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Thursday,
July 10, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Cong charter firm on Sonia’s leadership
Shivir a holiday camp for Cong: Dhumal Administration causing confusion: parishad members CJM asks police to file case against 3 traders |
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HPU reschedules admission dates Pre-arrest bail plea of ex-Major rejected Village temple desecrated Avalanche threat to 10 HP villages Nine injured in clash DC lauds role of Home Guards 5 arrested for poisoning girl 
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Cong charter firm on Sonia’s leadership Shimla, July 9 Titled “Shimla Sankalp”, the comprehensive document addresses almost all burning issues ranging from the fight against religious fundamentalism to the consequences of nuclearisation. Significantly, the declaration takes care of the leadership issue in the opening paragraph itself with the proclamation that the “dynamism of the committed party cadre along with support of the people will ensure the victory of the Congress under the leadership of Ms Gandhi”. The party will launch a sustained “Jan Jagran Abhiyan” across the country to expose the NDA “failures” on vital areas of security, communal harmony, economic growth, social welfare, good governance, foreign policy and probity and transparency in public life. With “Congress ka haath, Garib ke Saath” as its beacon, the Sankalp focuses on issues related to social empowerment of the weaker sections, rural reconstruction and assured employment. The salient features include the enactment of a national rural employment guarantee scheme by law, ensuring food and nutrition security for all, particularly for the poor living in backward areas, introduction of social insurance and other schemes for the protection and welfare of workers, especially those in the unorganised sector, and initiation of reforms in land laws and record of rights to switch over from the present presumptive titles to conclusive titles guaranteed by the state. The declaration speaks of launching major programmes for the economic advancement and ensuring adequate political representation and legal equality to Dalits, Adivasis, other backward classes and minorities to regain the lost ground among the weaker sections. The Sankalp also calls for starting a purposeful dialogue with the private industry, to find ways and means like reservation and fiscal incentives to ensure that the spectrum of social diversity was adequately reflected in the private sector. Women-related issues also find expression in the declaration with a call for time-bound implementation of the “Mahila Sashakti Karan Sankalp” adopted by the AICC in October last and introduction of liberal loan and scholarship schemes to ensure that no boy or girl belonging to weaker sections of society is denied the benefit of higher education. Emphasising its commitment to fight religious fundamentalism of all kinds, the party vowed to combat the attempts of the BJP, the RSS, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal to distort and destroy the liberal and tolerant essence of Hinduism. The efforts to communalise education would be countered through the Bapu Sadbhavna and the Shiksha Trust. Having agreed to form a PDP-led coalition in Jammu and Kashmir in the larger national interest, the Congress will accord the highest priority to its success and formulation of an effective strategy to deal with cross-border terrorism. It will forcefully resist all attempts at using the issue of cross-border terrorism to polarise society on religious and communal lines. The special challenges and concerns of the people of the North East will also be given special attention. The party has promised to undertake a time-bound programme for the modernisation of defence, besides providing full educational and housing facilities to the families of armed forces. Swearing by the Jawaharlal Nehru’s vision of foreign policy, the party reiterated its commitment to universal nuclear disarmament. It favoured the initiation of dialogue with the nuclear neighbours for confidence-building measures and managing the consequences of nuclearisation. Taking pride for launching economic reforms in the early 1990s, the party claimed that the dynamic entrepreneurial base of the country was a direct result of its vision and policies. It was the only party that integrated pro-poor policies, programmes and perspectives with the concerns and aspirations of the middle-class and entrepreneurial communities. The Sankalp renewed the commitment to major electoral reforms, making party funding more transparent and combating criminalisation of politics besides ensuring a respected place to grassroots workers in the organisation. The party decided to establish a national training institute for ideological indoctrination of the cadres. All party leaders and workers will have to go through an annual orientation course on contemporary political, economic and social issues. |
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Sonia’s midnight walk surprises securitymen Shimla, July 9 Even this afternoon while returning to Oakover, the official residence of the Chief Minister, where she stayed during the three-day brainstorming session, she stopped on the Ridge to have a look at the statue of Dr Y.S. Parmar. Thereafter she walked from the Shimla club to Woodville hotel. The Congress President also addressed the party MLAs who went to meet her at Oakover last evening. She underlined the need to maintain party unity and provide a good government to the people who had reposed faith in the Congress. |
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Cong CMs’ next conclave in Kerala Shimla, July 9 Mrs Gandhi is understood to have asked him the venue and the Chief Minister offered to host it at Kumarakom. Kumarakom has been the favourite holiday destination of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee from where he wrote his musings. The Chief Ministers’ conclaves have been held at Guwahati, Mount Abu, Srinagar covering east, west and northern parts of the country. —
UNI |
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Booklet given
to Sonia Shimla, July 9 |
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Shivir a holiday camp for Cong: Dhumal Hamirpur, July 9 Talking to the media here today, he said Shimla had never been a good place of decisions for the Congress and the shivar would not yield favourable results for the party. Mr Dhumal lambasted the Congress for projecting Mrs Sonia Gandhi as the Prime Minister candidate of the Congress. No person of foreign-origin would be allowed to take over the reigns of India, he added. He said the BJP would take up this issue to the masses during the next Lok Sabha elections that there were many Indians who were designated as the Prime Minister candidate by the Congress but the party was once again trying to thrust Mrs Gandhi on India. Indians would not tolerate this move of the Congress and the BJP would once again rule the nation under the dynamic leadership of Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The BJP leader described the ‘shivir’ as a holiday camp for the Congress leaders at the cost of the state exchequer. Hundreds of hotels and vehicles had been put at beck and call of the Congress leaders and the worst hit were the people of Himachal Pradesh. The Congress government in the state was playing with the people of the state and it would not be tolerated, he added. The former Chief Minister came down heavily on the state government for declaring almost all the Congress leaders as state guests. Only a few persons were entitled for this. The Congress should foot the entire bill of the shivir, as the state was not in a position to foot such huge expenses for the leisure trips of the Congress leaders. Mr Dhumal said the Congress party had changed its stance regarding the next Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The party had earlier claimed that it would contest the elections on its own. However, it had now realised that it would not be possible for it to do the same due to lack of its base in many states. He said coalition was the need of the hour and Mr Vajpayee had shown the path to the people. PALAMPUR: Mr Kirpal Parmar, MP, and senior BJP leader strongly criticised the Congress for misusing official machinery for the Congress convention, which concluded at Shimla today. Addressing a press conference here Mr Parmar said the convention had cost the state exchequer over Rs 2 crore. He said official vehicles were provided to receive and see of the Congress leaders by the state. Besides, said entire administration remained busy in attending to the Congress leaders. There was no one in the offices to attend to the public. He said the Congress should come out with documentary evidence about how much money was spent on the convention. He supported the demand for the shifting of capital from Shimla to some central place in lower hills suitable to people of the state. He said Shimla had become congested and there was a shortage of water and power in the city. |
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Administration causing confusion: parishad members Dharamsala, July 9 These members, who were authorised by the zila parishad to meet the Additional Deputy Commissioner, told media persons here today that it appears that a deliberate attempt was being made to confuse and divide the zila parishad members. They alleged that in February, the DRDA vide its letter had stated that Rs.1,24 crore had been allocated for developmental works and each member should submit schemes for his area amounting to Rs. 2.20 lakh. They said that on Monday they were informed that the amount available was only Rs 67 lakh. At today’s meeting the additional deputy commissioner informed them that a sum of Rs 84.51 lakh had been allocated. |
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CJM asks police to file case against 3 traders Una, July 9 Devinder Parkash on May 20 filed a complaint to the DC, Una. The matter was inquired into by ADM, Una, who sent the same for inquiry to the Labour Inspector. Instead of settling the matter, the Labour Inspector pressurised the complainant to give in writing that Kishan Kishore owed him no money. The Labour Inspector took no action and sent the complaint back to the DC which is pending in the ADM’s office for the past 60 days. |
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HPU reschedules admission dates Shimla, July 9 The Dean of Studies said for the subsidised seats of M.A. history, sanskrit, Hindi, painting, MBE translation, Diploma in Bhoti, the interview and admission will be held on July 24. Prof Thakur further said that for the subsidised seats of adult education, P.G. Diploma in guidance and counselling, Diploma in foreign languages, DPS/DTS/ yoga, the interview and admission will be held on July 25. He said the schedule for interview and admission to non-subsidised NRI (supernumerary seats) in M.A. geography, economics, music, MBE, MJMC, DTS, DPS, PG diploma in polymer science, PG diploma in applied analytical chemistry, PG Diploma in women Development studies, Diploma in organisational psychology, environmental psychology have been fixed for July 26 instead of July 21. The university has extended the last date for the submission of admission forms till July 9. |
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Pre-arrest bail plea of ex-Major rejected Shimla, July 9 He along with an accomplice, Manoj Chauhan, allegedly kidnapped two minor girls from the Rajgarh area of Sirmaur district on June 28. As per police record, two minor girls were brought by them to Shimla in a Maruti car. A case was registered at police station Rajgarh, under Sections, 363, 366, 376, 506, 511 of the IPC on July 1. Mr Justice M.R. Verma held that the Major could influence the investigation. While dealing with bail petition filed by the co-accused, Manoj Chauhan, Mr Justice Verma directed him to join the investigation by tomorrow. His bail plea will be taken up for consideration on July 15. |
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Village temple desecrated Hamirpur, July 9 The temple is located on 2 marlas. The land was purchased by a dera of Beas in 1998. However, villagers claim that the temple is located on the land mentioned as Gair Mumkin Temple in the revenue records and is in their possession. The matter was brought to the notice of the Hamirpur police early this morning and was reported to have been solved at the police station. However, the issue again flared up in the evening and both sides stuck to their stand. The Superintendent of Police, Hamirpur, said the situation was under control. Villagers urged the owners of Dera Beas to order an inquiry into the matter and ask those living at Bhota to maintain best relations with the local people. |
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Avalanche threat to 10 HP villages Chamba, July 9 According to official information, the avalanche has started melting causing flood-like situation in the Tarundi Nullah and the flood waters volume was increasing constantly. Revenue officials have been directed to rush to the Hilo-Tohan belt, to take stock of the situation. They have also been asked to report the situation to the authorities concerned immediately so that the residents living on the slopes below the avalanche in this affected belt could be asked to be evacuated to safer places and necessary steps to combat the situation could be taken. HAMIRPUR: Various parts of the district received monsoon rain on Wednesday. The rain brought down the temperature and normal life came to a near standstill Meanwhile, farmers of the district who have completed sowing of the Kharif crops have expressed their pleasure over the timely arrival of rains. The rains are also likely to end water shortage in the district. The district had seen unprecedented water shortage during the summer due to constant drought like conditions. —
PTI |
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Nine injured in clash Santoshgarh (Una), July 9 Agitated at the damage to the crop some youths of the community injured the cow. This led to clash between owners of the cow and members of the other community in which members of both parties were injured. As news of injury to the cow spread in the town many villagers reached huts of the community. They allegedly set fire to seven huts. SHO Santoshgarh Shakti Singh saved the situation. When this correspondent visited the spot today evening all male members of the community had fled the huts. Only women members of the community along with children were there. Even roadside shops erected by them to sell vegetables were also abandoned. The SP, Una, Ms Satwant Atwal, and the SDM, Una, reached the spot today evening. Ms Atwal told this correspondent that four members of the community had been arrested and cases would be registered against members of both communities responsible for the clashes. Efforts are also on to involve local people to patrol the affected area. Nine persons were injured out of whom seven were admitted to the civil hospital Una while two, on their own, went to Chandigarh for treatment. More police force has been called from Kangra and Ranital as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile local leaders including president of the Nagar Panchayat of Santoshgarh Mr Parmesh Sharma have appealed to the people to maintain peace in the area. The police was also involving the local volunteers to restore peace in the area, the SP told. |
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DC lauds role of Home Guards Mandi, July 9 He impressed upon the jawans to do their duty with dedication and hard work and announced a grant of Rs 10,000 for the battalion. Earlier, welcoming the chief guest, Mr Himanshu Mishra, Commandant, Home Guards, he explained at length the duties performed by the Home Guards and added that 88 jawans were trained in different spheres of activities during the 24-day refresher course. He said the total strength of the Battalion was 890. |
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5 arrested for poisoning girl Dharamsala, July 9 According to the police, Shashi was a student of ninth class and had seen the boys namely Ashwani (19) and Surjeet Singh (20) in a compromising position with three girls Arun Bala (21), Sunil Kumar (21) and Neelam Kumari (20) of the same village in the nearby jungle. Fearing disclosure, they forced Shashi to consume
poison, who was able to tell it to her family before dying. She was rushed to the Dr R.P.G. Medical College here where she breathed her last on Tuesday. In her dying declaration Shashi named all five for poisoning her. A case under Section 302 of the IPC has been registered against the accused. |
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1-year jail term for panch Dharamsala, July 9 According to the prosecution, up-pradhan Mulak Raj had abused publicly Mr Manak Chand, a Schedule Caste panch of the panchayat on January 16, 2001 at a panchayat meeting. —
OC |
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Man kills wife, paramour Kulu, July 9 |
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