiplegia, cervical spondylosis, arthritis, migraine, sinusitis, bronchitis, insomnia and depression hysteria. The chances of recurrence of diseases are rare in patients having undergone the therapy as it also promotes positive health by rejuvenating the body. This therapy is also effective in the management of auto-immune disorders, peptic ulcer, skin diseases, mental disorders and naso-bronchial allergy. At present, there are two Panchkarma centres functioning at Bilaspur and Paprola where patients not only from the state but also from the neighbouring states are treated. Even in regional Ayurvedic Hospital, Shimla Panchkarma therapy has been made operational. Panchkarma camps are being organised by the Ayurveda Department to popularise the therapy. Recently about 5,000 patients were treated at the camps held in Shimla. Private organisations like Baba Balak Nath Trust Hospital, Deotsidh, Heritage Village, Pragpur and Shri Naina Devi Trust have come with proposals to start the therapy. Some private hoteliers from Kasauli, Kulu and Manali are also interested in having this facility in their resorts. The government has decided to start a pilot project on Panchkarma in state tourism development corporation hotels. A financial assistance of 73.72 lakh has been received from the Centre for the purchase of equipment and for providing training to doctors and paramedical staff. In the first phase, the therapy has been started at Hotel Servary in Kulu and Hotel Uhl in Jogindernagar. It will be introduced at Hotel Tea Bud at Palampur and Hotel Peterhoff here, soon. The pilot project envisages three packages to take care of different health aspects of the people. While the general rejuvenation package, under which each tourist will be given ayurvedic oil message and medicated steam bath treatment for one to one-and-a-half hours daily will be for all members, the anti-stress rejuvenation package will be optional and provided only on recommendation of ayurvedic experts. The third package will include complete course of the therapy which will also be provided in hotel premises to the tourists on the advice of experts. |
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Shanta blamed for Chamba’s neglect Chamba, December 22 Mr Lajpat Singh, a spokesman for the Chamba Welfare Association, today said that Mr Shanta Kumar recently provided Rs 4 crore for the Daroo-Thriund road, which was situated about 12 km from Dharamsala in Kangra district. Mr Lajpat Singh said the Union Minister, who was also a representative of the Chamba region, should explain why some amount was not sanctioned for tourist places like Gamgul, Hail, Andriliser. Dugha, Kaling and Lamp Dal. He said if these tourist places were opened for tourists, it would have given a boost to the tourism industry. He also appealed to the state government and the leaders sitting in the government to pay heed to the development of Chamba and not deny if its share in the prosperity of the state. He held those at the helm of power accountable for the neglect of the Chamba region. He said there was a time when the Deputy Commissioners of four districts of Himachal Pradesh, before its reorganisation, belonged to Chamba. Moreover, Chamba had produced top ranking players in various sports events like cricket, hockey, football, volleyball and athletics. He pointed out that there was none to listen to the grievances of the people of Chamba. Even the Chief Minister of any ruling party hardly visited the Chamba region resulting in its neglect. Mr Lajpat Singh also demanded that the Wildlife Department should curb clandestine poaching in the alpine forests under the guise of grazing permits by the people living on the fringes of the forests and other hillsides. He also sought the conservation and protection of forest produce. |
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Oust BJP:
Wasnik Una, December 22 He called upon Congressmen to fight unitedly against the “corrupt” BJP in the state and throw it out of power in the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha elections. He said zila parishads had not been given financial powers and even panchayats were not getting enough funds for developments. He called upon people to support the Congress in the elections to get rid off the “corrupt” BJP. Mr Sukhwinder Singh (Sukhu), state Youth Congress President, lashed out at the BJP government and alleged that it had failed to fulfil its promises. He said the prices of essential commodities had gone up and unemployment was on the rise. He alleged that jobs were being given only to the kids and kin of BJP leaders or for a consideration. |
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