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Minister, son booked for stopping cop from his duty
Weeding out duplicate voters a success
Violation of Norms
Dharamsala’s Civil Lines getting converted into commercial hub
Doon tops polling percentage with 89.36
Potato growers seek compensation for losses
3 get life term for taxi driver’s murder
Female voter turnout high in Hamirpur district
SP reviews security steps after poll
Increase in polling recorded in Nurpur
2 Congress leaders expelled for 6 years
7% discount on purchase of gold coins
Lawyers urged to adopt mediation procedure
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Dhumal confident of staying put
Shimla, November 5 He feels that the hike in prices of liquefied petroleum gas cylinders during campaigning, coupled with price rise, has dealt a blow to the Congress which will give him the opportunity to carry forward the development work and take Himachal Pradesh to its culmination. Having spent a relaxed morning at his home in his native place Samirpur in the company of his family, he is back at doing what he does best, interacting on a one-on-one basis with workers and party men. He arrived in Una in the afternoon and met party workers. They are keeping him updated about the positive outcome that they are expecting. After spending the night in Chandigarh and attending the function at a dental college in Panchkula tomorrow, he will be back in the state capital. With the code of conduct being in force till the Gujarat elections and counting on December 20, it may not be a very functional regime that he will be heading, considering the restrictions on account of the code of conduct. “The heavy turnout is a clear indication that the people have reposed faith in the government and voted in favour of the BJP to give it a second consecutive chance,” he says, sounding optimistic about poll results. News from various parts of the state reaching him through ministers and legislators is also encouraging and positive. Virbhadra Singh’s remarks that a special investigation team will be constituted to probe the acts of omission and commission by Dhumal’s regime are met with pessimism over the chances of the former Union minister making it to the office of Chief Minister. “Even if we assume that the Congress is on the comeback trail, I do not see the remotest chance of Virbhadra Singh heading the government,” he remarks. “The response shown by the people during campaigning has been evident, but the massive turnout, especially by women, 80 per cent of whom have voted for us, has ensured that we continue in power,” he says. He says people have given a vent to their anger against the ‘anti-people’ decisions of the Congress-led UPA regime.
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Virbhadra plans the road ahead
Shimla, November 5 There seems no trace of exhaustion from the gruelling one-month campaigning which he has managed almost single-handedly, with the occasional visit by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other central leaders. “My 50 years of experience in political life says whenever there is heavy polling, it is a mandate against the ruling party,” he remarks. He adds that the overwhelming response from the public clearly indicates a mood for change. Terming claims by the BJP that it is set for a repeat as wishful thinking, he exudes confidence that the Congress will form the next government. “I do not believe in getting into the numbers game, but I can assure you that we will form a strong and stable government after getting a comfortable majority,” he remarks. He prefers to keep it short and simple when it comes to the fate of the Third Front in the elections by stating, “It will stand third, undoubtedly.” Even as political pundits look at the pros and cons of the heavy turnout, there is not an iota of scepticism in his tone as he endeavours to take over the mantle of the state for the sixth time. “I do not believe in being vindictive, but there are some very obvious decisions which need to be looked into from the legal point of view and the people of the state want an answer,” he opines. Raising a question mark over decisions like permission granted within a day for the construction of high-end villas amid a thick deodar forest in
Kanlog, delay in acquisition of the heritage building Bantony and activism of land sharks in and around Annandale with a view to convert the green patch into a cricket stadium, he says these will come under the ambit of inquiry. “We intend to set up a special investigation team and even special courts, if need be, so that the adventurous moves of the BJP regime can be probed,” Virbhadra Singh says. He is also peeved at the falling standard of education, resulting from the private universities mushrooming in the state. “I am not against private players entering the field of education, but they must have the expertise, experience and resources to impart quality education,” he stresses. Keen to get a clean chit in all allegations he is facing, he says he had already expressed the desire to the Prime Minister that the Steel Ministry controversy be probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Not in much of a hurry to bring about any drastic changes in the party set-up, with organisational elections due next year, he makes it a point to say he will act against those who have damaged the party in the elections. |
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Minister, son booked for stopping cop from his duty
Mandi, November 5 The duo has reportedly termed the police action as a ploy to implicate them. The police has lodged the FIR at the Sarkaghat police station against the accused on the complaint of police post in charge, Dharampur, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sushil Kumar. According to the police, there was a clash among Congress and BJP workers at Tanhed on November 3 in which four BJP workers - Karam Chand, Biri Singh, Sanjay Kumar and Raj Mal - suffered injuries. The BJP workers lodged a complaint that Congress workers were allegedly supplying liquor during night hours to woo voters, but the Congress claimed that it was BJP men under this minister who allegedly were distributing liquor to woo voters, but the move to implicate Congress men backfired on them. The police team rushed to the spot, but it could not find anything except certain BJP men present on the scene. The police team, under ASI Sushil Kumar, was present at Tanhed village to verify the facts of a report lodged at the police post by BJP men. He recorded the statement of Karam Chand, under Section 154, CrPC, and was bringing the injured persons to the Community Health Centre, Dharampur, for medical examination. But when the police team, along with four ITBP personnel, reached Behari, the team did not find any Congress worker present at the spot. Mahender and his son Rajat along with their supporters zeroed in at the spot and the duo obstructed their way and allegedly grabbed Sushil Kumar by his uniform and deterred him from performing his duties. Though Mahender Singh could not be contacted for his comments, BJP state secretary Praveen Sharma said the police was implicating him and his son under political pressure. SP, Mandi, Abhishek Dular said the police had started investigations under Sections 353, 341 and 41, IPC, and no arrest had been made so far. |
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Weeding out duplicate voters a success
Shimla, November 5 The Election Commission has used a computer software to detect and delete duplicate voters and the exercise has been a success, evident from the fact that the total strength of the electorate, which has been increasing by about 5 lakh with every election, has gone up by a meagre 3,916. The number of total voters increased from 36,28,864 in 1998 to 41,01,093 in 2003 and to 46,04,443 in 2007. The increase was minimal in 2012, with the total voters being 46,08,359. As many as 1,09,115 young voters, aged between 18 and 19 years, who have cast their vote for the first time, have been enrolled. Unlike in most other states, people of the hill state have been turning out in strength to exercise their democratic right in every Assembly election since 1982, when the polling percentage crossed the 70 per cent mark for the first time. The state has also been witnessing a change of guard after every election since then. The polling percentage of 75 is on the higher side, but does not indicate any significant change from the past trend due to the weeding out of about 4.75 lakh duplicate voters. The moot question is whether the trend of change of government after every election will continue or the BJP will break the jinx by retaining power. Another important feature has been that the percentage of woman voters had been consistently increasing from the 1967 Assembly poll, when only 42.45 per cent women cast their vote compared to 59.53 per cent men, with the overall percentage being 51.22. The turnout of women drew almost level with that of men in the 1993 Assembly poll, when 71.10 per cent women cast their vote compared to 71.91 per cent men. In the 1998 Assembly poll, the turnout of woman voters exceeded that of men for the first time, with 72.21 per cent women exercising their franchise compared to 70.26 per cent men. The highest turnout of women was recorded in 2003, when 75.92 per cent women cast their vote. |
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Take action against owners of hotel, MC told
Vijay Arora
Shimla, November 5 According to the case, the owners of the site had submitted building plans for their hotel in November 2003 to the local Municipal Corporation. The MC raised certain objections and the same were removed and the building plans were re-submitted in February 2004. The MC forwarded the case to the TCP on March 17, 2004. Later, the TCP forwarded the same to the Chairman, Conservation, Advisory Committee-cum-Secretary (TCP) to the Government of Himachal in June 2004. The case examined and it was observed that the proposed site falls within the “restricted area” as well as the “heritage zone”. The only competent authority to decide the normal planning permission cases in “restricted area”, was the Restricted Area Committee. And no construction could be allowed in the strip of 25 m on either side of the Mall Road. Since the site in question fell within the strip, the approval of the Heritage Conservation Sub-Committee was required. The Heritage Conservation Advisory Committee visited the spot in August 2004. The sub-committee informed the advisory committee that further addition of four storeys, parking floor with an additional plinth area of 172.68 sqm may not be allowed. The advisory committee rejected the case of the petitioner in its meeting held in January 2005. It was contended by the petitioner that since respondents had not taken any action within the stipulated period as per the provisions of the Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, and the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act, 1977, there was a deemed sanction in favour of the petitioner. While dismissing the petition of the owners of the site , Justice Rajiv Sharma observed that the construction raised by the petitioners was unauthorised being in violation of the HP Town and Country Planning Act, 1977. The construction was also in violation of the provisions of the MC Act.
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Dharamsala’s Civil Lines getting converted into commercial hub
Dharamsala, November 5 However, this posh area that used to have houses of the elite of the town is fast turning into a commercial hub. Civil Lines was part of the Civil Bazar area that also had the administrative complex of Dharamsala. Hotels and shop-cum-office complexes are replacing old houses. Many residents of the area complain that hotels and shopping complexes are rendering the area unfit for residential purposes. They allege that hotels host parties at night that violate the norms for using high-pitched sound systems. Many of the commercial complexes that have come up in the area have not made any provisions for parking. The result is that the area remains choked, with vehicles parked on both sides of the road. The high-rising building area is now peeping into the privacy of old houses that are a part of the heritage of the Civil Lines area, they said. Many people are afraid of making open complaints against the conversion of the Civil Lines area into a commercial hub due to the fear of influential people who have constructed hotels and commercial hubs in the area. However, tacitly they say that at the pace at which old wooden houses are getting converted into commercial hubs, most people having houses in the area will have to sell these and settle elsewhere. Town and Country Planning officials said in case someone deposited charges for converting residential land for commercial activity, the map for the commercial building was passed by the district-level committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner. There is no clear-cut guideline in Town and Country Planning rules against bringing up commercial building in residential areas, they said. Many old houses in the Civil Lines area are now lying abandoned as owners have either migrated to other cities in India or foreign countries. People interested in bringing up a commercial building in the area are approaching owners of old houses and offering lucrative prices for the properties. However, many old and senior citizens of Dharamsala are of the view that the traditional heritage of the area in the form of posh residential area should be preserved. The Civil Lines is the only area left in the town that puts at display its old heritage and the government should take steps to preserve it, they said. |
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Doon tops polling percentage with 89.36
Solan, November 5 Of the five constituencies in the district, Solan has registered the highest increase in voting percentage of 8.13 while Arki is the lone constituency to have registered a decrease of 2.19 per cent in voting. Kasauli registered an increase of 5.72 per cent, Doon 7.48 per cent and Nalagarh 0.97 per cent. With nearly 100 per cent voting at a few polling booths in Doon, main candidates Ram Kumar (Congress), Vinod Chandel (BJP) and rebels Darshan Saini and Parminder Pammi face a tough contest. Congress rebel Ram Swarup, son of former legislator Raghu Raj, can affect the poll calculations of Congress candidate Vinod Sultanpuri in Kasauli while BJP’s Rajiv Sehzal appears to be comfortably placed. In Nalagarh, BJP’s KL Thakur and sitting Congress legislator Lakhwinder Rana are facing a tough and straight contest. Both candidates faced dissidence. Annoyance of former BJP legislator HN Saini’s supporters can hit Thakur’s prospects. The voting percentage has declined by 2.19 per cent in Arki. While the presence of Congress rebel Amar Chand Pal and BJP rebel Asha Parihar has led to undercutting, sitting BJP legislator Govind Ram Sharma faces a tough contest from Sanjay Awasthy of the Congress. In Solan, the presence of HLP candidate OP Kant and BJP rebel HN Kashyap can play spoilsport for BJP’s Sheila Kumari, who faces a tough challenge from DR Shandil of the Congress. The BJP appears on a sticky wicket in four of the five constituencies. It had won all five seats in 2007. Its dream of repeating this feat seems to have been jeopardised with the presence of rebels in three seats. The Congress is trying to improve its tally. It won one seat in last year’s by-election.
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Potato growers seek compensation for losses
Manali, November 5 Harvesting was over and the transportation of the produce from Lahaul to Manali was also done, but the government had not announced the support price so far, they resented. The market price of the ‘chandramukhi’ variety today stands at Rs 1,941 per quintal in Manali and the bulk of seed potato was being sold to private traders in West Bengal. Commission agents were demanding Rs 1,800 per quintal for the ‘jyoti’ variety in the absence of the support price and the market could come down further, they said. The farmers said they were lucky this time as even without the announcement of the support price, the demand for potato had increased as the seed potato production had been less this year in the country as a whole, fetching good prices for them. President, Lahaul Potato Society, KP Azad said they had sent representations to the Agriculture Department before the elections, but the department had not announced the support price till today. “This is affecting the market, despite the low production this year. We request the government to announce the support price so that market gets stabilised,” he added. Last year, the government had announced the support price of Rs 1,400 per quintal. “The demand was poor due to heavy potato production in the country. As a result 5,000 quintal of potato rotted at the Alu Ground here,” Azad said. “We have demanded a compensation for the same at the rate of Rs 1,400 per quintal, as not even a single penny was paid so far,” Azad said. This year, as many as 28,000 quintal of potato have reached the LPS godown in Manali, while 50,000 quintal have been marketed through private traders in Manali, the farmers said, adding that “the grading process is in full swing at the Alu Ground here and farmers are waiting for the announcement of support price”. |
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3 get life term for taxi driver’s murder
Chamba, November 5 The three were sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment (RI) for life and pay a fine of Rs 25,000 each. According to the judgment, on December 8 last year, complainant Sudershan Kumar had filed an FIR with the police stating that his son Deepak Kumar had to drive a Bolero. On December 3 last year, victim Deepak rang up his home and said he had arrived at Chintpurani along with passengers in his vehicle. The next morning the complainant enquired from Kehar Singh, another taxi driver, and came to know that three persons were heard saying that they wanted to go to temples at Kangra, Jawalaji, Chintpurani and Naina Devi, and then leave for Rampur. A frantic search was held by the SHO, Sadar Chamba police station, in Patiala, Nainadevi, Parwanoo etc. The police set up a naka near the Badripur chowk. A Bolero jeep came from the Nahan side. The vehicle was being driven by Kalyan Singh. Jagat Ram was sitting by his side, while Hari Singh was sitting in the back seat. Taxi drivers Yash Pal and Param Rishi identified Kalyan Singh to be the same person who had come to the taxi stand at Chamba on December 3 to hire a taxi. Investigation revealed their common intention of committing robbery by taking away the Bolero owned by the victim by causing his death. |
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Female voter turnout high in Hamirpur district
Hamirpur, November 5 In Badsar constituency, a total of 48,899 votes were polled, with 27,438 female (74 per cent) and 21,461 male (59 per cent) voters casting their vote. In Bhoranj constituency, a total of 47,223 voters exercised their franchise, with 25,904 female (72.62 per cent) and 19,319 (58.92 per cent) male voters casting their vote. In Nadaun constituency, a total of 56,128 votes were polled and 31,145 female voters (78.79 per cent) surpassed 24,980 male voters (63 per cent). In Sujanpur constituency, a total of 44,488 votes were polled and 25,318 female voters (77 per cent) outdid 19,163 male voters (64 per cent). BJP candidates say the large female voter turnout is a way to express resentment against price rise and the increase in the price of liquefied petroleum gas. Congress candidates interpret it as a reflection of the mood to change government. Though The BJP and the Congress are giving their own reasons for for the high female voter turnout in the elections, awareness among female voters is one of the reasons for their larger participation in polling. |
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SP reviews security steps after poll
Bilaspur, November 5 This was stated by Superintendent of Police (SP) Santosh Patial while reviewing the police arrangements in the district during the election period, which helped in the conduct of peaceful elections here. Patial said the entire state border with Punjab was sealed, while checking on all routes from all adjoining districts was intensified and flying raids and surprise checking were conducted, which resulted in the recovery of 90,000 ml of illicit liquor and 12,750 ml of desi liquor. Ten cases were registered under the HP Excise Act against the accused. The Superintendent of Police said 19 drums of “lahan” containing 38,000 ml of liquor were also destroyed by police raiding teams in areas near the border. He said additional seven cases were registered under the NDPS Act during this period in which 485 gm of charas and 22,580 gm of poppy powder was recovered during checking from vehicles and individuals. The SP said the police also received 1,678 summons, notices and warrants from courts, which were got implemented within the prescribed time schedule. Currency notes worth Rs 17,36,800 was also recovered from various vehicles and owners, but the entire amount was returned to its owners as the same was supported by documents. |
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Increase in polling recorded in Nurpur
Nurpur, November 5 The highest of 91.27 per cent polling was recorded in the Baduee polling booth where 303 out of 332 voters exercised their franchise. The minimum of 57.35 per cent polling was recorded in the Kalangan polling booth where only 39 out of 68 voters cast their votes. Five contestants were in the fray, including Ajay Mahajan (Congress), Rakesh Pathania (Independent) and Ranbir Nikka (BJP), with the main contest being between Mahajan and Pathania. In the Indora Assembly constituency, a marginal increase in polling has been recorded. In 2007, 73.06 per cent polling was recorded when 52,782 out of 72,241 electors had cast their votes. But now it was recorded as 73.24 per cent when 53,129 out of 72,538 voters polled their votes. The highest 86.74 per cent polling was recorded in the Surajpur polling booth where 798 out of 920 electors exercised their franchise, while minimum 59.72 per cent polling was recorded at the Bhalakh polling booth where 298 out of 499 voters cast their votes. Seven candidates were in the fray at Indora.
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2 Congress leaders expelled for 6 years
Bilaspur, November 5 Ram Krishan Dhiman and Sukh Ram Kaushal, both proposers of rebel Congress candidate Hoshiyar Singh Thakur, who contested the election as an Independent against official Congress candidate Ram Lal Thakur from the Naina Deviji constituency, had been expelled from the party. Similar action had already been taken against rebel candidates Hoshiyar Singh Thakur and Puran Chand Bhatia, while all other rebels, including Kashmir Singh Thakur (Ghumarwin constituency), Jitender Chandel and KD Lakhanpal (Bilaspur Sadar constituency) and Vijay Kaushal (Jhandutta constituency) and a number of their supporters had also met the same fate. A party spokesman said more leaders who had helped these rebel Independent candidates in any way, or those who supported these rebel candidates in the field, despite repeated warnings of state leaders, had to face similar consequences and the orders were being finalised soon after concrete evidence was filed against them. |
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7% discount on purchase of gold coins
Chamba, November 5 Stating this in a press statement here today, Superintendent of Post Offices (SPO), Chamba division, Ranjit Singh Rana said for the facility of customers of this region, special sales counters had been set up at the Head Post Office in Chamba. Rana claimed that customers could purchase gold coins of 99.9 per cent pure 24-carat gold, bearing the India Post logo, which were available in different denominations of 0.5, 1, 5, 8, 10, 20 and 50 grams at the Head Post Office outlet at 7 per cent lower prices. |
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Lawyers urged to adopt mediation procedure
Chamba, November 5 The chairman urged the lawyers to adopt the non-adversarial system of dispute resolution. The training was imparted under the aegis of the District Legal Services Authority. Master trainers Nagina Jain and Dr Renu Aggarwal organised the 40-hour course. Additional District Judge Mukesh Bansal, Judicial Magistrate Amardeep Singh, Chamba District Bar Association president VK Gupta, Dalhousie Bar Association president KK Thakur among others attended the programme.
— OC |
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The previous highest percentage of 74.51 was recorded in 2003. The only exception when the percentage dipped below 70 was in 1990, when it was 67.76 per cent. It was more due to the fact that the Janata Dal-led government had only taken over at the Centre and the ouster of the Congress was a foregone conclusion.