New Delhi, March 12
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to discuss the campaign strategy of the party.

The meeting, which lasted half an hour at 12 Tughlaq Lane, the residence of Rahul Gandhi, discussed the possibilities of the Congress vice-president’s rallies in the state.

A decision was taken to schedule a tentative political rally of Rahul Gandhi in Dharamsala on March 20. Scheduled earlier, the rally had to be cancelled and postponed till Rahul’s office gave fresh dates.

Sources said Rahul had agreed to address a rally in Dharamsala on March 20, but the schedule was still tentative.

“The schedule is subject to Rahul’s last-minute programmes, but most probably, the rally is fixed,” Congress sources said.

Sources also said the Chief Minister had sought time from Rahul Gandhi to address rallies to two additional locations apart from Dharamsala for which a commitment was yet to be made.

Party sources said Rahul Gandhi’s immediate priority would be the states going to the polls in the earlier phases. Himachal goes to the polls on May 7.

Sources also indicated that the Lok Sabha ticket for Himachal might be announced later as there was no immediate rush. “The current priority is to declare the candidates for the states which are going to the polls in the earlier phases, April 10 being the most urgent,” Congress sources said.

Discussions on the Lok Sabha seats from Himachal are going on and the party is yet to declare its candidates officially. From Mandi, though the candidature of Pratibha Singh, CM’s wife and sitting Lok Sabha MP, is certain, from Hamirpur and Kangra seats, there is a difference of opinion on candidates with Union Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari wanting to shift from Rajasthan to Kangra.

The Chief Minister is pushing for OBC leader Chander Kumar from Kangra and BJP rebel Rajinder Rana from Hamirpur where the name of state Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri is also being considered.

Hamirpur, March 12
The politics over the opening of a medical college in Hamirpur is hotting up as the Opposition BJP is terming this as an election gimmick and the ruling Congress is trying to capitalise on the issue.

Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu made an announcement of a medical college on March 3, claiming the receipt of a letter from the Ministry of Health.

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, during his tour of the state on March 1, had announced the opening of two medical colleges for Nahan in Sirmaur district and Chamba district with an allocation of Rs 189 crore each. Azad had made no mention of a medical college for Hamirpur and the HPCC president issued a press note regarding the sanction from the Health Ministry to open a medical college at Hamirpur three days later.

Sukhvinder Singh, who hails from Hamirpur district and was representing the Nadaun Assembly constituency in the last Vidhan Sabha, is trying to take full credit for the college.

The Hamirpur District Congress Committee is terming the sanction of a medical college at Hamirpur a result of personal efforts of Sukhvinder and has announced to organise a reception for him in Hamirpur soon.

On the other hand, BJP leaders are terming this to be an election gimmick and are saying, “No notification regarding medical college has been made and Congress leaders are just showing a demi-official letter to convince people for drawing political mileage in the election.”

Sukhvinder said, “The sanction for a medical college was obtained by me owing to my personal relations with Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on March 3 and the Centre has allocated Rs 189 crore for the college.”

“It was former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, who was doing politics,” he adds.

Dhumal questioned, “Where is the notification regarding the medical college. It is a gimmick by Congress leaders who are using a DO letter to get political benefit.” 

Shimla, March 12
The BJP today filed a complaint before the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the publicity of various schemes of the Centre through the state government calendar being used in all offices.

The state government calendar shows Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh distributing ration to people.

The BJP has sought the immediate withdrawal of the calendar as it amounted to publicity. “Besides the publicity of the Rajiv Gandhi Ann Yojna, there is mention of five other schemes on the calendar for 2014 which amounts to violation of the code of conduct during the elections,” said Ganesh Dutt, state BJP spokesperson.

The calendar has a picture of Virbhadra Singh distributing ration to people. Besides this, there is mention of the skill development scheme, national ambulance service, Janani Suraksha Yojna, free travel facility for students of government schools and enhancement in social security pensions. He added that the government had got lakhs of calendars printed keeping in mind the Lok Sabha poll.

He said the calendars should be immediately withdrawn as these were just like hoardings which give publicity to the government. He said a copy of the complaint had also been given to Chief Electoral Officer Narender Chauhan. He said all calendars must be banned.

Solan, March 12
All licensed weapon holders will not be required to surrender their arms after announcement of the general election. Those having a criminal background and recommended by a screening committee will be required to surrender their weapons.

The new directions follow a 2009 ruling of the Bombay High Court which had stated that the authorities cannot issue an order for all individuals to surrender their weapons before an election.

The high court, issuing these directions in response to a petition, had stated that a law-abiding citizen, to whom a licence is issued, may take the order as an affront to his dignity. As per these directions, screening committees have been constituted to monitor such cases and ensure that notices are issued only if found necessary in individual cases.

ADM, Nahan, Manmohan Sharma said a committee comprising the SP, the DC and the Additional DC will screen cases of licence holders who are out on bail or facing criminal offences or who have been specially involved in poll-related rioting in the past.

The committee will decide whether such individuals are required to surrender their weapons or not based on their antecedents.

State governments had earlier been directed by the Election Commission of India in 1996 to collect weapons of all licence holders prior to an election. All licence holders used to deposit their arms at the nearest police station after the announcement of the poll.

The weapons will have to be deposited within one week of the receipt of the notice as per the new directions, and if an individual declines to do so he can face action under Section 188 of the IPC. The arms will be returned a week after the declaration of the results.

The new directions have come as a relief to the licence holders who opined that licences of those involved in criminal activities should be withdrawn to rule out any misuse.

With limited space being available in police stations to store weapons, instances had come to light where storing weapons had become a cause for concern for the police.

Nurpur, March 12
Supporters of former MLA Rakesh Pathania, who recently rejoined the BJP, convened an emergency meeting in his presence here yesterday.

They aired their grievances and expressed displeasure over the indifferent attitude of local mandal and district BJP units towards the Lok Sabha elections, in which Rajya Sabha member Shanta Kumar was contesting from the Kangra parliamentary seat.

The meeting was attended by several elected representatives of gram panchayats, zila parishad members, including active supporters of Pathania, and former BJP mandal presidents and office-bearers. The workers decided to launch an election campaign for Shanta on their own by constituting polling booth-level committees.

They said they were surprised over the indifferent attitude of party units, as they failed to coordinate with Pathania in formulating any strategy to launch a poll campaign in the area.

Pacifying the dismayed activists, Pathania asked them to work at the grassroots level for the victory of party nominee Shanta Kumar. He claimed that the Nurpur Assembly segment would garner maximum votes to the BJP candidate from Kangra and Chamba districts. 

Shimla, March 12
The Students Federation of India (SFI) has strongly criticised the suspension of three student leaders by the authorities at HPU here.

They have threatened to launch a stir in case the suspension is not revoked immediately.

Suresh Kumar, president of the campus unit of the SFI, and secretary Hoshiyar Singh said the authorities were adopting repressive tactics to muzzle the voice of students and youth. They said they would continue to oppose and fight anti-youth and anti-student policies of the university.

The leaders alleged that the Vice-Chancellor first saffronised the campus during the BJP rule and was now favouring Congress activists and sympathisers by giving teaching and administrative top posts to them.

They also accused the ABVP and the NSUI of having a tacit understanding with the VC. 

Palampur, March 12
The wildlife wing of the Forest Department has been forced to cancel tenders for the supply of fodder for animals at Dhauladhar Nature Park at Gopalpur, 10 km from here, after the model code of conduct came into force.

Since the tenders were floated every year in March, the implementation of the model code has forced the officials to cancel these.

Sources said the fodder would last till March 31 only. Hence, the Wildlife Department had invited new tenders for the financial year 2014-15, but had to cancel these.

There are 200 animals at the zoo and in case the food is not supplied on time, it will directly affect their health. Meanwhile, the present supplier is also reluctant in providing fodder at the old rate.

However, an official of the Wildlife Department said efforts were on to maintain a regular supply of items of daily use at the zoo. He said the matter was already under consideration of the state government, and the Election Commission might give some relaxation to the zoo authorities to complete the tender process. 

Palampur, March 12
Heavy rain, hailstorm, accompanied by high-velocity winds, hit several parts of the Palampur region last night causing damage to standing crops, public property and private buildings.

Life in the Kangra valley has been completely paralysed due to heavy rain and sudden fall in the temperature.

Lightning struck many parts of the region causing heavy damage to HPSEB Power Limited equipment. Several parts of the town remained without power for hours.

A spokesman of the HPSEB said the board suffered heavy losses in Bindravan, Aima, Ghuggar and Sughar where lightening destroyed power conductors.

Besides, transformers were also hit by lightning. Meanwhile, a senior scientist of CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University said heavy rain had caused extensive damage to wheat crop. He said wheat fields were under 1-ft deep water in many areas. Untimely rain would affect agriculture production and the state would not be able to meet its target if the rain did not stop, he added. 

Chamba, March 12
Continuous snow and heavy rain from the past three days has disrupted transportation services and communication with high-altitude far-flung corners of the district.

The Chamba-Hadsar, Nayagran, Bairagarh highways and other interior link roads were blocked due to landslides at different points.

Meanwhile, RL Chauhan, an expert from the Agriculture Department, said the rain was beneficial for rabi crops and snow for the apple fruit crop in the hilly ranges of the district. 

Shimla, March 12
Having found the evidence of pre-Buddhist burial remains dating back to 300 BC at various sites in Kinnaur, the Himachal State Museum in collaboration with HNB Garhwal Central University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, will undertake archaeological exploration in the tribal district.

Based on the archaeological exploration undertaken by Hari Chauhan, curator at the museum, here, along with experts from the Garhwal university, efforts will be made to unfold the nomadic culture that once existed in the mountainous region.

“The exploration was undertaken in various parts of Pooh sub-division and in Rarang, Namgya and Thangi, but it was in Lippa and Kanam that that interesting findings were found,” said Chauhan.

He said the findings would have an important bearing in understanding the emergence of early culture in the high trans-Himalayan region which had never been investigated before. The findings of the burial culture of Lippa and Kanam had been published in the latest March issue of the world famous archaeological journal “Antiquity.”

He revealed that the exploration had yielded evidence of pre-Buddhist burial remains from sites from 600 BC-300 BC. “This is the first-ever archaeological evidence of multi-craft centre of pyrotechnology for crucible based metallurgy and steatite bead making belonging to this age and indicating that trade was being practiced with outside world from such an early age from this remote corner of Himachal,” Chauhan pointed out.

Chauhan said Himachal was archaeologically and culturally rich. Stone tools of the pre-historic period were found in the Ban-Ganga region of the Kangra and Shivalik region. He said he, along with Prof Vinod Nautiyal, Director, was working on the project which was based on scientific data and every finding of the site was analysed scientifically in the laboratories.

He added that radio carbon and thermo luminous dating had been done in the India’s top laboratory. “Excavation work will be carried out in this year to reveal the more information that will help to reconstruct the history of Himachal, especially in the tribal district of Kinnaur,” said Chauhan.

Shimla, March 12
The HP High Court has directed the state government to treat lecturers appointed at polytechnic colleges on an hourly/lecture basis as those appointed on contract and regularise their services on the completion of six years.

While passing this order, Justice Rajiv Sharma observed that petitioners were also entitled for the salary of Rs 21,000 from the date of appointment.

The court observed that records revealed that these lecturers and instructors were appointed after following the process of recruitment and promotion rules.

The case of the petitioners was to regularise their services as per the government policy. It was stated that they were appointed on an hourly basis and serving the government for a long time.

The state government said lecturers were appointed strictly on an hourly/lecture basis and they had accepted such terms and conditions.

However, the government said it was a policy decision of the government to appoint lecturers on an hourly basis, therefore urged the court not to interfere in the policy matter in a larger public interest.

However, contentions of the government were rejected and the government had been directed to treat petitioners as lecturers on contractual basis from the date of their appointment.

Dharamsala, March 12
The Tibetan Women Association (TWA) today commemorated the 55th anniversary of Tibetan Women's Uprising.

In a press statement here, the TWA said on March 12, 1959, thousands of Tibetan women from all the three provinces of Tibet stood up against the Chinese forces, thereby triggering a peaceful resistance that continues even today.

The TWA members carried out a march in McLeodganj to mark the occasion.

"During the uprisings we lost hundreds of Tibetan women in the brutal crackdown enforced by the Chinese forces. We hail them as martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet," they said.

The TWA, which was initially established in Lhasa on March 12, 1959, was reinstated in India on September 10, 1984. The core purpose of establishing this association was to continue the works of all the great women of Tibet, who had sacrificed themselves to preserve the Tibetan identity, freedom and culture.

The TWA said the situation inside Tibet was faced with the intensification of crackdown and systematic repression on Tibetan people. The results are evident in the spate of self-immolations that persists. Since 2009, 127 Tibetans in Tibet, including 20 women, set themselves on fire calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans. In exile, since 1998, six Tibetans had self-immolated to protest against the callous crackdowns inside Tibet.

Today in Tibet, any expression of identity and patriotism is dealt with in the most severe manner. The arbitrary arrests and sentencing of Tibetan singers, writers and social activists, who work for the welfare of all the Tibetans, have increased over the years. The Chinese authorities also continue to criminalise the family members, friends and relatives of these self-immolators by calling them murderers or inciters.

In August last year, the inter-mediate court in the Ngaba region meted out death sentence to Dolma Kyab, husband of Kunchok Wangmo who had self-immolated on March 13, 2013. The court charged Dolma Kyab for the murder of his wife. In December 2013, Geshe Ngawang Jamyang, a senior Tibetan monk from Diru, was beaten to death by the Chinese police. In January this year, Kunchok Dakpa, a young Tibetan, was also beaten to death.

The TWA called on the Chinese leadership to acknowledge their 60 years of failed policies in Tibet that had proven to be catastrophic, and review their policies and deal sensibly with the Tibet challenge.

The TWA's steadfast commitment to resolving the long-standing issue of Tibet through the Middle-Way Policy seeking genuine autonomy for Tibet, remains strong. In this light, the TWA has sent appeal letters and substantial reports to the concerned UN bodies and other world governments to urge the Chinese government to resolve Tibet's issue through dialogue and non-violence.

The TWA dedicated this 55th anniversary to the women inside Tibet. This year, it has announced a fellowship programme for young women in Tibet pursuing professional studies. The fellowship will be imparted to the target group through a reliable international foundation.

The TWA has also announced two informal researchers' seats (in Tibetan language) for two Tibetan women in exile. The research topics are "Intermarriage between Tibetans and Chinese under China's rule in Tibet" and "Intermarriage between Tibetans and foreigners in exile".

In honour of the 20 Tibetan women who died of self-immolation, the TWA announces an honorary award of 25,000 INR to Tsering Dolkar, also known as the Tibetan Mother Teresa, for her work for humanity.

Kullu, March 12
The small barricade at the Largi bypass bridge was removed here today. SDM, Banjar, Virender Kumar directed Public Works Department (PWD) and forest officials to allow small vehicles to ply on the bridge.

The Forest Department of Banjar subdivision had sealed the road on March 6, while the PWD had put up a small barricade yesterday.

The passage through the bridge was earlier halted in 2007 by the Forest Department to check the smuggling of forest produce. After setting up a new check-post at Nachan, the bridge was reopened in 2008.

The Largi Beopar Mandal resented the opening of the bridge and termed it a reason for the loss of business to the Largi market.

The bridge, which shortens the distance by over 700 m, is said to have been built by a construction company engaged in developing a hydel project in this region, without seeking proper clearance from the PWD or the Forest Department.

Villagers of over 63 panchayats have demanded maintenance of the passage through the bridge.

Dalhousie, March 12
Capt GS Dhillon, Director and Principal of Dalhousie Public School, will be awarded for creating traffic awareness in the mountainous district of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh.

The award ceremony will be held at the Indian Islamic Cultural Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, on March 14.

Balkan-Ji-Bari International, country’s oldest and the only NGO to have a consultative status with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), had selected Captain Dhillon for his relentless service in creating traffic awareness, for the second time.

TK Malhotra, member, World Council, vice-president, Asia Pacific Region-II, and president, Automobile Association of Upper India, will present the award to Dhillon, whose efforts to create traffic awareness are clearly visible as soon as one enters the district, while driving from Pathankot.

“Holiday spirit doesn’t start in a glass. Get high on learning” is a message on one of the signboards, while the next says “Be nice to people on your way up. You will meet them again on your way down”.

This doesn’t stop here and while on the way to Dalhousie and Chamba such messages will keep ringing alarm bells. A similar pithy message reads ‘Fast won’t last’.

On being asked about his achievement, Dhillon underplayed it by saying: “The actual credit goes to the Chamba Police.”

Angeli Dione Gomej Miss World 2014, who has been crowned Miss Tourism International-2014, will be the chief guest on the occasion, which will be attended by distinguished guests, mainly diplomats, ambassadors, vice-chancellors, bureaucrats, journalists, former governors and ministers.

Dhillon was presented with the Outstanding Academician and Administrator Award by the NGO last year as well. In 2010, he was given the National Award for Teachers and Principals by the President of India.

Shimla, March 12
A study by an associate professor from Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) has been accepted by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), in which he has quelled myths about insulin intake by diabetes patients.

In his study, Dr Jatinder Mokta said complications multiply in diabetes patients as they delay insulin intake fearing it would make them dependent on it. They are scared that it would become a habit, as several myths and phobias are attached to it, he said.

He said his paper, “Impact of round tree group education programme on acceptance of insulin in person with diabetes: a study from Himalaya”, had been accepted for presentation at the ADA meeting to be held in San Francisco, California, USA, in June this year.

“We have been educating diabetic patients in rural areas along with their family members,” Dr Mokta said.

The ADA, the most accepted diabetes congress of the world, governs treatment guidelines accepted by the medical fraternity all over the world. 

Solan, March 12
With the Public Works Department (PWD) failing to undertake quality and timely repair work, motorists have been forced to use bumpy, potholed and slushy roads wherever they commute in the district.

The condition of roads falling under Kasauli division appears to be worst as there in not even a single road which is well-maintained. Roads leading to Kasauli are the worst hit with the Dharampur-Kasauli road making a record of sorts in failing to be maintained throughout the year.

Scores of private constructions which are being undertaken on both sides of the roads have damaged the road at several places.

The frequent movement of machinery by private builders and shoddy repair by the PWD has reduced it to a potholed structure. Even parapets have been encroached upon by builders who have raised boundary walls on them.

The PWD authorities have, however, conveniently turned a blind eye to all such violations. A section of road has become vulnerable to landslides.

The condition of the 6-km stretch of the Dharampur-Sanawar road which was repaired after incurring an exorbitant Rs 1.37 crore last year is no better with massive potholes and wearing away of the top surface at several places. With nearly Rs 22.83 lakh having been spent on every km, one wonders how a road could wear away barely after months of being repaired.

The road was specially included in the main district road category to ensure use of crores of rupees on its repair and widening. Despite the condition of the road clearly proving substandard work, no inquiry has been constituted in this case.

The other roads, including Kasauli-Jangeshu, Kasauli-Jagjitnagar, Chamiya-Patta Mehlog, Kamli-Bhojnagar and Dharampur-Subathu, are equally pitiable.

The poor upkeep of roads has not only enhanced the wear and tear of vehicles, but also substantially added to the maintenance of vehicles, quips Rakesh Kumar, a daily commuter.

With little accountability, the PWD's field staff is not only lax in checking violations, but also in ensuring quality repair work.

Superintending Engineer Suresh Kumar Ganju said adequate funds were available and proper upkeep of the roads would be undertaken so that people did not suffer. He said some quality issues had emerged in the soil used in the Dharampur-Sanawar road and efforts would be made to repair it.

Sundernagar, March 12
Once considered to be one of the best roads in the state, the 24-km stretch from Sundernagar to Mandi on National Highway No. 21 is in a shambles now.

Thanks to the apathetic attitude of the authorities, who have failed to repair the stretch full of potholes.

The condition of the road from Sundernagar to Nagchala, covering 14 km, has gone from bad to worse. Full of potholes, the road is giving a tough time to commuters, who now prefer to use public transport to save their vehicles from being damaged.

As per the authorities from the National Highway Division, Pandoh, major repair works were carried out on the road in 2007 and 2008, after which no repair was done.

They further added that after November 2013, the control of NH-21 up to Nagchala was handed over to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), which was responsible for all types of repair works.

The condition of the road between Dadaur and Ner Chowk is pathetic, especially during the rains, as no drain has been provided on both sides of the road. Regular traffic jams are the order of the day here.

The Chief Minister, who otherwise uses helicopter service, too makes use of this stretch sometimes while touring the district, but nothing has been done to improve the condition of the road.

The National Highway Division, Pandoh, had submitted an estimate of Rs 1.28 crore for the repair of this patch to the NHAI and a copy of it was also given to Excise and Taxation Minister Parkash Chaudhary for monitoring, but to no avail.

Satish Kaul, Project Director, NHAI, Shimla, said the repair work was delayed owing to bad weather, but would be done as soon as the weather improved.