Haridwar, May 21
Tributes were paid to forme r Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 19th death anniversary in the district today. Various commemorative functions were organised in the city to pay tributes to the great visionary leader who scripted the success of IT in India.

Apart from Haridwar, in Roorkee, Laksar, Mangalore and Laundaura functions were held at Congress offices. Through a note, Union Minister of State Harish Rawat paid homage to Rajiv Gandhi and termed him as a visionary who paved the way for the 21st century resurgent India.

City Congress chief OP Chauhan addressed the party workers at Subash Ghat-situated Congress office. Chauhan highlighted the imperative role that Rajiv Gandhi played in bringing computer technology to India.

At another function, Uttarakhand Kranti Manch activists remembered Rajiv Gandhi for him being more close to common public and party workers. Rajiv Gandhi’s role in strengthening the nation and the Congress was highlighted by the members.

“He dismantled the license raj, laid stress on science and technology, reversed the coup in Maldives, improved relations with the US and was trying to help Sri Lanka in overcoming LTTE of which he himself became a victim. He was a world leader,” remarked Santosh Chauhan, former Women State Commission chief.

Mussoorie: Congress workers gathered at the Congress Bhavan and offering floral tributes before a portrait of Rajiv Gandhi.

Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola said the Gandhi family had special affinity towards Mussoorie as it was their favorite holiday spot. It was Rajiv who reduced import quotas, taxes and tariffs on technology-based industries, especially computers, airlines, defence and telecommunications.

Mahila Congress president Bharosi Rawat, Javed Khan, Harbhajan Thakral,Jagjit Kukreja, Shailender Bisht, Sandeep Aggarwal, Rais Khan, Amir Ahmed, BP Kukreti and others also shared their views on the occasion.

Congress state secretary Manmohan Singh Mall said the day was observed as Anti-Terrorist Day to educate youth of the country to stay away from cult of terrorism and violence. He further said sectarian violence was against the national interest.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu during a poll campaign. Members of the Youth Congress distributed fruits in civil hospital earlier in the day.

Dehradun, May 21
A day after the BJP swept all 12 seats allocated for the municipal councillors in the District Planning Committee elections held on Thursday, the BJP camp rejoiced over the victory whereas Congress councillors held a brainstorming session. Former Leader of Opposition Ashok Verma wrote a letter to city Congress president with signatures of 20 councillors demanding to punish the black sheep in the party.

The councillors of the BJP began congregating at Mayor Vinod Chamoli’s office and celebrated the victory. Chamoli said victory had boosted the morale of the party and he would work to cement the relations in the party. “Not only in the MC but throughout the state, the BJP registered a thumping victory in 11 out of 13 districts. In Dehradun, the party took 14 out of total 30 seats, including one with the support of one independent. In the MC, too, we booked all seats in our kitty.”

Chamoli said it was overconfidence of the Congress which spelt doom for it in the MC elections. “The Congress had started preparing for the DPC elections since the Vikas Samiti and Working Committee elections were held in the MC. They were also linking the result of the recent elections with the election to be held for the post of Deputy Mayor,” he said. But not ready to bite the bust, he said, the BJP swung into action and managed to steal the thunder.

Calling Verma’s accusation of the BJP indulging in horse trading to woo Congress councillors as hogwash, he said: “It is a tradition for a defeated party to mouth such rhetoric to save their skin in front of public. It was the wrong choice of candidates, and then a lack of confidence in their loyalties due to which he kept them under tight leash till the last minute, leading to the Congress rout.”

Verma, who resigned after taking the moral responsibility of the Congress defeat, said: “I’ve written a letter to city unit president to scrutinise the entire matter and fix punishment for the suspected councillors. Twenty Congress Councilors have signed in the letter.” Congress Councilor Vijay Pratap Mull said if the city president did not do anything then they would be forced to approach the state president and in the last recourse would take to dharna and mass resignation.”

Some Congress councillors were seen criticising Verma and party people for floundering to keep the flock together. Vinay Kohli, who remained absent from the signature campaign, said: “The resignation of Verma was quite apt for his utter failure to keep his team united.

The way people at the ministry level in the BJP were supporting the elections, here in the Congress nobody bothered, not even a, MLA, came to boost the morale of the councillors. It must be the insecurity in the Congress camp which made them to ditch their own men.”

Dehradun, May 21
The District Planning Committee (DPC) elections in the prestigious Dehradun local body area was predicted to be a keen contest as both the BJP and the Congress were evenly placed in the Dehradun Municipal Corporation, but ultimately it turned out to be a one-party show with BJP councillors bagging all 12 seats. The BJP has 30 seats in the 60-member DMC, the Congress 28 seats, the BSP one seat and one independent.

Taking into account the feud that broke out in the BJP in the wake of the hoarding policy, believed to be unilaterally declared by Mayor Vinod Chamoli and dividing the BJP into two factions, it would have been an easy ride for the Congress.

But, a poor management of candidates, one upmanship and a lack of coordination proved to be its undoing. As such the Congress found itself drawing a blank in the DPC membership from the DMC.

As Congress managers began analysing their defeat, Leader of Opposition in the DMC Ashok Verma was quick to tender his resignation today. “We accept the verdict of the people though the results are not as per our expectations. I have asked the Congress’ state chief Yashpal Arya to conduct an inquiry in the debacle,” said Verma.

However, Congress leaders blamed the Congress councillors for indulging in cross voting and working hand in glove with rebel candidates. Some even termed it a complete sell-out. “We proved to be poor managers. Instead of working for the success of our candidates, it seemed we worked at cross purposes,” said Harish Virmani, Mahanagar Congress president, who monitored the elections for the party.

On the other hand, senior Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana said in Uttarakashi, the party had performed exceptionally well. “We could have repeated similar performance here too,” he said.

Meanwhile, there were jubilations in the BJP camp, as they began analysing their victory. The victory has come at the right time for the party that is planning its election strategy for the 2012 Assembly elections. The BJP can also breathe easy with more DPC seats in its kitty, giving it more leverage in the allocation and use of funds.

While both camps in the BJP are taking credit for the victory, it was Ganesh Joshi, MLA from the Rajpur Assembly segment, who was at the corporation accepting garlands from party cadres while Mayor Chamoli kept away.

However, the results of the Dehradun Zila Panchayat DPC membership were on expected lines, as the non-BJP and non-Congress bodies won all 14 seats. Visibly pleased with the results, Madhu Chauhan, president of the Dehradun Zila Panchayat said: “It was an arduous task getting the government agree on holding the DPC elections, with the results in our favour we will now focus on carrying out development in our areas”.

Dehradun, May 21
During a surprise inspection of Tehsil Sadar today, Chief Minster Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today directed the District Magistrate to suspend Naib Nazir Hareylal and issue warning to Kanungo Raj Singh.

The Chief Minister during the inspection found that Hareylal was late in submitting a cheque issued from the Chief Minister’s Discretion Fund.

He also asked the District Magistrate to ensure that all cheques issued from the Chief Minister’s Discretion Fund were released on time.

The beneficiaries of the Chief Minister’s Discretion fund are the needy and the poor.

The Chief Minister also urged the Tehsil staff to maintain transparency in their work. He said from time to time surprise inspections would be conducted.

Dr Pokhriyal expressed dissatisfaction at the way the records were maintained of domicile certificates and permanent residency certificates.