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BJP submits report to Governor
Bali’s B’day Ball: The Chronology
Power firms to deposit upfront premium today
Hyderabad Co to build Chakki bridge
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Government blind to our demands, rue blind
Disaster management panel to be constituted
Row over inauguration of medical college
Kanya Ashram trustee acquitted
Domestic Violence
Govt to construct 29,872 toilets in Chamba
WB-funded road project to begin by Dec
JBT trainees up in arms against govt
Monsoon session from today
1.18 lakh kids getting education at anganwaris
MPLAD, MLA funds under RTI Act
BSP making inroads into state politics: Manhera
Cong leader, 4 others killed in accidents
Red Cross scheme launched
Rs 14.31 cr for tribal hostels
Move to alter recruitment rules flayed
Bikers loot liquor vend
Sewa Dal activist to claim Cong ticket
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BJP submits report to Governor Rakesh Lohumi Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 26 The report was presented to the Governor by a delegation of the party led by state president Jai Ram Thakur at the Raj Bhavan here. He said the committee had come to the conclusion that five call girls were specially brought for the party and the organisers of the party had violated the Excise Act, the Prevention of Immoral Traffic Act, the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, the noise pollution norms and various other laws. Bali was also guilty of violating the oath of office. Some dignitaries and senior officials were also present at the party. Only an in-depth inquiry by an independent agency like the CBI could bring out the truth, he said. The people had the right to know which dignitaries and officials were present at the party. No action could be taken against them without establishing their identity. The party started around 10 pm and went on till 4.15 am for which no permission was obtained. Further, the video evidence indicated that government vehicles were misused for the party. There were several other aspects that needed to be probed thoroughly. He said the BJP would not allow the government to sweep the matter under the carpet. Ends of justice would not be met by merely dropping the minister from the Cabinet, criminal proceedings must be instituted against him for the violation of various laws, he added. The leaders of the BJP legislative party, MLAs and senior leaders of party accompanied Jai Ram to the Raj Bhavan.
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Bali’s B’day Ball:
The Chronology
July 27: G.S. Bali celebrates his birthday at Asia Resort in McLeodganj.
July 28:
A news channel telecasts a videotape of Bali’s birthday party alleging presence of call girls there. July 29: Bali resigns from the Cabinet. The BJP seeks dismissal of the government and registration of FIR against Bali. July 30:
The BJP demands a judicial probe. August 3: The BJP constitutes a five-member fact-finding committee. August 17:
The HC appoints one-member O.P. Garg committee to probe Bali’s birthday bash. August 22:
Garg committee invites information from public. August 24: Garg panel summons Bali, 5 others. |
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Power firms to deposit upfront premium today
Shimla, August 26 The government will receive an upfront premium of Rs 515.8 crore for the 260-MW Kuther project (allotted to JSW Energy), 200-MW Bara Bhangal project and 140-MW Chango-Youngthang project (both allotted to Malana Power Company of the LNJ Bhilwara Group), 180-MW Holi Bijoli project (GMR Energy) and the 108-MW Chhatru project (DCM Sriram Infrastructure). It is for the first time that hydroelectric projects are being allotted through global bids based on upfront premium. The remaining 50 per cent will be deposited in two equal instalments at the time of signing the implementation agreement and financial closure of the project. The companies have come forward to deposit the first instalment only after the government made it clear that failure to do so by August 31 will lead to cancellation of the project. The condition was imposed in case of four new projects allotted last month and the Kuther project that was reassigned to JSW Energy after cancelling the allotment of D.S. Constructions that had secured the project at an upfront premium of Rs 52 lakh per MW. The 480-MW Thopan Powari and the 480-MW Jhangi Thopan projects, for which bids were invited with the Kuther project, were secured by Dutch company M/s Brakel but the company has not so far deposited the 50 per cent upfront premium that comes to Rs 173 crore. The government has now fixed the deadline of September 15 for depositing the upfront premium failing which the allotment will be cancelled. The total upfront premium for the seven projects comes to Rs 862 crore. Meanwhile, the hasty manner in which the government is going ahead with the process to allot self-identified hydroelectric projects of more than 5-MW capacity has raised many eyebrows. While the experts have questioned the logic of considering big self-identified projects for allotment without even a proper pre-feasibility report, the government has constituted teams of engineers for inspection of sites of the 22 self-identified projects with aggregate capacity of 463 MW to projects for which applications were received. The capacities of individual projects range from 5.5 MW to 128 MW. The three inspection teams had to defer their inspection programme as landslides caused by heavy rain blocked roads in the interior areas. The teams will now visit the sites in the first week of September. However, engineers of the board maintain that inspection during the monsoon will not serve any purpose as discharge of water is high during the rainy season and the viability of the projects largely depends on the lean season discharge. For preparing pre-feasibility report, authentic data regarding discharge and geological strata is required. In such a situation, the government should not allot self-identified projects which accounts for only three per cent of the total hydroelectric potential of the state. It should be permanently protected as environmental safeguard. It makes sense in awarding small self-identified projects up to 5 MW as these will be set up in small khads in the interior regions in which the board is not interested and no data is available regarding such projects. However, bigger projects of more than 5 MW will be constructed on main rivulets for which basic data is available and these should be allotted only after preparing proper pre-feasibility reports. Further, the projects up to 100 MW are being assigned through the MoU route, whereas in
Uttrakhand, projects of more than 5 MW capacity are being allotted through competitive bidding based on of upfront premium which ensured transparency and fair play. |
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Hyderabad Co to build Chakki bridge
Nurpur, August 26 Official sources revealed that tender bids of four construction companies had been opened at Shimla on Friday by the NH committee comprising officials of state national highway and Chandigarh-based national highway’s regional office. The tender bid of Madhav High-tech, Hyderabad, has been shortlisted as it had offered the lowest bid of Rs 29 crore. The 118-year-old bridge along with six pillars collapsed and was washed away in the flooded Chakki rivulet on August 9 snapping road connectivity in Kangra valley and the task of executing the construction had been entrusted to Himachal Pradesh by the Union. Superintendent engineer NH circle Shahpur, Dr Chowdhary, said after shortlisting of tender bids the case was being submitted to the Union Ministry of National Highway for revision of its construction cost and final approval. “After getting the nod from the ministry the construction of the new bridge will likely begin in October,” he added. He also confirmed that the state national highway was also submitting a proposal for the construction of the Bailley bridge in lieu of the washed away old Chakki bridge so that an alternative arrangement could be made to restore traffic on NH-20. |
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Government blind to our demands, rue blind
Shimla, August 26 Convener of the federation Jage Ram said Himachal was lagging far behind in the implementation of the Persons with Disability Act, particularly in the matter of providing jobs against the 3 per cent quota and creating educational facilities for the disabled. He said there was huge backlog as over the past 30 years only 1420 persons, including 110 blind, had been given jobs against this quota. The state had so far not approved the list of identified jobs that could be given to the disabled. The blind were the worst sufferers as in absence of educational facilities they had to go outside the state for pursing education. However, despite obtaining necessary qualifications they could not get jobs as the state was not filling 1 per cent quota set apart for them. There were 1,55,950 disabled persons in the state as per the 2001 Census out of which 64,155 were blind. There was no eye bank in the state as a result of which cornea transplant could not be carried out to restore the vision of over 2,500 blind persons. He urged the government to implement the PWD Act in letter and in spirit and open new schools for the blind. He also demanded that services of all disabled appointed on a contract and daily-wage basis be regularised and the jobless blind should be given an unemployment allowance. He warned that the federation would be forced to start direct action if the government failed to take steps to implement its demands. The federation revived its state branch after several years by setting up an ad hoc body with D.K.Aggrawal as president, K.S Thakur as senior vice-president, Karam Chand as general secretary and Mukesh Kumar as secretary.
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Disaster management panel to be constituted
Dharamsala, August 26 These committees would respond in the event of any disaster at the local-level. Such committees would also be set up at the subdivision and tehsil levels. It may be mentioned that the district disaster management authorities had already been established in all districts by the state government under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. These authorities comprise the DC as ex-officio chairmen, including SP, chief medical officer, suprintending engineers of the Public Works Department, Irrigation & Public Health Department, Electricity Board and chairpersons of the zila parishad as its members. DC, Kangra, Bharat Khera, said the district disaster management authority would work for the prevention of any disaster, mitigation or reduction of any disaster or its severity, capacity building, preparedness to deal with disaster, prompt response to any threatening disaster situation, assessing the severity of any disaster, evacuation, rescue and relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. He said after identification of possible disasters, the authority would constitute search and rescue, medical, infrastructure, logistics and communication committees at the district level. Mitigation and rehabilitation committees had also been constituted to reduce the risk/impact of any disaster and to ensure rehabilitation of the affected persons, respectively. Earthquake, flood/flash-flood, drought, landslide, forest fire, accidents, epidemic, pandemic and civil strife had been identified as possible disasters, he added. He said separate committees would work at Palampur and Nurpur. At the local level, medical committees had been constituted at Baijnath, Palampur, Kangra, Dehra and Nurpur health subdivisions under the SMOs concerned. Secretary of the District Red Cross Society, district ayurvedic officer and principal of Tanda Medical College would assist the medical committees, he added. He said search and rescue committees would include district police, 2nd Battalion of the IRB- Skoh, Police Training Centre- Daroh, Home Guards, Mountaineering and Water Sports Centres. In addition, if needed, this committee would be assisted by SSB- Sapri and the Army. He said the logistics committee would ensure transport, vehicles, food-grains, timber and other equipments. The DC said the district-level authority would work equally in peace and emergency. He said this authority would respond to the concerned gram panchayat disaster management committee in the event of any catastrophe, mishap and calamity. He claimed that these committees would provide immediate relief at the local, subdivisional and district level. |
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Row over inauguration of medical college
Kangra, August 26 Principal Suresh Sankhyan said the decision to inaugurate the hospital was taken following the visit of additional secretary, Health, Rajeev Shanker and special secretary GAD Madhan Chouhan to the college recently. He said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh would inaugurate the 500-bedded hospital on September 15. But a confusing situation developed when the college authorities said that the Departments of Medicine, Surgery, Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Orthopedics would not be able to participate in the function as the department examinations would be in progress that time. According to sources, political bosses were eager for an early inauguration but non-availability of medical equipment which was to be imported from different countries had not yet reached the hospital and this was another hurdle in the way of inauguration. Director, Medical Education, Himachal Pradesh, N.K. Kaushak said he was not aware about any final date fixed for the inauguration. DC Bharat Khera said it was not in his knowledge that the hospital was being inaugurated on September 15. However, principal Suresh Sankhyan confirmed that the date had been fixed and said the hospital was fully equipped with an advanced trauma centre and facilities of MRI, CT scan, gama camera, dialysis, intensive care unit (ICU), cardiac care unit ( CCU), colour doppler, besides maternal and child health care facilities were available. |
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Kanya Ashram trustee acquitted
Sundernagar, August 26 A case of sexual harassment was registered against the founder Trustee of Kanya Ashram as the inmates of the ashram on November 23, 2006 met the DC, Mandi, and levelled charges of sexual harassment against him and some members of the staff and they further stated that they were forced to do domestic work at the house of the trustee. The police then registered a case against the trustee of the Mandav Charitable Trust, Mandi. Afterwards, all inmates were medically examined and were shifted to the government-run nari niketan and the kanya ashram was ordered to be closed. The district administration also ordered an inquiry regarding the functioning of the ashram being managed by Sharma. Afterwards, the inmates who were shifted to Nari Niketan went to their respective homes. When the case was in the investigation stage, many inmates and their guardian came forward and tendered affidavits before the investigating officer that the allegations levelled against the trustee were false and concocted but the documents were not taken on record by the police. Once again the inmates of the ashram and their guardians filed an application before the court stating that the allegations levelled against the Trustee were false and misleading and was an outcome of conspiracy and they further stated that they did not want to proceed with the case. The court shifted the case before the permanent Bench of Lok Adalat Mandi. For further proceedings Before the Lok Adalat, the inmates of and their guardians tendered affidavits stating that the case was false and misleading. The Bench of Lok Adalat then acquitted the accused of the charges.
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Protest against police inaction
Our Correspondent
Nurpur, August 26 Villagers raised slogans against the police for not arresting Rajesh even after two days of the lodging of the FIR. They warned to block traffic at Dehri if Rajesh was not arrested and Nirasha’s son not handed over to her. Nirasha was allegedly beaten up on August 23 by Rajesh and was subjected to harsh treatment by her husband during the past few months. She in her FIR alleged that Rajesh had an extra-marital affair and when she objected she was beaten up by him. Her father Girdhari Lal alleged that Rajesh was an influential person and the police was not arresting him. He said he was called to the police station at 10 am to take the child. “But neither the child was given back nor Rajesh was arrested,” he rued. Investigating officer Bahadur Singh said the police was trying to nab the culprit who was absconding.
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Govt to construct 29,872 toilets in Chamba
Chamba, August 26 ADM Gopal Sharma said here that according to a recent survey, more than 11,000 public conveniences had already been constructed. Out of these toilets, hardly 4,103 were in use, while about 7,000 were being used as stores by the public. The ‘nirmal gram puraskar’ (NGP) instituted by the Government of India on October 2, 2003 was awarded to such panchayati raj institutions (PRI) that satisfied certain conditions under the total sanitation campaign; Sharma said. He stated that it was Luddu gram panchayat in Mehla block of Chamba district which had been adjudged as the cleanest panchayat of the district under the total sanitation campaign launched by the Union Ministry of Rural Development. Sharma said Luddu panchayat had of late been awarded the ‘nirmal gram puraskar’ by tPresident A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in New Delhi in recognition of its being exceptionally hygienic. A cash award of Rs 50,000 along with citation and trophy had been received by Luddu panchayat pradhan Chaman Lal.
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WB-funded road project to begin by Dec
Shimla, August 26 The PWD, which has gone for international bidding to award contracts for the first time, has almost completed the process for award of five packages amounting to over Rs 550 crore. The packages pertain to the upgradation of the Theog-Kotkhai, Mehatpur-Una-Amb and Una-Ner Chowk roads. In all about 250 km of road length will be covered. As many as six international companies, including two from China, are among the bidders. Principal secretary, PWD, Subhash Negi said the works would be awarded over the next few days and the notice to proceed would be issued by October. The time allowed under the packages for execution of works was 30 months, except for the longer Theog-Kotkhai section, which was to be completed in 36 months. The World Bank would give $220 million for the project out of which 90 per cent would be an outright grant. The packages for the Kumarhatti-Nahan and Sarkaghat-Ghumarwin road have already been finalised and submitted to the World Bank for approval while those for the Ranital- Kotla, Draman-Sihunta and Bhawarna-Jaisinghpur roads would be finalised over the next three weeks. These roads would be covered in the second phase of the project. The implementation of the project would be supervised by an international consultant for which the selection process had already been started by the department. The government is negotiating another loan of Rs 2,500 crore for the upgradation of some more important roads. The bank had in principle agreed to fund the project. |
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JBT trainees up in arms against govt
Dharamsala, August 26 The trainees studying here alleged that the Chief Minister had categorically given statements a couple of months back that their service bonds would be filled, but the Education Department was delaying it. On the other hand, as many as 1,626 vidya upasaks already working as teachers on contract basis in the government primary schools had resented the move of the government making it mandatory to clear one written test before the regularisation of their services. They alleged that the vidya upasaks had already passed two written tests conducted by the Education Department; therefore, there was no point of conducting another test. The Chief Minister had recently announced that the services of all vidhya upasaks working in the government schools for the past over five years would be regularized.
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Enough ammo with BJP to grill government
Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 26 Armed with several issues like the birthday party of former tourism minister G.S. Bali, audio CD episode involving Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh by Vijay Singh Mankotia and reinstatement of ADGP B.S. Thind, the BJP is rearing to have a go at the ruling party. The BJP has been raising these issues outside the House. It submitted a copy of the report of its fact-finding committee to Governor V.S. Kokje and has demanded a CBI probe into the episode on the eve of the session to create the right atmosphere. The BJP also plans to gherao the Vidhan Sabha on August 29, the concluding day of the session, to highlight the issues. Besides the havoc caused by cloudbursts and flash floods which claimed 94 lives and caused damage of over Rs 1,000 crore will also engage the attention of the house. Legislative parties of both the BJP and the Congress are meeting tonight to chalk out their respective strategies for the session.
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1.18 lakh kids getting education at anganwaris
Shimla, August 26 Social Justice Director Anuradha Thakur said the government had taken several new initiatives to improve and strengthen the PSE, besides sharpening the skills and overall development of children under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in the state. She said stress was being laid on cognitive, physical, social, psychological, motor skills and language development of the children. Detailed activity based curriculum on the PSE was prepared in consultation with the six best private schools of Shimla. The ICDS functionaries were being imparted training right from the level of district project officers to the anganwari workers. She said intensive training was also being given in selected ICDS circles. For the first time, activity- based learning had been introduced and under the creative and physical activities, a set of syllabus and 7,354 books were distributed among the anganwaris. Playway learning material was also provided under the ICDS and additional material under early child component of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan to each anganwari centres. Thakur said the village-level coordination committees were monitoring the project in the state and the department had undertaken a survey of the ICDS project at Mashobra and Solan and found that in these circles various activities were being organized as per the curriculum. She said the results of the PSE were encouraging and it became easier for children who came from anganwari centres and children were securing better grades in classes.
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MPLAD, MLA funds under RTI Act
Hamirpur, August 26 He made this statement while addressing a district-level workshop here organised by the Himachal Institute of Public Administration (HIPA), Shimla, under the public information campaign project being carried out for Hamirpur and Mandi districts. Rana said the only objective of the RTI Act was to provide the desired information to the seeker within 45 days by the public information officers (PIOs) and discretion by them had to be used to provide the information and not to deny it. Before implementation of the Act in 2005, bureaucracy used to work under the Official Secrecy Act and maintained confidentiality denying information about public works. Though it would take time to change the mindset of the bureaucracy officers were now providing information under the RTI Act and even panchayats were being involved in this process, Rana said. HIPA director Ajay Mital and project director Kamal Handa also addressed the workshop.
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BSP making inroads into state politics: Manhera
Hamirpur, August 26 Talking to mediapersons here he said “The government has failed to provide relief to people affected from natural calamities in the state and administration has still not prepared the list of exact loss after proper survey.” He said BSP leaders were now touring the affected areas and would bring the facts to the knowledge of the government. Manhera said the BSP had made deep inroads into state politics after the Kangra rally and had enrolled 4,861 office-bearers and would take this figure to 25,000 by September-end. The party would finalise the names for 60 per cent of the tickets for the Assembly elections by October as a lot of people were now joining the party. The BSP would give 50 per cent of the tickets to youths in these elections, he added.
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Cong leader, 4 others killed in accidents
Nahan, August 26 A car (HP 16A-3000), which was on its way to Dhamander village from Badu Sahib, fell into a deep gorge near Sheelabag on the Rajgarh-Neri Pul-Pulbahal road last night, killing on the spot Gyan Singh Verma, senior vice-president of the Sirmaur District Congress Committee and a resident of Dhamander village, Sahi Ram Verma and Jai Ram Verma, both residents of Tali Bhujjal village under Rajgarh subdivision. In another accident, a truck (HR 37-1033) crushed a motor cycle at Bhoop Pur (Paonta) last night, killing two persons, including Ayub Khan of the Paonta area. Truck driver Ishwer Chand has been arrested and a case slapped on him. |
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Red Cross scheme launched
Kullu, August 26 She also inaugurated the district Red Cross Fair- 2007 at Dhalpur Maidan here. She said the government had adopted various measures to provide aid to the needy through the Red Cross Societies. She lauded the “Adopt a Child” scheme and said the poor who could not afford even basic school education would be benefited. She called upon the donors to join hands to make this social cause a success. She said during 2006-07 the society distributed Rs 10.12 lakh among 1,740 patients in Kullu district, besides medicines worth Rs 45,000. Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh State Marketing Board and general secretary of the HPCC Satya Prakash Thakur said the Red Cross would collect money to aid the poor.
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Rs 14.31 cr for tribal hostels
Shimla, August 26 This was stated by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while releasing “Raldang”, a souvenir brought out by the Kinnaur Student Welfare Association here . He said as many as 10 tribal hostels had been completed while work on six others was in progress. He said tribal hostels at Himachal Pradesh University, Government Degree Colleges at Kukumseri, Solan and Dharamsala had been completed and work at Chamba and Reckong Peo was likely to be completed shortly. The CM said about 1,200 tribal girls and boys were availing tribal hostel facilities to carry their academic pursuits. He said the state government was implementing various other schemes for the welfare of the tribals to help bring them into the mainstream. He said development of the tribal areas was on top agenda of his government and attention was being paid to their welfare.
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Move to alter recruitment rules flayed
Nurpur, August 26 President of the association Sanjiv Guleria warned in a statement here that if the Department of Ayurveda didn’t follow the existing rules to fill vacancies, 50 per cent batchwise and 50 per cent through the Public Service Commission, the association would file a writ petition in the high court to restrain the department from appointing ayurvedic medical officers (AMOs) by adopting the policy of pick and choose just to accommodate political favourites. He demanded that unemployed graduates who had been interviewed by the department in 2005 against the sanctioned 85 posts should be given priority in batch-wise appointments by relaxing their upper age-limit. He also demanded to fill all 200 vacant posts of AMOs in the state. |
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Bikers loot liquor vend
Nurpur, August 26 According to sources, the youth under the influence of liquor came on three motorcycles in the vend and had an altercation with its owner Akashdeep. They thrashed Akashdeep and ransacked the vend. His two colleagues Gurinder and Nasib who tried to intervene sustained minor injuries. After committing the crime the youth fled towards Pathankot in Punjab. Kangra ASP Prem Singh Thakur said the local police had lodged an FIR under revelant sections of the IPC. He said one of the culprits had been identified and soon the others would be arrested.
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Sewa Dal activist to claim Cong ticket
Hamirpur, August 26 He said the present MLA from Mewa had been winning as the Congress had failed to field a candidate from here. He said he being the son of the soil and a Congress activist for more than 20 years would stake his claim for the party ticket and had secured written resolutions from 30 of the 39 panchayats favouring him as the party candidate.
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e-governance centre
Manali, August 26 |
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