H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Anti-corruption drive to continue, says CM
Hamirpur, April 3
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh today said he would continue his drive against corruption, which was killing society like a cancer. Addressing a series of election meetings in the Bamsan assembly segment on the third day of his tour in this district, he accused the BJP of indulging in corruption.

Congress a divided house, says Shanta
Nurpur, April 3
The Congress in the state is a divided house and infighting has come to the fore while reconstituting the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC). This was stated by Mr Shanta Kumar, former Union Minister and BJP candidate from Kangra, here in a press conference yesterday before starting his campaigning in the Nurpur assembly segment.

Mankotia blames BJP for unemployment
Dharamsala, April 3
Himachal Tourism Minister Vijay Singh Mankotia said unemployment has reached unmanageable proportions in the state and blamed the previous BJP government for it.

Virbhadra should apologise to PM, says Dhumal
Hamirpur, April 3
Senior BJP leader and former Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said today that Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was misleading people. He said how can a man, who had himself praised the role of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in helping Himachal Pradesh, now backtrack on his statement. Mr Dhumal said here today that it was shocking and absurd to say that the BJP-led government had given nothing to the state as alleged by the Chief Minister.

• Karam Singh rejoins Cong

Diploma engineers want promotion policy implemented
Sundernagar, April 3
The Council of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Diploma Engineers has urged the government to implement the promotion policy as per the decision taken on May 24, 2002. The non-implementation of this decision has caused resentment among diploma engineers serving in the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board. (HPSEB), it alleged.

Kokje favours body for medical technologists
Shimla, April 3
Mr V.S. Kokje, Governor, has underlined the need for setting up a statutory body at the national level to regulate and control the services of medical technologists with a view to ensuring quality medical diagnostic services in the country.

Entrance test for JBT on April 18
Dharmsala, April 3
Entrance examination for JBT course, will now be held on April 18th. Earlier the test was held during the BJP rule in 2002 but it was cancelled by the Virbhadra Singh government.

Anti-corruption drive to continue, says CM
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, April 3
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh today said he would continue his drive against corruption, which was killing society like a cancer. Addressing a series of election meetings in the Bamsan assembly segment on the third day of his tour in this district, he accused the BJP of indulging in corruption.

He said the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre was a government of convenience, as it lacked will on all fronts. It had failed to solve the external as well as internal problems and was responsible for the Kargil war, he added.

Mr Virbhadra Singh condemned the NDA government for its failure to provide jobs to one crore youth as promised in its last election manifesto.

Attacking the NDA government on its India shining campaign, he said India had started shining once it got freedom on August 15,1947. The government had spent more than Rs 1,050 crore on this campaign, he said, and demanded the NDA should pay the sum to the state exchequer.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said he would maintain transparency in the functioning of the state government and jobs would be given on merit.

Congress a divided house, says Shanta
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, April 3
The Congress in the state is a divided house and infighting has come to the fore while reconstituting the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC). This was stated by Mr Shanta Kumar, former Union Minister and BJP candidate from Kangra, here in a press conference yesterday before starting his campaigning in the Nurpur assembly segment.

He said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and PCC chief Vidya Stokes were fighting for their political survival. Both leaders were levelling charges against each other in connection with the reconstitution of the PCC, he added.

On the statement of Forest Minister and Congress candidate from Kangra Chander Kumar that Mr Shanta Kumar had failed as Union Food and Supply Minister. Mr Shanta Kumar said his food policies were appreciated not only by the masses but also by Ms Sonia Gandhi. He recalled that during the previous Budget session, Ms Sonia Gandhi had admired the “Antodaya Programme”.

He alleged that the Congress had no issue and even no name for the post of Prime Minister. He alleged that the Virbhadra Government had failed on all fronts.

PALAMPUR: Mr Shanta Kumar today cautioned Congress leaders not to make Vivekanand Medical College and Research Institute as an election issue. He said it was most unfortunate that the Congress leaders were unnecessarily dragging the name of the college which was purely a non-political body. They were trying to tarnish the image of this health institution.

Addressing a news conference at his residence here today Shanta Kumar said the hospital was being constructed with the public money for the welfare of the residents of Himachal Pradesh.

He said various sections of society and political parties had given donations for this medical institution.

Mankotia blames BJP for unemployment
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, April 3
Himachal Tourism Minister Vijay Singh Mankotia said unemployment has reached unmanageable proportions in the state and blamed the previous BJP government for it.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Mankotia said when Mr Virbhadra Singh demitted office in 1998 , there were only 4.5 lakh registered unemployed in the state. Now the number stood at 11 lakh, he said. 

He blamed BJP leaders Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal for failing to  protect the interests of youths when they were in power. He said though the BJP had signed  a number of MoUs for hydel projects, they did not make any clause under which jobs should be given to the youths in the state. He said now outsiders were working in these projects.

The minister blamed Mr Shanta Kumar for having failed to protect the interests of Kangra and Chamba. He said for the first time Himachal had a representation in the Union Cabinet other Cabinet Ministers got the new projects, railway lines and other employment generation industries worth thousands of crores for their constituencies, but Mr Shanta Kumar failed to bring any industry or project to his area.

Thanking the Congress high command for fielding Ms Pratibha Singh from Mandi, Mr Mankotia said the Congress had selected representative from women, ex-servicemen, OBCs and Rajputs, thus protecting the interests of all communities.

Maj. Mankotia said Mr Chander Kumar would file his nominations on April 22 at Dharamsala.

Virbhadra should apologise to PM, says Dhumal
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, April 3
Senior BJP leader and former Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said today that Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was misleading people. He said how can a man, who had himself praised the role of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in helping Himachal Pradesh, now backtrack on his statement.

Mr Dhumal said here today that it was shocking and absurd to say that the BJP-led government had given nothing to the state as alleged by the Chief Minister.

He asked the Chief Minister to seek public apology from the Prime Minister for misleading people on the issue of allocation of funds for various projects.

The BJP leader also accepted the challenge of the Chief Minister to have a debate with him on all issues, the state was facing today. Mr Dhumal said that he was ready to have such debate inside or outside the state Assembly. 

Karam Singh rejoins Cong
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, April 3
Mr Karam Singh, a BJP leader and former Congress MLA from the Bamsan area, today rejoined the Congress party. He joined the party at an election rally held at Patnaun village in presence of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. He had left the Congress in 1998. He is a member of the Hamirpur zila parishad at present.

Diploma engineers want promotion policy implemented
Our Correspondent

Sundernagar, April 3
The Council of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Diploma Engineers has urged the government to implement the promotion policy as per the decision taken on May 24, 2002. The non-implementation of this decision has caused resentment among diploma engineers serving in the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board. (HPSEB), it alleged.

According to a joint press note issued today by President, S.K. Chadha and Secretary K.S. Jamwal of the Council of HPSEB Diploma Engineers, serving in the Electricity Board in this hill state were not getting promotions as per norms 3:1 (three degree engineers: one diploma engineer). This decision was taken by the government in consultation with the Electricity Board and a notification to this effect was issued on May 24, 2002.

At present 199 posts of senior Executive Engineers are there in the Board in different wings and as per the norms 50 posts should go to diploma engineers but at present only 16 diploma engineers are working on these posts. There is shortfall of 34 posts.

It was further stated that the diploma engineers were getting first promotion to the posts of assistant engineer after 32-33 years and hardly become eligible to the posts of senior executive engineer.

The engineer leaders further demanded the implementation of existing norms in the interest of engineers of the Electricity Board.

Kokje favours body for medical technologists
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 3
Mr V.S. Kokje, Governor, has underlined the need for setting up a statutory body at the national level to regulate and control the services of medical technologists with a view to ensuring quality medical diagnostic services in the country.

Inaugurating the 15th congress on medical technology organised by the All-India Institute of Medical Tehnologists (AIIMT) here today, he said that medical laboratory technologists were the backbone of the healthcare delivery system and the need of the hour was to bring more professionalism in the services. The Governor said that with the advancement of technology, the scenario of medical technology had also changed. He stressed the need for proper training of medical technologists and said that the minimum qualification should be fixed for such courses.

He also awarded the fellow certificates to Moindra Chaudhary, Dr Tushar De, Dr Krishana Jyoti Goswami and Mr Har Swaroop on behalf of the AIIMT for their distinguished service. Dr S.K. Sharma was also honoured for his outstanding services.

Entrance test for JBT on April 18
Our Correspondent

Dharmsala, April 3
Entrance examination for JBT course, will now be held on April 18th. Earlier the test was held during the BJP rule in 2002 but it was cancelled by the Virbhadra Singh government. Another test planned by the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education last year was also cancelled.

According to board sources, the test will be held at different centres on April 18th. Roll numbers are being dispatched to all candidates and those who do not receive these by April 10, are advised to contact board office.