Dehradun, May 17
Demanding the release of the youngest political prisoner, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima revered as the 11th Panchen Lama, scores of Tibetan men, women and monks held a protest march in the city marking the 15th anniversary of his disappearance.

They filed past the city accompanied by monks carrying placards condemning Chinese actions and finally congregated at the Gandhi Park here.

“Fourteen years have passed, since the Panchen Lama and his family were whisked away by the Chinese authorities who have targeted our religious gurus to break the Tibetans, but we continue to demand his release,” said Tsering Lamo, president, Tibetan Women’s Association (Rajpur).

“He is not being allowed to meet any outsider and there is no information about his whereabouts,” said Yeshi Tharchin, president, Youth Congress (Dekyling).

Mussoorie (OC): Thousands of Tibetan exiles marched with candles here today to demand the release of the Panchen Lama, who they believe has been prisoner in China since 1995.

The march began from the Tibetan Homes Foundation at the Happy Valley and proceeding down the Mall Road culminated at Library Bazar. The Tibetan community, including students of THF, CST, Regional Tibetan Women Association and Youth Congress members, raised slogans in support of the missing Lama.

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was named by Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, as the 11th Panchen Lama after the death of the 10th Panchen Lama in 1989.

Beijing and the Dalai Lama made rival choices for his successor and 
the Dalai Lama's choice, then aged six, suddenly disappeared from public view on May 17, 1995, and his present status remains a mystery.

According to Tibetan Women Congress president Tenzing Dolma, the Panchen Lama was kidnapped by Chinese authorities and human rights watchdogs have called him the world's youngest political prisoner.

Governor of Autonomous Tibet Pema Thinley, alias Padma Chelling, in her recent statement said, “As far as I know Panchen Lama’s family is leading a happy life in Tibet”.

In the context of this statement the Tibetan leaders demanded that the Chinese government should allow independent members to visit China to ascertain the well being of Nyima and his family.

“I do not know what he looks like now, but will keep on protesting till he is released,” said Tsering Thondup, staff member working at the Tibetan Homes Foundation with tears in his eyes. They also sought release of supporters of Gendun Choekyi Neema and restoration of their identification as religious leaders.

Earlier prayers were held in the Buddhist Temple and Dalia Hill. Kalsang Youdon,Tenzing Lhamo, Tsomo, Deky Yangzom, Dawa, Sonam Paldon and others were present on the occasion.

Dehradun, May 17
As part of its series of protests against the Central UPA government, BJP’s Ambedkar Nagar Mandal workers today burnt the effigy of the Central government at the Clock Tower, Dehradun.

BJP workers burn an effigy of the Central government and (right) the BJP Yuva Morcha holds a protest in Dehradun on Monday. Tribune photos

Led by Jaipal Valmiki, general secretary, the workers asserted that the Centre was deliberately not extending the industrial package to the state. He said the Congress’ step-motherly attitude towards the Uttarakhand government would not be tolerated by people of Uttarakhand.

Extension sought till 2020

Annoyed by the budget passed by the Central government of not extending the industrial package for the Uttarakhand state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Yuva Morcha staged a protest at the Rajpur Road here today.

The party’s state youth wing shouted slogans against the Centre and raised their demand of extending the industrial package till the year 2020.

The agitators also appealed to the municipal councillors and the MLAs in Dehradun to help them revive the extension from the Centre or give their resignation from their offices.

Raj Kumar, president of the BJP Yuva Morcha, Manoj Uniyal, general secretary, Ambedkar Mandal, Rishi Nanda, vice-president, Surender Rana, Jitender Rawat, Iqbal, Atul Sharma, Mohit Jaiswal and other party members were present at the protest. 

Haridwar, May 17
Tributes and condolences have been pouring in for the late former Vice-President of India and veteran politician Bhairon Singh Shekhawat from various sections in Haridwar. People remember the politician for his vision, stature, political acumen and work for the poor, while many related to the four-time Rajasthan Chief Minister’s couple of visits to the pilgrim city of Haridwar.

The Gayatri Parivar, comprising Shantikunj and Dev Sanskriti University, has termed the great leader as one of the top politicians and eminent personalities the country has produced. Notably Shekhawat had been given Gayatri Mantra deeksha on the Ganga ghats by Shantikunj founder Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Acharya.

Terming Shekhawat as a true social activist who had his roots in the ground, the Gayatri Parivar has prayed for the peace for the departed soul.

Recalling Shekhawat’s visit to Dev Sanskriti University in 2006 for the maiden convocation ceremony of the university, Ram Mahesh Mishra, Head of the PR Department, said even then Shekhawat had voiced for making Uttarakhand a land of education in sync with the religious, spiritual and educationist atmosphere of the state.

BJP party workers termed the death of the great leader as an irreparable loss for the party and the country as a whole. District chief Rajesh Saini focusing on the works of the great leader termed it as a loss of a true patriot.

Kissan Morcha Haridwar chief Dr Tej Saini said Shekhawat was the first to implement the food-for-work programme (Antodaya Scheme) with a clear focus on poverty eradication. Rashtriya Awami Hakook Party members too observed a two-minute silence recalling the giant leap that Shekhawat had taken by rising from being a sub-inspector to becoming the Vice-President of India. 

Haridwar, May 17
Sanitation workers under the banner of the Karamyogi Kalyankari Samiti and supported by the Hindu Jagran Manch have been demanding pending payments of the Kumbh duty to be released soon. The health and sanitation workers allege that there have been mass irregularities in their payments putting the onus on the city Health Officer.

For the past nine days the temporary health workers have been on protest demanding the resignation of the Chief Health Officer for the sanctioning of their payments among others.

The agitating employees today carried out a rally from the municipality office premises to the Health Officer’s residence.

Lashing out at Dr Anil Tyagi, Health Officer, Rekha Valmiki of the samiti said with a huge budget allotted for the Maha Kumbh, mass irregularities had been done under the knowledge of the officer concerned.

Hindu Rakshak Dal city chief Naveen Bhaiyya demanded an investigation into the matter as its related with the hard toiling workers.

The workers raised slogans against the mela administration too and demanded an investigation into the irregularities.

Nainital, May 17
Rajiv Upadhyay, alias Raju, a resident in the Kusumkheda area of Haldwani, died under mysterious circumstances yesterday. With his family members alleging that Raju was murdered, the police is trying to ascertain the motive behind the alleged murder and is trying to nab the culprits.

According to information, Raju had left his house located in Narottam Colony yesterday at 10 am. After an hour, someone rang the door bell of the house. On opening the door residents were shocked to find Raju lying outside the house in an unconscious state. He was taken to the government hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

Dehradun, May 17
The fury of a dozen activists of the Uttarakhand Rajya Andolankari Manch flared up when the guards deputed at the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited building refused to open the locks of the gates when they sought entry to meet the Managing Director (MD) to apprise him of the irregularities committed by the Assistant Engineer in Haldwani.

The anger of incensed activists intensified when the doors weren’t opened for them and they didn’t find the MD and any other director.

It was Chief General Manager (CGM) RL Aggrawal who had to patiently take verbal attacks. When Superintendent Officer, Vasant Vihar, Om Bir Singla came to intervene, he was asked to keep away by the activists.

Mohan Pathak, activists from Haldwani, bared open the nexus of UPCL officials and land mafia in Haldwani citing the example of irregularities being committed by AE Shekhar Tripathi who, according to him, was continuing to be posted at the same place for the past 10 years, taking benefit of his influence and money.

Pradeep Kukreti, city president, arraigned that the officer in question installed transformers on the illegal land which was further sold by mafia people after uprooting the transformers.

Kailash Tiwari, member, asked the GM to take swift action on transferring all those people who had been posted at one place for many years and indulging in widespread corruption, otherwise they would sit on an indefinite dharna in the premises itself. The CGM gave them assurance for that. 

Dehradun, May 17
Marred by internal discontent, the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) got a new blow with four of its members revolting against the party’s district wing for dissolving the functioning of the body of the Dehradun district and constituting a new one in its place consisting of entirely new members a month ago.

These four, city general secretary Saheb Singh Pawar, district secretary Rajender Singh Negi and members of working committee Anuj Dimri and Satish Rawat have complained that none was informed about the decision and reason for such an action.

Questioning the functioning style of the district body, Pawar said, “It is sad that the party is trying to sideline the existing office-bearers of the district body and other functionaries who opposed the party support to the BJP”.

Negi said the autocratic behaviour of the party would harm its interest in the long term and the coming Assembly elections.

Refuting the charges, district president Omi Uniyal said he merely exercised his right to dissolve and reconstitute the functioning body in the interest of the party, which in this case was to give optimum representation to the 800 new registered members.

He also signalled that the old members would also be assimilated in the next round of expansion after he was done with the expansion plan of Mussoorie and Vikasnagar.

Dehradun, May 17
A report on seven projects for which Power Transmission Corporation of Uttrakhand Limited (PITCUL) is getting funded from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) shows satisfactory progress.

Talking about this report, Jagmohan Lall, MD, who is holding this additional charge along with that of UPCL, said, “We have completed the survey work for 400 kW (kilowatt) Lohari Nag Pala, Koteshwar Line costing Rs 342.19 crore. Counting of trees and demarcation of land to take permission of the Forest Department has been completed. Now, one nodal officer will go to the Forest and Environment Ministry to hand over our proposal.

The work of tower and foundation design has been completed. This way, we have spent Rs 18.56 crore till now. By September 2011, the substation should be ready 
for work.

For the second part of the first project, 400 kW substations, Srinagar worth Rs 172.08 crore, Pitkul is also in better position as the department has its own land for the purpose. The engineering work has been completed and order for the equipment has already been placed. Till date Rs 16.87 crore has been spent. The date of electrification of this project has been fixed for June 2012.

The progress on the 400-kW-Srinagar-Kashipur line worth Rs 838.10 crore is also moving at a good pace as financial and technical evaluation has been sent to the ADB. It has to be ready for electricity by March 2013.

Contract process has been started for the third project of the 400-kW-Tapovan-Pipalkoti, Srinagar sub-centre, Srinagar electric centre and Vishnuprayag-Mujaffarnagar Lilo transmission line. This project worth of Rs 103.14 crore is to be completed by March 2012.

Similarly, the second part of contract of the 220-kW-Latat Povan-Joshimath transmission line of 12 km worth Rs 88.25 crore has been opened. It is only after getting sanction from the ADB, the agreement will be placed. The electrification has to be done in two years’ time.

Financial and technical evaluation for the 400-kW substation of Pipal Koti worth Rs 218.82 crore has been sent to the ADB and now it is to be electrified by September 2012.

Similar is the situation of the construction of the 400-kW Kashipur substation project at Rs 10.42 crore and to be electrified by 2012.

Lal expressed confidence in completing these projects within the time limit if progress from all sectors proceeded smoothly and without interruption. 

Dehradun, May 17
Mukhya Nagar Adhikari (MNA) Indu Kumar Bodai was called by the Chief Secretary today to enquire about the complaint made by the Census Department to the Central government on hampering the census work by citing reasons of defecting maps. The Chief Secretary’s intervention solved the deadlock between both as Joint Director (Census) met Bodai today and agreed to deploy two employees of his department to explain the maps to the enumerators.

Bodai said, “Our enumerators and supervisors, who are associated with the census work, had been facing tough problems in tracing roads, localities and houses while carrying out the census work, all because of defective geographic information system. The maps thus supplied are not up to the mark, missing the vital information”.

Bodai said his repeated complaints to the Census Department about the defective maps and persistence to solve the problem infuriated the department which then complained about it to the Central government and as a result the Chief Secretary called him for an explanation. But he said matter had been solved as the Additional Director (Census) met him today and agreed to send his officers to explain the maps to the enumerators. He would submit a report to this effect to the Chief Secretary.

Uppar Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Harshvardhan Mishra said it would become a tedious task for two deputed employees to explain the maps to 807 enumerators. But he felt that this way, at least, the work would be smoothly done and hoped to meet the deadline of June 15 to complete the census survey.