|
|
|
|
Eighth round of talks
4 die on Diwali night
Relatives of the deceased wailing in Shimla on Tuesday.
Tribune photo: Amit Sharma
CM’s Diwali with underprivileged kids
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Significant RTI ruling made
Shed-cum-factory gutted
Team formed, records seized in bitumen scam
Paonta Sahib export house signs MoU with US company
Federation to celebrate foundation day on Nov 19
PTA teachers’ kin to join strike soon
Prostrating for world peace
‘Govt not to allow felling of trees’
People will decide UPA’s fate: BJP
Govt committed to provide best facilities to scribes: MLA
Doctor beaten up in hospital
One injured by gunshot
3 injured in accident
|
|
Dalai Lama envoys to leave for China on Oct 31
Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, October 29 However, the dialogue started in 2002 and till date seven rounds of talks have been held, but no headway seems to have been made. The Dalai Lama had been stressing that the Chinese should acknowledge Tibet issue as a problem. He had been stressing on a middle-way approach to the Tibet problem. The middle-way approach according to him comprises autonomy of Tibet autonomous region comprising three provinces under the sovereignty of China. The Chinese government on the other hand in the last seven rounds had not acknowledged Tibet as a problem. They are on the contrary insisting that the Dalai Lama should stop instigating trouble in Tibet. During celebrations of the 48th founding anniversary of the Tibetan Children’s Village on October 25 here in Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama said the Tibetans have long been pursuing a path to find a solution to the issue of Tibet that would be mutually acceptable to Tibetans and Chinese. Unfortunately, the Chinese leadership had so far not responded positively to our overtures and does not seem interested in addressing the issue in a realistic way. It is difficult for him to continue to shoulder such a heavy responsibility when the present Chinese leadership does not seem to appreciate simple truth, reason and common sense. In the absence of any positive reciprocal response from the Chinese leadership, if no solution is being found, he would rather not hinder it in anyway. I cannot afford to pretend that my persistent efforts to find mutually satisfactory solution to the Tibetan problem are bearing fruit, the Dalai Lama said. On September 11, the Dalai Lama called a special meeting of Tibetans from all parts of our community in exile. He concluded in the meeting that it is for the Tibetan people themselves to decide about their collective future. Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama today left for Japan for a 17-day tour.
|
||
|
4 die on Diwali night
Shimla, October 29 Naresh Kumar, hailing from Jammu was settled here and was running a shop in the Kasumpti market. It was around midnight that some articles in the shop caught fire from the lamp that had been lit in the puja. Soon the plastic goods stacked in the shop caught fire and started emitting fumes. Naresh (42) whose house was behind the shop was asleep in the adjoining room with his wife Sunita (38), daughter Akansha (11) and son Ankit (5). All four were suffocated to death as the plastic articles emitted thick fumes, which filled up the entire house. According to the police, the family could not even reach the door as they had probably been suffocated while in sleep. It was within 45 minutes that the fire was spotted by the neighbours, but by the time the family was taken out and rushed to the hospital they were already dead. Naresh’s sister arrived here from Chandigarh and his brother reached here early this morning from Jammu. All his relatives were residing in Jammu. The cremation of all four family members was done today in the presence of close relatives and friends. |
||
|
CM’s Diwali with underprivileged kids
Shimla, October 29 He announced a new complex for housing the ashram at a cost of Rs 3 crore. He said that the government was providing every possible help to the children’s homes in the state so that they could be properly rehabilitated. The children would be imparted vocational training for which the government would bear all expenses. The Chief Minister said the underprivileged children were responsibility of society and it must provide all possible help to enable them to lead a dignified life. The government was doing its bit by providing adequate budget to bal ashrams and making available proper staff. He said the state government was committed to the welfare of the underprivileged section of society who were being provided vocational training in trades like computer applications, motor mechanic, radio mechanic and beautician. He also distributed sweets and fire-crackers to the children. Principal secretary, social justice and empowerment Rashima Gupta, detailed the various activities of her department. |
||
|
Significant RTI ruling made
Shimla, October 29 “Notings on the files explain the process of arriving at a decision and as such in the interest of ensuring transparency and accountability in the departmental functioning. The files are not the personal diaries of public servants and notings made at various levels could be by no stretch of imagination termed as private outpouring of their sundry feelings in private capacities,” state information commissioner
S.S. Parmar observed while setting aside the orders of public information officer (deputy secretary, law) and the first appellate authority (secretary, law). The appeal was field by an assistant engineer of the state public works department
R.K. Kashyap after the public information officer refused to supply the desired information (PIO) on the plea that the routine notes of the department were not official documents and further that opinions tendered by the law department became information pertaining to that department only which had sought the advice at the first instance. The appellate authority upheld the initial orders of the PIO stating that opinions given by the law department were invariably on the files of the other departments and as such become information pertaining to that department only. Accordingly, the appellant was advised to apply to the public works department for the desired information. The commission while rejecting the plea of the PIO and the appellate authority observed that the appellant has also sought the complete noting portion of the law department where the issue of determining the seniority of direct recruits vis-à-vis promotee assistant engineers had
been examined. Obviously, he was trying to access the decision-making process and not merely the final advice given by it. An application could be refused only if it was hit by one of the exemptions from disclosure of information as provided under Section 8 of the Act which was not the case. The PIO was directed to supply the desired information within a week. |
||
|
Shed-cum-factory gutted
Mandi, October 29 Though the owner claimed that the fire had destroyed machineries worth Rs 15-20 lakh, the district administration had yet to assess the loss as “nobody reported the
matter to the district administration”. According to firemen, Jan Mohamad informed the fire station around 12:47 am today that a fire had erupted in a nearby shed-cum-factory. The firemen rushed two fire tenders and reached the spot within 10 minutes. The fireman, Hukum Chand, who led the team, said the fire destroyed shed-cum-factory completely as they got information when the fire had already consumed the shed-cum-factory. The fire could have been fatal as the fire spot lies just few yards from the 33 KV sub-station and other units. Neither the police nor the firemen could ascertain the exact cause of the fire so far. The fire was controlled around 3 am. Raising doubts over the “mysterious fire” is: why the owner of the shed-cum-factory, Parminder Singh, refused to lodge an FIR in the case. There was no chowkidar at the factory as the owner claimed that he was with them for the Diwali celebrations, which further raised suspicion. Parminder claimed that the fire could be a result of the short circuit. “He did not suspected any foul play in the fire incident,” he told the police. “The grinding, welding and aluminium machineries worth Rs 15 lakh were destroyed in the fire”. Mandi SP M. Chandra Sekhar said the police would look into the case, as the matter was not reported to him so far. |
||
|
Team formed, records seized in bitumen scam
Dharamsala, October 29 The SP, vigilance, who is investigating the case said that records of PWD and Agro Industries Corporation had been confiscated by the vigilance team from Una district. Anything regarding the case can only be said after record was scrutinized. Meanwhile, the sources available here said the quantum of scam in which 815 drums of bitumen were allegedly swindled could amount to about Rs 44 lakh. The cost of each bitumen drum is about Rs 5500. The sources also told The Tribune that the PWD officials were likely to shift the blame of missing bitumen drums on the MK Enterprises transport company that was given the contract of shifting bitumen from Panipat-based dumps of the Indian Oil corporation and the HPCL. Some of officials when contacted by The Tribune said that the transport company might have produced some fake papers to draw the bills from the department. The failure of vigilance to act in a swift manner to affect arrests of culprits in the case might provide them the chance to cover their tracks. The sources here also said that the vigilance was likely to file charge sheet against former chairman of the Himachal board of school education Rahi in a Dharamsala court in the coming days. The charge sheet is ready and can be filed any time, the vigilance officials told
The Tribune while speaking on condition of anonymity. |
||
|
Paonta Sahib export house signs MoU with US company
Shimla, October 29 Chairman of the company Manmohan Malik said here today that under the agreement the ALDI grocery stores would sell frozen vegetables, baby potatoes and breaded appetisers and other products through its nation-wide chain of 1000 retail stores set up from Kansas to the East Coast across the United States. It would sell around $ 3 million worth products of the company in a year. The first shipment of 100 tonnes of frozen vegetables and breaded appetisers would be despatched during November, 2008. Malik said in all the company would sell baby potatoes worth around $ 4 million in U S this year. Being low in starch and high in fibre content the baby potatoes were healthier than large size potatoes. The company was processing these potatoes as blanched and frozen for exports to the USA. Himalaya International is the largest company in India to export value added baby potato products to the US. The company grows and processes specially baby potatoes with 'skin on' in the foothills of the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh. Baby potatoes are part of gourmet food in the USA and the United
Kingdom. Exports to the USA are likely to grow by 60 per cent this year and touch the figure of $ 10 million. The export revenue has increased considerably due to strengthening of dollar in comparison to rupee and economic slowdown in the USA has created new opportunities for food export and the company is looking to capitalise by offering inexpensive food products to middle class which has been hit hard by current economic situation. The products of the company were 25 per cent cheaper than other products available in the US
markets. |
||
|
Federation to celebrate foundation day on Nov 19
Bilaspur, October 29 Addressing mediapersons here today along with six other top leaders of the state federation, state president Ram Singh said we all owe a responsibility towards those leaders who played a pivotal role in setting and strengthening this organisation and also made sacrifices for the sake of employees and November 19 would be the day to remember them and pay homage to them as whatever we are getting today are the result of their consistent efforts and sacrifices. Singh said present employees are fortunate that they have got a government and a very friendly Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, who is very considerate towards their problems and had been very keen to solve it at the earliest. He expressed confidence that the Chief Minister would continue his campaign of providing maximum facilities to them and would now provide relief by removing disparity in the retirement age of various categories of employees and would announce and introduce only one retirement age of 60 years for all employees of the state. He said it was unjustified that some employees retire at the age of 58 and others at 60. |
||
|
PTA teachers’ kin to join strike soon
Shimla, October 29 The agitating PTA teachers whose chain hunger strike entered the 22nd day today said seeing the negative attitude of the government towards their demands, their family members would also join the strike shortly. “If the past governments could regularise the services of voluntary teachers and vidya upasaks whose appointment was not permanent then the same criterion should be adopted for them too or else all the previous appointees must be removed,” said Shishupal Gazta, general secretary of the union. He said the present regime was victimising the PTA teachers simply for the fact that they had been appointed during the tenure of the previous Congress regime. “While other employees are being given bouns and increments on the occasion of Diwali, 15,000 PTA teachers are on the verge of losing their job because of the fresh criterion of appointment being fixed,” he said. He said the PTA teachers would fight against the injustice of the government and the policy of pick and choose being adopted by the authorities to suit their convenience. |
||
|
Prostrating for world peace
Kangra, October 29 Choetor arrived here at 5.30 pm today with a hand driven cart, which he uses for night stay, carrying a Tibetan flag on it. Choetor had started his pilgrimage from Tibet to McLoedganj two years and five months back and had crossed the Sunauli-Nepal Boarder and arrived at Kathmandu. The Buddhist monk had been prostrating for highlighting the human rights violations in Tibet and praying for world peace. The crusader for the world peace and human rights knows Tibetan language, besides the language of love and affection. While talking to The Tribune, Choetor could convey his sentiments through a Tibetan passer by Chemie, a resident of Dharamsala. Choetor said he was nabbed before he crossed the Nepal Border and was kept for some days in captivity, but was released being a monk and nothing could be established against him. He crossed Basti, Faizabad, Lucknow, Baraily, Rampur, Muradabad and Ghaziabad before he arrived at Delhi. It took him 80 days to reach here from Delhi. He takes his cart more than 100 m ahead and then comes back and moves in a prostrating way. His eyes were sharp as his destination was coming closer to him. He said he was hopeful to have an audience with the Tibetan Temporal Head, the Dalai Lama. Choetor had been sustaining himself on fried flour and tea for this entire pilgrimage and was schedule to stay at the Shate Monastery at McLoedganj on his arrival there.
|
||
|
‘Govt not to allow felling of trees’
Palampur, October 29 Addressing a news conference in the local press club this afternoon, the forest minister said the government had already refused permission for felling of 11,000 trees to a cement company, who was setting up a cement plant near Sundernagar. He said the company was asked to review its project in accordance with the environmental policy of the state government. The BJP government had also informed other cement companies in this regard and had asked them to set up such plants in barren lands where no forest land was involved as the protection of environment was top priority. He said the state government was well conversant with the situation that six new cements plants were coming up in the state, but these plants had to seek environment clearance from the government before the construction work was taken up. In the present scenario, the state government had made environment laws more stringent with heavy penalties to check illicit felling, large-scale mining and erosion caused by these projects. |
||
|
People will decide UPA’s fate: BJP
Una, October 29 He said this while addressing mediapersons at Una today that the people of the state will decide what the BJP government had done during one year prior to forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state and also give thought to what the Congress did during its five-year tenure prior to this in Himachal Pradesh. Rana said five-year tenure of the Congress in Himachal Pradesh was full of favouritism and corruption and that too in the office of the then Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, as is clear from the Vigilance case registered against his principal secretary Subhash Ahluwalia. He said during the last two LS byelections of Hamirpur parliamentary constituency BJP candidates Prem Kumar Dhumal as well as Anurag Thakur won them by thumping majority that too when the Congress was ruling the state. He said it is the people of the state and the country who would decide whether the BJP graph is going down or up and it is not for the Congress to decide that the BJP graph had gone down considerably during the last one year. Rajinder Rana further said achievement of the UPA at the Centre is creating history of rising prices and unemployment in the country. The prices of daily need articles and essential commodities have never been at the level of what they are today and certainly people would give proper thought while voting in the forthcoming LS elections.
|
||
|
Govt committed to provide best facilities to scribes: MLA
Sundernagar, October 29 He said the earlier government had framed rules vide which the journalists working at district level had to pay more for their stay in rest houses of various departments, but when the matter was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister he immediately issued directions and now the rates have been amended. Earlier to it, Nachan MLA Dile Ram, who was presiding over the function, appealed the mediapersons to highlight the problems being faced by the public so that the government could act promptly in order to solve the problem, as it was a part of real journalism. On this occasion he announced Rs 2 lakh for the building of press club. Roop Singh Thakur sanctioned an amount of Rs 2.25 lakh and said the work of construction would be completed at war footing. The representatives of Harish Cement Ltd also announced an amount of Rs 2 lakh for the building.
|
||
|
Doctor beaten up in hospital
Nahan, October 29 Nahan DSP Sandeep Kumar confirmed the incident and said Rahul (28) and Shankar (31), brothers, visited Nahan hospital yesterday to get Rahul checked up, as he was not well. They allegedly thrashed Dr Ashit after an alteration took place between them on the issue that in which room the patient should be examined. The medical report confirms simple injuries to the doctor. The police has arrested both the accused after registering a case. under Sections 353, 332 and 506 of the IPC. |
||
|
One injured by gunshot
Nurpur, October 29 According to the police, the victim, Ranjit Singh, whose right leg was injured by the gunshot has been referred to the Tanda medical college. It has seized the licensee gun of the accused. Ranjit Singh had stated with the police that Onkar Singh fired at him when he was going to the market from his house. The gunshot hit in his right leg. In preliminary investigations no cause of attempt to murder has been found, but minor dispute is stated to be the cause of the altercation. |
||
|
3 injured in accident
Shimla, October 29 The mishap took place at about 11.30 p.m. when the bus (HP-63-1558) rolled down a khud near the petrol pump in Vikasnagar. Bus driver Ramesh along with two other passengers, Parminder and Girish, have been admitted to Indira Gandhi medical College (IGMC) with serious injuries. Meanwhile, about a dozen cases of burns have been reported in various hospitals of the town on the night of Diwali. |
||
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
The Diwali night proved to be fatal for Naresh Kanwar, a shopkeeper in the Kasumpti Bazar, who was suffocated to death along with his wife and two children when a fire broke out in their house last night.
