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Complaints of unfair conduct
My complaint against Dhumal stands: Thind
Cong rebel to support Narinder Thakur
BJP asks EC to allow emergency works
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Mandial expelled from BJP
Cong leader flays Anurag
Govt failed on all fronts:
Cong
UPA govt has no tangible issue: Shanta Kumar
Left to fend for themselves
NGO takes up Kinnaur tribals’ cause
ADM unites mentally challenged child with parents
Educated jobless form pressure group
SFI observes ‘betrayal day’
Soldier cremated with honours
Hamirpur SDM Pankaj Raj laying a wreath on the body of soldier Sanjeev Kumar before his last rites at his ancestral village in Hamirpur district on Monday. A Tribune photograph
Himfed places order for fertilisers
Kharo Bridge Collapse
Death of Kids Rain in Chamba
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Complaints of unfair conduct
Shimla, May 4 The matter had also been brought to the notice of the state government and further action, if warranted, would be taken by it. The commission would ensure that the government machinery acted in an impartial manner during the elections. He said the commission was carrying out vulnerability mapping to identify sensitive polling stations. Himachal had a history of peaceful elections, but the commission was not taking any chances and 708 out of total 7,251 polling stations had been declared hypersensitive. Sixteen companies of central paramilitary forces had also been requisitioned. At least two uniformed security personnel, including one home guard, would be deployed at each booth. More security would be provided wherever necessary, he added. Over 90 per cent electors had been issued photo identity cards and the process of issuing cards would be resumed after the elections to achieve 100 per cent coverage. Polling parties to eight polling booths, seven in Dodra Kawar and one in Bara Bhangal area, which were not accessible by road, would be airlifted on May 10 and 11. These would be again airlifted back to their respective headquarters after the polling. Sampath had a series of meetings with representatives of political parties, deputy commissioners, superintendent of police, DIGs, divisional commissioners, IG, law and order, and other officers as regards the conduct of poll. He said 12 observes had been appointed for four parliamentary seats in the state and their mobile phone numbers had been given to all parties so that they could be informed about any violation of the poll code and other irregularities in conduct of poll. |
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My complaint against Dhumal stands: Thind
Shimla, May 4 It was on May 2 that Thind personally went to the Lokayukta office and gave in writing that he still wanted action on his earlier complaint against Dhumal filed on April 4. He had accused Dhumal of misusing his position and indulging in corrupt practices. He said he had learnt from media reports that an affidavit had been filed on his behalf, but the truth was that it did not bear his signatures. “Apart from the original complaint and the accompanying affidavit, I have not submitted any other letter or affidavit withdrawing the complaint,” he wrote in the letter. He had not authorised any person to file any such affidavit on his behalf to the Lokayukta, he added. He has also conveyed to the Lokayukta that to avoid any such confusion in future, no document or affidavit bearing his signatures should be accepted unless he personally submitted that. |
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Cong rebel to support Narinder Thakur
Hamirpur, May 4 Prem Kaushal made this announcement today while talking to mediapersons here. He said “since I contested as an independent candidate from Mewa assembly constituency and had secured about 7000 votes I cannot remain indifferent in this crucial election and thus has decided to support the Congress candidate Narinder Thakur.” Kaushal said “I have been a Congress activist for the past 25 years and has always been a true Congressman from my heart and believes that the Congress can only give a stable, secular and progressive government at the Centre.” He said, “I have great regards for former chief minister Virbhadra Singh and HPCC president Kaul Singh Thakur, who had suggested me to work for the Congress candidate in the election”. Kaushal also met Congress observer for the Hamirpur seat Gurcharan Singh Dadhahoor today and apprised him about his decision to work for the Congress. Meanwhile, the Congress observer Gurcharan Singh Dadhahoor has welcomed the decision of Kaushal to work for the Congress candidate Narinder Thakur in the election.
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BJP asks EC to allow emergency works
Shimla, May 4 State secretary of the BJP HN Kashyap met Election Commissioner VS Sampath who was in the state capital today. “We requested him to allow works like distribution of water through tankers and relief to fire victims so that the day-to-day life of the common man is not affected,” said Kashyap. The BJP leader brought to the notice of the Election Commissioner the violation of the code of conduct by the Mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation, who he alleged was misusing his position to benefit the Congress candidate from the Shimla Lok Sabha seat. He said a complaint in this regard had already been made to the EC, earlier, but no action had been taken so far. |
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Mandial expelled from BJP
Hamirpur, May 4 BJP state party leaders, who seemed to be in a dilemma over action against a senior BJP leader during the ongoing parliamentary elections ultimately issued him a show-cause notice and suspended him from the party. Reports were pouring in at the BJP headquarters about Mandial’s alleged activities against Anurag Thakur and in favour of Congress candidate Narinder Thakur. Mandial had revolted against the party leadership a few months ago by contesting election for the directorship of KCCB against official nominee of the BJP. Mandial was not happy with the party after the district BJP committee recommended his expulsion from the party for contesting against official nominee of the party in KCCB election. Since then, Mandial had not been maintaining good relations with BJP leadership, especially Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. Confirming action against Mandial, state BJP chief Jai Ram Thakur said, “We have been delaying disciplinary action against him to give him another chance, but indiscipline in the party cannot be tolerated. He has been issued a show-cause notice and suspended from the BJP for working against the party.” On the other hand, Mandial said, “No body can remain in the party unilaterally; it is the prerogative of the leadership to keep me in the party or not, but I condemn dictatorial tendencies in the party and will reply to the show-cause notice whenever I receive that.”
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Cong leader flays Anurag
Bilaspur, May 4 Addressing mediapersons at Indira Bhawan here today, he said Anurag must tell people of the district what he had done for them during that period. He asked Anurag to tell the people what steps he had taken to solve the problems of Bhakra dam oustees or getting sanctioned any bridge to reduce large distances that the dam reservoir had created between various villages. He asked him to explain why he could not persuade his father Prem Kumar Dhumal to provide even 5 per cent reservation to the sons and daughter of oustees in jobs.
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Govt failed on all fronts:
Cong
Kangra, May 4 While addressing a public meeting at Khundian, he said the anti-people policies of the state government was the main poll plank and alleged that the BJP government was just trying to encash the schemes launched by the UPA government for its poll interests. He
said the state government had failed on all fronts and on its own failed to
start even a single development project. He said, “The BJP government has
taken anti-employee decisions like abolition of the State Administrative
Tribunal, ousted thousands of PTA teachers and anganwari workers recruited by
the previous government.” He also addressed the gatherings at Dola, Bari,
Thil and Nahlian lambasting the BJP government for doing little during the last
15 months for the people of the state. He alleged Dhumal was trying to take
credit for the projects sanctioned by the UPA government, which included a
central university, an ESIC medical college, an IIT, NIFT, two national
highways and the Rs 3,800 crore ADB loan (90 per cent grant basis). He said the Dhumal government only burdened the people by increasing electricity tariff by 20 per cent and water charges by 30 per cent. It increased the bus fares by 25 per cent when the diesel prices rose by Rs 3 per
litre, but reduced them only by 10 per cent when the prices came done by Rs 4 per
litre, he added. During his road show PCC Delegate Nardev Kanwar, block president Ranjeet Singh, local councillor Uttam
Chand, Veena Sharma and other leaders were also with him.
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UPA govt has no tangible issue: Shanta Kumar
Chamba, May 4 He alleged that the UPA government was a “government of statistics” only deceiving the masses for votes but the wild overstatement of facts would not last long. The UPA had generated corruption, dearness, unemployment and poverty. Certain corrupt capitalists were running the present UPA government, alleged Shanta Kumar; adding that the UPA government was benefiting the capitalists. Digging out the old issue about Bofors gun deal, he charged members of the Nehru family with their involvement “The corrupt people of India have deposited a huge sum of about Rs 84 lakh crore in Swiss bank accounts. It is a major predicament that such corrupt people have plenty of money amassed deviously from India dragging the masses into penury,” divulged Shanta Kumar. The BJP-led NDA government when voted to power would bring a severe legislation to restrain the malpractice of depositing black money with the foreign banks, especially in the Swiss banks, by various dishonest and corrupt people of our country, said Shanta Kumar; adding that the NDA would seize this black money and utilise it on poverty alleviation of the country thereby ameliorating the fate of India which was an affluent nation in itself.
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Left to fend for themselves
Chota Bhangal (Dharamsala) May 4 A visit to the area revealed the basis behind their call to boycott elections. The area is located at a distance of about 140 km from Dharamsala by road. It is just 60 km from Mandi district headquarters but still made the part of Kangra district. The Chota Bhangal area comprises 11 villages. The villages are located in remote hills and there is hardly any road to these villages. People have to walk at least 5 km to Loharadi, a centrally located ramshackle market to meet daily needs. The houses in the entire area are constructed with wood sourced from surrounding forests. The people are also dependent on wood for daily cooking as LPG cannot reach villages. The people told The Tribune that the nearest LPG agency to the area was at Jogindar Nagar at a distance of 45 km. Moreover, since there is no road to their villages it is not possible for any agency to distribute LPG cylinders to them by carrying them on their back. In 1998 the area was put under the Dhauladhar wildlife sanctuary. Due to it people are barred from collecting dry wood and felling any tree from even their private lands. Rishi Raj, pardhan of Lowai village, said that villagers of the area could not construct concrete houses as it was not possible to carry material without roads. They are dependent on wood for cooking and constructing their house. However, now since the entire area is under wildlife sanctuary, life has become very difficult. The people also alleged that even forest department officials had not provided any benefit since the declaration of sanctuary. The residents also alleged that they have approached both Virbhadra Singh and present CM Prem Kumar Dhumal to redress their problems. However, both have maintained that they would now have to approach the Supreme Court to get the area notified.
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NGO takes up Kinnaur tribals’ cause
Reckong Peo, May 4 People’s representatives have failed to protect rights of the tribal people as they continue to play to the tunes of private companies, residents of the area say. The JP company that is undertaking the Karcham-Wangtoo and Baspa hydel projects in the area has wreaked havoc on environment. The 22-km stretch of the river had been plunder for minerals etc., said convener of the manch Ranjit Singh Negi, a retired bureaucrat. “We have posed several questions to the Congress and the BJP, but these parties have remained silent on these issues so far,” Negi said. “Those affected by these projects are not getting preference in getting employment,” he added. Villagers said the district administration was not putting in place a proper policy for their rehabilitation. There was no provision of “corporate accountability and responsibility” of private companies, they said. “Future of tribal people is at stake as the JP company and its contractors are violating tribal norms and laws. Several villages between Karcham and Wangtoo are facing water shortage due to destruction of waters sources,” Negi said. On the other hand, private companies had been maintaining that they were honouring all commitments as per the MOUs signed with the government. Former Congress MLA Jagat Singh Negi blamed the present BJP regime for its alleged failure to implement the commitments made in the MoUs as the present BJP MLA was playing in the hands of private companies. “All schemes started by Virbhadra Singh have come to a stand still. All development works in Kinnaur are gifts of the Congress,” he claimed. BJP MLA Tejwant Negi said, “We are addressing problems of project-affected people and giving them their due.” Onkar Shad of the CPM said, “We are fighting for the implementation of the Tribal Right Holders Act, 2006, so that tribal people can get their due under its provisions.”
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ADM unites mentally challenged child with parents
Dharamsala, May 4 Farhan had escaped from the home for mentally challenged, near the Ramyani area in J&K, where he was undergoing treatment on April 30. He boarded a train and reached Pathankot and later somehow to the Indora area of Kangra district. The parents of Farhan and management of the mentally challenged home had launched search operations for him. On May 2, police officials caught hold of Farhan in the Indora area. They took him to Kangra ADM who took Farhan to his home. The ADM told The Tribune that once at his home Farhan felt comfortable. Slowly we persuaded him to talk about his parents. From information gathered from the child, I then contacted a friend in the J&K police. With the help of the J&K police the news of missing child was flashed on local cable networks. The kin of Farhan read the news and informed his parents. The parents of Farhan visited Kangra yesterday evening and took him back. They thanked the ADM, who took personal interest in reuniting the child with his parents.
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Educated jobless form pressure group
Shimla, May 4 A beginning in this regard has been made by some youths by floating the Swarozgar Srijit-Berozgar Union (HP) to make the most during election days. “If the employees can form a powerful pressure group why can’t the jobless get together to lend voice to their demands,” says BC Sharma, president of the union. Till the government does not come out with a concrete policy for the unemployed, the jobless will boycott elections, the union has decided. Sharma is candid enough to admit that the union has specifically been floated at the time of elections so that the politicians can be pressurised to pay attention towards the jobless. It is a fact that employees in Himachal whose number is 2,72,842 are not just politically very involved, but have succeeded in swaying the election results in favour of the Congress or the BJP. As such, whichever party is in power in the state, the employees are always pampered as they can make a difference in the outcome of elections. On the other hand, the number of job seekers in the state is 7,82,348. Besides, the number of youths in the age group of 18 to 29 is 9. 6 lakh, which is 42 per cent of the total electorate in the state. As such, the unemployed youth can actually make a difference to the fortunes of any party. Sharma says be it the BJP or the Congress, both are two sides of the same coin with not much concern for the jobless. “While there is no monitoring of the work being done by the government employees, the government has forced the jobless to work under the NREGA and pay them according to the progress shown,” he says. Unemployment allowance and reducing the retirement age from 58 to 54 years are the main demands of the union. “Though at present our strength is only a few hundreds, we will now network all over the state so that our membership goes up as there is no dearth of the unemployed,”says Sharma.
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SFI observes ‘betrayal day’
Shimla, May 4 The SFI and the SCA raised slogans against the HPU authorities in protest against the expulsion of two of its activists at the Summer Hill Chowk. They alleged that the administration was trying to crush the voice of the students and denying them their rights in a democratic set up. The administration, however, said as per the high court orders indiscipline would not be tolerated and the academic atmosphere not allowed to be vitiated. “The expulsion of two students who have already been placed on conduct probation has been issued in view of their involvement in forcible disruption of teaching work and intimidation of the students and teachers on campus on April 30,” he said. He further elaborated that disruption of teaching work on campus was against the orders of the high court. “The Vice-Chancellor has agreed to fulfil most of the demands of the SCA, including purchase of another bus for day scholars and completion of the girls hostel, which have been handed over to the chief warden,” he said. He said the vacant teaching and non-teaching posts would be filled immediately after the model code of conduct is lifted. |
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Soldier cremated with honours
Hamirpur, May 4 Subedar Sujan Singh Pathania and Sepoy Surjeet Singh paid last homage to Sanjeev Kumar and laid wreath on the body on behalf of his unit 8 JAK rifles. SDM Sadar Pankaj Rai and Hamirpur DSP Diwakar Sharma attended the funeral and laid wreaths on behalf of the Hamirpur district administration. The body of Sanjeev Kumar, who was killed near Srinagar on patrol duty two days back, was brought today by his colleagues to his ancestral. Sanjeev Kumar is survived by two sons, wife Indu Devi, four sisters and aged parents.
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Himfed places order for fertilisers
Shimla, May 4 An official spokesman said here today that a rake of indented quality of fertiliser had reached Chandigarh by rail from where it would be transported to all the godowns of Himfed for supplying to the farming community over the next three or four days. Himfed was seized of the problems of the farmers and earnest efforts were afoot to ensure that the fertiliser was made available to the farmers as early as possible. |
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Kharo Bridge Collapse
Shimla, May 4 Defence Minister AK Anthony has in a letter to Chief Minister PK Dhumal assured that the matter of equating ‘Operation Falcon’ with ‘Operation Varuna’ and other ongoing defence operations with a view to ensuring better compensation to the victims of the bridge collapse was under active consideration of his ministry. Dhumal had raised the issue regarding granting enhanced compensation to the victims of Kharo bridge on par with the ‘Operation Varuna’ and other ongoing Army operations. In all 34 Army personnel had lost their lives after they were washed away by the swirling water of the Sutlej river as the bridge collapsed during its launching on September 8, 2005. He said the victims of Kharo bridge were also discharging their duties like other soldiers on the frontiers and deserved same benefits. He said he had taken up the case of all victims in general and that of late Lt Col Amardeep Singh of 18 Engineers Regiment in particular, as the family of victims had not been adequately compensated. The Chief Minister said the defence minister had informed that the ministry was considering bringing the case under ‘Operation Falcon’ and orders were likely to be issued shortly. He thanked the minister for according top-priority to his request and hoped that all other victims would be covered under the ‘Operation Falcon’ and get enhanced compensation.
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Death of Kids
Kangra, May 4 He stated this while addressing a press conference here today. He said the state government failed to provide better health care facilities in hospitals, particularly at the Tanda hospital. He said parents and public representatives were well within rights to protest against any injustice they had met with. He said, “We had not carried weapons and did not indulge in violence or rioting and even did not threat anybody.” He described the case registered against him as politically manipulated and alleged the police booked him under political pressure. |
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Residents of Chota Bhangal, one of the remotest areas of Kangra district, has been left to their fate by politicians. Even the call to boycott the Lok Sabha elections has failed to draw any response from those in power. A visit to the area revealed the basis behind their call to boycott elections. The area is located at a distance of about 140 km from Dharamsala by road. It is just 60 km from Mandi district headquarters but still made the part of Kangra district.
Dharamsala, May 4
Hamirpur, May 4
