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Mankotia dares CM to sue him
No politics in cap launch, says Mankotia
Fissures in Cong come
to fore
HP Govt forwards names to Centre
Appointment of Judges
Housing problem continues
in Baddi belt
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Vivekananda medical institute functional
Samiti backs Narmada oustees
State Judicial Academy opened
Sukh Ram addresses pradhans
Crescent Club honours Anuj Sharma
Youth rapes niece
Doctor killed in mishap
One killed in road mishap
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Mankotia dares CM to sue him
Shimla, April 11 Addressing a press conference here, he said he had not levelled vague allegations but produced evidence of the money deposited in the account of an officer of the Chief Minister's office. Had Mr Virbhadra Singh been concerned about rooting out corruption, as he had been claiming, he would had taken the matter seriously and ordered an inquiry followed by raids to unearth more evidence against the officer. Instead, he was acting like a bully and handing out threats to sue him. He said he would not be cowed down by such threats and was prepared to face the consequences. Referring to the demand by certain leaders for taking action against him, Major Mankotia said he was only carrying out the policy of Mrs Sonia Gandhi to fight corruption out of the system in letter and spirit. He was not indulging in any indiscipline or anti-party activities. He accused the CM of misleading the Vidhan Sabha on the Shimla-Jakhoo ropeway and said HP Country Resorts was a subsidiary of the Golden Forests Company. |
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No politics in cap launch, says Mankotia
Dharamsala, April 11 In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, he said the cap, which he had got designed from a tailor in Uttar Pradesh, would be a symbol of the warrior cult and shakti peeths (deities of the Kangra region). “It would help in re-establishing the unique identity of the people of the lower Himachal region and would be a source of pride for them. The cap is not my brainchild but is the result of a growing feeling among the youth from the region to have a separate identity. In the past, people in the Kangra region used to wear turbans and a unique dress which had now become obsolete. The cap would only bring back that identity,” he said. Elaborating on the cap, Major Mankotia said it would have a badge on the front, with a symbol of torch representing the youth power of the region. It would be similar to the caps worn by people in the armed forces in the past. Hundreds of youths from Kangra, besides districts of Una, Chamba and Hamirpur, would participate in the launching ceremony scheduled. Joining issue with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, he said he had no objection to the popular Himachali cap and had never said anything against it. He, however, said so many people wore the cap and its colour scheme changed every 50 km and was, therefore, not representative of the lower Himachal region. Commenting on the move to launch the cap, the Chief Minister had said the cap he wore was not a trademark Virbhadra cap but was a symbol of the Himachali heritage and anyone who ridiculed it would ridicule the culture of the state. |
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Fissures in Cong come
to fore
Parwanoo, April 11 On entering the state here, he was welcomed by a majority of Vidya Stokes group Congressmen. The local Congressmen dominated by the Virbhadra Singh group, including local sitting Congress MLA, Raghu Raj, were conspicuous by their absence. Interestingly, most of Congressmen present were from the adjoining constituency, Doon. The good number of Doon congressmen led by its MLA, Lajja Ram, reached here to welcome Mr Sharma. Mr Sharma was a close associate of Ms Vidya Stokes. However, Mr Raghu Raj was a trusted lieutenant of Mr Virbhadra Singh. Interestingly, even president and vice-presidents of the local Municipal Council could not reach to welcome the Central minister. Later, at Solan, it was again the Vidya Stokes group party men who organised the welcome party for Mr Sharma.
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HP Govt forwards names to Centre
Appointment of Judges
Shimla, April 11 The names of Mrs Aruna Kapoor, Registrar-General of the high court, and Mr D.D. Sood, senior advocate, were unanimously recommended by the collegium in December last. However, there was an inordinate delay in forwarding the names due to differences between the government and the high court. The government had referred the panel back for reconsideration on the plea that it did not reflect the overall caste profile of the state. However, the high court refused to review the panel and stuck to its original recommendations, which were binding on the government. While maintaining that the government had always endorsed the recommendation of the high court and would do so in the case, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, had admitted that members of the bars had expressed their reservations that the panel did not reflect the caste profile. It is learnt that the government wanted the high court to reconsider the names of Mr Sanjay Karol, a former Advocate-General, and Mr S.S. Thakur, Law Secretary, recommended earlier, which had been pending since July last, but it did not oblige. Meanwhile, with the retirement of Mr Justice K.C. Sood, yesterday, the number of vacancies of Judges rose to six. Against the sanctioned strength of nine, there are only three Judges. |
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Housing problem continues
in Baddi belt
Baddi, April 11 Over the years, the lack of proper housing has emerged as the topmost problem after the area witnessed a heavy influx of new units since January, 2003. The number of new units increased manifold after the announcement of the central industrial package by then NDA government. Around 80 per cent of workforce in the belt belongs to the labour class which, at present, resides in a very pathetic condition. Majority of the remaining 20 per cent, which comprises the white collar category, come daily from Chandigarh and the towns located in its periphery. Government measures to increase housing in the belt has failed to make the desired impact as the Himuda constructed flats were of poor quality. To overcome this problem, the state government had invited private colonisers to construct flats by enforcing the HP Private Apartments Act last year. This measure only benefitted local landholders whose land was purchased by realtors at good rates. The enactment of this Act brought a virtual real estate boom in the belt. But inquires showed that there was not much enthusiasm to buy these flats also. The main reason behind this was the lack of basic infrastructure in the belt. The roads were in bad shape and pollution was rising alarmingly. Moreover, the rates of these flats were beyond the earning capacity of those seeking housing in the area. Industrialists of the belt have stressed upon the need to construct economic housing. For this purpose, the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Industrial Association (BBNIA) have made several representations to state government but to no avail. The CII proposed housing scheme was most relevant in the present scenario, feel BBNIA. Under this scheme, the construction of 150 clusters of 20 workmen dwellings i.e 3,000 dwellings providing housing to 6,000 workers was planned. The scheme has been stuck up due to state government’s reluctance to accept the plea to waive stamp duty involved in the implementation of the scheme.
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Special product status for apple likely
Shimla, April 11 Addressing a press conference here, he said the state government had requested that apple grown in the state had been able to withstand competition from New Zealand and Australia but if Chinese apple flooded the Indian markets, Himachal would be affected severely. “Keeping in view this apprehension of the state government we could consider granting special product status to apple so that a quota can be fixed on its import,” he said. He said at present only four per cent of the apple being sold in India was imported so the situation was not alarming but in a year or two when China, which produced 230 million tonnes of apple compared to 20 million tonnes by Himachal could cause concern to the hill state. Mr Ramesh said he was keen that the smaller states benefit from the schemes of his ministry so that the monopoly of the few big states in cornering almost 70 per cent of the funds could be broken. “Land-locked states like Himachal, Uttaranchal, Assam and Bihar need more assistance from the Centre for infrastructure development and my ministry is willing to extend them all possible assistance,” he remarked. He also felt keeping in view the need for aggressive marketing, the state government should consider having private sector participation in the HPMC, which had failed to come up despite its 30 years of existence. “HPMC is producing good products so we should think of reviving it with the help of private sector, especially on the marketing and processing front,” he said. He said majority of the companies were here for raw material and not into processing, which did not add to value addition. Mr Ramesh said that his ministry would try and help the state set up an inland container depot at Baddi, from where exports worth Rs 1,000 crore were being exported. “The moment we receive proposals from the state government for setting up of an Agriculture Export Zone (AEZ) and a medicinal and aromatic plants export processing zone (EPZ), we will extend all possible help,” he assured. He said the Centre would provide Rs 2 crore for the setting up of a handloom cluster in Kulu to encourage handloom and handicrafts. He added that he had advised that a ‘Shehari Haat’ on the lines of Delhi Haat should be set up. He said he would plead HP’s case for the continuation of the Central Excise Exemption Policy for the industries till 2013 rather than March 31, 2007. The Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, said that the state proposed to set up two Special Economic Zones at Kangra and Una, for which global tenders had been invited. |
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Vivekananda medical institute functional
Kangra, April 11 Former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar, who is the chairman of the Vivekananda Medical and Research Turst, said here today that the Kayakalp institute had been set up with the aim of providing people with various drugless therapies to arrest aging process. He said it sough eternal elixir of youth by arresting the degeneration of the body through detoxification, immunisation and rejuvenation therapies and regenerating body cells and tissues through holistic transformation of the body, mind and soul. Situated on the Pathankot-Mandi highway, about 40 km from here, the institute has 86 beds and is spread on 52 acres with lush green landscape, the former Chief Minister said. Mr Shanta Kumar said that it was first institute in the country providing practically holistic and drugless therapies under one roof. He said the facilities of a gymnasium were also available in the institute. He said the institute was a non-profit body and the poor people were treated here free of cost. |
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Samiti backs Narmada oustees
Shimla, April 11 It also urged the government to suitably amend the Land Acquisition Act and enact a legislation providing for resettlement of the affected families in the command area so that the oustees became beneficiaries rather than victims of such river-valley projects. Mr Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, general secretary of the samiti, said the Narmada Bachao Andolan activists, led by Medha Patkar, were on a hunger strike in protest against the highly questionable decision by the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) to permit further increase in the height of the dam from 110.64 m to 121.92 m. It was being done despite the fact that the rehabilitation of the oustees had not been completed. |
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State Judicial Academy opened
Shimla, April 11 The academy comprises a lecture hall, a recreation room, computer laboratory, library and mess. The Chief Justice, who is the Chairman of the academy, said it had been established with a view to developing skills, knowledge and work culture amongst judicial officers. “Even though it is a small academy, it was much needed to cater to the requirements of the judicial officers and their staff,” he remarked. He said the academy would impart fresher and orientation courses and other types of training in law and related subjects to judicial officers and others. |
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Sukh Ram addresses pradhans
Mandi, April 11 Addressing a meeting of pradhan and vice-pradhans of the Mandi Sadar block, he said the present government should shun the “politics of transfers” and should take bold measures in this regard. Mr Sukh Ram said the move to open the Vidhan Sabha Bhavan at Dharamsala was not a wise step as it would add an expenditure of Rs 12 crore, worsening the debt. “I must have committed some mistakes, which kept me away from public life for long, but my contribution to the telecom sector can be shared by none,” he claimed.
— TNS |
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Crescent Club honours Anuj Sharma
Nurpur, April 11 Club president Manoj Pathania, the Nurpur Press Club and the students Central Association of Government Arya College, Nurpur, honoured Anuj Sharma by presenting mementos to him. Later talking to media persons, he said that he was planning to set up a musical academy in the state as there was no such academy to hone the budding talents in singing. He said the Indian Idol programme had made him popular in the country. It was his first stage show in singing performance. He revealed soon he would return to Mumbai to learn in-depth techniques of singing. |
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Youth rapes niece
Mandi, April 11 The police has arrested the suspect, a student of a local government school, under Section 376 of the IPC. According to the police, the incident took place on April 8 at about 2.30 pm. The victim’s mother heard her daughter crying in the youth’s room. “I rushed to the room and found that my daughter had been raped by Kishan,” she stated in an FIR lodged at the Sarkaghat police station on April 8. The police said the medical report submitted to it had confirmed the rape. “The suspect has been arrested and will be produced before a juvenile court at Una tomorrow, where juveniles are reformed through counselling and other therapies. |
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Doctor killed in mishap
Solan, April 11 The doctor was driving his Santro car ( HP-52-1001) which fell into a 2,000-foot-deep gorge. He was killed on the spot. The police has registered a case of rash and negligent driving, endangering human life , under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC. He is survived by his wife, who is also a doctor posted at the IGMC, Shimla, a son and a daughter. He hails from Bilaspur district. He was on his way to meet his son who has joined a coaching institute at Chandigarh when he met with the fatal accident. |
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One killed in road mishap
Palampur, April 11 Meanwhile, Mr S. R. Rana, Additional Superintendent of Police, said that the police had launched a campaign to check the wrong parking of vehicles on the highway which had been resulting in frequent accidents. — OC |
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