Dharamsala, April 21
The ice might be finally broken between vice-president of the BJP and Rajya Sabha member Shanta Kumar and Chief Minister PK Dhumal.

It was after a long time that the Chief Minister visited Shanta Kumar at his residence in Palampur today.

The CM paid a surprise visit to Shanta Kumar’s residence this morning. He was here on a visit to the Sulah Assembly constituency represented by Shanta loyalist Vipin Parmar.

Sources here said the meeting might have taken place on the direction of the party high command which wanted to bring together both leaders in view of the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state.

All the BJP ministers from Kangra district, including Kishan Kapoor and Ramesh Dhawala of the Shanta camp, Ravinder Ravi and Sarween Chaudhary from the Dhumal camp, were present.

These two senior leaders of the BJP from the state remained in closet for about half an hour. Later, both of them chose not to say anything regarding the deliberations in the meeting. Shanta had been keeping away from the activities of the state BJP for the past over one year.

Initially, Shanta wanted Khimi Ram removed as the state president of the party. However, Dhumal prevailed and allowed Khimi Ram to continue as the state president of the party. In the recent past, Khimi Ram was absorbed in the state Cabinet and Satpal Satti, who was acceptable to both factions, was made the state president of the party.

The non-completion of Viveknanda Super-speciality Hospital was another bone of contention between the two leaders. The Trust headed by Shanta had entrusted the job of building and running the hospital to the JP group of industries. However, sources said Shanta was not happy at the slow progress of the project. He was feeling that the government was not doing enough to pressurise the JP group for expediting the hospital project that was the manifesto promise of the BJP before last elections. A ropeway project in Palampur was another bottleneck between the two leaders.

After holding a meeting with Shanta, Dhumal left for Delhi today. The sources said he might discuss the developments in the meeting with the party high command.

They added that Shanta might seek some major changes, including dropping of the minister who is facing charges of corruption in case he would be involved in activities of the state BJP.

The Chief Minister also dedicated and laid foundation stones of development schemes worth Rs 22.23 crore in the Sulah Assembly segment of Kangra district during his visit today.

Solan, April 21
Union Minister Virbhadra Singh today lambasted the BJP government for its poor governance and said state officials were indulging in “worst sycophancy” and this was amply illustrated when an IPS officer touched the Chief Minister’s feet.

He said he would have suspended the officer if he had indulged in such behaviour during his tenure.

He said when voted to power the Congress would constitute a commission of inquiry to probe such irregularities, including shady land deals.

The Union Minister blamed the media for indulging in irresponsible reporting regarding fissures in the party and dismissed allegations of factionalism in the party and said they were united despite minor differences of opinion.

While negating the need to transfer Annandale ground to the state, he said it was an issue concerning the country’s security and he would not allow the BJP government to convert it into a cricket stadium.

He blamed the faulty ticket distribution as the reason for the party’s defeat in Punjab and said it should be properly done if they had to recapture power in Himachal.

However, Virbhadra showered praises on BJP’s national vice-president Shanta Kumar and termed him as a man of principles and seasoned politician.

He said they differed in ideology, but he was a man of principles unlike his other counterparts in the BJP.

While the presence of Leader of the Opposition Vidya Stokes was indicative of the emerging equations of unity among the party factions. The absence of PCC chief Kaul Singh from the rallies of the Union Minister proved the widening chasm between the two.

Earlier, Virbhadra was welcomed at Parwanoo, Dharampur, Kumarhatti and Solan by party workers.

Former MP Chander Kumar, former MLAs Lajja Ram, Harsh Mahajan, Krishna Mohini, sitting MLAs GR Musafir, Kush Parmar, Lakhwinder Rana, newly elected State Youth Congress president Monica Bharti, INTUC state president Hardeep Bawa, state Sewa Dal president Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, PCC general secretaries Ram Kumar Chowdhary and BCC president Sanjay Awasthy were among those present.

Shimla, April 21
It has been a virtual clean sweep by Monica Bharti, wife of Congress MLA Neeraj Bharti and nominee of the Virbhadra faction, in the elections of the State Youth Congress as she trounced the candidates pitted against her.

As compared to the high-pitched elections held in November last year when sons of two political giants Union Minister Virbhadra Singh and former minister GS Bali were trying their luck, this time the poll was smooth and quiet. Monica, who had sprung a surprise by filing her nomination at the last minute, got 3,880 of the total 4,876 polled votes.

All the five candidates in the fray not only forfeited their deposit, but could poll only 996 votes put together. The five candidates included Goldie Chaudhary (489), Mahender Kumar (240), Dharmender Thakur (194), Prerna (39) and Manu Sharma (34). The polling in these polls was, however, less as compared to the last elections held on November 8.

With not even a single defeated candidate in the election, polling for which took place on April 19, getting 500 votes, no one got to the post of general secretary. It was already decided that any candidate who despite losing the elections got a minimum of 500 votes, would automatically get the post of the state Youth Congress general secretary.

The results of the Youth Congress elections have once again proved that Virbhadra has his pocket of influence in every nook and corner of the state, a clear indication of which was the victory of his faction’s nominee, a greenhorn in politics even though from a political family.

Monica registered an impressive win owing to the support of the Virbhadra faction and open support of his son Vikramaditya.

Having roughed it out in November last year when Vikramaditya was himself the nominee, he campaigned for Monica to ensure her victory.

Vikramaditya had registered an impressive victory against Raghubir Bali, son of Kangra MLA GS Bali, as he had polled almost 5,800 votes in the last elections. With all senior Congress leaders and MLAs from the Virbhadra faction working in his favour, he registered a resounding victory. However, his election was declared null and void and he was debarred from contesting following complaints of the violation of election code of conduct.

Shimla, April 21
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has summoned all the five senior leaders from the state to Delhi on April 23 to ensure that the party’s poll prospects are not marred by factionalism and bickering.

It is reliably learnt that the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) chief will give a message to all the senior leaders, who are divided into factions to work unitedly for ensuring that the Congress wrests power from the BJP. Those who have been summoned to the 10 Janpath for a meeting include Union Ministers Virbhadra Singh and Anand Sharma, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kaul Singh Thakur, Congress Legislature Party leader Vidya Stokes and former Rajya Sabha MP Viplove Thakur.

“The AICC chief will discuss the political scenario in the meeting and ensure that the Congress forms the next government,” confirmed Kaul Singh.

He added that he was keen that all senior leaders were working unitedly in the state for ensuring Congress victory.

The move is being viewed as an attempt by the high command to tell each one of these leaders, a majority of whom are contenders for the post of Chief Minister, to avoid any public spat, which can go against the party, especially in the election year.

The factionalism and contradictory statements being given by senior Congress leaders, including Virbhadra Singh, Kaul Singh and GS Bali, in the recent past have been conveyed to the party chief by Chaudhary Birender Singh, AICC general secretary and in charge of party affairs in Himachal Pradesh.

The high command will be doing some tough talking to quell the bickering within the party.

However, the BJP that too is not untouched by factionalism is banking on the bickering and power struggle going on in the Congress party.

Bilaspur, April 21
Two women, Nirmala Devi (33) and Veena Devi (43) of Nikka Ram of Taasali village, near Kutheda, near Ghumarwin, died instantaneously as a huge mound of earth and boulders fell on them.

Another woman Sunita Devi (27) of Matoli village under the Baldwada police station of nearby Mandi district was injured seriously and rushed to Ghumarwin Civil Hospital earlier in the evening. Sunita is said to be out of danger.

Reports said the incident occurred near the Sauli bridge between Kutheda and Banoha where the widening work of the Ghumarwin-Jogindernagar super highway is going on and where during this process, a pale white earth called “golu” used in villages for cheaper white-washing, had been unearthed during road cutting.

These women were extracting this earth from the roadside which had taken the shape of a cave due to the removal of earth by other women earlier, and this suddenly caved in on them and they got buried under these debris.

Several other women who were also coming to extract the earth raised a noise and a large number of villagers rushed to the spot and tried to extract the women, but they failed to save them.

Police officials rushed to the spot when they received the information about the incident and a case has been registered.

Kangra, April 21
A 30-year-old man of Hatli Mode Govindsar Kathua presently working as a labourer had a fall while working near Jogindernagar and succumbed to his injuries at Dr Rajendra Prashad Government Medical College (DRPGMC), Tanda, today.

The police said the man identified as Vinod Kumar fell into a 7-ft gorge and had a head injury. He was shifted to Joginder Nagar Hospital from where he was referred to the DRPGMC Tanda where he succumbed to his injuries. The police has started investigation in the case.

Hamirpur, April 21
The Army authorities, looking after the welfare of ex-servicemen in the country, have failed to start the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) clinic at Badsar, despite the decision of the Director-General (DG) of the ECHS, New Delhi.

The DG, ECHS, had taken a decision about one year ago to start the ECHS clinic at Badsar in Hamirpur district and conveyed the same to the president of the Ex-Servicemen League months ago.

Starting of the ECHS clinic would have benefited thousands of ex-servicemen of the area.

The Government of India had started the ECHS scheme to provide medical facilities through these clinics to ex-servicemen across the country and the ECHS, Directorate, New Delhi, is opening many new clinics every year, keeping in view the strength of ex-servicemen in an area.

Medical facilities and treatment is provided at nominal rates to ex-servicemen under this scheme.

The Badsar sub-division has a large number of ex-servicemen and all ECHS members have to travel to Hamirpur for getting treatment at the ECHS clinic, Hamirpur, which is 45 km from Badsar.

According to information, about 10,000 ex-servicemen belonging to the Badsar area who are drawing grocery and other articles from CSD canteen, Badsar, are also members of the ECHS.

Though the DG, ECHS, New Delhi, had announced to start the ECHS clinic at Badsar from April 1, 2012, it has failed to start.

President of the Ex-Servicemen League Brig Brajesh Singh (retd) said: “The League has taken up the matter with the Commander Western Command and the Sub-Area Commander, Jalandhar.”

Shimla, April 21
Horticulture Minister Narinder Bragta yesterday flagged off two new luxury bus services to Delhi and Kalpa in tribal Kinnaur introduced by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation.

He said the services would strengthen the present transport fleet of the corporation and provide a convenient mode of transportation to tourists and local people. The new service to Kalpa would help tourists explore the rich culture of the tribal region of Kinnaur.

AC Volvo buses will be plied on the Shimla-Delhi route and non-AC coaches on the Shimla-Kalpa (Kinnaur) route. The corporation has extended a special discount of 20 per cent on the inaugural service.

The Shimla-Delhi service, operating during the daytime, will continue till June 30, 2012, while the Shimla-Kalpa service will initially be operated for a period of two months on alternative days and, if required, will be turned into a daily service. So far it was operating the Volvo service between Shimla and Delhi only during night.

The corporation will also run its five luxury coaches from Manali to the Rohtang Pass and back with a view to reducing traffic congestion in the area.

Shimla, April 21
The din about carving out new districts from Kangra seems to have stirred a hornet’s nest for the BJP as demand for creating more administrative units in other parts of the state have also started pouring in.

Close on the heels of Kangra leaders, BJP legislator from Rohru Khushi Ram Balnatah today urged Chief Minister PK Dhumal to keep his Assembly constituency in mind while carving out new districts.

The demand for trifurcation of Kangra into Dehra, Palampur and Nurpur was echoed at the BJP meet held here recently.

Balnatah, who represents Rohru in the Assembly, in a letter written to the CM has urged that the demand for declaring Rohru as a district must be borne in mind as and when the issue is tackled at the highest level.

“I would like to remind you that the demand for creation of a district out of Rohru is a old one and several people from the area also met you with this request,” he wrote.

The MLA, who is a staunch Shanta loyalist, reminded Dhumal that during the last BJP regime, even an Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) had been posted at Rohru.

“The ADC functioned from Rohru for almost six months before the Congress regime reviewed the decision and wound up the ADC office,” he remarked.

During the last BJP regime headed by Dhumal, ADC offices were opened at five places - Nurpur, Rohru, Sundernagar, Karsog and Sarkaghat.

With this background, the claim for getting the district status will automatically come from these five sub-divisions, whose case would be stronger than other places.

“Ironically the BJP has lost the Assembly seats in all these five places where the ADC offices were opened so it is a ticklish question on which we need to tread very cautiously,” remarked a BJP MLA.

Going by the past experience it remains to be seen whether the BJP would want to deal with the issue close to the Assembly poll.

Moreover, the issue of creation of new districts could add fuel to the existing factionalism within the BJP.

Kangra, April 21
Government Polytechnic, Kangra, today bagged the overall trophy in cultural and athletics for women and Government Polytechnic, Sundernagar, in athletics for men. Rahul and Hitash of Government Polytechnic, Sundernagar, were adjudged as best athlete in men’s and Aiyan of Government Polytechnic, Kangra, in women’s category.

Ranjit Katoch, media in-charge of the event, said the 18th Inter-Polytechnic Sports and Cultural Meet, 2012, concluded at the polytechnic here today. Vijay Chandan, Director, Technical Education Vocational and Industrial Training Himachal Pradesh, who was the chief guest of the closing ceremony, gave away prizes to the winners.

On the final day in the 5,000-m race for men, Sanjeev of Government Polytechnic, Kangra, bagged gold, Mohit Rana of Government Polytechnic, Ambota, got silver and Rajit of Government Polytechnic, Sundernagar, got bronze.

In the 200-m race for women, Aiyna of Government Polytechnic, Kangra, got gold, Neelam of Government Polytechnic, Sundernagar, silver and Shikha of Government Polytechnic, Kangra, bronze.

In 100-m race for men, Hitesh and Rahu, both of Sundernagar, came first and second prize, respectively, and Safal of Hamirpur third.

In 100-m race for women, Neelam of Government Polytechnic, Sundernagar, came first, Shika of Government Polytechnic Kangra second and Monika of Government Polytechnic Kandhaghat third.

Chamba, April 20
With the state Assembly elections approaching near, the Himachal Pradesh Pensioners Welfare Association has started mobilising pensioners for active participation as the present BJP government has not risen up to their expectations.

“So far utter disappointment and frustration in the matter of resolving pension matters and correlated issues have been experienced by pensioners from the ruling party because politicians consider our worth not more than a spent bullet,” state spokesperson of the Himachal Pradesh Pensioners’ Welfare Association PC Oberoy revealed this in a press statement here today.

Oberoy appealed to the pensioners, numbering over one lakh all over the state, to plunge into the electioneering process for the state Assembly elections scheduled to be held at the fag-end of this year.

Oberoy claimed that the pensioners under a well-knit strategy could extend support to the candidates preferably from the fraternity of retirees service personnel with the aim of capturing a sizeable number of seats in the forthcoming Assembly elections so that such candidates might be able to advocate their cause successfully in the state Vidhan Sabha next year.

Oberoy alleged that the BJP government in the state had not shown any inclination to solve matters relating to pensioners, thereby compelling them to mobilise themselves on this plank in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Oberoy lamented that senior leaders of pensioners had been advocating seeking favour from Chief Minister PK Dhumal, but could not be successful.

Solan, April 21
A one-day seminar on “Cancer awareness role of communicators” was organised by the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI), Shimla chapter, today.

Dr KR Dhiman, Vice-Chancellor, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, was the chief guest at the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Dhiman said changing food habits, obesity, pollution and environmental degradation were the main causes of the disease. He said in earlier times physicians used to treat patients and not the disease, but the technological advancement had changed the scenario now.

Dr Dhiman said mass awareness movements could help achieve this objective. He urged people to change their style of living and abstain from consuming junk food.

Expressing concern over the overuse of pesticides, Dr Dhiman said this trend not only damaged crops, but was a major contributor to cancer.

He said they were creating awareness about the ill-effects of pesticides and how to minimise their use, adding that natural resource conservation could help reduce the incidence of the disease.

Dr Yashwant Verma, surgeon, local Regional Hospital, said regular check-ups could help in the early detection and recovery of the disease.

He said lung, larynx and cervix cancer had become common in the country among persons of 40 years of age and above.

Dr Lokesh Mumgai, an ayurvedic doctor, said adulteration in food products was a big contributor to the disease and drug addiction also added considerably to it.

Earlier, BD Sharma, Chairman, PRSI, Shimla chapter, welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries.

He detailed the activities of the PRSI, Shimla chapter.