Shimla, December 24
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the primary concern of his government was ensuring speedy, uniform and balanced development of the state. He was duty-bound to take action on the Congress ‘chargesheet’ against the previous BJP regime.

“Had it been left to me alone, I would not have done anything but since I happen to be the CM, I have to take action on the ‘chargesheet’ which is being probed as per law,” he remarked when asked about the BJP allegations of political vendetta against him.

He addressed a press conference to list the achievements of his government’s one-year rule.

“No amount of threats or pressure will work on me or my government, but I can assure you that we will not go an inch beyond law but the guilty will not be spared and innocent will not be framed,” he said. He added that he was not even a member of the ‘chargesheet’ committee, headed by GS Bali, so he had no personal enmity with anyone, least of all with Dhumal or his family.

He, however, did not miss out on the opportunity to accuse Dhumal of registering false criminal cases against him in the Sagar Katha and CD case, when the BJP was in power.

“There was no ‘chargesheet’ on which he was acting then but I faced a trial and was discharged in both cases,” he remarked.

“The Centre has always come to the rescue of Himachal though there could have been some delay at times. I am more than satisfied with the Centre for having helped Himachal,” he said. The Calamity Relief Fund for the devastation caused in Kinnuar and other parts of the state had already been approved and the delay was only because Himachal had sought enhancement in this amount.

The Chief Minister said the BJP had discriminated in undertaking development works. “We have enhanced social security pensions, started skill allowance scheme for unemployed, provided subsidised ration, free uniform and bus travel for schoolchildren, restarted the 149 de-notified schools, regularised teachers, started schemes for empowerment of women and opened new schools and health institutions,” he said.

Virbhadra said the ‘chargesheet’ prepared by the BJP against his regime did not bother him as it only reflected the frustration of the party. “Since they are feeling the heat of the inquiries, they are talking of a ‘chargesheet’ only to build up the sinking morale of the party cadres and divert the attention of the public from core issues,” he remarked. He said the Congress will give a befitting reply to the ‘chargesheet’.

We have enhanced social security pensions, started skill allowance scheme for unemployed, provided subsidised ration, free uniform and bus travel to schoolchildren, restarted the 149 de-notified schools, regularised teachers, started schemes for empowerment of women and opened new schools and health institutions
—Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister

Shimla, December 24
The BJP today said rather than harping on one-year achievements of his government, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh must first give a satisfactory reply to the serious charges levelled against him regarding taking a loan and purchase of shares by him and his family members in a power firm.

Addressing a press conference here today, Randhir Sharma, MLA and state BJP general secretary, said the biggest achievement of the Congress regime in the its first year of rule was political victimisation of its opponents.

“The achievements exist only on paper as all development works have some to a standstill and people are not getting benefit,” he alleged. The Centre too had not come to the rescue of the Congress regime, which had not given even a penny, he added.

He said cases had been registered against former BJP ministers, MLAs and sitting MP Anurag Thakur by the Congress regime. “The police rather than checking the rising crime is busy fabricating cases against BJP leaders and their family members,” he alleged.

He added that the midnight takeover of the HP Cricket Association stadium at Dharamsala was a perfect example of political vendetta, which even the High Court termed illegal.

Sharma said the Chief Minister had not yet given any satisfactory reply regarding the Rs 3.90 crore taken by him and his wife from Vakamullah Chandershekhar. “We, too, agree that taking a loan is certainly not a crime but the public wants to know why a man owns properties worth crores had to take loan from man who is a defaulter,” he quipped.

He said the Chief Minister must give details as to why he need this money and where he spent it.

Regarding the purchase of shares worth Rs 9.80 lakh by Pratibha Singh, MP, her son Vikramaditya and daughter Aprajita, he wondered why these were not reflected in the election affidavit filed by the Chief Minister’s wife when the children were shown as dependents.

The one-year rule is marked by corruption, scams and gross irregularities which will be highlighted in the ‘chargesheet’ to be submitted to the Governor on Wednesday
—Randhir Sharma, state bjp general secretary

Kullu, December 24
Activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) took out a rally and burnt the effigy of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh at Dhalpur Chowk here today.

State president Sunil Thakur said the BJYM would observe the subsequent week as ‘Paschatap Saptah’ to remorse the one-year completion of the government.

He said the state government had no reason to celebrate its completion of one year as no developmental work was done during the preceding year of the Congress rule. He said the policies of the government were not in the favour of a common man and encouraged corruption.

He rued that price rise was unchecked and essential commodities were missing from the government depots.

He iterated that many popular schemes were launched by the BJP government, including Atal 108 Ambulance services, subsidy on poly-houses for farmers, but the present government had not initiated or implemented any such beneficial scheme.

Thakur said during the entire week, the BJYM would organise rallies, gharna, morcha with black flags, throughout the state against the present Congress government.

Challenging the double standards adopted by the Congress, he said it was misleading the people as the Chief Minister disbursed awards and degrees in 12 private universities whose land allotment was termed ‘Himachal for Sale’ during the election campaign. 

Shimla, December 24
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today expressed his displeasure at the recent judgements given by the Himachal Pradesh High Court (HC), pertaining to transfers of employees and giving them pensionary benefits.

In reply to a query, the Chief Minister termed the High Court judgements an interference in the functioning of the democratically elected government.

“I have the highest regard for the judiciary, but I disagree with the opinion of the court. In a democratic country, elected representatives at all levels have right to express their opinion,” he remarked.

Virbhadra Singh termed the attitude of the High Court in restraining the interference of elected representatives in transfers of employees as ‘undemocratic’.

‘What the High Court says is not the last word,’ was his curt reply when asked about the decision to grant pensionary benefits to employees of various boards and corporations.

The Chief Minister admitted that giving pension to such employees was a contentious issue and the Himachal Government was weighing all the pros and cons, before arriving at a final decision. He hinted that the state government could file a petition in the Supreme Court against the High Court verdict. 

I have the highest regard for the judiciary, but I disagree with the opinion of the High Court. In a democratic country like India, elected representatives at all levels have right to express their opinion
—Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister

Shimla, December, 24
The HP High Court today dismissed the election petition filed by Ramesh Chand, Congress candidate from the Bhoranj Assembly constituency, with Rs 25,000 costs.

Justice VK Sharma passed this judgment on an election petition filed by a Congress candidate challenging the election of a BJP candidate, former Education minister, Ishwar Dass Dhiman.

It was alleged in the petition that the son of the BJP candidate was a government officer posted in the constituency during the 2012 Assembly election and he campaigned in favour of that candidate, trying to influence the voters of the area to cast votes in favour of his father, which affected the election result.

It was contended on behalf of Dhiman that the allegations levelled by the petitioner were wrong and he won the election by a margin of more than 10,000 votes.

Kangra, December 24
Christmas was celebrated in different schools with zeal, zest and fervour here today. The celebrations were held at DAV Senior Secondary Public School, Tiara, and DAV Public School, Bhankhandi.

Children decorated Christmas trees with lights, balloons and stars, sang rhymes on the occasion.

Students and staff members participated in the celebrations. The students were dressed up as Santa Claus and participated in the art competition. They recited poems, delivered stories and speeches on the Christmas Eve.

Shekhar Moudgil, Principal of DAV Public School, Tiara, distributed prizes, besides chocolates and candies among the students.

Mandi, December 24
The agitating taxi and autorickshaw operators kept their vehicles off the road for the second day today in and around Mandi to highlight their demands.

The autorickshaw and taxi operators did not ply their vehicles, causing inconvenience to residents, besides continuing their chain hunger strike at Seri Manch.

The call for the strike has been given by a joint action committee formed under the leadership of the Bhartiya Majdoor Sangh (BMS), demanding an increase in autorickshaw fares, parking place and office rooms for the auto rickshaw and taxi unions, etc.

The district administration has already held several rounds of meetings with the leaders of the JAC and also started a Mudrika bus service around Mandi to facilitate the residents.

The JAC has decided to convene its meeting on Wednesday to chalk out its future strategy.

Additional District Magistrate Mandi Pankaj Rai said, “We have held several rounds of talks with JAC leaders and conveyed them our position. The administration has earmarked 130 parking places for autorickshaws in the town and their other demands are also being considered keeping in view legal constraints.” 

Nurpur, December 24
Four persons reportedly looted a Mahindra jeep (HP19C-7303) loaded with containers of edible oil and ghee at Ganoh on the Jassur-Talwara highway here yesterday.

According to the police, Vishal Sharma, a resident of Mowa (Una), the driver of the jeep, was on his way from Damtal to Chindpurni when a car overtook his vehicle at a deserted place near Ganoh at about 9 pm.

The four occupants of a car (DL-5C-2620) stopped his jeep and thrashed him. They looted the loaded jeep and snatched Rs 5,000 from him and fled the scene by leaving their old car at the incident site. The victim registered a case at the Nurpur police station in this regard.

DSP Rajiv Atre said the police had registered a case under Sections 382 and 34 of the IPC against unidentified car occupants.

The police have taken the car into their possession and further investigation to nab the culprits was on. — OC

Nurpur, December 24
A number of government offices being run in rented buildings will soon get their own roofs as the construction of the much-awaited multi-storey Mini Secretariat building has been completed and is ready for inauguration.

The Public Works Department (PWD) has put its worker force for giving a final touch to the Mini Secretariat premises by undertaking its furnishing. The newly built Rs 4.63 crore building is likely to be dedicated to the people of the state by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh during his winter sojourn.

According to information, 19 sub-divisional government offices will be shifted to the Mini Secretariat building. At present, 12 offices are running in private rented buildings in the area.

Intriguingly, the Mini Secretariat building will be inaugurated after 17 years of its foundation laid by the then Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, on August 13, 1996, on the premises of the old Civil Hospital building.

Again the then Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, laid the foundation stone near Bachat Bhawan on January 10, 2004, with a new name--Combined Office Building.

But following the demands of residents, the government changed its construction site on February 8, 2006, on its initial old Civil Hospital premises. The construction started in July 2007 but the Archaeology Survey of India (ASI) stopped it in 2010 under the pretext of the enforcement of amended rules of the ASI.

Later, it granted permission for carrying out the remaining construction work of the Mini Secretariat building to the PWD in September 2012.

According to AK Abrol, superintending engineer, PWD circle, Nurpur, the construction of the multi-storey building is complete and the furnishing work is going on a war footing which will be completed within a couple of days.

Kullu, December 24
Four persons reported missing since Saturday were rescued near Rohtang Pass today, about 150 km from here.

Pradeep, an engineer of Himachal Pradesh State Electronic Development Corporation (HPSEDC), Roop Lal, Agriculture Officer Keylong, clerk Jitender and driver Thapa were all reported to be in a sound condition and were airlifted to Kullu.

They were taken to the zonal hospital here and there were no signs of hypothermia or frost bite, said Sushil Chander, Medical Officer Health. The four were returning after delivering some electronics instruments at the Deputy Commissioner office, Keylong.

Upon getting stranded, they managed to get in touch with the Lahaul Spiti DC.

According to the Lahaul Spiti DC, Beer Singh, the Bolero Camper (HP-58-5649) in which all the four were travelling through the Rohtang Pass was caught in a snowstorm near the pass on Saturday evening. The four managed to survive the 60-hour ordeal in the snow by sitting inside the vehicle, he added.

He said a rescue team of members of police, administration, Borders Road Organisation (BRO), ITBP, medical experts and Disaster Management was able to trace the missing persons and bring them back to Khoksar.

The bodies of the ill-fated duo Sanjeev Kumar (19) and Naresh (22), both from Patlikuhl in Kullu, who happened to get stuck in the snow on Saturday night in a Maxicab (HP-34A-1134) in Gramphu near Khoksar, were also airlifted and handed over to their relatives.

Solan, December 24
The wildlife authorities have finally shifted the Kandaghat Monkey Sterilisation Centre (MSC), which had been opened in July last year after incurring Rs 15 lakh to Kangra district. Only six monkeys had been sterilised here in the last more than a year.

The issue had also been highlighted in these columns and following this a report was sought about its viability by officials of the wildlife wing of the Forest Department. The minister later gave its consent to close this centre, citing lack of viability. The equipment were shifted to a new centre which is being set up near Nurpur in Kangra district.

The centre had failed to function without proper staff. Since there was no veterinary officer, the work of monkey sterilisation could not be executed and all monkeys had to be sent to Shimla for sterilisation. This had reduced its viability and apart from sterilising six monkeys on its inaugural day, no further work could be executed.

The centre had also become a political issue as it had been opened during the fag-end of the tenure of the BJP government and its non-viability had become a cause for concern for the department as they could not provide proper staff for this centre.

The shifting of this centre had not only wasted Rs 15 lakh spent on renovating the old building into a monkey sterilisation centre but had also exposed how political decisions taken without working out the viability lead to wastage of public money.

Bilaspur, December 24
An ex-serviceman Malkeeyat Singh of village Bhadrog near Ghumarwin near here showed exemplary honesty and earned praise from all as he handed over a bag containing currency notes worth Rs 1 lakh which he had found lying unclaimed at Ghumarwin yesterday.

Reports said as soon as Malkeeyat Singh came out of the CSD canteen premises (Ghumarwin), he found a bag which, on opening, revealed it contained currency notes worth Rs 1 lakh and some other papers.

Malkeeyat Singh immediately turned towards the canteen and handed over the cash bag to the canteen manager SS Dogra, requesting him to deliver the cash to the owner concerned who would, in all probability, come searching for it there.

On a thorough search of papers in the bag, an Aadhar card of Subedar Amar Singh of village Silha was found, who was informed by the manager that in case he had lost anything, he could come and get it back.

Later, the bag and the money were found to be belonging to Subedar Amar Singh. It was handed over to him by the manager, who praised the honesty of another ex-serviceman Malkeeyat Singh.

Chamba, December 24
All five persons, who were reported to have been trapped in a gujjar kotha (a house made of mire by a Gujjar family) at Saleti Dhaar in the Mehla development block of Chamba district, were evacuated safely today.

Stating this here today, Superintendent of Police (SP), Chamba, Jagat Ram said these persons were identified as Vikram Singh, Chhaju Ram, Kishori Lal, Tej Chand and Prittam of the Chhatroli area of the Mehla block of the district.

“It could be possible because of the clear weather and the contact of police teams with the trapped persons”, the SP narrated.

Two shepherds along with six sheep and goats were also feared to have been buried under snow avalanche on the slope of Jamnaldhaar in Sanwal of the remote Churah subdivision of the district on Sunday, according to reports reaching here today.

The reports said in the wake of heavy snowfall, a group of shepherds who were returning to their homes were hit by an avalanche but two of them were feared buried along with six sheep and goats. These shepherds were named as Lehnu and Karam Chand.

With Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi remaining busy after being projected as BJP's prime ministerial candidate and his government, including ministers and officers, going all out to propagate his Statue of Unity project in the country, one is left wondering as to who is running the government.

His ministerial colleague Vasuben Trivedi, while on a visit to Shimla, was quick to dismiss such speculation. "Even if he is travelling, he keeps in touch with all of us, including officials, and moreover, in Gujarat, we have a proper system, so things move automatically," she remarked.