The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

Tug-of-war over credit for development works
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 14
Even as a tug-of-war continues between the ruling BJP and the Congress over taking credit for development works, the fact that the chief minister alone has inaugurated and laid foundation stone of a record 258 schemes in the last one year could give some solace to the opposition leaders.

The Congress has been crying hoarse to drive home the point that most of the schemes inaugurated by Dhumal have been completed during their rule but due to early announcement of elections they could not be formally inaugurated. As per official figures Dhumal has performed inaugurations of 170 schemes and laid foundation stones of 88 schemes till November 30 last year since he assumed power. The figure is also indicative of the fact that the chief minister has not just been on an inauguration spree through the year but he has also announced several schemes, of which 88 foundations stones have also been laid within a short span of11 months, for which data has been compiled.

Interestingly, the maximum number 19 schemes and projects that Dhumal has inaugurated is in district Kanga, followed by 13 in Hamirpur, 11 in Mandi, 10 in Shimla and eight in Kullu. With regard to the performance of ministerial colleagues of Dhumal in this field is concerned, it is irrigation minister, Ravinder Ravi and PWD minister Gulab Singh Thakur, who share the honours.

While Ravi, a close confidante of the CM, has inaugurated 10 schemes and laid the foundation stone of 29 schemes, Thakur has inaugurated 20 schemes and laid foundation stones of 19 schemes. Second rating for the maximum number of inaugurations and foundation stones is that of social justice and empowerment minister, Sarveen Chaudhary, whose score stands at a total of 18.

Interestingly, those ministers considered close to Dhumal are heading in performing foundations stones as well as inaugurations while those who are still maintaining their distance from him are far low in performing this task. Forest minister J.P. Nadda during one complete year has laid the foundation stone of only one scheme. Similarly, food and civil supplies minister Ramesh Chaudhary, still a staunch Shanta loyalist has also inaugurated only four schemes and laid the foundation stone of only two schemes.

It is also probably with an eye on the Lok Sabha elections that the BJP regime would want top make lots of announcements and lay the foundation stones so that benefit can be taken in the elections. The fact that the BJP is in power and has four years of rule goes to its advantage and the government would obviously want to encash it.

Protest over Kashyap’s re-entry
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 14
It was amidst slogan raising and opposition by a faction of the party workers that former minister and rebel candidate from Kasumpti segment, Roop Das Kashyap was re-inducted into the party at a time when trouble is already brewing for the BJP on the Shimla parliamentary seat.

The homecoming of Kashyap was opposed by supporters of Tarsem Bharti, who had contested the assembly election from Kasumpti as the party’s official candidate. Bharti’s loyalists raised slogans against the entry of Kashyap, as top brass of the BJP, including chief minister, P.K. Dhumal, state BJP chief Jai Ram Thakur and organisation secretary, Mahender Pandey arrived to attend the party meeting of the Shimla parliamentary constituency.

It was not just slogan raising outside the sate BJP office in Chakkar which could harm the party’s prospects but even a disgruntled H.N. Kashyap, who is trying to get the ticket for Shimla seat for the Lok Sabha elections could damage the party prospects. However, the presence of independent MLA from Theog, Rakesh Verma, who has already announced support for the ruling party at the meeting, was a positive development. H.N. Kashyap also attended today’s meeting.

Though senior party leaders spoke of working unitedly to ensure the victory of the official candidate, Virender Kashyap but such kind of ire shown by the workers could not augur well for the party, especially in view of the fact that Shimla has been the traditional stronghold of the party.

Bharti when contacted said that by inducting Roop Dass Kashyap without any condition, the party had sent a very wrong signal and it had demoralised the party cadres. “He should have been asked to first work for the party in Lok Sabha elections and then opened the doors for him,” opined a peeved Bharti. He minced no words in stating that a very wrong precedent had been set as this would encourage indiscipline in the party.

Senior party leaders admitted that at a stage when the possibility of open rebellion by H.N. Kashyap, a contender for the party ticket was still open, admitting Roop Dass Kashyap could harm the party prospects. At the same time a section of the leadership felt that Kashyap still had a good following in the party and his induction was bound to benefit the party.

HP ignored in rail budget
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 14
Chief minister P.K. Dhumal today said Himachal had been completely ignored in the interim railway budget, which was a clear reflection of the fact that the UPA regime was giving out step-motherly treatment to the hill state.

Dhumal in his reaction to the interim railway budget said it was disappointing, as Himachal had not been given anything. “Out of a total of 14 new railway lines whose survey was proposed, Himachal’s demand had not been included,” he said.

He said Himachal had also been discriminated in case of broad gauge conversion also as its demand had been totally ignored. “No new train has been sanctioned for the state out of a total of 43 new trains to be started in the next financial year,” he stated. He added that even in case of 14 extension of trains, Himachal did not figure anywhere.

“The people of the state will give a befitting reply to the UPA regime in the Lok Sabha elections for this kind of shabby treatment,” he said. He added that the state governemnt would also lodge its strong protest before the Centre for inclusion of Himachal in various railway proposals for the coming year.

On the other hand Congress leaders like Chander Kumar, Lok Sabha MP, said that the UPA regime had taken care of the common man by not increasing the fare. “In fact relief has been given to all sections by reducing the fares for all categories by 2 per cent,” he said.

Even state BJP chief Jai Ram Thakur accused the UPA regime of ignoring Himachal completely in the interim railway budget. “It is shocking that the interim railway budget is just confined to Bihar as almost all the 40 Lok Sabha seats of Bihar have gained in some or the other way,” he said.

No retirement dues for semi-govt agency workers
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service

Mehatpur (Una), February 14
Kamlesh Kumar, a resident of Madanpur village, near Una, died last month after putting more than 30 years in a semi-government organisation ,Industrial Area Development Agency. He served in the IADA as a pump operator and is survived by three daughters and a minor son.

However, even after putting more than 30 years in the IADA of the government, he has not even been paid a single penny as retirement dues. His family has now been left destitute due to illegal acts of higher officials of the agency.

He along with other employees of the IADA, are an exploited lot. The higher officials of the agency had not been deducting the EPF of the employees working with them. They had also not been contributing the employees share to their pension scheme and EPF due to which the poor employees were not left with any dues after retirement.

The other affected employees said they initially started working as daily wagers in 1976 in the Industries Department of the state. In 1988 they were shifted to the newly created Industrial Development Agencies across the state. After repeated petitions the government in 1998 regularised their service.

They were after that paid regular government scale on orders of the secretary Industries, HP.

Even after regularisation of services the authorities of the IADA did not deduct their EPF or ESI. Due to it most of the employees who were now retiring would not get anything even after putting three decades in the government service.

GM Industries, Una, and chairman of the IADA, Mehatpur, Jai Gopal Sharma, said he had joined here recently.

The GM said he had been apprised of the situation recently. I have started the move to get EPF deducted from the salary of employees working in the agency. I cannot comment on the deeds of my predecessors, he said.

The employees of many other Industrial Development Agencies, including at Tahliwal, Gagret, and Kangra were also facing a similar problem.

Erring unit to pay 4.28 crore as penalty
Ambika Sharma

Solan, February 14
The erring industrial unit, Ganesh Fats, has been fined Rs 4.28 crore for indulging in power theft, which was unearthed by a team of electricity officials on February 11 at Burrawala, near the Barotiwala industrial area. This large-scale power theft has left the industry shocked, as it appeared that the theft had been going for years together.

Officials in the department said the amount had been worked out after conducting an in-depth investigation into their modus operandi. The exposure had, however, put a question mark over the role of the Power Department as well as it failed to detect the laxity earlier. This would now enable the board to charge penalty for barely a year while the theft it appeared had been going on for a much longer period.

The officials said the power connection had been snapped and the unit directed to deposit the penalty within a period of 15 days failing which the power connection would remain disconnected.

Executive engineer Dheeraj Mittal said the penalty had been calculated on the basis of the laid rules of the board and as per the act penalty for a period extending for over a year cannot be imposed. Hence the amount of penalty caters to the electricity theft of one year only. Denying any laxity on part of the officials in detecting this theft he said the unit was undertaking this theft through a surreptitious mode and it was not possible to detect it unless one visited the unit uninformed.

He said it was adverse weather, which gave them a chance to raid the unit and they managed to unearth the large-scale theft. This revelation had once again proved how the industrial units had been hoodwinking the department to save its expenses.

Valentine’s Day
Shopkeepers confront Sena activists
Our Correspondent

Kangra, February 14
Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) activists today protested against the celebration of the Valentine’s Day in this temple town and took out a rally, but had to face resistance from the business community who deal with the Valentine’s Day gifts.

The activists, led by the state Shiv Sena chief Nalinder Ghautam, took out a rally from the Tehsil Chowk of the town and arrived at the College road. Here, they raised anti-Valentine Day and pro-Shiv Sena slogans.

The girls, who were purchasing gifts for their friends, slipped from the scene when the protesters arrived at the College road near DAV College.

The activists, led by Ghautam, entered a shop and asked the girl customers to show the gifts they had purchased. The shopkeepers came out jointly and protested against the entry into the shop by the activists.

This resulted in arguments and exchange of hot words between the shopkeepers and the activists. Sandeep Mittal, one of the shopkeepers, told The Tribune that the activists had a right to protest against the V-Day, but had no right to enter their business centres and harass their customers for none of their faults.

Ghautam said the V-Day was against the Indian culture and philosophy of the Hindu religion, which was unacceptable for the Shiv Sena.

Action initiated against guilty teacher: VC
Our Correspondent

Palampur, February 14
Action against the guilty teacher who was allegedly involved in the SMS scam had already been initiated, according to HP Agriculture University sources. The vice-chancellor Dr Tej Partap told The Tribune today that the Agro Forestry Department, which was headed by the teacher had already been scrapped and merged with other faculty of the university. Besides, the vice-chancellor had also withdrawn all powers he was exercising.

Dr Partap said this institution was the temple of learning and all of us should make sincere efforts to maintain peace on the campus.

Earlier, addressing teachers, students and non-teaching staff of the university, Dr Partap said he would maintain the decorum of the university.

A committee headed by senior functionaries of the university is already investigating the matter and if the teacher is found guilty, stern action would be taken. He said without any evidence no legal action could be taken against him.

Meanwhile, students belonging to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) today burnt the effigy of the vice-chancellor here and demanded stern action against the teacher. Chaman Sharma, organising secretary, ABVP, said they would launch a statewide agitation from tomorrow to oust the VC.

The Students Federation of India (SFI) also flayed the attitude of the vice-chancellor.

Husband surrenders in murder case
Our Correspondent

Kangra, February 14
Rajender Singh, husband of Shivani Guleria, surrendered last night at Daliara in Dehra subdivision before officers of the Criminal Investigating Agency (CIA). In charge, CIA, Subhash Shastri, said today that the CIA got in touch with the accused through his brother Surender Singh and at 2.30 am Rajender surrendered.

Shastri said he was shifted to Jawali and handed over to the Jawali SHO at 5 am and was formally arrested under Section 306 of the IPC. He was produced before the court and was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days, he disclosed.

Residents of Basa village had mounted pressure on the government to arrest Rajender, who was allegedly forced Shivani to commit suicide on January 22, this year.

Adarsh Guleria, brother of the victim, said Shivani was crowned as Miss Kangra was allegedly tortured by her in-laws, including her husband, whose name she had mentioned in her suicide note.

Snowfall on higher reaches
Our Correspondent

Chamba, February 14
The higher peaks in Chamba district and the northern Dhauladhar ranges have been experiencing heavy snowfall since last night, according to official reports reaching here this afternoon.

The famous Manimahesh Lake, Kugti Pass and Chobia Pass connecting the snowy tribal valley of Lahaul continue to be covered under thick snow. The adjoining Pir Panjal mountains in Jammu and Kashmir have also been covered under thick snow.

The lower areas of the region received heavy rainfall, which is beneficial to the rabi crops.

The apple orchardists, however, were still not satisfied with the rains.

One of the orchardists, Uttam Kumar of Khanni apple belt of Bharmour tribal subdivision is of the opinion that heavy snow in the apple belts is indispensable as it acts as manure to the apple crop which remain percolating till the flowering season of the apple plants thereby producing high yield of apples.

8 leopard skins seized, four held
Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 14
The police today seized eight leopard skins being smuggled out from Shimla district at Sadhaura village, near Mashobra, 15 km from here.

Acting on a tip-off the CID wing of the police had laid a trap and called those involved in the illegal act for a deal at Sadhaura village on the Sunni road. A CID team led by SP KK Indoria reached the designated spot and nabbed the accused.

The four arrested include Laik Ram, Amar Singh, Pratap Singh and Amar Singh, all belonging to Matiana village. The accused arrived at the place with eight leopard skins in a Trax. All four have been booked under the Wildlife Act.

This is one of the biggest haul of leopard skins seized in recent times. Despite complete ban, some people are engaged in the smuggling of leopard skin.

Man puts house on fire
Tribune News Service

Mandi, February 14
A quarrel with his first wife forced Basehri Ram, posted as a peon at ITI, Dehra, and a resident of Jakrain in Naubahi, to put his newly built house on fire yesterday damaging property worth Rs 65,000. He was arrested today under a case of arson registered against him.

According to eyewitness, Besehri Ram entered into an argument with his elder son and first wife. He then took out the burning wood from the hearth and put the upper storey on fire.

But before his family members could do something to put off the fire the kerosene cane and other dry materials kept there intensified the fire.

The Mandi SP said the police had registered a case of arson under Section 436 of the IPC against him after a complaint from his neighbour.

Two booked
Tribune News Service

Mandi, February 14
The two persons, who have been identified as Krishan Kumar and Deepak, today allegedly entered into a dhaba and thrashed its owner Lal Krishan.

The police has booked the duo under criminal trespass, simple hurt and criminal intimidation under Sections 451, 323, 504, 34 of the IPC.According to the police, complainant Lal Krishan, son of Ved Ram, a resident of Jallain Thalaut, today lodged a complaint that he was beaten up badly around 10 am when he was sitting in his dhaba.

41 sleepers of deodar seized
Our Correspondent

Palampur, February 14
The Baijnath police seized 41 sleepers of valuable deodar last night and arrested two persons in this regard.

According to police sources, a police party intercepted a jeep at night, which was carrying 41 sleepers of deodar without valid documents. Two persons travelling in the jeep first tried to drive away but were later caught. They told the police that they did not have a permit for the carriage as was required under the forest laws.

Later, the police registered a case under Sections 41 and 42 of the HP Forest Act. The vehicle was also impounded.