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Top leaders, film stars to woo voters
Virbhadra cautions land mafia of Sirmaur
Rail network major poll plank, both parties vie for credit
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UPA insensitive to Merchant Navy officer’s plight: Shanta
Govt failed to initiate development: Dhumal
Cong leaders campaigning for Soni
Elections jack up demand for blossoms
Rohtang road to be opened before poll
VIGNETTES
Hill town Palampur presents a picture of neglect
Swan river turns garbage dump
Graduates move out of state, leave parents in lurch
20 HP
Cong rebels set to return to party fold
Govt accused of misleading employees, pensioners
Spring cricket tournament takes off in Chamba
Anurag failed to take up problems of voters: Vikramaditya
Time to oust UPA: Dhumal
NOTA to bring astonishing outcomes: Vepa Rao
Week-long Natya Samaroh at Gaiety Theatre from April 24
‘CMAI providing cyber security training’
Himalayan Bulls offers discounted air fares
Liquor seized in Baijnath Paid news under watch Deaths in road accident mourned
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Top leaders, film stars to woo voters
Shimla, April 20 The Congress and the BJP have listed names of 40 campaigners each, including a large number of local leaders, while the Aam Aadmi Party
(AAP) have given a list of 12 leaders.
The BSP, the Samajwadi Party and some other parties have also given the lists of their leaders, but the focus is mainly on the Congress and the
BJP. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Union ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, Rajiv Shukla, Janardan Dwivedi, Digvijay Singh, Capt Amarinder Singh, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia and Sachin Pilot figure on the list of the Congress which also has cine stars such as Raj Babbar, Neha Dhupia and Amisha Patel. Top leaders, including BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, Venkaiah Naidu, Uma Bharti, Murli Monahar Joshi, Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and film stars Hema Malini, Vinod Khanna and Smriti Irani and cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu will campaign for the party
in Himachal. Arvind Kejriwal, Kumar Vishwas, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Shazia Ilmi and Gopal Rai are among the star campaigners of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) while Mayawati and Narinder Kashyap will campaign for the BSP and Mulayam Singh Yadav, UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Azam Khan and Shiv Pal Singh are among the top SP leaders shortlisted for campaigning in Himachal. The polling for sixth and seventh phases will be held on April 24 and April 30 and 437 Lok Sabha seats will be covered in seven phases and only 105 seats be left for eighth and ninth phase. Most of the leaders will be free after April 30 and electioneering in Himachal will reach a feverish pitch in the first week of May. |
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Virbhadra cautions land mafia of Sirmaur
Shimla, April 20 Virbhadra, who addressed election rallies in Paonta Sahib and Shillai Assembly segments of Sirmaur district, today alleged that BJP leaders in the district were involved in the illegal sale and purchase of land by luring people. He assured the people that the government would ensure that they got adequate compensation for the land being acquired for the Renuka Dam. "I caution you to beware of such elements who are taking people for a ride by offering handsome amount and taking power of attorney for the land owned by farmers and locals for Renuka Dam," he said. He said the BJP leaders were not just shielding the land mafia but also misleading the people. The Chief Minister also made it clear that compensation would not be given for land that had been acquired on the basis of power of attorney. "If such cases come to our notice, strict action will be taken and the guilty will be punished as they cannot take the people for a ride," he stated. "BJP leaders of the district have been involved in large scale illegal mining and promoting the culture of contractorship," he said. He added that this government had adopted zero tolerance towards corruption and would not allow the land of people of Sirmaur to be sold to outsiders at a pittance. Virbhadra said the channelisation of the Bata river in the district would be taken up soon. "I assure them that the Congress will ensure overall development of Sirmaur. It will provide the best facilities to the people," he assured. Launching an attack on BJP candidate and sitting Shimla MP Varinder Kashyap, he said neither was his integrity impeccable nor his performance satisfactory. "The Congress has fielded a competent and honest man whose only objective is to serve the people, so the people can make a choice between the two," he remarked. He said the BJP was dividing the people along caste and regional lines. "BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has failed to protect the minority community people in his own state for which the people of this country will never forgive him," he said. Those present on the occasion included Independent MLA from Paonta Karnesh Jung and former MLA Harshwardhan Chauhan.
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Rail network major poll plank, both parties vie for credit
Una, April 20 Both parties have been in power for a considerable period of time in the state as well as at the Centre for the past four decades, but the work is yet to complete. This broad gauge line is the only direct rail link to the national Capital from the state and the serving military and paramilitary soldiers and officers, mostly from the Hamirpur parliamentary segment make use of the rail network. Besides, trains from Una to Ambala, Chandigarh, Haridwar and Nanded Sahib also benefit thousands of businessmen, tourists and devotees who make use of the rail facility every year. It is the BJP which has remained in power from the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat for the past two-and-a-half decades, barring a brief period from May, 1996, to December, 1997, when Major Gen Bikram Singh
(retd) remained the Congress MP. Therefore, the BJP takes the credit for extending 28-km rail line from Una to
Amb-Andaura, besides introducing two new trains and extending three trains to the state, which earlier terminated at
Nangal. On the other side, the Congress claims that since the UPA government was in power at the Centre for the past 10 years, the extension of rail line and the introduction of new trains had taken place during their period. The inaugural ceremonies of all trains, besides the opening of the Chururu and Amb railway stations during the past one decade had witnessed unruly scenes as workers from both parties had indulged in sloganeering and counter sloganeering. Exchange of angry bouts between workers was also witnessed on a couple of occasions in the presence of senior party leaders. Similar sentiments echoed during the election campaign, while the fact remains that during the past 39 years, only 44-km track has been laid between Nangal and Amb-Andaura via Una. The foundation stone of the 83.7-km-long Nangal-Una-Talwara rail line was laid on December 22, 1974, by the then Railways Minister Lalit Narayan Mishra at
Amb. After four decades, 40-km track still awaits to be laid and the project has suffered repeatedly due to budget constraints. The last Central assistance of Rs 24 crore was spent on the acquisition of land for the Amb-Daulatpur chowk section and there is not enough budgetary provision left to continue laying the line now. Rival parties cleverly try to pass on their follies for delay, lack of funds and insensitivity of the Railways Department in addressing local issues to one another. Meanwhile, the Railways, during each financial year, allocates a small share of funds, enough to keep the rail line issue simmering on the political front. |
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UPA insensitive to Merchant Navy officer’s plight: Shanta
Dharamsala, April 20 He alleged that Aman was captured by pirates from Somalia about three years ago. Since then, his family has been pleading with the authorities in the Government of India for his release. However, the UPA government is totally insensitive to the pleas of Aman's family. For the present government, the life of an Indian citizen had no value, Shanta alleged. He further said the government had left many Indians trapped in the custody of Somali pirates in the lurch. He alleged that the UPA government had also remained insensitive to the plight of the poor and the middle class. Price rise has been unprecedented in the last five years. The Indian economy, whose growth rate was about 8 per cent during the rule of the NDA government, had dipped to below 5 per cent, he went on to add. Unemployment had increased and the difference between the rich and poor had increased to unprecedented levels, he said. He alleged that the present UPA government had not done anything to bring back black India's money stashed in Swiss banks. "During a UN convention against corruption, the Swiss representative maintained that they considered ill-gotten money of other countries stashed in Swiss banks as stolen money. I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to provide the details of Indian black money stashed in foreign banks to the Swiss government. Unfortunately, the Indian government, till date, has not demanded the money from the Swiss government," Shanta alleged. He also alleged that the internal security situation in the country had deteriorated. China had made lots of intrusions into the Indian territory in the last five years and the morale of the Indian Army was down due to the government's indecisive policies, he said. Shanta today campaigned in Jawali and Fatehpur Assembly constituencies in Kangra.
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Govt failed to initiate development: Dhumal
Kullu, April 20 Dhumal said most of Congress leaders had decided not to enter the fray in the upcoming Lok Sabha poll as victory of the BJP was evident not only to the masses, but also to the Congressmen. He said the state government had raised loans to a tune of over Rs 8,000 crore, but failed to initiate any development in the state and not provided salaries and arrears to government employees. He clarified that the BJP government in Himachal had also accrued loans amounting to Rs 6,600 crore, but major progressive and development works were carried out during his tenure as the CM. He remarked that the Congress was busy in raising personal political vendetta and development of the state was in a shabby state. He said no deserving individual was provided any skill development or unemployed allowance as publicised by the state government. He lamented that the state government had failed to increase job opportunities and befooled the masses. He said while the previous NDA government at the Centre had raised over 6.25 crore jobs, the UPA government had provided only 27 lakh jobs during previous decade of its regime. He did not fail to sarcastically remark that CM Virbhadra Singh should tell the secret of multiplying the income from apple orchards to the orchardists in Kullu and expressed surprise on the considerable reduction on CM's income in the previous financial year. BJP in-charge of the Mandi parliamentary constituency and former minister Chandersen Thakur, former state BJP chief Khimi Ram Sharma, state BJP spokesperson Ajay Rana, BJP district block office-bearers and members were present on the occasion. |
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Cong leaders campaigning for Soni
Una, April 20 The leaders are out to please Ambika Soni who is contesting from the Anandpur Sahib parliamentary constituency in Punjab. Not only the senior leaders, but district-level leaders are also campaigning for her. Two Assembly constituencies of Punjab, Anandpur Sahib and Garhshankar, that are part of the Anandpur Sahib constituency, are considerably influenced by the adjoining areas of Himachal. In both constituencies, people have relations across the border. Congress leaders from Una are using their influence across the borders in Punjab to campaign from Ambika Soni. Senior Congress leader from Himachal GS Bali said she was the seniormost Congress leader and it was his duty to help her in elections. "Since I am the in charge of Una district, many Congress workers are wanted to help the senior leader, he said. Mukesh Agnihotri said Nangal, Mahilpur and Garhshankar are adjoining the Haroli constituency. It was his moral duty to help Ambika Soni in the elections. He would work hard for her in the last days of campaigning, he said. A Congress leader said Ambika Soni also belonged to the Khatri community. The caste factor could work for her in Anandpur Sahib and Garhshankar constituencies. Another area of Himachal that lies along the Anandpur Sahib constituency is the Naina Devi assembly constituency in Bilaspur district of Himachal. Though the constituency is now represented by BJP MLA Randhir Sharma, Ram Lal Thakur is also campaigning for senior Congress leader Ambika Soni.
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Elections jack up demand for blossoms
Shimla, April 20 Maximum quantity of flowers are being procured by local producers as the rates of flowers have increased manifold in Delhi and its adjoining states. The transportation from far-off places further adds to the cost. Normally, marigold flowers are not in demand, despite the fact that they are less expensive. But people engaged in campaigning are purchasing marigold in bulk, mainly to welcome leaders or for decoration of the venue of meetings. Vinay of New Lite, who is procuring lily and orket from Delhi, says the prices have shot up due to the high demand of flowers and the price of a stick has increased 10 times from Rs 10 to Rs 100 in Delhi. Hitender Patial, a grower from Palampur, says due to overlapping of the elections and wedding season, there is a great demand of flowers, including marigold, carnation, gladiola, lily, rose, gerbera and orket. The marigold garland which normally fetches Rs 18 to 25 has increased to Rs 25 to Rs 30 and prices of other exotic flowers had risen sharply due to its increased demand, he added. Tissa and Solan have become the hub for carnation supply in the state, while gerbera is being procured from the Una belt, lilium from Palampur and Sirmaur, gladiolas from the Palampur belt and Chail. Roses are available in most parts in the state, but the maximum produce comes from Solan district. The Dhami and Mashobra area in Shimla district are also supplying carnation, says Amit Sood, owner of Universal Traders, a leading floriculturist of the state. As the LS elections in the state are scheduled for May 7, the demand is expected to increase further as elections will be over in most parts of the country by April 30 and top leaders of major political parties will descend on Himachal and there will be spate of meetings and rallies. |
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Rohtang road to be opened before poll
Shimla, April 20 The communication link to the Lahaul-Spiti remained snapped between Koksar and Rani Nallah due to a breach in the optical fibre cable, revealed sources. The cable link could be restored only when the Manali-Keylong stretch of the highway was restored, said officials. The communication to the Lahaul valley was being run on the satellite link which was limited, added officials. On the other hand, BRO machineries would clear the Marhi-Rani Nallah stretch in a few days, while the BRO had cleared the snow from
the Koksar side below Raksi Dhank moving towards Rohtang from the Lahaul side, said the officials monitoring the restoration work. As many as 12 polling stations involve 1 km to 3 km trekking from the road side. But the road links will be cleared much before the polling date, only spoiler is bad weather and freak snowfall, said District Election Officer Lahaul-Spiti BS Thakur. Lahaul-Spiti has 22,502 voters, but most of them shift to Kullu Manali during winter months and go back when the Rohtang Pass opens. The Election Commission has set up 90 polling stations, with Hikkim as the highest polling station at 14,500 ft in Spiti sub-division, about 20 km from Kaza. But this polling station was linked to the road and snow had been cleared there, said officials. "The PWD has started the restoration of the Udaipur-Miyar road link. If all goes well, we will clear the road damaged
by avalanches before the first week of May," said PWD engineers. BS Thakur said they hoped that the weather would be good and poll parties would move to the polling stations, which would have wireless sets for communication. State Electoral Officer Narender Chauhan said they would airlift the EVMs or the staff to polling
stations for the smooth conduct of polls. |
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At Shikari Temple once again
Shriniwas Joshi
Shikari was still 5 km away prior to the start of 492 stairs and a further climb for about 10 minutes. We took the road where the gradient of the ascent was less taxing (See photo). I knew that the mixed forest of oak and pine serves as a habitat for numerous wild animals, including the black bear. The fear of a meeting with a bear was lurking in my mind. And that morning, we were apparently the only five in that jungle - not a whisper except an occasional cawing of crows. Walking on 1 km of snow-covered path is like walking 2 km otherwise. One thing that we missed on the way was "milestones" indicating the distance that a pedestrian was yet to cover. These would have been helpful friends on that lonely eerie path. We took two-and-a-half hours to cover the distance of 5 km. The stairs to Shikari were covered with snow and in the temple itself, there was a pile of snow which Dumnu Ram, the chowkidar, was clearing. The priest, Suresh Sharma, alias Sonu, was on leave and Dumnu was officiating in his place. When we were there on the top, we saw a woman walking barefoot all the way through the snow. What faith! The goddess here refuses to have a roof on her head. Many attempts at providing a roof to her have failed. The spread of Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts presents a stunning view. Ranges of hills appear to roll away in the distant skyline. One could see the vista and acclaim: “I am alive still I am in heaven.” The wind was blowing hard and the fluttering sound of the flags was adding to the divine ambience. There is a serai too that opens late in May. Shikari Mata is at a height of 10,768 feet. Legend has it that when the Pandavas were wandering in the hills during their exile, Arjun happened to see a deer and to bring it down, he ran after it, but failed in his attempt. The Pandavas thought that the deer might be a manifestation of some divine power and prayed for its revelation. Goddess Durga then appeared before them and told them to establish her image in a temple. The Pandavas built a temple on the peak next to the present-day Shikari and installed the devi's image there. This temple, since then, is known as the Shikari Mata Temple. Yet another legend has it that once, the king of Mandi came here for hunting. He wandered in the forest the entire day and his hunt came unstuck. Tired and exhausted, he visited the temple in the evening and offered prayers. His hunt left him gratified the next day. The goddess, since then, is worshipped in this area as Shikari Devi. It is claimed the idol of the devi was brought from the other peak, where Pandavas had installed it, and has been venerated at the present site along with the idols of Kali, 64 yoginis and demi-hero Kamrunag Devta for long (See photo). TAILPIECE: When you walk on snow that nobody else has walked on, you feel you are special though you know you are not.
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Hill town Palampur presents a picture of neglect
Palampur, April 20
The Congress as well as the BJP, which ruled the state in the past 10 years, extended step-motherly treatment to this town. They could neither extend the municipal limits of the town nor could they grant it district status -- these have been two major demands of local residents. The sewerage project for adjoining six panchayats and parking complex sanctioned by the previous Congress government failed to take off due to apparent lack of political will. Almost all the interior roads and streets of the town are in a bad shape. Due to overflowing drains and leaking water supply pipes, water collects on these streets and roads, which stink every time, making it difficult for residents to move. Some of the paved streets have been damaged by regular overflowing of drains and leakage of drinking water pipes. Garbage can be seen littered in every nook and corner of the town. In many parts of Ghuggar, Bundla, Lohana and Bindravan, garbage has not been removed for the past six months. There is no sewerage system in panchayat areas, which has aggravated the situation. The sanitary condition of the town is unhealthy and deplorable, creating numerous health problems. The condition of internal localities of the town like Ghuggar, Aima, Bundla, Lohana, Chokki and Bindravan is going from bad to worse by the day as the population increases. These localities have been virtually reduced to slums. Besides, the narrow Pathankot-Mandi national highway, which passes through this town, has become a traffic hazard for residents because of frequent traffic jams. Despite repeated requests to the state government, it has not completed the construction of a bypass to this town.
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Swan river turns garbage dump
Una, April 20
Of the total of 235 panchayats in the district, the administration boasts of having created more than 50 ‘Nirmal Gram
Panchayats’ under the Total Sanitation Campaign funded by the Centre. None of these panchayats has a solid waste management system in place. There are
no earmarked dumping grounds in rural areas. It is a practice to put garbage every day into the nearest water channel. The natural drains lead into the Swan. Even the Una Municipal Committee (MC) dumps the daily household garbage in the open area adjacent to the Swan banks in Rampur village. Plastics find their way into the river. While the MC claims to have started manual segregation of plastics and other non-degradable material at Malahat village, the process, which has been handed over to a contractor, has proved to be grossly insufficient in the face of the quantum of garbage generated every day. The district has an area of 1,540 sq km. The rainfall in 20 per cent of the district drains into the Gobind Sagar reservoir of the Bhakra Dam, while the Swan caters to the precipitation on the remaining major chunk of land, which has an area of about 1,210 sq km. In the absence of a solid waste management system, the water drains are dumping areas for the 5.5 lakh population of the district. During monsoons, a major portion of the garbage finds its way into the Sutlej in Ropar district of Punjab where the Swan drains. Some portion of the discards gets buried under layers of sand and gravel year after year, obstructing the seepage of water into the ground aquifer. Needless to say, plastics and other toxic material are dangerous to the river flora and fauna. They can also cause an adverse effect on various species of birds that have made the Swan their habitat for centuries. The alarming trend needs to be reversed at the earliest if the river ecosystem is to be preserved for long. |
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Graduates move out of state, leave parents in lurch
Palampur, April 20 The situation is alarming, but neither the state government nor any private NGO is serious about it. The state has no old-age homes as no one thinks it appropriate to send their elders to such a place. Lack of job opportunities in Himachal have forced doctors, engineers and management graduates to move out of the state in search of jobs leaving behind their parents. As per a survey conducted by a local NGO, People’s Voice, in educated families, every third parents are living alone and suffering from problems such as depression, blood pressure and diabetes as their children are serving in metropolitan cities. In 20 per cent cases, children are also serving aboard. In many cases, there is none to cook meals for parents. It was also disclosed that 2,500 cases of deep depression had already been detected in the state. Most of the victims are old-age persons. The survey also disclosed such patients are living in isolation and suffering from a disease known as “psychosis” (first stage). The deteriorating law and order situation, increasing incidents of murder, thefts and robbery have further multiplied the problems of such couples. There are instances where old couples were killed or robbed off their valuables. "My both sons were serving in the USA. Recently, they met with an accident. In the absence of family members, there was no one to hospitalise them. Neighbours and other relations came for their rescue," a couple said. There are instances when cremation ceremonies were also conducted by neighbours in the absence of family members. The survey also revealed that over 30,000 more youths from Himachal were likely to join IT and other industry in the next three years, meaning that another 30,000 parents would have to live in isolation. It may be recalled that there is no concept of old-age homes in the state like in Delhi and Chandigarh. Even the state government has also not initiated any steps in this regard. The NGO has appealed to the state government to initiate steps and encourage private and charitable organisations or NGOs to come forward to set up old-age homes in the state. |
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20 HP Cong rebels set to return to party
fold Shimla, April 20 It is reliably learnt that the party high command has cleared a list of about 20 names who will be inducted into the party within a day or two. This not only includes those who had been expelled from the party for a period of six years for contesting against the party nominee in the 2012 Assembly poll but also those who had worked against the party candidate. Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu confirmed that about 20 leaders would be taken back shortly. “We have taken the decision on the return
of the rebels after taking into confidence the block and district party units concerned, so that there is no resentment among the party cadre,” said
Sukhu. However, sources said that most of the other leaders might have to wait a bit longer for their return as a decision on them could be taken after the Lok Sabha poll. “There is a need to enforce discipline and we cannot allow leaders and workers to leave the party every now and then when elections are there and return at their own sweet will,” said a senior leader. He added that if they perform well and the Congress gets a good lead from their segment, they would be taken back. Keeping the growing restlessness over the delay in taking back rebels who had contested the election or worked against the party during the 2012 Assembly poll, the Congress has taken this decision. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh too has said that a decision on taking back the rebels must be taken soon in view of the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress had issued show-cause notice to 86 leaders for anti-party activities after the last Assembly elections. As many as 26 had been expelled for contesting the election against the official party nominee. Prominent among those who were expelled included former MLA’s Yog Raj from
Pargpur, Mast Ram from Karsog, Iswar Dass from Ani and other senior leaders like Amar Chand Pal from
Arki, Sneh Lata Thakur, wife of former minister Satya Prakash Thakur and Dharamvir Dhami from Manali. Damage control
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Excessive rain damages wheat crop
Dharamsala, April 20 Sanjay Singh, a farmer from Sakoh, said last week’s downpour had damaged about 50 per cent of my total produce. A severe damage has been caused to the crop in areas lying close to the Dhauladhar range. Rain is likely to damage vegetable crops. Many areas of Kangra district such as Ichi near Dharamsala are known for growing vegetables. Farmers in Ichi allege that there has been a delay in growing vegetables due to excessive rain. Besides, vegetable crops that have already been grown have been exposed to fungal diseases, they allege. Though the Department of Agriculture has not worked out losses, the state government has no budget or policy to compensate farmers for the loss to their crops due to natural calamity. However, in Himachal, the state government works out losses to crops every year, no direct compensation is paid to farmers. The loss is worked out to just send figures to the Union government. Asked if there was any policy to compensate farmers for the loss due to a heavy rainfall, the Deputy Director, Agriculture, Palampur, said there was no such provision. However, the government had decided to give a 50 per cent subsidy to farmers of the state for the forthcoming rabi season for crops, including vegetables, oil seeds, fodder crops, pulses and cereals, he said. The state government had introduced a crop insurance policy for farmers. But a few farmers had gone for it, he added. |
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Govt accused of misleading employees, pensioners
Shimla, April 20 “The claims of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh that financial benefits have not been released because of the model code of conduct and opposition by the BJP are totally false. The actual fact is that the financial situation of the government is so poor that it has no money to meet the financial liabilities on this account," said former Chief Minister PK Dhumal and state BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti in a statement issued here today. They said 10 per cent DA had become due from January 1, 2014, but the instalment had not been released and other financial and promotional benefits stopped. During the BJP regime, the employees got their due on time and the benefit of time additional increment after 4-9-14 years service was released to employees by the government in 2009 on the Punjab pattern. The Congress government had promised to give this benefit in 2006 on the eve of the Assembly elections, but did not honour the commitment. The BJP leaders said, "We will be happy if the government seeks special permission from the Election Commission and releases the DA and other benefits to the employees and pensioners immediately." |
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Spring cricket tournament takes off in Chamba
Chamba, April 20 He said cricket was popular in the country. Young players should work hard so that they get an opportunity to represent the state at the national level, he said. Major SC Nayyar, organising secretary of the tournament, said 50 teams were participating in the tourney. Of these, 40 teams were from villages, he added. Major Nayyar said the winner and runner-up teams would be given cash prizes and mementos at the closing ceremony. It would be a month-long tournament, said Nayyar. In the opening match, Mangla junior team defeated XL Gurad Eleven by 100 runs. Mangla junior batted first and scored 170 runs in 20 overs. Amit scored 50 and Tanu, 60 runs. Vijay and Jatinder of the XL Gurad team got 2 wickets each. XL Gurad, chasing the target, were all out for 70 runs. Ranjeet scored 35 runs. Prince and Tinku from Mangla got 3 wickets each. |
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Anurag failed to take up problems of voters: Vikramaditya
Hamirpur, April 20 He said, “Though the MP is claiming to be a youth icon, but majority of youths are disillusioned with him as he could not bring any major project to provide employment in the area.” Criticising former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, youth Congress leader said, “Dhumal had sidelined late Thakur Jagdev Chand Thakur’s family, who played an important role in strengthening the BJP in Hamirpur, as a result, MLA Urmil Thakur has joined the Congress.” He said, “The Congress is seeking votes on development works done by the UPA and the state government and I would visit all Assembly segments under the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency to propagate various benefits given by the government to different sections of society.” Replying to a question regarding personal allegations by Dhumal’s against his family, he said, "We have given a reply to these allegations on a proper platform, but people living in glass houses should not throw stone on others.” |
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Time to oust UPA: Dhumal
Pandoh (Mandi), April 20 Dhumal said, “Now time has come to oust the UPA government and elect Modi as the Prime Minister of the country.” He said, “People should now vote for the BJP to form the NDA government at the Centre which will pave the way for solving problems of common man.” He said, “The BJP has fielded an ordinary party worker from the Mandi constituency, but he will to be a strong candidate as people are giving him support to elect Modi as the next Prime Minister.” Lashing at the state government, Dhumal said, “The 15-month rule of the Congress government has been dismal and people are feeling cheated as most of the promises made by the Congress in its election manifesto have not been fulfilled.” He said, "People are not getting subsidised ration thorough PDS shops and women, the youth and workers are not getting their due rights.” Dhumal appealed to people to votes for the BJP government and urged party workers to reach every voter in the villages.
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NOTA to bring astonishing outcomes: Vepa Rao
Shimla, April 20 Delivering the presidential address, journalist Prof Vepa Rao laid stress upon evolving a system of creating awareness among masses about the importance of vote in the democratic system of governance and said legal provisions needed to be strengthened to deal with vote seekers making false promises to their electors. He said None Of The Above (NOTA) option introduced for the first time in the ongoing parliamentary elections was bound to bring about some astonishing outcomes. It was the duty of the electors to participate in the elections and exercise their franchise to elect a true democratic government. Prof Kamal Manohar Sharma of Himachal Pradesh University, in his keynote address, said there was a need to inculcate democratic values and aptitude among electors of the country and for replacing feudalistic institutions with democratic ones. Maximum participation was pre-requisite for a strong democratic system and special attention needs to be paid towards motivating women voters to participate in the electoral process, he said. Society chairman BD Sharma also spoke on
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Week-long Natya Samaroh at Gaiety Theatre from April 24
Shimla, April 20 Stating this here yesterday, an official spokesperson said the Manohar Singh Samriti Natya Samaroh would exhibit theatre shows directed by famous stage directors from across the country. As per schedule,
"Khalid Ka Khala", directed by Ramesh Talwar of the National School of Drama
(NSD) Repertory Company, New Delhi, would be performed on the opening day, followed by the play titled
"Ismat Aapke Naam" by Naseeruddin Shah's Motely Mumbai Group on April
25. "Aadamzaad/Panchlight" by Ranjit Kapoor of NSD Repertory Company, New Delhi, would be enacted on April 26 and
"Mohe Piya" by Vaman Kendre of Rangpeeth Group, Mumbai, on April 27. "The
Licence" by Neelam Mansingh Chowdhary of The Company Group, Chandigarh, and
"Macbeth" by Rattan Thiyam of Chorus Repertory Theatre, Imphal, would be performed on April 28 and 29, respectively. |
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‘CMAI providing cyber security training’
Shimla, April 20 Speaking at National HP Education Awards-2014, he said there were 34 course lines in this skill and training module, integrated with regular studies at seven levels from Class IX to degree. The vocational courses were integrated with regular studies, he said. Selected institutes would be nominated to the National Education Awards to be held in Delhi in July, he said. Students selected in a declamation on Intellectual Property Rights, Responsibilities and Opportunities will get a chance for free sponsorship to visit a telecom exhibition at Singapore, Taiwan, and China, he said, adding that two topics: "Is Alternate Energy Important for Education and Industries?" and "Is Electronic System and Design Manufacturing Important for Indian Economy?" were also listed for the debate. |
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Himalayan Bulls offers discounted air fares
Kullu, April 20 Central Bank of India north zone general manager KK Taneja, inaugurating the airport counter of the airline in Kullu-Manali airport at Bhuntar on April 2, had expressed hope for the success of the new venture to reap profits from the state's vast tourism potential. Senior manager with the bank Ramesh Kumar said the bank had financed the venture and though the bank's focus was retail lending, especially to support small farmers, the establishment also backed concrete and beneficial plans requiring macro investments.
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from farmers in Sirmaur district, not to indulge in illegal land deals as the government would take strict note of such purchases.
The BJP candidate from the Kangra parliamentary constituency and former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar today alleged that the UPA government remained insensitive to the plight of Merchant Navy officer Aman Kumar Sharma from the Jawali area of Kangra district.
Former Chief Minister Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal today said Dr Manmohan Singh was the first Indian Prime Minister who was found missing from election campaigns.
He stated this while addressing a public meeting at Largi village in Banjar subdivision of the district, about 30 km from here.
Una, April 20
The election season has jacked up the demand of marigold garlands as it's sale has registered an increase of about 35 per cent since April last year. Local floriculturists are net gainers as they are selling flowers, garlands and bouquets at highly competitive rates.
The demand of other flowers has also increased sharply as the election season has coincided with the marriage season.
The first Spring cricket tournament was inaugurated here today. The series is being organised by the Veteran Cricket Club
Chamba. Chamba SP DK Chaudhary inaugurated the tournament, whose venue was the police ground.
Dr Chaudhary advised the players to play the game with sporting spirit.
I was at the Shikari Temple two years back. Photographs of the Janjehli and the glades of Shikari clicked by me found their way into these columns then. The schedule for visiting Shikari this time was rather erratic, especially when I was with my granddaughters, my daughter and her husband. We started from Janjehli on April 12 at 7 am. Within half an hour, we were about 11 km from Janjehli on way to Shikari Mata. Our vehicle stopped here because the path was covered with snow which was 3 to 4 ft at places.
