SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI


THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
H I M A C H A L    P R A D E S H    E D I T I O N

Cong opens door for 25 rebels
Shimla, April 24
The Congress today re-inducted 25 rebels, including five former legislators, who had been issued show-cause notices after the 2012 Assembly poll. Some Virbhadra Singh loyalists, including two MLAs, will have to wait.

CM known for vendetta: Dhumal
Hamirpur, April 24
BJP leader PK Dhumal has said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has been asking him to read the Constitution, but being a law graduate, he is well-versed with it.
BJP leader PK Dhumal addresses an election meeting at Lamblu in Hamirpur on Thursday. BJP leader PK Dhumal addresses an election meeting at Lamblu in Hamirpur on Thursday.

CM blames BJP govt for financial crisis
Palampur, April 24
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the BJP government was responsible for the precarious financial health of the state. He said because of faulty planning and wrong policies of the previous government, the state suffered a lot and development activities were adversely affected.



YOUR TOWN
Dharamsala
Shimla


EARLIER STORIES

Shanta blames govt for poor roads
April 24, 2014
Rana flaunts his report card to get votes
April 23, 2014
Shanta undervalued assets: Sushant
April 22, 2014
Top leaders, film stars to woo voters
April 21, 2014
Anita Rana files papers from Sujanpur
April 20, 2014
Hamirpur HLP unit merges with BJP
April 19, 2014
Virbhadra rips into Shanta
April 18, 2014
Anurag files papers from Hamirpur
April 17, 2014
Choose me or Pathania, Mankotia tells CM
April 16, 2014
Rana files papers from BJP’s bastion
April 15, 2014

‘People view Modi as PM before poll’
Nurpur, April 24
State BJP president Satpal Satti today said the elections would remain historical as people of the country were contesting these.

Cong candidate Rajinder Rana with voters at Jwar village in the Chintpurni segment on Thursday. ‘Development not Anurag priority’
Una, April 24
Rajinder Rana, Congress candidate from Hamirpur, today charged that BJP candidate Anurag Thakur had represented the segment for almost six years in Parliament, but development of the area had never been his priority.


Cong candidate Rajinder Rana with voters at Jwar village in the Chintpurni segment on Thursday.

Modi to address three rallies on April 29
Shimla, April 24
The election campaign is likely to pick up when national leaders, including BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, will storm the state, addressing rallies for the four Lok Sabha segments which will go to the polls on May 7.

Rajan Sushant ‘B’ team of Congress: Pathania
Dharamsala, April 24
The BJP today launched a counter-attack against AAP candidate Rajan Sushant who has been levelling charges of corruption against Shanta Kumar.

HPCA in the firing line of Cong
The HPCA in Dharamsala.Dharamsala, April 24
The HPCA is in the thick of controversy. The Congress led by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and HPCA officials trade charges against each others. The Congress is trying to make the organisation, headed by BJP MP from Hamirpur Anurag Thakur who is also the son of former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal, as an election issue.
The HPCA in Dharamsala. A file photo

Move to impose security charges irks HPCA
HPCA spokesperson Sanjay Sharma addresses a press conference at the HPCA stadiun campus in Dharamsala on Thursday.Dharamsala, April 24
Reacting to news reports that the state government will give a notice to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) to recover crores of rupees in lieu of providing security during IPL matches in the last two years, cricket body spokesperson Sanjay Sharma today flayed the reported move.

HPCA spokesperson Sanjay Sharma addresses a press conference at the HPCA stadiun campus in Dharamsala on Thursday.

Mankotia’s election office vandalised
The Congress poll office at Shahpur that was vandalised on Wednesday night.Dharamsala, April 24
The election office of Vijai Singh Mankotia in Shahpur was vandalised by some miscreants late yesterday. Mankotia, who lodged an FIR in this matter, has expressed apprehension that supporters of Forest Corporation vice-chairman Kewal Singh Pathania had damaged his office.

The Congress poll office at Shahpur that was vandalised on Wednesday night. Photo: Kamaljeet

HPCC chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Chander Kumar on their arrival at Dadamb near Kangra on Thursday. Sukhu highlights UPA govt’s works
Kangra, April 24
Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today lambasted the top BJP leadership of the state as it was not clear about the party stand on the OBC issue.


HPCC chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Chander Kumar on their arrival at Dadamb near Kangra on Thursday. Photo: Ashok Raina

3-time hike in voters since 1967
Shimla, April 24
There has been a phenomenal increase in the number of electorate in Himachal since its first Lok Sabha poll in 1967. The number of electorate has increased threefold from 15,82,315 in 1967 to 47,40,044 in the 2014 poll.

Shanta Kumar addresses mediapersons at Palampur. NDA keen to declare tea as national drink, says Shanta
Palampur, April 24
Shanta Kumar, BJP candidate from Kangra, today announced that if NDA was voted to power, it would give a special package for the revival and revamping of the Kangra tea industry to bail it out from the present crisis.

Shanta Kumar addresses mediapersons at Palampur.

150 micro observers imparted training
Chamba, April 24
With a view to conducting fair and smooth Lok Sabha elections in the district, 150 micro observers, to be deployed in the five Assembly constituencies of the district, were imparted training under the chairmanship of general observer Balwinder Singh Bhullar here yesterday.

NOTA button on EVMs
Chamba, April 24
The Election Commission of India has provided the "None-Of-The-Above" (NOTA) option button in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) for voters who do not wish to vote for any of the candidates in the poll fray, as per an official communiqué of the EC. — OC

‘CPM an alternative to Cong, BJP’
Mandi, April 24
CPM candidate Kushal Bhardwaj is trying to present an alternative before voters to the Congress and the BJP in the Mandi parliamentary constituency.

HPAS prelim examination postponed
Shimla, April 24
The Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission today postponed the HPAS Preliminary Examination, which was earlier slated for May 11, in view of the Lok Sabha polls. The examinations would now be held on June 15.

Voter slips to be distributed in Chamba
Chamba, April 24
Booth-level officers (BLOs), to ensure free and fair Lok Sabha elections, have been directed to start distributing voter slips at their addresses.

This highway’s condition has fuelled resentment against govts
Vehicles move slowly on the potholed Shimla-Kotkhai road on Thursday. Khara Pathar (Shimla), April 24
A perilous bumpy ride on Theog-Rohru highway, filled with potholes, heaps of debris, landslides and heavy construction machinery adding to traffic vows, has again become a major poll issue in Theog, Jubbal and Kotkhai and Rohru Assembly segments of Shimla (reserve) Parliamentary constituency.

Vehicles move slowly on the potholed Shimla-Kotkhai road on Thursday. photo: amit kanwar

Theatre festival begins
Shimla, April 24
Governor Urmila Singh today inaugurated the week-long Late Manohar Singh Memorial Natya Samaroh. It is being organised by the Departments of Language, Art and Culture and Tourism and Civil Aviation in memory of the distinguished theatre personality from Shimla.

A farmer's family harvests its patch of wheat crop at Rampur village. Wheat harvest picks up in Una
Una, April 24
With the day temperature beginning to rise in the district after the unseasonal rain during this month, wheat harvesting has started picking up. The district boasts of 45,000 hectares under wheat cultivation every year, making it the foodgrain bowl of Himachal.
A farmer's family harvests its patch of wheat crop at Rampur village. Photo: Rajesh Sharma

Sabha protests Principal’s arrest
Mandi, April 24
Members of the district Mahajan Sabha today observed a traders bandh in the town to protest alleged implication and arrest of Kamlesh Kumar, Principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Gada Gusaini, under the NDPS Act by the police.

12 injured in bus accident
Una, April 24
Twelve persons were injured when the private bus (Una Highways) they were travelling in met with an accident at Dehlan village, 10 km from here, today.

Woman held with 2.8 kg charas
Chamba, April 24
The police seized charas weighing 2.8 kg from a woman passenger travelling in an HRTC bus, going from Chamba to Mandi, this morning.

Hooch seized
Nahan, April 24
A team led by ASP Rohit Malpani seized 62 litres of illicitly distilled hooch from a forest area of Khara in Paonta Sahib subdivision here today.





Top








 

Cong opens door for 25 rebels
Many Virbhadra loyalists await approval from high command
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 24
The Congress today re-inducted 25 rebels, including five former legislators, who had been issued show-cause notices after the 2012 Assembly poll. Some Virbhadra Singh loyalists, including two MLAs, will have to wait.

Based on the recommendations of the State Congress Disciplinary Committee, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu gave the nod for the return of these rebels into the party.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had reiterated that the rebels should be taken back at the earliest in view of the Lok Sabha poll.

"The reply filed by these leaders to the Block Congress Committees concerned was found to be satisfactory, so the disciplinary proceedings against them have been withdrawn," said the HPCC chief.

He said the other rebels would also be re-admitted after the block and district units of the party cleared their cases.

Those who have been re-admitted are former MLAs Ishwar Dass from Ani in Kullu, Natha Singh from Dharampur in Mandi, Ranjit Singh Verma from Hamirpur, Chet Ram Thakur from Seraj in Mandi and Ram Nath Sharma from the Kutlehar Assembly segment in Una.

Others are Vineet Vij (Chamba), Chander Singh Thakur (Manali), Indu Patyal and Onkar Singh Thakur (Banjar), Mahender Kumar (Seraj), Jagmohan Singh Thakur and Vinay Jamwal (Jogindernagar), Prem Singh (Dharampur), Lekh Raj Rana and Sunil Kumar (Sarkaghat), Praveen Sharma (Ghumarwin), DD Sharma (Arki), Rajesh Verma and Gurmail Singh (Doon), Sanjay Kuthiala (Shimla), Darshan Das Thakur, Ishwar Das and Inder Dass Mehta (Rampur) and Krishan Kumar Chauhan and Ajit Rana (Rampur).

The former Virbhadra loyalist MLAs awaiting re-entry into the party are Yog Raj (Pragpur) and Mast Ram (Karsog). Other prominent leaders include Prem Lata Thakur, wife of former minister from Kullu Satya Prakash Thakur, and Dharamvir Dhami.

On the other hand, the BJP has been liberal in taking back one and all by opening its doors to all those who wished to return to the party fold. In fact, a large number of Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) leaders used the occasion to return as they felt that the HLP had little future. Moreover, they felt that the purpose for which the HLP had been floated to fight corruption had virtually been defeated.

Back to roots
Those who have been re-admitted are former MLAs Ishwar Dass from Ani in Kullu, Natha Singh from Dharampur in Mandi, Ranjit Singh Verma from Hamirpur, Chet Ram Thakur from Seraj in Mandi and Ram Nath Sharma from the Kutlehar Assembly segment in Una.

Top

 

CM known for vendetta: Dhumal
Tribune News Service

Hamirpur, April 24
BJP leader PK Dhumal has said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has been asking him to read the Constitution, but being a law graduate, he is well-versed with it.

Addressing election meetings at Lamblu, Kusad and Bari Pharnol, Dhumal said, "The CM should explain why the state government in 1992 was dismissed by then Congress-led Central Government after the Ayodhya episode though nothing had happened in the state."

Dhumal said, "I am known as rationwala and development-oriented CM, but Virbhadra Singh is known for effecting transfers for political reasons and acting with vendetta."

Attacking the UPA government, Dhumal said, "The UPA government has failed to protect our borders when the Chinese army intruded several kilometres into our territory and our government did nothing when the Pakistan army beheaded our soldiers."

He said, "During the UPA regime, price rise, corruption and unemployment has skyrocketed and national pride of the country plummeted."

Dhumal said, "The state government has also failed to keep the promises made in its election manifesto during the last Assembly elections and people are fed up with the present regime and will vote for the BJP in the General Election."

Top

 

CM blames BJP govt for financial crisis
Our Correspondent

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in front of the PWD rest house in Palampur on Thursday.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in front of the PWD rest house in Palampur on Thursday. Photo: Ravinder Sood

Palampur, April 24
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the BJP government was responsible for the precarious financial health of the state. He said because of faulty planning and wrong policies of the previous government, the state suffered a lot and development activities were adversely affected.

Talking to mediapersons here, Virbhadra said when the BJP left the office in the December 2012, it passed on the liabilities of Rs 28,000 crore on his government. He admitted that no government could survive without raising loans, but at the same such loans should have been raised in a planned manner.

The Chief Minister said despite this, the Congress made all efforts to maintain the pace of development. He said the government laid the maximum stress on health and education sectors. Besides, opening new educational institutions, the government also filled vacant posts of medical officer and paramedical staff in far-flung areas of the state.

He said these posts were lying vacant because of defective recruitment policy of the BJP government when hundreds of doctors left government jobs and moved to the private sector between 2007 and 2012. However, when the Congress took over the reins of the state, his government persuaded the doctors not to leave the jobs and also succeeded retaining them.

Virbhadra Singh claimed that the Congress would win all four seats. He said for the first time in the past 15 years, the Congress had received an overwhelming response of voters in Hamirpur and Una districts as residents were annoyed with Prem Kumar Dhumal and Anurag Thakur, who had done nothing for them.

Referring to the poor condition of roads in the state, he said heavy rain, cold conditions and prolonged winters caused extensive damages to most of the roads. He said the government was aware of the situation and all executive engineers of the Public Works Department had been directed to repair the roads.

Top

 

‘People view Modi as PM before poll’
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, April 24
State BJP president Satpal Satti today said the elections would remain historical as people of the country were contesting these.

Addressing an election meeting at Sadwan near here, Satti claimed that the enthusiasm among the electorate had indicated that people had accepted Modi as the Prime Minister even before the completion of the elections. He said the Modi wave had converted into Modi tsunami.

He alleged that the UPA government had failed to check corruption, rising prices and unemployment and protected tainted Congress leaders during its 10-year regime.

The country's image had also hit due to the wrong policies of the UPA government.

Talking about the performance of the Virbhadra government, the BJP chief said this government had dismayed every section of society as it had only targeted its opponent. He alleged that this government had only single priority of witch-hunting to settle its score with BJP leaders.

"After the Modi government comes to power, this government will fall under its own weight," he quipped.

Satti admitted that the BJP had done injustice to Rakesh Pathania, former MLA, who had recently been re-admitted to the party.

Top

 

‘Development not Anurag priority’
Our Correspondent

Una, April 24
Rajinder Rana, Congress candidate from Hamirpur, today charged that BJP candidate Anurag Thakur had represented the segment for almost six years in Parliament, but development of the area had never been his priority.

Addressing public meetings at the Chintpurni Assembly segment, he questioned why the BJP leader failed to take up rail expansion issues in Parliament during his tenure.

Rana said the work on the Una-Talwara rail line was started during the Congress regime and almost all funds were allotted during the Congress or UPA governments, adding that the 50-km-long Nangal-Amb line was laid during the Congress regime. He said Anurag was misleading people by promising the extension of rail network, for which he made no efforts during his tenure.

Rana quipped that if Anurag's claim of being a successful MP was true, there was no need for him to plead for votes. "The fact is that he was banking on his father, former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal, and BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for votes," Rana said.

Calling the BJP candidate as a high-profile leader who maintains distance from people, Rana said the fact was already known to people across the length and breadth of the parliamentary segment.

Rana said despite the fact that he was elected as an independent MLA from Sujanpur, his last 16 months in the Assembly were marked for the development of the segment and uplift of the common man.

He said he remained with the masses and addressed their problems and the same spirit would continue in the Lok Sabha.

The Congress candidate addressed meetings at Jwar, Beher Jaswan, Joul, Bahera, Kuthera Jaswalan, Mawa Kohlan, Chalet, Ganu Mandhwara and Bhadarkali villages in the Chintpurni segment. Former minister and Chintpurni MLA Kuldip Kumar, Gagret MLA Rakesh Kalia and former MLA Ganesh Datt Bharwal accompanied Rana on the occasion.

Top

 

Modi to address three rallies on April 29
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 24
The election campaign is likely to pick up when national leaders, including BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, will storm the state, addressing rallies for the four Lok Sabha segments which will go to the polls on May 7.

Gujarat Chief Minister Modi, who is in maximum demand, will address three rallies in Palampur, Mandi and Solan on April 29. Since Modi has already addressed a rally at Sujanpur on February 16, falling under the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, he is unlikely to address any rally in this segment, represented by Anurag Thakur, son of former Chief Minister PK Dhumal.

Besides Modi, former BJP president Nitin Gadkari is scheduled to address two rallies in Manali and Majra in Sirmaur on April 29, the day when Modi will arrive here. BJP organisational secretary Ram Lal will take stock of the arrangements for Modi's rally and interact with party leads in Kangra, Mandi and Solan on April 26.

Prominent BJP leaders expected to campaign here include LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu and Uma Bharti. To add glamour to the campaign, Hema Malini and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu will also address election rallies.

Congress state spokesperson Naresh Chauhan said a request had been sent for holding of rallies by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi any time between April 28 and May 3.

"We are hopeful that we will get the dates and the rallies will be held in Shimla, Mandi and Hamirpur," he said. Rahul has already addressed a rally at Dharamsala on March 20.

Other senior Congress leaders, who are expected to join the campaign in Himachal after April 30, include Union Ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ambika Soni and Sachin Pilot, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

As of now, the responsibility of the campaign of the Congress is on the shoulders of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Hot days ahead
Modi to hold rallies in Palampur, Mandi and Solan
Former BJP president Nitin Gadkari is scheduled to address two rallies in Manali and Majra in Sirmour on April 29
A request has been sent for rallies by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi any time between April 28 and May 3

Top

 

Rajan Sushant ‘B’ team of Congress: Pathania
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, April 24
The BJP today launched a counter-attack against AAP candidate Rajan Sushant who has been levelling charges of corruption against Shanta Kumar.

Former MLA Rakesh Pathania while addressing a press conference at Dharamsala alleged that Sushant was ‘B’ team of the Congress. He alleged that Sushant had been levelling charges of corruption against Shanta. He has not uttered a word till date against Congress and its candidate, Chander Kumar.

This clearly illustrates that Sushant was contesting elections as an AAP candidate to benefit the Congress.

He alleged despite making tall claims regarding exposing Shanta, Sushant has made wild and baseless allegations against the Vivekanand Medical and Research Trust (VMRT).

He said Sushant did not had the stature that Shanta should come forward and enter into an open debate with him. "Instead, I am competent enough to counter Rajan Sushant on any issue and willing to debate with him even in his native village," he said.

Pathania alleged that in the election affidavit filed by Rajan Sushant, he did not declare anything against the column in which it was asked if he had spent anything for the development of his land.

As per my information, Sushant had taken subsidy under the horticulture mission to develop the land. He should have stated in his affidavit about the amount he took under the horticulture mission and the amount of subsidy he availed.

Pathania alleged that Sushant should also clarify the amount given from his MPLAD fund to raise a retaining wall to the personal house of his supporter in the Bhawarna area.

He alleged Sushant also paid Rs 5 lakh from his MPLAD fund to repair the IPH rest house that was being used by him for his personal use.

Top

 

HPCA in the firing line of Cong
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, April 24
The HPCA is in the thick of controversy. The Congress led by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and HPCA officials trade charges against each others. The Congress is trying to make the organisation, headed by BJP MP from Hamirpur Anurag Thakur who is also the son of former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal, as an election issue.

The Congress is highlighting the alleged anomalies in allotment of land to the HPCA, its conversion into company and allotment of land to Pavillion Hotel to put Anurag Thakur, who is contesting election from Hamirpur, in a spot.

Since the Assembly elections in December 2012, the HPCA has been on target. The State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has registered various cases against the HPCA in which even former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal, who was the chief patron of the cricket body, and Anurag Thakur have been made the party.

The Vigilance has registered cases against the HPCA for conversion of the society into a non-profit company without the permission of the government, allowing commercial use of Pavillion Hotel's property and encroachment on government land.

The Vigilance also got the permission to prosecute Dhumal during the election campaign. Sources here said the party wanted to file a chargsheet in the HPCA case in the court during the elections. However, investigations agencies have been prevented from doing by a court.

However, the persistent attack on the HPCA by the Congress has made Anurag a victim of state vendetta. By involving the former CM in the case, the BJP was forced to defend the HPCA. The issue has now snowballed into a political controversy with both Congress and BJP trading charges against each others.

After Dhumal's name was involved in the case, senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar, who had been maintaining silence over the issue, was also forced to criticise the Congress. The BJP and the HPCA have launched a counter-attack on the Congress and the Chief Minister on the issues pertaining to the cricket body.

The recent government decision against hosting the IPL matches at Dharamsala this year has proved a shot in arm for the BJP and the HPCA. The BCCI had offered to hold two IPL matches in Dharamsala between May 10 and 17 provided the state government agreed to give security. However, the state government refused to provide security for matches on the plea that it could not spare forces from the election process.

Businessmen and tour operators in Kangra also opposed the state government decision for not allowing IPL matches in Dharamsala. The IPL season used to prove a boom for local business in the area.

BJP leaders are already claiming that the area lost tourism and other revenue worth about Rs 150 crore due to non-hosting of IPL matches.

With election date in Himachal on May 7 drawing closer, the HPCA is likely to prop up an election issue with increased vigour.

Top

 

Move to impose security charges irks HPCA
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, April 24
Reacting to news reports that the state government will give a notice to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) to recover crores of rupees in lieu of providing security during IPL matches in the last two years, cricket body spokesperson Sanjay Sharma today flayed the reported move.

Sanjay Sharma, addressing a press conference, said the present move substantiated the allegations that some retired IAS officers, posted in the CM's Office, were misusing their positions and trying to depict the HPCA in a bad light.

All this was being done because HPCA president Anurag Thakur was contesting the election from Hamirpur as the BJP candidate.

He said security charges, being sought from the HPCA, were arbitrary and illegal. As per reports the state government was seeking Rs 2.37 crore and Rs 3.26 crore as security charges from the HPCA.

The HPCA has already paid Rs 2 lakh per day as rent for using the police ground for parking during matches. It also paid for the boarding, lodging and food for all police personnel.

The district administration took free passes worth about Rs 15 lakh from the HPCA. He said the HPCA was forced to give free passes as the administration did not release the permission for use of sound in the stadium till free passes were given.

Now seeking crores as security from the HPCA smacked of political vendetta on the part of the state government, he said.

Sharma said it was the duty of the state government to provide security and maintain law and order in any public event. They also provided security during political rallies.

He also alleged that the Padam Singh Chauhan cricket tournament was held in the home constituency of the CM. The HPCA would like to know if similar charges were recovered for organising the tournament.

Top

 

Mankotia’s election office vandalised
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, April 24
The election office of Vijai Singh Mankotia in Shahpur was vandalised by some miscreants late yesterday. Mankotia, who lodged an FIR in this matter, has expressed apprehension that supporters of Forest Corporation vice-chairman Kewal Singh Pathania had damaged his office.

He said as per information, some miscreants close of Pathania had damaged his office yesterday. Mankotia alleged that some people in the Congress were insecure due to the increasing closeness between him and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Initially, they got news planted in newspapers that slogans were raised against him in the Chief Minister's rally. Now, they had resorted to damaging the Congress office being run in Shahpur by his supporters.

Mankotia alleged that people who were resorting to such acts were black sheep who wanted to sabotage the prospects of their own party during the elections.

Ever since the Congress candidate forfeited his security in the 2008 Assembly elections, he had tried to use all kinds of tricks to show that he was a close aide of the CM, Mankotia said, indicating towards Kewal Singh Pathania.

Mankotia after burying his hatchet with CM Virbhadra Singh in the recent past had agreed to campaign for the Congress with a condition that Pathania should be kept out of Shahpur during the elections. However, Mankotia's demand was not met and Pathania was still campaigning in Shahpur.

Meanwhile, Mankotia said the ball was in the CM’s court now regarding his demand to keep Pathania out of Shahpur.

Kewal Singh Pathania, when contacted on phone, denied that his supporters had damaged the Mankotia's office. He said BJP workers might have committed the act. He, however, refused to comment about his differences with Mankotia.

Top

 

Sukhu highlights UPA govt’s works
Our Correspondent

Kangra, April 24
Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today lambasted the top BJP leadership of the state as it was not clear about the party stand on the OBC issue.

PK Dhumal was asking votes for Modi as the first OBC prime ministerial candidate, whereas Shanta Kumar at Abdullahpur claimed that those who asked for votes on the caste basis were insulting martyrs.

Sukhu was addressing a public meeting at Dadamb in the Shahpur Assembly segment of this district.

He said the BJP had a rift and it was evident when Dhumal and Shanta at Abdullahpur failed to share the dais.

Sukhu said people had to make distinction between Shanta, a two-time Chief Minister and Union Minister, who had said "asambav" (impossible) to every positive work, and Chander Kumar, a two-time Lok Sabha MP who had said "sambav" (possible) for every work.

Sukhu highlighted the contribution of the UPA government and said Rs 70,000 crore loans to farmers were waived, besides many Bills were passed for the common people.

He charged that Shanta could not bring any major project for the state.

He said it was the contribution of the Congress government, headed by Virbhadra Singh, that Kangra had DRPGMC and Rs 150-crore superspecialty hospital at Tanda, NIFT at Kangra, Central University at Dharamsala, Vidhan Sabha at Tapovan.

The public meeting was addressed by Chander Kumar, Congress candidate, and vice-chairman, Forest Corporation, KS Pathania. Both expressed confidence that Congress would win all four seats.

Top

 

3-time hike in voters since 1967
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 24
There has been a phenomenal increase in the number of electorate in Himachal since its first Lok Sabha poll in 1967. The number of electorate has increased threefold from 15,82,315 in 1967 to 47,40,044 in the 2014 poll.

There were only 5,31,018 voters in the first election in 1952 which increased to 7,11,596 in 1962, but it doubled after the merger of Punjab's hill areas, including, Nalagarh, Chail, Kullu, Kangra, Una , Lahaul and Spiti , Dalhousie and Shimla, and jumped to 15,82,315 in 1967.

The number of voters increased to 30,76,182 in 1991 and 35,36, 517 in 1996, but the increase was just 92,347 between 1996 and 1998 polls and the number of voters rose to 36,28,864. However, there was an increase of 1,57,615 in the 1999 mid-term poll held after 18 months and the number of voters rose to 36,86,479, which further increased to 41,81995 in 2004 and 46,06,674 in 2009.

The number of voters has increased by 1,33,370 to 47,40,044 between 2009 and 2014 in spite of enrolment of 62,133 first-time voters in the age group of 18-19 years, mainly due to the introduction of photo identity cards for voters and deletion of bogus and duplicate votes.

Top

 

NDA keen to declare tea as national drink, says Shanta
Our Correspondent

Palampur, April 24
Shanta Kumar, BJP candidate from Kangra, today announced that if NDA was voted to power, it would give a special package for the revival and revamping of the Kangra tea industry to bail it out from the present crisis.

Shanta said the NDA government would declare tea as the national drink as it was consumed from a five-star hotel to a wayside dhaba all over the country.

Shanta said when he was the chairman of the commerce committee of the Rajya Sabha, he made recommendations to Parliament in this regard.

He said he would make efforts to identify all abandoned tea gardens and extend necessary financial assistance to all tea growers to revive plantations. Besides, he would lay stress for the mechanisation of the tea industry in Kangra. Tea plucking and tea pruning equipment would also be made available to growers by the Union government, he added.

He said the tea industry was a major source of employment for poor people, particularly for women, in Himachal and north-eastern state of the country and by declaring it a national drink, tea would get recognition in the international market.

Shanta said it was a matter of concern that 3,000 tea growers of the Kangra valley had abandoned tea gardens and stopped the cultivation of tea because of its high production cost.

Top

 

150 micro observers imparted training
Our Correspondent

Chamba, April 24
With a view to conducting fair and smooth Lok Sabha elections in the district, 150 micro observers, to be deployed in the five Assembly constituencies of the district, were imparted training under the chairmanship of general observer Balwinder Singh Bhullar here yesterday.

As per a press note here today, each micro observer would be in charge of two polling stations adjacent to each other and keep tabs on the critical and sensitive polling stations. Besides observation, these micro observers could give advice to poll personnel regarding their job at their respective polling booths.

Top

 

‘CPM an alternative to Cong, BJP’
Dharam Prakash Gupta
Tribune News Service

Mandi, April 24
CPM candidate Kushal Bhardwaj is trying to present an alternative before voters to the Congress and the BJP in the Mandi parliamentary constituency.

Keeping away from high-voltage campaign and making personal allegations, the CPM is concentrating on economic policies and problems being faced by people. In his election meetings at the Karsog Assembly segment, Bhardwaj said, "The economic policies of the Congress and the BJP are the same which are making rich people rich while farmers, working class, middle class and common man are suffering.”

“There are many parties in the country, who are working to present an alternative to the Congress and the BJP for forming the third-front government at the Centre to give alternative policies in which CPM would have an important role,” he added.

Bhardwaj said, "The issues related to water, land and forest are very important in the state as common people are still struggling to survive."

Blaming the policies of the Congress government for rising unemployment, he said, "A large number of youths are fighting unemployment and even people being recruited on contractual basis in government sectors are being exploited."

The CPM candidate raised the issue of lack of adequate staff at health centres and schools in villages, environmental degradation and problems being faced by locals after commissioning of hydro power projects and the cement industry.

Top

 

HPAS prelim examination postponed
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 24
The Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission today postponed the HPAS Preliminary Examination, which was earlier slated for May 11, in view of the Lok Sabha polls. The examinations would now be held on June 15.

According to an official release issued here today, KS Tomar, chairperson, HP Public Service Commission, today held a special meeting and took this decision. The commission considered representations received from various quarters in view of the Lok Sabha polls.

The commission observed that the staff deployed for the onerous duty of conduct of elections in the state also competed in the examination and deserved equal opportunity.

Tomar said all arrangements for conduct of the examination had been completed by the commission.

The commission has been receiving representations from the staff deployed on election duty, requesting for postponement of examination on the plea that in view of their deployment, they would not be able to prepare/appear in the examination, he added.

Top

 

Voter slips to be distributed in Chamba

Chamba, April 24
Booth-level officers (BLOs), to ensure free and fair Lok Sabha elections, have been directed to start distributing voter slips at their addresses.

This was stated here by DC Kadam Sandeep Vasant, who is the district election officer. He said the BLOs had been directed to distribute the slips as much as they could before the polling day in the district. The entire district had been covered by 100 per cent electors’ photo identity cards. — OC

Top

 

This highway’s condition has fuelled resentment against govts
Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Khara Pathar (Shimla), April 24
A perilous bumpy ride on Theog-Rohru highway, filled with potholes, heaps of debris, landslides and heavy construction machinery adding to traffic vows, has again become a major poll issue in Theog, Jubbal and Kotkhai and Rohru Assembly segments of Shimla (reserve) Parliamentary constituency.

Running more than three years behind schedule, the Rs 321-crore project, covering 80 km stretch of the road, has become a nightmare for people. The delay in completion of the project apparently cost former BJP minister Narinder Bragta dear. He lost the Assembly elections from the Jubbal-Kotkhai constituency in 2012.

"People are up in arms against the delay in completion of the road project and have expressed their anger by voting against the government, but the present Congress government which had promised to complete the road in three months would also feel the heat. The apple marketing season is expected to start in the end of June and the people are getting restive," said Umesh Sharma, a local resident.

Residents of these areas, especially the apple growers, are a harried lot as transportation of apple and other produce has become a daunting task due to reluctance of the truck operators to come to the areas and even those who lifted apple from this area charged prohibitive rates and growers suffered, said most of the growers, currently busy in poll campaigning.

The Congress government had invited global tenders for the road project in June 2007 and the contract was awarded to a Chinese company, which was the lowest bidder, without acquiring the private land and getting environment clearance.

In December 2007, BJP was voted to power and it took almost three years to acquire land and get forest clearance. There were about 127 cases in which courts had granted stay and the Government of India granted visa to 60 to 70 Chinese nationals, supposed to be engaged by the firm.

Later, the government cancelled the contract with the Chinese firm, citing security reasons and delay in work and re-allotted the project to Ludhiana-based Chadha and Chadha Company.

The 48-km Theog-Kharapathar will be constructed at Rs 179-crore cost while for the 32-km distance between Kharapathar and Rohru, the cost works out to be Rs 142 crore. The project was slated to be commissioned in 2011 but even after three years, it is nowhere near completion. Till now, even the widening has not been completed.

Top

 

Theatre festival begins
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 24
Governor Urmila Singh today inaugurated the week-long Late Manohar Singh Memorial Natya Samaroh. It is being organised by the Departments of Language, Art and Culture and Tourism and Civil Aviation in memory of the distinguished theatre personality from Shimla.

The theatre festival, being held at the Gaiety Theatre, will continue till April 29. Renowned theatre personalities will be taking part in the festival.

The Governor also saw the play titled “Khalid ka Khala”, directed by Ramesh Talwar from the National School of Drama Repertory Company.

She lauded the efforts of the organisers of the event and hoped that it would go a long way in promoting cultural and theatre-related activities in Shimla. Besides, it would entertain the audience that would get an opportunity to witness plays presented by national-level theatre personalities.

Shrinivas Joshi, a former bureaucrat, presented a perspective on the late Manohar Singh.

The Governor honoured Anoop Singh, son of late Manohar Singh, with a Himachali cap and a shawl. She also honoured Amal Allana and Dr Nissar Allana, renowned theatre personalities, on the occasion.

Mohan Chauhan, Director, Tourism, welcomed the Governor on the occasion. Upma Chaudhary, Additional Chief Secretary, senior officials of the state government and prominent personalities of the town were present.

Top

 

Wheat harvest picks up in Una
Our Correspondent

Una, April 24
With the day temperature beginning to rise in the district after the unseasonal rain during this month, wheat harvesting has started picking up. The district boasts of 45,000 hectares under wheat cultivation every year, making it the foodgrain bowl of Himachal.

Despite reports of yellow rust striking standing crops in patches and wet spells affecting the near-ripe crop, the harvest this year is expected to be good. The harvest will also bring a respite to cattle rearers as the cost of wheat straw fodder had shot to Rs 1,500 per quintal as compared to Rs 400 to 500 per quintal during the harvesting season.

With small and undulating land holdings coupled with lack of mechanical harvesters, farmers of the region largely depend on migrant labourers for harvesting and threshing.

Labourers are hard to find, particularly during this period of the year. Besides, farmers do not mind paying a little more to ensure that their produce reaches their homes safely as it not only meets the needs of their families, but also helps them earn a livelihood. 

Top

 

Sabha protests Principal’s arrest
Tribune News Service

Mandi, April 24
Members of the district Mahajan Sabha today observed a traders bandh in the town to protest alleged implication and arrest of Kamlesh Kumar, Principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Gada Gusaini, under the NDPS Act by the police.

They took out a silent protest march and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner demanding justice in the case. The Principal’s arrest is being viewed as a conspiracy by mischievous elements as he had acted tough against “bad elements” in the school.

Yesterday, the School Principals Association and the School Lecturers Association had also taken out a candle march demanding exposure of those involved in the conspiracy.

Top

 

12 injured in bus accident
Our Correspondent

Una, April 24
Twelve persons were injured when the private bus (Una Highways) they were travelling in met with an accident at Dehlan village, 10 km from here, today.

SP Anupam Sharma said when the bus, going from Una to Nangal, reached Dehlan, the driver lost control on the vehicle due to some technical snag and it hit a tanker on the other side of the road. The injured were shifted to the Dehlan Primary Health Centre and the Una district hospital.

Top

 

Woman held with 2.8 kg charas
Our Correspondent

Chamba, April 24
The police seized charas weighing 2.8 kg from a woman passenger travelling in an HRTC bus, going from Chamba to Mandi, this morning.

Stating this here today, SP DK Chaudhary said a police party intercepted the bus near Chaned on the Chamba-Pathankot highway. On checking, the charas was recovered from the woman, identified as Kom Dei.

A case under Section 20 of the NDPS Act had been registered under the Chamba police station and the woman arrested.

Top

 

Hooch seized

Nahan, April 24
A team led by ASP Rohit Malpani seized 62 litres of illicitly distilled hooch from a forest area of Khara in Paonta Sahib subdivision here today.

DSP Yogesh Rolta said the police had raided the place on a tip-off and it was found that the hooch was being brewed at the site and stored in drums. He said about 600 litres of hooch was destroyed on the site, while 62 litres of hooch was confiscated.

Devraj and Acchar Singh, were nabbed from the spot, while their accomplice Hansraj managed to flee. — TNS

Top

 

 





HOME PAGE | Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Opinions |
| Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi |
| Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail |