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CM, Stokes want own men at
Centre
Stokes lambasts Sushma Swaraj
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HP seeking draft plan of Rs 1400 cr, says
Virbhadra
Admn supplies water through tankers to scarcity
areas
One sentenced to death for murder
Rs 15 lakh donation for Roerich Trust
Teenager elopes with
driver
Residents deprived of telegram
facility
Engineer dies in
mishap
VC seeks assurance on law and order
HP job scam: panel chief faces
case
Five shops destroyed
in fire
Army clinic to be opened today
Clearance to hydel project opposed
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CM, Stokes want own men at
Centre
Shimla, May 17 The united face put up by the Congress during the Parliamentary elections seems to be a thing of the past as Mr Virbhadra Singh today categorically stated that the person inducted into the Cabinet should be an elected representative with seniority being the other criteria. “Though it is the prerogative of the Prime Minister to include anyone in the Cabinet but I personally feel that in a democratic set-up an elected representative and not a Rajya Sabha member deserved to be elevated,” he remarked. Though he did not name anyone, but in an oblique reference he opposed the case of Rajya Sabha member Anand Sharma. It is common knowledge that while the Stokes faction is backing Mr Sharma, the Chief Minister has throw his might behind the newly elected MP from Kangra, Mr Chander Kumar. Mr Chander Kumar, who was the Forest Minister in the Virbhadra government, has been a loyalist of the Chief Minister. “Apart from fact that Mr Chander Kumar is a senior OBC leader in Himachal Pradesh, one must not forget that he has trounced BJP stalwart Shanta Kumar, who was a Cabinet minister in the Vajpayee government,” said a minister from the Virbhadra camp. On the other hand, those belonging to the Stokes camp are pleading the case of Mr Sharma on the ground that being in a senior party position in Delhi, he will be in a better position to protect the interest of the state and plead its case. “The fact that Mr Sharma has been made a spokesperson clearly indicates his proximity with Mrs Gandhi, which will ensure a Cabinet berth for him,” remarked a confident Stokes loyalist. The faction led by Mr Virbhadra Singh has already started pleading the case of Mr Chander Kumar with the high command and senior party leaders in Delhi . The fact that the Congress was able to bag three of the four Lok Sabha seats has strengthened the position of the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, considerably. The bickering within the state party unit even before the formation of the Congress-led government is an indication of the fact that the two factions will hit out against each other to ensure that their candidate is elevated as a minister. While the two factions are lobbying hard for their candidates, political analysts feel that Himachal Pradesh being a very small state and with Mrs Gandhi faced with the arduous task of accommodating a large number of coalition partners in the cabinet the state might go unrepresented.
Shimla, May 17 In a statement issued here today, she said the ego of Ms Swaraj had been hurt and she was finding it difficult to reconcile to the fact that the person who had humbled her in the Lok Sabha poll at Bellary would be occupying the coveted position. She pointed out that the BJP leader had no objection when Ms Gandhi entered Parliament and became the Leader of Opposition. She said the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had repeatedly said during electioneering that Ms Gandhi’s foreign origin was a major issue. Now that the people had rejected the plea of the NDA, there was no justification for raising the issue afresh. |
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Shanta joins Sushma over Sonia
issue
Palampur, May 17 Addressing a crowded press conference here this afternoon, Mr Shanta Kumar said no person of foreign origin should be allowed to become the Prime Minister or President of this country. He said it was most unfortunate that Mrs Sonia Gandhi, a woman of foreign origin, born in Italy and one who lacked merit, political insight, or experience or had made no sacrifice for the unity and integrity of country, was going to hold the post of Prime Minister. He said it was a pity that the Congress could not find any other suitable leader to install as Prime Minister. It was not expected from a party, which had played a significant role in the freedom struggle and succeeded in the abolition of British rule in India, today again handing over the reins of this country to a foreigner. This step of the Congress was not acceptable to any Indian citizen, he added. He stated that the mandate given in the parliamentary elections was never in favour of Mrs Gandhi to head the country, as the Congress party never projected her as prime ministerial candidate. Mr Shanta Kumar said from beginning, the BJP was opposed to this move and the party had the same stand today. He said senior leaders of the BJP like Mrs Sushma Swaraj, Ms Uma Bharti and Govindacharya had already expressed their views opposing the installation of Mrs Gandhi as Prime Minister. The BJP leader said though the constitution does not ban a man or woman of foreign origin from becoming Prime Minister or President of this country, every self-respecting citizen of this country should think how he or she would feel if a foreigner became the Prime Minister. He said it would be a black day in the history of India when Mrs Gandhi is sworn in as Prime Minister. In reply to question he said, during electioneering the BJP had announced that if the NDA was voted to power, it would bring in legislation to ban person of foreign origin to head the nation. In past none, had anticipated this situation and even Congress men were not excepting that Mrs Sonia Gandhi would become the Prime Minister of the country. |
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Virbhadra terms BJP’s opposition to Sonia ‘absurd’
Shimla, May 17 “Mrs Gandhi has been accepted as the leader of the Opposition for the past five years and now there was no justification for opposing her as Prime Minister. Moreover, the BJP contested the poll on the issue of her foreign origin but the people rejected its case,” he said. Mr Virbhadra Singh said the BJP’s stand had become all the more irrelevant after all political parties, except the BJP and its few allies, had accepted Mrs Gandhi becoming, the Prime Minister of India. He said any debate or agitation on this issue was totally uncalled for and undesirable as Mrs Gandhi had been elected to parliament by the people and the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party by all elected members of the Congress, leader of the alliance partners and supporting parties. He also criticised as “cheap political stunt” the statement of senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj that she and her husband would resign from the Rajya Sabha, the day the Congress President took over as the Prime Minister. —
PTI |
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CPI to check RSS campaign against
Sonia
Kangra, May 17 Mr Himal Chand, Member, National Council and the State Executive of CPI, today in a statement here said Communists and the secular forces in Himachal Pradesh were strong enough to check this misinformation campaign in this state. He said the Rashtriya Swbhiman Andolan was a misguided attempt of the RSS. It was against the wishes of the people who had expressed themselves in clear terms by showing the door to the BJP and its NDA allies. He said that Mr Govindacharya has failed to deliver goods during the previous poll and now the BJP and the RSS were trying to credit confusion among the Indian masses for their political vested interests. He said the apex court had set foreign national issue of Sonia Gandhi aside in clear terms and the people of India gave a massive mandate to her. He said the CPI and other secular forces would launch a mass contact programme in Himachal Pradesh to counter the misinformation campaign of the communal forces. |
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HP Cong to counter anti-Sonia
drive
Chamba, May 17 In a statement issued here today, Ms Asha Kumari, Himachal Pradesh Education Minister, said Ms Sonia Gandhi had been elected by the people and also elected leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party. She was going to become Prime Minister by consensus, she added. She described this andolan as an “individual campaign of the BJP leaders and its fanatics.” The minister appealed to all members of the Congress to thwart the “anti-national” movement of the BJP leaders. Ms Asha Kumari said Anni Basent, the first woman president of the Indian National Congress, had been accepted as an Indian citizen despite the fact that she, too, was a foreigner. |
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HP seeking draft plan of Rs 1400 cr, says
Virbhadra
Shimla, May 17 Interacting with mediapersons here today, he said with the change of government at the Centre he was confident that enhanced financial help would be extended to the state so as to ensure its speedy development. “Unlike the Dhumal regime, we will ensure that the non-plan expenditure like payment of salaries is not included in the plan, so as to inflate its size” he stated. Talking about the proposals the state would seek from the Centre, he said much would depend on the minimum working programme that was being chalked out by the various coalition partners. He said the Congress-led government at the Centre would definitely appreciate the financial needs of Himachal better as it is the draft plan which is the main instrument of development in any state. “We want that any non-plan expenditure included in the plan should be excluded as there should be no fudging of figures which will be given to the 11th Finance Commission,” he remarked. He added that the non-plan expenditure would gradually be removed from the plan in a phased manner. Elaborating the Chief Minister said there would be thrust on the implementation of plans with complete check on wasteful expenditure. Special focus would be on education, health care, social welfare and road construction.. Commenting on the course of action to be adopted with regard to the public sector undertaking running in loss, he said closing them down would be the last resort as all out efforts would be made to improve their health and revive them be it in terms of pumping in more finances, better management, downsizing of employees or changing the scope of work being performed by them. He, however, added that a different criteria would be adopted as far as public undertaking like transport were concerned as it was part of essential services and the only mode of transportation being used by the common public. |
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Admn supplies water through tankers to scarcity
areas
Hamirpur, May 17 Hamirpur also faces water shortage despite a water supply scheme. People wait for hours on main roads for tankers to deliver water. Though the district administration has started supplying water through tankers yet the number of tankers is not sufficient. Mr R.N. Sharma, SE, Irrigation-cum-Public Health Department, attributed water shortage to the non-arrival of rain and drought like conditions. Mr Sharma said the Bhoranj area of the district was the worst affected where almost all water sources had gone dry. Water was being supplied to the people through tankers. He said that four water supply schemes located in the Bamsan and Mewa areas of the Bhoranj block have gone dry. Water was being supplied through four tankers. Mr Sharma said 10 more tankers would be deployed in a day or two. Deputy Commissioner, Devesh Kumar, said tankers had already been pressed into service for supplying water and if needed more tankers would be deployed. He warned those misusing tap water for kitchen gardening and construction works. |
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One sentenced to death for murder
Shimla, May 17 There was allegation against the accused persons when they were working at the Oaksland Hotel, here they murdered the owner of the hotel and his mother. This incident took place on November 15,2001. After committing the murder they fled and were held by the police at Nahan. After the investigation the police filed the challan before the court which convicted them. |
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Rs 15 lakh donation for Roerich Trust
Shimla, May 17 A cheque of Rs 15 lakh was presented by the Russian Ambassador Ax Leander M Kadakin to Himachal Chief Minister at a function in New Delhi yesterday. The Chief Minister, who is the chairman of the trust, said that the rich repository of paintings and historic artifacts has strengthened base of education and knowledge-sharing and thinking between the two countries. He assured the Russian delegates that the state government would ensure overall development of the trust by providing all possible financial and other required assistance. —
PTI |
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Teenager elopes with
driver
Kumarhatti, May 17 The mother said her daughter had gone to attend a jagran at Datyar on the evening of May 9 but did not return home. Later she came to know that Mahender had also gone on a long leave after settling his dues, she approached the police. A case under Sections 363 and 366 of the IPC has been registered. |
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Residents deprived of telegram
facility
Kangra, May 17 The Telecom Department today celebrated ‘World Communication Day’, ignoring the demands of the people who have been deprived of the telegram, fax and PCO facilities in post offices. More than a year back, the BSNL under the pretext of ‘user’s principle’ snatched the telephone facilities of the post offices in this district including offices of Ranital, Baroh, Sunnie, Rait, Gaggal, Barmard, Lunj, Sunaid, Taira, Kangra town and Dhaulatpur. B.P. Thakur, Superintendent of Post Offices Dhera division, told The Tribune that the BSNL had snatched the facility of the phones and telegrams from the common people of this unprivileged area without reason. |
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Una, May 17 The deceased was travelling on his scooter and was hit from behind by the truck. The truck driver has been absconding, while the police has impounded the vehicle. The JE was on deputation from the Public Works Department and was going on a site inspection when the accident took place. —
UNI |
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VC seeks assurance on law and order
Shimla, May 17 He said students should seek the redressal of their grievance, of the university from the authorities within the framework of rules and procedures. He said he was always willing to discuss any issue concerning the students with office-bearers of the SCA and student leaders. |
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HP job scam: panel chief faces
case
Shimla, May 17 Sources said the Criminal Investigations Department which conducted an inquiry into the matter has sought permission to register a criminal case against Mr Dev Raj Sharma, Mr P. C. Katoch, and Mr Onkar Sharma, Chairperson , member and secretary of the commission, respectively. The inquiry report found the allegation of Mr V.K.Malik, one of the members, that the list of selected candidates had been changed to be true and it indicted the three functionaries of the commission in this regard. A list of the candidates selected by the four-member interview panel has been appended with the report. It is further pointed out that a fabricated list was released without the signatures of the members of the interview panel. Mr Malik brought the matter to the notice of the Chairman but instead of investigating the matter, a false and changed list was finally approved by the commission. The two experts who were on the interview panel had also stated that the list had been changed ,the report said. Sources in the government said that although the high court had quashed the list of selected candidates, the government was keen to get to the truth of the matter. Only a Vigilance inquiry could bring out the truth. However, such an inquiry could be conducted only after the registration of a criminal case. The commission had earlier refused to give the relevant record to the CID on the plea that it was an independent constitutional body and it was not accountable to the government directly. The high court has also disapproved of the manner in which the CID had sought record from the commission and observed that it would have been in order to ask for the record in case a case had been registered. The government was seeking legal opinion in the matter and it was likely to give its nod for registration of a case on the its basis. |
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Five shops destroyed
in fire
Hamirpur, May 17 Fire engines reached late and were without adequate water supply. The fire started from the shop of Ramesh Kumar and engulfed shops. These shops were of karyana, manyari, utensils, harware and paint, tailoring, cold drinks and electronic goods. Sunka Ram, Ramesh Kumar Kanungo, Des Raj, Mohinder Singh and Sanjeev Kumar owned these shops. SDM, Hamirpur, B.R. Kaundel visited the spot and gave relief to the fire victims from Rs 5000 to three persons, Rs 3000 each to two persons and Rs 2000 to one person. |
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Army clinic to be opened today
Hamirpur, May 17 The clinic could not be opened in April last for want of accommodation. The Himachal Pradesh State Education Board had taken possession of the proposed building of the hospital, causing resentment among people, especially ex-servicemen. Later, a portion of the old JBT building was given to the Army authorities to set up the hospital under the contributory health scheme. Under the scheme, the ex-servicemen who have pensions less than Rs 3,000 per month have to pay a one-time fee of Rs 1,800 to become members. Any place having more than 2,500 ex-servicemen would have an independent clinic. Where the population is less, the soldiers have to go to government dispensaries. All diseases, including the serious illnesses, will be treated free of cost. The Army has decided to open health centers at Una, Chamba, Bilaspur and Hamirpur, while Dharamsala, Solan and Shimla will have Army hospitals.
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Clearance to hydel project opposed
Shimla, May 17 The South Asian Network on Dams and River Projects (SANDRP) and Kalpvriksh, two non-government environment action groups, alleged that the villagers who were likely to be affected by the project were not being provided the documents required to ensure their participation in the proposed public hearing on May 20 and 21 in this regard at Jagatsukh. The Kalpvriksh had decided to have a “pre-public hearing” to ascertain the views of the local residents. The report prepared by it has pointed out serious discrepancies in the impact study, which could have far-reaching consequences for the environment and the local people. An important finding of this report was that there had been very little consultation with the villagers at the time of the initial surveys, which began over 20 years ago. The consent of the local gram panchayats was also not sought for the project. Villagers realised that the project was under way only when they noticed some construction work going on in the area. The villagers clearly mentioned that from the information that has been shared with them so far and all consultations that have been organised, they have gathered that this project means “all loss and no benefit” for them. Mr Viman of SANDRP said a full impact study was is conducted was a pre-requisite to the consideration of funding the project. This should be based on data collected over a period of at least one year and involve the local villagers. This should cover all the aspects raised by villagers. The updated study should be used to assess the irreversible impacts, the feasibility of beneficial alternatives available to the villagers and the over-all viability of the project, he added. The specific shortcomings pointed out are that there was no complete baseline survey of the aquatic life of the Allain and Duhangan streams. For the Duhangan stream the ecological data was only for fish and that too collected only in winter months. This baseline data was not enough to determine the real impact on the aquatic diversity in the stream. Secondly, the cultural impact had been very weakly dealt with. There was no assessment of the impact of loss of forests on the livelihood of the villagers. Moreover, the assessment of the precise number of villagers and property to be affected was incomplete, and needed to be completed as part of a full impact study. There was also no assessment of the impacts on agricultural biodiversity, it added. |
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