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Uproarious scenes in HP Assembly
BJP boycotted debate on JP mgmt’s behest: CPM
Diagnostic centre
awaits inauguration
End to govt control of temples demanded
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Lecturers up in arms against Education
Director
Delay in regularisation of services decried
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Uproarious scenes in HP Assembly
Dharamsala, December 27 The trouble started when BJP members interrupted Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while he was replying to a question regarding the actual financial assistance given by the Union Government on the basis of announcements made by the Prime Minister during his visit to the state in May 2005. With ruling party members also joining the chorus, nothing could be heard for sometime. Replying to the main question of Ishwar Dass Dhiman and five other BJP members, the Chief Minister said that on the announcement about various developmental projects involving an expenditure of Rs 3014.70 crore, the government had received cash grants amounting to Rs 878.89 crore. He said that other projects announced by the Prime Minister pertained to various Central ministries. Money would be available after the detailed project report was prepared and approved. Mr P.K. Dhumal of the BJP said that the reply of the CM itself indicated that the package of Rs 4200 crore announced by the Prime Minister had already been curtailed to Rs 3014.70 crore Meanwhile, the state government is coming out with a legal provision for prohibition of conversion from one religion to another by the use of force, inducement or by fraudulent means and also for the appointment of parliamentary secretaries. While introducing the 'Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill-2006' on the second day of the winter session of the Vidhan Sabha here today, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that it was a persistent demand from across the different strata of the society urging the state government to curtail the conversion of religion based on force or allurement. He said that it has been observed that there was a rise in conversions based on allurement. "Unless checked well in time this practice may erode the confidence and mutual trust between the different ethnic and religious groups in the state", said the CM. While advocating the introduction of this bill the CM further said that in order to check forcible conversion of religion and preserve peaceful atmosphere in the state it has been decided to bring this legislation. Another important legislation 'Himachal Pradesh Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances, Powers, Privileges and Amenities) Bill-2006' was introduced in the Vidhan Sabha. This Bill acquires significance because the state High Court had cancelled the appointments of Chief Parliamentary Secretary and all the Parliamentary Secretaries last year based on the fact that there was no legal provision in the state for such appointments. He said that the appointment of Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Secretaries is to strengthen parliamentary affairs and make the system more efficient and effective and to serve the twin purpose of lightening the over burden of work on ministers and also to give an opportunity to young members to share higher administrative responsibilities in future. Other important bills that were introduced in the House by the state government today included: Himachal Pradesh Protection of Interests of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Amendment Bill-2006, Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill-2006, Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning (2nd Amendment) Bill-2006, Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill-2006 and Himachal Pradesh Prohibition of Smoking and Non-Smokers Health Protection (Amendment) Bill-2006. Apart from the introduction of these bills, the Speaker today allowed the request of the Opposition members to have a discussion on the alleged widespread corruption in the state. Yesterday, the entire opposition came down in the well of the house and created a messy situation forcing the treasury benches to finish the business of the house in a hurried manner. Beginning the discussion, former CM and Leader of the Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal levelled various charges of corruption against the state government. The arrest of suspended ADGP B.S. Thind, purchase of fungus-infected glucose in the civil hospital of Hamirpur, purchase of uniforms in police department, PMT paper leak scam, appointments in various departments and many other issues were raised by the BJP leader. The Chief Minister, while replying to the issues of corruption gave a clean chit to the Vice-Chancellor and other senior officials of the Himachal Pradesh University in the infamous PMT paper leak scam saying that they were not involved in the paper leak scam. |
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BJP boycotted debate on JP mgmt’s behest: CPM
Shimla, December 27 State Secretary of the CPM, Rakesh Singha, alleged the JP company had established an ITI at Samirpur, native place of former Chief Minister, P.K. Dhumal so the BJP had boycotted the Assembly to avoid discussion on atrocities being committed by police on the tribal people. “The stance adopted by the BJP in avoiding a discussion in the house on the Karcham Wangtoo has exposed the party which has always taken decisions against the interest of the people,” said Mr Singha. He regretted on the one hand the government agreed to hold an inquiry into the firing incident and the very next day the activists of the Sangharsh Samiti were arrested by the police, after a meeting with the CM. He said the government must accept genuine demands of the people and take the JP management to task. “A judicial probe must be ordered into the firing incident on the innocent people who were performing a religious ceremony on December 9 and withdrawal of false cases registered against the people of Kinnaur,” he demanded. The CPM leader said the government must order suspension of work by the JP company till the terms of the settlement are implemented. “Some other steps like depositing of 10 per cent of the project cost for helping the affected families and 5 per cent of the revenue for overall development of the nearby villages must be done in the interest of the locals,” he demanded.
He demanded the JP company must be asked to abide by the MOU as far as compensation, afforestation and other issues were concerned. |
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Diagnostic centre
awaits inauguration
Hamirpur, December 27 Sources in the hospital said shortage of staff to operate the state-of-the-art equipment was the main reason for the inauguration being delayed. Even though the facilities of CT scan, X-ray and ultrasound have been started in the centre, the health authorities are finding staff to operate the costly equipment, like the diagnostic machines of the Pathology and Microbiology departments. The centre has not been inaugurated under the excuse that the equipment was on trial. The patients coming to the hospital, complain they still go to private centres for getting tests before the doctors start treatment. “This costs us much more as we would have got the same facility at government rates have the diagnostic centre become functional,” said an attendant of a patient. Requesting anonymity, a doctor confided that most of the equipment would need separate operators and employing a couple of people would not solve the problem. “The building itself was built at a cost of Rs 47 lakh and equipment worth crores installed in it. But patients were not being provided the facilities due to the shortage of staff to run diagnostic machines. They have no choice but go to the Red Cross laboratories or private parties for getting the tests done,” he said. BJP leader Rajinder Rana, said the patients were being forced to pay more for tests even though the diagnostic facilities were available at the centre. Mr Rana added the local health authorities were giving the excuse that the issue of inauguration had been taken up several times with higher-ups but to no avail. He added a hospital that the district hospital, which meets medical needs of hundreds of patients in Hamirpur and adjoining areas, did not have even as single gynaecologist was a reflection on the hospital. Officiating Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Hamirpur, Dr Wattan Singh said, installations were complete in the centre and the Chief Minister was likely to inaugurate it in January-end.
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End to govt control of temples demanded
Mandi, December 27 Staging a march in the town here today “Sangharsh Samiti” activists including ‘pujaris’ and ‘sadhus’ from several parts of district claimed that the government control of “Shakti Peeths”, including Naina Devi, Brijeshwari Devi, Chintipurni Devi and Bhima Kali in Sarahan and recently acquired Hanogi temple in Mandi district, have hurt religious feelings of devotees as no other community had to face unpleasant presence of policemen in the temple. But top government officials pleaded the government had taken over the control of only those “temple trusts”, which have a sizeable income, for their better management and maintenance, protecting all traditional rights of the ‘pujaris’ and families associated with the temples” under the Act. On the other hand, the ‘Math-Mandir’ activists, who submitted a memorandum of demands to Governor V S Kokje today claimed the Act had infringed upon religious freedom of the Hindu community as the Act applied only to temples while gurdwara, monastery, church and masjid had the freedom of running religious affairs even if they had a higher income. State general secretary, “Math-Mandir Sangharsh Samiti” H R Guleria claimed either the state government should include all temples under the purview of the Act or it should allow the SGPC-like mandir prabandhak committee to manage temples in the state. “Moreover, funds belong to a particular temple only, but these are being misused by the government officials, who head the government-controlled temple trusts”, he alleged. Pleading the government’s view ADC Mandi district R S Gupta said there was no justification in demand temple funds were being misused by the government. “In fact, government control ensures that all income goes to the particular trust and is invested in the development of the
temple. The Act protects all traditional rights and an annual audit is done”, he explained. But Sangh Parivar activists claimed the government had no right in controlling funds of temple trusts as believers offered and dedicated “offerings” to deities out of devotion. “The Act is partisan curtailing fundamental right to religious freedom”, they charged and threatened stir to repeal the Act or free temples from government control. |
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Lecturers up in arms against Education
Director Kangra, December 27 Dr Ashwani Kumar, state president of Himachal Pradesh School Lecturers Association (HPSLA), today told The Tribune here that lecturers were appointed for teaching class 11 and 12 but they were being forced to teach class 9 and 10. He said if the government was eager that lecturers teach higher classes, then the government should follow ‘more work more pay’ if it could impose ‘no work no pay’. Dr Ashwani Kumar who has been placed under suspension under different charges by the Director of Education said the HP school lecturers had a one-point program to remove the Director of Education and had decided to intensify their protests. Mr Kalyan Bhandari, general secretary of HPSLA, said they strongly deplored the suspension of Dr Ashwani Kumar and demanded its revocation. Mr Bhandari said the lecturers were doing their job with honesty and full spirit and denied charges by the Director that they were creating indiscipline and obstacles in the functioning of the education system.
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Delay in regularisation of services decried
Nahan, December 27 The order of regularising the services of 17 daily wage workers, comprising class III and class IV in the Irrigation and Public Health, Nahan circle, were withdrawn after 10 days on the ground of age relaxation, said Mr Surjit Rana, secretary INTUC. He said orders of regularisation were issued on December 12. The said employees are mostly pump operators, mechanics, helpers of 45 years. They have put in more than 12 years of continuous service.
— TNS |
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Appointed
Shimla, December 27 Having with an experience of 35 years in the hydro-power sector, he had been working General Manager (Civil Design) in the SJVN. He is a former Chief Engineer of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board.
— TNS |
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