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No-confidence motion rejected
Virbhadra to contest, will hunt for constituency
Virbhadra opens new innings with protest today
Delay in Panchayat Sahayaks’ Interview Results |
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Pensioners rue govt apathy
Question Hour
Appointment a part of reshuffle, says AICC secretary
Leopard occupies upper storey of house
Kaul should renounce politics, says BJP leader
Kisan Sabha stages protest
Activists of the Himachal Kisan Sabha raise slogans in Shimla on Tuesday.
Photo: Amit Kanwar
Kangra polytechnic students excel
‘Congress upbeat after appointment’
Nomination of new HPCC president welcomed
8 injured in bus mishap
One killed in road accident
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No-confidence motion rejected
Shimla, August 28 The Congress did not allow Chief Minister PK Dhumal to complete his reply. Chaos and pandemonium prevailed in the House as Congress members continued sloganeering, with ruling benches joining in. Nothing could be heard in the din as Congress members trooped to the well of the House and did not pay heed to the request of the Speaker to resume their seats. Disruption of proceedings continued amid pandemonium, with Congress finally staging a walkout. Replying to the debate, the Chief Minister said he could understand the compulsions of Congress members and the timing of the motion with elections round the corner. Dhumal’s remarks that the Congress regime had granted permission to the Jaypee group to set up a cement plant by circumventing state and environment laws infuriated Congress MLAs. The action began immediately after Question Hour. Speaker Tulsi Ram said the 22 Congress members had moved a motion, expressing no confidence in the council of ministers. With the Chief Minister supporting the holding of a debate, the Speaker allowed a discussion on the no-confidence motion under Rule 278(2), suspending the business listed for the day. Moving the no-confidence motion, Congress Legislature Party leader Vidya Stokes said it was more apt to call the Dhumal regime a government of scams. “The BJP regime has failed on all fronts as in its four-and-a-half-year rule it had neither vision nor policy, resulting in disenchantment among the youth, employees, farmers, women and other sections of society,” she said. She lashed out at the Dhumal regime for allowing the concentration of private universities in Solan district. “They are charging exorbitantly while similar courses are available in government universities at nominal fees,” she said. Adopting a very aggressive stance, Kaul Singh Thakur said not just the Congress, but the BJP as well, including its MP Rajan Sushant, had openly accused the government of rampant corruption. Senior BJP leaders, including Maheshwar Singh, Mahender Sofat and Shyama Sharma, had quit the party seeing the sad state of affairs in the organisation, he remarked. Citing examples like the Bemloe Developers housing project, the Bantony heritage building, eco-tourism projects, concentration of private universities in Solan and failure to repeal the Apartment Act, he said questions were being raised on the government’s role. He said the probe into benami land deals by an independent inquiry commission had pointed out several serious irregularities and violation of Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Ceiling Act. Coming out in defence of the government, Shimla legislator Suresh Bhardwaj said the Congress, which was faction-ridden, was still trying to put its house in order. He said the Congress had accused the BJP of corruption and submitted a chargesheet, but charges had been framed in court against its own senior leaders. Former Health Minister Rajeev Bindal said this was a no-confidence motion against the common man as the common man had benefited the most during the BJP regime. He said the UPA regime had failed to take effective steps against price rise, as a result of which it was difficult for the common man to make both ends meet. |
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Virbhadra to contest, will hunt for constituency
New Delhi, August 28 He evaded direct questions on whether he would be in the race for Chief Minister, but said, “I am sure the party leadership will honour the sentiments of a majority of MLAs.” He was speaking at his residence here a day after Congress president Sonia Gandhi issued formal late-night orders announcing him as the new party chief in the state. The former Chief Minister said he would look for a constituency as his former segment was now reserved. “I have not zeroed in on the constituency yet, but will do so soon. I have to contest to bring an element of seriousness into my election campaign,” he said. Virbhadra Singh had represented Rohru in the Shimla parliamentary constituency four times and had earlier represented Jubbal Kotkhai, also in Shimla. His four-time constituency Rohru had been reserved in delimitation. Asked how he would take a torn state Congress unit along at a time when he had faced formidable opposition from within, Virbhadra Singh said he would try his best to put up a united front and “was sure that most of the state Congress will respond to his appeal for unity in the interests of the party”. Not ruling out opposition from state Congress leaders, the former Chief Minister said he could not say anything about a faction of the party in the state, but added that this faction did not matter.
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Virbhadra opens new innings with protest today
Shimla, August 28 He will arrive straight at the venue of the protest and formally take over as party chief at a function in the Congress Bhavan later in the afternoon. The high command made the announcement regarding his appointment today. Union minister Anand Sharma was made chairman of the campaign committee, which was earlier headed by Virbhadra Singh. Anil Sharma, MLA and son of veteran leader Sukh Ram, was made co-convenor of the committee along with Sukhwinder Singh. Virbhadra Singh had been interacting with Central leaders over the last three days. The final meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi was held last night. Party’s disciplinary committee chairman AK Antony, screening committee chairperson Sheila Dixit and party president’s political secretary Ahmad Patel were also present. Unlike earlier meetings, the entire focus was on election strategy and facing elections unitedly. While announcing the organisational reshuffle, AICC secretary Anees Ahmad had stated that the strategy was to bring leaders who could lead the party to victory in elections to the forefront and similar changes were being carried out in some other states as well. With the high command reposing confidence in him, the electoral battle ahead would be an acid test for the leader who completed 50 years in politics recently. The tussle for leadership had virtually brought the party on the verge of a vertical split. Much bad blood had been created between rival camps and there was no time to settle ruffled feathers. The onus of taking rival leaders and their supporters along would be on Virbhadra Singh. He would have to tread very cautiously while making any changes in the existing set-up. The stage was set for a direct clash with Dhumal in the electoral arena. It could be the last opportunity for Virbhadra Singh to settle scores with his bete noire.
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Delay in Panchayat Sahayaks’ Interview Results Our Correspondent
Nurpur, August 28 According to information, 595 candidates of various categories had appeared in the interviews taken by a three-member team headed by the SDM, Nurpur. The process for submitting applications for these posts had initiated in August last year when the authorities had advertised these posts in a daily and invited applications from candidates. The interviews had been conducted for one post each, respectively, for the general, disabled and sportsman category whereas three posts each for BPL and ex-servicemen candidates. Up in arms against the delay, the Nurpur block Congress committee has threatened to gherao the office of the block development officer here on August 30 if results for these posts were not declared till tomorrow. Baldev Pappi, president of the committee, has said Congress activists would stage a dharna and gherao the office premises and alleged that the results had been held up due to political reasons. He claimed that results for the same posts had been declared in other development blocks. However, Sushil Chowdhary, BDO, Nurpur, said the results were being declared shortly.
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Pensioners rue govt apathy
Bilaspur, August 28 It has unanimously threatened to oppose the ruling government in the coming elections if their demands are not accepted by August 31. Talking to mediapersons here, association’s state general secretary Hari Chand Gupta said this decision was taken at a meeting of these state committees at Shimla earlier in the day, which was presided by association state president Jiva Nand Jivan and chairman HR Vashishtha. Members from across the state were present. He said other members present included JK Nadda, JN Nirala, DD Upmanyu, Hukam Singh Thakur, Jai Dev Sharma, GR Bhardwaj, Shiv Kumar, Sunder Singh Thakur, Atma Ram Sharma, Vishwa Mitra Mahajan, KD Gupta, RR Sharma, HR Kaundal, KL Thakur, Hem Raj Gupta, SK Kauda, Beli Ram Varma and Beli Ram Azad. The meeting said on December 14, 2008, the Chief Minister had accepted all their demands at their state-level conference in Una town and had assured them to implement these at the earliest. But now the tenure of the government was virtually coming to a close and all their demands were still pending. The meeting also repudiated claims of government spokesmen saying that pensioners here were “given more than that of Punjab pensioners and said they were being denied all benefits which Punjab pensioners had been enjoying for the past several years. The meeting said the government had forgotten its own election manifesto which said that state pensioners would be given all financial benefits and allowances on the Punjab pattern.
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State’s power revenue situation grave: CM
Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 28 Replying to a query by Kuldeep Singh Pathania of the Congress regarding the quantum of revenue earned from sale of power during the Question Hour in the Assembly today, he said the situation was very grave and a matter of concern. “When distribution companies have no money to purchase power, how will it be possible for power producers to sell the power generated?” he asked. He regretted that the rates of power had drastically come down from Rs 5.78 per unit in 2008 to Rs 2.50 per unit this year, as a result of which Himachal Pradesh, despite increased generation, did not get more revenue. “States like Uttar Pradesh, which bought power from us before the Assembly poll, owes us Rs 200 crore. Despite reminders to the Chief Minister and the Union power ministry, he has still not made the payment,” he lamented. He regretted that the attitude of the Congress-led UPA regime was of lack of concern towards the problems faced by HP. “Despite the Supreme Court awarding Himachal Pradesh power arrears to the tune of over Rs 4,000 crore in Bhakra Beas Management Board projects, the matter is still pending. A reduction of Rs 850 crore is reportedly being made now,” he said. He added that in such an eventuality, Himachal Pradesh would move the SC to get its legitimate right, but the stand of the UPA had been anti-HP in this case as well. Dhumal sought the cooperation and support of Congress legislators to get the state its due. “Instead of covering up for the discriminatory approach of the Centre, it will be better if you cooperate in securing HP’s dues,” he said. In reply to a query by Kaul Singh on the action taken against companies setting up mobile phone towers without permission, Urban Development Minister Mahender Singh said the Shimla Municipal Corporation had passed orders for the removal of four towers and proceedings against others was under way. The minister said 184 towers were functioning illegally within municipal limits and there were 535 towers in the state.
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Appointment a part of reshuffle, says AICC secretary
Shimla, August 28 Talking to mediapersons here today, Ahmad said Virbhadra Singh, along with other party leaders including Anand Sharma, Kaul Singh Thakur and Vidya Stokes, would lead the party unitedly to victory in the elections. “Virbhadra Singh has been given the reins of the state party unit as part of a general reshuffle which has already been done in Uttar Pradesh and is on the cards in states like Haryana and Punjab,” he remarked. He said the Thakur’s tenure was over and as a result, Virbhadra had been made state party chief. “The party is fully united and will make a comeback by ousting the BJP in the elections,” he said. He defended AICC general secretary and state Congress affairs in charge Birender Singh Chaudhary by stating that the party had made a comeback wherever he was given the responsibility. He said the Congress was aggressively taking on the BJP and had submitted a chargesheet against the Dhumal regime to the President. He added that a no-confidence motion was moved against Dhumal regime on the issue of corruption. Ahmad said the Congress would gherao the Vidhan Sabha on August 29 in the presence of all senior leaders, including Virbhadra Singh. The Congress had earlier planned to gherao the Assembly on August 27 which was cancelled.
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Leopard occupies upper storey of house
Bilaspur, August 28 Panchayat president Neelam Sharma said not only the owner of the house, but she also had seen the animal resting on the terrace of the first floor of the house, which was lying unoccupied. When Sukh Ram saw the leopard sitting there, he rushed to inform other villagers. By the time he returned, it was not visible. Sukh Ram said they had informed forest officials regarding the matter. He said they were living on the ground floor of the house under panic. Even villagers were frightened and not allowing their families, particularly children, to come out of their houses unaccompanied. Reports said forest officials had been trying to locate the animal and a trap had been laid to catch it. However, forest officials said it seemed that the animal might not be a leopard, but some other wild animal that had taken shelter from heavy rain. They said those who had seen the wild animal said it was whitish in colour. Leopards of this colour were not found in the lower hill areas here, but only in snow-clad mountains, they added.
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Kaul should renounce politics, says BJP leader
Mandi, August 28 Addressing a press conference here today, Jawahar charged that Kaul misled people of Mandi and Drang by projecting himself as the future Chief Minister. “The high command has removed him as state president at the last moment, proving his incapability,” he said. He further said Kaul should leave politics now. It was Kaul who did not gave his support to Sukh Ram when the latter had tried to become Chief Minister in 1993. The BJP leader said the Congress chargesheet was baseless. Kaul should gave chance to young leaders, he added. On the other hand, Drang Congress leaders termed Jawahar’s claims childish. “Kaul left the party post showing greater solidarity with the party high
command. He is a popular leader in the district,” claimed Guleria, a staunch supporter of
Kaul. Guleria said the Congress would return to power in the state and the BJP’s “mission repeat” would end up as a “mission defeat”. |
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Kisan Sabha stages protest
Shimla, August 28 The existing roads were also in a bad shape and proposals for construction of new roods had been hanging fire. In the absence of link roads, farmers were also facing issues in transporting their produce to the market. Other demands of the sabha included strengthening of health infrastructure and review of the timber distribution policy, which had failed to meet requirement of villagers. It also demanded amendment in the Forest Conservation Act to facilitate transfer of barren land to the Revenue Department so that it could be allotted to farmers and effective steps would be taken to protect crops from wild animals. |
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Kangra polytechnic students excel
Kangra, August 28 Stating this here yesterday, Principal of Government Polytechnic,
Kangra, Raj Kumar Sharma said Sawita obtained 917 marks out of 1,075 in the electronics and communication engineering trade in the fourth semester and she bagged the first position in the state. He said Kajal scored 964 marks out of 1,175 in the computer engineering trade in the fourth semester and bagged the second position in the state. Sharma added that in the instrumentation trade Lucky Kumar obtained 1,044 marks out of 1,275 in the fourth semester examination conducted by the board and bagged the first position in the board examination, results of which were declared recently.
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‘Congress upbeat after appointment’
Chamba, August 28 He said the party would win all five seats in the district under the leadership of former Cabinet minister Harsh Mahajan. He alleged the victimisation of employees in the state. Thakur criticised the BJP for abolishing the Himachal Administrative Tribunal, set up by the previous Congress government for the welfare of employees. Thakur flayed the BJP for its failure to formulate a concrete policy on means of livelihood for the unemployed youth. He slammed the BJP for inefficiency in administration and mismanagement in resource generation. Most farmers and labourers were dependent on government ration depots, but the management of cheap rations in depots was a thing of the past, he claimed. |
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Nomination of new HPCC president welcomed
Sundernagar, August 28 Dr Vijay Kapil, convener of the Himachal Seva Dal, said Sonia Gandhi had taken timely action in this matter and it would prove fruitful. The Congress was united and would return to power in the state in the Assembly poll, he said. Dr SP Keshari, former president of Municipal Council, Sundernagar; Harinder Sen, former President of Municipal Council; Amar Singh, spokesman of Kisan cell; Rama Sharma, president District Mahila Congress; Husan Lal, former president of Municipal Council, Sundernagar were among those present. |
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8 injured in bus mishap
Chamba, August 28 Chamba Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Sharma said the injured were identified as Veena, Kamla Devi, Kalpna Devi, Tek Chand, Hitesh Kumar, Suresh Deep and Desh Raj, all residents of the area. They were medical treatment and were stated to be out of danger, he said. The accident occurred due to the negligence of the driver, he said, adding that a case was registered and an investigation was in progress. |
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One killed in road accident
Mandi, August 28 The injured, identified as Dinesh Kaundal, Kuldip Singh, Kuldip Kumar and Roop Chand, were rushed to the Karsog hospital and were reported to be out
of danger. They were their way from Rohanda to Karsog. The police registered a case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A of the Indian Penal Code at the Gohar police station and an investigation was on. |
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Shimla, August 28
