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Hamirpur Byelection
Another CD after poll: Dhumal
Analyse cassettes rather
than
Shanta foresees big win
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Hamirpur claim game
Canadian High Commissioner David Malone delivers a lecture on “The evolving architecture for international relations in the 21st century with focus on the UN Security Council” at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study in Shimla on Tuesday.
— Tribune photo by S. Chandan
PWD Contractors’ Registration
BDO floats road project near IAF station
Himachal govt honours Khali
3,000 plants found
Murder case solved in 12 hrs
Mandi bag all-round trophy
Fake Caste Certificate
PSU staff yet to get interim relief
Cantt Board
Stokes for CRPF at sensitive booths
Two killed in accident
Power shutdown
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Campaigning ends
Tribune News Service
Hamirpur, May 20 Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal concluded the election rallies of BJP candidate and his son Anuarg Thakur by holding pubic meetings in Bamsan Assembly constituency at Mattan Sidh. Leader of opposition in the Assembly, Vidya Stokes, also held last pubic meeting to garner votes for Congress candidate O.P. Rattan at Harsor in Nadaunta Assembly constituency of the district. The Congress, which had lost four consecutive elections (three times in a row by former forest minister Ram Lal Thakur) in the hands of Suresh Chandel, has fielded former MLA and media adviser of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, O.P. Rattan this time. While stakes are quite high for the Chief Minister since his son Anurag Thakur is making his debut in the electoral politics but the Congress is also trying to regain its lost ground after its defeat in the Assembly election through this election. The campaigning for the present election had been a quiet affair as no national leaders of the BJP and the Congress held any big public meetings. Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, Satya Pal Jain, BJP chief Jai Ram Thakur and other leaders campaigned for BJP candidate Anuarg Thakur. Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, HPCC president Viplove Thakur, leader of opposition Vidya Stokes and other leaders campaigned for Congress candidate O.P. Rattan.
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Another CD after poll: Dhumal
Hamirpur, May 20 Addressing mediapersons here today after concluding the election campaign, he said, “Though we had the CD exposing Congress leaders’ involvement in corruption, we wanted to defeat the Congress without the CD. The CD would be released at an appropriate time.” Commenting on the demand of the Congress for deployment of the CRPF in the Bamsan segment represented by him in the Assembly apprehending booth capturing by the BJP, Dhumal said, “If the Election Commission feel the need of deploying the CRPF or the BSF, we would welcome it.” He said, “The BJP does not believe in booth capturing. Rather, it believes in capturing the hearts of the people. Therefore, the BJP will welcome the deployment of even the Army.” He said, “The BJP believes in free and fair elections. Congress leaders are making such demands out of frustration.” He also refuted the Congress allegation of using derogatory language against women leaders of the Congress. Dhumal also addressed public meetings at Tal, Dugha and Mattan Sidh in favour of BJP candidate Anurag Thakur.
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Analyse cassettes rather
than CDs: Mankotia
Dharamsala, May 20 He said the original recording that was provided to him by reliable sources were in audiocassettes. The CD’s of conservation were produced after I released copies of audiocassettes to media. If the original voice tracks of Virbhadra Singh and some bureaucrats are to be examined it would be more appropriate that original voice contained in audiocassettes should be examined. He also alleged that in the audiocassettes available with him the former Chief Minister was allegedly talking about certain hanky panky deals with his trusted bureaucrats some of whom have now retired. Mankotia also said the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department had been in constant touch with him. I am providing them information handed over to me by people regarding the disproportionate assets created by many bureaucrats and politicians during the previous Congress regime.
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Hamirpur claim game
Una, May 20 He said the move of the BJP government to provide 64 lakh CFLs to power consumers at a cost of Rs 85 crore would save electricity worth Rs 400 crore. He claimed the government has raised social welfare pension from Rs 200 to Rs 300, which would benefit 2.37 lakh pensioners in the state. He also listed other achievements of his government. On the other hand, he said, the Congress was a divided house and Virbhadra Singh was being ignored by party leaders in the state as well as by the Congress high command. He said the BJP would win the Hamirpur seat with a huge margin defeating the Congress candidate. He was accompanied by Shimla MLA Suresh Bhardwaj, Una MLA Satpal Satti, Paonta Sahib MLA Sukh Ram Chaudhary and a large number of BJP workers.
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Rattan: Result will set the
trend for LS
Una, May 20 He said no doubt, the people of this constituency had elected P.K. Dhumal as their representative during the last byelection, but now they were frustrated as Dhumal became the Chief Minister only after five months, forcing another byelection in the constituency. He said the BJP government had made many announcements after coming into power but could not implement these so far. He said he had toured the constituency extensively and his observation was that the Congress was going to get a very good response from the people this time. The public meetings addressed by Virbhadra Singh, Viplove Thakur and Vidya Stokes attracted people in large numbers. Voters in the constituency were sore over the 25 per cent hike in bus fare and non-availability of essential commodities at fair-price shops and many other issues and this would reflect in the election result.
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Shanta foresees big win
Bilaspur, May 20 Addressing a series of BJP election rallies at Rani Kotla, Suharghat, Deoth and Kaulan Wala Toba in Kot-Kehloor Assembly segment of this district today, Shanta Kumar said it looks as if the Congress is only giving a token fight to the BJP as the Congress is convinced that there is no use to strive hard as the result is clearly in favour of the BJP. He said never earlier he had found the Congress so demoralised and dejected and also divided as in this election and the election had become a one-sided affair in favour of the BJP. Dharamsala: Indian Ex-servicemen League president Vijay Singh Mankotia
today pledged his support to BJP candidate from Hamirpur Anurag Thakur. As the UPA government at the Centre headed by the Congress has done a lot of injustice with servicemen and ex-servicemen in the 6th Pay Commission, the league has decided to oppose
it. Representatives of the league also met Dhumal who assured to take up their issue with the Centre. “As a result we assured our support to him,” Mankotia said. When asked why the BSP had not put up its candidate in the present by-election, Mankotia said party president Mayawati was of the view that they should concentrate on the general election. |
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Viplove flayed
Hamirpur, May 20 Talking to mediapersons here today, he said, “The Congress has always promoted dynastic rule and several of party leaders, including her brother, are in politics due to family connections. So, she should not criticise the BJP for giving ticket to Anurag Thakur.” |
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India emerging power: Envoy
Shimla, May 20 The Security Council was no longer in the “frozen” state of cold-war era and it was currently in a phase of transition and grappling with new realities of the emerging global civil society where protection of individual rights rather than the state was the order which had, to an extent, undermined the absolute sovereignty the nations enjoyed earlier. The heads of state were being held accountable for their actions as they no longer enjoyed immunity. In fact, in certain countries the people are up fighting for their rights against their own government. These developments are posing new challenges before the Security Council in performing the role of an international peacemaker, he pointed out while delivering a lecture on “The evolving architecture for international relations in the 21st century with focus on the UN Security Council” at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study here today. He said the Security Council was not a truly representative body in the changed scenario and there was need to expand and reform it but the change could be brought about only if the members who had votes felt its need. It was a fact that the six permanent members who enjoyed the veto power were not keen on more members joining them but the main reason for the failure to secure a berth in the council for countries like India was their inability to convince the rest of the members. They presented their case but failed to find favour with members whose votes ultimately mattered. The council had defined a new approach in international relations authorising peace-keeping missions in which India was playing a leading role. Indians were not significantly aware of the new role of their country in the emerging international order by its leadership of UN peacekeeping and willingness to absorb many of the pressures in the region and showing much more generosity to refugees than the western countries. India was emerging as a new power on the international scene and to discharge its new role it would no longer have the luxury of not taking a view on “inconvenient issues”. Even as a temporary member of the Security Council the member countries had to have a view on every issue. |
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Vigilance seeks records
Tribune News Service
Shimla, May 20 The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the bureau is holding an inquiry into the matter. The allegations of upgrading even those contractors who did not fulfil the norms laid down by the PWD had figured in the BJP chargesheet, which is now being inquired into by the Vigilance Bureau. The SIU had written to the PWD seeking complete details of such contractors who had been upgraded or those who had taken fresh registration. The matter had also been raised in the state Assembly. In fact, PWD minister Thakur Gulab Singh had said in the House that in case any such complaints are received, an inquiry could be held and if found guilty their registration could be cancelled. The Vigilance Bureau is not awaiting information to be supplied by the PWD so that it can ascertain if norms have been flouted in upgrading the contractor or in giving fresh registration of the contractors. The BJP had alleged that during the Congress regime certain contractors were upgraded from category D and C to A so that they could take big contracts. The BJP alleged that this had been done in violation of the norms so that certain people close to the ruling Congress could get benefit. As per information supplied by the PWD minister in the Assembly, it had been stated that 245 class A and 379 class B contractors had been registered during the last five years. In fact, at that time the PWD minister had stated that the registration of contractors had been done as per the laid down norms and no undue benefit had been given to anyone. It is learnt that the maximum number of such complaints pertains to Shimla district. There were also allegations that certain contractors had given fake bank guarantees so as to obtain contract for big works worth crores.
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BDO floats road project near IAF station
Solan, May 20 The project, which involved diversion of forestland for a non-forest purpose, was moved by the BDO, although only the PWD was authorised to move such projects. A perusal of the project file under the RTI Act revealed that 0.7304 hectare of forestland from Hari-ka-Kheel to Kutaghat lies in the periphery of the Air Force The road project has yet to receive an NOC from the defence authorities as their sensitive radar installation is in its close proximity. As per records, the project required permission from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) as the project required forestland for non-forestry purpose. As many as 97 chir pine trees had to be axed for constructing the road. The BDO, Dharampur, moved the case asking the DC, Solan, to provide Rs 70,000 for the construction of the road while the remaining Rs 30,000 were pooled in by the panchayat concerned. As per the contributory scheme, the DC initially sanctioned the scheme. But the amount was withdrawn in February after the audit objected to the funds lying unused. DC Amandeep Garg said since the project involved diversion of reserve forest land, the funds could not be granted. He said ordinarily the road projects that required clearance from the Forest Department are pursued by the PWD and not the BDOs. Intriguingly, though the project was cancelled after the withdrawal of funds, the BDO deposited Rs 5,47,800 for net present value (NPV) with the Forest Department in March and kept the project going. These funds were reportedly pooled in by the said builder after a panchayat resolution authorised
him to do so. When the issue was brought to the notice of the DC, he said an inquiry would be conducted into the matter and a suitable action taken against the BDO, if any irregularity was detected. He confirmed that the project stood cancelled after the withdrawal of funds. It was intriguing as to how the BDO continued to pursue the project after its cancellation in February, he said. Despite withdrawal of funds, the BDO sent a letter to the Air Force Authorities, Kasauli, on April 29 to issue an NOC for expediting
the case. BDO Chandan Chauhan said, “The project was floated after a resolution was passed by the Jangeshu panchayat and hence funds were sought from the DC as per the contributory scheme.” He, however, failed to explain why the project was being pursued even after its cancellation in
February. A perusal of the project report and a visit to the site revealed that contrary to the assertions made in the project report, the proposed road had no villages nearby. The report was not just manipulated to benefit a private individual, but the BDO exhibited extraordinary interest in keeping it going despite its cancellation. No consideration was given to the axing of
97 trees. DFO Y.P. Gupta said he had pointed out a number of objections in the project, which ultimately delayed the grant of permission. Although he had visited the site and concluded that the road would be “the most unfit” being on a steep slope, the file was forwarded to the MOEF,
he said. |
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Himachal govt honours Khali
Nahan, May 20 On this occasion, Thakur Gulab Singh, revenue and PWD minister of Himachal Pradesh honoured Khali by presenting him a shawl, Himachali cap, an idol of Lord Parshuram and a painting of Renuka lake. The minister honoured his mother Tandki Devi, father Jawalu Ram, wife Harpinder Kaur Rana and brothers of Khali by presenting them with shawls and Himachali caps. Earlier, the minister garlanded Khali and his family members on the stage amid shouts of “Khali, The Great Khali”. In his address, Thakur Gulab Singh first read out the message of chief minister of Himachal Pradesh Prem Kumar Dhumal, in which he had announced that Khali would be honoured once again by the state government at a public function to be organised at Shimla. On this occasion, Thakur Gulab Singh announced that if Khali decides to open a wrestling academy in Himachal Pradesh, he would get every possible help from the state government, including land. Endorsing the demand raised by BJP leader and former minister Kumari Shyama Sharma, the minister announced that state government would recommend the name of Daleep Singh Rana for the Padamshri award to the Union Government.
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Police claims on poppy exposed
Tribune News Service
Mandi, May 20 Poppy plants were found in Nanani village of Parashar valley. Sher Singh and Chitramani, both farmers, were arrested in that connection. Sources said the Lohardi area in Palampur subdivision and certain areas in Ani subdivision in Kullu district were yet to come under the scanner of the law enforcing agencies. Poppy crop would be ready for harvesting in many of these areas by the end of this month, they added. Former superintendent of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) O.P. Sharma, who led anti-narcotics drives in Mandi and Kullu in the recent past, said, “Such drives need more concerted efforts involving all stakeholders and local people. As most of the cultivators of these crops are poor, they need to be encouraged and helped in undertaking cultivation of cash crops so that their financial condition becomes better.” SP (vigilance) Kapil Sharma said over 3,000 poppy plants were destroyed during the raid. “We have got an information that poppy was growing in the area,” he added. DIG (central range) P.L. Thakur said the police would destroy illegal poppy crop in the region as and when it was detected.
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Murder case solved in 12 hrs
Hamirpur, May 20 Giving this information to mediapersons, Hamirpur SP Asif Jalal said, “Nek Ram (58), a resident of Chadhiar in Mandi district who was running a dhaba on the Mandi-Hamirpur border, was found murdered on Monday near Bhawana village.” Jalal said, “Investigations revealed that Ramesh, a resident of Bagankot village of Riassi district in Jammu and Kashmir who worked as labourer at a nearby project, used to have meals at Nek Ram’s dhaba and owed him Rs 250 for quite some time.” On May 16, when Nek Ram demanded money from Ramesh, he expressed his inability to pay the sum. He was asked to work at Nek Ram’s place on the recommendation of labour contractor Sita Ram. The SP said, “On May 17, Ramesh hacked Nek Ram to death with an axe while working in the fields and later dumped his body in the bushes. Later, he left the place after collecting his belongings from Nek Ram’s house.” The matter was reported to the police on May 19. The accused was arrested from the Hamirpur bus stand at 6 am today while he was about to board a bus to Jammu. A case under Section 302 of the IPC has been registered. |
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Mandi bag all-round trophy
Chamba, May 20 Dambu of Una district has been adjudged as the best athlete in the state-level tourney. Tulsi Ram, Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha gave away the prizes to the participants. Speaking on this occasion, the Speaker said that the Himachal Pradesh Government had drawn up a plan worth Rs 27.6 crore for the strengthening and modernisation of technical education in the state so that the trainees could be imparted the state-of-the-art training in the industrial and vocational training institutes in the state. He said that the daily wage of players had been enhanced from Rs 20 to Rs 60. The results: Kho-kho: Mandi 1, Solan 2; Volleyball: Mandi 1, Shimla 2; Basketball: Una 1, Kullu 2;
Kabbadi: Solan 1, Mandi 2; Marchpast: Mandi 1, Solan 2; High jump: Mohan Lal (Mandi)1, Raj Kumar (Chamba) and Parkash Chand (Mandi) 2; Long jump: Vaneet Sharma (Bilaspur) 1, Nand Lal (Chamba) 2, Tilak Raj (Shimla) and Pawan Kumar (Hamirpur) 3; Triple jump: Parkash Chand (Mandi) 1, Nand Kumar (Chamba) 2 Naresh Kumar (Solan) 3; Shot put: Dambu (Una) 1, Surinder (Mandi) 2, Anil (Mandi) 3; Discus throw: Dambu (Una) 1, Rakesh Kumar (Chamba) 2, Vishal (Sirmour) 3; Juveline throw: Surinder Singh (Una) 1, Uma Dutt (Solan) 2, Nand Kumar (Chamba) 3. |
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Tehsildar faces probe
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, May 20 Reta allegedly got recruited as a school lecturer through the Himachal Pradesh Staff Services Commission using a fake SC certificate issued by the Kangra tehsildar. “The education authorities have suspended the lecturer. The role of her husband in the case is also under scanner,” sources said. Initially, an inquiry was marked against the SDM, Kangra. However, later it was realised that the SDM was not involved in the process of making caste certificate. Later, an inquiry was marked against the tehsildar. The DC said such inquiries were marked as soon as a complaint was received. The SDM, Kangra, said he was yet to receive any information as regards inquiry against the tehsildar.
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PSU staff yet to get interim relief
Shimla, May 20 Harbans Rana and Rameshwar Gripta, chairman and general secretary, respectively, of the committee, urged the government to take ensure that interim relief was granted to all employees and restore the October 10,1999, notification under which all PSUs were to grant the pensionary benefits on a par with the government employees. He also urged the government to hold an early meeting of the joint consultative committee to discuss the 23-point demands charter submitted by the committee. |
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Kasauli results out
Our Correspondent
Kumarhatti, May 20 In ward No. 2, Krishnamurti recorded win by getting 242 votes out of 407 votes polled in the ward. The ward No. 3 witnessed poor voting where Vimla Dass was declared winner by getting 158 votes. From ward No. 4 and 5, Lekh Ram (251 votes) and Krishna (156 votes), respectively, emerged as winners and in ward No. 6, Davinder Gupta emerged as a winner.
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Stokes for CRPF at sensitive booths
Hamirpur, May 20 Talking to mediapersons here today, she said, “A complaint in this regard has been sent by the election agent of Congress candidate O.P. Rattan to the returning officer fearing capturing of booths in the Bamsan constituency represented by the Chief Minister.” She also addressed public meetings in support of O.P. Rattan at Sehari and Harsor in the Nadaunta constituency. Meanwhile, chief instructor of Sewa Dal Hari Mohan Sharma, who, along with president of the Solan DCC Shiv Kumar and other Congress workers, has been campaigning for O.P. Rattan, said they were getting very good response from the people. |
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Two killed in accident
Solan, May 20 The deceased have been identified as Vinod (34) and Rekha (38). While Rekha was killed on the spot, Vinod succumbed to his injuries later. The deceased, who were brother and sister, were residents of Sanjauli in Shimla. Govind Ram of Karsog in Mandi district, who was injured, was admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accident was caused as Vinod lost control over the vehicle. A case has been registered. |
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Power shutdown
Shimla, May 20 A spokespersons of the state electricity board said the power supply to Walker Hospital, IGMC, Elysium, Upper Bharari, Longwood, Lower Kelston and Government Boys Degree College would be affected between 10 am and 5 pm. The repair work would be carried out only if the weather holds.
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