Shimla, April 12
The state Home Department has sought permission from the Union Home Ministry to initiate action against retired Director General of Police (DGP) DS Manhas, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Somesh Goyal, along with a retired Inspector General-rank officer SPS Verma, in the alleged shoe purchase scam in the Police Department, which was part of the Congress chargesheet.

The Home Department has sought permission on the basis of an inquiry initiated by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau after the formation of the Congress government in December 2012. Goyal is currently on a deputation in Delhi.

With the Congress chargesheet being handed over to the Vigilance, the alleged bungling in the shoe purchase in the Police Department was probed. Vigilance sleuths on getting the samples re-tested from a forensic science laboratory found variation in four parameters from the report submitted earlier when the contract was awarded.

“Though no financial loss was incurred in the grant of contract, there were glaring procedural lapses, including deviation in norms in the constitution of the purchase committee,” revealed a police official.

He said in all, three firms based in Una, Parwanoo and Kolkata had applied for the contract out which only one fulfilled the criteria. Later, all three firms were given the contract and an internal purchase committee, comprising only police officers was constituted, which was in violation of the norms.

It was in 2010 that the contract for ankle boots and physical training boots was placed. While Goyal was the ADGP, Headquarters with charge of Armed Police and Training, Verma was IG, Armed Police and Training. Manhas was the DGP who cleared all files even though on two occasions he disagreed with Goyal and raised certain queries and objections.

He disagreed to the idea of constituting an internal committee and wrote that a purchase committee as per government norms should be set up so that Controller of Stores and officials of the Finance Department were part of the whole exercise.

This is the third case against Manhas, who seems to be in the firing line ever since the Congress assumed power. The Vigilance has already filed an FIR against him in the alleged violations committed by him in the construction of his house near St Bede’s College. Besides this, his name is also being linked to bugging device being allegedly fixed in the room of Virbhadra Singh in Himachal Bhawan, Chandigarh, while he was a Union minister.

Shimla, April 12
High Commissioner of The Republic of Rwanda Ernest Rwamucyo and High Commissioners of four other countries paid a visit to APG University here today.

Ernest said private universities complement the efforts of the government in expanding education, but insisted that the high standard of education should be maintained. They said the curriculum should be revised and updated periodically.

Disclosing that about 2,500 students of Rwanda were pursuing higher education in India, Ernest said: “There is a craze for information technology among youngsters, and Rwanda is no exception.”

APG University had invited the High Commissioners and second secretaries of Kenya, Rwanda, Namibia, Seychelles and Eritrea to access the possibilities of collaboration through exchange and other initiatives in the view of increasing the number of foreign students from 79 to 300 in science and technology, management, law, mass communication, fashion and textile designing, tourism and hospitality.

Dr Devender Pathak, Vice-Chancellor of the university, said: “The syllabus containing 80 per cent practical work and 20 per cent theory has been devised to bridge the gap between classroom teaching and industry.”

As many as 40 students out of a batch of 60, who would complete their MBA this year, had already been placed in companies such as HCL and IBN, he added.

APG students also presented a cultural programme on the occasion.

Shimla, April 12
The third edition of MTB Himalaya, Shimla, got off to a spectacular start from Hotel Holiday Home with GOC-in-chief of ARTRAC Lieut Gen BS Sachar flagging off the rally by riding a bicycle here today.

About 64 riders, including six women from four countries-England, the UAE, Scotland and India-are participating in the two-day event.

The event comprises a competitive ride of 43 km traversing through six water streams in the riverbed section and loose gravel surface in the off-road sections from Shimla en route Anandpur, Duglanala, Junga, Janedghat to Chail at an elevation of 1,300 m.

“Rider Kiren Raju from Bengaluru was in the lead, followed by Devender Thakur from Shimla and Douglas from Scotland in the solo men’s category. Vamini Sethi of Delhi took a lead in solo women’s category and was closely chased by Alison Clews of the UK. Shiven from Shimla was leading in the student’s category,” Ashish Sood, spokesperson, Himalayan Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA), said.

SP, Shimla, Abhisekh Dullar’s participation was the highlight of the day.

No major accident was reported except for a minor incident in which Keshav Tyagi of Delhi fell near Anantpur, 18 km from here.

Earlier, HASTPA founder Mohit Sood addressed the riders and wished them luck for the race.

Hamirpur, April 12
Upset over being denied the BJP ticket for the Sujanpur Assembly by-election, former Hamirpur BJP MLA Urmil Thakur is weighing her options to join the Congress.

Urmil, a two-time BJP MLA from Hamirpur and daughter-in-law of BJP stalwart Jagdev Chand Thakur, had lost the last election against Rajinder Rana from Sujanpur on a BJP ticket.

She was a strong contender from Sujanpur, but the party denied her a ticket and instead nominated Narinder Thakur. Narinder Thakur had contested the election against former Chief Minister PK Dhumal in the last Assembly elections .

The entry of Narinder in the BJP has marred the prospects of Urmil’s nomination. Urmil, who was looking forward to launch her US-returned son Rubal Thakur in the Sujanpur by-election, was quite upset after she was denied the ticket.

Congress leaders, who are making a determined bid in the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency this time after losing it six times in row, have fielded Rajinder Rana, a former associate of PK Dhumal against Dhumal’s son Anurag Thakur.

There are reports that Urmil Thakur had met Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh yesterday during his Una tour.

Talking to The Tribune, Urmil Thakur said: “I am really upset over the denial of my genuine claim for the BJP ticket for the Sujanpur by-election and have kept my options open as offers are coming.”

Mandi, April 12
Health Minister and senior Congress leader Kaul Singh Thakur has said the Congress is seeking votes on the basis of development carried by the Central and the state government.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Kaul Singh said, “The UPA government has given huge assistance to the state for development schemes and the Congress is hopeful of winning all four seats as people have always voted for development”.

Talking about various schemes initiated by the UPA government in the state, he said, “IIT in Mandi and the Central University for Kangra was announced by Finance Minister P Chidambaram in October 2007. ESIC medical college was opened by the UPA government and three more medical colleges in Chamba, Nahan and Hamirpur were announced recently with a grant of Rs 190 crore each.”

Similarly, two mother and child hospitals with Rs 20 crore and a cancer centre were also started by the Central government in the state.

He said, “The Centre has also sanctioned four national highways, Chakki to Banikhet, Khab to Gramphu passing through Kaza, Mubarkpur to Dehlan and Manali to Leh via Keylong recently”.

Kaul Singh said a big rally would be held in Mandi on April 16, before the filing of nomination by Congress candidate Pratibha Singh on April 17, in which Congress leader Rajiv Shukla and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh would participate.

Palampur, April 12
Shanta Kumar, senior BJP leader, today said the BJP would win all four seats. He said public meetings of Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, held in the district had failed to attract crowd, while BJP leaders were getting an overwhelming response from the public.

Addressing a news conference here, Shanta said after the elections, the BJP would emerge the single largest party nearing the magic figure of 272 members of Parliament. In those circumstances, regional parties, which had contested elections against the Congress, would have no alternative than to join hands with the NDA.

Shanta Kumar stated that people were convinced that the NDA government, headed by Narendra Modi, alone could provide a stable and honest government. He said the elections concluded in a few states had witnessed a large turnout and the polling percentage had also crossed 80 to 85 per cent. The large turnout was in favour of the NDA. It indicated that people of India wanted to see Modi as the Prime Minister, he added.

He assured the people of Kangra and Chamba if the NDA was voted to power, his priority would be to boost the eco-friendly tourism industry in the state, strengthen the road rail and air network by linking the Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway line up to Leh.

He disclosed that a survey for this rail link up to Leh had already been completed by the Union Government and the NDA would declare this project as “national project” like the ongoing rail projects of Kashmir.

Shanta Kumar said the Kangra airport would be expanded. Pathankot-Mandi, Una-Kangra and Kangra-Shimla national highways would be converted into fourlanes.

Besides, he would also make efforts for developing water-based tourism in Pong, Bhakra, Kol and Chamera dams to attract tourists from European countries. 

Solan, April 12
PK Dhumal, former Chief Minister, today said the UPA government had cheated people by failing to deposit subsidy in the bank accounts of LPG consumers and this was yet another scam in their 10-year rule.

Addressing poll rallies at Shillai, Sataun and Paonta Sahib, Dhumal said only a few people had managed to get the promised subsidy, while a large number of them had to pay Rs 1,350 for each cylinder. This had overburdened the common man who was already bearing the brunt of price rise and corruption.

He urged people to vote for sitting MP Virender Kashyap and reiterated that there was a discernible wave in favour of their prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. He said Sham Sharan Negi, 97-year old Kinnaur-based oldest voter of the country, was also keen to see Modi as the nation’s Prime Minister and he had called him up, expressing his wish.

Dhumal said this was not just an illustration of the overwhelming Modi wave, but also an indication of how people were fed up with the anti-people policies of the Congress.

The leader said the state government was acting with political vendetta and large-scale transfer of government employees had been executed despite severe financial crunch.

Dhumal said the state government was indulging in undue expenditure by renewing ration cards though his government had made these cards for five years in 2012 and even the ration bags bearing the pictures of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had been dumped and new bags bearing pictures of Congress leaders had been introduced.

Optimistic of winning all four seats in the state, he said the NDA would not only win more than 300 seats, but also form the next government at the Centre.

He said the state government had failed to protect the interests of the state and made no efforts to get Rs 18,250 crore despite the apex court’s directions. Even the much-publicised Rs 7,680-crore special economic package had failed to be granted to Himachal despite announcement by the Congress after assuming power. He said the state suffered whenever the Congress remained in power at the Centre. Present on the occasion included BJP general secretary Dr Rajiv Bindal, MLA Shillai Baldev Tomar and MP Virender Kashyap. 

Palampur, April 12
Chander Kumar, Congress leader and candidate from Kangra, today said the Congress was the only party which had a planned development agenda for the state, while the BJP had proved to be a failure and development of the state had suffered.

Addressing a news conference here, Chander Kumar said major development projects such as Government Medical College, Tanda, Central University, National Institute of Fashion Designing Technology and the second capital status for Dharamsala were the creation of the Congress, whereas the BJP had opposed such projects.

He said when the BJP was in power during 2007-2012, development activities had remained suspended and step-motherly treatment was meted out to Kangra. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh always believed in the overall development of the state and allocated funds for development works on merit.

Chander Kumar said Sonia Gandhi, chairperson, UPA, and president of the Congress, had launched various development schemes for the welfare of the poor. He said the MGNREGA, Food Security Bill and the Land Acquisition Bill helped the common man.

Chander said there were six more Bills introduced by the UPA, but these could not be passed because of the non-cooperative attitude of the BJP. Despite requests of Congress leaders and the UPA chairperson, the BJP did not agree to support these Bills, he added. He said the BJP also delayed the Lok Pal Bill. It remained held up in Parliament for three years as the BJP was not in favour of stringent punishment to corrupt bureaucrats and politicians.

Mandi, April 12
Central Committee member of the CPM Inderjeet has said the Left is an alternative before voters as people are disenchanted with the policies of the Congress and the BJP.

Addressing a rally organised by the CPM here today after filing nomination papers by CPM candidate Kushal Bhardwaj, the CPM leader said, “The Left will play an important role in the formation of the government at the Centre as the BJP and the Congress are not in a position to get 272 seats.”

He said, “People should elect their representatives with utmost caution who will fight for them in Parliament.”

Talking about projecting Narendra Modi as the next Prime Minister, the CPM leader said, “Modi is the creation of certain corporate houses and a section of the media is trying to build his image, but he will be disastrous for the country.”

He said, “Both parties are two sides of the same coin and people should elect Kushal Bhardwaj as the change in policies could help solve problems of the common man.”

Addressing the rally, CPM state secretary Rakesh Singh said, “Congress and BJP MPs from the state have failed to protect the interests of people and voters should now elect the CPM candidate to present the problems of common man in Parliament.”

Bhardwaj said, “People are facing many problems and patients are dying due to lack of medical facilities, schools are devoid of teachers and common man is reeling under price rise but the successive governments have failed to address these problems.” CPI leader Desh Raj Sharma and CPM leader Kashmir Singh Thakur also addressed the meeting.

Una, April 12
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh yesterday questioned the source of funding for the massive campaign in the media by BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Addressing an election meeting at Basal village in Kutlehar Assembly segment here, he said the Election Commission should intervene in the matter.

Virbhadra Singh pointed out that a large section of the media was owned by corporate houses and they did not provide services for free. He said there were almost 400 television channels and Modi was getting almost 24-hour coverage every day. "Thousands of crores of rupees are required for such coverage," he said.

Virbhadra Singh said the BJP was projecting Modi as the saviour of the country.

The CM reiterated that the anti-democratic face of the BJP was evident even before the elections when Modi sidelined all senior leaders who had brought the BJP to the level of a national party. "The air in the Modi balloon has begun to leak and it will be deflated by the end of the elections," he quipped.

Virbhadra said despite tall claims by Modi, Gujarat was not a model state. He contended that national statistics revealed that the development in states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala was much higher in different sectors as compared to Gujarat, adding that even Himachal Pradesh was ahead of Gujarat in education and health sectors.

Congress candidate from Hamirpur Rajinder Rana, who was also present, said as per information on the Lok Sabha website, BJP candidate Anurag Thakur had failed to spend Rs 4.9 crore from his discretionary grant. He said he was in politics for social service. He claimed that during the last 15 months as Sujanpur MLA, he had done exceedingly well in all areas of development and he wanted to replicate his efforts in all 17 Assembly segments under the Hamirpur Parliamentary segment after being elected as the MP.

Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri gave an account of the sops given by the Virbhadra regime, including hike in social security pensions, contractual wages, construction of houses and other welfare activities. Former Deputy Speaker Ram Das Malangar, district party president Varinder Dharmani, block Congress president Ravinder Fauji and KVIC member of the North Zone Des Raj Gautam were also present.

Shimla, April 12
Indians are the best salespersons in the world with outstanding entrepreneurial abilities as the huge population enforces competitiveness among the masses leading to extraordinary results.

This was stated by Namibia High Commissioner Pius Dunaiski, who is here to increase trade between the two nations, especially in the nuclear, diamond, energy and agriculture sectors.

“A large number of students from Namibia opt to study in India as educational facilities are the best in the country. There is a craze for Information Technology (IT) among students who have enrolled themselves in a large number in Bangalore and Mysore, and technological exposure and skills possessed by students come handy back home,” he said.

“We got our independence 24 years ago and are in the process of building the nation. But being a new country, we lack educated and qualified faculty. We are willing to seek support from India in establishing a world-class education system in Namibia with a special focus on IT,” he said.

“Our country is rich in uranium, raw diamonds and other precious metals and we are keen to have a collaboration with India in the nuclear power sector. The export of raw diamond, gold and other metals like zinc to India has a huge potential as India is renowned for giving finest shapes to stones. We are already talking to SRK Enterprises in Surat for collaboration,” the High Commissioner said.

He said there was a vast potential in the solar energy sector in Namibia. “We have initiated talks with Tata Powers, which will soon make their presentation for setting up a solar energy plant in Namibia,” he said.

The other areas of mutual interest were agriculture, tourism and medical tourism. Namibia had a great tourism potential like India (especially Himachal), he said.

Shimla, April 12
The BJP today took a dig at UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, quoting excerpts from the book written by former media adviser to the PM Sanjaya Baru, where he has written that the “dignity of the Prime Minister's Office was degraded to the lowest ebb during the UPA regime”.

Party spokesman Ganesh Dutt said: “Sanjaya Baru has claimed that the PM’s opinion was ignored. Those loyal to ‘Janpath’ were rewarded with official positions, while those close to the PM were overlooked. Even in matters concerning the national security, the opinion of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi prevailed.”

“In case it is true, it is a serious matter and reflects poorly on the functioning of the UPA government,”’ he added.

Dutt said: “For the first time in the history of the country, the sanctity of the office of the Prime Minister has been lowered and the government was run by an extra-constitutional authority.”

He said: “It was shocking that Baru in his book further says that all decisions were taken or changed at the behest of Sonia and Rahul and the credit was shared by the two, while the PM had to swallow the discredit.”

Dutt said the revelations coming from a person who was the "eye and ear” could not be taken lightly.

Una, April 12
Economic uplift of women is a must to ensure their overall empowerment, said Inner Wheel chairperson of Rotary District 3070, Dr Nancy Verma here today.

She was on an official visit to the Inner Wheel Club in Una. Nancy said: “As part of its social responsibility towards under-privileged women, the club provides vocational training to enable them earn their livelihoods.”

She said during the coming year, the club would undertake various social activities such as blood donation camps and plantation and sanitation drives.

She also visited Prem Ashram, a home for specially abled children, and distributed sweets among them. She also visited Kusth Ashram at Malahat village and interacted with local residents.

President of the Una Inner Wheel Club, Nirmal Bassi and secretary Jatinder Kaur, besides other club members accompanied her.