HP poll: BJP sets up Manifesto Committee
Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 2
Instead of inviting applications from aspirants, the BJP will shortlist the names of prospective party candidates for the ensuing Assembly elections after consultations involving partymen up to the grassroots level.

The party has started formal and informal consultations for the selection of the candidates and a nine-member Manifesto Committee has been set up. Committees have been set up for each district for holding formal consultations with partymen. These committees will visit various districts on January 6 and 7 for the purpose.

Mr Jai Krishan Sharma, the state BJP chief, told newspersons that the committees would complete the job by January 12, after which the state leadership would prepare a list of the probable candidates, to be forwarded to the Pradesh Election Committee. Thereafter, the final list would be sent to the Central Election Committee and the tickets would be allotted by the Central Parliamentary Board on its recommendation.

He said the main criteria for the selection of candidates would be commitment to the party, loyalty, discipline, image and winning prospects.

He refused to answer any question pertaining to Mr Shanta Kumar and said all issues had been settled by the high command.

Replying to another question, he said the party had decided to go it alone in the elections and would not have any alliance with its coalition partner, the Himachal Vikas Congress.

The Manifesto Committee is headed by Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, MP, and has Mr Suresh Chandel, Mr Chander Mohan, Mr Mohan Lal, Mrs Urmil Thakur, Dr Rajiv Bindal, Mr Chander Sen, Dr Ashok Kapadia, Mr Ram Pal Saini and Mr Ashok Kumar as its members.

The members of the district committees set up to shortlist the names of probable candidates are as follows:- Kangra — Mr Ram Swaroop Sharma, Mr Ganesh Dut and Mr Rikhi Ram Kaundal; Una — Mr Narender Bragta and Mr Randhir Sharma; Kullu — Mr Kirpal Parmar and Dr Rajiv Bindal; Bilaspur — Mr Suresh Bhardwaj and Mr Virender Kashyap; Mandi — Mr Suresh Bhardwaj and Mr Ishwar Das Dhiman, Shimla-Mr Suresh Chandel and Mr Ravinder Singh Ravi; Hamirpur — Mr Kirpal Parmar and Mr Sanjiv Katwal; Solan — Mr Maheshwar Singh and Mr Rakesh Pathania; Sirmaur — Mr Jagat Parkash Nadda and Mr Raseel Singh Mankotia; and Chamba — Mr Chander Mohan Thakur and Mr Suneel Minocha.

Sukh Ram rules out alliance with BJP
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, January 2
The Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC), a coalition partner of the BJP-HVC combine government in Himachal Pradesh, has no plans for a pre-poll alliance with the BJP. This was stated here today by the HVC supremo, Mr Sukh Ram, while addressing a press conference.

He lamented that the HVC had been betrayed and humiliated on a number of occasions by the BJP. He said the BJP had failed to fulfil the demand of the HVC for preparing a common minimum programme to run the government.

When asked if the HVC was considering a pre-poll alliance with the Congress, Mr Sukh Ram said, “If the HVC’s policies to make Himachal Pradesh a debt-free state and check unemployment are acceptable to the Congress and these are incorporated into the common minimum programme before the elections, the HVC can consider an alliance with the Congress”.

The HVC supremo claimed that his party had emerged as a strong third political force in the state. He said the HVC would contest all 68 seats in the Assembly elections. When asked whether the HVC would own responsibility for the alleged misdeeds and anti-people policies of the government, Mr Sukh Ram said the anti-incumbency factor would have no effect on the prospects of the HVC. He said the HVC had fulfilled its commitment to the people of the state to make the BJP-HVC government last its full term. He claimed that the HVC had opposed the anti-people policies of the Dhumal government in the Assembly as well as in public.

Referring to the “foundation stone-laying spree” of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on the eve of the Assembly poll, the HVC supremo alleged that Mr Dhumal was following in the footsteps of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who had laid a record number of foundation stones before the Assembly poll in 1998. He held the Congress and the BJP responsible for landing the state in debt to the tune of Rs 15,000 crore. Regarding the cases framed against him during the Congress regime, Mr Sukh Ram reiterated that these were politically motivated.

Mr Sukh Ram was accompanied by the PWD and Animal Husbandry Minister, Mr Ram Lal Markanday. Earlier, he addressed a workers’ meeting here. He informed that the HVC had launched a mass contact programme since November 14 and held 129 public meetings so far.

BJP Mahila Morcha stakes claim to 15 seats
Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 2
The state unit of the BJP Mahila Morcha has staked claim to 15 seats in the ensuing assembly elections in the state. Stating this at a press conference here today Mrs Veena Thakur, president of the morcha, said the party had many promising women candidates who could win the elections. Moreover, the pro-women policies of the BJP government at the centre and in the state had made a good impression on the members of the fair sex and to encash it the party must field maximum number of women candidates.

She blamed the opposition, particularly the congress, for the denial of 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and Vidhan Sabhas. Ms Indu Goswami, chairperson of the state women welfare board, who was also present at the conference said the morcha would specially seek-ticket for those women candidates who were denied these in the last elections. She said she would herself demand the ticket for Baijnath seat, whereas Mrs Thakur was keen to contest from either Shimla or Kumarsain.

Dhumal opens IGMC girls’ hostel
Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 2
Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, today asked personnel engaged in medical services to serve the ailing with dedication and devotion.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the IGMC girls’ hostel, constructed at a cost of Rs 1.88 crore, and a hospital building, constructed at a cost of Rs 2.38 crore, here, he said health services were being given priority by the state government and a number of effective steps had been taken to strengthen the services in the state at all levels. Patients belonging to identified poor families were being provided medical treatment free of cost.

He said the government had decentralised the selection of serving beneficiaries to avail of free medical treatment and had authorised doctors to decide the cases for free treatment on the spot.

The Rogi Kalyan Samitis formed in the state were doing excellent work and providing people a number of medical facilities. He said the government was committed to equipping the IGMC with latest medical facilities to provide services on a par with the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. He said the open heart surgery facility would he started soon.

Mr J.P. Nadda, Health Minister, said the government had succeeded in bringing about a qualitative and quantitative change in various sectors in the state. He said a number of new medical facilities were being provided at the IGMC. He said Tanda Medical College was made functional by providing the necessary infrastructure and recognition for the courses was also obtained. He said the latest medical equipment were being added to strengthen medical services in the state, besides moving forward to achieve Health Vision-2020.

Dearness relief of pensioners hiked
Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 2
The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to pay dearness relief to the government pensioners to compensate them for the rise in the cost of living beyond consumer price index (CPI) 306-33 at the rate of 52 per cent from July, 2002.

A government spokesman said here today that other provisions governing grant of dearness relief to pensioners such as regulation of dearness relief during employment, re-employment, and regulation of dearness relief where more than one pension was drawn would remain unchanged.

Pensioners of all-India services who retired from the service of the state cadre would be entitled for dearness relief at the rate as per the Government of India rules.

Residents to boycott poll
Our Correspondent

Una, January 2
In view of the alleged indifference of the state government and the HP Housing Board towards the problems of residents of Rakkar Colony, comprising about 400 families, the Rakkar Colony Residents Welfare Association has decided to boycott the ensuing Assembly elections. In a press note today, the association president, Col D.P. Vashist (retd), and the general secretary, Mr M.L. Sharma, said the government and the Housing Board had failed to settle their long-standing demands relating to water charges and maintenance fee .

NSUI chief dares CM to arrest Virbhadra
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, January 2
The president of the Himachal unit of the NSUI, Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, has dared the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, to arrest former Chief Minister and CLP leader Virbhadra Singh.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Pathania said time and again the Chief Minister and certain ministers had given statements in this connection.

He said the clean chit given to the former Chief Minister by the CBI and the failure of the state government in taking action after the filing of a charge sheet in certain cases proved that the state government machinery was being misused to harass the Congress leader. 

White Paper sought on HP recruitments
Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 2
Mr Sukhwinder Singh, president of the state Youth Congress, today took the Dhumal government to task for corruption, favouritism and nepotism in recruitments. He demanded a White Paper on appointments made in various government departments, Himachal Pradesh University, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank and other institutions.

Addressing a press conference here, he said irregularities and favouritism in recruitments was a major issue in the state where the number of unemployed had crossed the 11 lakh mark. He said BJP leaders had blatantly misuse power to shower benefits on their relatives. Glaring examples of it were Himachal Pradesh University and Kangra Cooperative Bank, where a number of relatives, including wives, sons and daughters, of BJP ministers and legislators had been given job, ignoring the meritorious candidates.

Terming the BJP rule as “jungle raj” during which the menace of corruption assumed such alarming proportions that even ruling party’s own leaders, including ministers and legislators, levelled serious charges against their own government.

The youth leader alleged that the delimitation exercise and the proposal to create new districts were part of Mr Dhumal’s election strategy. But, both the moves fell flat due to sharp division in the ruling BJP. 

2 killed in accident
Our Correspondent

Mandi, January 2
Two persons were killed and another was injured near Chindi on the Karsog-Shimla road in the Karsog valley last night when the car (HP-30-0097) in which they were travelling met with an accident. The deceased were working in the office of the SDM, Karsog.

The dead have been identified as Vinod Gupta (35) and Prem Singh (38) of the nearby villages. The seriously injured has been identified Ravinder Gupta of Pangna. He has been admitted to Civil Hospital, Karsog.

The bodies were handed over to the relatives by the police after postmortem.

Suicide by farmer
Our Correspondent

Kangra, January 2
A 40-year-old farmer today allegedly committed suicide by consuming some pesticide in a local hotel this afternoon, the police said here today.

The Kangra district police chief, Mr R.M. Sharma, today said Vinod Kumar, a resident of Paprola village, had booked a room in a local hotel and was later found dead there. The hotel owner informed the police that the body was brought out after breaking the door open and that the room was smelling of ‘sulphas’, a pesticide. A suicide note was found near his body in which it was mentioned that he was fed up with life because of the financial crisis.

The body was yet to be sent for a post-mortem as the parents of the deceased had not reached.

The police was further investigating into the case.

Winter carnival begins
Our Correspondent

Manali, January 2
The tenth all-India Youth Festival-cum-Winter Carnival-2003 commenced here today with great fanfare and gaiety at Rambag in the heart of the town.

Mr Maheshwar Singh, M.P., inaugurated the five-day carnival which will conclude on January 6.

Earlier, a large number of villagers, local folk artistes in their traditional costumes and artistes drawn from different part of the country assembled at Dhungri temple to pay obeisance to Goddess Hadimba.

After the pooja, the artistes took out a colourful cultural procession from the Hadimba temple to Rambag.

The main attraction of the cultural procession was the colourful ‘jhankis’ displaying the traditional folk art and culture of the Kulu valley and other parts of the country. Mahila mandals from the surrounding area of Manali took an active part in the fair.

About 30 folk troupes will take part in the carnival. The “Winter Queen” contest is expected to draw crowds.

Mr Maheshwar Singh announced Rs 2 lakh on behalf of Union Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Jagmohan.

He also assured a grant of Rs 75,000 for the carnival.

‘Need to educate every Tibetan’
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, January 2
The Dalai Lama has asked Tibetan teachers to ensure that the young generation of Tibetans living in exile receive modern education and learn about their rich cultural heritage.

Inaugurating the fourth general conference of Tibetan teachers at McLeodganj today, the Dalai Lama emphasised the importance of education and underlined the need for every Tibetan to be educated. He said the Chinese looked down upon Tibetans as they considered them uneducated. He said to stand up to the Chinese, Tibetan youths must get educated.

He asked the teachers to make the Tibetan national movement strong. Mr Samdhong Rinpoche, chairman of the Ksashag (the Tibetan Government in exile), Education Minister Thupten Lungrik and the chairman of the Parliament of People Deputies, Mr Tema Jugney also addressed the gathering.

The three-day conference will discuss various problems being faced by the teaching community and find ways to ensure that all Tibetan children living in exile are provided with modern education and made aware of Buddhism. 

CPI expels Solan unit member
Our Correspondent

Kumarhatti, January 2
The Solan unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has expelled Mr Khaminder Singh, a member from Nalagarh from the party. According to a party press note here today he was expelled for anti-party activities. Mr Visheshwar another party member from Nalagarh was issued a warning after he apologised for the complaints received against him for flouting party guidelines. The party recently expelled Mr Randeep Singh Jogon from Nalagarh for his being close to the BJP.

HVC against tariff hike
Our Correspondent

Chamba, January 2
Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) chief Sukh Ram today said that the previous governments could not live up to the expectations of the people of the state.

Addressing a rally of the HVC organised at Chamba this evening, Mr Sukh Ram said that he in fact was not in favour of hiking water and electricity tariff because it hit poor people of state.

Other leaders of the HVC criticised vishwas yatra of BJP-government, was a gimmick to woo the electorate. They criticised the policies of the Congress and the present government too.

Satluj Vidyut Nigam to go for ISO-9001
Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 2
The Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam, earlier called the Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation, proposes to acquire ISO-9001 certification for the prestigious Nathpa Jhakri hydroelectric project.

The nigam, which commenced a trial run of the first generating unit of 250 MW early this week, is organising a series of lectures from January 3 for its officers on total quality management and ISO-9001 certification so that it could maintain the desired standards at the project, a spokesman of the nigam said here today.

JTO dies of suffocation

Shimla, January 2
A Junior Telecommunication Officer (JTO) died of suffocation due to smoke from a fire which broke out in his room at Rohru in Shimla district on the New Year Eve, a delayed police report said today.

The police said the JTO, Ram Prakash, was posted there a month ago. His bedding was burnt in the fire which is believed to have been caused by a lighted cigarette. UNI

10 SFI activists freed on bail
Our Correspondent

Shimla, January 2
All 10 activists of the Students’ Federation of India arrested for rioting and damage to public property on the university campus, were released today on bail by a court here. Earlier, their bail pleas were rejected.