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Cong captures Mayor, Dy Mayor’s posts
BJP, Cong mull disciplinary action
Status of single women still unclear
‘Women must oppose social evils’
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Pay anomalies irk vets
Part-1
DC’s transfer sparks off political debate
Dhumal awards achievers
‘Cong leaders maligned’
3 girls asked to vacate hostel
Husband kills wife in rage
Two held with charas
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Cong captures Mayor, Dy Mayor’s posts
Shimla, December 5 Despite dissensions, the Congress managed to retain its hold over both the posts, as Madhu Sood was elected Mayor and Harish Janartha, Deputy Mayor for the second consecutive two and a half-year term. However, defiant Congress councillors ensured that they contested the election against the wishes of HPCC chief Kaul Singh Thakur and CLP leader Vidya Stokes and even won the post of Deputy Mayor. The elections proved to very interesting as for the post of Mayor winner Madhu Sood polled 10 votes, rebel Congress candidate Seema Chauhan got nine votes while the BJP nominee Manju Sood got only six votes. The fact that Congress votes would split was a foregone conclusion but what came as a rude shock to the BJP was when its candidate got only six votes despite all its eight councillors being present in the House at the time of polling. Interestingly, after ensuring the victory of Sood for the post of Mayor, all eight BJP councillors abstained from the election for the post of Deputy Mayor. As such Janartha polled 10 votes while the official Congress candidate Sudhir Azad got only seven votes in a House of 25 members. Only 15 Congress councillors and two CPM councillors participated in the poll. However, defiant party councillor, Seema Chauhan who contested for the post of Mayor against the official candidate, Sood proved that she had majority support of nine members, a claim she made yesterday before HPCC chief and CLP leader. “The results have clearly indicated that Chauhan had majority support while the party choice, Sood managed victory after hobnobbing with BJP and CPM councillors,” remarked a councilor. All efforts at the party level to convince Chauhan and Janartha not to contest failed despite several rounds of parleys till late in the night and also in the morning before the election. The nine defiant councillors who yesterday wrote to the AICC chief Sonia Gandhi against the partisan behaviour of HPCC chief and CLP leader held their ground and refused to relent. Sood is the second lady Mayor of Shimla with Jaini Prem being the first one when the seat was reserved for a woman from the reserved category. |
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BJP, Cong mull disciplinary action
Shimla, December 5 Taking serious cognizance of cross-voting by two of its coucillors, the embarrassed ruling BJP after holding an inquiry into the incident would take necessary action. “It is a matter of grave concern for the party and we will hold an inquiry into the incident so that action can be taken against those who cross-voted,” said state BJP chief Khimi Ram who too was shocked by the unexpected turn of events. On the other hand, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief Kaul Singh Thakur has decided to refer the matter to the state-level disciplinary committee of the party. “Contesting the election despite the formal announcement of candidates for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor by the party is certainly an act of indiscipline and necessary action will be taken once the verdict of the disciplinary committee comes,” he remarked. Not willing to accept open defiance by its councillors, the state party chief has also decided to report the happenings to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and in charge general secretary, Mohsina Kidwai. A section of the Congressmen said that the mess in the MC election was created due to attempts by the leadership to marginalise loyalists of Union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh despite they having majority support. “Rather than taking action against us, explanation must be sought from senior leadership who did not hesitate to hobnob with the BJP to ensure the victory of their favourites,” said an agitated councillor. While Congress councillors put the blame for the bickering within the party on the partisan behaviour of senior leaders, it is the BJP which has been left completely flabbergasted as it cannot find reasons to ascribe for cross-voting by its members. “Having only eight members in a House of 25 we were sure to lose but what has come as a rude shock is the cross-voting by two of our members, which is completely unexpected,” said a senior leader terming it as a very disturbing trend. |
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Status of single women still unclear
Dharamsala, December 5 After the matter was reported in The Tribune that single women of Himachal who get married outside the state were not being granted bonafide certificate in case they returned to the state after divorce or other circumstances, the government issued directions to revenue officials to issue bonafide certificates to all Himachali girls who wanted to re-settle in their parent state after divorce. According to sources, directions have been passed to the respective deputy commissioners regarding the same. However, the government has failed to clarify its stand in case of single women of other categories. Una Deputy Commissioner KR Bharti, who initially took up the case of affected single women, while talking to The Tribune, said women generally acquired single status in case they were not married, due to estranged relations with husband, divorce or death of the spouse. In case of unmarried women who had been staying in the state, there was no ambiguity. Since they have been staying in the state since birth, they can be issued bonafide certificate even in case they do not have land in their name, she added. In case of divorce, the government has clarified and necessary directions have been issued to the revenue officials. “However, I am once again writing to the government to seek clarification regarding single women who have come back to their parent state after the death of their husband or due to estranged relations,” the deputy commissioner said. The Himachal government had issued strict directions to revenue officials against issuing bonafide certificates to state girls who got married outside the state. The logic behind the move was that they could not be residents to two states at a time. However, such women alleged that the decision was biased. The rule was not applicable to men who married outside the state and also worked outside the state. It was also unconstitutional after Parliament granted Right to Property to women. The women had right to their parental houses and land according to the Right to Property Act. So, they should not be denied the right to become citizens of their state, they had demanded. |
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‘Women must oppose social evils’
Shimla, December 5 He was speaking at the state-level awareness camp organised by the HP State Commission for Women, here today. “In case female sex ratio declines any further, it is the women who will become more vulnerable to crime and exploitation. Hence, we all need to join hands to stop evils like female foeticide,” he said. The Chief Minister said women could play a vital role in bringing about a social awakening which was the need of the hour. “If a woman decides to raise her voice against atrocities like domestic violence, female foeticide and dowry, there will be an appreciable decrease in the overall crime,” he said. Dhumal said the government had started a number of pro-women welfare schemes and was committed towards their welfare. “Himachal was the first state to reserve 50 per cent seats in the panchayati raj for women besides giving holiday on karva chauth, bhaiya dooj and rakhi, along with free travel,” he said. He said a number of scholarships were being provided to girls and women self-help groups were being provided assistance. He added that to check violence against women at home as well as outside, various agencies like the State Commission for Women, Social Justice and Empowerment department and the police was actively working. He said the best way to make women independent and secure was to provide them economic empowerment. Efforts were being made to provide justice to women through strict implementation of the Domestic Violence Act, he added. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Sarveen Chaudhray said 1,015 cases of domestic violence had been reported in the state till June earlier this year. Protection officers had been appointed to provide help to harassed women and 14 NGOs too had been registered as service providers, she said. Acting Chief Justice RB Mishra and Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop also addressed the gathering. |
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Stranded vehicles cross Rohtang
Manali, December 5 According to the rescue post at Koksar in Lahaul valley, as many as 41 vehicles, which included trucks, oil tankers and light vehicles carrying 293 persons, registered at the rescue post. Labourers, local residents and government employees left from the Koksar rescue post yesterday and crossed over the Rohtang Pass. Capt Randhir Singh Salhuria, director, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, said 16 light vehicles, carrying 120 persons, registered yesterday at the Marhi rescue post, about 35 km from here, and left for Lahaul valley from Manali side. Today, as many as 19 light vehicles, carrying 158 persons, registered at the Marhi rescue post and crossed over the Rohtang Pass from Marhi to Lahaul valley, and 23 vehicles, carrying 229 persons from Lahaul valley, left from Koksar to Manali. Chaman Uppadhayay, RM, Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), Keylong, said 15 buses and one oil tanker, which were stranded at Lahaul valley since November 9, would be able to cross the Rohtang Pass if the
weather conditions remained dry till tomorrow. |
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Pay anomalies irk vets
Hamirpur, December 5 DK Soni and Amit Mahajan, president and general secretary of the association, respectively, said the new revised emoluments announced for contractual vets under the new pay scales had created a huge gap between them and the emoluments given to their MBBS counterparts. They said while MBBS doctors, working as contractual medical officers, would be paid Rs 26,250 per month after the revision, the contractual vets have been put in a dilemma. They said according to the new notification of the Finance Department, contractual veterinary doctors had been given an option to opt for new grade or continue on the old scale. But their category have been put behind their counterparts by fixing their emoluments at Rs 21,000 per month despite the fact that recruitment and promotion rules, plus emoluments and allowances for medical, veterinary and Ayurvedic doctors, have been prescribed the same by the Personnel Department of the state government and even doctors of all three categories working on regular basis are getting equivalent salaries, they added. |
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Part-1
Majari, December 5 It is said the ruler of Kot Kehlure (or the current Bilaspur area) included the village in his principality as its residents frequently assisted him in battles with other local rulers. The nearest police station from Majari is Kot Kehlure, which is about 15 km from the village. The population of the village is approximately 1,500, which includes about 1,250 voters comprising predominantly of Jats and Bahtis castes. The villagers narrate different stories regarding the start of illicit narcotic trade in Majari. In olden times, most of the farming in the village was rain dependent and there were few sources of income. Some of the people started brewing illicit liquor and brought in good business to the village. Slowly more people got drawn to the trade due to easy money flowing in and little check from the police due to unique topography of the village. Some of the residents have now begun to trade in opium, poppy husk and even smack. The illicit trade of liquor brought prosperity to the village that can be gauged from the pucca and even some palatial houses in the village. According to police sources, about 30 per cent of the villagers are now directly or indirectly involved in trade of narcotics. However, narcotic trade has not affected all residents of the village. Some residents of the village have attained high positions in government jobs. Harbans Singh Atwal, a resident of the village, has retired as an IAS officer from the Himachal government. His daughter Satwinder Kaur Atwal is an IPS officer and is currently serving in Hyderabad. Sources here say the educated families of the village are against the illicit trade but nobody dare oppose it openly due to fear of narcotic traders. The Punjab police has recently tightened the noose around the narcotic traders from the village. The SSP, Ropar, LK Yadav, has sent a detailed report on the narcotic trade in the village to higher authorities.
(To be continued)
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DC’s transfer sparks off political debate
Mandi, December 5 The CPM has reiterated its stand demanding an inquiry into the DC-ABVP row as the state government has buried the issue under the carpet. General secretary Bhupinder Singh stated that the government had acted under pressure from the RSS-backed ABVP lobby in the BJP, denying the public to know the truth behind the whole controversy. The DC has been made a scapegoat as the actual fight was between the RSS and non-RSS lobby within the BJP on the issue, he charged. On the other hand, Congress president Kaul Singh today stated at a press conference at Mandi that the DC’s transfer was done under pressure from the ABVP. “The government should not act in this manner in the case of any administrative officer,” he added. The ABVP had made the transfer of the DC a prestige issue ever since the DC-ABVP row erupted in October. The ABVP had claimed that the DC misbehaved with their leaders when they had gone to meet him in his office. However, the DC had dismissed their charges as baseless, maintaining that the ABVP activists came to seek his permission to collect funds for their national meet, which he rejected. The ABVP had created a stir during the concluding day of HP university youth festival in early November in the presence of Chief Minister PK Dhumal, objecting the DC’s presence at the function. Though the BJP kept its silence over the issue, ABVP activists met RSS chief S Bhagvat who was at Shimla then and took up the matter with him. |
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Dhumal awards achievers
Bilaspur, December 5 An award of Rs 25,000 and a citation was given to Rajiv Sikka (53), a photographer of 7 Studio in Shimla as “Best Employer” who struggled all his life and succeeded in setting up his own photo studio. In fact, he has employed 17 persons, including seven hearing-impaired persons, in his studio. He was also honoured by the President of India in 2005 for his achievements. The “Best Performer” award of Rs 10,000 was given to Dr Data Ram, lecturer in Political Science Government College, Paonta Sahib, Sirmour district. He is the first visually impaired person to have done his PhD in the state. He lost his eyesight when he was studying in class XI due to glaucoma but continued his battle to achieve the goals he had set for himself. The third best performing individual award of Rs 10,000 was given to 15-year-old Megha, daughter of Pyare Lal of Sproon, Solan district, a hearing impaired girl, who brought laurels to the state and the country by winning three gold medals in the International Winter Games and Sports for special persons at Idaho in the US last year in Alpine Skiing Slalom. |
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‘Cong leaders maligned’
Bilaspur, December 5 Addressing mediapersons here on Friday at the Circuit House, Thakur challenged the BJP leaders to come out in the open with charges of any type against him and face legal consequences. He said already a number of inquiries had been conducted earlier by the Himachal Lokayukta and then by the Vigilance department, but he was given clean chits each time. |
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3 girls asked to vacate hostel
Palampur, December 5 The university authorities had received complaints that a few girl students were watching blue movies and consuming liquor in the hostel for the past few days. A team of university officials raided the hostel and caught the girls red-handed while watching the film in their laptop. Later, the matter was reported to the higher authorities who deputed the students’ welfare officer to probe into the matter. The latter called the parents of all six girls and narrated them the entire matter. A spokesman of the university said since the girls were in the final year of their degree course, therefore, they were not expelled from the university. However, the DSW told their parents that if the girls failed to amend their attitude, stern action would be taken against them and university authorities would also not hesitate to report the matter to the police. |
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Husband kills wife in rage
Kangra, December 5 Kangra SDPO Jeet Singh Thakur said the victim Mamta Devi had returned from her father’s house along with her husband Rakesh Kumar yesterday. The couple had an altercation on a family issue and the infuriated husband attacked Mamta on her head with a sharp-edged weapon. According to the police, the couple was married two years back but did not have congenial family relations. Hukam Singh, father of the victim, lodged a report with the police that her daughter was tortured by her husband for dowry ever since she got married. A case has been registered. |
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Two held with charas
Kangra, December 5 District police chief Atul Fulzele said Nanak Chand, alias Nanoo, of Motli village, was intercepted by a police patrol party near the Damtal railway crossing and on search recovered 610 gm of charas from his possession. He said during interrogation he revealed that he was on way home to dump the charas. The police then raided his residence at Motli and recovered 4.02 kg of pepsin from there. Meanwhile, the police also seized 35 gm of charas from Balram, a resident of Narwana, during a naka at Shahpur late last evening. |
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