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Left-supported strike hits work in banks, post offices
‘Himachal given raw deal in power projects’
Centre, state govt heading for showdown
UPA govt has lost right to rule: BJP
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One killed, 23 hurt in
road mishaps
10-kg charas seized, two held
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Left-supported strike hits work in banks, post offices
Shimla, December 14 Banking and insurance services were paralysed as employees of all banks, except State Bank of India, private and cooperative banks, responded to the strike call. Markets remained open. Only a few restaurants and hotels were closed. Bus services operated normally and there were no reports of traffic blockades. Striking employees held rallies in front of their offices. Members of the trade unions associated with CITU held a rally at the Sabzi Mandi ground where the speakers criticised the anti-worker policies of the UPA regime. Main demands include steps to check price rise, strengthening of the public distribution system, lifting of ban on recruitment to government jobs, discontinuation of contract appointments and outsourcing of services and uniform minimum wages for workers. Mandi: Postal, bank and insurance services were paralysed in the region as all Left-front supported- organisations joined the all-India strike in protest against the anti-employee, anti-farmer, anti-worker economic and privatisation policies of the central government. The Left-supported bandh threw the bank, postal and insurance services out of gear as bank and insurance employees, medical representatives and others central services observed a strike and marched in towns all over the state. Postmen did not deliver the post in towns. Bank services are hit partially as employees joined the strike. The CPM, the CPI, including its Kisan Sabha, CITU, the AISF and the Janvadi women and youth and the SFI organisations joined the strike and demonstrated in the towns raising slogans against privatisation and economic policies of the central government. The leaders claimed economic policies would hit the common man including the farmers and ordinary and daily wagers and part time workers. The leaders gave a memorandum through the DC Mandi to the President and the Prime Minister. Nahan: Trade unions’ members and Anganwari workers assembled at different places and marched at Nahan, Paonta and Rajgarh for acceptance of their demands. Around 2000 workers marched in procession at Paonta Sahib and submitted a memorandum to SDM, Paonta Sahib. Workers assembled at Badripur chowk and went up to the SDM’s office shouting slogans against the state and the union governments, demanding the regularisation of services of all daily wage workers. They also demanded a ban on foreign investment in the country and exploitation of labour class stopped by implementing rules enacting new law for the purpose. In Nahan, Anganwari and other workers marched up to the office of Deputy Commissioner, Sirmaur. Workers raised slognas against the ‘anti labour’ and ‘anti common man’ policies of the union and state governments and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Sirmaur. A similar rally was organised by Anganwari workers at Rajgarh and a memorandum regarding their demands submitted to the SDM, Rajgarh. |
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‘Himachal given raw deal in power projects’
Chandigarh, December 14 These remarks were made by Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, while addressing a press conference at the Chandigarh Press Club here today. "Himachal is getting only 2.5 per cent of the 7.19 per cent share listed from Bhakra, a mere 15 mw from the Beas-Sutlej link project and none from the Pong Dam. There was no recourse but to approach the Supreme Court", he said. The Chief Minister said: "It is unfortunate that certain states are piqued at the industrial development in Himachal Pradesh. We have rejoiced in the progress made by other states in various fields. In our case, however, certain parties have problems. “We are not uprooting industry from neighbouring
states. Business firms from these states are only setting up additional ventures in Himachal,” he explained. Mr Virbhadra Singh said national surveys showed that the state was number one in education, health services and social
security. The number of educational institutes had grown from 331 in 1948 to more than 16,000 till date. All villages in the state were provided with electrified way back in 1987. The per capita income during the period had increased from Rs 284 to Rs 13,138. Agriculture and horticulture were the key areas for development and the results were very encouraging. The state hitherto famous for apple now also excelled in mango, peach, plum, kinnow and cherry cultivation. Tourism was one of the main sources of state revenue. The state was probably the only one in the country which attracted more tourists in a year than its total population, which stood at 66 lakh. Mr Kuldeep Kumar, Minister of Industries, was also present at the press conference. |
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Centre, state govt heading for showdown
Shimla, December 14 The government has refused to sign the memorandum of understanding for the Luri project and informed the nigam that it proposed to award the project to the Himachal Power Corporation. Earlier it was decided to assign the two projects to the SJVN which had started preparing the project reports. Work on Khab project was abandoned following protests by local people but work in the case of Luri project was on. The nigam has spent nearly Rs 12 crore on it so far. Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, had been upset over the Centre’s refusal to have at least one director from the state on the nigam in which it had 25 per cent equity. There were other issues like ensuring 70 per cent employment to Himachalis and raising the state’s equity share to 30 per cent in the SJVN and a review of the agreements for the Kol dam and Parbati projects so that the state could have equity participation on the same pattern. The Centre had agreed for 30 per cent state equity share in future projects but expressed helplessness in increasing the share in the Nathpa Jhakri project and reviewing the accords for Kol dam and Parbati projects. According to sources the Centre is likely to take up the matter with the state for an amicable solution. If nothing comes out the nigam will start the repatriation of the deputationists from the state electricity board. The projects were awarded of the nigam along with the 412 MW Rampur projects to save 726 surplus employees of the board on deputation with the nigam from repatriation. At present the nigam has about 1750 employees out of which over 850 are on deputation from the board. The Board of Directors of the Nigam has approved staff strength of 1201 including a manpower of 570 for the corporate office, for the operation and maintenance of the Nathpa Jhakri project. The nigam has permanent staff of 900, including 250 board employees who have opted for permanent absorption. Thus, 640 employees of the board could face repatriation from the nigam.
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UPA govt has lost right to rule: BJP
Nurpur, December 14 Alleging the Virbhadra Singh government in Himachal of witchhunting, Mr Rana said the leaders of the Opposition were being falsely implicated in cases. "The case against BJP leader Rajiv Bindal is the tip of the iceberg," he alleged. He accused the state government of being inefficient for utilising funds in undertaking development activities in the state. He said the allocation of Rs 1,800 crore by the Planning Commission for the state in 2005-06 for various development projects and the spending of only Rs 638 crore had reflected the inefficiency of the state government.
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One killed, 23 hurt in
road mishaps
Kangra, December 14 Kangra district additional police chief Santosh Patial said that Rajender Kumar, a van driver and resident of Vamtoo, died on the spot and five others were injured when a Jeep ( HP-68-0622 ) dashed against the van ( HP-39A-0245) near PWD Rest House at Dard falling under Dharamsala police station today. He said a case under Sections 304-A and 279, IPC, had been registered against the jeep driver and he was arrested and jeep impounded. He said that in another accident at Sadvan under Jawalamukhi police station, a private bus (HP-36-1970) dashed against the hill when the driver lost control on the bus due to rash and negligent driving, leaving 15 bus passengers injured. The injured were rushed to Jawalamukhi and other hospitals. In another road accident two persons, Sahib Singh and Sandeep of Khushi Nagar, were injured at Khazan under Nurpur police station when a private bus (HP-38-7697) hit their motor cycle ( HP-33- 7677). At Nagrota Bagwan a pedestrian was hit and injured by a Maruti car. |
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10-kg charas seized, two held
Kumarhatti, December 14 The police asked the driver to stop the car but he sped past. The police chased the car and intercepted it after some distance. Two occupants of car Muhammed from New Delhi and Jasmair from Panipat were nabbed. Their questioning let to the recovery of 10 kg. of charas from the car. Both were taken to Parwanoo police station.
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State award for ‘Band Darwaze’
Kangra, December 14 The award carries a citation, “angvastra” and Rs 10,000. The award will be presented to Rajan by the Chief Minister at Shimla at a function to be organised by the Department of Languages and Culture in February,
2007. |
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"Punjab has given a raw deal to Himachal Pradesh by not fully honouring the condition mentioned in the Punjab Reorganisation Act for due share to Himachal in electricity supply and payment of royalty from major hydro-electricity projects, such as the Bhakra Dam, Pong dam and Beas-Sutlej link project.
