Fresh trouble for Sat Mahajan
DHARAMSALA, July 16 — While the PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, has tried to appease and win over Virbhadra layalists by giving them important party positions keeping in view the Lok Sabha elections, has own supporters seem to have created problems for him in Kangra.

Bali's statement ridiculed
SHIMLA, July 16 — Mr Krishan Kapoor, Transport Minister and Mr Ramesh Dhawala, Minister for Irrigation and Public Health, have ridiculed the statement of Congress legislator, Mr G.S. Bali, in which he had alleged that the BJP had failed to fulfil the promises made by it to the other backward classes and Gaddis.

Arrest criminals, demand villagers
KANGRA, July 16 — Hundreds of villagers of Baterad village yesterday held a demonstration in protest against the police failure to arrest criminals involved in the murder of Hoshiyar Singh of the village.

HRTC workers block traffic
KANGRA, July 16 — The HRTC workers yesterday blocked Pathankot-Mandi highway for an hour in protest against the alleged manhandling of the conductor of an HRTC bus.

3 hurt in clash at Damtal
DHARAMSALA, July 16 — Three persons were injured, when two groups clashed at Damtal today to gain control over the influential Damtal Truck Union.

HP unit of NSUI dissolved
SHIMLA, July 16 — The newly appointed president of the Himachal unit of the National Students Union of India, Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, today dissolved the state unit of the organisation and threatened to launch disciplinary action against those who had opposed his appointment.

List of candidates sent to AICC
HAMIRPUR, July 15 — The District Congress Committee has forwarded all eight applications received by it to the party high command for the allotment of ticket for the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat.

Hoax call causes panic
BILASPUR, July 16 — A hoax telephone call caused a lot of mental agony to members of a businessman's family here a couple of days ago.

Treasuries start encashing bills
SHIMLA, July 16 — Encashment of government bills by the treasuries in Himachal Pradesh was normalised today.

Fresh trouble for Sat Mahajan
From Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, July 16 — While the PCC chief, Mr Sat Mahajan, has tried to appease and win over Virbhadra layalists by giving them important party positions keeping in view the Lok Sabha elections, has own supporters seem to have created problems for him in Kangra.

In the latest development in the Congress circles, senior Congressmen and office-bearers of the Kangra Block Congress Committee in a resolution passed unanimously have demanded the expulsion of the Kangra block president, Mr Surinder Kaku, who is considered close to the PCC chief. The upheavel came about with the presence of some of the Congressmen, including Mr Kaku, at a dinner hosted for the HVC, chief, Mr Sukh Ram, at Kangra last week.

The Congressmen from Kangra, including former MLA Daulat Chaudhary have demanded that Mr Mahajan should take immediate action against these people for joining hands with elements who are working against the interests of the party. In view of the party stand that the Congress will not join hands with corrupt elements, these people should be expelled from the party," he demanded. Mr Kaku was a claimant for the party ticket from the Kangra Assembly segment and is a close confidant of the PCC chief. These partymen, including Mr Onkar Chauhan Kangra Block Congress Committee general secretary and the general secretary of the Kangra DCC, Mr Omesh Sharma have demanded that Mr Kaku and Mr Vijay Sharma, the district Youth Congress president, should be expelled from the party.

Knowing very well that he will have to contest the Lok Sabha election from Kangra, Mr Sat Mahajan recently got some of the senior Congress leaders from the district nominated in the PCC and the state election committee. While former minister Vijai Singh Mankotia was made the vice-president of the PCC, Mr G.S. Bali, MLA, was elevated from joint secretary to general secretary of the PCC. Two other leaders and staunch Virbhadra supporters — Mr Chander Kumar and Mr Vikram Katoch — were including in the state election committee. Political analysts point out that it is the political compulsion of Mr Mahajan to pacify and keep these leaders in good humour to ensure his victory in the Lok Sabha election.

In a bid to ensure the support of Virbhadra loyalists in Kangra district, Mr Mahajan is reportedly making attempts to patch up with these leaders who hold considerable importance in their constituencies. It is learnt that Mr Mahajan has already held talks with former Tourism Minister Vijai Singh Mankotia. Former Transport Minister Kewal Singh Pathania admitted they had decided to bury the hatchet and start afresh. He said it was in the larger interests of the party that all leaders work unitedly for the victory of the party candidate. "We all will sit together and iron out our differences with Mr Mahajan," he admitted.

Political observers say the change of heart has taken place as Mr Mahajan very well realise that it is only with the support of Virbhadra loyalists that he can think of winning the election. It is only two months back that a show-cause notice had been issued to Mr Mankotia for raising his voice against the party chief and now all of a sudden he has been made the vice-president of the Pradesh Congress Committee.

It remains to be seen whether Mr Mahajan will take action against his own loyalists in Kangra or will prefer to remain quiet. In both the cases it is a no-win situation for Mr Mahajan who is trying to get everyone together.

Bali's statement ridiculed
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 16 — Mr Krishan Kapoor, Transport Minister and Mr Ramesh Dhawala, Minister for Irrigation and Public Health, have ridiculed the statement of Congress legislator, Mr G.S. Bali, in which he had alleged that the BJP had failed to fulfil the promises made by it to the other backward classes and Gaddis.

In a joint statement here today the two ministers said there was no truth in the charge which was politically motivated and the only purpose behind it was to earn cheap publicity.

Referring to the allegation that the transport policy was changed to help influential persons, the ministers said that Mr Bali had made the charge without even going through the policy which was appreciated in the state Vidhan Sabha.

The government was committed to fulfil the promises made to the other backward classes. The process of identifying more such classes was on and necessary action would be taken once it was completed.

Mr Kapoor alleged that during Congress rule funds placed at the disposal of members of Parliament was misused.

Rs 527.68 cr disbursed as loan in HP
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 16 — Mr A.K. Goswami Himachal Chief Secretary, today said that in 1998-99, banks disbursed Rs 527.68 crore as loan as against annual commitment of Rs. 387.68 crore and showed an achievement of 136 per cent in Himachal Pradesh.

Inaugurating the 79th state-level banker's committee meeting here today, Mr Goswami said that the total outlay for the annual credit plan for 1999-2000 had been envisaged at Rs 475.38 crore which was 23 per cent more than the previous year's commitment. He said the Nabard has taken the lead by providing liberal finance under rural infrastructure development fund, which had helped in improving irrigation facilities, construction and development of link roads and bridges in the state.

He said the "Swaran Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna" launched for the uplift of rural people was covering all aspects of self-employment like training development of technology, infrastructure, marketing and organising the villagers into self-help groups. He said that banks should continue to extend need based financial assitance to agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry, transport and tourism with the same commitment and dedication, the credit ratio will improve and on the other so that on the hand it will help in generating employment for the young especially in the rural areas. Introduction of "Kisan Credit Cards" by various banks in the state during 1998-99 is a laudable step in simplifying the availability of finance to the farmers, he added.

Mr Sharda Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, uco Bank said that at present the credit deposit ratio in the state was 25.74 per cent, he said that various employment generation schemes in rural areas like IRDP, TRYSEM, Sitra, GYK and Dwakra had been merged into "Swaran Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna" from April 1, 1999. He urged the various nodal agencies to coordinate their efforts to provide desired assistance and guidance to the identified beneficiaries, so that the targets and purpose of this scheme could be achieved on time.

Mr Yogesh Khanna, Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Finance, Mr Deepak Sanam, Secretary-cum-Director, Institutional Finance, Mr G.K. Gupta, General Manager, Operations, uco Bank representatives of the Reserve Bank of India Nabard, various banks and corporations located in Himachal and officers of state government and public sector undertaking were also present in the meeting.

Arrest criminals, demand villagers
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, July 16 — Hundreds of villagers of Baterad village yesterday held a demonstration in protest against the police failure to arrest criminals involved in the murder of Hoshiyar Singh of the village.

The protestors led by the village Sarpanch, Mr Buta Ram, demanded the arrest of the culprits.

Hoshiyar Singh was missing and later found dead in fields on June 12. His family alleged the police was taking no action against the suspects. They threatened to launch an agitation if the police failed to arrest the culprits.

HRTC workers block traffic
For Our Correspondent

KANGRA, July 16 — The HRTC workers yesterday blocked Pathankot-Mandi highway for an hour in protest against the alleged manhandling of the conductor of an HRTC bus.

Mr Preetam Chand Katoch, in charge of Palampur depot, said that some persons yesterday manhandled a conductor, Mr Sanjeev Kumar, and tore off his uniform. He alleged that they tried to attack Mr Sanjeev Kumar with a sword too. A case has been registered but no arrests had been made so far.

The blockade was lifted after the local administration assured the agitators that action against the culprits would be taken.

3 hurt in clash at Damtal
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, July 16 — Three persons were injured, when two groups clashed at Damtal today to gain control over the influential Damtal Truck Union.

A tussle had been going on between two groups in the union for taking control over the union. Apprehending that there would be trouble, the ADM and the ASP were present there, when the two groups met. It is learnt the group led by the former union president, Mr Rachpal Singh, who apparently has the backing of the former Transport Minister, Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, was in a mood to forcibly take over the union. The other group led by the present union president, Mr Chanan Singh, along with a large number of people was also present there. This group is learnt to be having the support of the local BJP legislator.

The clash took place when certain representatives of the two groups had gone to the Damtal temple to hold talks. A major clash was averted as the police which was deployed there in large numbers took control of things at the union site where the clash took place.

According to the SSP, Mr K.C. Sadyal, a case has been registered in the Indora police station under Section 307 of the IPC and two persons have been arrested in this connection.

HP unit of NSUI dissolved
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 16 — The newly appointed president of the Himachal unit of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, today dissolved the state unit of the organisation and threatened to launch disciplinary action against those who had opposed his appointment.

Mr Pathania, who was talking to mediapersons, said the district units of the NSUI would continue to function. The new set-up at the state level would be announced shortly.

He said he had already sent a report to the party high command against those activists who had challenged his appointment. Mr Rakesh Chauhan has been appointed chairman of the disciplinary committee.

He demanded that the elections for the Students Central Association should be held on the pattern of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU). The system of direct elections here has vitiated the academic atmosphere. Students involved in criminal cases should not be allowed to become office-bearers.

Mr Pathania demanded that reservation should be made for wards of Kargil martyrs in professional institutions.

List of candidates sent to AICC
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, July 15 — The District Congress Committee (DCC) has forwarded all eight applications received by it to the party high command for the allotment of ticket for the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the DCC held here today under the Chairmanship of the DCC Chief, Mr Suresh Kumar.

The applicants include Prof Narain Chand Prasher, a former Education Minister, Ms Anita Verma, a former Parliamentary Secretary,Mr Kuldip Singh Pathania, a former HP Youth Congress chief, Dr Vinod Sharma, Mr B.R. Rahi, Mr Ram Chand Pathania, Mr Bhola Singh Patyal and Mr Hakam Singh Chandel.

However, the committee recommended the ticket should be given to the person belonging to the district.

Hoax call causes panic
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, July 16 — A hoax telephone call caused a lot of mental agony to members of a businessman's family here a couple of days ago.

The family members of Mr Surinder Sharma were shocked when an unidentified caller informed them at about 8.45 p.m. that the Maruti van belonging to Mr Sharma had been involved in a serious accident near Dharampur and had been destroyed completely and two occupants had been seriously injured. The injured had been rushed to the PGI at Chandigarh.

Panicked by the news the family immediately informed other relatives and rushed to Chandigarh. The hapless relatives kept on looking for the injured but without any result. Their worry, however, turned to anger against the caller when Mr Sharma walked into the house around 1 a.m. hale and hearty. He had no inkling of the panic and he had been delayed as he had stopped enroute to meet a friend.

Treasuries start encashing bills
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 16 — Encashment of government bills by the treasuries in Himachal Pradesh was normalised today.

A spokesman of the state government said that in the day-to-day financial management of the state imbalances between receipts and expenditure were not an abnormal occurrence. In order to mediate these imbalances, the Reserve Bank of India, as the banker of state government, allowed certain ways and means advances and overdraft facility, which had to be cleared within a specified period of time.

The government of Himachal Pradesh had availed itself of this facility hundreds of times in the past 30 years. In the last week government availed itself of this ways and means overdraft facility.

Meanwhile, Mr Gangu Ram Musafir, a Congress MLA, has alleged that Himachal Pradesh plunges into a financial crisis when ever there is a BJP government in the state.