Nainital, January 29
The Congress has sounded its bugles for the forthcoming Assembly polls. While boosting its cadres for the ensuing political battle for the formation of the government in the state, the party has started aggressive campaigns to highlight the failures of the Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank-led BJP Government in the state.

As a part of the strategy, the party will be launching two massive movements from the Kumaon region over the next couple of days. As a part of its satyagraha and jail bharo andolan against the government for ignoring the plight of people, more than 5,000 Congress workers will be courting arrest in Jaspur. The Congress will also take out a jan aakrosh yatra in the Almora parliamentary constituency from January 31.

Talking to The Tribune, Congress President Yash Pal Arya said, “We are organising local-level conventions for our workers across the region. After the launching of the satyagraha and jail bharo andolans from Kumaon, we will take the movement in a big way to the Garhwal region”.

He said, “There are several issues being raised by us during our programmes, but primary amongst them are the rampant corruption that is being promoted and given shelter by the government and the absolute failure of the government to provide respite to the victims of the rain-related disaster that had struck the region during the prolonged monsoons last year”.

Referring to the issue of disaster relief, Arya said the problems of the victims of the disaster had not been addressed at all and they continued to lead a life of misery, while the government continued to turn a deaf ear to their plight.

“People are being forced to live in tents even today. Roads have not been repaired and the compensation for the losses incurred is nowhere to be seen. Nobody knows what happened to the Rs 600 crore given by the Centre for providing disaster relief,” he said.

Congress legislator from Jaspur Shailendra Mohan Singhal said, “In cases where the farmers have incurred losses to the tune of more than 50 per cent of the standing crops, the government got a survey redone and intentionally put the losses at a lower figure so that the farmers do not get the compensation as per the norms laid down by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The state government feared that if the farmers got the compensation due to them, they would develop a soft corner for the Centre. According to the norms, the compensation would be granted only if 50 per cent or more of their standing crop is verified to have been destroyed,” he said.

Nainital, January 29
Taking up the cause of the “aam aadmi”, which formed the core of the Congress manifesto at the time of the parliamentary elections held in 2009, Congress Lok Sabha member from the Almora parliamentary constituency Pradeep Tamta has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for early enactment of the Food Security Bill.

In a letter written to the PM on the eve of the Republic Day, Tamta has urged that the Bill regarding the food security for the entire population of the country be introduced at the earliest in Parliament.

While congratulating United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the PM for bringing several legislations for the benefit of the aam aadmi like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Right to Information Act, Green Tribunal Bill, Right to Education Act etc., Tamta dwelt upon the need of ensuring food security to the masses.

Referring to the legislations enacted, the letter states, “These legislations had clearly demonstrated the determination and will of the Congress to look after the poor and the aam aadmi of the country and the voters had clearly indicated their preference for the Congress during the election of 2009”.

The Almora Lok Sabha member has stated that the Congress party had also included in its manifesto the Right to Food Security for the common people. All the prominent Congress leaders had made promises to the public during the election campaign of 2009 regarding the proposed Act.

“As you are well aware that during the first joint session of Parliament of the UPA-II, the honourable Rashtrapati ji had also included the Right to Food Security programme in her speech. Chairperson of the National Advisory Council (NAC) Sonia ji had also made the recommendation to the government for the implementation of this prestigious programme. However, the Rangarajan Committee recommendations have raised some questions about this programme and this has caused enormous worry in the mind of the Congressmen,” states the letter.

Tamta has asserted in his letter that, “The aam aadmi today is eagerly waiting to derive the benefit of this programme, which will fulfil the daily essential needs of food requirement of the poor. Any delay in this process will despair and disillusion the poor and may raise the question in the mind of the public about validity of this important promise made to them by the Congress. In view of the above-mentioned things, may I request the Honourable Prime Minister to kindly consider bringing this prestigious Food Security Bill as soon as possible or may be in the forthcoming Budget session of Parliament”.

Haldwani, January 29
The North-Eastern Railways has a lot to offer to the Kumaon region in the days to come. To begin with, the Railways has expedited the process of getting a survey done with regards to the feasibility of laying a railway track between Tanakpur and Bageshwar. The region has witnessed a series of agitations in support of the demand.

Secondly, after the starting of a thrice a week air-conditioned train between Kathgodam and Anand Vihar terminus in Delhi from January 26, a weekly air-conditioned Express between Kathgodam and Howrah is in the offing.

General Manager of the North-Eastern Railways KBL Mittal, who was here yesterday, disclosed that besides the proposal of the weekly train between Kathgodam and Howrah, there is also a proposal to develop a multi-functional complex at Kathgodam. He also disclosed that the gauge conversion work on the Bareilly-Lal Kuan section is expected to be completed during the current year. The Railways planned to start a new train between the two stations once this work was completed.

The other plans in the offing are increasing the freight carriage facilities at the Bazpur station, opening of a ticket selling centre at Kitcha and construction of subways at 21 unmanned railway crossings.

In addition to this, there is a plan to enhance the security setup at the Kathgodam railway station. Under this plan, there is a proposal to install an integrated security system at the station.

During his visit to Haldwani, the General Manager also visited the Railway Colony and talked to residents about the existing facilities and shortcomings. He expressed his displeasure at the lack of sanitation, and ordered officials to take steps to do away with garbage, dampness and other shortcomings.

Mittal also took stock of the existing encroachments on the Railways land in the region. These were preventing the Railways from executing a series of proposed projects that would benefit both the customers and the institution in a big way. Sources say that he was apprised of the lack of support from the state government in getting the encroachments removed.

Haridwar, January 29
As was expected in the ongoing Village panchayat elections in Haridwar district, some candidates are trying to use illegal means to gain political advantage. In this regard, the illegal supply of liquor from other districts has also increased.

One such huge heap of English liquor was confiscated in the city today when it was being ferried into the pilgrim city in a truck in the morning. The police seized the truck carrying English wine, rum and beer caskets worth Rs 11 lakh which was being brought from the Raipur area in Dehradun.

As a result of this seizure, security vigil in the entire district has been upped with special checking at all the entry and exit points of the city, so that illegal activities like this are not allowed which, in view of the election scenario, are on the rise already as allocation of election symbols has been done for the first phase of the panchayat election.

Informing about the seizure, City Superintendent of Police Dr Kiran Lal Shaw said on a tip-off from an informer, a truck was stopped at the hilly bypass by the checking police post. Seeing the police checking, the driver, along with three other persons, tried to escape from the scene, but were nabbed by vigilant cops.

The truck bore a sign plate on which was inscribed “Army Duty”, which was found to be a fraud one.

“It is a matter of concern that the culprits tried to misuse the Army’s name to squeeze in illegal liquor in the city. We are looking into the matter to make sure the police reaches the neck of the liquor mafia, as well as those persons who wanted to misuse this liquor during the election campaign to lure voters,” said SP Shaw.

The main accused Mahesh Sharma, a resident of Kankhal, Haridwar, confessed that the supply of liquor was being done to get it distributed during the panchayat elections to be held in twin phases next month in Haridwar.

The arrested persons have been charged in various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of IPC and 61-1-14 of the Excise Act.

Dehradun, January 29
There is a manifold rise in the dry eye syndrome caused mainly due to long hours of work on the computer. Experts say the dry eye syndrome affects both the young and the old. But most people are not aware that it requires immediate medical attention.

To provide information about the urban syndrome, the Eye Department of Military Hospital will organise a two-day camp dedicated to spreading awareness and providing treatment.

Speaking at a press conference today, Lt Col (Dr) Avinash Mishra said the camp for serving and retired officers would be held on January 31 and February 1 and inaugurated by Commandant Brig DK Verma.

“We are observing 2011 as the year of the elderly and the eye camp is part of the programme. Staring at computer screens for long periods of time without blinking causes this eye ailment and the affliction is mainly caused when the tear film in front of the eye becomes dry,” said Dr Mishra.

However, he said, the treatment for dry eyes was less complicated and could be cured by bringing lifestyle changes and administering of eye drops. “The computer related strain can be considerably reduced by using proper computer screens and spacing work,” he said.

Doctors usually prescribe lubricants to supplement the natural moisture of the eye which aid blinking and offer immediate soothing relief.

Dehradun, January 29
Rajesh Gulati, who murdered his wife Anupama, was produced in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) that sent him to a 14-day judicial remand.

CJM Amninder Singh pronounced to send Gulati to the 14-day judicial remand. In the last hearing, the court had told the police to arrange his visit with his twin kids in the court. As per the court orders, he could meet his children on the last Saturday of every month. However, that couldn’t be possible as the Nainital High Court has already put a stay on the order. As per the plea of Anupama’s brother SK Pradhan, it was mental tension to the two children to bring them from Delhi to meet their father.

The software engineer had allegedly murdered his wife on the eve of Dasehra on October 17 by stuffing cloth in her mouth and smashing her over the head with a heavy iron object. He had later cut her body into several pieces and kept these in a freezer to be disposed of later.

Mussoorie, January 29
The police has begun its investigation in the double shop theft case that occurred a couple of days back and questioned several suspects in Mussoorie today.

According to the police, several suspects were apprehended and brought for preliminary questioning at the police station today. Later they were released on certain conditions. However, members of the Valmiki Samaj registered their protest for bringing for questioning one of their members who was working as a guard of the Bank of Baroda ATM machine on that fateful night.

INTUCH president Vinod Kumar said the member of the samaj had been working as a guard in the bank for several years and had no criminal background. Hence, he should not be harassed unnecessarily.

According to the police, they had brought the suspect as he was working adjacent to the theft site on the night the crime occurred. The police reiterated that no innocent person would be targeted in the ongoing investigations.

Pithoragarh, January 29
Thousands of villagers from 14 villages of the Chaudans area of Dharchula subdivision demonstrated yesterday at the sub-division office and demanded construction of already approved several motor roads in the area and linking the area with communication facilities.

“We also blocked the Tawaghat-Mangti motor roads at three places,” said organiser of the demonstration Daulat Singh Patiyal. “Neither our area has been linked with the motor road, nor the vital motor link between Darma and Byans valleys from our areas has been constructed by the government as the area falls under the Askot Wildlife Sanctuary,” said Patiyal.

The people, including women, blocked the road at Glanti, Dobat and Kalika. “All the political parties of the area have united for the purpose,” said chairman of the Nagar Panchayat, Dahrchula, Ashok Nabiyal.

The agitators left the campus only after SDM of Dharchula Abhisek Tripathi sought guidelines from the District Magistrate Pithoragarh NS Negi, who assured the agitators that he would listen to them on January 31. “We will tell the District Magistrate to link our area with mobile facility and inform the government about it,” said Patiyal.

Mussoorie, January 29
With the failure of efforts of traders to avoid elections for forming a unanimous body for traders in Mussoorie, candidates have started campaigning here today.

The two candidates in the fray for the post of president of the traders’ association Rajat Agarwal and Devi Godiyal were seen canvassing for the elections to be held tomorrow.

Agarwal, who is vying for the second term as the president, is banking on his last year’s achievement. Godiyal is in the fray with the slogan of breaking the monopoly of certain traders and bringing in a change. For the post of general secretary, last year’s candidate Javed Khan is in contest with Bharat Kumain and the two were also seen convincing the traders.

Earlier, a few traders tried to elect a body without elections, but failed in it due to the adamant attitude of a section of the traders. These elections have once again divided the traders in two groups.