Shimla, August 24
The leadership crisis in the Congress continued today as factions headed by former Union minister Virbhadra Singh and state Congress chief Kaul Singh maintained pressure on the high command.

With leaders and their supporters camping in Delhi, the party was forced to cancel its plan to gherao the Vidhan Sabha on the opening day of the monsoon session, commencing on August 27.

Party general secretary Kuldeep Rathore said they decided against the plan because of heavy rain, which had damaged roads. Instead of gearing up for the poll, the party seemed to be slipping into uncertainty.

The leadership and rank and file were in disarray and the high command was adding to the confusion by delaying crucial decisions.

There were reports of Virbhadra’s appointment since yesterday, but there was no official confirmation. AICC sources said things were being worked out and might take some more time.

The implications of changes would have to be addressed. Organisational changes were to be made in six states including Punjab and Uttarakhand, and the high command might take a call soon.

Virbhadra was engaged in a do-or-die battle to take control of the party. Kaul Singh was building pressure to thwart his moves.

There was a move to appoint Virbhadra supporter Gangu Ram Musafir as the working president, but the proposal did not come through.

AICC general secretary and state party affairs in charge Birender Chaudhary had stated categorically that there was no such move.

Virbhadra had adopted a more aggressive posture and called all his supporters to Delhi where they were camping for the last three days.

As pressure built up, the high command swung into action. Party chief Sonia Gandhi held two meetings with Virbhadra in a day and subsequently with Kaul Singh.

The flip-flop and the stalemate were sending wrong signals to party cadres. The party would have to decide while considering ground realities and ensure fighting the elections unitedly.

Dharamsala, August 24
The Congress move to appoint former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh the president of the HPCC will benefit the BJP. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said this while talking to mediapersons here today.

He said Virbhadra was facing corruption charges framed against him in court, due to which he had to resign as Union minister. He added that Virbhadra had been downgraded when he was shifted from the Ministry of Steel.

In the last Assembly elections, the BJP had used a compact disc which reportedly had Virbhadra’s voice as a tool to press for charges of corruption against him.

Indicating the party strategy in case Virbhadra was appointed HPCC president, Dhumal said it seemed that the Congress did not have faith in its leaders from lower and central areas of the state.

Since Virbhadra belonged to the upper area and had often been accused of ignoring lower areas, the BJP might try to cash in on the issue in the forthcoming elections.

Dhumal dared the Congress to file an affidavit with the Lokayukta regarding the charges in its chargesheet. He added that the Congress wasted the President’s time by submitting the chargesheet to him.

Speaking about the Congress charge that the HPCA had been given undue benefits as it was being headed by his son Anurag Thakur, the Chief Minister said the HPCA was governed as per BCCI guidelines.

By questioning the functioning of the HPCA, state Congress leaders were questioning the credibility of the BCCI, which had many Congress leaders as members, he added.

He claimed that internal and external security had never been so weak before. The violence in Assam was a result of weak governance of the Centre, which failed to check illegal immigration from Bangladesh, he alleged.

New Delhi, August 24
The Congress leadership is measuring its steps with caution as it contemplates a change in the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) amid intense pressure from former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his supporters.

Any move to alter the existing order will have to be made by Sunday since the state Assembly begins a four-day session on August 27. The Central leadership is aware that it has to set its house in order before gearing up to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party government on the floor of the House.

While there is considerable excitement in the state Congress over the ‘impending’ appointment of Virbhadra as state Congress chief, party general secretary Birender Singh was categorical here today that no decision had been taken.

AICC sources said here the party high command was weighing all factors before taking a decision. A change of guard could not be done in a manner that sent the signal of having buckled under pressure. The leadership knew that it could not afford to compound problems, which could affect its chances of wresting power.

The sources said attempts by the Virbhadra camp to demonstrate its strength here and reports of possibly shifting to the Nationalist Congress Party were clear indicators of the pressure being mounted on the leadership.

Solan, August 24
The state government may be drawing flak for having granted permission to set up 11 private universities in Himachal Pradesh, but it has decided to utilise their services by directing the university authorities to conduct mock tests for engineering aspirants for the next academic session.

The mock tests will particularly help students from rural and backward areas prepare for the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) in 2013.

An initiative of the Higher Education Department and the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission, the mock tests begin at 590 government senior secondary schools tomorrow and will continue till February next year.

Higher Education Joint Director Shashi Bhushan said, “Since the state government has decided to admit students through the AIEEE from the next academic session, students of government schools should be made aware of its pattern.”

Since the examination also had an online pattern, the option would also be made available to students in mock tests. A nominal fee of Rs 100 would be charged from them. Those from below poverty line families would be charged Rs 50.

Each university was given a cluster of about 50 schools and the area selected through a draw of lots. A common question paper had been prepared and it would be followed by all 11 private universities. At least five mock tests would be conducted by each university for every cluster.

The decision to make the AIEEE mandatory for engineering students would ensure quality. The universities had been drawing flak for lowering admission criteria and compromising on quality.

Hamirpur, August 24
Former deputy director of the Sainik Welfare Department, Jagdev Chand Katoch, arrested by the Hamirpur police for financial irregularities of nearly Rs 12 lakh, was sent to 14-day judicial custody today.

Katoch, who was officer on special duty in 2009, has been booked for misappropriation of funds for the welfare of ex-servicemen.

The irregularities were detected after a probe on the basis of a complaint to the Vigilance Department, which was forwarded to the police.

It was found that Katoch, who was having drawing and disbursing powers, used to receive lakhs of rupees in the department meant for the welfare of ex-servicemen.

It was found that the officer used to invest huge amounts received in the welfare fund in his personal fixed deposits and used to draw the interest accrued. The police investigated the official record pertaining to allegations.

Dharamsala, August 24
Heavy rain in Dharamsala led to landslides in the entire region. The Dharamsala area received the heaviest rainfall of the season last night. There was a massive landslide near Sakoh that blocked the Dharamsala-Kangra road. Traffic on the road remained disrupted during the day.

The entire hillock along with many pine trees slipped on the Dharamsala-Kangra road. The PWD authorities said it might take some days to clear the road. A few houses on the edge of the hill were also being threatened due to landslide.

In the morning, the road was opened for light vehicles. Later in the evening, rains again disrupted the traffic on the road due to fresh landslides. Heavy rain also disrupted power supply in many areas of Dharamsala town. It could only be restored later in the evening.

Palampur, August 24
SDM, Palampur, Bhupinder Attari, yesterday constituted four disaster-management teams to deal with the situation after flash floods and heavy rains lashed areas of the district during the past four days.

He had directed all the heads of departments posted in the Palampur region not to leave their headquarters even on holidays as their presence was needed at any time, they would also not proceed on leave.

Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, the SDM said the entire Palampur sub-division had been divided into four sectors to provide quick relief to flood and rain victims.

Senior officers-cum-heads of different departments had been given the responsibility of sector heads. He said these teams would cooperate with the police and self-help groups and other government officials in reopening blocked roads and rehabilitation of flood-affected persons.

The SDM also released four telephone numbers of the heads of these teams, who could be contacted in case of any mishap or emergency.

The numbers are SDM, Palampur, 01894230595; tehsildar, Dheera, 01894222200; tehsildar, Thural, 01894276400; and BDO, Panchrukhi, 01894254232.

Nurpur, August 24
The torrential rains which lashed the area during the past week has damaged the house of Keshav Sharma of Indpur, near Indora, in this sub-division last night.

According to information, five members of Keshav’s family were asleep when the roof and walls of the house collapsed but they had a narrow escape. The central wall of two rooms helped them to escape unhurt.

Jaipal Khair, tehsildar, Indora, along with the field revenue staff, visited the spot to assess the loss.

Rakesh Verma, SDM, Nurpur, said the victim would get prompt relief as per the relief manual of the state. — OC

Palampur, August 24
The Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), a fountainhead of mass-based socio-economic philanthropy for families of JCOs and other ranks of the Army, celebrated its 46th raising day at Palampur Military Station today.

Alpana Rakshit, convener, Family Welfare Organisation (FWO), was the chief guest for the day. The celebration was inaugurated with the traditional AWWA song representing the quintessential inner strength of a woman and also was followed by events like mehandi, rangoli and quiz competitions.

A workshop on stress management, a talk by Nimme Datta, an exhibition by the Himalayan Research Institute of Yoga and Naturopathy and Vipassana Meditation Centre were the highlights of the day.

The function begun with a spirited, ‘Run for Fun’, event where more than 100 families participated. A tree plantation drive was also launched on the occasion.

The event concluded with an address by Alpana Rakshit.

Shimla, August 24
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has sought permission from the state government to prosecute the two officials of the Civil Supplies Corporation who were allegedly involved in the multi-crore pulses scam after finding their involvement in manipulating the tender document.

It was early this week that the Vigilance Bureau sent in its request to the Principal Secretary, Vigilance, seeking permission to prosecute Ashok Kumar Kaushal, GM (Administration), and Kashmir Singh Rana, Assistant Procurement Officer in the Civil Supplies Corporation, posted at Shimla.

The pulses were meant for sale under the PDS at its fair price shops and the tender would have resulted in a loss of Rs 1 crore per month if irregularities had not been detected.

The Vigilance Bureau is still investigating the other aspect of the scam about transportation and alleged sale of the imported pulses and supply of sub-standard material, which too is in final stages.

A case had been registered in the pulses scam against the two officials on February 14, 2011, under Sections 13 (1) d, 15 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and 120 B of the IPC. “Having completed investigation as far as the involvement of the two officials is concerned in alleged manipulation of tender document, we have sought permission from the government to prosecute them,” confirmed KC Sadyal, ADGP, Vigilance and Law and Order.

Vigilance sources said these officials were allegedly involved in manipulation of the tendering document, which would have resulted in undue benefit to the firm concerned, Munish Kumar and Mohit Kumar, New Delhi, who were awarded the contract for supply of pulses, its packing, printing and transportation.

“The two officials allegedly added the word “required pulses” at their own level without the consent of the bosses, with the alleged motive of giving benefit to the firm and this automatically rendered many other firms ineligible,” revealed an official.

Another fact was that a record of their cellphone calls has revealed that they were in constant touch with the firm during the crucial period when the tendering process was on. The proprietor of the firm that was awarded the contract for supply of pulses Mohinder Mital has also been made an accused in the case by the Vigilance Bureau.

Solan, August 24
Lawrence School, Sanawar, will host the 15th All-India Bhupinder Singh Memorial Soccer Tournament from August 25 to 28 where eight teams from Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Chandigarh will compete for the coveted trophy.

A press release issued by the school here today said the tournament would be held under the joint aegis of the Himachal Football Association and the All-India Football Federation. Capt Pawanjeet Singh Sethi, Station Commander, AFS, Kasauli, will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony.

The participating teams include Sherwood College, Nainital, Uttrakhand, who won the 2011 title, Army Public school, Dagshai, Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, Durga Public School, Solan, Vivek High School, Chandigarh, Yadvindra Public School, Mohali, and Yadvindra Public School, Patiala, besides the hosts, who were runners-up last year. 

Nurupur, August 24
A local court yesterday convicted Sukhdev Raj, a resident of Dakki Chowk, Pathankot, for rash and negligent driving.

The Judicial Magistrate first class, Indora, awarded him three-month imprisonment besides Rs 1,500 as fine.

Sukhdev, the driver of a Tata Sumo (PB01-4406), was booked under Sections 279 and 337(A) of the IPC and 181 of the Motor Vehicle Act by Indora police on June 22, 2007, for hitting Arjun Singh of the same village, who was riding a motorcycle, at Raja Khasa village.