2,62,363 names deleted from voters’ list
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 13
After house-to-house verifications undertaken by booth-level officers (BLOs) in the 70 Assembly constituencies in the state, a total of 2,62,363 names of voters have been deleted. These voters were found to have shifted from their places or expired.

During the house-to-house verification, a total of 59,044 voters were found to have expired, 1,91,483 voters had shifted and 11,836 names were duplicated in the voters’ list.

“The draft voters’ list has managed to weed out several names that were in the voters’ list. We are undertaking continuous updation of the voters’ list and the voters are advised to check their details and approach the BLOs for correction. According to the draft electoral roll, the total number of voters in the state are 57,31,956. The final publication of electoral rolls will take place on January 2,” said Radha Raturi, Chief 
Electoral Officer (Uttarakhand).

Addressing a press conference today, Raturi said the Election Commission had provided a toll free number 1950 (appended with the city STD code) that could be used for checking details about their names and other family members in the voters’ list. “Voters having duplicate names could face a jail term for a period of one year,” she said.

She said in keeping with the guidelines of the Election Commission, the expenditure by the candidates during campaign would be strictly monitored. “The legal limit for spending on election campaign for Assembly elections is Rs 11 lakh per candidate in the state. The Election Commission will also keep an eye on bribes and inducements offered by candidates, that too would invite punishment according to the Election Commission rules. Besides, a committee will be formed to check paid news, as soon as the model conduct is in place,” said Raturi.

The total number of polling booths (or stations) in the state now stands at 9,744. These are located in the radius of 2km to 3km of the residence of voters. While the total number of polling centres are 7,000 in the state.

The disposal of claims and objections will be held on November 21 and updating the database on December 28 and the final publication of electoral rolls on January 2, 2012.

Nod for airport near Haridwar
Tribune News Service

Dehradun October 13
The state government has given a green signal for setting up an airport on the public-private partnership mode between Haridwar and Luxar in such a way that it can further be upgraded as an international airport.

While chairing a meeting convened on this issue at the Secretariat today, Chief Secretary, Subhash Kumar directed officials of the Forest and Revenue Departments to identfy the land for the purpose within a one week.

Pathari, the site which was earlier finalised for the airport, had to be cancelled as it was full of trees.

Kumar said the state deserved to have an international airport for having some of the most renowned religious places representing different communities such as Nanak Matta, Piran Kaliar, Haridwar etc. The state was also endowed with several splendid natural scenic places also which was why it had been heavily visited by the tourists.

Apart from these reasons, he said, the rapid expansion of industrialisation and investment by outsiders also called for a need of an international airport in the state to facilitate the easy and quick mode of travel.

He clarified to the officials that they must not forget the fact while scouting for the land that the airport ought to have all scope to expand in future.

He also directed them to closely examine the various parameters for building of an international airport so that the state government did not face any complication in future in this regard.

The meeting was also attended by Principal Secretary, Civil Aviation, PC Sharma, Secretary Tourism SS Sandhu, District Magistrate Haridwar D Santhiyal Pandiyan along with other officials. 

Protest ends, national park staff take back arms
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 13
After more than three weeks, the forest security employees of world famous Rajaji National Park will be seen with arms and ammunition. They had deposited these as a mark of protest against police action on three park employees.

Taking cognizance of the protest mode of the park employees, which could have proved fatal for the authorities apart from dangerous wild animals, security threat from poachers and wood smugglers was another issue of concern.

An understanding has been arrived at between the agitating park employees and park officials who stated that now the cases would be fought by the department on behalf of the three imprisoned employees. Also, if during any shootout any mafia gets killed by the forest security employees, no case would be filed until a magisterial probe is done in the matter.

Another demand of pressing for amendment in Sections of the Indian Forest Act -1927 and Wild Life Conservation Act-1972 to ensure full protection to the forest employees has also been accepted by Chief Wildlife Conservator SS Sharma, in presence of Rajaji National Park director SS Rassailly.

The Van Karmachari Sangh district Chief, Rajbeer Singh, said they were happy with the meeting with forest officials and it’s the interest of the department also that it caters to their demands.

“While obeying duty if any case is filed against us, it should be the responsibility of the forest department to bear the expense of legal action. It’s not for our own safety only that we take extreme measures while fighting against smugglers or poachers, but for the department also and it is not apt if the department leaves us on our own when legal battle is fought” said JP Anthwal, an employee leader.

Meanwhile, forest ranger MS Negi said the arms stored in the Tibdi forest office had been handed over to the employees and now they were carrying out patrols in night, in the interior park forest range also.

Congress to consolidate Dalit, Muslim votes
Plans two Dalit sammelans in state
SMA Kazmi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 13
With a Dalit leader at the helm of affairs of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress, the Congress has started working on its strategy to consolidate Dalit and Muslim votes in its favour in the coming Assembly elections in the state.

Since the ruling BJP has again brought in BC Khanduri as Chief Minister of the state last month, both political parties -- the BJP and the Congress -- have started working overtime to consolidate voters in their favour.

While Khanduri with active support of the party affiliates and Sangh Parivar functionaries plans to tour the state to influence the voters on the plank of corruption and good governance, the Congress has chalked out a strategy to consolidate its base among the Dalit and Muslim communities in the state.

In this regard, Uttarakhand Congress chief Yashpal Arya, a Dalit leader, has planned two Dalit sammelans in both regions of the state. The first Dalit sammelan for the Garhwal region will be held at Parade Ground, Dehradun, on October 15 to be followed by another similar sammelan for the Kumaon region at Haldwani on October 20.

Senior party leaders, including state general secretary in charge Birender Singh and co-in charge Anees Ahmed, along with party MPs of the respective regions, are expected to participate in these sammelans.

Yashpal Arya has been working hard to make these sammelans a success. All party legislators and prospective candidates, particularly Dalit leaders, have been directed to attend these sammelans with their supporters.

“The party will be holding similar sammelans for the Muslim community in Haridwar, Dehradun and Udham Singh Nagar districts,” said Suryakant Dhasman, a senior party leader and former spokesperson of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC).

Yashpal Arya had held Dalit sammelans in all 13 districts prior to the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 with spectacular success.

The Congress had won all five Lok Sabha seats in the elections.

More importantly, it was for the first time after the formation of the state that Muslims and Dalits voted overwhelmingly for the Congress. The party did exceedingly well in the terai region of Dehradun, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts.

In many Assembly segments which were considered the strongholds of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Congress did well after a gap of nearly two decades. The Congress led in the Assembly segments of Bahadarabad in Haridwar represented by Shahzad, leader of the BSP legislature party and Narayan Pal, another senior BSP leader representing Sitarganj in Udham Singh Nagar district.

It was after a gap of quarter of a century that the Congress could won the Haridwar Lok Sabha seats having six BSP legislators.

Uttarakhand has 23 per cent Dalit voters and a sizeable population of Muslims who account for more than 12 per cent of the total population of the state. The Congress party plans to win over a majority of voters from these two communities in the coming assembly polls.

“The people of the state could not be swayed by the hollow talk of clean and good governance as they have suffered the most corrupt BJP regime in the past four and half years,” commented Yashpal Arya, Uttarakhand Congress chief.

Haridwar BJP to focus on rural areas
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 13
Being on target of opposition parties as well as party insiders for having a criminal background, BJP Haridwar chief Sushil Chauhan urged party workers to focus on two main issues- corruption and inflation, as directed by Chief Minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, on his visit to the city yesterday.

Addressing the district party executive meeting at the party’s city office here today, Chauhan said if the party had to show a good performance in the upcoming assembly elections, party workers need to work in the rural and far flung areas, as that was the segment that comes to vote in large number.

“Party is foremost, our personal interests should not come in between the party’s interests. Only those party leaders will be given preference who work among masses as the BJP is a party with a difference and the pattern of the Congress will not be allowed in our party,” said Chauhan, trying to give a message to his opponents within the party.

Later on the sidelines of the meeting, when questioned by the TNS on controversies relating to his criminal background, Chauhan said had there been any case or serious charge against him, he would have been in prison.

He said since the creation of Uttarakhand, there had been no case against him in any police station of the state and he had been a devoted party worker, active in politics and social work. “Some people are deliberately creating the controversy to gain political mileage,” he added.

Ramdev bats for Khanduri
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 13
Yoga Guru Ramdev today came out openly in support of the BJP and praised Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri claiming that his elevation as Chief Minister will help the state fight corruption. “If the head of a family is wise and a man of character, the whole family gets its rewards,” said Ramdev, who is holding a two-day yoga camp here, while talking to media persons here.

He said his nationwide campaign of “Bharat Swabhiman” had started creating a mandate in the nation against corruption and black money deposited in foreign banks, and its effect would be seen in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, which will be fought between pro-corruption and anti-corruption forces.

“This polarisation, which has started emerging, will be fully developed by 2012,” claimed the yoga guru. He said the Bharat Swabhiman movement would give issue-based support to the candidates in the elections. During his entire tour of the hilly districts of Uttarakhand, he condemned the Congress.

Ramdev also condemned the attack on Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan by the workers of Shri Ram Sena in New Delhi on Wednesday. He said the freedom of expression given by the Constitution should be respected by all in the country.

“Being a nationalist, I am a strong believer that Kashmir is an inseparable part of India but it does not mean that if some one expresses otherwise he had no right to freedom of expression,” said the yoga guru.

Ramdev, quoting the recent comments of CAG Vinod Raithat the Centre Government has lowest credibility in recent years, said it was for the first time that the institution like CAG had commented on the credibility of the Central Government.

MKD blames Cong, BJP for minorities’ woes
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 13
With the Uttarakhand Assembly elections nearing, many political outfits, which had been in hibernation for the past few years, have suddenly resurfaced as far as political activities are concerned.

One such organisation, the Maidani Kranti Dal (MKD), has started “Maidani Swabhiman Yatra” to woo the voters residing in the plains of Haridwar district.

At the helm of the yatra is central chief of the party Chaudhari Naresh, who is eyeing minority communities’ votes by criticising both the Congress and the BJP for the failure to cater to their interests, despite being in power alternately since the formation of the state.

Pointing to the delay in the completion of a Haj house, Naresh said only assurances had been given by the state government and the construction of the Haj house is hanging fire on the pretext of a probe.

“I don’t think during this government’s tenure the Haj house will come into existence as the government is anti-minorities. Another example of government apathy is the delay in the formation of Arabi Farsi Board which seems to be just a political gimmick for the BJP to lure Muslim voters during poll,” added Chaudhari, who started his yatra from Roorkee on September 9.

Lashing out at the Congress, he said no Muslim was given Cabinet berth despite the party chanting the secular phrase every time when elections were around the corner. “The minority communities’ representatives could have been given cabinet rank as they have been loyal to the party but neither former Chief Minister ND Tiwari nor any party leader lobbied for this. The Congress only have interest in the minorities’ votes, as despite 63 years of Independence, a major part of which the Congress remained in power, they are still backward,” Naresh added.

Meanwhile, district Congress chief Chaudhari Rajendra Singh refuted the charges of the MKD, terming the yatra as one being carried in empty streets. He said the people of Haridwar understood that such outfits only cashed in on people’s sentiments.

30 days for providing services
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 13
With Right to Service Bill becoming an Act after receiving the Governor’s assent, the government has set a 30-day time frame for providing services applied by the citizens of the state.

If the services asked by the citizen are not provided within 30 days, they can file first appeal within the stipulated time frame. For this purpose, the government has also appointed First and Second Appellate Authorities.

“Besides the inability to provide services within the stipulated time, frame would also invite punishment and imposition of fine,” said Chief Secretary Subash Kumar.

The services that have been notified under the Act include Ration Card, Khasra Khatoni, Caste Certificate, Water Connection, Death and Birth Certificate, Permanent Residency Certificate, Proof of income certificate, Driving License, Registration Certificate, Approval of Maps for houses and Electricity connection, among others.

The time frame has also been fixed for acquiring character certificate, freedom fighter dependent certificate, renewal of BPL cards, Janani Surakasha Yojana (JSY), drug license, medical certificate, scholarships and arms license. 

Rudrapur Riots
SSP seeks info, offers reward

Nainital, October 13
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Udham Singh Nagar Abhinav Kumar has offered a reward of Rs 10,000 for those divulging information about the miscreants responsible for the desecration of the holy book and fanning the subsequent communal riots of October 2.

The unprecedented riots had left four dead and scores of people injured apart from a trail of destruction marked mainly by the burning of several shops and vehicles.

He has appealed to the public to contact him at 9411112702, Superintendent of Police (SP) at Rudrapur at 9411112742, Circle Officer at 9411111991 and Inspector In charge at Rudrapur Police Station at 9411112901. — TNS

Indo-Tibet Trade
Office stops issuing passes to traders
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 13
The trade office for the Indo-Tibet border trade of this year has stopped issuing trade passes, as the trade of the year comes to a close on October 30.

“We have also sent intimation to 12 Indian traders, who are still camping in Tibet, to pack up and return by October 30, as the high pass thereafter cannot be crossed due to heavy snowfall,” said Dr Abhishek Tripathi, trade officer and SDM, Dharchula.

According to the trade officer, Indian traders have imported mostly Chinese silk and Pashmina wool from Tibet this year, in exchange of routine consumer goods, including sugar candy and jaggery worth 50 quintals to their Tibetan clients.

“As of now, goods worth Rs 2.58 crore have been imported by the Indian traders, who have exported goods worth Rs 24.50 lakh till date. The traders from India, mostly from the tribal Bhotia community of the high-Himalayan valleys of Darma and Chaudans in Pithoragarh district, take part in the trade, which commences from June 1 every year from 16500 ft high Lipu Lekh pass in the district. Mostly the senior traders, including the president of Bharat-Tibet Vyapar Samiti, Padam Singh Raypa and his team are still in Tibet and have been informed of the decision of the administration to come back by October 30,” added Tripathi.