BJP cashing in on Congress deeds: ex-CM
CHAMBA, Sept 22 — A former Chief Minister and a leader of the Congress Mr Virbhadra Singh, has accused the BJP of making false promises with the masses and alleged that they are cashing in on landmark development made during the Congress regime in the state.

Congress misleading people: Dhumal
JAWALAMUKHI, Sept 22 — The State Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today said that there was no danger to his government which stood like a granite rock".

Hamirpur gears up for LS poll
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Sept 22 — Elaborate arrangements have been made by the administration to conduct a fair and free poll in the Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency on September 25. This was stated here today by the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer, Mr Kamlesh Kumar Pant.

He told reporters today that the final rehearsal for the elections would take place on September 23 and the polling parties would move to their respective stations on September 23 and 24.

He said the polling would be held at 1,372 polling booths in the districts of Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur and Dehra revenue subdivision of Kangra. There were 414 polling stations in Hamirpur, 410 in Una, 330 in Bilaspur and 218 in Dehra. The total number of sensitive polling booths in the constituency was 260 and hyper sensitive 80.

Mr Pant said one policeman and home guard would be posted at normal polling stations. One havildar, two home guard jawans and two police constables would be posted at hyper-sensitive booths. Similarly, one non-gazetted police officer and two jawans of the Himachal Pradesh police and Himachal Pradesh home guard would also be deputed as each hyper-sensitive polling booth.

He added that in all 5,910 polling officers and 3,134 police personnel would be posted in the entire area.

Mr Pant asked the leaders of all political parties and contesting candidates to maintain peace and work according to the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission for the elections. He said strict action would be taken against the guilty.

Doordarshan exit poll
manipulated: Ram Lal
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Sept 22 — Mr Ram Lal Thakur, a senior Congress leader and Himachal Pradesh former Chief Minister foresees a Congress wave in the state. He says the party is sure to win all four Lok Sabha seats, this time.

Addressing a press conference here today, he said the people of the state were fed up with the BJP governments both at the Centre and in the state and wanted to oust them this time. He said it was the Congress that could deliver the goods to the people and form a stable government at the Centre.

He described the exit poll on Doordarshan as wrong and highly manipulated by BJP leaders in order to influence the voters. He, however, clarified that the people would not be misled by the false propaganda of the BJP and vote in favour of Congress candidates.

He denied the rift in the Congress as alleged by the BJP leaders and workers. He said that all leaders and workers of the party were united and working for the victory of party nominees all over the state. He said there was no truth in the reports that Mr Virbhadra Singh deliberately absented himself from the Shimla rally. He said Mr Virbhadra Singh was on a tour of Hamirpur and Kangra areas and as such he attended the Nagrota Bagwan rally of the Congress president.

Mr Thakur blasted the BJP leaders for trying to divide the state on caste and regional lines. He said the state would not be befooled by their nefarious designs.

The former Chief Minister blamed the BJP for the Kargil war. He demanded that all martyrs should be treated on a par and their families given facilities to their dependents.

Mr Thakur expressed apprehensions that the government might rig the elections. He, however, said the party cadre would thwart the attempts of the BJP on this account.

Mr H.D. Johar, senior Congress leader and party observer in the state, said that India had not seen any such weak government since Independence.

He charged the state government with misusing the government machinery during elections and asked the Election Commission to take a note of it.

BJP cashing in on
Congress deeds: ex-CM
From Our Correspondent

CHAMBA, Sept 22 — A former Chief Minister and a leader of the Congress Mr Virbhadra Singh, has accused the BJP of making false promises with the masses and alleged that they are cashing in on landmark development made during the Congress regime in the state.

Addressing an election meeting here yesterday, Mr Virbhadra Singh said the Dhumal government had proved to be an anti-farmer. The BJP-led government in the state had failed to root out corruption, he said.

Mr Virbhadra Singh criticised the dictatorial attitude of Mr Shanta Kumar who could not voice the problems of the state in Parliament.

He said the BJP was harping on the Kargil issue which was not yet over. He further said it was a conspiracy on the part of BJP-led government that when this government had collapsed, the Kargil conflict was started to take advantage during the Lok Sabha elections. He added that the Congress when voted to power would initiate a high-level inquiry and punish the quilty who were responsible for the killing of more than 500 Army personnel.

He said ministers in the state were minting money, using unfair means and if the Chief Minister did not take immediate steps the situation would reach alarming proportions.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said the crime rate in the state had increased and atrocities against Dalits and women were on the rise while the police were unable to take action due to blatant political intervention.

He said the public distribution system (PDS) had collapsed and essential items were cheaper in the open market. Sugar would not be sold under the PDS from October as per a notification of the government, he added.

The former Chief Minister flayed the state government for transferring 1.26 lakh employees and said it had only been inaugurating projects which were nearing completion during the Congress rule. He said three of the four national highways got sanctioned by the present government were actually approved during his chief ministership. Mr Harsh Mahajan, Vice-President, HPCC and Mr Sat Mahajan, a Congress candidate from Kangra Lok Sabha seat also spoke on this occasion.

Congress misleading people: Dhumal
From Our Correspondent

JAWALAMUKHI, Sept 22 — The State Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, today said that there was no danger to his government which stood like a granite rock". Addressing mediapersons at Dhaliara near here today, Mr Dhumal said the Congress was trying to mislead the people of the state by spreading rumours that his government would collapse after the elections.

He said prevailing political scenario was the clear indicator that the BJP-HVC combine would sweep the poll. He lamented that it had become quite difficult for Congressmen to do without power, as they were very much accustomed to power ever since the country attained Independence. That was why, they hatched a conspiracy to pull down the Vajpayee government, he alleged.

It was their apprehension that the success of Vajpayee government might pave the way for their complete rout during the next parliamentary elections, he said. He wondered how the Congress could assure the people of a stable government at the Centre, when they had toppled seven successive non-Congress governments at the Centre.

Mr Dhumal said he was confident that Mr Sukh Ram had no intention to rejoin the Congress.