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BJP memo to
Governor on MLAs’ suspension
Virbhadra
‘adopting’ double standards HP varsity
amendment Bill passed
Shimla, November 17 The Vigilance Department has registered 38 FIRs and instituted 16 inquiries against government officers and employees from March 1 to November 30, 2003. |
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Plea to involve
parishad in development works Fraud detected in
cooperative society Expand rail
network in HP, Centre urged
Jat Parishad
seeks JBT school Ex-servicemen
have been betrayed, says minister Couple burnt to
death Diploma
engineers warn of stir Polytechnic
students hold dharna
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BJP memo to Governor
on MLAs’ suspension Shimla, December 17 The memorandum mentioned the circumstances leading to their suspension from the House and alleged that such action was not warranted. The members had resumed their seats after they were named by the speaker. Thereafter, Mr Dhumal, the leader of the BJP legislative group, pleaded to the Speaker to review the decision and admit their adjournment motions. The group walked out when the plea was rejected. However, when they left the house the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs moved a resolution for their suspension up to December 19. Not only that they were debarred from entering the Vidhan Sabha complex. If the members were suspended for raising slogans prior to the walkout then why those who raised counter slogans from the treasury benches were not meted out similar treatment. The memorandum urged the Governor to take appropriate action to protect the sanctity of the Vidhan Sabha. Earlier, the suspended members raised slogans against the government at the main gate of the Vidhan Sabha complex. Mr Dhumal talking to reporters alleged that the suspension of BJP legislators was part of the congress strategy to prevent the party from raising inconvenient issues the like bungling in procurement of apples, cases of corruption under the Congress regime, discrimination in the removal of encroachments, victimisation of employees and recruitment scam, besides the Katwal tape. He said converting the adjournment motion into a discussion under rule 130 undermined the gravity of the important issue like Katwal tape. Mr I.D. Dhiman, a former Education Minister, who was also present at the press conference, said that the bill amending the Himachal Pradesh University act passed today in their absence would reduce the university to a government department and the Vice-Chancellor would be like any other officer, without any powers and under constant pressure. The curtailment of emergency powers would affect the functioning of the institutions, as the authorities concerned would have to take the approval of the government on small matters. |
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BJP men not allowed to burn CM’s effigy Nahan, December 17 Police sources said that an effigy of the Chief Minister was taken away by the police officials at the Badripur chowk from where BJP workers were to start a procession against the Chief Minister on Katwal tape issue. However, the police did not stop the activists from taking out the procession. Later, a deputation of BJP workers met the S.D.M. and submitted a memorandum. The Chairman of Paonta Municipal Committee, Mr Naresh Khapra, led the procession. |
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Virbhadra ‘adopting’ double standards Chandigarh, December 17 Condemning the Virbhadra government for the lathi charge on MLAs during the last Assembly session, Mr Rana said this time the elected representatives were being intimidated with a view to stifling their voice. This was against the established democratic norms. He came down heavily on Mr
Virbhadra Singh regarding the tape episode. Whereas the Congress leader criticised the Dhumal government for allegedly promoting nepotism in selections through the Services Selection Board, Mr Virbhadra Singh was himself caught on tape making recommendation to Mr S.M. Katwal, the then Chairman of the board. He criticised the Congress for adopting double standards on the issue — while Mr Ajit Jogi had been suspended from the party, Mr Virbhadra Singh had been staying put in his post. He demanded the handing over of the tape case to the CBI. |
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HP varsity amendment Bill passed Shimla, December 17 The Bill, which replaces the Himachal Pradesh University (amendment) ordinance promulgated on September 22, also empowers the government to appoint Registrar and Finance Officer on deputation. An IAS officer with five years’ service and a state administrative service officer with nine years service will be eligible for appointment as Registrar. The Finance Officer will be an officer of the state Subordinate Accounts Services not below the rank of Controller. It has been made mandatory to get decisions taken using emergency powers by the Vice-Chancellor ratified by the Executive Council within 60 days. The Bill also provides for the suspension of the Vice-Chancellor. Replying to a debate on the Bill, Ms Asha Kumari, Education Minister, said the government had no intention of undermining the autonomy of the university and its only objective was to prevent financial bunglings and administrative irregularities. The indictment of Dr S.D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, by the two inquiry committees set up by the Governor and his subsequent resignation had only proved the charge that gross irregularities had been committed in the university. She criticised the BJP for protecting Dr Sharma by raising the issue of autonomy. She said the government, which gave Rs 20 crore to the university annually as against its own resources of Rs 12 crore, could not give a free hand for squandering of public funds. She said corrective steps had to be taken to save the institution which had degenerated from a centre of excellence to a den of corruption during the BJP rule. She said action would be taken on the basis of findings of the two inquiry reports, including irregular appointments. Participating in the debate, Mr Mukesh
Agnihottari, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, said the BJP had been pursuing a one-point agenda to shield the corrupt, whether it was former Vice-Chancellor, S.D. Sharma or the tainted former Chairperson of the state Subordinate Services Selection Board, Mr
S.M. Katwal. He said Mr P.K. Dhumal, had not only given jobs to his relatives but also to their wards in the university. He cited the example of the security officer who was given a job along with his son and daughter. Wives of ministers and chairpersons of boards were also given appointments, he alleged. Initiating the debate, Mr Kuldeep Pathania (Independent) supported the Bill and said amendments were necessary to ensure that irregularities and financial bunglings did not take place in future. None of the BJP members who were suspended yesterday was present in the House. |
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16 probes marked against govt officials till Nov Shimla, November 17 Stating this during question hour Mr Chander Kumar, Forest Minister, who also holds the charge of Vigilance, told Mr Kuldeep Pathania (Independent), that while challan had been presented in the court in some cases other cases were under various stages of investigation. Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, informed Mr Lajja Ram that out of the total 13,410 daily-wage workers who had completed 10 years of service as on March 31,2000, 7,714 had been regularised. The regularisation of workers was a welfare measure and an ongoing process. Replying to another question the Chief Minister said that the government was appointing 145 doctors to provide adequate staff in the health institutions. Since trained workers were not available because of discontinuation of training programme by the previous regime, the government had decided to post at least one worker in each health sub centre. It had also decided to appoint 85 more ayurvedic doctors to provide adequate health services in the rural areas. Mr
G.S. Bali, Transport Minister, told Mr Kuldeep Pathania that a sub depot of the state road transport was functioning at
Chawari. But there was little justification for it as only five bus services originated and 25 passed through the station. He said it could be converted into a regular traffic depot. |
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Plea to involve parishad in development works Mandi, December 17 Regretting the absence of some officials at the meeting the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr R.S. Gupta, assured the agitated members that in future the officials of the departments concerned would be directed to be present at the Zila Parishad meetings in order to listen to the problems of the people being raised through the members and to take suitable measures for redressing them. The Chairperson Zila Parishad, Mrs Kalawati, presiding over the meeting complained that low voltage and poor maintenance of power lines in the remote Karsog Valley was causing hardships to the people. Mr Jai Kumar Azad, member, stressed the need for actively involving the Zila Parishad in all matters of development. He lamented that the practice of providing funds to panchayats through zila parishad had been discontinued by the Eleventh Finance Commission and demanded that it should be continued as before. Members also demanded enhancement in their pay scales contending that their wards were equal to half the constituency of an MLA. They lamented that while the pay scales of MLAs had been increased from time to time the Zila Parishad members were being discriminated against. The Zila Parishad also condemned the alleged misbehaviour with one of its members, Mr Lal Singh Kaushal, by an official of Ratti Police Station and demanded action against him. Members also drew the attention of the government towards poor maintenance of link roads, irrigation and drinking water supply schemes and shortage of doctors and teachers in the district. |
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Fraud detected in cooperative society Palampur, December 17 According to information available in the local office of the Assistant Registrar, Cooperative Societies, the secretary of the society has not accounted for Rs 4 lakh received from account holders. The entries of the amount are missing from the cash book and ledger of the society. However, the secretary entered it in the pass books issued to depositors. Official sources said after a detailed audit of accounts, it was established that the secretary had been cheating account holders and allegedly pocketing the money. The recovery of old debts by the society has also not been entered in account books. The Assistant Registrar has recommended the suspension of the secretary. Meanwhile, resentment prevails among members and account holders of the society. Depositors gathered outside the office of the society to enquire about the balance amounts in their accounts. However, no FIR has been lodged by the department so far. |
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Expand rail network in HP, Centre urged Shimla, December 17 Moving the resolution, Mr Kaul Singh, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, said the hill states, particularly Himachal Pradesh, had been ignored since Independence as a as the expansion of the rail network was concerned. He said hopes had been raised following the recent visit of Mr Nitish Kumar, Union Minister for Railways, to the state during which he assured that the Nangal-Talwara broad-gauge link would be completed by the end of next year. He made a strong plea for the restoration of transport subsidy which the state had been getting from the Centre up to 1990 for the lack of adequate rail network. He said work on the Bhanupali-Rampur rail line should be started at the earliest. Endorsing the suggestion of Mr Sat Mahajan, Rural Development Minister, he said the entire Council of Ministers led by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, would go to Delhi, if required, to plead the state’s case before the Centre. Mr Vijay Mankotia, Tourism Minister, Mr Surinder Pal Kaku, Mr Rakesh Kalia, Mr Surinder Bhardwaj, Mr Harbhajan Singh and Mr Surinder Pal also spoke. |
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Jat Parishad seeks JBT school Kangra, December 17 The demand was raised by the state president of the Himachal Pradesh Jat Kalyan Parishad, Mr Harnam Singh Gill, at a press conference here today. He demanded that the state should direct revenue officials to mention the word ‘Sikh Jat’ while issuing the Other Backward Classes certificate to members of the community. He was critical of vested interests trying to “grab” the Jat Kalyan Parishad office. On the demand for fresh elections to the office of the Jat Kalyan Parishad, Mr Gill said options on the issue were open. He alleged a few residents of a village, who were ideologically close to former Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, were trying to divide the Jat community following the decision of the parishad to invite Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh as chief guest to its maha sammelan to be held at Bilaspur Sikera in Dehra tehsil of this district next month. He said some disgruntled elements, not even office-bearers of the parishad, were trying to ‘mislead’ the people. Mr Gill said he had no attachment for the post of president, but would not relinquish office at this juncture as it would go against the interests of the community. All office-bearers of the parishad were present at the press conference. |
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Ex-servicemen have been betrayed,
says minister Shimla, December 17 The Prime Minister and top BJP leaders had gone on record saying that the government had cleared the sanction for these benefits but even after four years, nothing concrete had emerged, he said. He reiterated the demand for increasing the state’s quota for recruitment to the armed forces in recognition of the services rendered by its soldiers in safeguarding the frontiers of the country. No other state had the distinction of four Param Vir Chakra awardees, he said. |
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Couple burnt to death Mandi, December 17 The deceased were identified as Dore Ram (48) and his wife Diko Devi (37) who were staying in a hut to look after their cattle about 1.5 km from the main village. Fellow villagers reached the hut when they saw the flames but the couple was burnt to death when they reached there. The tehsildar of Gohar visited the spot and gave immediate relief of Rs 4000 to the next of kin of the victims.
— PTI |
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Diploma engineers warn of stir Mandi, December 17 Briefing media persons today after a zonal meeting of the association, state general secretary K.S. Jamwal said the HPSEB had adopted a “callous attitude” towards the junior engineers whose promotions were being delayed, despite the fact that over 100 posts of Assistant Engineer and Assistant Executive Engineer were lying vacant. Many of them would attain superannuation without being promoted, he said. |
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Polytechnic students hold dharna Hamirpur, December 17 Karnail Singh, student leader, alleged that the Principal and a few lecturers of the institute beat them up and told them not to sit for the examinations. He said though three students were issued roll numbers, they were not allowed to take the examinations. Mr Ashok Ahuja, Principal of the institute, denied the charges. |
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Praja Mandal activists remembered Bilaspur, December 17 The congregation also observed a one-minute silence in memory of all Praja Mandal activists.
— OC |
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