|
|
|
|
|
High-voltage Drama
Cong seeks CPS’ resignation
Liquor seizure a Cong
conspiracy, says BJP
Teacher-Student Ratio in Schools |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Sarva Kalyankari Sabha
honours soldiers, kin
Rajinder Rana, president of the Sarva Kalyankari Sabha, confers the Himachal Rattan Award on Dr Raj Bahadur, Director, Government Medical College, Chandigarh, at a function in Sujanpur Tihra on Sunday. A Tribune photograph
Raid at Party Office
No chinks in party: Dhumal
Samaroh projects Rana as next candidate
Major Geoffrey Robert Lloyd addresses the guests at the reunion of 4th Gorkha Rifles at Subathu on Sunday.
Six lakh visit Himachal Pavilion in New Delhi
NSUI to hold protest demonstration
|
|
Liquor seized from CPS Sukh Ram’s vehicle
Ambika Sharma
Solan, November 27 The police was informed that a dispute between two groups had led to some ruckus outside the board’s guest house last night. A police team led by DSP Virender Thakur seized the liquor from the two sites though the origin of the liquor in the room could not be ascertained. Deputy Commissioner Mira Mohanty said she had sought a report from the police and it was known that a Rajgarh resident, Naresh Chowdhary, had booked three rooms and he had taken the keys along with him as he was to return late and the chowkidar was away owing to his mother’s illness. Police officials said on condition of anonymity that since no one was ready to own the liquor, a case under the Excise Act had been registered and the liquor had been seized. Interestingly, Sukh Ram, who was present on the spot, alleged that an attempt was made to kill him and he has named three youths and their accomplices who, he alleged, had been following his vehicle while he was coming from Koti Dhiman and going towards Dadahu last night. In a written complaint to the police, he has alleged that two vehicles started following him from Dadahu and they not only hurled abuses at him but also tried to attack him with sickles. His driver took them to the rest house of Renuka Vikas Board but he was chased there also and fearing for his he along with his associates including two men and a women locked themselves in a room. The miscreants then tried to break open the room and he could hear noise of bottles being broken and people shouting that they would implicate him for carrying liquor. A case under Sections 341, 336, 504 and 506 of the IPC has been registered against three people and others on Sukh Ram’s complaint. The general observer, Raju Narayan Swami, said a case had been registered under the Excise Act as liquor had been seized and a report would be sent to the Election Commission regarding the incident. The seizure of the liquor, close on the heels of the seizure of currency notes from the BJP’s campaign office, has exposed how money and liquor are surreptitiously making inroads into the poll into this otherwise backward constituency.
|
|
Cong seeks CPS’ resignation
Shimla, November 27 General secretary of the party Kuldeep Rathore alleged that the liquor was recovered from the room and vehicle of the CPS and was meant for distribution among voters in the Renuka constituency where byelection is to be held on November 30. He said Congress workers gheraoed the guest house of the Renuka Vikas Board around midnight after local people informed that liquor was stocked for election and informed the police. He said in all 30 liquor cartons were seized from the room of the CPS and seven from his vehicle, while a large number of them were thrown into the Renuka Lake. The main road was littered with broken liquor bottles, thrown in a haste, and the entire area smelled of liquor. The party has already sent complaints to the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer by fax and has demanded the shifting of the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police who were unable to withstand government pressure to ensure a free and fair poll. He said Chief Minister PK Dhumal wanted to win the byelection at all costs and by any means as dissidents were putting pressure on the BJP high command for his removal. His trusted ministers were camping in the constituency, not only misusing power but also money and liquor to woo the electorate. The campaign managers had adopted a no-holds-barred approach and they had no qualms even in desecrating the holy Renuka Lake. Liquor and non-vegetarian food is banned in the religious place. The Deputy Commissioner was the chairperson of the Renuka Vikas Board and she had failed to check the misuse of the guest house of the board. The Superintendent of Police had also failed to perform duty as instead of taking action against the culprits involved in “note for vote” scam in Sangrah and the liquor episode in Renuka, the government machinery was harassing Congressmen, who were the complainants.
|
|
|
Liquor seizure a Cong
conspiracy, says BJP
Shimla, November 27 Party spokesperson Ganesh Dutt alleged that Congress hooligans indulged in rowdy behaviour and insulted Sukh Ram who had already lodged a complaint with the Dadahu police in this regard. The Congressmen were using such tactics to build pressure on the administration. He said Sukh Ram had already sent a complaint to the Election Commission of India in this regard. The incident at Sangrah was a glaring example of it in which the Congress workers forced the officers concerned to take over the money kept at the party office for election expenses. The Congress was now trying to take advantage of it by raising the slogan “note for vote”. The party had submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner and the Subdivisional Magistrate demanding immediate release of the money. It also sought intervention of Chief Electoral Officer Narinder Chauhan in the matter. He said the manner in which party workers Bhagat Ram and Rasil Singh Mankotia were arrested was unparalleled in the electoral history of the state. Dutt said the Congress had thrown all norms of poll campaign and decency to the winds and its workers were now indulging in open hooliganism and putting the blame the on BJP to mislead the innocent people of Sirmaur. He said the people were aware of the dirty poll games being played by the Congress and they would not be misled by its tactics and would give a befitting reply to it by making the BJP candidate victorious.
|
|
|
Teacher-Student Ratio in Schools Vijay Arora
Shimla, November 27 The court passed this order on a petition filed by private teachers, who are working in a grant-in-aid school for the release of arrears and salary as per the grant-in-aid norms. Expressing concern over the teacher-student ratio in the state, the court said it was shocking to learn that the teacher-student ratio in the government sector was 1:18, which was far above the norm. The court directed the Secretary (Education) to explain the teacher-student ratio prescribed by the quarters concerned like the NCERT and the NCTE and the factual position at present in government schools and colleges. It directed that in case the ratio was beyond the prescribed norms, then there would be no further recruitment of teachers in the government as well as aided sectors until an exercise was undertaken to rationalise the teacher-student ratio according to the norms except in case of appointment to a vacancy for which the process had already been commenced by way of a notification issued by the Public Service Commission. During the course of the hearing, the court was informed that the pay had been revised with effect from 2006. However, the Principal Secretary (Finance) submitted that no decision had yet been taken by the government regarding disbursement of arrears from 2006 to 2009. On this the court made it clear that the pattern to be adopted regarding the release of arrears to the teachers in the government sector would be followed for the teachers in the aided schools.
|
|
Warm weather delays ice skating season
Shimla, November 27 Normally the rink has an impeccable white sheet at this time of the year and trial ice skating sessions begin from November 25 onwards. However, this season the rink is still a dry dusty ground as even the process of spraying water has not been started because of the abnormally high ambient temperature. Groundsmen start preparing the rink midway during the month and sprinkling of water commences around the third week. The rink is ready with a thick layer of ice for the season, which officially commences on December 1. The minimum temperature today was 8°C, which is 3.1°C more than normal, and with the local Met office ruling out any possibility of rain over the next week there is little possibility of the ice skating season commencing before the second week of December. Bhuvanesh Banga, honorary secretary of the Shimla Ice Skating Club, which manages the rink, says a prolonged dry spell has raised the ambient temperature and a brief spell of rain could help bring it down. Apart from the temperature, humidity also plays a vital role in preparing the rink for ice skating. As it takes about a week for creating a layer of ice of requisite thickness, there is no doubt that the season will be delayed, he says with an air of despondency. The prediction of a severe winter did bring cheer to ice skating enthusiasts and the weather conditions indeed looked encouraging as the mercury started declining in the second week of November. The minimum temperature dipped from 14.2°C on November 10 to 8.5°C on November 13. However, thereafter the weather took an abnormal turn and mercury started rising, instead of declining. The minimum temperature rose to 12°C, which is 5.4°C above normal on November 20. There has been some decline since but not enough to make the water freeze. Large-scale construction activity, felling of trees and the increasing population have taken a heavy toll on the fragile hill environment in recent years. The consequent change in the weather pattern has effectively reduced the ice skating season to almost half. The average temperature has been rising, while snow is becoming increasingly scarce, making it more and more difficult for water to freeze naturally. The situation has worsened due to the disappearance of the cluster of trees on the hillside which provided shade to the rink. |
|
|
Sarva Kalyankari Sabha
honours soldiers, kin
Sujanpur (Hamirpur), November 27 At this function president of the sabha Rajinder Rana gave mementos to the soldiers or their families for their invaluable services rendered in defending the borders of the country against all odds. The sabha also gave the Himachal Rattan, Himachal Gaurav, Himachal Khel
and Sangeet Awards on the occasion. The Himachal Rattan Award was given to Dr Raj Bahadur, renowned spine surgeon and Principal and Director of the Government Medical College, Chandigarh. Principal Accountant General of India Nand Lal and known heart specialist Dr TS Mahant were conferred with the Himachal Guarav Award, Commonwealth Games bronze medalist-weightlifter Vikas Thakur the Himachal Khel Award and singer Nitin of Sa-Re-Ga-Ma Little
Champ fame the Himachal Sangeet Award. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Rajinder Rana said, “Our organisation had decided to honour the soldiers and their families as it is our duty to honour them for their invaluable services and supreme sacrifices.” He said, “Our organisation has always tried to help social organisations like mahila mandals, youth clubs and other needy people, and today’s gathering is a recognition of our good work done during all these years.” Taking a dig at his critics, Rana said, “I am serving people of the area and not doing anything wrong. Their criticism can not deter me from my path of social service. I will continue to do so with more
vigour.” |
|
|
BJP demands recall of poll observer
Tribune News Service
Shimla, November 27 In a complaint sent to Chief Election Commissioner, the party said the observer, Raj Bahadur, raided the election office along with a large number of Congress leaders and workers. He took away polling agent forms signed by candidate Hriday Ram and other election material and the entire amount kept for election expenditure for polling booth management and refreshment for party workers. The party accused Raj Bahadur of acting in a partisan manner to harm the prospects of its candidate and demanded his immediately recall as the police wrongfully arrested the party election office in charge Rasil Singh Mankotia and party worker Bhagat Ram during the raid and kept them in police custody till late night, where they were publicly humiliated and physically manhandled by Congress workers. Even after it was found by investigation agencies that no case was made out against the election in charge and the party worker, the electoral rolls and other election material had not been returned.
|
|
|
No chinks in party: Dhumal
Solan, November 27 Addressing public meetings in the Renuka constituency at Lanacheta, Bhogdhar and Noradhar, the Chief Minister urged the people to vote for party candidate Hriday Ram who, along with their staunch supporter Balbir Singh, would help develop the constituency where the Congress had allegedly failed to undertake developmental activities. In an apparent bid to give a clear message of the party being united, Dhumal made a special mention of granting Balbir Singh an “equal stature of an MLA” and said they would have two representatives. He gave figurative details of developmental works undertaken by his government for women, people below the poverty line, horticulturists, farmers, the common man and children by providing improved health services, cheaper power, free ambulance services and promised to solve the problems of the area if they voted for Hriday Ram. The BJP got a boost today when Tulsi Ram, a prominent leader of the Congress from Noradhar, addressed the rallies and held the Congress responsible for the backwardness of Renuka. He urged the people to vote for the BJP who, he said, had performed better than the Congress during its short stint. He turned emotional and apologised before the public for the lack of development of the area.
|
|
|
Samaroh projects Rana as next candidate
Hamirpur, November 27 Rajinder Rana, who has been active in BJP politics for quite some time and was a contender for the party ticket during the last Assembly election, became more active after the creation of a new Assembly segment, Sujanpur in the district. After the formation of BJP government in the state, he was made chairman of the media advisory committee, but had to be quiet due to a controversy. The sabha is quite active in the area and has organised several programmes like free health checkup camps, sports competitions, besides giving liberal aid to mahila, yuvak mandals and other needy persons. While today’s function was organised to prove his support among the masses, office bearers of the sabha and Rana himself used the opportunity to reveal their agenda of contesting from the Sujanpur Assembly constituency. While every speaker at this function announced Rana’s candidature from the stage and urged him to contest the next Assembly election, the organisers had sought the services of poets, singers and speakers to eulogise Rana. Zila Parishad member Anjana Thakur even sought votes for Rajinder Rana in her speech. Maintaining a tactical distance from Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Rana said, “I have a family relation with the Chief Minister which is permanent because political relations keep changing.” Endorsing the views expressed by the speakers from the stage Rajinder Rana said, “I will go by the wishes of the people and keep on serving them.”
|
|
4th Gorkha Rifles reunion takes off
Solan, November 27 This was followed by the wreath-laying ceremony where all retired Colonels of the regiment, along with Major Geoffrey Robert Lloyd, a 4th Gorkha Regimental Officer of pre-Independent India, Commanding Officers of various battalions, along with Brig AG Kumdalkar, SM, Commandant, 14 Gorkha Training Centre, retired Generals of 4th Gorkha Rifles and Subedar Majors of each battalion paid tributes to the Gorkha troops who had laid down their lives to save their motherland. Brig AG Kundalkar, SM, Commandant, 14 Gorkha Training Centre, Subathu, in his address conveyed his gratitude to the guests. The Colonel of the Regiment, in his special Sainik Sammelan, highlighted the numerous instances of the success of 4th Gorkhas. He said the pipe and drum band of the 1st Battalion of the regiment participated in the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi; Havildar Arjun Thapa of the 2nd Battalion participated as a member of the Army Skiing Expedition to the South Pole; Hav Rajendra Singh Thapa won three gold and seven bronze medals in the 54th National Shooting Championship; Rifleman Chandra Bahadur Thapa of the 3rd Battalion scaled Mount Manaslu (8,163 m), world’s eighth highest peak, in May this year. Major-Gen BD Kale, President, Gorkha Brigade Officer’s Association, elaborated about his experience with Gorkha troops. The “First Day Cover” was also released by the Colonel of the Regiment on the occasion.
|
|
Six lakh visit Himachal Pavilion in New Delhi
Shimla, November 27 He said brisk business was witnessed on the last day of the fair as heavy discount was offered to the customers. He said a display of Kangra paintings, Chamba Rumal and bamboo household articles helped in projecting manpower skills of the state and it would help in promoting the handicraft and artisans of the state in a
big way. Patyal said the Himachal Tourism Pavilion was another big attraction for the visitors who were fascinated with the mesmerising beauty of the hill state. Participation by leading industrial houses helped to project the image of the state and attracting the interests of investors.
|
|
|
NSUI to hold protest demonstration
Nurpur, November 27 This was stated by Amit Pathania, newly elected national NSUI delegate from the merged areas of Himachal Pradesh, at a press conference here today. He alleged that most of the mushrooming private universities in the state did not fulfill the norms of the UGC and were playing with the future of students. Pathania said the NSUI was a frontal organisation of the Congress, but would follow the guidelines of the national working committee of the NSUI. Expressing concern over the degradation of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) during the past four years’ regime of the BJP, he said it was unfortunate that once the HPU rated A grade had come down to B grade by the National Advisory Committee (NAC). “The day is not far when like the closure of government schools in the state, government colleges will face the same consequences,” he opined. |
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Sujanpur (Hamirpur), November 27
