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Govt proposes Rs 2,030-crore tribal development plan
Govt listless on IPL dues recovery
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Aides of BJP MP join HLP in Kangra
Political feathers ruffled as MC chief hosts dinner for CM
Congress questions BJP on ‘government jobs’ to youth
Sushant must resign as MP: BJP
Elections in Five States
Hospital owner booked in health insurance racket
2 more Tibetans commit self-immolation
Gopalkrishna Gandhi is IIAS Chairman
Sofat warned against issuing ‘misleading’ statements
Land row: Cricket Assn refutes CPM charge
Telephone mechanic found dead
Villagers demand closure of liquor vend
Man attacked by stray bull
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Govt proposes Rs 2,030-crore tribal development plan
Dharamsala, March 5 The Chief Minister said compared to Rs 1,260 crore during the ongoing 11th Five-Year Plan, the state government would be spending Rs 770 crore more under the next Tribal Sub-Plan. The government had earmarked 9 per cent of its budgetary provisions for the development of tribal areas. He said Rs 695.67 crore was being spent under plan and non-plan provisions during the current financial year. Keeping in view the limited working season in the tribal areas due to heavy snow, the government had been ensuring time-bound completion of developmental projects in all such areas. During winter, 48 helicopter flights were used to transport tribal population and employees. Dhumal added that Rs 42.06 crore was being spent for construction of roads and bridges in the interior parts of tribal areas, Rs 63.14 crore in education and health, Rs 35.78 crore in agriculture, irrigation and horticulture activities during the current financial year. Besides, Rs 2.59 crore had also been made available under the Pandit Deen Dayal Kisan Baagwan Samridhi Yojna to modernise and strengthen economy of farmers and horticulturists of the tribal areas. He said a provision of Rs 2.32 crore had been made to provide residential facilities to employees serving in the tribal areas. A Tribal Bhawan was also being constructed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore at Reckong Peo to facilitate residents of the Hungrang Valley and the Pooh Valley. An increase of 1,100 hectares had been registered in green cover in the tribal areas. He said the Tribal Studies Institute had been set up in Himachal Pradesh University to facilitate research work on tribal development to formulate policies and programmes aimed at speedy development. As many as 28 new handlooms and weaving centres were being set up by spending Rs 137.63 lakh to economically empower tribal women. Over 24 tribal hostels had also been constructed in all three universities and different degree colleges at a cost of Rs 23.41 crore, while more hostels were under construction, he said. Dhumal said the government would be considering deployment of Class-III and IV tribal employees to service in their native places so that better and dedicated services were ensured. He directed the authorities to speed up tower line project work from the Pooh and Kaza areas. He said tribal tourism was gaining popularity with foreigners. Khimi Ram Sharma, Tribal Development Minister, thanked the Chief Minister for his initiative in protecting the interests of tribal people. Ramlal Markandey, MLA, Lahaul and Spiti, raised the issue of issuance of ‘pattas’ of the land to the ‘nau-tor’ allottees in the tribal area. Tejwant Singh Negi, MLA, Kinnaur, demanded project implementation for reclamation of barren land in the tribal areas for agriculture and horticulture activities. He urged the Chief Minister for introduction of post graduation courses in tribal colleges at Reckong Peo, Kukumseri and
Killar. |
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Govt listless on IPL dues recovery
Shimla, March 5 According to information obtained by RTI activist Dev Ashish Bhattacharya, an expenditure of Rs 2.36 crore was incurred (Rs 72 lakh in 2010 and Rs 1.64 crore in 2011) by the police on providing security cover for IPL matches held in Dharamsala. Bhattacharya wondered how a fund-starved state like Himachal Pradesh could be so magnanimous to the Board of Cricket Control for Cricket in India when states supposed to be relatively better off, like Punjab and West Bengal, are recovering full charges for the IPL matches. It’s common knowledge that IPL is purely a commercial event involving high investment by corporate houses and Bollywood actors. Bhattacharya said the RTI information received by him from the DGP’s office revealed that the department had not even properly put up its case for recovery of the charges. Instead, it has hailed the event as a milestone which put Dharamsala on the world tourism map and gave the state’s economy a boost. The department left it to the government, if it deemed fit, to recover the amount spent on providing security. He said the fact was that Dharamsala was put on the global map five decades ago when the Dalai Lama made it his abode in exile. He wanted to know the specific data on the basis of which the police arrived at the conclusion that holding of a few cricket matches had lifted the economy. Further, the famous Eden Garden and Mohali Stadium are also on the world sports map but the state governments concerned have been recovering IPL matches dues. He said all his queries about the steps being taken to recover the IPL dues were shuttling between the offices of the Home Secretary and the
DGP. |
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Aides of BJP MP join HLP in Kangra
Dharamsala, March 5 Dharaya Sushant, son of Rajan Sushant, who had organised the rally in Jawali today, said the state BJP leadership wanted to oust his father from the party. “If the party intends to do so, it should oust my father from the BJP at the earliest,” he said. Dharaya has already joined the HLP and been appointed as president of the youth wing. Maheshwar Singh, president, HLP, speaking on the occasion, said, “We had been informing the party high command about corruption being committed by certain ministers in the present government. However, even party president Nitin Gadkari did not take any action in the matter. We then had to form a separate political outfit to expose corruption in the present government. In case the HLP was voted to power, it would appoint a vigilance commission that would keep a watch on the working of ministers and bureaucrats. Shyama Sharma, another HLP leader who addressed today’s rally, said she had proof of corruption being committed in various development works being carried out by the IPH. “The evidence would be released at an appropriate time,” she said. There were about 1,000 people at the HLP rally at Jawali today that was organised allegedly with the support of estranged BJP MP from Kangra Rajan Sushant and his family members. Sources here said despite open opposition, the BJP high command was finding it hard to take action against Sushant. In case the BJP expelled Rajan Sushant, he would be able to retain his membership in Parliament. However, if he voluntarily left the BJP, he would have to forego his membership in Parliament. |
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Virbhadra Singh to hold rally in Kangra
Dharamsala, March 5 He said the rally would be massive and help in exposing misdeeds of the present government. The supporters of Virbhadra were planning a rally in Kangra, a politically significant district, since the last rally of the Congress held in December during the winter session of the state Assembly held under the stewardship of GS Bali. Though Chander Kumar said there were no differences in the party and the Congress would contest the election collectively, it was obvious that the rally was being planned by the Virbhadra faction. When asked about the possibility of return of Vijay Singh Mankotia back into the Congress’ fold, Chander said if Mankotia was interested in joining the party, he would have to move an application with the district or state Congress. On being asked who would lead the party in the next Assembly elections, Chander said the party high command would take a decision on the issue. He alleged that Chief Minister PK Dhumal was shielding his ministers despite the documentary evidence being provided against them by the breakaway faction of the BJP. He said the state BJP was on the verge of split. Leaders from Kullu had formed a new party. Son of a BJP MP from Kangra has openly joined the party of BJP rebels. Kewal Singh Pathania, who was also present, alleged that the government machinery was being misused during the the BJP rallies. |
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Political feathers ruffled as MC chief hosts dinner for CM
Dharamsala, March 5 Local MLA and Minister for Industries Kishan Kapoor also gave the dinner a miss. When contacted, Kapoor declined to comment on his absence. His close associates, however, said Kapoor did not attend the dinner as his supporters, including the seven municipal councillors, were peeved at not being taken into confidence by Kamla Patial before the event was planned. On the other hand, the Congress councillors were present at the dinner. On the occasion, Patial presented a memorandum of demands on behalf of the Dharamsala MC. She demanded that Rs 1 crore liability of the council against street light bills should be waived. The CM, speaking on the occasion, said his government had placed development above political considerations. He said the present government was planning to develop Dharamsala as a sports city. The second secretariat is being built at Dharamsala so that all the ministers can hold office there for the benefit of people belonging to lower areas, he said. Patial contested and won the elections for the post of President of Dharamsala Municipal Council as an independent. She defeated a BJP candidate. She is daughter of former BJP MLA from Dharamsala, Brij Lal. Supporters of sitting MLA from Dharamsala Kishan Kapoor feel Patial might emerge as a rival to him in the constituency. The feeling has created a wedge between both the leaders. |
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Congress questions BJP on ‘government jobs’ to youth
Chamba, March 5 At present, the total figure for unemployed youth registered in different employment exchanges of the district is around 55,500. Addressing a joint media conference here today, district spokespersons of the HPCC Dharam Malhotra and Jagdish Handa asked the ruling BJP leaders of the area to tell the people of Chamba how many universities, colleges and schools had been opened in the district. No new project or any employment generating scheme has been launched in the district, they said. Several villages in the district have been facing power blackout in the aftermath of unprecedented snow and downpour. Chamba town itself has faced power blackout for many days during January, besides frequent unannounced power cuts, the Congress spokespersons alleged. The Congress leaders said the ruling BJP government had so far failed to post any ENT specialist or gynaecologist in the regional hospital for a long time and the hospital had become merely a “referral hospital”. |
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Sushant must resign as MP: BJP
In a statement issued here today, state BJP Vice-President Kripal Parmar and state BJP General Secretary Ram Swaroop said from the manner in which Sushant was talking about the BJP regime, it appeared he was an MP from some other party. “He is targeting the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues for his vested interests for which, he has always been notorious,” it was stated. The party said Sushant was in a habit of levelling allegations against everyone including Shanta Kumar and Dhumal. “Sushant has not spared even Shanta Kumar, against whom he levelled allegations for which he was expelled from the party and later, he turned against Dhumal in 2000,” it was stated. |
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Elections in Five States
Hamirpur, March 5 Politicians largely take cue from trends prevailing in the neighbouring states to judge the mood of the electorate. Moreover, political leaders and grassroots’ activists have, as always, taken part in electioneering in states other than their own, getting them interested in the election results there. The Punjab Chief Minister, whichever party he may be representing, has been vigorously campaigning in Himachal during the last many elections, which has turned out to be a morale-booster for the parties concerned, more so as many areas adjoining Punjab and Himachal share ethnic affinity and familial bonds. The election results in the five states would also be important from the standpoint of internal party politics for two major political parties - the BJP and the Congress. With state unit of the Congress ridden by factionalism and the ruling BJP facing dissidence, with one faction already having broken away, leaders would be closely monitoring the poll results to decide their future course of action. Similar is the case with people of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh as both these states have areas adjoining each other. Even common people here are quite anxious about the election results as these would be a reflection on state governments elsewhere. Since the HP Assembly elections are scheduled to be held by the end of this year, national and state leaders are now turning their politicking gears to the hill state. |
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Hospital owner booked in health insurance racket
Mandi, March 5 After establishing the prima facie evidence, the SVACB today lodged an FIR against Kaundal at the vigilance police station in Bilaspur charging him of cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy. He runs two more hospitals at The Ridge, Shimla, and Baddi in Solan, which are under the Vigilance scanner, sources revealed. The hospital allegedly created fake files of over 125 patients belonging to the Below the Poverty Line (BPL) and Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) families and claimed Rs 2.5 lakh under the RSBY in 2011. Besides, the hospital also showed the same in case of 55 BPL patients till February 2012, the vigilance probe found. Virender Sharma, Superintendent of Police, Vigilance, Central Range, said they had lodged an FIR and further investigation in the case was on. The hospital not only created fake files of patients to get insurance claims worth Rs 5.85 lakh, but had also conducted fake lab tests on patients who were never admitted to the hospital, he added. As per inputs gathered by The Tribune, New India Insurance company, a Government of India undertaking, has released Rs 2.5 lakh to the hospital out of the Rs 7.5 lakh claimed by the Apna Asptal. There are over 22 private hospitals empanelled by the state Health Department allegedly on pick-and-choose basis. As many as eight private hospitals in Kangra, two each in Shimla and Una, one each in Kullu, Chamba, Bilaspur and Sirmaur districts and four private hospitals in Solan district and other hospitals are represented by the Health Minister, sources revealed. KC Sadyal, Additional Director-General, SVACB, said they had yet to get the facts at hand in connection with the case. Mohan Singh, senior manager, NII, said the company had paid Rs 4 crore out of Rs 22 crore paid as total claims submitted by the hospitals to the company till January 2012. “We have received Rs 32 crore as premium under the RSBY -- 75 per cent contributed by the Centre and 25 per cent by the state,” he added. |
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2 more Tibetans commit self-immolation
Dharamsala, March 5 Rinchen, a mother of four children, set herself on fire in front of the police station at the entrance of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba in north-eastern Tibet yesterday. She shouted slogans demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. She died on the spot. On March 3, Tsering Kyi, a 20-year-old Tibetan student, died after setting herself on fire at a vegetable market in Machu in eastern Tibet. Tsering Kyi was a middle school student, the CTA spokesperson said. The CTA further said the current situation in Ngaba was tense following this latest self-immolation incident, as a large number of security forces and police had been deployed in the region. Meanwhile, Rigzin Dorjee, monk of the Kirti monastery, who had self-immolated in February 2012, is reported to have succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. The Chinese authorities cremated him in Barkham despite pleas from his relatives to have his body returned to them. Another the monk from the Kirti monastery, Lobsang Kunchok, who self-immolated in September 2011, is in serious condition following amputation of his legs and arms. He is being fed through a tube in his throat. The hospital staff reportedly physically abused him, the spokesperson said. The Central Tibetan Administration called on the Chinese government to allow those injured from self-immolations to get proper medical treatment. “We are deeply troubled by reports of such cruel treatment of fellow human beings. We appeal to the Chinese government to demonstrate greater wisdom in its handling of the current tense situation,” said Dicki Chhoyang, Kalon for the Department of Information and International Relations. |
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Gopalkrishna Gandhi is IIAS Chairman
He replaces Bhalchandra Mungekar who completed his second consecutive three-year term as Chairman on January 5 last. Gandhi has been appointed for a period of three years. He has held numerous important administrative posts and also served as Ambassador and High Commissioner of India to several countries. He joined the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) in 1968 and served in Tamil Nadu till 1985. He was Secretary to the Vice-President of India from 1985 to 1987 and Joint Secretary to the President of India from 1987 to 1992. He took voluntary retirement from the IAS in 1992 and became the Minister of Culture in the High Commission of India, UK, and also the Director of the Nehru Centre, London. He was appointed the High Commissioner of India to South Africa and Lesotho in 1996 and subsequently took over as Secretary to the President of India. The year 2002 saw him as the High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka, and Ambassador to Iceland and Norway. In December 2004, he took over as the Governor of West Bengal. He has authored a novel “Saranam - Refuge in English” and a play in verse “Dara Shukoh”. His other books are "Gandhi and South Africa", "Koi Acchha Sa Ladka" (translation into Hindustani of Vikram Seth's novel “A Suitable Boy”), "Gandhi and Sri Lanka", "Nehru and Sri Lanka", "India House, Colombo - Portrait of a Residence", "Gandhi Is Gone. Who Will Guide Us Now?" (edited), "A Frank Friendship: Gandhi and Bengal: A Descriptive Chronology" (compiled and edited). The members of the reconstituted governing body are DL Sheth, former member, Backward Class Commission, Madhvan Palat, Chief Editor, Nehru Memorial Trust, Chetan Singh, Professor of History, HP University, Lalji Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Banaras Hindu University, David Symlieh, Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University, Peter Ronald d’Souza, Director, IIAS. The ex-officio members include Secretary, Higher Education, MHRD, Chairman, UGC, Director-General, CSIR, Chairman, ICPR, Chairman, ICSSR, and Chairman, ICHR. |
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Sofat warned against issuing ‘misleading’ statements
Solan, March 5 BJYM spokesman Vivek Dhobal, in a press note here today, said Sofat had no right to speak against corruption as he had lost three elections where people had rejected him and he had lost the 1993 polls on charges of corruption. Dhobal said Sofat had failed to respect sentiments of his own supporters, who had collected money to gift him a Bolero vehicle as a token of “nyay rath”, but
he had sold it off within a year. He said Sofat was trying to gain publicity by targeting senior leaders of the BJP and indulging in their character assassination. He said Sofat was quiet for four years and deliberately tarnishing the image of the BJP leaders. He advised Sofat to file a complaint with the Lokayukta if he believed his allegations were true. In Health Minister Rajiv Bindal’s defence, he said Bindal had set up a Himgiri Kalyan Ashram to help needy children. His hard work had helped in the development of the Solan constituency and his
efforts were recognised by people who had elected him thrice. The morcha warned Sofat to stop indulging in such political gimmicks or else they would gherao him. Other morcha leaders who also condemned Sofat included state secretary Sandeep Thakur, mandal president Tilak Raj Sharma and state executive member Kamal Verma. |
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Land row: Cricket Assn refutes CPM charge
Shimla, March 5 Association spokesperson Mohit Sood said the HPCA had only supported the signature campaign launched by people for the release of the ground from the illegal occupation of the Army, which was not handing over the ground to the government. The land is being used for playing golf by Army officers. The association was committed to build world-class sporting infrastructure in the state capital, provided the government handed over the ground to it.
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Telephone mechanic found dead
Bilaspur, March 5 Onkar was said to be missing for the past few days and his relatives had given a missing report at the city police station on March 2. Reports said some villagers saw the body lying in the jungle along a road near the factory and reported the matter to the police which immediately arrived on the scene and took the body into its custody. The police has registered a case and is investigating the matter. The body was handed over to the family after postmortem at the Regional Hospital here. Onkar belonged to Kathala village near Suharghat in this district and was living at the Telephone Colony here. He was in charge of the maintenance of telephones in the Mandi-Manwan area where his body was found.
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Villagers demand closure of liquor vend
Bilaspur, March 5 The villagers said since the liquor vend was opened here despite opposition by the villagers, not only the youth, even schoolchildren were getting into the trap of addiction. They warned that they would start an agitation if the district administration did not close the liquor vend.
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Man attacked by stray bull
Bilaspur, March 5 Other villagers rushed to help him on hearing his shrieks. They saved him from being gored by the bull which is said to be notorious for such attacks on unwary strangers. Dipak was rushed the local Primary Health Centre where he was given 15 stitches on his wounds. His condition is said to be stable. Village elders Urmila Devi, Tilak Raj, Ishwar Dass, Amar Chand, Sita Ram, Bhagwan Dass, Shyam Lal, Mansha Ram, Nand Lal and Ram Lal have all drawn attention of the district administration towards such stray cattle which have made life of villagers miserable. They have urged the government to take away all stray cattle to some go sadan.
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Shimla, March 5
Shimla, March 5