Shimla, September 21
The BJP could take some important decisions, including the candidates to be fielded for the Parliamentary elections from the four Lok Sabha seats in Himachal, at the Core Committee meeting to be held in the presence of party’s national president Rajnath Singh on September 23.

All senior BJP leaders, including former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, Rajya Sabha MP Shanta Kumar, state party chief Satpal Singh Satti, in-charge of BJP affairs in Himachal Balbir Punj, national organisation secretary Ram Lal and national secretary Jagat Praksh Nadda are likely to attend the meeting to be held at Chandigarh on September 23.

The BJP is likely to chalk out the strategy for the Lok Sabha elections and decide on the venue and date for holding a big state-level rally to be addressed by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate.

“The fact that Rajnath ji will be present, makes the meeting very important. Besides organisational matters, the most important issue is the deliberations that will take place on the names to be fielded for the Lok Sabha polls,” said a senior BJP leader.

The core committee has 14 members, including former state party chiefs Jai Ram Thakur, Suresh Bhardwaj, Suresh Chandel and Khimi Ram Sharma, the three state general secretaries - Rajiv Bindal, Randhir Sharma and Vipin Parmar - and state organizational general secretary Pawan Rana.

Though the candidates to be fielded from Shimla, Mandi and Hamirpur seats are almost certain, it is Kangra where the party may decide to field Shanta Kumar to ensure that the BJP wins the seat. Even though Shanta has in the past indicated that he was not keen for electoral politics, the recent political developments indicate that he could once again take the plunge.

The other name that is doing the rounds is that of Birg Pawan Chaudhray (retd), husband of Shahpur BJP legislator Sraveen Chaudhary.

“The twin advantage of fielding him is that he could woo voters from the two most sizeable chunk of the electorate in Kangra - Other Backward Classes (OBC) and ex-servicemen,” admitted a senior party leader.

He, however, said the name of Brigadier Chaudhary would be considered only if Shanta Kumar declined to contest.

Though Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur is sure to be fielded, the possibility of his father former Chief Minister PK Dhumal contesting cannot be ruled out completely. Shimla MP Virender Kashyap is likely to be fielded once again, while in Mandi, Jai Ram Thakur could be asked to contest once again.

Una, September 21
The slapping of Una Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Ramesh Thakur allegedly by Congress leader Satpal Raizada has resulted in allegations and counter-allegations. The issue has also brought to the fore the issue of illegal mining in Una and alleged political patronage to it.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Pradesh Congress Committee secretary Satpal Raizada, who has been booked for slapping the RTO, alleged that officials were ruling the roost in Una district, while political leaders were being given a raw deal.

He alleged that officers in Una were harassing locals who were bringing sand and gravel from rivulets for the construction of their houses. Due to harassment by officials, locals were getting sand trolley for Rs 2,600. As a leader of the area, it was his duty to save them from harassment by officers.

Raizada alleged that since the Congress was defeated in the Una Assembly constituency, officers were not caring about locals.

Meanwhile, the RTO alleged that he was pressured in the police station against filing complaint against the Congress leader. He, however, did not yield to the pressure and registered the case.

BJP state president Satpal Satti, while addressing a press conference in Una, alleged that the law and order in the state had collapsed. He alleged it was unfortunate that an HAS officer had to sit in a police station for four hours to get his complaint registered.

Everywhere people with political patronage were resorting to illegal mining and officials acting against them were being beaten up or harassed. Illegal mining was at its peak in Una district and officials trying to stop it were being targeted, he alleged.

"The Congress government is busy in levelling allegations against the previous BJP government. The overall governance in the state is taking a hit," he alleged. Satti also alleged that the HPCA was being targeted by the government just because it was headed by BJP MP Anurag Thakur. The HPCA had done a commendable job in promotion of cricket in the state. No other sports organisation had been able to perform in Himachal before that. However, it was unfortunate that the Congress was targeting the HPCA, he said.

Kullu, September 21
Chief Secretary Sudripto Roy will convene a “conciliatory meeting” in Kullu on Monday to end the dispute between workers and the management of the mineral water factory. The workers are against the transfer of locals to the factory’s Gurgaon unit.

Roy called the meeting after Kullu MLA Maheshwar Singh took up the matter with the government today to resolve the dispute as 70 per cent of workers in the factory were locals.

On the other hand, in an official statement released to the media today, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) state vice-presidents Rakesh Singha and Prem Gautam alleged that the Kullu police had intervened in the dispute between the workers and the management of Dharampal-Satapal Ltd, which runs the catch factory, overriding the “constitutional duties”. They threatened to move court.

SP, Kullu, Dr VK Dhavan rubbished the Centre of Indian Trade Unions leaders’ allegations. He said the police was only complying with the order of the high court and the industrial tribunal to maintain the law and order on the premises. The police could not allow hooligans to disrupt traffic and damage property, as the strike was declared illegal, he added.

Kullu DC Rakesh Kanwar said he was not aware about the meeting convened by the CS in the matter as he was out of station.

Bilaspur, September 21
Led by Sub Prakash Chand, scores of ex-servicemen and officers demonstrated outside the CSD canteen at Barthin, 42 km from here, on Thursday. They were protesting against the state government's increasing 4 per cent VAT on all items of the canteen. They comdemned state Excise Minister Prakash Chaudhary's claim that this had been done on the advice of officers of armed forces.

The ex-servicemen said if the state government did not immediately withdraw this tax, they would be constrained to oppose the Congress in the next Parliamentary elections in the state.

Those present included Captains Sarwan Singh, Rajender Singh, Yogender Sen, Amar Nath Dhiman, Subedars Baldev Singh, Yog Raj, Prem Lal, Amar Singh, Havildars Dhani Ram, Kartar Singh, Lachhu Ram, Bishan Singh, Kishori Lal, Dina Nath and Shiv Singh and others.

Manali, September 21
A national-level seminar on energy conservation was organised under the collective efforts of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Germany, and Manali Tourism Stakeholder’s Association here today. The theme of the seminar was “Energy Conservation in Hotel Industry”.

Dilip Sharma, Regional Director, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “The conservation of energy is the need of the hour and we shall have to save energy for our next generation.”

Talking about the hotel industry of Himachal, he said hotels could save 20 per cent of their running cost by stopping the unnecessary use of water heaters, boilers, air-conditioning systems, refrigeration, heaters, pumps and motors. He said the use of solar energy was the best alternative that could bring down the expenses and also save the limited sources of energy.

Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) Deputy Director SN Singh said that the country was spending billions of dollars on importing petroleum products from abroad which was severely impacting the economy. “The motive of this seminar is to spread a message that people should use energy, but the most important thing is how and when we should use energy to stop its unnecessary use.”

Officials present at the seminar emphasised upon the maximum use of solar energy. Manali Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vinay Dhiman requested all the hoteliers to save energy whenever it was possible. He added that the seminar was sending a positive message to the tourism industry to save energy and said more such seminars should be organised in future.

Manali Tourism Stakeholders’ Association president Gajender Thakur thanked all the dignitaries from across the country to make this seminar a success. He also said the association would encourage hoteliers to use solar energy to save power and other energy sources.

Manali Nagar Parishad president Roop Chand Negi and many other officials also spoke on energy conservation. Members from various non-governmental organisations were also present at this occasion.

Shimla, September 21
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the government was opening schools and colleges in remote and far-flung areas to provide access to education to every child. 

He said the government had opened colleges in remote and far-flung areas to provide facility of higher education to the students living in villages and remote areas. He today inaugurated an arts block of Rajiv Gandhi Degree College, Chaura Maidan, constructed at a cost of Rs 3 crore.

Manali/Udaipur, September 21
Ten pilgrims, including two children of 2 years each and four women, believed to be of members of two families of the Kishtwar region of Jammu and Kashmir, were killed on the spot, while one sustained serious injuries when the Tata Sumo they were travelling in, rolled down into a 50-m-deep gorge near Tindi, 40 km from Udaipur town on the Udaipur-Killar road, yesterday.

The ill-fated pilgrims, who were believed to be on their way from Kishtwar to the Triloknath temple, “bled to death on the spot as nobody spotted the accident till 10 am today”.

It was a driver of an oil tanker, who was on his way to Killar, spotted the ramshackle vehicle hanging in the gorge right above the bank of the Chenab. He informed the police and saved Sher Singh of the Athroli Kishtwar region, the only survivor.

He was rushed in 108 ambulance to the Udaipur hospital where his condition was reported to be critical, the police said. The doctors have referred him to Kullu as he has received head injuries and fractures in legs. 

Shimla, September 21
Retired Supreme Court Judge Justice CK Thakker today said in a majority of the cases the contribution of courts in the administration of criminal justice was remarkable, though there could have been some mistakes and errors, which could be attributed to the fact that judges, too, were human beings.

Justice Thakker, who has also remained the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, delivered the Fourth Amar Chand Sood Memorial Lecture on “Criminal Jurisprudence and Constitutional Remedies,” at the Gaiety Theatre here today. The lecture is held every year by the Bar Association of India. Lokayukta and former Supreme Court Judge Justice LS Panta and other high court judges were also present on the occasion.

“It has been rightly said a judge, who has never committed an error is yet to be born,” he remarked on the possibility of error on the part of judges. He said nevertheless it could be said without hesitation that the contribution of judiciary in the administration of criminal justice was excellent and outstanding.

Citing the Supreme Court judgment in the ADM, Jabalpur (Habeas Corpus case) case, regarding declaration of emergency and suspension of fundamental rights, he said the petition was held not maintainable by majority (4:1) judges. “The apex court overrules several high courts ignoring the most important fact that such right is natural and inherent in every human being. For such right, no written provision was necessary,” he remarked.

He also mentioned that one of the authors of the judgment recently conceded that the judgment was wrong and he should not have agreed with the majority view.

Justice Thakker said the Indian legal system was based on common law and this was well reflected in the maxim - ubi jus ibi remdium (wherever there is right, there is remedy). “There is no right without a remedy and they are the two sides of the same coin, which cannot be disassociated,” he said.

He said it was the duty of every state to ensure justice was done to both - the accused as well as the victim. “It has rightly been said society has suffered not only when an innocent has been punished, but also when a culprit has been acquitted,” he explained. He said Articles 32, 136, read with 142 and Articles 226 and 227, of the Constitution had granted plenary powers to the courts for protection of all these rights.

Speaking on the occasion, HP High Court Chief Justice AM Khanwilkar said the Constitution recognised four cardinal principles of criminal jurisprudence in the administration of justice. These he said included - Rule of Law, presumption as to innocence of the accused till proven guilty, innocent should not be made liable for the wrong he had not committed and, lastly, that no person could not be detained or arrested without following the prescribed procedure by law. He added that a person must not be arrested without informing him the grounds of detention at the earliest.

Kapil Dev Sood, senior lawyer and son of Lala Amar Chand, also spoke on the occasion. Others who addressed the gathering included Advocate-General Shravan Dogra and Bar Association president Bipin Negi.

Solan, September 21
With cases of monkey bite on the rise in Kasauli and its surrounding areas, the repeated use of anti-serum and vaccination to treat such cases is becoming a cause of concern.

Experts said elderly women, who were repeatedly given the medicines to treat monkey bites, could develop several health complications. Elderly women are reportedly being bitten quite often by ferocious monkeys.

Though no initial reaction was shown by the patients to the anti-serum and vaccines, but gradually they developed hypersensitivity to the treatment and showed reactions like rashes, joint pains, arthritis and kidney diseases. In extreme cases, even death could occur, said a scientist at the Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli. Since the anti-serum is prepared from the horse’s blood, its insertion could produce adverse reactions due to repeated use, said a CRI doctor.

Figures collected from the Central Research Institute revealed that as many as 300 cases of monkey bites had been received in the past one year, with elderly women and children comprising a majority of the victims.

Areas like Garkhal, Kasauli, Dagshai and surrounding villages are witnessing a steep rise in the population of monkeys and problems arising due to it. Though traps are laid by the Forest Department, monkeys continue to attack people, especially elderly women, every day in Garkhal and its surrounding areas. The CRI staff confided that at least four cases of severe monkey bites had been treated in the past two days.

Kangra, September 21
The Tourism Day celebrations were kicked off with the inaugural function held at the Temporary Academic Block (TAB) of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) at Shahpur yesterday. These are aimed at bringing a change of attitude among key actors in local, national and global tourism for peace, security and sustainable development.

Stating this in his inaugural speech, Pro Vice-Chancellor Yoginder Singh Verma said, “Developing a prosperous, healthy and cultured society to have humanity and common future globally is the purpose of the celebrations."

The Tourism Society at the CUHP is celebrating the tourism week till September 27 based on the theme "Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future".

Vice-Chancellor Prof Furqan Qamar was the special guest of the occasion.

On the occasion collage-making, photo caption and rangoli competitions were organised for students.

Prof HR Sharma, Dean, Student Welfare, Prof Roshan Lal Sharma, Proctor, Deans of schools, Heads of the departments, faculty members, Dr Suman Sharma, convener, Tourism Society, students and participants were present at the function.

Fortyfive teams participated in this event.

Hamirpur, September 21
Dr KK Katoch, Vice-Chancellor, Agriculture University, Palampur, has advised farmers to make the use of best inputs, seeds and agriculture implements for better produce.

Interacting with farmers at a farmer-scientist interaction session organised by the Agriculture Research Centre, Bada, on Wednesday, Dr Katoch said modern techniques of farming, diversification in cropping pattern, hybrid seeds etc were very important for improving income in the agriculture sector.

He said the state government had launched several schemes for agriculture sector and youth should come forward for taking benefits of these schemes, which could help in creating self-employment and income generation from farming.

Discouraging heavy use of fertilisers and other chemicals, Dr Katoch advised the farmers to use best seeds, which would help in giving better produce and protecting health of the crop.

DC, Hamirpur, Ashish Singmar asked the scientists not to limit their research related to agriculture sector to discussion level and help farmers to make best use of modern techniques and agriculture input to improve their economy through better produce. He also directed officials to provide seeds, plants and other inputs on time.

Una, September 21
The district police has booked a father of a 14-year-old girl on the charge of raping her. SP Una, Anupam Sharma, while talking to The Tribune, said the girl had filed a complaint against her father alleging that he had raped her.

A case under Section 376, IPC, and Section 4, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, has been registered against the girl’s father. A medical examination of the girl was being conducted, he said.