Shimla, August 29
Asserting that those who “sold Himachal” will not be allowed to go scot-free, new Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Virbhadra Singh said today that the Congress government would set up special courts within a week of assuming office for expeditious trial in corruption cases.

“Chief Minister PK Dhumal and his cronies have misused power to amass wealth and instead of speeding up development, he has devoted all his time and energy in fabricating cases against me as he considers me the biggest hurdle in the way of his mission repeat,” he said soon after taking over as the PCC chief from Kaul Singh at the Congress Bhawan here today.

Dhumal had been taking credit for everything under the sun and diverting funds provided by the Centre for development to insert advertisements in the electronic and print media, Virbhadra Singh alleged.

He made specific mention of the funds released for the Tourism Department and alleged that the Deputy Commissioner of Shimla, who was earlier the private secretary of the Chief Minister, had been given the additional charge of the Director of Tourism, solely for this purpose.

He said Dhumal ‘neglected’ the welfare and development of the state and his only achievement was wholesale opening of private universities of ‘questionable’ credentials. Instead of opening educational institutions, he closed down 800 primary schools, he said.

He charged Dhumal with adopting double standards in dealing with the CD case. He said a case was made out against him on the basis of a ‘fabricated’ CD, but no cognisance was taken of the audio CD featuring the voices of Dhumal and DS Manhas, a former Director General of Police.

He said the trial court had rejected the CD as evidence and the two witnesses on whose statements he was being proceeded against had said they had not made any such statements. He said fabricating evidence was also a crime and those responsible for it would be held accountable, adding that in his earlier term also, Dhumal framed him in the Sagar Katha case, which was dismissed by the lower court and the appeal in the High Court also met the same fate.

He said he would withdraw all his cases from the High Court and and would prefer to face trial in the sessions court with the plea for expeditious hearing in the matter.

Shimla, August 29
Birender Singh, general secretary of the All-India Congress Committee, said today that handing over the reins of the party to Virbhadra Singh on the eve of Assembly poll was part of a well thought-out game plan to ensure victory in the electoral arena.

Addressing a press conference here, he said Virbhadra Singh was appointed after Kaul Singh resigned. The move would not intensify factional fight and the entire party would go to the poll as a united force. He said the party had chalked out the road map to win the ensuing Assembly poll long back and it was being implemented.

He said Anand Sharma had been made the chairman of the Campaign Committee and Anil Sharma had been made its co-convener. Replying to a query, he said Virbhadra Singh had not been convicted and the Congress was behind him. The main focus of the Congress was on dislodging the ‘corrupt’ Dhumal government which had ‘sold’ the land and other resources of the state.

The party had early this week submitted a chargesheet in which ‘scams and scandals’ of the government had been documented. The party would expose the ‘misdeeds’ of the BJP regime by taking the chargesheet to the people during the election campaign, he added.

Shimla, August 29
Reiterating its demand for registration of an FIR against Jay Prakash Associates Ltd for ‘violating’ environmental norms in setting up of a cement plant, the Congress staged a walkout in the Assembly for the third consecutive day today.

It was immediately after the Question Hour that Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Vidya Stokes reiterated the demand for registering of an FIR against JP group for violating all norms in setting up its cement plant at Bagga in Solan district.

“I fail to understand the compulsions of the government in taking action against the company which flouted all norms with impunity,” she said.

The moment the Chief Minister tried to intervene and give reply, the Congress legislators started raising slogans, which was countered by the ruling party members. Later, the Congress members left the House raising slogans.

The action of the opposition members evoked strong response from Chief Minister PK Dhumal, who said the Congress MLAs were fit to stay outside the Assembly as they preferred raising slogans and organising dharnas than raising relevant issues inside the House. “I request the Speaker to provide details of the total walkouts that the Congress has staged during the tenure of this Assembly so that people can keep them out as it has become a fashion for them to just leave the House at the drop of a hat,” he said sarcastically.

Giving details of the JP cement plant case, he said it was the previous regime which had allowed the company to get away and violate all norms. “It was the Congress which approved the project in August 2004 at a cost of Rs 90 crore to avoid environment impact assessment (EIA) report as the actual cost was Rs 400 crore,” he said.

He added that a village common land was given to the company in violation of norms and that, too, without charging a penny.

“No action was taken against the erring Electricity Department and environment officials and those who were suspended on July 18, 2007, were reinstated within two days,” he said.

The Chief Minister assured the House that action would be taken against the company as per the directives of the High Court as the issue was sub judice. “It is only after the special investigation team (SIT) completes its inquiry and submits report to the High Court that we will act as per the court orders,” he said.

Shimla, August 29
Accusing the UPA regime of discriminating against non-Congress-ruled states, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said this kind of prejudiced attitude would weaken the federal structure of democracy.

Local MLA Suresh Bhardwaj raised the issue of discrimination with the state by the UPA regime in the Assembly today.

“I urge the Centre to shun this discriminatory approach of which Himachal has been the worst victim,” Dhumal said while participating in the debate.

He also accused the state Congress of playing a role in curtailing the special industrial package given to the state by the NDA regime. Bhardwaj demanded that keeping in view the slow pace of industrial development and unemployment scenario in the state, the Centre must restore the industrial package.

“The state is paying the price for being a peaceful state as insurgency hit areas of J&K and the North-East are still getting the industrial package,” he said.

He also raised the issue of ‘failure’ of the Centre in extending a railway line to the state. “It is very important to lay the Manali-Leh rail line as China has built its rail network right up to the Tibet border, which can endanger out national security,” he said.

Shimla, August 29
All property transactions in the state will come to a complete halt as the state government has decided to repeal the HP Apartment and Property Regulation Act, 2005, so that a single comprehensive law for urban development and regional planning can be enacted to save people from the existing complex procedure.

The decision of the government to repeal the Act was announced by Town and Country Planning Minister Mahender Singh in the Assembly today. “Until such time that the new law is enacted, no registrations and issuing of essential certificates and licences will be done or renewed under the Apartment Act,” he said.

As such all property transactions in the state are likely to come to a standstill and with this being the last session of the present Assembly, it can take quite sometime before the new Act comes into being. All property transactions are likely to be affected by it, thereby affecting property business.

He said the decision to repeal the Apartment Act had been taken on the basis of the recommendation of the select committee of the Assembly as well as the DP Sood Commission on benami land deals.

“After examining the entire legislative framework of urban development and regional planning, it is felt that a single comprehensive law which subsumes the objectives of the HP Town and Country Planning Act, 1977, the Himachal Urban Development Authority Act and the Apartment Act should be enacted,” he said.

The select committee of the Assembly and the DP Sood Committee had recommended that the Apartment Act be repealed. “The existence of multiple agencies and statues to regulate urban growth and corridors results in haphazard map approval process, unplanned development and coming up of unauthorised constructions and also makes the procedures complex,” he said.

Shimla, August 29
Accusing the Congress of rampant corruption, the BJP today said keeping up with its tradition of rewarding those who were facing serious corruption charges, the Congress had appointed Virbhadra Singh as the Congress chief in the state.

Addressing a press conference here today, BJP national vice-president and in charge of BJP affairs Kalraj Mishra said he found it strange that Virbhadra Singh, who had to resign from the Union Cabinet after the court ordered framing of charges against him in the CD case, had been rewarded with the post of Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief.

“How can a person facing serious corruption charges lead the party in the Assembly polls, especially when the Congress talks about corruption during the BJP regime,” he said. He also lashed at the Congress for submitting a chargesheet against the Dhumal regime to the President rather than the Governor.

About ticket allotment by the BJP, Mishra said the process was in the final stages and by next month it would be finalised. He ruled out that some sitting BJP legislators could be denied party ticket.

Shimla, August 29
Seeking a repeat of the Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC) polls verdict in the assembly polls, the Himachal Lok Morcha (HLM) today gave a call for the formation of a non-Congress- non-BJP government in the state to keep the two main corrupt political players out of power.

The Himachal Lok Morcha, a combine of all non-Congress and non-BJP parties, emerging as a third force in the hill state today gave a glimpse of their might as they held a rally at Ambedkar Chowk, near the Vidhan Sabha, today.

The main parties which attended the rally included Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), CPM, CPI and Gaurav Manch. The police had to use water cannons and mild lathicharge to prevent the HLM activists from crossing the barricade near the Vidhan Sabha. Later the HLM leaders and activists courted arrest.

Several former ministers and MLAs, including Maheshwar Singh, Mahender Sofat, Shyama Sharma, Dulo Ram, Rakesh Singha, Naveen Dhiman, KK Kaushal, KD Dharmani, Ninju Ram and Tikender Panwar attended the rally.

The chairman of the Morcha, Maheshwar Singh, a former MP, said, “If the electorate votes as wisely as the people of Shimla did in the MC polls, I can say that a non-Congress- non BJP government will be formed in the state,” he said.

He accused the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues of being deep neck in corruption and said the people of the state are waiting to oust them from power. “The most corrupt BJP regime has failed to generate employment avenues with there being no jobs either in the private or government sector,” he rued.

Former MLA and the state CPM secretary, Rakesh Singh, said the CPM had proved in Shimla that people are keen for an alternative. “I can see winds of change sweeping the state as people are fed up with the corrupt Congress and BJP regimes and a beginning has already been made by the people of the state capital,” he said.

Former minister Shyama Sharma also called for an alternative to the corrupt regime. Dulo Ram alleged that the JP group was ruling the state and could get away by violating any norm.

Bilaspur, August 29
The police has booked Deep Raj of Bagetu village near Ghumarwin for allegedly raping a mentally challenged 16-year-old girl of Hatwaad village. The accused who works as a tailor is absconding.

A case was registered at Bharadi police station on the basis of a complaint of the victim’s mother who works as a daily wager. She told the police that the accused had come to visit his sister who lives near their house. He allegedly committed the crime there when the victim also visited her neighbour’s house. The medical examination of the victim is yet to be conducted.

Shimla, August 29
The government said today that though the contract for the Rs 228-crore World Bank-funded Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru road had been rescinded, the Public Works Department (PWD) would ensure that the road was maintained and people do not face any inconvenience on account of
traffic jam and movement of apple trucks.

The issue was raised in the state Assembly by BJP legislator from Rohru Khushi Ram Balnatah during the Question Hour.

“Despite government spending money on the maintenance of the road, the fact remains that even today it is a nightmare to travel on the road with slush and constant traffic congestion,” said Balnatah. He lamented that the condition of the road was deteriorating further and the people were facing inconvenience.

The MLA said the project had been delayed inordinately and in view of the apple season and the fact that the road connects four Assembly constituencies, the government must take concrete steps to keep the road in good condition.

“Barring the cutting work, hardly anything has been done with regard to soling, metalling, culverts or bridge construction,” he said.

Replying to a query raised by Balnatah, PWD Minister Gulab Singh Thakur said Rs 2.50 crore had already been spent by the state government to maintain the road. “I share the concern expressed by the MLA and all efforts are being made to ensure that the condition of the road remains good,” he said.

He told the house that the work awarded to the Chinese company had been terminated on July 27, 2012, after issuing three notices. He said it was due to inadequate funding, slow work progress, non-mobilisation of resources and failure to maintain the road that the government was compelled to cancel the project.

In reply to another query by Anil Kumar of the Congress on the presence of uranium in groundwater, Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Ravi said according to a survey, the levels of the metal were below 60 per particle billion (ppb). “Since the samples taken from Kasol in Kullu indicated highest uranium level of 37.40 ppb in the entire of the state, there is no cause for alarm or any action on the part of the government,” he added.

Solan, August 29
One person was killed while two others were injured in a blast at Valley Iron, an industrial unit, while unloading scrap at Paonta Sahib today.

The deceased Liak Ram worked as a supervisor in the unit and the blast occurred while the scarp was being unloaded from a truck.

Liak Ram, who was grievously injured, succumbed to his injuries while being taken to a hospital at Paonta Sahib. The injured persons Jagan Nath and Yashpal have been referred to the PGIat Chandigarh.

Additional SP Sanjeev Lakhanpal said a team of experts from Forensic Science Laboratory had been called to verify the exact cause of the blast. The area was cordoned off. A case under Section 336, IPC, and Section 3, Explosives Act, has been registered.

Hamirpur, August 29
Rajinder Singh Thakur, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Hamirpur, has asked the Education Department to conduct frequent inspections in government schools to check various irregularities there.

Addressing a press conference here today to highlight the activities of the Education Department, he said, “The state government has launched several schemes to improve the quality of education and reward meritorious students and 654 students topping the matriculation examination have been given laptops free of cost”.

The DC said 44,143 students studying in government schools in the district were given free school uniforms under the Atal School Uniform Scheme.

He said the state government had also launched the Inspire Award Scheme under which Rs 5,000 was given to each student, adding that 671 students had been given this award in Hamirpur district.

Talking about various activities undertaken by the schools, Thakur said, “Eco clubs in 250 schools have been formed to create environment awareness and the state government is giving Rs 2,500 for each club and Rs 6.25 lakh have been distributed under this scheme”.

To promote IT education in government schools, the state government had launched a scheme through which monitors, broadband Internet connections, LCDs, etc, had been provided to schools.

Deputy Directors of Secondary and Elementary Education RC Tabial and Bhushan Malhotra, respectively, also briefed about the activities of the Education Department in the district at the conference.

Shimla, August 29
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign in the state to create electoral awareness among people for the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Stating this while presiding over a meeting organised in connection with SVEEP, Director-General, ECI, Akshay Rout said special activities and implementation strategies were being adopted for enrolling young and female voters and ensuring their participation in electoral process.

He said the main purpose of the campaign was to inform, motivate and facilitate every eligible voter, who had attained the age of 18 years as on June 1, 2012, to cast his/her vote. The campaign would also focus on registration of eligible voters. He said the campaign would handle all aspects of voters’ awareness and education aimed at improving the electoral participation.

The commission was engaging prominent persons from the field of social, cultural and sports to motivate the voters through audio-visual appeals.

Rout directed the State Election Department to organise seminars, workshops and lectures on values of participatory democracy and sensitisation programmes for voters in collaboration with other departments and youth organisations like NCC, NSS and other NGOs. The department would also distribute information kits to sensitise voters regarding elections and the value of their vote.

Chief Electoral Officer Narinder Chauhan said there were 45,15,604 electors in the state as on August 9, 2012, which included 23,14,235 men and 22,01,369 women. Out of this, 1,04,240 electors were in the age group of 18 to 19 years. He said a comprehensive “Know your booth-level officers” was launched by the department.

Chamba, August 29
The police has booked 10 persons for an alleged assault on forest guard Prem Raj of Vumwal forest beat in the remote Pangi tribal subdivision of the district last night. The accused have also been booked for obstructing the victim from discharging his duties.

In his complaint, Prem Raj alleged that when he was on patrol duty with beldar Hira Lal and chowkidar Dhani Ram in Vumwal forest beat, about 10 persons beat him, Superintendent of Police, Chamba, Kuldeep Sharma, said.

He said the forest guard had also alleged that the accused, who belonged to the area, tried to stop him from discharging his duties. — OC

Shimla, August 29
Office-bearers of the Students Central Association (SCA) of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) took an oath of office today. The oath was administered amidst celebrations by the Students Federation of India (SFI), which swept the student polls in the university.

Rahul Chauhan took oath as president, Priyanka Chauhan as vice-president, Vikram Kaith as secretary and Amit Kumar as joint secretary.

Prof TC Bhalla, Dean, Students Welfare, administered the oath in the HPU auditorium. The 49 elected departmental representatives and 31 nominated departmental representatives also took oath.

Dean, Planning and Teachers Matter, Prof PK Ahluwalia called upon the students to work for the all-round development of the university as well as keep studies as their top priority. He also thanked the students for the peaceful student elections and emphasised upon building a healthy academic environment on the campus.