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Friday,
July 11, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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No change
in Cong stand on alliances Congress spokesman Anand Sharma addresses a
Press conference in Shimla on Thursday. — Photo Anil Dayal Sonia's
assurance to IIAS fellows
BJP Spokesman Ganesh
Dut addresses a Press conference in Shimla on Thursday. — Photo Anil
Dayal |
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Minister denies BJP’s charge HP fixes
procurement price for mango Notice to Secretary, DC on Manali traffic Excise
inspector arrested One
held, 19.3 kg charas seized Police
remand for ex-Major Nadaun
to have sub-judge court Temple
dispute unresolved
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No change in Cong stand on alliances Shimla, July 10 Addressing a press conference here today he said the Pachmarhi declaration did not rule out the possibility of pre-poll or post-poll alliances or seat adjustments with other
parties. At the Shimla conclave Ms Gandhi, by calling upon “secular forces” to intensify their efforts to oust the BJP and its allies, had only cleared the mist. There had been continuity in the party’s stand from Pachmarhi to the Shimla “shivir”. The party had made known its willingness to enter into appropriate coalition arrangements with “secular parties” at the plenary session of the AICC held in
Bangalore. The stand was affirmed by Ms Gandhi during the Congress Chief Ministers’ meeting in Srinagar. Referring to the BJP’s remarks that the Congress had no experience in running coalitions, he said it was a panic reaction which betrayed a lack of sense of history. The Congress had been managing coalitions in
Kerala, Meghalaya, Maharashtra and Bihar with success. The party amply demonstrated its ability to make sacrifices by becoming a junior coalition partner in Jammu and Kashmir despite being the largest party. It joined the Mufti government to ensure its stability. When asked why the “Shimla sankalp” skipped the issue of alliances, Mr Sharma said a “resolve” was different from a “declaration”. A resolve enunciated the principles, ideology and political philosophy of the party whereas a “declaration” also dealt with the electoral strategy. He said this explained why the issue of alliances did not figure in the “sankalp”. However, to clear any misgivings on this count, Ms Gandhi touched upon the issue in her valedictory speech wherein she called upon the “secular parties” to work for the ouster of the BJP. Mr Sharma refuted the BJP allegation that state machinery was misused for the Shimla “shivir” and said that the entire expenditure was being borne by the AICC and the state Congress. He said the payments would be make through cheques. |
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Sonia's
assurance to IIAS fellows Shimla, July 10 The institute has been facing an uncertain future ever since the Supreme Court ordered that it should be shifted out by December 31 and the heritage building be handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India to be maintained as a monument. The court passed the order while disposing of a public interest litigation challenging the decision of the centre to shift the institute and convert the majestic complex into a five-star hotel. Mr Rajiv
Mankotia, a conservationist had filed the PIL, to save the heritage property. Ms Gandhi promised to support any move of the government when a deputation of fellows and employees of the institute met her during her visit to Shimla. She was informed that Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, Union Minister for Human Resource Development, had assured that the Cabinet decision to retain the institute in the present premises would be respected and appropriate action like bringing a legislation, would be taken after obtaining legal opinion on the verdict. She said her party would fully support any such effort to save the institute from being dislocated. Ms Gandhi said she had received several letters from academicians and employees over the past few months. In fact, she said she had already written to the President to intervene in the matter. The institute was a gift of the President and should remain in the Rashtrapati
Nivas, as the complex came to be known after Independence. Ms Gandhi was fully convinced that the heritage building, which was a specimen of imperial architecture, would be better maintained if the institute continued in it. She cited the examples of the Oxford and the Cambridge universities, which were housed in ancient buildings. The fellows, Dr
H.S. Gill, Dr S.B. Bhattacharjee and Mr Gobind Thukral, had requested Ms Gandhi for retaining the institute in its present premises. Mrs Asha
Kumari, Education Minister, and Mr Gulam Nabi Azad, a senior Congress leader, were also present during the meeting. |
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An exercise
in futility, says BJP Shimla, July 10 Addressing a press conference here he said the decision of the Congress to forge poll alliances was in fact an acknowledgement of the reality that it could not come to power on its own. It only underscored the point that it was too weak to challenge the BJP. He said even a like-minded party like the CPM had rejected the invitation of a pre-poll alliance with the Congress. The stand of the CPM to have a post poll-alliance to keep the BJP at bay was nothing but political opportunism. He maintained that the main reason for the lack of response to the Congress call was that the leadership of Ms Sonia Gandhi was not acceptable to any party and they were opposed to any person of foreign origin becoming Prime Minister of the country. Mr Dut accused the Congress of adopting double standards on the issue of economic reforms. He said the Congress had no locus standi to brand the BJP as communal as it had been sharing power with parties like the Muslim League and had promised to carve out a Christian a state in the North East. Mr Dut alleged that state machinery was misused for the ‘Shivir’ which cost over Rs 5 crore to the exchequer. |
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Minister denies BJP’s charge Shimla, July 10 In a statement here today Mr Thakur expressed shock that Mr Dhumal chose to make such baseless allegation on hearsay after having been the Chief Minister of the state for five years. He said that what to speak of Congress leaders, even no Chief Minister was declared a state guest, even though they were entitled for it. There were instructions of the Congress that no body should be declared a state guest during the ‘shivir’. Mr Thakur said that there had been practice of declaring Chief Ministers as state guests by the Congress and the BJP ruled states. The BJP Chief Ministers whenever they had attended the national executives committees and other national level conclave in one state or the other in the past, they were treated as state guests. He said that noise by BJP leaders regarding the misuse of official machinery was uncalled for as it was a party affair. To ensure law and order and security of the VVIPs in the state it was the duty of the government, which could not be termed as misuse of official machinery. Mr Thakur said that the allegation that development in Kangra district had come to a stand still was also amazing also not true. Such allegations showed the bankruptcy of the mind of the BJP leaders. He said that the present government headed by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was committed to balanced development of the state and development of Kangra district was its priority. |
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HP fixes procurement price for mango Shimla, July 10 Giving details of the Cabinet decisions, Mrs Rajender Bhattacharya, Chief Secretary, said that the procurement of mango would start immediately and continue up to August 15, through 44 collection centres. It also approved amendments to the state Panchayati Raj (Finance, Budget, Accounts, Audit, Works, Taxation and Allowances) Rules, 2002, to delete the provision which required a teacher from an educational institution located in a panchayat area to be a member of the participatory committee for the execution of works. The Chief Secretary said that the Cabinet decided to reduce the tenure of employees recruited under the difficult area sub-cadre from 5 years to 4 years for posting in difficult areas. It also approved the Himachal Pradesh Tax on Luxuries (Hotels and Lodging Houses) Amendment Bill, 2003, which envisaged assessment in respect of hotels and lodging houses on a half yearly basis. It further provided for the annual assessment of luxury tax. It was decided to fix a lumpsum passenger tax in respect of motor vehicles used by schools and other educational institutions. For mini buses it would be Rs 6,000 per annum as passenger tax plus Rs 1,200 per annum as surcharge on passenger tax. For standard buses it would be Rs 7,500 per annum as passenger tax plus Rs 1,500 surcharge on passenger tax. The payment would be made quarterly or annually as applicable in respect of goods vehicles. The Cabinet passed a resolution congratulating Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, on the success of the Congress “vichar manthan shivir” held in Shimla from July 7 to 9 in which the historic “Shimla sankalap” was adopted. |
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Notice to Secretary, DC on Manali traffic Shimla, July 10 The petitioner alleged that the problem of traffic is so severe that during the tourist season there are many traffic jams for hours and the public suffers due to this. He further alleged that in Manali town where about 1000-1500 vehicles enter the town during the tourist season every day, no proper parking place is available. He said that no scheme or proposal for parking had been framed for the town by the state government. Due to this the tourists cannot have pollution-free and scenic environment at the place. He further alleged that the situation in Rohtang Pass is worse where thousands of vehicles arrive every day. There is no proper parking place in and around Rohtang pass to cater to the number of vehicles arriving there. Hearing the counsel for the petitioner, a Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta and Mr Justice
K.C. Sood issued notices to Chief Secretary, Secretary (Tourism), Secretary (Home), Secretary
(PWD) DC, Kulu, SP, Kulu, and Secretary, Nagar Panchayat Manali and directed the respondents to file their reply before August 7. |
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Excise inspector
arrested Dharamsala, July 10 According to the report, Manager of Bharat Transport Company, Bakshish Singh, based at Una had complained to the Vigilance Department alleging that the Excise and Taxation Inspector Jagjeet Lal posted at Ajoli Excise Barrier had been stopping the goods at barrier and was allegedly releasing the goods only after taking bribe. A team of the Vigilance Department, caught Jagjeet Lal red-handed while he was taking Rs 170 from Bakshish Singh, Manager of Bharat Transport Company Una.
— UNI |
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One held, 19.3 kg charas seized Chamba, July 10 Mr Ajay Yadav, Superintendent of Police, Chamba said today Deen Mohammad was nabbed at Seri Nullah on the Chamba-Tissa highway 50 km from
here. The police party was led by the SP himself. On seeing the police vehicle at Seri Nullah, Deen Mohammad tried to flee but the police foiled his efforts and the charas was recovered from his possession, the SP said. A case under Section 20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered at Tissa Police Station. |
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Police remand for ex-Major Nahan, July 10 The police arrested him after his plea for anticipatory bail was rejected by the Himachal Pradesh High Court yesterday. Mr Ram Lal
Makhaik, Additional Superintendent of Police Sirmour confirmed that medical examination of Justa was done at Subdivisional Hospital
Rajgarh. He was found capable of sexual intercourse, the report said. He added that a Shimla Advocate and a
co-accused in the case Manoj Chauhan has joined police investigation at Rajgarh Police Station today as per the direction of Himachal Pradesh High Court. The anticipatory bail application of Manoj Chauhan has been fixed to July 15 by the court for hearing. Mr Makhaik said that the police was looking for the third accused, Prem, a servant of
Justa. His house at Rehanda village, near Nohra Dhar was raided by the police. |
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Nadaun to have sub-judge court Hamirpur, July 10 According to sources the building for the proposed office had been selected. The case for rent assessment was with the state government. The district administration had reportedly allotted a piece of land for the building of the sub-judge complex at Nadaun. However, the site was not approved by the Judiciary as the land was 2.20 meters down below the surface and more than Rs 10 lakh were needed to level the land. Meanwhile, the staff consisting of 16 persons have been recruited and are presently working in various courts at Hamirpur. However, no sub-judge has so for been posted for the proposed Nadaun court. Sources say that once the rent assessment was finalised, the posting of a new sub-judge would be made and the court work would start at
Nadaun. |
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Temple dispute unresolved Hamirpur, July 10 An official spokesman told The Tribune here this evening that both parties agreed for the demarcation of the disputed land which would be done either on Friday or on Saturday by the Revenue Department with the help of the police. |
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Shimla, July 10
