Shimla, January 27
Riding high on the strength of the new forged unity, the Congress today emerged victorious in the elections to the Shimla zila parishad as party stalwarts Virbhadra Singh and Vidya Stokes ensured that the party stood united and elected members did not succumb to pressure from the BJP regime.

The Congress candidates for the post of zila parishad chairman, Anirudh Singh, and vice-chairman, Prahlad Kashyap, won the elections defeating BJP candidates Indu Verma and Surender Chauhan. Singh got 14 votes against his BJP rival who got support from only nine members while one vote was declared invalid. Besides its own 12 members, the Congress got the support of two CPM members.

Addressing a joint press conference, Union Minister Virbhadra Singh and CLP leader Vidya Stokes presented a picture perfect, a rarity during the last more than 15 years. “A lot of claims were being made but the ZP results are along the expected lines despite the allurement by the BJP regime,” Virbhadra Singh said.

The Union minister said the results in the state capital going in favour of the Congress was a big slap on the face of the BJP who had misused official machinery to the hilt to woo the elected members.

“There has always been unity in the Congress even though at times I am critical when I feel things are not being done properly,” he opined. He said he had always worked to strengthen the party and in future too he would continue to do so as the Congress had ensured the development of the state in sharp contrast to the disappointing rule of the BJP.

Stokes expressed gratitude for the trouble taken by Singh to visit the state capital twice in three days to ensure the party’s victory by holding consultations with all. “Unity is a must in the party and the Congress will come back to power in Himachal with a thumping majority,” she added.

Nurpur, January 27
In the elections to the post of chairman and vice-chairman of the Nurpur block development committee (BDC) held today, supporters of local MLA Rakesh Pathania won both posts by defeating Congress supporters.

Pathania, a staunch supporter of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who had won the Assembly elections by contesting as an Independent following denial of BJP ticket, facilitated his supporters to win these posts. Significantly, the BJP seemed nowhere in the elections.

In the elections held under the supervision of tehsildar-cum-returning officer Kavita Thakur, Pathania’s supporter Abhilasha Kumari was elected as the chairman. She got 15 out of 29 votes whereas Sushil Mintu of the Congress got 13 votes as one vote was declared invalid.

Pathania’s another supporter Rita Devi was elected as the vice-chairman. She got 16 votes whereas Kamlesh Kumari secured 13 votes.

The supporters of Pathania organised a victory rally after winning the BDC elections. — OC

Dharamsala, January 27
The BJP won the Kangra zila parishad after capturing the posts of president and vice-president in the elections held today. The BJP candidate for the post of president Sareshtha got 34 votes while the Congress candidate Suman Lata got just 22 votes in the zila parishad House of 56 members.

For the post of vice-president, the Congress did not field any candidate. Instead, it decided to support Akshay Jasrotia, an independent. However, BJP candidate Jagdev Chand defeated Akshay Jasrotia with a margin of four votes. Jagdev Chand got 30 votes, Akshay Jasrotia could manage just 26 votes. However, four zila parishad members, who voted for the BJP for the post of president, cross voted for Akshay Jasrotia.

After elections, IPH minister Ravinder Singh Ravi, who was present there along with two other Cabinet colleagues, Minister of Social Security Sarween Chaudhary and Minister for Industry Kishan Kapoor, claimed that the win was a mandate in favour of the BJP government in the state.

Earlier the zila parishad elections for Kangra were scheduled on January 21. However, the Congress boycotted the election on that day. The elections could not be held due to lack of quorum.

However, there was no choice for the Congress. Had it not participated, the BJP could still have won by a simple majority among the members present in the House. The newly elected president and vice-president were also administered oath by the deputy commissioner Kangra RS Gupta.

Despite a debacle in municipal council polls in Kangra district, the BJP has managed to put up a good show in the elections for the block development committees (BDCs) and zila parishad.

There are 15 BDCs in Kangra district. Out of these, the election process has been completed for 11 BDCs. The BJP has won in 8 BDCs while the Congress has managed to win just three. The Congress dominated in Kangra and Nagrota Bagwan BDCs. It also won Fatehpur BDC.

The zila parishad and BDCs play a decisive role in decision-making regarding the funds provided by the Union Government for development purpose in their respective areas.

The Karma Garchen Trust that is in controversy is running its office from the monastery of 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, at Sidhbari near Dharamsala. The trust has its offices in other parts of the country in Tibetan settlements.

Karmapa means the one who carries out Buddha activities. He heads one of the four schools of Tibetan Budhism. The present 17th Karmapa fled China and arrived in Indian on January 5, 2000. He has received the recognition from the Dalai Lama also.

Recently, the enforcement directorate of the Income Tax Department also instituted an inquiry into amount used by Karmapa to build monasteries in and around Dharamsala.

Dharamsala, January 27
The Finance Department of Himachal has decided to tighten noose around state employees who have been continuing on deputation in the Central Government or other departments outside the state since long.

Sources told The Tribune that the department had issued a letter that the pension benefits and gratuity of these employees would be paid by the departments for which they had been working.

The sources said a large number of state employees were working for central organisations like the NTPC, the NHPC, the NHAI, the BBMB and even the Chandigarh administration.

Ideally, the deputation period of employees is about three years. However, many employees have been serving in the Central Government departments for the past 10-15 years using their influence in respective offices.

Earlier, a letter that the gratuity of employees serving outside the state would be paid by the respective departments was also sent to the BBMB. There are about 45 employees from Himachal who have been serving in the BBMB since long.

The sources said the BBMB referred the letter back to the Himachal government with an observation that it could not pay the gratuity of the employees as they were just on deputation.

The employees then lobbied their case with Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. They maintained that the Himachal government had been claiming that it had a 7.5 per cent share in the BBMB on account of areas of old Punjab merged in Himachal. The state had also filed a case in this regard in the Supreme Court. They said, however, if the state considered its employees serving in the BBMB on deputation, this would weaken the case of the Himachal government for its share in the organisation.

After lobbying by the Himachal employees, the state government had withdrawn the gratuity order for the BBMB. However, the order is still standing for employees serving in other central government organisations.

Some of the Finance Department officials said as per rules the gratuity was to be paid by employers for which the employees had been working. Since the Himachal government employees had been working for various central government corporations for long, those corporations were liable for paying them the gratuity.

In this maze, employees who have been serving outside the state since long would either have to return or face problems in getting pension benefits.

Dalhousie, January 27
A three-storey building of a private hotel, Mount View, housed in a magnificent old structure having about five shops on its ground floor alongside the main bus terminus in Dalhousie was gutted in a fire last morning.

According to official reports, the ground floor of the hotel also housed a branch of the State Bank of India and its ATM chambers were also destroyed in the fire.

On receiving information about the fire, an Indian Air Force (IAF) fire brigade along with other Army crews and a workforce of the NHPC reached the spot and doused the flames.

According to an assessment made by the revenue officials, loss caused due to fire had been put at more than Rs 5 crore. The local administration has ordered a magisterial probe into the fire incident to ascertain its cause. — OC

Shimla, January 27
Governor Urmila Singh unfurled the National Flag at the state-level Republic Day function held at the Ridge, yesterday.

Functions were organised at state, district, and sub-divisional level to mark the occasion. Hoisting of flags, impressive march past, cultural programmes were the highlights of the functions organised at various places.

The Governor took the salute at an impressive march past presented by contingents of Police, ITBP, Home Guards, Army Regiments, NCC and Ex-servicemen. Captain Santosh Bharmouria, 7/11 Gorakha Regiment, commanded the parade.

The tableaux exhibited by various government departments were the main highlights of the function. Cultural programmes were presented by the troupes from within and outside the state.

The Governor also honoured players from Shimla district who have participated and won laurels in international and national sports events.

DHARAMSALA: The 62nd district-level Republic Day function was held with gaiety and fervour at the Police Ground here on Wednesday.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Jai Ram Thakur unfurled the National Flag and took the salute at an impressive march past presented by the contingents of police, Home Guard, NCC and scout and guide.

Thakur paid tributes to the martyrs of the country.

The minister awarded Jeevan Kumar of Rait village with Rs 20,000 cash prize, who got gold medal in kabbadi in the Asian Games held at Hyderabad in 2006, besides 12 women players of the SAI hostel in Dharamsala who had participated in national-level events. He also gave away the prizes to the participants of cultural programme and parade.

A colourful cultural programme was presented by the local schoolchildren and other troupes.

SOLAN: Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Ravi unfurled the National Flag and took the salute at the march past presented by different contingents of police, Home Guards and NCC scouts on the occasion of Republic Day celebrations here yesterday.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the minister said the state had made a tremendous progress in every sector and it had also made a mark at the national-level. Its per capita income had grown to Rs 49,000 as compared to Rs 240 over the years and its literacy rate had risen to 85 per cent. The government had fulfilled 95 per cent of its commitments made in its manifesto during the last three years.

He also honoured various sportsmen of the district for their exemplary performance at the national-level.

KULLU: The 62nd Republic Day was celebrated with fervour at the Dhalpur Maidan here on Wednesday. The sunny weather facilitated the celebrations with the unprecedented gathering of people in their typical traditional costumes.

Education Minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman took the salute from the contingents of Police, ITBP, Himachal Home Guards, scouts and NCC led by the Himachal Home Guards Band.

Dhiman said the state had achieved a lot in different fields of development and established its identity at national-level.

BILASPUR: The government has increased annual budget for technical education in the state by 80 per cent.

Horticulture and Technical Education Minister Narender Bragta said this after unfurling the National Flag in the district-level Republic Day function here yesterday.

He also took the salute from the marching contingents of the Police, Home Guards, Naval NCC and infantry NCC.

Bragta paid homage to the freedom fighters and also praised valour of the gallant soldiers of Bilaspur district.

The minister flagged of the “Janganana Jagrookta rally” of school students and also gave prizes to those who achieved laurels in various fields.

Manali, January 27
The five-day winter carnival at Manali concluded here today. It evoked an overwhelming response among visitors, local residents and villagers from the surrounding areas of Manali and Kullu.

The concluding function was presided over by local MLA Govind Singh Thakur. He distributed prizes to the winners of various cultural events. He also awarded the winners of the ski championship, which was also a part of the carnival, held at the Solang Ski Slopes.

The main objective behind the carnival is to acquaint domestic and foreign tourists with the local folk art and culture in order to boost winter tourism in the region.

During the opening ceremony, the carnival was declared a national-level festival by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. However, this year it was celebrated as a state-level festival by the government.

Manali SDM Rajeshwer Goel, who is also the chairman of the winter carnival committee, said 30 cultural troupes from Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jammu, Delhi, Assam, Haryana and Rajasthan, put up wonderful performances at the carnival.

President of the Manali Hoteliers’ Association Gajender Thakur said the association also played a vital role in celebrating the carnival. It offered special carnival packages to promote winter tourism in the region.