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Friday,
January 17, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Cong united in HP: Stokes BJP leaders told
to close ranks Sukh Ram
rules out alliance with BJP BJP to bank on security, progress VHP’s
agenda for poll |
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EC notices to Nadda, Dhiman Revenue
officers resent transfers Rs 23 crore loans given to minorities School annual function
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Cong united in HP: Stokes Realising that “unity is the need of the hour”, the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee will put up a united front to wrest power from the BJP in the coming assembly elections in the state. “The mood in the party is upbeat and we are confident that we will win not less than 48 to 50 seats,” says Ms Vidya Stokes, dispelling the impression that “there is any factionalism or groupism in the Himachal Congress. Difference of opinion between two individuals cannot be construed as factionalism or groupism. We are all united. We have only one goal and that is to crush the present “corrupt and inefficient BJP Government in the coming elections”. “There is so much of enthusiasm among party workers and office-bearers that there is unprecedented rush for the party ticket. At places there are 10 to 12 strong contenders for the ticket. “Though our actual poll campaign has not started as yet, we are organising workers meetings and rallies at one place each in each of the four parliamentary constituencies of the state. These rallies will be held at Solan, Dharamsala, Hamirpur and Mandi between January 17 and 20”. “On January 22, we have called a meeting of the pradesh Congress election Committee in New Delhi to scrutinise the applications for the ticket. It will be followed by a meeting of the Central Election Committee. Though we will abide by the party guidelines on the selection of candidates. Winnability and image of the candidate would be the main criteria. It will be difficult for those who have lost two consecutive elections to get through. Since we have only 26 members in the outgoing Assembly , you will see a lot of new faces when the final list comes out,” says Ms Vidya Stokes, maintaining that at present “the only agenda for the party is to wrest power”. Ms Vidya Stokes, who heads the pradesh Congress committee , says that it is not the time to talk about the chief ministerial
candidate. "The Congress Legislature Party and the party high command will take a decision about the leader at the appropriate time. Now our focus is only on doing well and consolidating our position.” “Our workers at the grassroots level are enthused a lot. They have been asked to check and verify voters’ list to ensure that no eligible voters are left out. We have already taken up with the Election Commission the issue of voters’ identity cards. In many areas only 25 to 40 per cent voters have photo identity cards. The Commission has agreed to accept other proofs of identification. “The main issues in the coming elections,” says Ms Stokes, “will be deep-rooted corruption, mounting debt, growing unemployment and no development of the state during the past five years. If the BJP government had done its job well, where was the need for planning and coming out with policies on tackling unemployment, fiscal deficit and development at the fag end of its term.” She is convinced that neither Hindutva nor the Narendra Modi card would work in Himachal which was essentially a Hindu state with hardly 1 to 2 per cent minority members. “The Congress with its secular credentials and proven record of providing good governance will win hands down as people are fed up with false promises and claims of the present government,” she added. Ms Stokes said she had been under pressure from party workers of both her home town and the assembly constituency she represents to contest from there. “Both want me. So I told them I will contest from both subject to clearance by the party high command,” she said. |
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Stokes
suspends party leader
Shimla, January 16
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BJP leaders told
to close ranks Hamirpur, January 16 Addressing meetings of party cadre of all five Assembly constituencies here separately here today, he said that workers should go to the masses and tell them the policies of the party. He said the state progressed due to Mr Dhumal’s good relations with the Prime Minister and other national-level leaders of the BJP and the NDA. Education Minister, Iswhar Dass Dhiman and other party MLA’s attended the meeting. Mr Kohli told the workers to forget about names of party nominees for the next elections. It was for the party to decide the names. He, however, assured the party cadre that only capable persons would be given party ticket. Source said that Mr Kohli reminded that the party cadre should work for the success of all five party nominees from Hamirpur district. Addressing a press conference this evening, he said that the party would go to masses on the plank of development and clean image of the Dhumal and the government. Mr Kohli announced that Mr Raj Nath Singh party General Secretary and Mr Sanjay Joshi, General Secretary (Organisation) would undertake tour of 10 districts of the state. SHIMLA: Mr Sanjay Joshi, National General Secretary of the BJP, today urged the partymen to take inspiration from the triumph of party’s ideology in Gujarat and work with renewed vigour to bring the party back to power. Addressing the office-bearers and workers of Shimla district, here today, he said the Gujarat poll had exposed the so-called secular forces and they could be given a filling rebuff in Himachal. He said the result of poll in Himachal would set the tone for the Assembly poll in four states towards the end of this year. |
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Sukh Ram
rules out alliance with BJP Una, January 16 Talking to mediapersons at the Una rest house today, he said so far, the Central Congress leadership had not made any solid offer of seat adjustment to the HVC and talks were in progress. He did not specify the number of seats he would accept as an honourable alliance with the Congress party. Mr Sukh Ram said the HVC, so far had not withdrawn its support from the NDA government as this was a major issue which would be decided in the General House of the HVC, which was being called very shortly. He said during the last Vidhan Sabha poll in 1998, the HVC was a new-born party, yet it managed to secure 32 per cent of votes in Mandi district and 12 per cent votes in the state. Now the scenario had changed and the HVC had established its roots throughout Himachal Pradesh. He said till date, from November 14, 2002, onwards, he had addressed more than 150 public meetings in all districts of Himachal Pradesh, except Hamirpur, and claimed that the HVC had got more than three lakh membership in the state. He did not rule out the possibility of contesting all seats with an alliance of the CPI, CPM, Janata Dal (S), and SJP Third Front created at Parwanoo recently. Mr Sukh Ram did not rule out the possibility of becoming the Chief Minister himself in case of a hung Assembly in the state. He said the BJP was contesting the coming elections on the issue of development, while the Congress wanted to contest these elections on the issue of corruption in the state. But the HVC agenda would be debt-free state and employment to the youth. He said development and corruption remained an issue for every election, but a debt-free state and employment were new issues which were going to click with the public. Mr Sukh Ram yesterday addressed a public meeting in the Gagret constituency and today he addressed people at the Santokhgarh constituency from where the HVC working president Vijay Joshi is likely to contest the elections. |
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BJP to bank on security, progress Dharamsala, January16 Declaring Mr P.K. Dhumal as the party leader and future chief minister, Mr Shanta Kumar said that party ticket will be given to persons with clean image. He also declared that one central leader will be appointed to supervise elections in each of the four parliamentary constituencies and would monitor the preparations and other arrangements. He said Apart from Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani senior party leaders would address one meeting in each Vidhan Sabha segment. The fourth leg of Vishwas Yatra by the Chief Minister started from Jwalamukhi today after the Chief Minister and other BJP leaders paid obeisance here. Later public meetings were addressed at Jwalamukhi and Khundia under Jwalamukhi Vidhan Sabha, by BJP leaders Madan Lal
Khurana, Shanta Kumar and Mr P.K. Dhumal. |
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VHP’s
agenda for poll Shimla, January 16 Mr Surinder
Ranta, general secretary of the state unit of the VHP, said the issues being raised by the parishad, in fact, formed the people’s agenda in the real sense. Political parties came out with routine manifestos, which were more or less similar, and sought votes from the electorate. This time the VHP had put before them an agenda relevant to society and directly concerned with the national security which would make it clear whether or not they were serious about such vital issues. He denied that it was the BJP’s agenda and said some of its points had already been implemented in Congress-ruled states but not in Himachal Pradesh, where the BJP was in power. In case the Congress included the agenda in its manifesto, the VHP would certainly by support it. Besides enacting a law to ban religious conversions, the VHP is demanding curbs on
madarsas, jehadi mentality and converting the peaceful state into a safe “hideout” for militants and ISI activists. A strict watch should be kept on Muslim labourers and other workers who had started settling in the state in ever-increasing numbers. The VHP is also demanding setting up of a central temple trust for the management of Hindu religious shrines in the state and constitution of a “gau sewa
ayog” to take care of stray cows. Such commissions had already been set up in states like Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The VHP was opposed to fashion shows, which degenerated the hill culture and demanded a ban on these. The loss of culture virtually meant the loss of the distinct identity of the local people. Mr Ranta said the Rajnath Singh government had imposed a ban on fashion shows in Uttar Pradesh which was appreciated by one and all. He said the parishad had to come out with an agenda for the political parties mainly because they had been neglecting the majority community to secure the votes of minorities. |
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EC notices to Nadda, Dhiman Shimla, January 16 It is learnt that the general administration department had refused petrol to the two ministers, who wanted to go on tour, on January 14. As per the code of conduct, the minister could use the official vehicle only for going to office from home and back. |
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Revenue
officers resent transfers Shimla, January 16 The commission directed the government to shift all officers connected with the conduct of election and who had completed four years in the post. The Revenue Department, however, has ordered the transfer of all those who had completed four years at a particular station, regardless of the post he was holding. Mr K.K. Sharma, President of the association, said that only tehsildars, who functioned as assistant returning officers, should have been shifted. However, the officers who assumed charge of the post just six months ago and were holding a post not connected with the conduct of election in the same station were also transferred. He said the instructions of the commission were being interpreted differently by the department and controlling officers of other departments. The officers concerned of the IAS and the HPAS were not being shifted, he said. As many as 22 revenue officers were shifted and most of them were not covered by the commission’s direction. Mr Sharma urged the government to review the decision and cancel the transfer orders. |
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Rs 23 crore loans given to minorities Dharamsala, January 16 Addressing the 11th meeting of the HP State Gujjar Welfare Board here, Mr Dhumal said his government had taken effective steps to provide better avenues to employment to people belonging to minorities and weaker sections of society. The Chief Minister claimed that 18 per cent reservation to other backward classes in Classes III and IV government jobs had been provided and there was a move to provide 12 per cent reservation in Classes I and Class II posts. He said special attention was being given to providing educational facilities to the minorities and every effort was being made to ensure that their rights were safeguarded. He said the state had set up five ashram schools for the benefit of children of nomadic Gujjars of the state. The Chief Minister said a Rs 9 crore animal care project was being implemented in Kangra, Chamba, Solan , Hamirpur and Mandi for the improvement of cattle by the Rural Development Department. He said an artificial insemination laboratory was being set up at Nalagarh. Mr Mohan Lal, Minister of State for Ayurveda, also addressed the meeting. Mr Ajay Mittal, Secretary, Welfare, welcomed the Chief Minister and detailed various social welfare programmes being implemented for the welfare of Gujjars in the state. |
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School
annual function Parwanoo, January 16 Ms Kamal Rai, founder member, school management committee, Mr
R.M. Kashyap, president of the committee, Fg Offr Piyush Punj, Manager of the school, Ms Subash Dutta, Principal of the school, welcomed the chief guest and others. The programme began with Saraswati Vandana and was followed by a group song. A western dance made the audience tap its feet. The school orchestra played Gayatri Mantra. ‘Dr
Krackjack,’ an English comedy, enthralled the audience. A Hindi skit, ‘Chiraag-e-Watan’, based on terrorism in Kashmir, was liked by everyone. Girls attired in beautiful dresses presented a classical dance ‘Ganga’. A tableau on the problem of unemployment stole the show. It showed how a youth, even after getting best education and degrees, does not get a job and how his circumstances finally makes him a terrorist. Bhangra presented by students reverberated the entire auditorium, giving a glimpse of the rich, pulsating and yet earthy folk culture of Punjab. The school’s annual report was read by Edison Eric and Nidhi Prashar, head boy and head girl of the school, in which the activities and achievements of this year were highlighted. The chief guest gave away the prizes. Best all-rounder — Mohit Tanwar (XI); best volunteer — Mohit (VIII B); best speaker (English) — Edmond (XI); best speaker (Hindi) — Supriya (VII B); best performing artist — Payal Prashar (VIII B); most promising student — Nidhi Prashar (XI); best artist — Prashant (VIII B); best sportsperson (boy) — Mukesh Dhiman (XI); best sportsperson (girl) —Rupam Tyagi (IX B); 100 per cent attendance (2001-2002) — Rosy Chauhan (VI B), Vaishali Sharma (VIII B) and Rinku Chauhan (IX); head boy (2002-2003) - Edison and head girl (2002-2003) — Nidhi Prashar.
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Mandi DC transferred Shimla, January 16 His transfer was ordered following a demand made by certain district Congress leaders to the commission, the sources said. Mr Sharma has been posted as Director, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, in place of Mr J.P. Singh, who becomes the Deputy Commissioner of Mandi.
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