By Bijender sharma
DHARMSHALA,April 3,2008--- Tibetan Government- in -Exile today claimed that Since March 10, Tibetans have held demonstrations in all the three traditional provinces of Tibet with over a 140 people dying as a direct result of the suppression.Many of the bodies of those who were shot and killed by the Chinese military and police during the demonstrations have been cremated by the Chinese and only their ashes were returned to their families.In a press release of the Central Tibetan administration alleged that,Such an atrocious move has been made by the Chinese to get rid of any evidence of their wrongdoing.Lhakpa Tsering was killed in Lu-ghug Street with a shot to his forehead during the demonstration in Lhasa on March 14, 2008. He was a resident of Lhasa, around 30 years of age and used to work as a tourist vehicle driver. He was born in Lhoka Prefecture.The Pubic Security Bureau (PSB) forcefully took the body of Lhakpa Tsering from his family telling them that some investigations needed to be done at the Peoples Procuratorates. His body was later cremated in Toelung (west of Lhasa) and only his ashes were returned to his family in a plastic bag with his name written on it.On March 24, Kunga (a monk from Chokri monastery) in Drakgo (Ch: Luhuo) County, Karze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan province, was shot and killed during a demonstration at Chokri Monastery. On March 25, his body was forcefully taken from Chokri monastery and cremated nearby. It can be inferred that such incidents, whereby the Chinese are trying to get rid of evidence by cremating the bodies of those killed during the demonstrations, have occurred many times since the start of the demonstrations in Tibet where the death toll now stands over 140.

By Bijender Sharma
DHARMSHALA,April 3,2008---The exile radio network Voice of Tibet on today accused China of stepping up jamming of its shortwave news broadcasts into the Himalayan province during a crackdown on anti-Chinese demonstrations in Tibet and ahead of the 2008 Olympics in China.Most of the Voice of Tibet's staff working at its main editorial office in Dharamsala, with a Norwegian, Oystein Alme , handling administration and funding in Oslo. The network started broadcasting in 1996, and has daily evening newscasts about Tibet in the Tibetan language and Mandarin Chinese.China started jamming us nearly 13 years ago," Alme told to this correspondent in a e mail massage. "Now they have been stepping it up in connection with the demonstrations.Tibetans have been protesting and rioting in the longest challenge to China's rule in the Himalayan region since 1989. The crackdown by Chinese authorities has focused international attention on the country's human-rights record in the run-up to the Beijing Games in August.
By Bijender Sharma
BILASPUR(H.P.) April 3,2008---Prem Kumar Dhumal, Himachal Chief Minister today inaugurated the six-day long Yog Vigyan Shivir organized by the Patanjali Yog Peeth, Haridwar at Bilaspur by lighting the lamp. Swami Ramdev ji, Jagat Prakash Nadda, Forest Minister, Rikhi Ram Koundal and Randheer Sharma, MLAs, prominent people of the area and thousands of followers of Swamiji were present on the occasion.Addressing the congregation, Prem Kumar Dhumal thanked Swami Ramdev ji for holding the third Yog Vigyan Shivir in Himachal Pradesh, which provided an opportunity to devotees to practice yogic exercises under his guidance. He said that credit goes to Swamiji for popularizing Yoga all over the world and making people health conscious besides motivating them to lead a healthy and happy life. He said that Yoga had been in practice since time immemorial as saints and sages had been practicing and teaching the same for healthy living.Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh was known as the land of Gods and was blessed with natural gifts, providing pollution-free and healthy environment to the people. He said that practicing Yoga in such environment was more beneficial and convenient as compared to other places. He said that the slogan coined by Swamiji, 'Rishi Kranti - Krishi Kranti' was more relevant in the present day world when the society was passing through strain and stress. He said that Yoga and Ayurveda were interconnected for making human beings healthy and strong and added that under the guidance of Swami Ramdev ji, they would further gain popularity.Dhumal said that Himachal Pradesh had 7.32 percent of the bio-diversity of the entire country, which if exploited scientifically, could provide adequate raw material for manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines. He said that the major chunk of state population was dependent on agriculture for livelihood. He said that the state government was making efforts to diversify the agriculture sector and motivate farmers to cultivate cash crops, flowers and herbs, which could generate them additional avenues of income. He said that cultivation of herbs would be in the best interest of farmers since the raw material for various Ayurvedic medicines was in great demand all over the country.Chief Minister welcomed the decision of Swamiji to open Patanjali Yog Peeth in Himachal Pradesh and assured all possible help for setting up of the same anywhere suitable to him. He said that with the opening of the Yog Vigyan Peeth in Himachal Pradesh, the State would emerge as a favorite health tourism destination to the people from all over the world. He thanked the Patanjli Yog Vigyan Peeth and Swamiji for choosing Himachal Pradesh to set up its Centre.Swami Ramdev Ji appreciated the endeavour of the State government to start Yoga teaching in the educational institutions, which would go a long way in character building and moral education to the young citizens of the country. He said that Himachal Pradesh was blessed with immense natural wealth. He said that the Patanjli Yog Peeth had been manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines to supplement the yogic exercises, to make people disease-free. He said that if the farmers could grow medicinal herbs, the Ayurvedic Medicine Center of the Peeth would procure the same, which would generate income to the farmers. He appealed to the farmers to grow such herbs on wasteland so that the land was gainfully utilized.Swami ji honoured Kargil Operation Param Vir Chakra Awardee, Hav. Sanjay Kumar, who hailed from the district and appreciated his contribution towards the nation.Ashok Saini of the local organizing committee proposed vote of thanks.
By Bijender Sharma
SHIMLA,April 3,2008---Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister said that the State Government would evolve suitable policy to issue separate ration cards and provide free medical treatment in the Government hospitals after observing all codal formalities to ascertain their eligibility. He was addressing a massive rally of the 'Himachal Ekal" Nari Shakti Sangathan' assembled outside the HP Vidhan Sabha complex from all over the State, here today.Chief Minister said that the State Government was live to the social and economic problems of the widows and had been initiating effective steps to deliver them justice, social and economic security. He said that it was during his earlier term that the social security pension was increased from Rs. 100 to Rs. 200, which on returning to power for the second time was further enhanced to Rs. 300 per month to be paid from January1, 2008. He said that the State Government was spending Rs. 60 crore over the social security pensions annually. He said that 2,37,250 widows, old age and handicapped were being provided social security cover and the fresh cases were also being scrutinized for final decision on priority so that fresh eligible candidates were also provided pensionary benefits. He said that the pending cases of eligible widows would be cleared on priority. He added that the State Government was also providing cash award to the person marrying widows to help them lead socially a secure life.Dhumal said that the State Government would consider issuance of separate ration cards to single widows after ascertaining their eligibility by the competent authority. He said that the ration card would be a valid document to ascertain the eligibility to draw various benefits under various social welfare programmes. He said that all-out efforts would be made to provide poor and deserving widows free medical treatment in the Government hospitals for which necessary modalities would be chalked out at appropriate level. He said that the State Government was already providing free medical treatment to the members of IRDP families besides considering the cases of other deserving people sympathetically.Chief Minister assured the tribal single women that Himachal Pradesh would be the first State to implement the Right to Property Act it amended suitably by the Union Government to provide equal right in the property to the tribal women of the State. He said that the enactment of the law was within the jurisdiction of the Union Government being Central subject and the State would be willingly ready to implement the same if amended accordingly. He assured the organization that the State Government would be making all out efforts to protect the interests of the women and provide them security to life and property.Nirmala Chandel, State Coordinator of the organization, apprised the Chief Minister of demands of the widows, divorcees and destitute and urged for liberal help to lead a safe and secure life in the society.