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Polling for Kinnaur, Bharmour,
BJP keen to have Vajpayee
BJP gearing up for
mid-term
poll: Naqvi
CD threat: Cong leader moves HC
Dhumal blames fiscal mess on Cong
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Curtains for Singhi Ram?
EVMs to be airlifted
Media misquoted CM: Rathore
Tribal postings or ‘political punishment’?
YOUR VOTE MATTERS: A tribune Debate
Three killed in accidents
A tractor lies overturns at Tarot village, near Sundernagar, on Tuesday. One person was killed in the accident. — Photo by Mahesh Chander Sharma
Former chief secy Chauhan dead
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Polling for Kinnaur, Bharmour, Lahaul-Spiti today
Shimla, November 13 Arrangements have been made to deal with any exigency, including inclement weather, to ensure smooth conduct of elections. In all, 298 polling stations have been set up out which 118 were in Bharmour, 104 in Kinnuar and 76 in Lahaul-Spiti. While 53 polling booths have been identified as hypersensitive, 58 have been placed in the sensitive category. The highest polling booth has been set up at Hikkam in Lahaul-Spiti at an altitude of over 15,000 ft. At Kaa in Kinnaur, a polling booth has been set up for just 20 voters. Chief electoral officer Manisha Nanda said over 2,000 personnel, including securitymen, polling officials and sector officers, have been deployed for election duty. A helicopter will remain at the disposal of the chief electoral officer from November 13 to 18 to be utilised for election-related work. There are 12 candidates in the fray for the three seats. The ruling Congress, the BJP and the BSP are contesting all three seats, while the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) has put up its candidate from the Kinnaur seat. The main contest in Kinnaur is between Jagat Singh Negi of the Congress and Tejwant Negi, who are facing each other for the second time. In Bharmour, Thakur Singh (Congress) is pitted against Tulsi Ram (BJP). Balbir Singh of the BSP, Chandu Lal and Munish Kumar (Independents) are also in the field, but the main contest is between the Congress and BJP. In Lahaul-Spiti, the contest is triangular involving Phunchog Rai (INC), Ram Lal Markanda (BJP) and Bir Singh Rawal (BSP).
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BJP keen to have Vajpayee
Shimla, November 13 Senior BJP leaders met here yesterday under the chairmanship of national vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to discuss the poll management, especially the campaigning by the central leadership of the party. “Though his health is unlikely to allow him to carry out hectic campaigning but we are eager that he is able to at least address one big rally, as he can sway voters in favour of the party,” said senior leaders. “The doctors have advised Advaniji not to undertake too much of travelling but if his health permits he will himself like to campaign in Himachal,” said Naqvi. Sources in the party said even Vajpayee was able to come here, he would barely be able to speak for three to four minutes as besides his knee problem, he has other ailments. The former Prime Minister owns a house at Prini in Manali and even during the time when he was heading the NDA regime he made it a point to spend some days here in the summer every year. ‘Even today Atalji keeps track of not just political but other developments as well in Himachal as his heart and mind both are still here,” said Naqvi. Naqvi said the issue of corruption or environmental degrading and other such issues have really pained Vajpayee as he has special fondness for Himachal, which he considers his second home. |
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BJP gearing up for
mid-term
poll: Naqvi
Shimla, November 13 Addressing a press conference here today, BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said with the Assembly elections due in nine other states shortly, the BJP was already in the poll mode as the workers were active right up to the booth level. Naqvi lashed out at the Congress for its hypocritical secularism. He said the new terminology for the CPM should be ‘Congress-protected murderers’. “We have never tried to justify Godhara the way the Congress has remained a mute spectator on happenings in Nandigram,” he remarked. |
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CD threat: Cong leader moves HC
Shimla,November 13 The petition has been filed by Kuldeep Singh Pathania, general secretary of the Pradesh Congress committee, with a prayer to restrain Mankotia and other political leaders form indulging in publicity of any material in any form and through any medium, which is illegal and unauthorised. The petitioner stated that Mankotia time and again was referring to the CD released by him containing false allegations. At the same time he is referring to some new CD which he would release shortly. That the real purpose of Mankotia and other political leaders, including former Chief Ministers Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal, seems to hog public attention. Earlier also they had used the audio CD just before the Hamirpur parliamentary byelection. With the Assembly elections a possibility cannot ruled out that there may be another fabrication on the line it was done at the time of the Hamirpur election. The petitioner also mentioned an interim order passed by the Supreme Court in the Amar Singh tapes case, putting a blanket ban on the telecast or publication of their contents and even distribution of CDs of the same to the media. The petition sought orders to restrain former Chief Ministers Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal , BSP general secretary Man Singh Manhera , state BSP chief Balwant Singh and state BJP president Jai Ram Thakur and Mankotia from circulating or displaying in any manner using the material which is unauthorised in any form containing allegations. The petitioner alleged the purpose of these political leaders to level allegations through concocted and fabricated electronic material is to affect the poll prospects of the party in the forthcoming Assembly elections through illegal, unauthorised means. The petition is likely to come up for hearing on Monday.
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Dhumal blames fiscal mess on Cong
Shimla, November 13 In a statement issued here today former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the statement of Virbhadra Singh that it was a grant and not a loan was not based on facts. “If it is a grant and not a loan then why the need for signing a loan agreement,” he quipped. Dhumal said the Congress government was enacting this drama of availing the loan as a cover-up for its fiscal follies. He regretted that the Chief Minister was misleading the public on the loan issue by making factually wrong statements. He said the Congress regime was mortgaging the future of Himachal’s young and educated labour force by agreeing to reduce the services avenue in the government and the public sector as one of the objectives agreed to by the Himachal government. The BJP leader demanded that the Congress must apologise to the people of the state for this financial mess. He said it was intriguing as to why the government was in such a hurry to sign the loan agreement when as per the World Bank documents, the closing date for this loan was March 31, 2009. Hamirpur: Dhumal on Tuesday demanded dismissal of the government and elections under President’s rule. Dhumal said “ the way the Chief Minister is challenging the authority of the Election Commission and certain officers are issuing orders in back dates makes it clear that free and fair elections can be only held under President’s rule after dismissal of the Virbhadra Singh government.”
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Curtains for Singhi Ram?
Shimla, November 13 The Chief Minister gave enough indications that he was not pleased with the performance of Singhi Ram, who holds the civil supplies portfolio in his ministry, at a meeting of the general house of the constituency’s party unit specially convened at Rampur today to ascertain views of the party workers on the issue. While most of the prominent Congress leaders and workers were present, the supporters of Singhi Ram stayed away from the meeting. In fact, Virbhadra Singh reportedly expressed his annoyance over the absence of Singhi Ram and said being a senior leader he should have made it a point to attend the meeting. He patiently heard the views of the party men who had a plethora of grievances against the minister. He only had a nod of agreement in response. He also agreed that Nand Lal, a former police officer, would be the most suitable candidate to replace him. Speculation that Singhi Ram might be denied ticket was rife ever since Nand Lal, a police officer who has been part of Sonia Gandhi’s security team, resigned from the service and applied for the Congress ticket from Rampur.
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EVMs to be airlifted
Shimla, November 13 It is reliably learnt that BEL experts, who were present in Keylong today, said they would not take any responsibility in case the EVMs stop functioning or develop some snag due to freezing temperatures. After Chief electoral officer Manisha Nanda took up this matter with the Election Commission of India a go-ahead was given today for air-lifting the EVMs from the two constituencies of Lahaul Spiti and Bharmour. “The machines will be lifted by the state helicopter between November 15 and November 17, keeping in mind the possibility of a re-poll,” confirmed Nanda. All EVMs from the Lahaul valley will be lifted from Keylong while the machines sealed with the fate of the candidates from the Spiti valley will be lifted from Kaza to Kullu. The counting of votes of Lahaul Spiti will be done at Kullu where the EVMs will be kept safely till December 28, the date of counting of votes. The EVMs from the Pangi valley in Bharmour will be lifted from Killar and counting will take place at Bharmour. The counting of Kinnaur votes will take place at Rekong-Peo as decided earlier. This will be for the first time that the counting for the Lahaul Spiti constituency will take place at Kullu rather than Keylong. |
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Media misquoted CM: Rathore
Shimla, November 13 Reacting to the demand made by Satya Pal Jain, in charge of BJP affairs in Himachal Pradesh, that the Chief Minister should tender a public apology for levelling false and motivated charges against the Chief Election Commissioner, Rathore said he had a detailed talk with the Chief Minister who made it clear that he had not cast any aspersions on the commission. Virbhadra Singh knew well how to uphold the dignity and authority of the constitutional bodies like the Election Commission, the Congress leader said. Rathore maintained that the Congress would win all three tribal seats as it had done maximum for the development of these areas. Virbhadra Singh had allocated Rs 1260 crore for the tribal areas which came to over 9 per cent of the budget. The previous BJP government had rather reduced the budget allocation for these areas. Referring to the challenge thrown by Lok Sabha MP Navjot Sidhu’s for a public debate with Virbhadra Singh he said the BJP leader should first compare his stature with the CM before making such remarks. If Sidhu was keen on debate any ordinary Congress worker could take on him, Rathore said.
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Tribal postings or ‘political punishment’?
Keylong, November 13 Employees term tribal postings as an instrument of “political punishment” inflicted upon them by the “political bosses in power”. They have to face harsh winters there besides other difficulties. “We do not get vegetables in winters and even dhabas remain shut for a long time. Getting water becomes very difficulty as it gets frozen in the pipelines due to sub-zero temperature. Many employees also suffer from high-altitude sickness and chilblain.” Local residents, however, say government offices wear a deserted look during winters as most of the employees leave for their homes taking leave citing flimsy reasons. They are paid six-month salary in advance. They spend most of the time running after ministers or MLAs for getting themselves transferred back home. Only the “sworn opponents” stay on as they have no other choice. Residents point out that the state government has failed to evolve a uniform transfer policy, making it mandatory for each employee to serve at least once in his/her job tenure in tribal, interior or remote areas of the state. Congress supporters say the Virbhadra Singh government has made a transfer policy that each employee has to serve in the tribal or remote area at least once. Party candidate Phunchog Rai says not all employees are transferred to tribal areas on political ground. There may be some cases, but the Congress government has made a policy and all vacancies are filled so that people get a responsive administration. It is our government that has created government accommodation and other facilities so that they can spend a harsh winter there, he adds. BJP candidate Ramlal Markandae says the BJP has never indulged in political vendetta and employees are adjusted as per their choice. “We will have a policy on tribal transfers. More accommodation and facilities for employees will also be ensured as and when the party comes to power,” he claims. BSP candidate B.S. Rawal says tribal areas need an all-inclusive tribal policy for postings, promotion of tourism, winter sports and other facilities.
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YOUR VOTE MATTERS: A tribune Debate We received a large number of suggestions to our debate, “Would you like political parties to give tickets to tainted candidates?” Most of the readers do not want tainted candidates to get the ticket though some say we should let these persons contest and face defeat. Here goes a selection… In the interest of democracy, the answer to this question should be a firm ‘no’ Nonetheless, the fact is that all political parties basically look for the all-important factor of ‘winability’' in their candidates, even if some of them are ‘tainted’. As long as elections are fought on narrow considerations of region, religion, caste and class as at present, the final victory will go to candidate who is a ‘master manipulator’, even though a bit ‘tainted’. Presently, even the Election Commission does not have the requisite powers to reject a so-called ‘tainted’ candidate. The only remedy to this cancerous malady lies solely with voters themselves, who should remain vigilant, politically aware and exercise their right and vote with great care and caution so that they vote to power only the right candidate. Brig Govind Singh Khimta (retd), Shimla
Show them the door
PRIME MINISTER Jawaharlal Nehru had once predicted that the democracy in India will go into the hands of criminals one day, if the people did not exercise their franchise responsibly. Editorials by Editor-in-Chief H.K. Dua regarding it were good enough to be eye-openers. Keeping in view the history and democratic values, political parties should keep away the tainted candidates as far as giving ticket is concerned. Apart from media and judiciary, it is the power of vote, so show them the door they actually deserve. Atul Garg Opt for clean image Leaders are our representatives. Who are these people, is firstly decided by parties. Ticket should be given to persons who have a clean record so that undeserving do not come to power. We can not expect corrupt persons to be honest towards the common man. Secondly, we can help ourselves by giving verdict against such candidates. By giving ticket to tainted candidates and electing the same, what message are we conveying to the world? Think about it. Purnima Bali, Entire lot tainted Tainted candidates should not be given party ticket in the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state. But it is also an uphill task for the political parties to get honest candidates as the entire system is tainted. Daulat Chauhan, Go for the right person Many choose or vote for tainted candidates in support of any of the political parties, but by doing so, they are promoting criminalization of politics. The blame cannot be entirely put on the voters, as political parties are equally responsible for all this. They adopt cheap measures to promote the tainted candidates, who in turn influence innocent voters by their power of muscle and money. But it was high time we stood by what our democracy implies: - by the people - for the people - of the people. Citizens should take on to eradicate corruption by boycotting such parties, these politicians cannot impose any of their tainted candidates on us. Tainted candidates will only promote corruption, what we need is a civilised society. The voters should realize that the reigns of our state now lie in our own hands, we can set it right by voting for the right candidate or ruin it by voting for the tainted one. Anjali Sharma,
Let them contest Tainted candidates should be made to fight elections. Parties should not be stopped from fielding such candidates. They should be made to contest and get defeated once and for all. The defeat should not only come in their personal lives, but also in public life. No one who knows of their deeds will ever a vote in their favour. The idea is obnoxious The very idea of allowing tainted persons to run the affairs of the state is obnoxious. Fielding tainted candidates is the cause of fractured mandate. When political parties fail to field candidates with unquestioned honesty the voters are confused as one candidate appears to be as good or bad as the other, then the votes get divided. Fielding tainted candidates may also encourage horse trading in the state. No business to be there I am totally against giving ticket to tainted candidates. Once proved that they have a tainted background, they have no business to represent the people. Asha Vijh Rout them No! not at all. Ticket must be given to qualified candidate, rout the tainted lot. Jitender Kumar What’s the option? The political parties managed by people with identical goals select candidates (exposed or unexposed) amongst themselves and throw them on us. In such a situation, people have no choice but to select one amongst the crooks. It is also one of the reasons behind low-voter turnout rate. The option of rejection or no voting is being debated currently at various platforms and may prove a boon for improving the tainted candidates. Rakesh Kumar Sharma,
Shimla |
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Three killed in accidents
Sundernagar, November 13 One Chet Ram (28),a resident of Bhayarta was killed when a jeep no H.P-33B-058 rolled down in to a 75-feet gorge near Kateru village last night. In another incident, Ram Syrup (25), a resident of Behal, Naina Devi, Bilaspur, was killed near Kateru village, who was on a jeep no HP-31B-0310, this accident occurred late last night. In an another accident, which occurred this evening near tarot village, a tractor bearing number HP-31B-9351 over turned on the road and Ram Singh(40), a resident of Dhandras village, was killed on the spot. Three separate cases pertaining to accidents has been registered and the police have begun investigations.
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Former chief secy Chauhan dead
Shimla, November 13 The committee of secretaries of the state government today expressed grief at the demise of Chauhan, who remained the chief secretary for about one year from April, 1993 Born on November 20, 1937. Chauhan served as the deputy commissioner of Chamba and Mandi, besides holding important posts in the Ministry of Works and Housing, Welfare and the FCI. He also remained Chairman of the State Finance Commission and retired on November 30, 1995.
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We received a large number of suggestions to our debate, “Would you like political parties to give tickets to
tainted candidates?” Most of the readers do not want tainted candidates to get the ticket though some say we should let these persons contest and face defeat. Here goes a selection…
Three persons were killed in three different accidents in the last 24hours. Two mishaps took place last night near Kateru village about 30 km from here and another accident took place this evening, near Tarot village about 4 km from here on the National Highway -21.
