Shimla, April 13
Ensuring a good lead for the party nominees from their respective constituencies is proving to be a litmus test for ministers and MLAs of the ruling BJP as it is on the basis of this performance that future rewards, including filling of two vacant ministerial berths, will be decided.

Chief Minister PK Dhumal has conveyed to all ministers and MLAs that they must ensure maximum possible lead to party candidates from their respective segments so that the BJP is able to win the maximum possible Lok Sabha seats. Dhumal is making it a point to state at all his election rallies that rewards or development works will be given on the basis of lead an MLA ensures for the party candidate from his segment.

Interestingly, the Chief Minister’s dictate is causing more anxiety among ministers than MLAs as they apprehend that in case of the Congress managing a lead from their segment or the BJP getting only a marginal edge in their area, could cost them their chair.

“In view of the talk of a reshuffle in the Cabinet in the past and two posts still lying vacant, there is a possibility that Dhumal uses the outcome of the Lok Sabha as a yardstick to drop or induct ministers,” admitted a senior minister.

With the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections being a direct reflection on the 14-month performance of the Dhumal regime, the Chief Minister wants that his party wrests more seat than the Congress, which holds three out of total four seats at present. While the ministers are slogging to save their chair, the aspirants of a ministerial berth are working overtime to be in the good books of the CM and make their claim for a ministerial berth strong.

The four ministers from Kangra are striving really hard to ensure that the BJP candidate Rajan Sushant gets the maximum possible lead. “The fact that Kangra has four ministers in sharp contrast to districts like Mandi and Una that are underrepresented or totally unrepresented, puts added pressure on these ministers,” sources said.

Similarly, those eyeing a ministerial berth, especially the MLAs from Una and Mandi districts, are striving hard to ensure a lead 
for the party candidates from their areas.

Shimla, April 13
Alarmed over the depletion of water sources due to declining snow and rain, the government has decided to focus on water conservation projects under the national rural employment guarantee (NREGA) scheme, particularly in the water stressed areas of the state.

Discharge in the surface water sources has been dwindling and water table has started going down in some areas due to indiscriminate exploitation of ground water. The problem of water scarcity has been worsening in many villages and towns with each passing years as the sources go dry during peak summer.

The gravity of the situation could be judged from the fact that every summer about 25 to 30 per cent of the total 7989 water supply schemes are affected due to decline in discharge. The people living in these areas are supplied water by the irrigation and public health department through tankers which is an expensive proposition.

Even ground water resources are coming under stress and already 15 micro watersheds in the industrial areas of Solan, Sirmour, Una and Kangra districts are being over-exploited withdrawl exceeding the maximum permissible limit of 90 per cent. 

The issue was discussed at a high-level meeting presided over by chief secretary Asha Swaroop held last week at which a decision to focus on water conservation works under the NREG was taken. It was decided to constitute expert teams comprising soil scientists to identify water-stresses areas where conservation measures were required immediately.

Plans will be prepared at micro-shed level for constructing water harvesting and silt retaining structures, check dams, storage tanks and other such works. To began with one micro-watershed each would be covered under each block and later similar projects will be formulated for other micro-watersheds.

The state had been leading in the implementation of the NREGA on which it spent Rs 273 crore in the last financial year. This year the amount is likely to go up to over Rs 520 crore and as such huge funds will be available for water conservation works. Micro-watersheds will be taken up for water conservation at the village level.

Not only that even works like cleaning and de-silting of traditional water sources like ‘bowlis’, natural springs and ‘kuhls’ will also be taken up under NREGA. 

Kasauli, April 13
The Kalka-Shimla NH-22 offered a treat to the motorists as old vintage and classic cars jostled for space along with the modern day vehicles. The occasion was the fifth annual Baisakhi run organised by the Vintage and Classic Club, Chandigarh, which after being flagged off from Chandigarh culminated at Kasauli Resorts this afternoon.

With nearly 18 mechanical beauties of the yore endeavouring to negotiate the uphill drive on the more than 3,000 m hill terrain the onlookers were left appreciating the rally.

Dispelling apprehensions of the Tata’s prized Nano failing to find favour in the hills club’s founder president Brig JS Phoolka (retd) said the car would do well as it had been tested on millions on kilometres, including almost 30 degrees on the hill terrain. Since its engine and other mechanical aspects excel in quality there was no doubt the vehicle attracting a good number of clientele in the hills, he asserted.

The rally presented a wide array of vintage and classic cars, including a 1939-model Sunbean Talbot Ten, a 1948 Buicksuper-8, a 1968-model Volkswagen, 1948-Austin, another 1948-model Chevy Fleet Master among others. Presenting a dazzling treat for the eyes as they all lined up at the Kasauli Resorts one by one the cars won the appreciation of one and all.

Guddu Sidhu, owner of a 1968-model Folkswagon Beetle said, “It was pitiable that the condition of the roads had remained unchanged over the years and this was a cause of lament, especially since a place like Kasauli attracted visitors from far and wide.”

The rally culminated with the awards ceremony where Brig Phoolka bagged the oldest and best-maintained car award for his 1936-model Ford Tourer, Baljeet Manko bagged best car award in the classic category for his 1948 Chevvy Fleet Master.

The first runner up in the classic car was bagged by Major Sidhu for his Volkswagen and Gen Beuli for his best Hindustan 14 which won the best restored car. The second runner up prize was bagged by Gurangad for his two-door 1948 Austin.

Shimla, April 13
The All-India Minorities and Social Welfare Council has urged political parties to adopt a practical approach and consider providing 20 per cent reservation to women in parliament and state legislatures in view of lack of consensus on reserving 33 per cent seats for them.

Addressing a press conference here today, chairman of the council Rajeshwar Negi said political empowerment of women was of utmost importance. The proposal to grant 33 per cent reservation to them had been hanging fire for the past over 10 years. 

It was time that the political parties arrived at consensus on the issue. The main opposition from certain parties was on the count that it would take away too many seats. A proposal for 20 per cent reservation, if pursued in the right earnest, might find acceptance and pave the way for empowerment of women.

He said granting 33 per cent reservation to women in panchayati raj institutions was a laudable step as it had ensured participation of the fair sex in decision-making at the grassroot level.

Without reservation, women would never be able to secure due representation in Parliament. The past election data revealed that the percentage of women representatives in Parliament had not exceeded 12, while it hovered around 5 per cent in case of state legislatures. 

Till a constitutional provision for reservation was made, political parties should allot tickets to at least 20 per cent women candidates from the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

He said the UPA regime had failed to address security and development issues related to women. It was evident from the increasing rate of crime against women.

Further, all important legislations and schemes relating to women were invariably referred to standing committees of Parliament, although there was no such political compulsion on these issues. This was just because of lack of commitment on the part of political parties to give women their due, he said.

Shimla, April 13
Turning the heat on the BJP on the issue of corruption general secretary of the state Congress Kuldeep Rathore today alleged Chief Minister P.K.Dhumal was trying to pressure the Lokayukta by terming the complaint filed against him by additional director general of police B.S.Thind as a ‘bundle of lies’. 

Addressing a press conference here today he said Dhumal was fully aware of the fact that any complaint filed with the Lokayukta, the highest agency for probing allegations against the persons holding high public offices, had to be accompanied with a affidavit. Anyone filing a false affidavit was liable to action under the law. The only objective of making such statements was to indirectly pressure the Lokayukta and mislead the people at large.

It was strange that Dhumal had given clean chit to himself without any inquiry or waiting for the Lokayukta to even take notice of the matter, making it obvious that he had no faith in the agency. His utterances were only undermining the authority of the august constitutional body set up for maintaining probity in public life. The ball is in the court of the Lokayukta and it would be appropriate for Dhumal to leave the matter for it instead of himself pronouncing verdict on the charges which would not carry any weight.

He said it was for the first time that an additional director general of police who was still in service had levelled such serious charges of corruption against the Chief Minister. The charges could not be dismissed lightly as Dhumal was trying to do. Being a senior police officer Thind knew the implications of his action.

Joining the ‘budhia and gudiya’ debate with Gujarat Chief Minister the Congress leader said whatever Narinder Modi might have to say about the Congress party he was himself seen as ‘zahar ki pudiya’ by the people of the country because of the communal venom he had been spreading in society.

It also reflected the total bankruptcy of issues the BJP was suffering with at the national level. If the party had any worthwhile issues to raise, it would not have indulged in such gimmickry. 

Mandi, April 13
In a political slugfest aimed at creating a political mileage, Congress president Kaul Singh Thakur and BJP president Jai Ram Thakur have locked horns over the “leadership issue of Mandi and discrimination against Mandi”, dragging leaders like Virbhadra Singh and PK Dhumal in the political arena amid charges and counter-charges aiming at scoring a political point.

Kaul Singh claimed here that the Mandi region was always neglected by the successive BJP governments under Dhumal. He snatched away the government medical college from the people of Mandi as soon as he become the CM and shut down offices of DIG, Divisional Commissioner and other which were restored by the Congress in 2003-2008,” he claimed.

On the other hand Jai Ram Thakur alleged at a press conference here that Virbhadra never allowed Congress leaders like late Karam Singh Thakur and former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram to become the CM. “His next target was Kaul Singh,” he claimed.

Responding to Jai Ram’s charge Kaul Singh said, “It was his figment of imagination and me and Virbhadra know each other very well.”

He retorted saying that Jai Ram was expressing his frustration by raising the issue of leadership for Mandi. “He himself has an ambition to become a minister or a CM, but his wish has been dashed to ground by Dhumal”.

Kaul Singh said Sukh Ram had stated in the media that his biggest mistake was that he joined hands with the BJP to make Dhumal as the CM in 1998. “He was insulted by the BJP. Also IIT Mandi and ESIC medical colleges are achievements of Congress-led UPA government”.

Kaul Singh charged that the Congress had made two cabinet ministers from Mandi but Dhumal had made just one that too is Dhumal’s relative. This shows amply how concerned Dhumal and BJP is about Mandi, he added.

Jai Ram claimed that Virbhadra has pushed leaders from Mandi to the brink and was now talking about welfare of Mandi. “It was due to efforts of Dhumal that IIT and ESIC medical college have been set up in Mandi,” he defended Dhumal.

Jai Ram claimed that Virbhadra was forced to contest elections this time and he faced the most adverse political condition this time. The BJP have 13 MLAs out of 17 seats in the Mandi parliamentary seat, he added.

Sudhrani (Mandi), April 13
Former Chief Minister and Congress candidate Virbhadra Singh said here today that the BJP had nothing to talk about the development of state and the country. It had always thrived on propagandas like construction of “Ram temple” etc. 

On the other hand, the Congress had worked for the creation and development of Himachal, besides developing India as a global power, he said.

Addressing a public meeting here, he urged people to vote for the Congress as this would mean Manmohan Singh again becoming the Prime Minister. He said Manmohan Singh was a renowned economist of the world and he had managed global recession in such a manner that its fallout had not hit India. On the other hand, BJP’s LK Advani has no agenda, except harping on the Ram temple issue.

He reminded voters about the contribution of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shashtri and Rajiv Gandhi, who helped India to emerge as a world power.

He said it were Congress governments that passed land reforms, reserved seats for SCs, STs, OBCs and women besides other weaker sections and implemented the NREGA that gave various section an opportunity to join hands as equal partners in the progress of the country. “India signed a nuclear deal with the USA and handled terrorism well. What the BJP has done, other than indulging in propaganda on Ram temple?” he said.

He said it was during the Vajpayee regime, when LK Advani was the Home Minister, that terrorists had attacked Parliament and got dreaded terrorists released after hijacking an aeroplane. “The BJP has no moral right to speak on the issue of tackling terrorism,” he proclaimed.

Virbhadra Singh accused Dhumal of letting loose a reign of repression on Congress-minded people in the state. “We are fighting against the corrupt and oppressive 15-month-old Dhumal regime and the people have responded positively to our call,” he claimed.

Kullu, April 13
Dharam Vir Dhami, former state chief the Congress Sewa Dal who recently joined the BJP, said here today that the Congress leaders were calling him a backstabber and opportunist, but, in fact, former Chief Minister and Congress candidate from Mandi Virbhadra Singh was the biggest opportunist.

He said it was Virbhadra Singh who formed the Kisan Congress to weaken the Congress in 90s, established parallel student wing HIMSU against the Congress-supported NSUI and revolted against the Congress high command when Sukh Ram was given preference as the chief ministerial candidate in 1993. 

He had even threatened to form the Himachal Congress, he said. Dhami was speaking at his first press conference after joining the BJP.

He also lashed out at former agriculture minister and his maternal uncle Raj Krishan Gaur for allegedly saying that he had groomed him like his son. Dhami said Gaur had been acting like Dhritrashtra and always working to groom his sons. He also criticised Virbhadra Singh for not framing any transmission line policy during his long tenure. 

He said Kullu and Mandi districts were the most-affected districts in the absence of such a policy. He said the BJP was the first state government that had looked into the gravity of the situation and initiated a policy for laying transmission lines.

Meanwhile, the District Congress Committee today said Dhami should abstain from commenting on leaders of the stature of Virbhadra Singh. Congress district president Budhi Singh Thakur said Dhami had remained an opportunist throughout his political carrier.

Hamirpur, April 13
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has appealed to the people of the state to vote for electing a strong government at the Centre. Addressing election meetings at Badsar in the Bamsan assembly segment and at Kangu in the Nadaun assembly segment today, he said, “A strong and self-reliant government at the Centre is the need of the hour and the people should cast their vote keeping this thing in mind.”

He said, “The BJP government in the state has tried to make the state self-reliant during its 15-month rule and taken several steps to achieve that objective. Electing the NDA to form government at the Centre and installation of LK Advani as the Prime Minister of the country would give India a new direction.”

Talking about achievements of the previous NDA government, he said, “During the term of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, India achieved several feats like making India a nuclear power, increasing the prestige of the country through effective diplomacy and winning the Kargil war; while the country had to face one of the worst terrorist attack in Mumbai during the present UPA government.”

He also criticised the present government for not providing security cover to players for the IPL cricket matches, which would have attracted a large number of tourists to the country, bringing in huge revenue.

He said, “The state government has started the Atal Bijlee Bachat Yojna for conservation of energy. The step would help in saving a lot of power in the state.”

Bilaspur, April 13
State Congress president Kaul Singh Thakur has appointed a jumbo size committee of 73 leaders for the Bilaspur Sadar Congress here. State general secretary Asha Kumari and Bilaspur Sadar Party president Jitender Chandel released here today a list of total 36 office-bearers and additional 37 executive committee members, including the president while ex-officio members would be additional to this strength.

Kalidass Sharma, Sita Ram Dogra, Roop Lal Thakur, Chet Ram Dogra, Satish Sharma, Ajit Joshi, Sukhan Devi, Sri Ram Sharma, Onkar Singh and Ranjeet Chaudhary would be the vice-presidents while Rakesh Kumar, Bhupinder Thakur, Kishori Lal Chaudhary, Dinesh Gauttam, Ranjeet Singh, Ramesh Kumar, Soma Devi, Capt Salig Ram, Narender Gupta and Amin Chand would be the general secretaries.

Hemant Sharma, Narottam Dutt, Kehar Singh Chandel, Jai Dev Katwal, Capt Nand Lal, Devi Singh Thakur, Daulat Ram Thakur, Rafiq Mohammed, Anil Chauhan, Tulsi Ram, Raj Soni, Sohan Singh Sankhyan, Rama Nand Sharma, Santosh Kumar and Roshan Lal have been appointed as the secretaries and Deepak Sharma is treasurer of the party.