Dhumal pitches for IIT, IIM in Himachal Pradesh

September 23rd, 2009 SHIMLA - To minimise traffic hassles during the movement of VVIPs, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has directed the police to regulate traffic in such a way so that there is minimum inconvenience caused to the public, an official said Wednesday. A spokesperson for the government said the police generally stopped the traffic much before the arrival of VVIPs, causing a lot of inconvenience to the public.

September 3rd, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh Governor Prabha Rau and Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Thursday expressed grief over the death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

August 13th, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Thursday denied that the state government was going slow on the corruption cases registered against Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh, and stressed that the investigation agencies "are on the job". "The government is not dragging its feet in the corruption cases registered against Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh.

August 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Union Minister for Steel Virbhadra Singh on Friday accused Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal of using a CD, to file a corruption case against him. Speaking to reporters here Singh suspected some more people were also involved in the surprise and sudden appearance of a 23 year-old incident.

August 3rd, 2009 SHIMLA - Congress lawmakers Monday stalled the proceedings at the inaugural session of the Himachal Pradesh assembly for almost an hour and then staged a walkout over the appointment of chief parliamentary secretaries. Congress legislators disrupted the proceedings and sought discussion on the issue immediately after the question hour.

July 9th, 2009 SHIMLA - After 18 months of coming to power in Himachal Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government Thursday expanded its 10-member ministry for the first time, inducting two ministers. Jai Ram Thakur, a former state BJP chief, and Mohinder Singh - both legislators from Mandi district - were sworn-in by Governor Prabha Rau at Raj Bhavan here.

July 3rd, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Friday said that it was not fair on the part of the central government to ignore the interests of the people of the hill state in the railway budget. "It's unfortunate on the part of the central government to ignore the interests of the hill state in the railway budget," he said in an official statement.

June 22nd, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has requested the central government to take steps to expand the railway network in the hill state. In a letter to Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee, Dhumal asked the railways to make provisions in its budget for 2009-10 for the construction of Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri, Ghanauli-Baddi, Nangal-Talwara and Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail lines.

June 11th, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has requested the central government to consider the option of routing the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage in China through this hill state terming it more "convenient and shorter". In a missive to Union Minister for External Affairs S.M.

May 23rd, 2009 SHIMLA - Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Saturday expressed hope that the elevation of Anand Sharma to cabinet rank in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government would benefit Himachal Pradesh, his home state. "We hope Sharma's presence in the union cabinet would ensure all-round development of the state through more liberal central assistance and schemes.

May 16th, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal's son and sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anurag Thakur has won the state's Hamirpur parliamentary constituency, a poll official said Saturday. Anurag Thakur defeated his nearest rival, Narinder Thakur of the Congress by 72,732 votes, state chief electoral officer Anil Khachi told IANS.

April 20th, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal's son and sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anurag Thakur Monday filed his nomination papers from Hamirpur constituency. Thakur, who is contesting the parliamentary elections for the second time, has been pitted against former BJP leader Narinder Thakur, who joined the Congress recently.

April 14th, 2009 SHIMLA - The Election Commission has asked the Himachal Pradesh chief minister and his cabinet colleagues not to participate in functions to celebrate the state's foundation day Wednesday in view of the model code of conduct. 'Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop would preside over the state-level (foundation day) function in Bilaspur district.

March 22nd, 2009 SHIMLA - Seeking an adjournment and failing to produce witnesses in defamation suits cost three senior Congress leaders dear in a Himachal Pradesh court Saturday. The three are Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anand Sharma, former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh and Congress party treasurer Motilal Vora.

March 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader couldn't stop himself from taking a dig at the Congress for buying the rights of Oscar winning song 'Jai Ho' from the film 'Slumdog Millionaire' for its poll campaign. The Congress' fascination for 'Jai Ho' is understandable, as it has been working all along at creating slums in the country, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal told reporters sarcastically.