Sarsai (Kulu), June 6
The former Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, today cautioned the Congress-led UPA government that India’s sovereignty was supreme and no government could be pro-American on every foreign policy issue.

Responding to queries on America’s changed pro-India stance on nuclear and Agni III missile issue, after giving his 11-point new party mantra at the meeting of the state executive at the Heritage Village Resort here today, Mr Vajpayee said India could not afford to be pro-America on every issue.

Mr Vajpayee expressed concern on the rising prices, stating that the hike would hit the common man as the prices of the transport, including bus fares, essential commodities, and goods carriers would go up. “The hike has no logic. The UPA government has shown complete disregards to the poor sections and the common man,” he pointed out.

Earlier, at the state executive meeting, attended by the former union minister and BJP national vice-president Shanta Kumar, Part observer for Himachal Pradesh Sahib Singh Verma, former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, BJP president Suresh Bhardwaj, general secretary Chander Sen Thakur and former Mandi MP Maheshwar Singh and other leaders, Mr Vajpayee warned party workers on the short-term individual agendas of certain party leaders.

“The party will be a loser if such leaders keep the individual interest uppermost”, he said, referring to the exit of Ms Uma Bharti and Mr Madan Lal Khurana.

Later, Verma briefed reporters on Mr Vajpayee's address and said the public was disillusioned with the Congress government as it had failed to get the desired funds from the Centre. The NDA government had given Rs 450 crore and an industrial package to Himachal, but present government had failed to get the package from the Centre, he added.

Mr Verma admitted that the BJP faced factions and difference of opinions but the party was united. Mr Bhardwaj said the BJP workers would hold the Satyagrah in Jammu in protest against the killings in Doda district from June 7to 15 and hold dharnas at each district headquarters against the price rise.

Talking to reporters, Mr Shanta Kumar said the government was benefiting the 550 mill owners in the country while 100 crore population in the country was hard hit by the steep hike in sugar and essential commodities. “The government should release sugar in the market to control the prices”, he said. 

Mandi, June 6
Over 100 persons from Sandhol reached here yesterday demanding a second post-mortem examination on the body of Vinod Kumar, a jawan of Assam Rifles, claiming he did not commit suicide, but was murdered. They demanded an inquiry into his death.

Though the district administration ordered a second post-mortem examination on the body at the zonal hospital here and also received the report of the first post-mortem examination from the CEO of the Assam Rifles, the villagers suspected a foul play in the case.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Subhasish Panda, said he handed over the first post-mortem examination report to the police.

The Assistant Commandant, Assam Rifles, said officials from Manipur told him on the phone that Vinod had been travelling along with more than 28 jawans in a bus in Manipur about six days ago. He snatched a rifle from a jawan, fired three rounds. A jawan tried to got hold of him, but a bullet had already pierced Kumar’s chest. Two other jawans were injured in the fire.

Meanwhile, the postmortem examination report says a bullet pierced through the middle of Vinod’s chest, damaged his heart and lung. The second bullet hit his thigh superficially in the skin.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr K.C. Shandilya, said the Assistant Commandant, Assam Rifles, told him that they were ready face an inquiry into the case as there were over 28 jawans witness to the incident.

He said the forensic and ballistic experts would comment on the nature of the injuries, Mr Shandilya added.

Shimla, June 6
In a major step to check haphazard construction, the government has restrained the Registrars and Sub-Registrars from registering land sale deeds or documents of any subdivision of land on share basis unless the subdivision into plots was duly approved by the Town and Country Planning Department.

The decision will be applicable in all the planning areas under the department and 12 other major towns of the state. Simultaneously, the approved subdivision of land for creating saleable plots will be entered in the revenue record to ensure that there were no disputes after the sale.

As per the norms laid down by the department, the saleable plotted area cannot exceed 60 per cent and the remaining 40 per cent will be utilised for circulation, infrastructure networks, parking, parks, open spaces, playgrounds, recreational pursuits and providing basic services.

The subdivision will be carried out keeping in view the interest of the purchaser and not the seller.

The plots shall be permitted at right angle to the road with proper shape and dimensions in accordance with natural profile of land and slope, so that optimum use of the land is ensured.

The dimension of the plot should be preferably in the ratio of two is to three and in no case the ratio should exceed one is to three. The subdivision of land shall be permitted in accordance with natural profile of topography as shown on a contour map, drainage of the land, accessibility, road alignment, wind direction, local environmental imperatives and in accordance with prescribed land use.

Natural flora and fauna shall have to be preserved and the natural nullahs which pass through the land involving the subdivision shall be developed and maintained according to discharge of water during the peak rainy season.

Minimum area of a plot for a detached house shall not be less than 150 sq m. Semi-detached house construction shall be allowed on minimum 120 sq m plot and row housing on plots of minimum 90 sq m area subject to maximum number of such plots does not exceed 8 in a row after which a gap of 7 metre shall have to be left.

In exceptional circumstances, considering site conditions, the minimum 60 sq m plot for construction in a row with two common walls may be allowed, so as to provide smallest possible residential construction.

Chamba, June 6
Tension prevails among residents of Udaipur village, 9 km from here, over the murder of a mason, Rajender Kumar, who had to lose his life for getting his wages from the owner of a house where he was working. Rajender had urged the owner of the house for wages for the construction work he did, but he was beaten to death.

When contacted, the Station House Officer Chamba, Mr Jitender Choudhary, said the owner of the house, Raju Soni, was arrested and a case had been registered against him under Section 304, IPC. Raju Soni was remanded in police custody for three days.

Rajender Kumar, who hailed from Punjab, had been working as mason in Chamba for the past about 25 years. — OC

Mohali man held with fake CDs
Our Correspondent

Barotiwala, June 6
The local police arrested a man for allegedly selling pirated CDs here last evening. Gagandeep of Phase XI, Mohali, was arrested near Rama Steel Industry along with a bag containing pirated CDs. A total of 225 CDs were found in the bag.

Gagandeep used to sell CDs in and around Barotiwala. A case under the Copy Right Act has been registered against him.

Meanwhile, a truck (HP-11-7339) was allegedly stolen from Dharampur last night. The truck owner, Mr Gyan Chand, hailed from Darlaghat. The truck was being used by its owner to transport cement from Gujarat Ambuja Company. After unloading cement at Panchkula the truck driver, Shashi Kumar, parked the truck near Lamba Clinic on the Kalka-Shimla National Highway around 10 pm.

He has a rented accommodation at Dharampur when Shashi returned around 2 am he found the truck missing. The police was informed.