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NDA govt was the most corrupt: Sonia
Sonia Gandhi greets Congress supporters during a rally at The Ridge in Shimla
on Saturday. — Tribune photo by S. Chandan
Avoids personal attacks
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Manmohan weak PM, says Shotgun
Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha greets supporters waving a BJP flag during a rally at Nahan on Saturday.
— Photo by S.R. Pundir
Elections mar hunting season
Students suffer as school premises acquired
Multi-cornered contests in Hamirpur
Shanta lashes out at Virbhadra
CM releases complete contents of hard disk
Officer on poll duty held, released
Chief secretary reviews poll arrangements
Only we stood up for the masses: Yechury
Nothing done for Dalits: Mayawati
Cong, BJP behind labourers’ plight: CPI
Cong promoting corruption: Dhumal
BJP criticises Cong
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NDA govt was the most corrupt: Sonia
Shimla, December 15 Addressing an election rally at the historic Ridge here today, she said the NDA regime at the Centre was the most corrupt and it broke all records with a host of scams and scandals. Despite such a tainted track record, it did not have any qualms in launching the “India Shining” campaign and that too at the cost of the state exchequer. The BJP government in the state was no different, she said. Unlike the Congress which had a history of sacrifices and dedicated service to the country, the BJP had been pursuing divisive agenda and indulging in false propaganda against it all these years, she added. The party never cooperated with Mahatma Gandhi during the struggle for Independence and it had not made any worthwhile contribution towards nation-building, she alleged. She said the UPA government had introduced several path-breaking schemes to speed up development in rural areas and address the problem of unemployment. She mentioned the national rural employment guarantee scheme, rural health mission, social security pension, and urban renewal mission in this regard. Projects worth Rs 3,900 crore had been sanctioned for Shimla alone under the urban renewal mission, she added. She was full of praise for the Virbhadra Singh government and said it had done much in every sphere of development. However, much more was needed to be done for which the party must be given another term. Making a brief reference to her party’s promises, she assured full support for the implementation of the election manifesto. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh listed his party’s priorities for the development of the state. External affairs minister Anand Sharma also spoke on the occasion. Sundernagar:
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said whatever development had taken place in the state, it had been done by the Congress. He was addressing a gathering at Mahadev Chowk. He appealed to the voters to cast vote in favour of Congress candidate Tek Chand Dogra. Besides highlighting achievements of his government he also listed his party’s priorities if it was voted to power. Senior leader Sukh Ram and Tek Chand Dogra also addressed the gathering. |
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Avoids personal attacks
Una, December 15 She also limited her attack on the BJP as a party and rather concentrated on listing achievements of the UPA government. In her limited attack on the BJP, she said, “The Congress has never tried to divide the people of country to fetch votes. The basic agenda of the BJP is limited to opposing the Congress. They have no program for the development of the country.” She threw security concerns to the wind and went forward meeting the crowd up to the barricades raised by security agencies. She was accompanied by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, HPCC president Viplove Thakur and observer for the area Jatinder Singh. Virbhadra Singh also addressed the gathering. Viplove Thakur honoured the Congress president by presenting a shawl to her. She limited her speech to showering praise on Sonia Gandhi by terming her an epitome of sacrifice. |
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Manmohan weak PM, says Shotgun
Nahan, December 15 Sweeping the audiences off their feet with his very first dialogue, “Bahut jaan hai ..., Nahan
mein”, he regained his “political” colour when he described the UPA regime as one marked with “confusions, contradictions and corruption”. The former union minister for health and shipping then took to Manmohan Singh bashing, terming him a “simple, weak and powerless PM”. “Manmohanji is an intelligent, but confused man. He bends far too much. Due to his inability to decide, no progress has been made on the Indo-US nuclear deal, the disinvestment issue and the Setu Samundaram project,” he said. For around two hours, the setting wore a saffron hue, while the stage came alive with pictures of Atal Behari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani, P.K. Dhumal and Shanta Kumar. Interestingly, the biggest of pictures in the backdrop was Shyama Sharma’s - party candidate from Nahan. This forced the crowds to mutter: “On a Congress stage, this would have been impossible.” From the stage meanwhile, Shatrughan continued his power-packed performance, attacking the Congress tradition of dynastic rule and the growing hold of terrorists in India. “Ab yun bhi hamari bari hai (It’s our turn now). We will wipe Hiamchal clean of corruption and misrule,” said the actor, claiming the BJP was inching towards historic victory in Gujarat. Himachal, he said, would be the final nail in the Congress coffin. For people fed on boredom, Shatrughan’s presence was a major booster, especially when he said: “When you win Himachal, I will come back to participate in your victory procession.” With these words, the actor signed off, while the gathering clamoured for more. By the end, it was Shotgun’s show, though it had contributions from two other BJP stalwarts present on the occasion, former union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Digvijay Singh, who brought pure political punch to the rally. Sinha also used the occasion to celebrate the coronation of L.K. Advani as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. For the BJP, today’s campaign came like a fresh start to the last round of electioneering in the state, with Digvijay Singh urging voters to bury the Congress and allowing the BJP to emerge with its “shining India” agenda. |
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Elections mar hunting season
Palampur, December 15 “Wild boars are getting fat. Boar pickle is more delicious if the prey is shot during this season,” said a hunter wistfully. Hunting, he said, had been kept on hold to avoid getting entangled in any controversy during the election season. Villagers would welcome groups of illegitimate hunters in their areas, be it now or any other time of the year. Monkeys and wild boars have made the villagers’ lives miserable at Baijnath, Rajgir and other areas of Palampur, and have even forced many of them to stop cultivating their lands. Pratap Chand, a resident of Rajaur village of the Rajgir segment, showed a small piece of land where he had sown potato. Wild boars had dug up the plants and devoured the fruit, leaving the peasant high and dry. Om Prakash of Kottibihana village of Rajgir, Subhash Chandra of Rakkar, Nikku Ram of Averi village of Baijnath have similar stories to tell. If it is not the wild boar, it will be hordes of monkeys to feed on their crops. Vir Singh, an old CPM affiliated Kishan Sabha organiser, has worked on this front. In his tailoring-cum-stationery shop at Panchrukhi near artist Sobha Singh’s village, Seema, a 20-year-old graduate assisting the activist, described the contents of the representations made by the CPM worker to government on this problem. Religious beliefs forbid peasants from taking extreme action against monkeys. Wild boars can be dangerous and so the pursuer must be armed with a gun. Most peasants cannot afford a gun and thus fall prey to the beasts. “We cannot do anything without local support,” said the aforementioned hunter. Villagers tell them about movement of the beasts. They also act as “beaters” to drive boars to the hunters. Twelve bore shot guns are used for these expeditions. Light cartridges are emptied, stuffed with heavy pellets, and then used as shots for killing boars. “One who brings a boar down gets its head and hind legs. All others, including the members of the beating party and the dogs, get an equal share of the meat. It is a very interesting ritual,” the hunter said. Deer, porcupine and mountain goat are the other favourites.
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Students suffer as school premises acquired
Dharamsala, December 15 The school examinations were scheduled to be held in this school as per the notified date from December 24 onwards. The state education board had set-up two centres in this school to conduct the examinations. Now, the local administration had acquired the school premises and all electronic voting machines would be kept there after the polling on December 19, till the counting scheduled for December 28. At the last moment, the education board had been forced to change the already notified examination centres to the government college and primary school in the township. As many as 1,500 students were likely to appear in the exams in both centres. While confirming this, B. R. Rahi, chairman of the board, said the counting centre could have been established in the government college, rather than disturbing the system of examinations. He appealed to the election commission to direct the returning officers not to do such things that could disturb the system of examinations. “We are already facing hardships to conduct the examinations due to inclement weather conditions. So, the local administrations should cooperate rather than adopting insensitive attitude”, he added.
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Multi-cornered contests in Hamirpur
Hamirpur, December 15 The BJP have been able to contain their rebels to some extent but they are doing more damage to the Congress as they are contesting from Nadaunta and
Mewa. The lack of any district-level leadership to match BJP stalwarts from the district is also proving to be a negative factor for the Congress. Top leaders of the BJP, the Congress and the LJP had already held rallies in support of their candidates. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda have held public meetings in the district. BJP leader Vankaiah Naidu, P.K. Dhumal and Shanta Kumar have held public meetings to garner votes. All five constituencies of Hamirpur district are witnessing multi-cornered contests. The BSP which has fielded candidates in all five constituencies is making its impact only in
Nadaun. In Hamirpur while the main contest is between sitting MLA Anita Verma of the Congress and Urmil Thakur of the BJP four other candidates— Vipat Raj (CPI), Praveen
Thakur(BSP), Hardayal Phul(LJP) and Brij Lal Dhiman (Ind) are also in the fray. In Bamsan BJP chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal is contesting against B.C.
Lagwal(Cong), Surinder Kumar (BSP) and Raj Kumar (LJP). Leader of the opposition I.D. Dhiman and four-time MLA from Mewa (reserve) is facing Suresh Kumar (Cong), Prem Kauhsal (Ind), Lal
Singh(BSP) and Ranjeet Kumar(LJP). In Nadaun sitting Congress MLA Sukhvinder Singh is pitted against Vijay Agnihotri (BJP), Prabhat Chaudhary (BSP), Satish Kumar (LJP), Vijay Kumar and Desh Raj (Ind). Sitting MLA and district BJP president Baldev Sharma is facing Vidya Zar (Cong), Yash Pal (BSP), Nita Sharma (LJP), Arvind Rani and Tulsi Ram
(Ind)from Nadaunta. |
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Vivekanand Institute Our Correspondent
Palampur, December 15 Shanta Kumar said till yesterday Virbhadara was publicly appreciating the functioning of the VMRT, but today when the defeat of the Congress was imminent in the Assembly elections, he had twisted his stand and accused the VMRT as centre of irregularities. He said it was unfortunate that as elections for Assembly were due Congress leaders raised the issue of VMRT for political gains. Shanta, who is also chairman of the VMRT, said the statements of Congress leaders in this context were politically motivated and they were unnecessarily making the VMRT as target to get a political mileage in the Assembly elections. He said Virbhadara was the chairman of 13 trusts and these trusts had a huge income, but he had never disclosed these facts to state government, but on the other hand, the VMRT was regularly sending its income and expenditure statements to government. He alleged that in the past five years, Virbhadara had transferred Rs 2 crore from the state government funds to Bhima Kali Mandir Trust, which was headed by him. However, not even a single penny was given to other temples of the state. He said it was a case of misuse of funds.
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CM releases complete contents of hard disk
Shimla, December 15 He said there was also a list of names which had ‘to be rejected’ against them, along with others marked of very important. “Dhumal abused his position in violation of all established norms to interfere in the recruitment process, which is not desirable in any government set up,” he added. He said all records at the Subordinate Services Selection Board were destroyed within three months, and the investigation had been undertaken on the basis of whatever could be found. The voluminous 184 pages hard disk data contains over 2,400 names. Interestingly, there is a list of five candidates, Rajesh Yadav, Meenakshi Vedpal, Charu Verma, Rewa Sood and Bhim Singh, who have been labelled as ‘comrades’ and SFI activists. The details also have names of many ministers and MLA’s, who had recommended names of candidates. |
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Officer on poll duty held, released
Chamba, December 15 According to S. R. Rana, additional superintendent of police, Chamba, there was a fax message received by the Election Department from some higher office and was to deliver it to the police. So the revenue officer on duty gave a phone call to the nearby city police post. Complying with revenue officer’s call, the incharge of the city police post sent one constable to bring the fax message, but the revenue officer dictated his own terms and became violent rather abused him, the ASP said. The constable came back and reported to the incharge about the vulgar attitude of the revenue officer. Later, the incharge sent two more police officials to bring the requisite fax message, but the revenue officer again misbehaves with them. Hence, the police registered a case against the said revenue officer and arrested him. He was produced before the SDM and after going through the legal formalities, he was released.
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Chief secretary reviews poll arrangements
Shimla, December 15 Presiding over a meeting to review the preparedness of the government he said a police control room would start functioning from December 19, the day of the polling. “The officers have been directed that there should be no lapse, and arrangements should be made to ensure free, fair and peaceful poll.” The chief secretary directed the PWD and transport authorities to ensure uninterrupted vehicular traffic, so that poll parties could reach their destination on time. He said Jalori pass in Banjar constituency had been kept open for light vehicles to ensure smooth movement of vehicles. |
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Only we stood up for the masses: Yechury
Shimla, December 15 He was addressing an election meeting in support of CPM candidate Sanjay Chauhan from Shimla seat here today. He said it was solely due to the pressure exerted by the Left that the Congress had taken many pro-people decisions. He said the credit for the rural employment guarantee scheme, the sixth Pay Commission and the continuation of the state electricity boards was due to the intervention of the Left. He said if the people wanted that they should have a representative who could vociferously raise their problems in the Assembly, they must vote for the CPM. |
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Nothing done for Dalits: Mayawati
Kullu, December 15 She said the Congress and the BJP had been trying to abolish the reservations to the Dalits by adopting the tactics of handing over the big sick corporate institutions to the private sector. She told the BSP leaders to be vigilant of the disobliging tactics of these parties. She claimed that the BSP would come in power in the Centre and continue its policies of patronising the Dalits and the poor as she had been doing in Uttar Pradesh during her four terms as the Chief Minister. Mayawati alleged that the social and mental status of the Dalits remained the same for the past 60 years because the parties in power at the Centre never wanted that the Dalits should progress. She said the Congress remained in power due to the Dalit votes before the BSP came into existence. And since then the Congress had been losing its vote bank. |
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Cong, BJP behind labourers’ plight: CPI
Kumarhatti, December 15 People of Kasauli, known as stronghold of the Congress, have now planned to oust the Congress. This was stated by Jagdish Bhardwaj, a state secretariat member of the CPI, while addressing a party rally here today. He said both the Congress and the BJP were least bothered about the public welfare. He highlighted the failure of the Congress government to counter the unemployment in the state. The Congress had failed to check the contract labour in the state. Accusing the Congress and the BJP equally for the labourers’ plight in state, he called upon the people to not to give chance to these two parties. |
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Cong promoting corruption: Dhumal
Kangra, December 15 He was addressing a public meeting here. He alleged the Congress was promoting corruption and nepotism. He said there was no question of Virbhadra Singh being in the chair of the Chief Minister after December 28. He said a hydel project training institute would be established in the state to provide employment to the youth. |
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BJP criticises Cong
Hamirpur, December 15 Talking to mediapersons here, he said “the Congress regime has tried to victimise its political opponents during the past five years and hard disc issue is another attempt in that direction.” He said, “If the CM had received the report on hard disc in 2004, why did not he make it public then?” He said, “There have been attempts to pressurise an officer to name former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal but not a single case instituted against BJP leaders by this government has been proved.” |
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Launching an attack on the BJP on the issue of corruption, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today urged the people of the state to remember the last stint of the BJP before exercising their franchise.
Drama is integral to politics, and actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha today showed how. Making a flamboyant entry into Nahan from where he kickstarted his campaign for the BJP in Himachal, the MP from Bihar virtually dialogue delivered his speech, as thousands assembled at Nahan’s historic Chogan ground to see the politician stage his act.
