Dhumal wins over Kangra MLAs
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 13 — Controversy regarding simmering discontent in the ruling BJP set at rest today when the ministers and legislators considered supporters of Mr Shanta Kumar reaffirmed their confidence in the Chief Minister, Mr P. K. Dhumal.

These legislators held a joint news conference here today where they described Mr Dhumal as their "undisputed leader" and said they were with him.

This is being seen an exercise of the ruling BJP to present a united picture before the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Those who addressed reporters were Mr Vidya Sagar Agriculture Minister, Mr Ramesh Chaudhary, IPH Minister, Mr K K Kapoor, Transport Minister and Mrs Sarveen Chaudhary, Capt Atma Ram (retd), Mr Des Raj, Mr Vipan Parmar and Mr Rakesh Pathania (all BJP legislators of the Kangra district).

These leaders of the Kangra district said that they had no differences with Mr Dhumal. Mr Vidya Sagar and Mr Kapoor, who recently had created political ripples when they held a meeting to discuss various irritants faced by them said that misunderstandings now had been removed. They appreciated the Chief Minister for launching several development schemes in the Kangra district.

Mr Ramesh Chaudhary, said that their grudge regarding Mr Rajan Sushant, Minister of State for Revenue, who was junior to them, having been appointed chairman of the District Grievances Committee of Kangra might be settled soon with a senior minister of the area being made to head the panel. The issue was under serious consideration of the Chief Minister, he said.

Mr Vidya Sagar said that Mr Dhumal has been taking due care of the Kangra District from where three of the 12 legislators had been made Cabinet ministers.

Mr Ramesh Chaudhary, an independent with whose support the BJP government came to power about 10 months ago said that the promises made with him regarding development of his Jawalamukhi constituency were being implemented sincerely by the Dhumal government.

Mr Kapoor said that the issue of another minister, Mr Parveen Sharma "interfering" in his transport department during the recent strike of private bus operators, has also been settled following discussions with the Chief Minister. These legislators criticised the Congress Chief Mr Sat Mahajan, for making "irrelevant" allegations of discrimination with the Kangra district and said that Mr Mahajan was probably upset over being asked by his party to contest the Lok Sabha election from Kangra where his future was "dark" they claimed.

They denied the allegations of misuse of the MP's local area development fund by Mr Shanta Kumar and accused Mr Sat Mahajan and a Congress MP, Mrs Chandresh Kumari, of misusing the fund for their personal interests.

They said that the BJP government had ensured an all-round development of the Kangra district which was discriminated against during the Congress regime.

In a joint statement, signed by 11 of the 12 legislators of the BJP from Kangra, they have listed the achievements of the government for the development of the district.

They have pointed out that the Tanda medical college received recognition from the Medical Council of India only due to efforts of Mr Dhumal.

Work on the Rs 100 crore Khauli hydel project was started by the present government and the other achievements include opening of the regional centre of the university at Dharamsala, setting up of a group centre of the CRPF at Nurpur, approval of a Rs 2.50 crore ropeway over the Neugal river in Palampur, earmarking of Rs 5 crore for the development of water sports in the Pong dam lake and various other schemes.

NSUI chief’s appointment opposed
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 13 — Reacting sharply to the appointment of Mr Kewal Singh Pathania as the new President of the National Studies Union of India (NSUI) in Himachal Pradesh, the campus unit of the party has despatched a protest letter to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, AICC President.

Mr Ved Prakash, Vice-President of the NSUI, has listed serious allegations against Mr Pathania and has alleged that his appointment was in violation of the norms.

In a statement here yesterday, Mr Ved Prakash and Mr Maheshwar Chauhan, Organising Secretary, have said that Mr Pathania was not acceptable to them as the party chief. They warned that the removal of Mr Atul Sharma from the post at this critical juncture would harm the NSUI.

They threatened that NSUI activists would not participate in electioneering for Congress candidates in the coming Lok Sabha elections if the appointment of Mr Pathania was not reversed.

They said that the NSUI could not be run by remote control from Delhi.

He puts life into stones
From Dharmender Thakur

TILL yesterday he was a gun-toting soldier of the Indian Army. Today he is busy putting life into stones by creating gods out of these.

A resident of Bharog Baneri village in the Sookhi Dharti area of Sirmaur district in Himachal, Mata Ram retired from the Indian Army as a Lance Naik in 1987. Known as "fauji" in his village, he joined the Army at a tender age of 18. Now a new name of sculptor has been appended to his name.

In the absence of irrigation facilities, the Dharti area is barren where life is tough, fields uneven, scattered and replete with pebbles and rocks. The rock formation is mostly sandstone while some pockets have limestone.

One fine morning after levelling fields in his land, he started hitting a stone with chisel and hammer while taking rest under a tree. His imagination led him to carve out a statue of Parvati from that stone. That day he thought of becoming a sculptor. He started the process of chiselling gods and goddesses out of rocks. He sees God through his creations and finds solace in enthusing life into stones. His deft hands carve out figures with deep religious sentiments combined with devotions and rapt concentration.

Statues of almost all deities have been carved out by Mata Ram in stone and wood. "It is easier to work with concrete and wood. I have also erected eight-foot concrete statues of Saraswati, Hanuman, Rishi Markanday and other deities within a short span of six months at Katasan," he says.

Giving stones particular shapes is joy for Mata Ram. It is not work, rather a kind of worship to God and he is happy doing it. He derives immense pleasure and satisfaction when his work comes to life.

Mata Ram has also trained young persons in a workshop organised by the district administration. He is disappointed that there is little interest in young persons to know the intricacies of this art. He wants to see his art progress and flourish so that the cultural heritage of this region is preserved for times to come. His young son is keen on joining Mata Ram in this work of art so that the family’s tradition lives on.

He uses locally available sandstone for carving out statues. Hard stones require special tools and implements for chiselling. However, stones of medium hardness are most suitable for the purpose, Mata Ram says modestly.

PHCs short of docs: ex-minister
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, July 13 — Former Minister, Mr Rangila Ram Rao, today alleged that the working of health and educational institutions in his Gopalpur constituency had been crippled due to shortage of staff.

Talking to mediapersons, he claimed that the functioning of the sub-divisional hospital at Sarkaghat had been paralysed as the hospital had only five doctors as against the 18 sanctioned posts. Posts of all specialists were lying vacant for the past six months.

He alleged that segments represented by Congress MLAs were being discriminated against in matters of development.

The PHCs at Bhambla, Thona, Gopalpur, Dhalwan, etc, were without doctors.

He alleged that the PWD Minister, Mr Mahinder Singh, had allegedly diverted district funds to his constituency and was starving the adjoining Gopalpur area of funds.