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Health Minister quits over corruption charges
Bindal defends himself, says he is from a well-off family
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Emotional outburst: CM
Sushant’s land re-demarcated
Punjab results likely to influence poll outcome in Hamirpur district
RS poll: Cong still undecided
New Districts
Debate on Guv’s Address begins in Oppn’s absence
Education state’s priority, says Anurag Thakur
Calls for unity to fight corruption
Two-day seminar on mathematics concludes at Manali
Chamera-II Project
CPM backs computer teachers’ demands
Morcha opposes auction of shops
BJP exploiting state’s resources, says HLP
‘BJP failed to open educational institutions in Nachan’
HP all-rounder in BCCI
Under-19 team
Schedule issued
Woman falls from tree, dies
1 killed in road accident
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Health Minister quits over corruption charges
Shimla, March 12 Congress members, led by Leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes and PCC chief Kaul Singh, raised the issue as soon as the House assembled and pressed the Chair to take up an adjournment motion for which a notice was given by five of them. They alleged that corruption was rampant in the state and the charges against Bindal were too grave for his continuation in the Cabinet and he should be dropped immediately. However, Speaker Tulsi Ram maintained that as per parliamentary practices and procedures, the matter being raised by the members did not fulfil the parameters required for the admissibility of an adjournment motion. He also quoted some rulings of Parliament in this regard. It was not an issue which had arisen suddenly. Moreover, specific facts had not been placed before him and only generalised references had been made in the notice, he stated while rejecting the motion. Infuriated by his ruling, the Congress members started raising slogans alleging that the BJP government had sold the state. As the Speaker went ahead with question hour, they trooped into the well of the House and raised their voice in a bid to disrupt the proceedings. With the Opposition not participating, question hour ended before the scheduled time. Chief Minister PK Dhumal presented the supplementary budget for 2011-12 amid slogan-shouting. Thereafter, Bindal stood up and after giving a detailed reply and denying all allegations, said he was pained by the continuing tirade against him. The slander campaign was continuing even though he had made public the details of his assets and given a point-wise reply to all the charges. He said he had not done anything wrong and the Congress was making him a target as it seemed to be upset because it was wary of his achievements as Health Minister. He said it was out of anguish and sheer disgust that he was submitting his resignation to the Chief Minister. |
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Bindal defends himself, says he is from a well-off family
He not only refuted the charges pertaining to the assets, but also dismissed the allegation that he protected former drug controller Sher Singh, who was convicted by a court. He said there was nothing new in the charges and the details of the assets released by the HLP were also circulated in the media during the 2007 Assembly poll. Discrepancies had been pointed out in the details of the assets made public by him in 2012 and all sorts of charges were being made on its basis. The fact was that 13 bighas were not mentioned in 2007 as the land was transferred in his name only in 2009 after the death of his father. Similarly, much was being made of Rs 14.40 lakh deposited with the Lucknow Development Authority. As he could not get a flat, in 2012 the authority returned the amount with interest to him. Further, he had sold some land after 2007 and so it was “omitted” in 2012. He never owned any land in Molukalan and the allegation that he had land there had been made to mislead the people. He also did not own any land in Haryana. He asserted that he came from a well-off family. His father was an income tax payee in 1937 and the Bindal colony in Solan came up in 1948, years before he was born. Regarding Sher Singh, he said the bulk of the pharma industry came to Himachal during the Congress regime when he was the drug controller. In fact, he remained in the top post only for 44 days during the BJP regime and he was suspended, prosecuted and convicted within a period of three years while he held the Health portfolio. Finally, he was dismissed from service, yet he was being accused of shielding him. He said he had already initiated legal proceedings against Mohinder Nath Sofat, a spokesperson for the HLP, for levelling frivolous charges against him. |
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Emotional outburst: CM
Shimla, March 12 Replying to queries from mediapersons, he said the action of Bindal was unexpected as he was overwhelmed by sentiments while replying to the charges. He said similar allegations were levelled against him by his detractors during the 20007 poll. He would examine the facts before taking any decision. Having a dig at Congress members, he said Bindal had made his assets public and it was now to be seen whether those levelling the charges against him would follow suit. He said the government would probe allegations relating to the misuse of residential houses for commercial purposes built after taking land from the government on lease. Bindal had specifically pointed out in the House that Congress leader Kaul Singh had leased out the house, built on land given by the government, to the NHPC. |
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Sushant’s land re-demarcated
Nurpur, March 12 The Nurpur tehsildar said over four kanals of land in khasra numbers 611/1, 612/1 and 613/1 in Kutkana mohal of mauza Khehar had been identified as “encroachment on government land”. The tehsildar said following the complaint, a file under Section 163 of the Land Revenue Act had been prepared and this demarcation was a part of the “completion of that file”. She said the proceedings pertaining to encroachment on government land would henceforth be initiated in a revenue court. A demarcation had already been undertaken by the field staff of the Revenue Department a few months ago and today’s re-demarcation was just to verify the report submitted by the kanungo to the authorities. The encroached land was found within the retaining wall of the residential area of the MP. Sources said during the preparation of the “encroachment file”, the MP had given in writing that he would vacate the land if it was found to be encroached upon. The revenue authorities had intimated Sushant about today’s demarcation on March 9. |
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Punjab results likely to influence poll outcome in Hamirpur district
Hamirpur, March 12 As Hamirpur district is considered a stronghold of the BJP and Chief Minister PK Dhumal also hails from the district, the victory of the SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab has been a big morale booster for the BJP here. With BJP MLAs representing most of the seats in the present Assembly from the district, the ruling party feared setting anti-incumbency factor into play during the next Assembly election. But with the SAD-BJP government’s return to power after countering anti-incumbency factor in Punjab, the BJP has found a reason not to fear the same in Hamirpur. The Congress, which is not in good shape in the district, will definitely be at a loss in countering the psychological gains of the BJP. Lone sitting Congress MLA Sukhvinder Singh, elected twice from the Nadaun constituency, will also have to face the anti-incumbency factor this time. The family bond between a large number of Punjabis and residents of Hamirpur also will influence the political atmosphere here. Ruling party leaders from Punjab had always been campaigning vigorously in Hamirpur district in the past and during the 2003 Assembly election in the state the then Chief Minister of Punjab, Amarinder Singh, had launched a high-pitched campaign for the Congress and the SAD-BJP leaders had done the same during the past Assembly election. |
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RS poll: Cong still undecided
Shimla, March 12 The tussle for bagging the Rajya Sabha seat falling vacant on the completion of the tenure of Congress MP Viplove Thakur is already being witnessed within the BJP. Though Nadda, a sitting MLA from Bilaspur (Sadar), seems to be the front runner and the strongest candidate, no final decision has been taken so far. Newly appointed state BJP chief Satpal Satti has convened a meeting of the state Election Committee here on March 14 to discuss the candidature for the Rajya Sabha election but the final choice will fall on somebody whose name bears the stamp of approval from the high command. As such, Nadda still seems to be a strong candidate even though the possibility of a new name coming could not be ruled out. “Undoubtedly, Nadda is the strongest contender but the Shanta camp is averse to his candidature mainly for the reason that the entire power concentration within the BJP is now in the Hamirpur parliamentary seat with Dhumal, Satti and Anurag Thakur hailing from this Lok Sabha seat,” said a senior leader. As such, the party could consider giving representations to another area by fielding someone else to counter this propaganda. A lot will also depend on the Chief Minister who will have the main say on the issue. It will be interesting to see if he would be open to the idea of another tall leader from the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency emerging as a parallel power to his own son, Anurag, who has a long innings in politics. The name of two ministers who could be fielded for the Rajya Sabha election are also doing the rounds but at the moment it is Nadda who seems to be the strongest candidate. Moreover, considering Nadda’s proximity to party chief Nitin Gadkari, he may be able to get his name cleared by the high command easily. On the other hand, the Congress is still undecided about fielding a candidate. Though the senior leadership of the party is in favour of not fielding anyone considering the fact that the BJP has a clear majority, there is a feeling that even in the face of a certain defeat the Congress should ensure a contest. The Congress is yet to decide a date for the meeting of the state election committee or the Congress Legislature Party. |
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New Districts
Nurpur, March 12 Talking to mediapersons, Pathania said a leader who had lost his popularity graph within two years and his party candidature derailed in his native Assembly segment during the Lok Sabha elections held in 2009 had no right to compare the Assembly election results of the state with of Uttar Pradesh. Daring Kapoor for holding any programme in the Nurpur Assembly segment, he said people would gherao him and give him a befitting reply for opposing their sentiments on the issue as they were waiting for the decision of the Dhumal government on the
same. |
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Debate on Guv’s Address begins in Oppn’s absence
Shimla, March 12 Moving a motion of thanks, Suresh Bhardwaj of the ruling party appreciated the achievements mentioned in the Address for making the functioning of the administration transparent, efficient and accountable, and the performance of the government on the development front, particularly the health sector. He said the implementation of the State Public Services Guarantee Act would ensure time-bound delivery of services to the common man. As many as 12 departments had already notified various services to be provided under the Act, which would go a long way in holding the departments accountable for any lapses in the timely delivery of services. He defended the government on the issue of alleged abuse of Section 118 of the Land Reforms and Tenancy Act under which non-agriculturists cannot purchase land in the state without the prior approval of the government. He said those who had any complaints or evidence of misuse or corruption could go the Lokayukta and file a complaint. He termed the imposition of a ban on plastic bags and installation of anti-hail guns as major achievements of the government. He also credited the government with the efforts made to promote tourism and claimed that the hill state had become the number one destination for foreign tourists.
Urmil Thakur, who seconded the motion, also spoke about the achievements of the government and specially focused on the health sector and drinking water. |
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institution of Lokayukta
Mandi, March 12 Addressing a state-level seminar on “India Against Corruption”, organised by members of civil society, Kejriwal said he had procured a copy of the state Services Guarantee Act, which was a big fraud being played on the people of the state. There was no independent mechanism in place to give justice to the applicants, he claimed. The government was linking this Act with Anna Hazare’s services guarantee Act only to misguide the public in the state, he said. Kejriwal said the office of the state Lokayukta was a mere eyewash as it was at the mercy of the state government. Himachal had failed to make the institution of Lokayukta strong. The state should opt for the Uttarakhand model so that the common man got justice, he asserted. On land acquisition for the construction of hydropower projects by companies, Kejriwal said the consent and will of the gram sabha should be made mandatory under the Land Acquisition Act. Commenting on the seminar, Prof Sunder Lohia, Chairman, Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Mandi, said Team Anna talked about a “change in the system”, but how it would bring it about was not known. |
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Education state’s priority, says Anurag Thakur
These facilities are not otherwise available in the state and for which thousands of students have to go outside the state every year after paying heavy cost for the same. This was stated by Anurag Thakur, MP and national president, All-India Janata Yuva Morcha, while addressing a series of public meetings in the Bilaspur Sadar constituency, including at Jablayana, 60 km from here, and at Bilaspur town housing board colony here, yesterday. He said the state had spent an unprecedented amount of Rs 9,851.54 crore on education during the past four years and was spending Rs 3,165 crore in the current year, which was 19 per cent of the total budget and was the highest per cent allocation to education by any state. Anurag said the foundation stone of the much-awaited first hydro-engineering college of the country at Bilaspur would be laid soon. Its agreement had already been signed by the state government with the NTPC, which would provide Rs 100 crore for the same. The MP added that the government was equally concerned to develop the state into a “power state” and was going ahead with its plan of a total target of 20,000-MW power production - its total identified capacity. He also announced Rs 1 lakh for setting up a parking lot and Rs 2 lakh for the construction of a community hall at the housing board colony here in a meeting organised by the Board Colony Welfare Committee.
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Calls for unity to fight corruption
Mandi, March 12 Responding to queries from mediapersons, Kejriwal, who is here to address a two-day seminar of the “India Against Corruption” movement, asserted that the war against corruption could be won only if people were united. Referring to the murder of an IPS officer in Madhya Pradesh, Kejriwal said: “Those indulging in corruption are so organised that they can go to the extent of murdering those who stand against them. We can fight corruption only by getting together against the corrupt, down to the panchayat level.” He said the “effect of Team Anna” on the outcome of the elections in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh was clear. The Congress-led UPA had stalled the passage of the Lokpal Bill in Parliament and it got a political setback in the elections because of that, Kejriwal added. Kejriwal refused to comment on the suspension of Sushant from the BJP. Meanwhile, addressing the seminar, organised by members of the state civil society, another Team Anna member Manish Sisodia asserted that a “change of party or politicians” would not help much as there was a need to change the system to fight corruption. |
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Two-day seminar on mathematics concludes at Manali
Manali, March 12 The seminar was inaugurated by Prof Timothy A
Gonsalves, Director, IIT, Mandi. Also present on the occasion as guest of honour was Dr AK
Kulkarni, member secretary, National Board of Higher Mathematics. About 100 academicians, scientists and faculty members of various colleges and universities took part in the deliberations. Congregated academia included delegates from the University of Calcutta;
Vishva-Bharti, Santiniketan, Kolkata; Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai; Jadavpur University,
Kolkata; Panjab University, Chandigarh; Kurukshetra University, Haryana; NIT,
Hamirpur; Colleges of Himachal and HP University. The guests were welcomed by the Principal of the college, Dr PP
Kaistha. Dr Gonsalves gave a power-point presentation highlighting the technique of computing large-scale data through an integrated use of computers. Dr Kulkarni in his address spelt details of various scholarships and other incentives that the Board of Higher Mathematics offered to students and faculty engaged in the pursuit of mathematics. Later in the day, Prof JN Sharma of NIT,
Hamirpur, Professor Veena of HPU and Professor Rajneesh of Kurukshetra University delivered “Invited Talks”. This was followed by a technical session where papers were presented by Prof Rita Devi
(Sarkaghat College), Prof Divya Sharma (Sujanpur College), Prof Pawan Sharma (NIT,
Hamirpur), Dr Tapas (Kolkata), Prof GC Rana (Hamirpur), Prof Bikram Singh (Jawali), Prof Ramesh
(Dalihara), Dr Kunal Sharma (NIT, Kurukshetra) and Dr Sanjay Gupta and Dr Vijay Kumar, both of
HPU. The sequence of talks and technical sessions continued on the second day. The invited speakers were Dr AK Kulkarni
(Mumbai), Dr KL Verma (Hamirpur) and Dr Mridula (Kolkata). The papers were presented by Dr Baljit
(PU, Chandigarh), Dr Sachin Kaushal (Kurukshetra), Dr BR Shukla (Jandauta) and Dr Satish Kumar
(Kullu). The sessions were conducted under the chairmanship of Dr Sunil, Dr YD Sharma and Dr
Pawan, all of NIT, Hamirpur, and Dr Gorla of HPU. Dr Sanjay Kango, convener of the seminar, thanked the distinguished guests, delegates and sponsors of the seminar. |
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Chamera-II Project
Chamba, March 12 The Chamera stage-II Oustees Welfare Samiti has repeatedly asked the NHPC management not to overlook the interests of ousted families and resolve their issues amicably, but in vain. Residents of Karian Mohal, near Chamba town, living on the fringe of the project and whose land had been acquired for the construction activities of the Chamera project stage-II had been given a raw deal while giving compensation and jobs to them in 1988. The ousted families were demanding compensation for the land and employment in the project to one member of the each affected family, besides other demands for a long time. These families warned that the indefinite fast would continue till their demands were accepted and implemented in letter and spirit and for any untoward incident occurring during the agitation would be the responsibility of the NHPC management and the administration. On the other hand, sources in the NHPC clearly stated that all matters pertaining to compensation of land and jobs stands settled and implemented 23 years ago when the relief and rehabilitation plan had been formulated by the NHPC in collaboration with the state government. |
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Anganwari workers stage protest
Shimla, March 12 “Rather than fulfilling its promise of enhancing our wages, the government has not even paid us the arrears on account of the hike announced earlier in April, last year,” said Indira Thakur and Saroj Sharma, president and general secretary of the Anganwari Workers and Helpers Union, respectively. Indira Thakur demanded that they should be given enhanced salaries along with one-time cash payment of the arrears due from April, 2011. She warned that in case the government did not enhance the salary of Anganwari workers on the Punjab pattern, they would launch a statewide agitation. “The government should constitute a welfare fund for us and provide a Festival Allowance like in West Bengal,” she demanded. The two leaders warned that in case the government did not fulfill their demands they would launch a stir to expose the hollow claims of the BJP regime of being pro-women and its initiatives for their empowerment. |
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CPM backs computer teachers’ demands
Shimla, March 12 A member of the state secretariat said computer teachers for the past quite sometime had been demanding the formulation of a proper policy for computer education. It was surprising that though computer education had been outsourced to private companies, the education directorate was still issuing diktats to computer teachers. The CPM urged the government to bring a comprehensive policy for computer education to take care of the rapid changes. The BJP government had give a raw deal to this important subject of education and completely outsourced its teaching. It asserted that just like all other subjects, the curriculum for computer education should be prepared in consultation with those who propagate open source and free software instead of the patented Microsoft products. Further, the CPM had asked the government to appoint regular computer teachers to impart education in schools. The CPM alleged that privatisation and outsourcing of teaching was a result of the neo-liberal polices of the government. It did not allow regular teaching in schools and, instead, everything was being outsourced to private entrepreneurs. This was a ruinous policy that was detrimental to the interests of people and the state. The party had decided to hold a massive campaign to highlight this issue to force the government to reverse its decision of privatisation of education.
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Morcha opposes auction of shops
Mandi, March 12 Convener, MBM, Lakshmender Guleria claimed that the HRTC had not got the possession of the bus stand as it was yet to be completed. Secondly, the HRTC had not advertised the auction of the shops in the bus stand. He further claimed that the HRTC had not taken care of the old shop owners who used to run shops in the old bus stand complex. “We have asked the HRTC to allot them shops in preference as it is a question of their rights,” he asserted. Besides, the HRTC and HIMUDA, which is constructing the bus stand, have yet to get an
NOC from the national highway authorities. The Regional Manager, HRTC, claimed that shops were complete and the allotment process was being started. “The auction of the shops is being done in a transparent manner and we will go for an open auction if they are not satisfied with the tender process,” he added.
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BJP exploiting state’s resources, says HLP
Bilaspur, March 12 Dharmani, former state chairman of the 20-point Implementation Committee, said the BJP government was determined to take control of the precious natural resources of the state and sell these to outsiders by violating Section 118 of the Land Act. He said: “We will not allow this to happen and expose all those in power who are out to exploit our state for personal benefits.” Dharmani, who was accompanied by some top leaders of the party, said the recent elections in five states had proved that people had rejected both the Congress and the BJP due to their anti-people policies and elected local and regional parties. He said they would fight for the people’s cause to restore their land and dignity.
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‘BJP failed to open educational institutions in Nachan’
Sundernagar, March 12 Addressing mediapersons here, he said though the state BJP government had completed over four years in power, in the Nachan Assembly segment it had not opened a single government school, what to speak of opening a new industrial training institute or a government college. Consequently residents of the interior panchayat of this Assembly segment were suffering. He said BJP MLA from the Nachan Assembly segment Dile Ram was inaugurating schemes which were started by the Congress government.
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HP all-rounder in BCCI
Under-19 team
Shimla, March 12 He had a good season with the bat and an average over 70 in the Vinoo Mankad Championship, the Cooch Bihar Trophy and the Under-19 Inter-Zonal One-Day tournament. President of the State Cricket Association Anurag Thakur said players from the state had started making their presence felt at the national level due to the all-round development of the game over the past 10 years. Required facilities and infrastructure were being created at the grassroots level and efforts had started paying dividends.
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Schedule issued
Shimla, March 12 Nomination papers could be delivered by candidates or any of his proposers to the Returning Officer or the Assistant Returning Officer (Under the Secretary, HP, Vidhan Sabha) before March 19. The nomination papers would be scrutinised on March 29 while the last date for withdrawal of candidature was March 22 before 3 pm. The election, if necessary, would be held on March 30 in the Vidhan Sabha complex.
— TNS
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Woman falls from tree, dies
Bilaspur, March 12 Reports said Satya had gone to the fields to fetch fodder for her cattle and had climbed a tree to cut its branches. But she suddenly lost her balance and fell down. A large number of villagers rushed to help her and rushed her to the Primary Health Centre, Jukhala. But she succumbed to her injuries. Led by Bilaspur Sadar Block Development Committee Chairman Amar Singh Thakur, village elders urged the district administration to provide financial help to the poor family.
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1 killed in road accident
Mandi, March 12 The police said Devinder was declared as brought dead at the Rati Community Health Centre. It had registered a case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A, IPC. The motor bike (HP 33 A 3679) and the three-wheeler (HP65-2334) had been impounded and investigation was on, the police added.
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Shimla, March 12
Bilaspur, March 12