Nadaun (Hamirpur), May 26
Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu today addressed an election meeting at Nadaun in support of Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Criticising the Congress-led state government, Sidhu threw a challenge to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to have a debate with him regarding development of the state by the present government.

He said “I throw a challenge to Raja Virbhadra Singh to debate the development claims of the state government at any venue or even TV channel.”

Using couplets from scriptures and sayings, Sidhu compared five years of the NDA’s rule with 50 years of the Congress regime saying “these five years would weigh heavy against 50 years as tremendous development has taken place during the Vajpayee government in road construction, telecom, and other fields.”

He said “ though the Congress manifesto promised a lot of things for the common man but pulses are being sold at Rs 60 per kg, when chicken is being sold at Rs 50 per kg.”

Sidhu commented, “ the Congress had given a slogan ‘Congress ka hath am adami ke sath’, par Congress ka hath am adami ke munh par tamacha hai’.

He said Virbhadra Singh’s government had done nothing to give employment and had allegedly discriminated with the lower regions, while it gave subsidy to farmers in the upper areas.

Kullu, May 26
All six taxi operators’ unions in the district have decided to approach the Supreme Court against the state government’s decision to make installation of meters on taxis mandatory from May 31.

A meeting of taxi operators with administration officials and the State Transport Authority secretary was also organised here yesterday and taxi operators were told to abide by the orders of the high court. Representatives of the taxi unions told the authorities that they would go to any extent in opposing the decision.

“Come what may, we would fight till we get justice or deposit our car keys with the deputy commissioner and remain off the road,” they said.

President of the Him Aanchal Taxi Operators Union, Manali, Raj Kumar Dogra said they had decided to go to the apex court for justice. President of the Taxi Operators Union, Kullu, Vinod Thakur said if the government did not withdraw its decision, they would stop plying taxis from June 1.

The situation might worsen and the administration and the government would be responsible for the consequences, he added.

Deputy commissioner Chamel Singh said, “The high court has ordered the implementation of the Meter Taxi Yojna and we will execute the orders.”

Dharamsala, May 26
A local court today sent Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) regional manager Mahinder Singh Rana and inspector Sudarshan Kumar to 14 days judicial remand.

They both were arrested by the police for their alleged involvement in the multi-million rupee scam at the local depot of the HRTC.

An FIR under Sections 409, 420 and 120B of the IPC in this regard was lodged at the Dharamsala police station on the complaint of Shrikant Baldi managing director of the HRTC in the first week of May, this year.

Additional superintendent of police Santosh Patial said the police would soon arrest two more employees Kuldip Kumar, an accountant, and Arvind Kumar, a cashier, of the corporation who were posted here.

They both had already been suspended from the service for their alleged involvement in the scam.

Meanwhile, the employees union of the HRTC has demanded immediate removal of Hotendra Kumar Gupta, divisional manager of the corporation, from his post from the state government because the scam took place when he was there.

Shimla, May 26
With some of the officials facing termination moving to the State Administrative Tribunal, the executive council (EC) of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) today deferred a final decision on the issue.

The EC in its meeting held under the chairmanship of vice-chancellor Anil Wilson did not take up personal hearing of the five officials who have been served the chargesheet.

Though the five officials were present so that they could be heard personally before a final decision on their termination was taken but the EC chose not to take up the matter at all.

The university authorities said the matter was not taken up due to legal reasons. Brother of former health minister J.P. Nadda, Jagat Bhushan Nadda, moved an application before the tribunal anticipating his removal, yesterday.

The administrative member in the tribunal has ordered that the matter be listed before a Bench on May 28. It was also directed that the HPU may proceed in the matter strictly in accordance with law.

However, instead of taking a decision on the matter as per the laid down norms, the authorities chose not to take up the matter at all on the plea that it was sub-judice.

A decision had been taken in the last EC meeting that all five officials should be given an opportunity for personal hearing as per their request before deciding their termination.

The five employees who are facing termination includes prof J. B. Nadda, the then pro-vice chancellor, then deputy registrar J.S. Verma, the then regional director of the DCC, O.P. Saraswat, and Suresh Kapoor, from the Department of Law.

Shimla, May 26
With the majority of senior Congress councillors losing the election, it is relatively the young Congress leaders who now stand a chance to become the mayor.

Despite winning 15 wards, the Congress received a setback when majority of its senior leaders like three-time councillor Ashok Sood, deputy mayor Shashi Shekhar and a former mayor Manoj Kumar lost the elections.

Mandi, May 26
Students and staff of DAV centenary public school, here were all cheers as four students bagged four top positions in the AISSCE class XII final examinations, the results of which were declared yesterday in New Delhi, securing above 90 per cent marks.

Congratulating the students, staff and parents, school principal Mohit said today that Gaurav Sankhyain held first position with 93.6 per cent marks in non-medical, Nikita Goel secured 93.4 per cent marks was second, Bhumika Thakur secured 92 per cent was third and Chandini Rana bagged fourth position with 90 per cent marks in the examinations.

He stated that Sahil Mrigpuri was over all topper with 89.6 per cent marks. Kareena Behl (commerce) secured 73.2 per cent, Sahil Mrigpuri and Mehtab secured 93 per cent each and were PCB toppers. Gaurva Sankhayain is the PCM topper with 96.3 per cent marks.

Mandi, May 26
The district forest officials in Mandi division have contested the claims made in the inquiry of illegal felling of trees in four forests of Panarsa forest range, claiming that illegal felling extended over a period of five years

Contesting the claims made in The Tribune under head ‘Timber mafia loots forest wealth’ dated May 21, the district forest officers have claimed that of 262 trees felled illegally in the four forests have been cut down over a period of five years.

DFO Mandi U.S. Dipta stated that forest range officer Panarsa had informed that 262 trees were found to be felled illegally in the last five years.

However, the inquiry officials, who wished not to be named, told The Tribune that the 282 trees were felled illegally in the four forests in the Panarsa range in which the views of DFO and ranger had been included in the inquiry submitted to the government.

Principal chief conservator of forests Pankaj Khullar said he had given his comments on the inquiry to the government.

Dharamsala, May 26
A speeding motorcycle hit against a drum fixed on the roadside on the Pathankot-Mandi national highway at Bhadwar on Friday night.

Purn Chand (35) and Narinder Kumar (22), both residents of Bariara village, were seriously injured and were declared brought dead at the civil hospital.

Lakhbir Singh, who was driving the motorcycle, has been referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. The police has registered a case.

Shimla, May 26
Playback singers Alka Yagnik and Shreya Ghoshal will be the star attraction at the Shimla summer festival, to be held from June 2 to 6.

Others who will perform during the five-day festival to be held on the Ridge include renowned artists like Sardool Sikander, Ahmad Husain, Muhammad Husain and Deepak Raja.

A fashion show with country’s topmost faces performing on the ramp will further add colour and variety to the festival on June 4.