|
|
|
|
Thind files complaint against CM to Lokayukta
ADGP Thind gets bail
All set for re-entry of Rattan, Sapehia into Congress
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Battle of ballot rages at Hamirpur, Mandi
Changing candidate won’t help Cong: Anurag
Ex-servicemen to boycott polls
SEZ model opposed by confederation
Supermax announces rollback plan
Narinder refutes corruption charges
Solid waste management plan in pipeline
Insurance firm told to pay compensation
College teachers’ body splits
Foundation day celebrated
Ansari to deliver lecture
Bal Gopal Divas celebrated
Resentment among teachers against govt
BJP appoints publicity team
|
|
Thind files complaint against CM to Lokayukta
Shimla, April 6 Apprehending arrest by the Himachal police, Thind got his complaints registered in the Lokayukta on April 4, the day he was arrested from the district court here. Separate complaints have been filed by him against the chief minister, CBI director Ashwani Kumar, also from the Himachal cadre, ADGP (Vigilance) D.S. Manhas and IG (Law and Order) S.R Mardi, levelling allegations of abuse of position and indulging in alleged corrupt practices. Thind has annexed a list of properties owned by Dhumal and his family members at various places, seeking investigation. He has also cited a specific instance of granting tender to a private security agency for zonal hospitals without cabinet approval while he was the chief minister during the last tenure. While Lokayukta officials confirmed that complaints had been received from Thind, they did not verify whether he filed them in person or were given by someone on his behalf. However, sources close to the 1974 batch IPS officer said that he had filed the complaints personally before his arrest. Chief minister P.K. Dhumal, when contacted on the issue, today said there was no substance in the allegations levelled against him by Thind and the Lokayukta was free to look into the complaint. “The previous Congress governments in Punjab and Himachal, who have already looked into the allegations did not find any truth in the allegations of Thind,” he said, reacting to the charges levelled by the suspended IPS officer. The chief minister said that every time there were elections, Thind tried to level such allegations. “He should not forget that this time his “Godfather” is not the chief minister to look into such frivolous charges,” he remarked Considered close to former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, the timing of the arrest of Thind is coinciding with the holding of the Lok Sabha polls and it is being felt that the ruling party would want to encash it politically. The FIR that has been lodged against Thind by the Parwanoo businessman, Ashok Mittal also has references to Virbhadra Singh and his principal private secretary, Subhash Ahluwalia. The name of Thind had figured prominently in the charge sheet that the BJP had prepared while the Congress was in power. As such his arrest was very much along expected lines and he was placed under suspension following framing of charges by the CBI in a case in Punjab. |
||
|
Solan, April 6 Thind, a 1974 batch IPS officer and ADGP Lokayukta, was produced before the court of Solan District and Sessions Judge CB Borowalia, who granted him bail on a personal surety of Rs 25,000. On Saturday, he had complained of chest pain after arrest and was taken to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) where doctors kept him under observation for two days. The officer, considered close to former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, has been arrested in connection with a complaint of Parwanoo-based businessman Ashok Mittal that the ADGP sought huge sum of money to get his business premises vacated. He had also submitted a CD to the state police headquarters purportedly containing voice of Thind. On direction of the government an FIR was lodged with the Parwanoo police station on June 15, 2008, and he was placed under suspension by the government. Meanwhile, crying foul play in his arrest, Thind lodged a complaint with state Lokayukta against Chief Minister PK Dhumal, former DGP Ashwani Kumar, who is CBI Director now, and DGP Vigilance DS Manhas. In his complaint against CM on Saturday, a copy of which was given to media today, the police officer alleged that Dhumal “knowingly and intentionally” abused his position to cause undue harm to him. Thind also alleged that Kumar and Manhas were biased. — PTI
|
||
|
All set for re-entry of Rattan, Sapehia into Congress
Shimla, April 6 The decision of Dharmavir Dhami, who contested as a BSP candidate from Kullu after being denied the party ticket, to join the BJP has spurred the party high command to act fast. The case of re-entry of four rebels had been pending with the high command for the past quite sometime. However, it has been delaying a decision on the issue because of differences among senior leaders, particularly, over the entry of Pramod Sharma who had contested against the Congress legislative party leader from the Kumarsain seat. Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kaul Singh had sent an SOS to the high command after Dhami joined the BJP to take immediate decision. According to party sources, in charge of the party affairs in the state Moshina Kidwai has followed up the matter and informed the state leadership that the re-entry of Rattan and Sapehia has been cleared. The state leaders are in touch with the two leaders, lest they should also join the BJP. Contesting from Jwalamhkuhi as an Independent candidate Sanjay Rattan secured 17,798 votes to end up at the second place after Ramesh Dhawala (BJP) who polled 22,562 votes. The official Congress candidate Ruma Kaundal managed to get only 4,441 votes. Similarly, Sapehia polled 11,985 vote as Independent from the Thural seat, while the Congress candidate Sanjay Rana got only 4,075 votes. The seat was won by Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Ravi, who secured 18,627 votes. The fate of Pramod Sharma still hangs in the balance as he is unlikely to get the nod from the high command until Stokes agrees. The ground realities have changed as the Kumarsain assembly segment has been wiped out after delimitation. The Kumarsain area over which Stokes exercised influence has been merged into Theog, her traditional constituency, and Pramod’s pocket of influence Suni has become part of the newly carved out Shimla rural constituency. However, the clash of political interests remains. |
||
|
Battle of ballot rages at Hamirpur, Mandi
Mandi, April 6 While Dhumal is putting in every effort to ensure the win of his son, Anurag Thakur, from Hamirpur, Virbhadra Singh is seeking election from Mandi, presently represented by his wife Pratibha Singh. Dhumal and Virbhadra Singh are the main leaders of the two political parties who can swing the mood of the electorate in the state. In fact, Dhumal and Virbahdra Singh have turned the contest in these constituencies into a war between them, with each one trying to emerge victorious. Virbhadra Singh does not fail to remind people that he is not fighting against any individual BJP man, rather it is a fight against the
corrupt revengeful regime of Dhumal. On the other hand, Dhumal alleges that “corruption was at its peak during Virbhadra Singh’s regime”. “Ho javo ekethe, Virbhadra Singh ke chak do phate (get together and trounce
Virbhadra Singh”, he tells his supporters. The result: BJP and Congress leaders are trying to utilise this opportunity to develop closers ties with these leaders. Activists of the Congress and the BJP are vying with each other to campaign for Virbhadra Singh and Anurag Thakur. “I will go to Hamirpur to campaign for Anurag, I don’t feel like campaigning in Mandi,” said a BJP leader. “It is good to be here with Virbhadra Singh rather than working in the Shimla (reserved) constituency for the Congress candidate,” said a Congress leader from Mandi, who has been deployed in Shimla. |
||
|
Changing candidate won’t help Cong: Anurag
Hamirpur, April 6 Talking to mediapersons here today, Thakur said, “Changing party candidate in Hamirpur will not be of much help to the Congress as people vote for the policies and programmes of the contesting candidates and elections cannot be won by changing candidates.” He said, “The Congress may change as many candidates as it likes, but the BJP has little to worry since we have our good work, plans and policies behind us.” Denying the allegations of misuse of government machinery in the election by his party, he said, “It is the Congress that had been using government machinery in the elections in the past. The Congress allegation about the misuse of official machinery by the BJP is unfounded and false. Such allegations are being levelled by Congress leaders out of frustration and everybody knows the truth.” He said, “The people of the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency are well aware about the works done by the BJP government and they have already made up their minds. The state government has been implementing policies and the programmes to help the poor.” Education Minister ID Dhiman, district BJP president Baldev Sharma, former parliamentary secretaries Urmil Thakur and Praveen Sharma were also present in the press conference. Earlier, Anurag Thakur inaugurated the BJP election office for the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency. |
||
|
Ex-servicemen to boycott polls
Bilaspur, April 6 The decision was taken as a mark of their protest against failure of all political parties and leaders to fulfil their promise of enforcing the rule of “one rank, one pension” up till now. They said they would not cast their votes till any political party takes up their demand as its top election manifesto and assures to implement it under a time
bound programme. The general house also decided to boycott any ex-serviceman officer who plays into the hands of politicians and pleads for casting of votes in favour of
any candidate. The meeting said nobody had ever bothered about them and how they were spending their days of retirement during these hard days, after having given the best part of their life to the service of the country and society. The general house, however, decided to reconsider their decision to boycott the elections if ex-servicemen put up any of their candidate in elections. The congregation also demanded a CSD canteen facility and a Sainik rest house at Barthin and implementation of filling of 15 per cent quota of ex-servicemen in the civil services. |
||
|
SEZ model opposed by confederation
Shimla, April 6 The campaign against the policy of setting up special economic zones, big hydroelectric projects, mining projects , cement plants and other such ecologically hazardous ventures at the cost of the traditional rights and livelihood of the local communities will kick off with a “Himalaya Bachao Rally” on April 9 at
Bilaspur, to be followed by a two-day conference. Convener of the HNA Kulbhushan Upmanyu said that the purpose of the rally was to make it a people’s movement by providing a platform to the aggrieved communities. The members of the affected communities would share experiences with experts from all over the country and the representatives of various agitating non-government organisations would give first-hand accounts of the disastrous impact of the “insensitive” development initiatives. Well-known environment campaigners like Medha
Patekar, Ashok Chaudhary and Sunder Lal Bahuguna will address the rally and participate in the conference. The objective of the rally was to put pressure on the government to evolve a new model for ensuring environmentally sustainable development of the hills. The focus would be on mega projects like Bhakra Dam and various ongoing hydroelectric projects in
Kinnaur, upcoming cement plants at Sundernagar and Baga, Himalayan ski village at Manali , an industrial hub at Nalagarh and proposed SEZ at
Gagret. The manner in which such projects were being implemented, ignoring the concerns of the communities and overriding their livelihood needs and rights, had caused widespread unrest among them. The only way out was to launch a mass movement to resist such development initiatives actively, he added. |
||
|
Supermax announces rollback plan
Shimla, April 6 The GM (HR),
Supermax, Subhash D Chaudhari today said that the rollback plan at Shoghi includes manufacture of hack-saw blades, surgical blades, barber razors, razors for twin blades and industrial blades. “The first batch of machinery is likely to be arrive at the unit in Shoghi by next week so that operations could start at the earliest,” he said. He added that the endeavour of the company was to resume operations and for this it had identified opportunities of exporting the above products in the world market. Moreover, the manufacture of these products involves labour intensive jobs and hence would create ample job opportunities for the local populace. He said manufacture of toiletries, cosmetics and shaving cream would also be undertaken. It was on June 30 last year that one worker was killed in a clash between the workers and the management, leading to closure of the unit. Chaudhari said his company was keen that the livelihood and the security of the local people was upheld and negative elements who had demonstrated utter disregard for the law of the land in the
past, were stopped from repeating the same. He also sought help from the government in
creating an environment, which was safe and conducive for industrial development of the state. |
||
|
Richard Gere in D’sala to attend conference
Dharamsala, April 6 In a brief interaction with the media, Richard Gere said he felt privileged to be part of the conference. “Interaction with experts participating in the conference will help me improve my meditation technique. There is religious and spiritual sincerity among the participants and I will get to learn a lot here,” he said. Gere, who is known for his performance in “Pretty Woman”, “Runaway Bride” and “An Officer and a Gentleman”, came in contact with the Dalai Lama in 1982-83 as a student. He has embraced Tibetan Buddhism. Sources said most of his teachers were from Gelupa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama inaugurated the 18th conference on “Mind and life” here today. Prominent scientists would engage in discussions on understanding the nature of reality and promoting human well-being during the conference over the next five days. Sources said participants from various disciplines of philosophy, psychology, neuroscience and Buddhist contemplative practice would discuss “human attention, memory and the mind from phenomenological (including contemplative), psychological, and neurobiological perspectives”. Participants feel this exploration will lead to further systematic plans for research on meditation and contemplative practices. Neuroscientist Francisco Varela and entrepreneur Adam Engle started the mind and life dialogue with the Dalai Lama in 1987 and the first “mind and life” conference was convened at Dharamsala in October that year. |
||
|
Narinder refutes corruption charges
Hamirpur, April 6 In an informal talk with mediapersons here today on the sidelines of Block Congress Committee meeting, he said, “If even one allegation levelled by
the BJP leaders against me is proved I would withdraw from the elections and if they cannot substantiate the charges then
they should render public apology.” “Such allegations are being levelled against him to divert the attention from corruption charges levelled by him against the BJP leaders, but truth always prevail,” he added. He said, “The Congress is united in these elections and all leaders of the party would campaign in this election unitedly.” Thakur said, “The BJP party which was groomed by leaders like his father late Thakur Jagdev Chand has been hijacked by Dhumal and his family today and has totally become
a means to earn money in the state.” He said, “Soon he will undertake the tour of the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency and will be joined by all leaders of the Congress in his campaign.” |
||
|
Solid waste management plan in pipeline
Dalhousie, April 6 Stating this here today, executive officer of the Dalhousie Municipal Council Kartar Jaiswal said the functionaries of the council were concerned about the sanitation and upkeep of roads. He said sanitation of the town was intact with the voluntary cooperation of the public and in view of the ensuing tourist season a special cleanliness drive had been launched; adding that the two sites for throwing debris and muck had been identified and that would be operational after approval was received from the competent authorities. Regarding facelift of roads and alleyway, the work of tarring the roads has been undertaken on war footing, the executive officer affirmed. The executive officer said there was no environmental degradation on account of encroachments as the municipality had three forest guards who were quite alive upon the encroachments as well as illicit felling of trees though there was shortage of staff in the council. Encroachments are removed in the initial stage as and when reported, the executive officer further stated. Besides this, draft project reports (DPRs) with regard to different schemes like improvement of drainage system, conservation of soil erosion and sanitation were being prepared under the centrally sponsored UIDSMTP (Urban Integrated Development of Small and Medium Towns Programme); adding that these DPRs were being processed speedily for submission to the concerned authorities. |
||
|
Insurance firm told to pay compensation
Shimla, April 6 The commission headed by Justice Arun Kumar Goel (retd) passed this order in connection with an appeal filed by the insurance company wherein it had challenged the order of the consumer forum vide which it was directed to pay Rs 50,000 along with 9 per cent interest besides the cost of litigation. The company had challenged the order on the ground that the client, who had now expired, had suppressed facts regarding his health at the time of obtaining the policy. It was further alleged that he was suffering from tuberculosis when the proposal form was filled. Dismissing the appeal, the commission said the company had failed to establish the fact that the deceased had suppressed material facts regarding his state of health. According to the complainant, Chatri Devi, her husband had obtained insurance policy for Rs 50,000 under the salary saving scheme in 2002. He died in December, 2004. A claim was lodged by her with the insurance company to pay her the insurance amount, but the claim was turned down. She filed a compliant before the consumer forum and the same was allowed by the forum. |
||
|
Kangra valley shivers
Kangra, April 6 The valley started receiving rain around 4 am and it continued for the entire day. The Dhauladhar ranges and the lower foothills too received heavy snowfall resulting in cold wave like conditions in the Kangra valley. Reports of rains were also received from almost all parts of the valley, including Mallan, Jawalamukhi, Nagrota Bagwan, Gaggal, Shahapur, Dharamsala, Dhera and Kotla. The people were forced to wear woollens as the mercury dropped down considerably. The agriculture experts said unseasonal rains and low temperature would affect the crops at the harvesting stage, which include wheat and mustard. They said the rains would, however, be beneficial for the fruits like mango and litchi. Though the government schools were on vacations, the students of private schools were the worst affected due to cold wave like conditions.Traffic remained disrupted on some link roads in the district, which were dug for laying cables and pipes and thus left the road slippery after the rains. |
||
|
College teachers’ body splits
Bilaspur, April 6 The general house expressed dissatisfaction regarding working of the present state association and decided to form a new association which could strive hard to get all difficulties, demands of the college lecturers accepted and solved at the earliest. Large number of representatives from 36 colleges from all parts of the state attended the general house. The new association opened its doors to even lecturers of private colleges. Sardar Chauhan of Saraswati Nagar College was elected state president while Satya Chauhan of Kot Shera College, Shimla, was elected senior vice-president. Dr Prem Sharma (Nalagarh) was elected vice-president and Surender Thakur (Bhorunj) was elected state general secretary. Assistant secretary Archana Gupta (Solan), treasurer Dr Dhirender Gupta (Ghumarwin) and press secretary Dr Niraj Varma. Members of state Executive Committee included: Bhishm Gupta (Rampur), Anita Parmar (Lamba Thach-Mandi), Binny Ohri (Una), Chander Rangta (Seema), Sudershan Joshi (Kot Shera), Reva Gandhi (Paonta Sahib), Vipin Sharma (Hamirpur), Dr Surat Ram (Kullu), Chander Sen (Nalagarh), Onkar Dogra (Dhaliyara), Rajni (Nurpur) and Yogesh (Bilaspur). The meeting extended total support to the government for implementation of its policies and programmes. It also expressed resentment in fixation of duties in university examinations and evaluation etc and said nepotism and favouritism, alleged in this matter, should be ended immediately and duties be assigned by turns to all lecturers.
|
||
|
Foundation day celebrated
Shimla, April 6 Functions were held all over the state to obverse the Founders Day. State BJP chief Jai Ram Thakur urged the party workers to ensure the victory of BJP in the Lok Sabha elections so that it could come back to power. He said Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani were instrumental in the formation of the BJP led NDA regime. “The party founded as the Jansangh way back in 1952 has come a long way and people have endorsed the ideology of the party,” he added. Local MLA Suresh Bhardwaj also presided over a function held here today to mark the foundation day of the party. — TNS
|
||
|
Ansari to deliver lecture
Shimla, April 6 Governor Prabha Rau will preside over the lecture which is an annual feature of the institute. Earlier lectures have
been delivered by Dr Murali Manohar Joshi, Dr R.S.Pathak, Montek Singh Ahluwalia ,
M.G.K. Menon and Prof Andre Bettele. |
||
|
Bal Gopal Divas celebrated
Kullu, April 6 DC M Sudha Devi was the chief guest on the occasion. She said, “Clean child could only be the healthy child”. She called upon the villagers to maintain cleanliness in their respective villages and emphasised on making toilets in every house to avoid open defecation. She said spreading garbage and defecation in the open not only make the atmosphere bad but also pollute the drinking water sources. She further said that keeping clean surroundings is the social responsibility of every citizen. A competition among the “clean and healthy” children was also organised in which Gunjan, daughter of Jai Chand of Anganwari, Kangati, and Payal, daughter of Vidya Sagar of Anganwari, Bashing, were declared first. Children from these anganwaris also presented cultural items on the occasion. |
||
|
Resentment among teachers against govt
Kangra, April 6 State president of the PAT Association Diwinder Mankotia said here today, after addressing the PATs who had arrived here from different districts of the state, that 1,355 GVUs were appointed in 2002 by the BJP government and the PATs were appointed by the Congress government in 2003 and the Congress government in 2006 merged GVU in PAT with all benefits. He said the PATs were given benefits on the basis of seniority and qualification. Unfortunately on February 11, 2009, the state government notified that 1,355 GVUs were pulled out of the PAT cadre and pushed to contract JBT scale allegedly with political considerations. He alleged that from 2006 to 2009 the cadre was same and the benefits given to them were same but now 1,355 GVUs have been given contract JBT scale whereas PATs were left in a lurch with no fault of theirs. |
||
|
BJP appoints publicity team
Shimla, April 6 Mohan Joshi has been made media in charge and Randhir Sharma head of the media centre for the Mandi constituency. In case of Kangra, Kamal Hamirpuri will be the media in charge, while Desh Bandhu will look after the media centre. The responsibility will be on Rajender Rana and Khushal Jagota in case of Hamirpur, and Ashok Kapatia and Raju Thakur in case of Shimla. |
||
|
| 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 | |
