Dharamsala, April 6
The Dalai Lama said today that protests in Tibet contradicted the Chinese "propaganda" about people there enjoying a prosperous and contented life and made it clear that the issue "can no longer be neglected".

"The Chinese authorities have been making false allegations against me and the Central Tibetan Administration for instigating and orchestrating the recent events in Tibet. These allegations are totally untrue," he said in a statement.

"The recent protests all over Tibet have not only contradicted but also shattered the People Republic of Chinas propaganda that except for a few 'reactionaries', the majority of Tibetans enjoy a prosperous and contented life," the spiritual leader said.

The protests have made it clear that Tibetans in the three provinces of Tibet, U-tsang, Kham and Amdo harbour the same aspirations and hopes, he said in a statement. "These protests have also conveyed to the world that the Tibet issue can no longer be neglected," he said.

Demanding a probe into the unrest in Tibet by an "independent and respected international body", he said "I am sure this independent body will uncover the truth. If the Peoples Republic of China has any basis and proof of evidence to back their allegations, they need to disclose these to the world. Just making allegations is not enough." The Dalai Lama also talked about the "mutually beneficial middle-way approach" to find a solution for the future of Tibet. "Since 1974, I have sincerely remained steadfast to the mutually beneficial middle-way approach. The middle-way approach means that all Tibetans must be governed by similar administration that enjoys meaningful national regional autonomy and all provisions in it like self-rule and full decision-making, except for matters concerning foreign relations and national defence," the Dalai Lama said.

The Tibetans in Tibet have the right to make the final decision for the future of Tibet, he said. He asked all Tibetans to keep away from violence. "I know you are being provoked at every level but it is important to stick to our non-violent practice.

We should not engage in any action that could be even remotely interpreted as violent," the spiritual leader said. He said that nobody should create any hindrance in the holding of Olympic games in China. — PTI

Shimla, April 6
Two BJP ministers have taken former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to task for making false allegations and misleading the people by distorting facts.

Transport minister Kishan Kapoor, and horticulture minister Narender Bragta said in a joint statement here that Virbhadra Singh was known to browbeat senior officers while in and out of power and habitually perpetuating lies. He chargesheeted an IAS officer for alleged grave misconduct and subsequently deposed that the said officer had obtained his verbal permission to take his official vehicle outside the state. He also gave an affidavit in favour of the same officer in the court where the proceedings against the said officer were contested by the state government.

Similarly, in the case of the thermal power project, which Virbhadra first sanctioned and subsequently suspended the officer concerned for no fault of his. The MoU regarding surrendering various government posts was signed during Virbhadra’s tenure but he misled the state and stated that it was signed by the BJP government. He also gave wrong figures Rs. 3,698 crore sanctioned under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission whereas only Rs 21 crore was received.

Virbhadra Singh wrote a letter to the then Chief Secretary A.K.Goswami, threatening him to desist from enquiring into the illegal appointments made during his tenure as Chief Minister. He should solemnly affirm on oath that he had never threatened any government officer while in and out of power.

Shimla, April 6
The industrial boom in the wake of the package of incentives granted by the Centre may be benefiting the state but it is certainly hurting the economic interests of the state electricity board, which has to purchase more power at exorbitant rates to meet the growing demand.

The board, which was forced to procure power at rates ranging from Rs 7.50 to Rs 8.54 per unit as against the average sale rate of Rs 3.67 per unit to meet the demand during the lean winter months, has now decided to supply maximum surplus power to the neighbouring state during the summer under a banking arrangement so that it could take it back during the winter.

However, it may have to still purchase over 100 million units to meet the winter shortfall. The board plans to supply over 600 million units during the summer, mainly to Punjab and Haryana, which face shortage during the summer.
The total consumption of electricity within the state shot up from 2,925million units in 2004-05 to 3,568 units in 2007-08 and as per board’s projections for the 2008-09 it will further shoot up to 5,690 million units. On the other hand, the board’s own generation is projected to come down from 1,843 million units to 1,735-million units. The total availability, including inter-state power purchase, will go up from 6,481 million units to 7,200 million units. The state faces a shortfall ranging from 700 million units to 800 million units during the winter months from November to March, when the generation from the hydroelectric projects declines to about 20 per cent.

The sharp increase in the consumption of power within the state has over the past three years left with very little power for sale outside, which means that revenue from sale of power will be reduced. The daily requirement during winter months has gone up from 105 lakh units per day to 185 lakh units in the past winter, whereas, the total availability from all sources has been ranging from 140 to 145 lakh units. The demand was likely to cross the 200-lakh-unit mark in the ensuing winter season, while there would be no significant improvement in its availability. This reflects the inability of the board to increase its generation to keep pace with the demand.

The advance banking of power with the neighbouring states is a far more economical proposition, as the rates of power in winter are much higher than in summer due to the acute shortage in the northern region.

The board will have to cope with more shortage over the next few years, as no new project is likely to be commissioned shortly. The board has been selling its surplus power during summer at a very attractive rate of Rs 7.30 per unit as against Rs 5.70 per unit last year and the sale of power fetched it Rs 258 crore last year. But it had to buy power at a higher rate during the winter.

Shimla, April 6
A festive atmosphere prevailed in the city as various social, religious and cultural organisations joined hands to celebrate the dawn of “vikrami samvat 2065” (the Hindu New Year) as the cultural revival day, here today.

Celebrations that began in the wee hours continued till evening as various organisations had organised different events under the aegis of “sanskriti utthan manch”. The programme started on the historic Ridge early in the morning. It was followed by an hour-long session of yoga organised by the local chapter of Patanjali Yogapeeth of swami Ramdev.

Thereafter a hawan was organised by the Gayatri Parivar in which Governor V.S. Kokje also participated. He complimented the manch for taking initiative for revivifying the national panchang (almanac) for the year.

He also released the ‘nav samvat calendar 2065’ and went around the Bharat Gaurav exhibition organised to highlight the contribution of ancient India in various fields.

Hundreds of men, women and children participated in the “jagriti march” organised to mark the occasion. On-spot painting competition, group song competition and fancy dress for school children were also held. Narinder Kataria, mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation, gave away prizes to the winners.

The “sewa bharati” had organised a blood donation camp at which 65 persons donated blood.

The programme concluded with bhajan sandhya organised by the Art of Living at which Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal was also present. He said this collective initiative of the society would go a long way in preserving the rich cultural traditions and cherished values. The government would provide all required support to ensure celebrations at a grand scale next year. The nine-day Navratri fair also started today at various famous shrines in the state.

Chamba, April 6
The orchardists of Chamba district have demanded a probe into the ground realities of the ongoing Centrally sponsored programme Horticulture Technology Mission in Chamba district.

Raising a query about the programme here today, one of the orchardists, Navneet Chowfla asked how much money had been received by the departmental agents deputed under the mission as they were supposed to deposit the money by making entry in TR-V books in the government treasury within the stipulated time.

Chowfla alleged that the funds were not being properly utilised through various schemes functioning under this mission and the benefits were not percolating to the actual beneficiaries.

Like farmers of the state, Chowfla demanded the government to issue identity cards to the fruit-growers and orchardists and it should be made mandatory for them to have such cards under the ongoing programme.

Meanwhile, the deputy director of Chamba Horticulture in a written statement said under the ‘horticulture technology mission’, 2,079 fruit-growers, 145 vegetable-growers, 169 floriculturists, 55 aromatic plants and 24 medicinal plants-growers had so far been benefited by providing over Rs 1.19 crore financial assistance in the district.

Various other schemes like creation of water sources, on-farm management, plasticulture, popularisation of organic farming, transfer of technology and production of planting material had also been taken up under the programme thereby bringing transformation in the field of horticulture, the deputy director asserted.

Jogindernagar, April 6
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the farmers in the state would be issued “soil health card” after their soil was being tested for free by the government so that they could cultivate flowering plants, medicinal herbs or other cash crops as per the fertility of the soil.

Addressing the concluding ceremony of the five-day long Jogindernagar Mela after inaugurating the sewerage scheme for the town here yesterday Dhumal urged the farmers to diversify from the traditional agriculture into cultivation of medicinal herbs and floriculture as each farmer would be issued the soil health cards soon.

He said the government would raise the first IRB Battalion of over 1,007 women and all eligible would get pension of Rs 300 in the state.

He said the Uhal-stage-III hydro project here was two-and-a-half year behind schedule and the board had been directed to expedite the work on the project.

The government would give additional fund for the hospital building in Jogindernagar so that it is completed within this year. The government would also give funds for the completion of the local college building, he added.

Local MLA and PWD minister Gulab Singh Thakur welcomed the Chief Minister and highlighted the demands of the segment to which Dhumal assured him that he would fulfil all demands in the near future. He also participated in the devta procession from the Krishna temple to the mela ground.

The NGO Ladbharol gave a cheque for Rs 11,000 and the Contractor Association gave a cheque of Rs 21,000 to the Chief Minister Relief Fund to Dhumal on the occasion.

Shimla, April 6
The Himachal chapter of the IPS Officers Association has expressed strong resentment over the raw deal meted out to the IPS by the 6th Pay Commission by downgrading the pay scales in comparison to the IAS.

In a representation to Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal the association has pointed out glaring anomalies in the pay scales that, it maintained, had been deliberately created to undermine the status of IPS officers. It urged Dhumal to take up the matter with the Centre at an appropriate level so that injustice to the IPS could be undone.

It lamented that while the three service chiefs had been given a pay scale equivalent to that of Cabinet Secretary, the top cop of the country (director-general of intelligence bureau) who sports four stars like the service chiefs had not been placed in the same bracket. By the same logic the DGPs in states should have been given the same scale as that of the Chief Secretary. However, the DGPs had been granted a lower pay scale.

The old S-28 pay scale of Rs 14,300-450-22,400 in the revised pay scale had been put in the new PB-4 band of Rs 39,200-67,000 with a grade pay of Rs 9,000. At the same time the old S-26 pay scale of Rs 16,400-450-20,000 of the DIG had been put in a lower 15,600-39,100 band with a grade pay of Rs 8,400, which was ridiculous.

The commission recommended a grade pay in senior timescale, junior timescale and selection grade pay scales as Rs 6,100, Rs 6,600 and Rs 7,600, for the IPS as against Rs 6,500, Rs 7,500 and Rs 8,300 for the IAS, respectively. The plea of the commission that “as the initial postings of IAS officers are generally in small places, they face frequent transfers and pulls and pressures and a slight edge in the initial stages of their career would to an extent neutralise these problems” did not hold water as IPS officers too serve in difficult remote areas and they not only face pressures but also threat to their life and physical assaults.

Further, different pay scale had been recommended for the DGPs of central para-military forces and the states and this anomaly needed rectification. The DGP’s, whether in central police organisation or states, should all be given a uniform pay scale of Rs 80,000. The minimum years of service for IG’s pay scale should be 14 years, on a par with the IAS, the association pleaded.

Mandi, April 6
IFS officers have threatened to move the court against the alleged dillydallying attitude of the state government towards their long-pending demands.

They said they had become victims of stagnation. Officers of the 1988 and 89 batches had not been promoted so far although they had put in over 20 years of service as DFOs.

They said the government had yet to initiate any action on the report of the screening committee constituted on November 5, 2006, for the promotion of conservators of forests (CFs) as chief conservators for forests (CCFs) of the 1981 batch and promotion of DFOs of the 1988 and 89 batches as CFs. “The CFs have put in more than 27 years of services, but they have not been promoted as CCFs so far,” they said.

“Now, we have no option left except moving the court to seek justice,” they said.

They said the government was making mockery of the rules framed by Government of India. “As per rules, IFS officers who have put in 14 years and 18 years of service are eligible for promotion to the ranks of CF and CCF, respectively. The DPC is to be held every year even if there is a single vacancy.”

IFS officers of 1992 batch in other states have already been promoted as CFs and the IAS and IPS officers of 1992 batches in HP have been promoted as commissioners and DIGs, respectively. “Even the Central Government held cadre review five months ago and government held the DPC for promotion of CFs to CCFs on March 3, 2008. But no notification has been issued so far,” they said.

They said the DPC for promotion of DFOs as CFs was yet to be convened in spite of the orders of forest minister in that regard. “Nine posts of CCF are vacant and seven DFOs are to be promoted,” they said.

Bilaspur, April 6
Yog guru Baba Ramdev said he had taken a pledge to train more than 1 lakh yoga trainers throughout the country within a year so that they help him in his dream of making more than 100 crore countrymen healthy and happy through yoga.

Addressing thousands of yoga seekers, in his six-day Yog Vigyan Shivir here today, Ramdev said yoga is the only alternative to come to succor of millions of my countrymen who toil hard to eke out bread of their family in a daily struggle.

He gave a clarion call to society to follow ideals of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and help him form Yog Hind Fauj on the pattern of his Azad Hind Fauj.

Ramdev castigated those politicians, who were corrupt and did not deserve the positions they had occupied. He said politics had become a profession rather than an opportunity to serve society and some people have turned it into a profitable business. He said all politicians were not that way, but such exceptions were living in sheer minority and depression.

Nothing could be more frustrating than finding even some criminals, murderers and rapists being elected to our legislatures. Voting should be made compulsory for every person to weed out such unwanted persons.

Kumarhatti, April 6
Rita Sharma (32), a married woman, committed suicide at Parwanoo after her paramour refused to meet her late last evening

The deceased allegedly had illicit relations with her colleague, Salim Khan. Both were employed in a unit at Parwanoo. While Salim Khan was putting up in a rented accommodation in Parwanoo, the woman was residing in Kalka with her husband, Jitender Sharma, and seven-year-old daughter.

According to Parwanoo DSP Ramesh Pathania, the woman called up Salim to meet her. As Salim was busy in work he refused. Rita also sent an sms message to Salim threatening that if he failed to reach home by 6 p.m. he would see her dead, said the DSP. Like the phone calls, Salim ignored the warning sent through the sms. When Salim reached home in the evening, he found Rita’s body hanging from the ceiling fan of his room.

Jatinder Sharma said though Rita and Salim pretended to be brother and sister, both had developed illicit relations. He accused Salim Khan of forcing his wife to take her life. The deceased and Salim Khan hailed from Mandi district. A case has been registered.

Shimla, April 6
Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal said recently the Centre had granted approval for raising a separate woman battalion in the state.

Making a statement in the Assembly, he said this was the second battalion that had been approved by the Centre for the state. “This is a step by our government towards women empowerment along with other decisions taken for their welfare,” he said. He said the Centre would bear Rs 12.75 crore expenditure on raising the woman battalion along with half of the capital expenditure to be made on it. He said the training would be as per national needs and 1,007 posts would be filled up during the next two years.