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Congress suspends Mankotia
Third front is coming, claims Mankotia
BJP finds CD handy to take on Congress
Hamirpur Byelection |
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Bid to free prisoner, 3 held
Leopards create terror
Panarsa Fellings
HC seeks report on fee in pvt schools
Cement Plant
Boy killed
Boy crushed
to death
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New Delhi, May 29 The party took a serious view of Mankotia making allegations publicly days ahead of the crucial byelection to the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat. Sources said PCC chief Viplove Thakur had recommended a strong action against him to the party's central leadership. State leaders said Mankotia, who was an MLA from Shahpur, had tried to “sabotage” the party’s election campaign. Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said Mankotia had been suspended for his anti-party activities. “He has acted delibrately in a way calculated to lower the prestige of the Congress. His case has been sent to the Displinary Action Committee of the party for further action,” Dwivedi said. — TNS
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Mankotia’s expulsion sought
Mandi, May 29 Addressing a press conference here today, they alleged that Mankotia had stabbed the party in the back at a time when the campaigning for the Hamirpur by-elections were at its peak. He was acting in connivance with Dhumal and acting like the BJP political agent”, they alleged. |
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Third front is coming, claims Mankotia
Charges to be probed Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said the party leadership was seriously looking into the allegations of corruption against Virbhadra Singh. The party would inquire into the matter and take action. BSP doors open State president of the BSP Balwant Singh and secretary Prakash Chand Sanyal said they would welcome Mankotia into the party at any post of his choice.
Tiara (Kangra), May 29 Talking to The Tribune in an exclusive interview at his residence here today, he said, “It is ironical that instead of throwing out Virbhadra Singh from the party even after having produced solid evidence of corruption against him, the party high command has suspended me from the party on the recommendation of the state unit.” “I think, I need to go to the court of the people to carry on the crusade against the corrupt politicians at a time when the people are totally fed up from them,” he said. He said the Congress would soon realise after the results of the Hamirpur Lok Sabha bye-election that how much damage to the party had been done by the Chief Minister and his colleagues. He ruled out the possibility of joining the BJP. The people were looking for an alternative political platform other than the Congress and the BJP in the form of a third front to free the state from the clutches of corrupt politicians, he said. He said it was high time for him to take the initiative by bringing together political parties like the BSP, the LJP, Left parties, other organisations and disgruntled leaders of the Congress. He said he was in touch with many MLAs and other leaders of the Congress, besides other political parties and organisations. A third front would come into existence in the state, he claimed. When asked about the possibility of his joining the BSP, he said he had no such plan so far. However, he admitted that such offers had come to him in the recent past. He said he had a dialogue with many senior leaders of the party, including UP Chief Minister Mayawati. He said the presence of the BSP in the political scenario of the country in the wake of the outcome of Uttar Pradesh elections could not be ignored at any cost. He said the role of the BSP would be very significant in forming the third front in Himachal Pradesh. With regard to the role of the Left in the formation of the third front, he said senior leaders of the CPM and the CPI were in touch with him and were keen to form the third front. He also claimed to have got support from Sadanand Chauhan, the lone LJP MLA in the state, besides few Congress leaders. In reply to a question, he said there was no question of his meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi or other senior leaders until and unless Virbhadra Singh was removed from the post of the Chief Minister and expelled from the party. |
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BJP finds CD handy to take on Congress
Hamirpur, May 29 BJP leaders and cadre who were defensive on the issue of corruption after Hamirpur MP Suresh Chandel was caught in the ‘cash-for-question’ scam, have now become more emboldened terming Congress leaders more corrupt. With the allegations coming from their own party MLA the Congress election managers seem to have found them on the back foot. The BJP leaders have now focused their election campaign on the alleged involvement of the Chief Minister in collecting money for NOCs. Top BJP leaders have started a no-holds-barred campaign against the Chief Minister and his wife, demanding their resignations and action under the Anti- Corruption Act. BJP workers are also upbeat while distributing the CD and playing its content. After the initial shock, Congress leaders and workers have started countering the BJP campaign, telling that this CD is allegedly the result of conversation between an IAS officer and the CM recorded about 18 years ago the veracity of which is very much under doubt. They say if Mankotia knew these facts why he did not disclose these on any platform as he remained a minister in the Virbhadra government twice after this period. While both Congress and the BJP are involved in a better-than-thou campaign on the issue of corruption in the Hamirpur byelection, the voter is a bit confused. |
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Ban playing of CD, says Cong
Shimla, May 29 HPCC secretary S.P. Katiyal requested the chief electoral officer to ban the playing of the CD on mike by the BJP. |
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Hamirpur Byelection
Shimla, May 29 State BJP chief Jai Ram Thakur requested chief election commissioner N. Gopalaswamy to deploy central police forces at the time of polling and counting. “The manner in which the Congress is using every possible tactic and underhand means to woo the voters, it is not possible to hold free and fair elections under the supervision of the state police,” he said. He said the Chief Minister, who was also the home minister, had been pressuring officers to ensure that people vote in favour of the Congress. “ Virbhadra Singh and his entire Cabinet are camping in Hamirpur and misusing official machinery,” he alleged. Thakur has also demanded that videography should be done during polling. He also requested the election commissioner to shift Una DC Anita Tegta as she was working as an agent of the Congress. “She not only belongs to the constituency of the Chief Minister but in the past few days has also been trying to influence the voters, he said. The BJP also pointed out that it was not possible to hold free and fair elections under Bilaspur SP Balbir Thakur, who had remained in charge of Chief Minister’s personal security for six years. The party demanded that he be shifted from the Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency. |
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Holiday on June 2
Shimla, May 29 |
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Shanta, Dhumal ask CM to quit
Shimla, May 29 “The allegations levelled against the Chief Minister and his wife, Pratibha Singh, Lok Sabha MP from Mandi, are of a very serious nature and now it had come from his own party MLA and not the opposition,” he remarked. He said the CD released by Mankotia contained serious allegations of exchange of money. The BJP leader said Virbhadra had not denied the allegations as he had merely said that it was Mankotia’s old habit to level such baseless allegations. He also sought an explanation from the Chief Minister as to why he had withdrawn the Rs 1-crore defamation case he had filed against Mankotia. Meanwhile, BJP workers staged a demonstration outside the office of the deputy commissioner and burnt an effigy of the Chief Minister. Hamirpur: Former union minister Shanta Kumar has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on moral grounds after the release of a CD by Mankotia leveling corruption charges against the CM. Talking to mediapersons here he said: “ While the CM should resign on moral grounds a case under the anti- corruption law should also be registered against all persons named in the CD.” BJP leaders urged the Lok Sabha Speaker to initiate action against MP Pratibha Singh on the pattern of action taken against former BJP MP Suresh Chandel, asserting that she had no moral right to remain an MP. Una: BJP candidate for the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat Prem Kumar Dhumal on Tuesday asked Virbhadra Singh to resign in view of the CD issue. Already the Himachal High Court had issued notice to the Home Secretary, DGP and the Shimla SP to file affidavits over the missing of a bag containing more than Rs 1 crore from the Chief Minister’s office at
Shimla. |
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Phone Woes: A tribune Debate As usual, a large number of readers responded to our debate. All of them agree that the quality of phone services in the state has gone down the hill over the years. Suggestions are varied and practical. Now, it is up to the authorities to measure up and find a long-lasting solution. Here goes a selection: The BSNL is surely to be blamed for “dead phones and live bills”. It is also difficult to understand the rationale behind providing free services to employees of the Telecom Department when the BSNL fails to provide proper services to the people paying for them! Their foremost need, according to me, is to replace their linemen who rise from their state of unbeaten torpor only to exhibit their assiduity in perching atop poles and adding to the telephone bills of people. Instead the department can have an efficient and sincere flying squad, one ready to be on its heels to discharge its duties. They also need to have pleasant and cordial people in their offices. They must know how to respect customers. The free telephone services to their employees must be scrapped so that they know where the shoe pinches. Nidhi Kaith Provide timely services
There is no reservation in saying that about a decade ago, Himachal was known for its good communication network. However, phones going out of order frequently, particularly in rural areas, is a common phenomenon now. There are instances when people received heavy bills for even their dead phones. The department has tried to find a solution to the problems of landline phone in WLL phones, but these are also not functioning well. Now, the BSNL seemed to have turned its focus to mobile services and not paying any heed to the complaints of their landline subscribers. In many cases subscribers take recourse to consumer courts to get their grievances redressed. The subscribers have the right not to pay rental if the telephone remains dead beyond 24 hours. If the BSNL is really bothered about keeping its landline subscribers satisfied, it will have to ensure better services and attend to the complaints within prescribed time. Gopal Krishan Sharma Make field visits frequent
Some of the reasons behind the deteriorating scenario of communication system in the state are: Frequent digging, very long and non-feasible distances, cases of lightning, cloudbursts, landslides and cable thefts. I wish to highlight certain remedies to rectify the system. A more systematic planning while laying and routing phone cables is needed. Specified depth of the duct must be maintained, which should be supervised by some responsible officials by making frequent checks. The police should take strict action against cable thieves and buyers of stolen material. Hooters should be installed to indicate cable thefts. The government should extend aid to the telecom service providers in areas where they suffer losses due to few subscribers (less population). Special incentives can go a long way in motivating staff engaged in difficult areas. Fault locators need to be developed to detect location of the fault. WLL services should be provided where landline facilities are not feasible. While undertaking digging of road for laying cables, there must be synchronisation of acts among various government departments. The authorities must take these issues seriously to improve telecom network in the state. Vishal Ghai Don’t deceive subscribers It is clear that the BSNL cannot provide good services to the customers. Service providers should have built-in software that marks out calls that do not mature even after five attempts in 15 minutes and let the companies compensate the subscribers for the lapse. The tape, in any case, must not be (mis)used to deceive the subscribers. L.R. Sharma Check cable thefts
Cable thefts are a major reason behind dead phones in Himachal Pradesh. Although the Telecom Department lodges complaints with the police in connection with these thefts and honours those helping in arresting the culprits, not much improvement could be ensured so far. The police needs to take strict action to stop theft of cable. The second reason behind dead phones is the acute shortage of staff. No fresh recruitment of the field staff has been made in recent times despite a number of retirements. Addressing the problem of staff shortage can help in ensuring better services to the subscribers. Nikhil Sahota Improve customer care
The condition of BSNL’s landline and mobile networks is not good. The situation is pathetic in case of landline phones. These may go dead any moment. BSNL’s foremost priority should be the customer satisfaction. This aspect seems to be a highly ignored area at present. Supreet Singh Dhanjal Switch over to mobile phones
In the present era of mobile technology, people should surrender their landline connections and make use of the mobile technology with lots of beneficial schemes offered to the users. Dr S.S. Verma |
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Bid to free prisoner, 3 held
Shimla, May 29 Four persons travelling in a Maruti van (HR-33-0133) assaulted two policemen accompanying the accused Jasmeer Singh, near Chialai village on the way to kanda jail. The police said the four persons threw chilli powder into the eyes of the two policemen and managed to get the accused released. The accused was being taken back to the jail on foot by the two policemen when the four persons in a vehicle confronted them. However, the police alertness and the assistance extended by residents of the adjoining villages helped in nabbing the accused along with the other three persons who had come to get him released. The police has arrested Amit Malik, Sudhir Kumar and Rajeev, all three hailing from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. The vehicle has also been impounded. The accused, Jasmeer Singh, resident of Panipat, has been lodged in Kanda jail since December last year, after he was arrested by the Parwanoo police carrying 10 kg of charas. He was taken to Solan in the morning by bus and was being brought back when the incident happened. The two policemen who were accompanying him have been injured as they were assaulted by the four persons. |
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Leopards create terror
Nahan, May 29 Villagers here keep wake the whole night to guard their cattle and homes from the attacks of the leopards. Residents of the village, including Chander Mohan and Sardar Singh, today informed the Rajgarh DFO about the plight of villagers. They said during the past two months these leopards were spotted a number of times in the village. So far, they have killed four cows and equal number of goats in the village. Villagers said the leopards roam freely in Residents are more concerned about protection of their women and children who go to work in the fields and nearby forests. Expressing his fear and concern Karam Singh of the village said, “These big cats may attack any one as they generally do not run away by noticing the presence of men around”. Villagers were bound to keep their cattle in the locked rooms and keep watch on the movement of the leopards in the village during the night. |
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Panarsa Fellings
Shimla, May 29 In all, about 280 deodar trees were illegally felled in the Chethi forests over the past two years. The scandal came to light when the local mahila mandal raised hue and cry over the fellings. Thereafter, the flying squad of the department carried out detailed investigation to confirm that about 300 trees had been axed illegally. |
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HC seeks report on fee in pvt schools
Shimla, May 29 This order was passed by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta and Mr Justice V.K. Ahuja on a public interest litigation (PIL), wherein it was alleged that private schools running were charging exorbitant fees at their own level. During the hearing of the case, the directors of education (elementary and secondary) were present in the court as per the directions of the court. The court further directed the state to furnish details as regards the fee structure prevailing in private schools in four
week. — OC |
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Cement Plant
Sundernagar, May 29 General manager of the company N.K. Jain said earlier the company had made up its mind to set up the plant in the Khatrwari-Chambi area. The project was proposed to be set up in 1,200 bighas, but seeing the resentment among the local residents, the company decided to leave 200 bighas of land. Now, the plant would be set up in 1,000 bighas. He said the project site would not be shifted, the mining area would be the same for the project, but the thickly populated area would not be included in the plant site. |
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Boy killed
Nurpur, May 29 According to the police, the accused allegedly caught hold of the victim and attacked him with a sickle. The seriously injured victim died on the way to the local civil hospital. The police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC against the accused, who fled from the spot after committing the crime. The police led by DSP Krishan Chand Shandil has launched a manhunt to nab the accused in the area. But so far the culprit has not been arrested. |
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Boy crushed
to death Baddi, May 29 The victim, Amit, was playing when the driver, Kuldeep Kumar, in a bid to reverse the vehicle crushed the child, failing to notice the child. Amit, son of Dharampal, died on the spot. The boy hailed from Muradabad in UP. Kuldeep, who hailed from Pinjore, was arrested by the police. The vehicle has also been impounded.
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I have two BSNL prepaid mobile phone connections (094170-74695 and 94182-67385). Dial the number of one from the other and the tape repeats endlessly “The subscriber is busy…”