Dhumal’s presence intact

Two-time Chief Minister PK Dhumal might have lost the Assembly election but his presence in the state capital still remains intact. The nameplate outside his earlier official residence in Chotta Shimla still reminds passersby of the clout he once enjoyed both as a CM and also as the Leader of Opposition. Even though it has been more than two months since Dhumal vacated the government accommodation he occupied for five years, his nameplate still adorns the entrance gate. The residence has been allotted to Minister for Rural Development Vikram Kanwar and his nameplate too has been put up.  While one side of the entrance gate has the name of Kanwar, the other still has Dhumal’s nameplate. It is probably Kanwar’s respect for Dhumal that despite not being in the state capital, Dhumal’s name will be seen every now and then. It is for the first time since 1998 that Dhumal will not have a residence in Shimla.

What a loss of face!

The ABVP flying high after the formation of the BJP government in the state received a jolt with the rejection of its major demand for restoration of direct elections to Students Central Associations (SCA) of Himachal Pradesh University and affiliated colleges. The ABVP and the SFI made it a major issue when the Congress government was in power and the ABVP was hoping that it would derive political benefit by pressurizing the government to accept its demand for restoration of direct elections to the SCAs but it did not happen. Now it is at the receiving end. Insiders say that the decision was taken after gathering intelligence inputs which said that the ABVP prospects were not bright and in case the SFI wins the election in the university campus, it would send a wrong message. What a loss of face?

National award sparks row

National award to a teacher from Jawalamukhi area of Kangra district on the Teachers Day on September 5 was talk of the teaching community. Though even the PM tweeted about the teacher from Jawalamukhi, many teachers contradicted the basis on which the award was given. It was said that the teacher from Jawalamukhi had helped 45 children from slums attend school. However, the teachers said there was no slum child in the school in which the awardee teacher was working. Some linked the award to the influential RSS leader from Jawalamukhi area. There was talk among the teaching community that the RSS leader of the state had helped teacher from his area bag the national award. Whether the opposition to the award was a case of professional jealously or a fact remains a mystery.

Incorrigible babus

The bureaucrats, as per the common perception, are and will rule the roost in the corridors of power. Things remain the same even under the Jai Ram Thakur regime. The babus always enjoy “Achhe din” regardless of the party in power. A case in point is the manner in which a notification was issued in July relaxing Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reform Act to allow offsprings of bureaucrats to purchase land. These questions have yet to get exact answer. Many bureaucrats have made Himachal, mainly Shimla, their home. Some of them even own orchards and farm houses and live in plush bungalows, preaching gospel on environment and culture, points out a young Himachali officer. But common citizens blame both the BJP and the Congress for the misuse of Section 118 that prohibits non Himachalis from buying agriculture land, a landmark law laid down by Himachal’s founder CM Dr YS Parmar that protects gullible Himachalis from land sharks. This law should prevail and should expose all offending officials who issued the notification, feel masses.