Shimla seat left for HVC
SHIMLA, Aug 5 — Coalition partners the BJP and the Himachal Vikas Congress today reached an agreement on seat-sharing in the state for the Lok Sabha poll. Under the accord the HVC will contest the Shimla (reserve) seat, whereas the BJP will contest the remaining three seats.

Cong politicising Kargil, says Shanta Kumar
CHAMBA, Aug 5 — Mr Shanta Kumar, a former Himachal Chief Minister, has assailed the Congress for politicising the Kargil issue.

Speaker’s decision boosts BJP morale
SHIMLA, Aug 5 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, Himachal Chief Minister, has emerged stronger with the Speaker, Mr Gulab Singh Thakur, removing the long-drawn political uncertainty over the fate of the two ministers, Mr Mansa Ram and Mr Prakash Chaudhary by dismissing the petition of the Congress seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection law.

Women voters hold key in Kangra
SHIMLA, Aug 5 — Women hold the key in the prestigious Kangra and Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituencies of Himachal Pradesh where they outnumber male voters.

Illicit felling of trees detected
SHIMLA, Aug 5 — The Enforcement Department has detected three cases of illicit felling of tress in Shimla and Kangra districts.

Concern over false case against GM
SHIMLA, Aug 5 — Various employees associations of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board have expressed concern over the registration of "false" cases against the General Manager of the Nathpa Jhakri project.

Centre to bring fruits under crop insurance
SHIMLA, Aug 5 — The Centre has agreed to bring fruits and vegetables under the crop insurance scheme on the request of the Himachal Pradesh Government.

• 1 killed, 1 hurt in mishap

Shimla seat left for HVC
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 5 — Coalition partners the BJP and the Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) today reached an agreement on seat-sharing in the state for the Lok Sabha poll.

Under the accord the HVC will contest the Shimla (reserve) seat, whereas the BJP will contest the remaining three seats. A formal announcement in this regard will be made by BJP high command shortly. The decision to leave the Shimla seat has been conveyed to Mr Sukh Ram, president of the HVC, who is camping in Delhi.

Earlier, Mr Sukh Ram met Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and other BJP leaders and impressed upon them that the delay in finalising the seat-sharing arrangement was harming poll prospects of the two parties.

The HVC has also finalised its candidate for the seat. It has decided to field Col Dhani Ram Shandil of Shimla. His candidature will be formally announced after the meeting of the state election committee of the party on August 8.

Besides, being an exserviceman, Col Dhani Ram belongs to the Kohli caste which accounts for almost 25 per cent of the electorate. He will take on the well-entrenched Congress candidate Mr K.D. Sultanpuri, who has won the seat six times in a row.

The BJP has not won the seat except 1977, when the Janata Party made a clean sweep of all four seats in the state. Mr Sultanpuri managed to win the seat in the last election, despite a strong anti-Congress wave, though with a reduced margin. The BJP won the other three seats.

The coming together of the BJP and the HVC has completely changed the poll arithmetic in the state. The combine has won all Assembly seats, for which election was held over the past 16 months. It even made a clean sweep in tribal segments and the Baijnath seat which were traditional strongholds of the Congress.

In the last election when there was no alliance between the BJP and the HVC Mr Sultanpuri won by about 42,000 votes whereas the HVC polled 27,000 votes. With two parties deciding to contest the election jointly, the Congress faces, a tough challenge.

The prospects of the HVC candidate would largely depend on the attitude of the BJP workers who were not in favour of giving the seat to the HVC. Mr Sukh Ram has been claiming that the HVC would add to the existing vote bank of the BJP. However, the big question is whether the rank and file of the party will reconcile to the allocation of seat to the HVC and work sincerely for the victory of its candidate?

Cong politicising Kargil, says Shanta Kumar
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Aug 5 — Mr Shanta Kumar, a former Himachal Chief Minister, has assailed the Congress for politicising the Kargil issue.

Speaking to reporters at Sundla, 30 km from Chamba yesterday he regretted that the Congress was raising non-issue like Kargil to take advantage of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. He said Kargil victory was the victory of martyrs and their families, of our nation, and that of wise and dynamic leadership of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee.

He said it was unfortunate on the part of the Congress to make Kargil an election issue which would cost the Congress dear. Answering the query of the Congress, as to what was the cause of the infiltration into the Kargil sector, he said the Union Government had set up an inquiry committee to look into the matter and added that fact would come out soon.

The Congress would also have to reply on the aftermath of the wars of 1948, 1962, 1965, 1971, Sri Lanka and Punjab militancy that had taken place prior to the Kargil conflict, Mr Shanta Kumar said.

He said in 1948, Pakistan had attacked India and when the Indian Army was trying to evict the enemy out of Kashmir, the Congress had negotiated a cease-fire. He flayed the Congress for putting the Kashmir issue into cold store of the United Nations Organisations (UNO).

He assailed the Congress for releasing 93,000 Pakistani Prisoners of War despite the fact that 158 Indian PoWs were languishing in Pakistan Jails. He also asked the Congress why it could not take back 50,000 sq. miles of Indian land captured by China in 1962.

Mr Shanta Kumar accused the Congress of not controlling terrorism in Punjab during its regime which had resulted in the death of 22,000 people. In Sri Lanka, 2,500 Indian soldiers were killed and 4,000 of them were reported missing. In the North-East, 45,000 people were killed during militancy. He held the Congress responsible for crisis and sought a reply from it.

He said today the condition of the Congress had deteriorated to such an extent that Ms Sonia Gandhi had become a liability for the party. He said there was no alternative to Mr Vajpayee and the National Democrative Alliance (NDA) was heading towards forming a stable government.

He said nearly 43 soldiers from Himachal had sacrificed their lives in the conflict. The highest number of martyrs were from the state and the nation owes much to Himachal Pradesh. He said when the new government would be voted to power at the Centre, the Himachal would demand an increase in the ratio of army recruitment.

Kargil hero laid to rest
From Bijender Sharma

JAWALAMUKHI: "Mothers of martyrs don't shed tears," said Mrs Kamlesh Devi, mother of 22-year-old jawan Yoginder Singh with a sense of pride, while taking a glimpse at her son's body. The jawan died fighting the intruders in the Dras Sector on July 25.

When the body of Yoginder Singh of the 16 Grenadiers, which was found after four days, reached Jawalamukhi last week, a large crowd of people from different walks of life had gathered to receive it. The body was received amid slogans such as "Bharat mata ki jai" Yoginder Singh amar rahein".

The scene was one that Jawalamukhi had rarely witnessed. A sea of mourners started heading for the old bus stand early in the morning to pay homage to this brave son of Jawalamukhi. A 10-hour delay in the arrival of the coffin did not deter anyone from braving the scorching heat. Pride, anger and grief mingled in equal measure in this town as a large number of mourners gathered here from the adjoining villages as well.

"He died so that we may live", his younger brother, Bhupinder Singh, muttered over and over again — a debt acknowledged in ample measure by people who had turned out in thousands to express their condolence.

Born in June, 1977, Yoginder Singh joined the ranks of the 16 Grenadiers in February, 1997, and was posted at Dras after training. His father, Mr Kuldeep Singh, swelled with pride as his fellow jawans narrated to him how his son fought the enemy with extraordinary valour. Though he was badly injured yet he did not lose courage. Mr Kuldeep Singh declared that it was praiseworthy that his son died while defending the integrity of the country. Right from his childhood his son was an epitome of courage, valour and adventure. After a long pause in the midst of wailing women he recollected his childhood growth, youth and eventual heroic death.

On the other hand, his uncle, Mr Rai Singh, who is Pradhan of Amb Pathiar gram panchayat lashed out at both Pakistan and the UN holding them responsible for the escalation leading to open war against the country.

He did not consider the premature death of his nephew as deplorable. He hoped now the Kashmir issue would be decided once and for all.

Yoginder's coffin was brought here by officers from his regiment. Slogans against Pakistan rent the air as the truck carrying the coffin entered the town. The coffin was brought for "janata darshan" and the police had a tough time handling the crowd. It was then taken in a procession to the cremation ground. Army pall-bearers led by jawans of the Grenadiers regiment carried the coffin as hundreds of mourners stood on both sides of the road to salute the hero. Cutting across party lines the BJP and the Congress displayed banners denouncing Pakistan.

All activity came to a standstill in the town to express solidarity with the family of the martyr. The bazar wore a deserted look. Even owners of wayside tea stalls, rehris and panwallahs joined the bandh to pay homage to the Kargil hero.

Earlier, military officers, politicians and district officers placed wreaths on the coffin. The mortal remains of the sepoy were consigned to the flames with full military honours. The pyre was lit by his younger brother.

3 enteritis deaths in Chamunda
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Aug 5 — A large number of villages in the Chamunda area, are under the grip of gastroenteritis causing three deaths during the past few days.

The villages of Salag, Kand Kandiana, Dhanood and the slate godown area near Yol have been affected by the disease. According to villagers Kusum (16) of Salag village, under Tang panchayat, died after suffering from severe dysentery and vomiting. In two other cases Lakha (60) and Bhagal belonging to Kand Kandiana village also died due to gastroenteritis.

According to reporters, every day a large number of patients of this disease are reaching the Badoi primary health centre. They complain that due to drinking of contaminated and non-chlorinated water being supplied by the IPH Department, there has been an outbreak of the disease.

The disease was being reported more from the villages which were farther away from the road head, and did not have access to safe drinking water. A large number of these cases are being referred to the Zonal Hospital here.

The Chief Medical Officer, Mr M.L. Vaidya, when contacted confirmed that a few gastroenteritis cases had been coming to the hospital. "It is a normal phenomenon during the rainy season and the situation is completely under control," he stated. He added that it was not an epidemic-like situation and all precautions were being taken to chlorinate the drinking water, being supplied in these areas.

Keeping in view coming Shravan fair at Chamunda, he said extra measures would have to be taken and 25,000 chlorine tablets were being distributed in the area. He clarified that there was no dearth of medicines and they were being readily provided to the patients in the PHCs.

The Medical Superintendent at the Zonal Hospital, Mr C.S. Rathore, said that every day gastroenteritis cases were arriving but the situation was not alarming. He said that these cases had been coming for the past few days but a compiled data was not available in the hospital.

However, the people of the area complained that despite so many cases of gastroenteritis being reported from the area, no team of doctors had paid a visit to educate the people and provide medical help. They added that it was for this reason only that the deaths had taken place in the absence of medical help.

Speaker’s decision boosts BJP morale
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 5 — Mr P.K. Dhumal, Himachal Chief Minister, has emerged stronger with the Speaker, Mr Gulab Singh Thakur, removing the long-drawn political uncertainty over the fate of the two ministers, Mr Mansa Ram and Mr Prakash Chaudhary by dismissing the petition of the Congress seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection law.

The BJP activists were in an upbeat mood here today as they felt that the approval of merger of these two ministers in the ruling BJP would clip the wings of the HVC chief, Mr Sukh Ram.

Both these ministers had won the Assembly election last year on HVC ticket,but were merged with the BJP in an action which Mr Sukh Ram described as his "masterstroke".

BJP activists appeared relieved now as they believe that the bargaining power of Mr Sukh Ram would be reduced with the strength of the HVC falling to 3 with these two ministers finally becoming a part and parcel of the BJP. Moreover, they point out that Mr Sukh Ram now ceased to be the balancing power in the political scene with his strength falling in the Assembly. Mr Sukh Ram had, so far, been claiming that the electorate had given the balancing power in his hands by voting five HVC men to the Assembly.

Although their admission in the BJP was confirmed in March last year, but confusion was created from time to time when Mr Sukh Ram claimed that the mind and soul of Mr Mansa Ram and Mr Prakash Chaudhary was in the HVC, while bodily they were in the BJP.

These ministers had throughout been participating in the party meetings of the HVC.

They created a flutter recently when they issued a joint statement claiming that they continued to be members of the HVC and their joining the BJP at the time of formation of the Dhumal government was a "stage managed" act.

With the disposal of the petition of the Congress member, the strength of the BJP in the 68-member Assembly stands at 34. Besides an independent also supporting them. The three member HVC is an alliance partner of the BJP government. The strength of the Congress party is 29 and the Speaker is an unattached member of the House.

On the other hand, the HVC men were satisfied over the Shimla (reserved) Lok Sabha seat being left for them to contest by the BJP.

Mr Dhumal said that the BJP would fully cooperate with the HVC in contesting the Shimla seat.

Meanwhile, the Congress party was examining the judgement of the Speaker with a view to challenging it in the Supreme Court.

Women voters hold key in Kangra
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 5 — Women hold the key in the prestigious Kangra and Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituencies of Himachal Pradesh where they outnumber male voters.

In the other two constituencies of Mandi and Shimla (reserved), men have their say.

According to the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Bhim Sein, an addition of 1,39,808 voters has been made this time over the last year’s number of voters. The total number of voters registered so far are 37,76,547.

Interestingly, women outnumber male voters by 23,534 in the Hamirpur constituency and by 20,897 in the Kangra seat.

However, the gap between the male and female voters has narrowed down in both these constituencies as compared to the last year when the women voters were 29,548 and 23,974 more in number than men in the Hamirpur and Kangra constituencies, respectively.

In the Hamirpur district alone, women voters outnumber men by 15,834.

Constituency wise the number of electorate registered so far is, Shimla (reserved) 9,44,121, Mandi (967961), Kangra (928231) and Hamirpur (936234).

Illicit felling of trees detected
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 5 — The Enforcement Department has detected three cases of illicit felling of tress in Shimla and Kangra districts.

In the first case unauthorised felling of trees was detected in the government forest near Tahu village in Kotkhai. As many as 28 sleepers of khair, worth Rs 50,000 were recovered.

In the second case Padam Singh and Sita Ram, both of Bijmal village in Chopal tehsil were booked for illicit felling of khair trees worth Rs 50,000 in the Piunta beat of Chopal forest division.

An unauthorised saw mill was detected in Kharota village in Kangra district which made logs from trees felled illicitly. Nine logs were seized from the mill.

The police also impounded two trucks carrying 14 tonnes of illegally mined limestone in Paonta Sahib area. Four persons were arrested on the charge of illicit mining and transporting limestone without paying royalty.

Concern over false case against GM
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 5 — Various employees associations of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board have expressed concern over the registration of "false" cases against the General Manager of the Nathpa Jhakri project.

Representatives of the Project Engineers Association, the State Power Board Employees Union and the Junior Engineers Association, who met at Jhakri on Tuesday alleged that it was a conspiracy by certain people with vested interest who had not been able to reconcile to the appointment of a Himachali at the top post in the project, they alleged.

The main charge against Mr V.K. Sharma, General Manager, they pointed out, was that he allowed cost escalation to contractors where works were completed in less than year during 1993 and 1994. The fact was that the order not to pay escalation cost was conveyed by the management sometime in 1994. No escalation had been allowed subsequently.

The implication of the top functionary in false cases would demoralise staff and delay completion of the project, they said.

Centre to bring fruits under crop insurance
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Aug 5 — The Centre has agreed to bring fruits and vegetables under the crop insurance scheme on the request of the Himachal Pradesh Government. This information was given by the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, to representatives of the Fruits Growers Association who called on him here today to discuss various issues.

Members of the association thanked the Chief Minister for taking various steps for strengthening the economy of fruits growers during the past 15 months an urged him to take up the matter with the Government of India for deleting fruits from OGL.

The Chief Minister said the government had already taken up the matter and had been informed it would not take any steps which would harm the interests of the fruits growers of Himachal Pradesh.

He said the decision to include fruits under OGL was taken in 1994.

He advised fruit growers to form cooperatives and develop storage system so that they get remunerative prices for their produce. He said the government would provide all possible assistance to them for this.

Mr Dhumal said the present government was committed to the betterment of fruit growers and other sections and said the government had already announced support price for apple and other fruits.

1 killed, 1 hurt in mishap

SHIMLA, Aug 5 — (PTI) — One person was killed an another received injuries when a tipper fell into a deep khud near Jhakri about 130 km from here today, according to reports reaching here.

The dead has been identified as Narinder Kumar, driver of the tipper.

The injured has been admitted to the NJP Hospital.