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Solan, Sirmaur tough for Cong
Ex-servicemen likely to stay away from Rahul’s function
Cong, BJP evenly poised in Kangra
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Rana kicks off campaign
Stop deploying children in poll-related works: ECI
Shanta promises HC Bench in Dharamsala
Power companies fail to deposit lease money
Conference on climate change from tomorrow
5 die in Kangra road mishaps
No respite from cold
Landslip threat looms in village
Corporate staff seek pension scheme
Public lecture on wisdom for life
2 houses burnt in Mandi fire
Bank deals hit in Nurpur
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Solan, Sirmaur tough for Cong
Solan, March 18 Since Bragta hails from Shimla district, he is yet to be introduced to voters in the districts which had played a key role in the victory of BJP's Virender Kashyap in 2009. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, however, has decided to kickstart his poll campaign from Solan district and he will address public meetings in the Nalagarh and Arki constituencies on March 24 and 25. Though Virender Kashyap, who is in the fray for the second time, at a disadvantage of being in the Opposition, he is banking on the development works carried out by him in his five-year tenure. The BJP is expecting to take the maximum lead from Sirmaur where it has three MLAs as against a lone MLA of the Congress in the last Lok Sabha poll. Though Sirmaur was traditionally considered a Congress bastion, it had given a lead of 20,233 votes to Kashyap in 2009. The BJP was hopeful of increasing this tally now. The Congress has a tough task winning from Sirmaur though it has the backing of an Independent MLA from Paonta Sahib. The BJP's prospects have improved ever since its general secretary, Dr Rajiv Bindal, had shifted to Nahan in the last Vidhan Sabha poll. Known for his political acumen, the BJP had won three of the five seats in the Vidhan Sabha poll in 2012. In Solan, the Congress faced an equally daunting task as it has two MLAs
as against three of the BJP. Being the home turf of Virender Kashyap, he was hopeful of mustering a sizeable number of votes here. Though both Congress and BJP were marred by factionalism, the lackadaisical one-year tenure of the Solan MLA and Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment DR Shandil had failed to foster unity in the rank and file of the Congress. Virender Kashyap had gained a lead of 12,290 in the last Lok Sabha poll from Solan district when his party was in power and it held all five Vidhan Sabha seats in the district. Since the people align with the party in power, the Congress is at an advantage though its victory will depend on the lead it will gain from Shimla district where it has six
MLAs.
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Ex-servicemen likely to stay away from Rahul’s function
Mankotia, who has been the president of the Himachal Pradesh Ex-servicemen League for past about 30 years, admitted that the leaders were peeved at not being given due respect during the interaction with Rahul Gandhi, planned at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (DRPGMC), auditorium, Tanda. Mankotia said self-esteem was important for the ex-servicemen, who had given the best years of their life to the nation. However, it seemed that politicians were being given more prominence during the programme than ex-servicemen. In such a situation it would be difficult to participate in the function. It was better the Congress invited ex-servicemen who were part of the party, he said. Rahul Gandhi, who is scheduled to address a political rally at Dharamsala on March 20, will initially interact with ex-servicemen. The Congress has planned the event after the government gave ascent to the one-rank, one-pension scheme. Since ex-servicemen and their dependents form about 10 per cent of the voters in the Kangra seat, the party aims to gain from the implementation of the scheme with the intervention of Rahul Gandhi. The league leaders are, however, sceptical about the scheme implemented during the last days of the UPA government. They said the present government had kept a budget of just Rs 500 crore for the scheme, whereas its financial burden was about Rs 2,000 crore per annum. Many ex-servicemen are also not clear about the way the scheme will be implemented and how it benefit various ranks in the Army. About two months ago, Mankotia had organised a programme of the Ex-servicemen's League in Kangra and invited Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh as chief guest. Mankotia, who had joined the Congress during the last Assembly elections, had been feeling ignored. He lost the Assembly election from the Shahpur Assembly constituency, but was expecting some important position in the present Congress government. Sceptical about pension
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Cong, BJP evenly poised in Kangra
He remained the Chief Minister twice, but his government was toppled. During his stint as the Chief Minister, Shanta Kumar provided basic amenities in the area. For providing drinking water in the lower areas, he was known as "Paniwala CM" in Kangra. Initially, the politics of the BJP revolved around the areas of Punjab that were merged with Himachal. The areas were called "lower Himachal". BJP leaders accused Congress leaders of ignoring the lower areas that were formerly part of Punjab. The areas included Kangra, Una, Hamirpur and Solan districts. Kangra now has 15 Assembly constituencies and is the biggest district in terms of population. The BJP came to power only when it performed well in the lower areas. The BJP government led by PK Dhumal was sworn in at Dharamsala in 2007 to give importance to the lower areas. After the BJP strengthened its position in the lower areas, Congress leaders also started paying heed to give recognition to the area. Virbhadra Singh, who faced the maximum allegations of bias towards these areas, was instrumental in bringing major projects to Kangra district. It was Virbhadra Singh who got the Assembly complex constructed in Dharamsala to give quasi second capital status to Dharamsala. He also started the practice of holding winter sojourn of the Chief Minister in the lower areas. During the last Assembly elections, the Congress performed well in Kangra district, winning 10 out of the 15 Assembly segments. The BJP could win just three Assembly segments, while two seats were won by Independents. In joint Punjab, the first election from the Kangra constituency was won by Hem Raj Sood of the Congress in 1962. He again won from the constituency after the formation of Himachal in 1967. In 1971, Vikram Chand Mahajan of the Indian National Congress won from Kangra. After the Emergency, in the 1977 poll, for the first time a non-Congress party candidate won from Kangra. The Kangra constituency was won by Durga Chand of the Bhartiya Lok Dal in 1977. The Congress, however, regained the constituency in 1980 with Vikram Chand Mahajan winning as the Indian National Congress (I) candidate. In 1984, Chandresh Kumari won as Congress candidate from Kangra. The BJP won from Kangra for first time in 1989 when Shanta Kumar was elected from the constituency. In 1991, again DD Khanoria of the BJP won from Kangra. In 1996, Sat Mahajan of the Congress defeated Shanta Kumar from Kangra. In 1998, Shanta Kumar won from Kangra and remained as Union Minister for Food and Civil Supplies in the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In 2004, however, Chander Kumar of the Congress defeated Shanta Kumar. In the last 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Rajan Sushant of the BJP defeated Chander Kumar of the Congress. |
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Rana kicks off campaign
Hamirpur, March 18 He said, “I have always been a social worker and will remain the same as I am neither a high-profile leader, nor the son of a big leader.” Giving the credit for development of Hamirpur to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Rana said, “The CM has made every effort for development of the district and this process be carried forward in the constituency.” Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said, “I have no doubt about winning the Hamirpur seat since it is a fact that
whenever Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh determines something, he puts in all his might to achieve success.” “And there should be no doubt about a Congress win in all four constituencies in the state.” Congress leaders Chief Parliamentary Secretary ID Lakhanpal, Anita Verma, Kuldeep Pathania, Prem Kaushal and Anil Verma also addressed the meeting. Congress activists also welcomed Rana at different places on entering Una district. Rift to fore
The factional divide among Congress leaders reflected in today’s function as several leaders and important office-bearers of the district Congress committee maintained a distance and did not attend Rana’s welcome function
here. |
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Cong nominee gets warm welcome
Una, March 18 Party workers, led by Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri welcomed Rajinder Rana at the Mehatpur inter-state barrier in the morning. A reception was organised at the main bus stand chowk in Una city, leading to chaos and traffic jam for about half an hour. Rana said he was overwhelmed by the faith reposed in him by the Congress high command. He said he had dedicated his life to the welfare of the weaker sections of society and was in social service for the past one-and-a-half decade. Rana said people of the Hamirpur parliamentary segment should now choose between a high profile BJP leader or a commoner like him to voice their concerns in Parliament. He solicited the support of Chief Minister
Virbhadra Singh and state Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu to ensure victory for the Congress on all four seats in the state. |
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Stop deploying children in poll-related works: ECI
Solan, March 18 The commission had observed that various political parties had been engaging children in various election-related works such as campaigning and carrying of campaigning material etc which was a violation of their right to work and an act of insensitiveness. The commission, while terming it objectionable, has directed all parties to ensure that they do not engage children in such works. Citing the provision of the Act, which bans the employment of children below the age of 14 in specified occupations such as the transportation of goods as these are considered harmful to child workers, the commission has issued these directions. The commission has also directed leaders of political parties to ensure that their party abides by these directions failing which they would face the consequences of law. Since a large number of children are seen working at various dhabas and other such places, especially in industrial areas, including Parwanoo, Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh, their engagement in poll-related activities was a common practice in the elections. Poll officials will not only have an additional task of monitoring the engagement of children in such activities, but will also have to bring the political parties to book in case such activities come to the fore. The ECI has sent these directions, a copy of which was available with The Tribune, to all Chief Electoral Officers and Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories to ensure their strict compliance. This was for the first time that the ECI has taken a strict note on child labour in poll-related activities. With few cases of child labour ever being detected by the authorities despite the number of such children being high, it remains to be seen if these directions are abided by in letter and spirit. Since the children are available for lower labour charges, they are engaged in various prohibited activities. |
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Shanta promises HC Bench in Dharamsala
He said this was a pending demand of people which was hanging fire since the governments that ruled the state failed to takethis matter seriously. In a press note here today, Shanta Kumar said Shimla was situated on one corner of the state. The government must set up a separate Bench of the High Court at Dharamsala without any further delay. He said in 1990 when he was the Chief Minister, a decision was taken and forwarded to the Union Government for the early setting of a High Court Bench at Dharamsala. Later, the Congress led Central Government could not take action. He said the Law Commission had already recommended for a Bench of the High Court keeping in view the difficult topography of the hill state. Thirteen Benches had already been set up by seven high courts of the country, he added. He assured the residents that if the NDA was voted to power, a separate Bench would be made functional within three months. |
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Corruption biggest threat to India: Dalai Lama
Shimla, March 18 On the first day he visited two Tibetan monasteries in Sanjauli and Panthaghati and addressed students of the Tibetan School at Chotta Shimla. He will be the chief guest at the convocation of Himachal Pradesh University tomorrow. “Corruption, according to me, is a form of violence and this is very much against the spirit of ahimsa or non-violence that has been practised in India since generations,” the Nobel laureate opined. Corruption was eroding the moral character of the nation, he said. The Dalai Lama, who had relinquished his status as the temporal head of the Tibetan government-in-exile in 2011, refrained from making any political statement, but expressed regret on the suffering of Tibetans living inside Tibet. The increasing incidence of self-immolation inside Tibet was very sad and Chinese officials must try to get to the root cause of the problem and take corrective measures, he remarked. The Dalai Lama, who has led his people’s peaceful struggle for genuine autonomy for Tibet since he was forced to flee from Tibet in 1959, was all praise for the secular ethics of the country. “It is from you that we have tried to imbibe the spirit of secularism and in that respect India is our guru,” he said. He asked the Tibetan community to respect all religions and learn good things that any religion preached. It was not important which religion one practised, but what was of utmost importance was to be a good human being, he said. He said the essence of Buddhism and the four noble truths were to rise above self and personal gains. “You are the creator of your own destiny, so it is your conduct with respect to others which will determine how life will treat you,” he said. The Tibetan leader, who is a symbol of peace and compassion, urged all Tibetans, especially monks, to not just confine themselves to their particular sub-sect of Gelup, Nyigma, Kagyu or Sakya, but also learn good things from the four sects of Tibetan Buddhism. Dalai Lama to get Doctorate degree
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Power companies fail to deposit lease money
Palampur, March 18 It may be recalled that these power companies have already been allowed to occupy thousands of acres of the government land, but they failed to deposit the money. The information gathered by this reporter revealed that in the absence of documents, lease money could not be deposited. Some of the power projects are under construction for the past many years, but yet to sign the lease documents with the state government. It is learnt that in most of the cases neither state officials nor power companies initiated steps to complete the documents. On the other hand, officials of revenue and forest departments liberally allowed these companies to occupy the government land, including reserve forests. In many cases, no notices were served on these companies for the recovery of lease money. Some of the power projects which had already started earning profits, but had not paid the CAT plan and lease money amounts under the pretext that lease deeds were yet to be finalised. It is also learnt that revenue officials of the respective jurisdiction do not know how much government land was under the possession of these power companies. A senior officials of the state government admitted that liabilities on account of lease money payable to the state government is in crores. |
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Una bus stand project yet to see light of the day
Una, March 18 The new bus stand was proposed to come up at the existing Una depot workshop of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) in the heart of the city. For the bus stand project to begin, the existing HRTC workshop was to be shifted to a new building, presently under construction at Rampur village, 2 km from Una. Surprisingly, the Transport Department has decided to shelf the workshop project midway and the announcement came from none other than Transport Minister GS Bali during his recent visit to the district. The plea was that since the new workshop would be 2 km away from the bus stand, every single trip from the workshop to the bus stand after every trip would incur an additional expenditure of Rs 200. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner has been directed to search for a new plot of land for the workshop within the Una city. Confirming that a sum of about Rs 40 lakh has already been spent on the construction of the workshop building, HRTC divisional manager Daljit Singh told this correspondent that a final decision was yet to be taken by the management of the corporation. Politics over the bus stand is evident from the fact that Virbhadra Singh and Prem Kumar Dhumal laid the foundation stones, reportedly to woo the electorate. The first stone was laid on April 6, 2007, by the then CM Virbhadra Singh, while the second one was laid at the same venue by the then CM PK Dhumal on December 19, 2012. |
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Conference on climate change from tomorrow
Kangra, March 18 Prof Amrish Kumar Mahajan said Prof Timothy A Gonsalves, Director, IIT Mandi, would inaugurate the conference. He said conference would focus on five major themes — Observation on present climate change, Impact of climate on biodiversity, Himalayan tectonics and its effects on climate change, effects of climate change on Himalayan glaciers and Investigations on paleoclimate conditions. He said the interaction of scientists and academicians with students would go a long way with lasting effect for the research and academic development of the university. He said a number of eminent scientists and academicians were expected to deliver their research on climate change, especially from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun, National Institute of Hydrology, Rookree, Central Scientific and Industrial Organisation, Chandigarh, Central University Garhal, Jammu University, IIT, Bombay, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar and others. |
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5 die in Kangra road mishaps
Kangra, March 18 While three of them were killed on the spot, one died on the way to the PGI, Chandigarh, last night, the police said.
The police said five shawl vendors of Kupwara had missed their bus for Jammu last night at Gaggal. They took a lift in the tempo (HP-68-3346) to catch the bus at Dhraman where the bus was scheduled to halt for dinner. When the vehicle reached Phuhara village near Shahpur, the driver could not negotiate a curve and dashed the tempo against the barrier. The deceased were identified as Mohammad Rafiq Chopan (23) of Sheerwari, Bashir Ahmad Chopan (30) and Gulam Mohammad (22), both of Tundi Wari, and Habib Ullah (36) of Kupwara. The bodies were handed over to relatives after postmortem. Besides, injured Halal Ahmad Dar of Kupwara was admitted to the DRPGMC, Tanda. A case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A, IPC, was registered against the driver of the vehicle who was absconding. In the other accident, one person was killed and another was injured when the motorcycle (PB-35-M-8076) they were riding rolled down at the Sagair bridge in the district. The injured was admitted to a hospital at Indora. A case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A, IPC, was registered. |
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Mahila bank opens branch in Shimla
Shimla, March 18 “The access to finance and banking not only helps empower women, but also broadens the social base of development, thus fostering equitable growth,” she said. She said the bank would cater to every segment of women from self-help groups to lower middle-class women to high net worth individuals with the basket of various products to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth. She said at present, the bank was offering an interest of 5 per cent on savings bank account with balance of Rs 1 lakh and above and for amount less than Rs 1 lakh, the interest rate was 4.5 per cent. The interest for deposits up to Rs 1 crore is 9.15 per cent and for deposits above Rs 1 crore is 9.25 per cent. |
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No respite from cold
Shimla, March 18 The minimum temperature recorded in Shimla was 6.2°C, Kalpa -0.6°C, Keylong -0.7°C, Manali -1°C, Bhuntar 6.4°C, Dharamsala 7.6°C and Dalhousie 1.1°C. The local Meteorological centre said the weather would remain clear during the next three days.
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Landslip threat looms in village
Bharmour, March 18 Official sources maintained that a team of officials had rushed to the incident site to take stock of the situation. Forest Minister TS Bharmouri had directed local officials to compile the details about the situation and provide all possible help to the affected families, the report said. |
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Corporate staff seek pension scheme
Nurpur, March 18 In a statement here today, committee president Manohar Lal claimed that the then state government had announced a pension scheme for these employees in 1999. Owing to the non-implementation of this decision, employee organisations had moved petitions in the high and apex courts last year. “Despite the courts’ directions the state government is still reluctant to implement the pension scheme. If the government fails to implement it, employees of boards and corporations will launch a stir and approach the court,” he said. |
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Public lecture on wisdom for life
Kangra, March 18 Professor Rathore said wisdom was required to live a life full of joy and peace. He said, “The aim of our life is to be happy and happiness can only be achieved through wisdom.” He said wisdom could be learnt through self management of mind and body and acquisition of knowledge. Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Yoginder S Verma said Rathore, a well-known agriculture scientist, had a rich and varied experience of teaching, research and extension activities spanning over 38 years in various parts of the country. He said he was known for popularising the kiwi fruit in India. |
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2 houses burnt in Mandi fire
Mandi, March 18 The cause of the fire was reported to be a short circuit that caused an LPG cylinder to burst. Balh Tehsildar Ajay Prashar visited the spot and gave Rs 5,000 as a relief to the victims. An estimated loss of Rs 15 lakh was assessed. In the second incident, a two-storey house of Jeewan Lal, Deepal and Nand Lal was burnt in a fire caused by a short circuit at Badar village in the Pandoh area.
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Bank deals hit in Nurpur
Nurpur, March 18 Customers were greatly inconvenienced. As per information, thieves had stolen a leased line of the BSNL connecting these banks and the office of the Income Tax officer in the upper Chogan locality in the town.
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Kashyap's strength
Advantage Bragta
Dharamsala, March 18
Dharamsala, March 18
Palampur, March 18