Pak isolated, says Thakre
SHIMLA, June 1 — Mr Kushabhau Thakre, President of the BJP, today said that Pakistan's misadventure in Kargil had exposed the "real" face of that country and it stood isolated in the international arena.

Make Manali-Leh road 'all weather'
MANDI, June 1 — Mr Sukh Ram, HVC supremo today stressed the need for making the Manali-Leh road all-weather one.

Impressive school function
DAGSHAI, June 1 — A colourful cultural programme was the highlight of the 13th Founders Day celebrations of the Army Public School, Dagshai, today. Lt Gen H.B. Kala, GOC-in-C, Western Command, was the chief guest. The function began at 9 a.m. with a PT display, followed by gymnastics in the huge open ground in the school.

HP plan to check forest fires
SHIMLA, June 1 — Having suffered considerable damage to ecology due to forest fires this summer, the Himachal government is working on a plan to control such fires in future.

Demonstration by CITU workers
SHIMLA, June 1 — Activists of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions and other Left organisation staged a demonstration against the detention of Mr Rakesh Singha and agitating workers of the Nathpa-Jhakri joint venture company, here today.

• Ajit Narain new IG (Vigilance)
• K.C. Sharma

Pak isolated, says Thakre
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 1 — Mr Kushabhau Thakre, President of the BJP, today said that Pakistan's misadventure in Kargil had exposed the "real" face of that country and it stood isolated in the international arena.

Addressing a Press conference here, he said hitherto Pakistan had always projected India as the aggressor but the large-scale infiltration by its army regulars and hired militants in Kargil had left no one in doubt who was at fault. The manner in which Pakistan had responded to India's friendly gestures and initiatives which led to the signing of the Lahore declaration had lowered its stock in the eyes of the world community. Pakistan's calculations misfired as it was sure that India would not come to know about the infiltrators until June when the snow melted. However, vigilant Indian Army jawans were able to spot them in May itself.

He said Pakistan's isolation was a major success of the foreign policy and diplomatic initiatives taken by the BJP-led government over the past one year. The friendly gestures of the government should not be misconstrued as a weakness of the country and Pakistan should see the ground reality and refrain from such action which could trigger off a major conflict.

"We are not war mongers, we want good relations with Pakistan but not at the cost of the country's security". The Lahore declaration was still relevant. However, any further move in that direction would be made only after pushing back the infiltrators from Kargil.

Replying to a question, Mr Thakre said there was nothing wrong in senior defence officers briefing BJP leaders. Now a days warfare was not confined to armies alone and even the common masses who bore the brunt were also involved. As such it was appropriate that political parties and the media, which played an important role in preparing the people, were kept informed about the latest developments on the war front.

He said he would not mind if other political parties were also briefed by the senior defence officers.

He gave a clean chit to Mr George Fernandes, and said the Defence Minister's views were no different from his. There were many agencies in Pakistan on which the political bosses had no control. He said Mr Fernandes had visited forward posts several times and he had played an important role in raising the morale of the Army.

Mr Thakre said the Trinamul Congress and the Telugu Desam party were solidly with the BJP-led National Democratic Front and these parties were not vulnerable at all as claimed by Mr Sharad Pawar.

He said the coordination committee of the front would meet later this month to finalise the joint programme for the Lok Sabha poll which would be largely based on the national agenda of the Vajpayee government.

He said the BJP was in favour of amending the Constitution to debar persons of foreign origin from holding the high offices of President, Vice-President and Prime Minister. The party did not want to make Mrs Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin an issue, but since it had been raised within the Congress and had led to a split in the party, it would be a major issue.

Elections in the country were usually decided on a negative vote but this time the NDF would seek a vote on the basis of the achievements of the Vajpayee government. The Pokhran blasts, the economic turnaround in the face of worldwide recession and prompt action in Kargil, which no earlier government dared to do,were the major achievements.

Make Manali-Leh road 'all weather'
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, June 1 — Mr Sukh Ram, HVC supremo today stressed the need for making the Manali-Leh road all-weather one.

Talking to mediapersons at the local Circuit House, he said. "I had vigorously taken up the matter of making this road of great strategic importance an all-weather road while in the Defence Ministry in view of the fact that the present Pathankot-Leh road fell within the firing range of Pakistan. The then Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi and P.V. Narasimha Rao were convinced but funds involved in this gigantic task stood in the way."

He said recent developments in Kargil and surrounding areas of the Kashmir valley had once again highlighted the great strategic significance of the Manali-Leh road.

He suggested that the proposed Rohtang tunnel, work for which had been completed when he was in the Defence Ministry, should be constructed without further delay and in supreme national interests.

He said recent developments had proved it was paramount to have an alternative land route to the Kashmir valley. Therefore, it would be worthwhile to spend a few hundred crores on the Manali-Leh road in the interest of national security.

He said he would like to discuss this matter with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during his visit this week to Himachal Pradesh.

Later, replying to a question if there were differences between the BJP and the HVC on sharing seats of parliament, he said "no", adding that the matter would be sorted out amicably by the coalition partners. He claimed all four seats in the state would be won by the BJP-HVC candidates. The lone Shimla seat, which had gone to the Congress last time, would also be won by the coalition this time, he asserted.

He ridiculed Mr Virbhadra Singh's statement that he (Sukh Ram) would not be allowed to rejoin the Congress. "I am not keen on joining the Congress. Why should I? We have our own government here," he quipped.

When asked if he would join the Congress on a special request by Ms Sonia Gandhi he refused to reply, saying it was a hypothetical question.

Replying another question that Mandi district was being ignored" by Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal more than Mr Virbhadra Singh ever did during his rein and that the IPH and other departments were being starved of funds he assured he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister.

"Kangra Queen" this month
From Our Correspondent

KANGRA, June 1 — A Shatabadi-type train likely to be named "Kangra Queen" will be run between Pathankot and Palampur in Kangra district shortly.

For the first time after independence, Northern Railway has decided to introduce a train with tour coaches, out of which one coach with 38 seats will be for 2nd class travellers.

Modalities for the same were finalised at a meeting here between Mr B.K. Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, and Mr S.A. Zaidi, AGM, Northern Railway, Ferozepore and other senior officers of the Indian Railways. The train is likely to be introduced in the third week of June.

Work on the Kangra valley rail line started in 1926 and three years later the 163 km long route joining Jogindernagar and Pathankot was opened to traffic.

According to Mr Zaidi, as per the tentative schedule, the train will start from Pathankot at 8.20 a.m. and reach Jawalamukhi road at 10.37 a.m.

He said the Himachal Pradesh Government would be requested to provide suitable road transport at Jawalamukhi road, Kangra, and Palampur to enable tourists to carry out their on ward journey to Dharamsala, McLeodganj and Manali. The train would reach Kangra at 11.41 a.m. and depat for Palampur at 11.43 a.m. Finally, it would reach Palampur at 12.55 p.m. the train would leave Palampur at 1.45 p.m. and reach Pathankot at 6.05 p.m.

Mr Zaidi said Himachal Tourism may also consider buying some seats on the train a similar train was started some times back on the Shimla-Kalka route which proved profitable to the Northern Railways.

A computerised reservation centre would be opened in Dharmsala.

Cong-backed panchayats allege
raw deal
From Our Correspondent

JWALAMUKHI, June 1 — Mr Kewal Singh Pathania, former Himachal Transport Minister and former MLA from Jwalamukhi constituency of Kangra district, has condemned the state Bhartiya Janata Party government for stalling all development activities in the Jwalamukhi area for petty political reasons.

Briefing reporters here today, he said that construction of the Jwalamukhi - Tihri, the Gummer- Baggi, the Baggi-Khundian via Lagru link roads had come to a standstill and not a single hand-pump had been installed in the Chamba Pattan, Balera, Lagru, Daloh, Dola and Mahadev panchayats, headed by Congress supported pradhans. He held the Irrigation and Public Health Department guilty of installing public taps near the house of local BJP worker without fulfilling official formalities thus depriving common people of drinking water facilities, it is a matter of utter surprise that the area is represented by the IPH Minister Ramesh Dhawala himself but he is unaware about the public problems," he added.

Expressing concern over inadequate health services in the Jwalamukhi area, Mr Pathania demanded that the community health centre at Jwalamukhi should be declared a civil hospital by providing indoor facilities at least for 200 patients.

The former legislator regretted that the community health centre at Jwalamukhi was unable to provide satisfactory services to patients as it had a shortage of staff, poor technical staff and non-working X-ray machine.

Mr Pathania threatened to gherao Xen concerned at the Irrigation and Public Health Department if he continued to act like a worker of the ruling party by providing "illegal" public taps and depriving those who had no leanings towards the BJP in the area.

Impressive school function
Tribune News Service

DAGSHAI, June 1 — A colourful cultural programme was the highlight of the 13th Founders Day celebrations of the Army Public School, Dagshai, today. Lt Gen H.B. Kala, GOC-in-C, Western Command, was the chief guest. The function began at 9 a.m. with a PT display, followed by gymnastics in the huge open ground in the school.

The function was almost undone by high velocity winds earlier that morning which uprooted several tents. The damage was, however, fixed in time for the inauguration with teachers and students alike pitching in.

Starting with a vandana, the programme moved on to "Cindrella" followed by the play "Mudh Mudh Jamo Shaheed Bhagat Singh." The calibre of the participants lifted the play beyond the level of the ordinary causing many moist eyes in the audience in the final scene in which Bhagat Singh is to be hanged along with Rajguru and Sukhdev.

The play was followed by a group song, "Mil mil kar hum sab gayen...." and the Haryanvi dance number, "Mera chuner mangade re...." Other plays staged were the French comedy "The Pie and the Tart," and a Hindi comedy, "Joonk."

But the event that brought the house down was Jindwa, with students dancing to a popular Punjabi number which was also the last event of the day.

Earlier, Lt. Col Shyam S. Dudeja, Principal, read out the annual report and said in view of the school strength and to make the atmosphere more academically conducive school facilities had been graded and a career counselling cell added.

He also highlighted the achievements of the school with as many as 30 of its students (including one in the Air Force) commissioned in the Army.

General Kala presented trophies for the year. The Cock House Trophy for overall excellence was lifted by Patel House for the fifth year in succession.

The trophy for co-curricular activities also went to Patel House and dramatics to Nehru House.

Prizes were also awarded to Nakul Bhandari, Tanya Brar, Jitender Singh, Aakansha Badola, Pankaj Tanwar, Vandana, Vijender, Suresh and Reeti Tiwari for standing first in their classes, respectively.

The best actor (English) award went to Mayank Tiwari, best actress (English) to Tithiya and best actor (Hindi) award to Vijender Yadav, best actress to Urvashi Gulia.

The all-round best student award was won by Gargi Pawar.

HP plan to check forest fires
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 1 — Having suffered considerable damage to ecology due to forest fires this summer, the Himachal government is working on a plan to control such fires in future.

Mr Roop Singh Thakur, Himachal Forest Minister, yesterday said that a high-level committee would be setup to study the problem in depth.

More than 26,000 hectares of forest land has been affected by fires during the past two months.

Mr Roop Singh said that a serious thought was being given to the problem due to which forests were getting damaged every summer. Public opinion will also be built to motivate rural area residents to come forward to control the fires around their villages.

The minister has held a series of meetings with senior officers of the Forest Department to discuss the issue.

Demonstration by CITU workers
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 1 — Activists of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions and other Left organisation staged a demonstration against the detention of Mr Rakesh Singha and agitating workers of the Nathpa-Jhakri joint venture company, here today.

Members of the Nathpa-Jhakri Joint Venture Workers Union went on an indefinite strike, affecting work at several locations. The union accused the government of siding with the company which was "crushing" trade union rights.

The main demand of the union is that the company should take back all 156 workers who were "illegally" retrenched.

Ajit Narain new IG (Vigilance)
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 1 — In yet another reshuffle in the sensitive Vigilance Department, the IG, Mr Ashwani Kumar, was today shifted to the "insignificant" Railway and Traffic Police.

Mr Ajit Narain has been appointed IG, Vigilance, in his place.

Mr Ashwani Kumar will also hold additional charge as IG, Human Rights Commission.

Earlier, a few days ago, the Additional DGPs of both the Vigilance and Enforcement Department were removed from their posts.

Significance is being attached to these transfers as officers in these departments were allegedly being pressurised to register cases against a former Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, by the ruling BJP-HVC combine leadership.

K.C. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, June 1 — The Himachal Government today appointed Mr K.C. Sharma, a retired IAS officer, as Election Commissioner of Superintendence, Direction and Control of Preparation of Electoral Rolls. He will conduct all elections to panchayats and local bodies.

He replaces Mr B.C. Negi, whose term expired on May 23.