BJP to play up CM’s anti-graft steps
Tribune News Service

Nainital, November 13
While playing up the measures taken by the Chief Minister, Major-Gen Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri (retd), to curb corruption, the BJP leadership in the state will be approaching the electorate with a comparative analysis of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) tenure at the Centre.

Talking to mediapersons here today, former Education Minister and senior BJP leader Tirath Singh Rawat said the party was busy preparing a comparative chart of the performance of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government and the Dr Manmohan Singh-led UPA government at the Centre.

“We will be approaching the people with the comparison chart. While there was hardly any rise in the fuel prices during the NDA rule, the UPA has burdened the ordinary person with several hikes in the prices of petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) during its tenure. In fact, inflation was under control during the NDA regime while the present government has failed to curb it,” said Rawat.

Highlighting the recent Lokayukta Act passed by the Khanduri government in a special session of the state Assembly, Rawat said: “Anna Hazare has been keeping a distance from all the political parties but he himself went to meet Khanduri in Delhi. He has even invited Khanduri to his native village. Does that not send a strong signal? The Centre should learn from Khanduri”.

He claimed that the performance of the BJP in the state during the past four and a half years would bring it back to power in the coming Assembly poll. The party leader claimed that the pace of development in the state over the past four and a half years had been greater than that of the nation in the past six decades.

He said the government has recently taken several initiatives to address state employees’ concerns. Rawat pointed out that while steps had been initiated to regularise the services of 24,000 employees, the issues pertaining to the teachers of various categories and anganwari workers had also been sorted out.

He claimed that the party leadership was busy consulting various segments of the population to know their aspirations so that the issues could be included in the manifesto being prepared by a manifesto drafting committee led by former state unit party chief and former minister Bacchi Singh Rawat. Rawat disclosed that the committee had recently met the industrialists of the state.

Those who kill foetus shouldn’t be considered Hindus: Togadia
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 13
Praveen Togadia, general secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), has called upon the youth to come forward to secure the nation. He was speaking at a youth convention which was organised by the city unit of the VHP today.

Togadia said the nation was in danger because of terrorism, Naxal attacks and cultural invasion. He expressed concern over the reducing population of the Hindu community. He said those who killed their daughters in the womb should not be considered Hindu.

He said the Hindus were not provided the facility of subsidy on their pilgrimage though they also paid taxes like other citizens in the country. He said a change in society was possible only when the youth associated himself with the cause of the respective country.

Industrialist Ashok Vidlas gave a piece of advice to the youngsters to dream big and take pro-action to fulfil those dreams. He said they should follow the calling of their hearts rather than the career options imposed by others. Businessman Rakesh Oberoi, RK Jain, Surat Singh and Yatinder Giri Swami also spoke. 

Traders from mainland China ‘spoiling’ Indo-Tibetan trade
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, November 13
Traders, trading with their Tibetan clients in the Taklakot mart in Tibet, are now a worried lot as according to them, the new tendencies have developed in the trade due to the arrival of clients from the mainland China.

”During my 72 years of life and trade experience of last 50 years, including the experience of the days before 1962, for the first time I have witnessed changes in the nature of our trade partners in Tibet as they preferred to sell

their goods to the clients from the mainland China rather than to traders from India,” said Hari Lal Gunjiyal (72), a veteran trader.

According to traders, this year they felt difficulties in getting the Tibetan goods on credit from their trade partners from Tibet as well as the traditional goods of the interest of the Indian traders have also gone costly due to the massive incursion of clients from the mainland China.

“The Chinese clients pay good prices, and give cash unlike Indian traders who have become habitual over the years to buy some goods on credit for the next year,” said Gunjiyal.

”The clients from China have now started purchasing Tibetan sheep, Pashmina wool, condensed milk of yak without bargaining with the Tibetan sellers. Due to their interference in the trade in recent years, the Tibetan sheep , which usually cost Rs 300 till last year, has this year been sold at Rs 750 or 1,000 yuan,” said the trader.

According to the Indian traders, this advantage to the clients from the mainland China is due to easy accessibility from there into the Taklakot market.

”China has constructed a four-lane road up to Taklakot from the main cities of the country while the Indian road to the border pass is still 60 km away from the main highway.

“If such conditions prevail in this traditional market of Bhotia tribal traders, the goods meant for the Indian traders could become out of reach for them. Even the goods bought by Tibetans will be brought by mainland Chinese traders making the market unviable for India traders,” said Hari Singh Gunjyal, a veteran trader returned from the Indo-China border trade of this year. 

Diabetes cases on the rise in hills of Uttarakhand
Today is World Diabetes Day
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, November 13
Modern lifestyle and stressful job aided by irregular eating habits have led to an alarming increase in the number of diabetics in Uttarakhand. Medical and health experts in their observations have pointed out that earlier diabetes was not so common among hill people, but now a large number of diabetics are coming to Haridwar and Dehradun from the hills for treatment.

Dr Sanjay Shaw told The Tribune that obesity was a major cause of diabetes as well as kidney problems. Pointing out that people nowadays are more attracted to fast food culture, vehicles and technological advancements which lessen their physical work, Dr Shaw said with hill people distancing themselves from agriculture and developing irregular eating habits, their body is easily becoming prone to 
diabetes.

Advocating physical work, yoga and healthy diet chart as major deterrents to diabetes, he said the more one worked hard physically, the less the chances of him becoming diabetic.

“Everyday one should tread at least 2km or 5 km, do yoga, have a balanced diet rich in fibre, avoid junk and oily food, refrain from smoking and alcohol consumption and control his weight,” said Dr Shaw, who had taken special training in Joslin Diabetes Medical Centre in Boston, US.

Tomorrow is World Diabetes Day and free medical checkup camps will be organised in the city on the occasion. In 1991, International Diabetes Federation under the guidance of the World Health Organisation had decided to observe World Diabetes Day on November 14, the birth anniversary of Frederic Banting, who, along with Charles Best, was instrumental in the discovery of insulin in 1922.  

Champawat DM pulls up Excise officials
Tribune News Service

Nainital, November 13
District Magistrate at Champawat Ashish Joshi has pulled up the officials running the Excise and Prohibition, Transport and Food and Civil Supply Departments. He has expressed his unhappiness at the manner in which the departments have been functioning. At a meeting held at the Collectorate Office recently, Joshi pulled up the officials of these departments and pointed out that their performance was disappointing.

Addressing District Supply Officer (DSO) Vinod Tewari, he said the department must ensure that 100 per cent of the allocated quota of food grains was picked up from the godowns for distribution under the Public Distribution System (PDS). Tewari was asked to inspect the PDS outlets at regular intervals. He has also been ordered to keep tabs on the hotels and restaurants in the district to ensure that the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders meant for domestic consumption are not being used there. He has also been asked to initiate strict action against those resorting to sale of food grains and LPG cylinders on the black market.

Following a large number of complaints by consumers with regards to the sale of liquor over and above the MRP, the District Magistrate has ordered that the officials of the Exciuse and Prohibition Department carry out regular surprise checks at various liquor vends in the district.

Joshi also pulled up his subordinates at the meeting and told the Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) to expedite the legal process in their respective areas so that justice to the people was not delayed. He has also pointed out that the officials must ensure collection of revenue well in time. The Tehsildars have been asked to initiate a special drive for collection of revenue and delegate time-bound tasks to their subordinates to collect the revenue. 

Kumaon, Jamia Millia Islamia varsities winners
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 13
Kumaon University, Nainital, Dr RML Avadh University, Faizabad, Jamia Millia Islamia Universiy, Delhi, and the University of Kashmir, Srinagar, won their respective matches in the North Zone Inter-university Cricket Tournament today.

Kumaon University defeated Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, by 70 runs. The Kumaon team scored 251 runs all out in 40 overs. Nitin Bhaila was the top scorer with an unbeaten 82 runs scored in as many balls. In reply, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, was all out for 181 runs in 33.2 overs, losing the match by 70 runs.

In the second match, Dr RML Avadh University, Faizabad, defeated Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa, by five wickets. Jaskaran was the most successful bowler who took three wickets for 34 runs for the Sirsa team.

Jamia Millia Islamia trounced Dr BR Ambedkar University, Agra, by five wickets. The Ambedkar university team scored 148 for nine wickets in 30 overs. Devendra was the top scorer with 58 runs while Tarun Chauhan and Akash Deep took three wickets each for the Jamia university team.

The Jamia university scored 154 runs for five wickets in 26.4 overs to win the match.

In the last match, the University of Kashmir defeated Bundelkhand University, Bareilly, by five wickets. The Bundelkhand team scored 131 runs all out in 34.4 overs. Opener Rahul Kushwaha was the top scorer with 35 runs. In reply, the Kashmir team scored 132 runs for the loss of five wickets thus winning the match. Mohammad Mubasshir was the top scorer with 24 unbeaten runs. 

Sports championship begins in Haridwar
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, November 13
The All-India Mahatma Hansraj Aryan Zonal Sports Championship began here today. As many as 1,500 players are participating in different events. The championship comprises different events like cricket, hockey, basketball, football, table tennis and athletics.

The events will be held at five places - the BHEL main stadium, the Sector 1 stadium, Roshanabad District Stadium, City Sports Complex and Gurukul Kangri Stadium.

Inaugurating the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Gurukul Kangri University, Prof Swatantra Kumar, said such events helped players to hone their skills and also provided an opportunity to meet with people from different regions.

Principal of DAV School, PC Purohit, said this was one of the biggest sporting events in the district in the past few years and without the cooperation of the district administration, the BHEL and the Gurukul university, the event could not have been organised. 

Welham Girls trounce St Thomas’ School
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 13
Welham Girls’ School, The Heritage School, St Thomas’ School and Summer Valley School won their respective matches in the DDCSA Junior Girls’ Basketball Tournament played at Welham Girls’ School here today.

Welham Girls’ School defeated St Thomas School 23-04. Sarah Chaudhary scored eight points for the Welham team.

The Heritage School beat Convent of Jesus and Mary 17-10. Anu of Heritage School scored 16 points. St Thomas’ School trounced Hopetown Girls’ School 19-05. Sonali of St Thomas School scored 10 points for her team. Summer Valley School beat Convent of Jesus and Mary 10-2. Sagarika of Summer Valley School scored six points. 

Open junior tennis finals held
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 13
Dhruva Pal, Dron Walia, Ishan Sethi, Mritunjay Badola and Oshin Guleria won their matches in their respective categories in the finals of the 13th Uttarakhand State Open Junior Tennis Tournament played at Shanti Tennis Academy here today.

In the under-18 category, Dhruva Pal defeated Arnav Alok 6-2,6-2. In the under-14 category, Mritunjay Badola defeated Utkarsh Bhardwaj 6-4, 6-1. In the under-12 category, Dron Walia beat Prakhar Pal 4-2, 2-4, 4-0. In the under-10 category, Ishan Sethi beat Siddarath Aggarwal 8-2.

In the under-14 section, Oshin Guleria beat Palak Uppal 8-2.

In the under-14 doubles category, Utkarsh Bhardwaj and Manik Dabar beat Prakhar Pal and Dron Walia 4-2, 5-3. In the under-18 doubles category, Dhruva Pal and Arnav Alok beat Ankur Rawat and Sachin Kumar 6-2, 6-3.

Lt-Col RK Chawla (retd), former general manager of Shanti Tennis Academy, gave away the prizes to the winners.

Relaxation of building bylaws sought
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, November 13
Under the aegis of the Mussoorie Jan Kalyan Samiti, residents of Barlowganj took out a protest march against the Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) demanding a relaxation of construction guidelines and the quashing of all notices served in the past few years for the non-compliance of archaic procedures.

The march was organised from the Picture Palace to Library Bazar.

Coordinator of the samiti VP Thapliyal said with an increase in the number of population, the MDDA must relax construction norms. He said the MDDA always harassed them whenever they began any construction work.

Thapliyal demanded that the state government should relax norms so that residents could construct or renovate their one/two room houses without any obstacle. Another demand that was made was the quashing of notices served by the MDDA in the past few years. 

Punjabi Express special edition released
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 13
Punjabi Express, a special edition of a magazine brought out on the occasion of birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, was released at a function here today. Harak Singh Rawat, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, was the chief guest at the function attended by a large number of members of the Punjabi community.

Speakers talked about the sacrifices made by the Punjabi community particularly Sikhs in the Independence struggle and development of the country in the past 500 years. Rawat announced that if the Congress came back to power in the coming Assembly elections, Punjabi would be given the status of second language and the Hemkunt shrine would be declared the fifth religious shrine after the four dhams.

He said the contribution of the Punjabi community and Sikhs couldn’t be ignored even in Uttarakhand. Harjeet Singh Mintu conducted the programme where a large number of prominent persons including Kunwar Japinderjit Singh, Manjeet Singh Sudan, Jasbir Singh, Surjeet Singh and Sukhchain Singh were present.

Inflation going down, claims Bajrang Muni
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 13
Senior Gandhian thinker Bajrang Lal Aggarwal, who is popularly known as Bajrang Muni, presented his own version of inflation and other boiling issues in the country when he spoke before members of the Zila Sarvodaya Mandal in the city today.

He also suggested them to constitute a committee of responsible civil society parallel to Parliament to ensure more transparency while enacting Bills for the citizens of the country.

He said the inflation was not rising rather it had been decreasing over the last four to five decades. The only significant fallout was the growing chasm between rich and poor.

“Forty to 50 years ago, most of the people could not afford decent food, clothes or housing but today they are enjoying a good lifestyle. It shows that they have begun earning well and have more money to spend. But indeed in this race, a section of society has moved far ahead and became affluent and another section quite poor thus posing a striking contrast,” he said.

He ridiculed on the “absurdity of imposing Rs 400 as tax on bicycles which were purchased by the 33 per cent poor category of the society”.

He said people must learn to be worldly wise rather than meek gentle souls to protest over the wrong policies of state and the Centre which affected their lives.

He also questioned the logic of keeping labour extremely cheap in the country whereas abroad, he said labourers charged a whopping amount on hourly basis.

He also passed remarks on the discrepancies in the education system where education was strengthening but character, knowledge and skills were weakening.

To improve the nature and content of the Bills, he said he had sent a proposal to renowned social crusader Anna Hazare, according to which a parallel body of a civil group, elected by voters the same time when they voted for Parliament

elections, should be empowered to have a final say on the sanction of the Bills prepared in Parliament.

He suggested the members of the Zila Sarvodaya Mandal to hold at least one meeting in a year to discuss any subject relevant to society and the nation and spread awareness about it.

President Biju Negi appreciated the views of Bajrang Muni. 

Dance drama contest held

Dehradun November 13
To promote dance artistes of Uttarakhand a dance drama competition ‘Taal’ was organized by Parissa Creation on the premises of St Joseph’s Academy here today.

The joint director, Uttarakhand State AIDS Control Society (USACS), Meenakshi Uniyal, inaugurated the event by lighting up a ceremonial lamp, accompanied by TS Bisht, and Praveen Goel as the guests. The participants of the competition left everybody spellbound with their classical, semi-classical, folk, western and contemporary styles of dancing.

The performances also won accolades from the audiences for entertaining one and all. The programme culminated with the prize distribution ceremony where Ganesh Joshi, MLA, Rajpur, gave away the prizes to the winners of the competition. He congratulated all, encouraged them to bring forward the inner talent so that the state could rise and develop.— TNS 

CII hails amendments to industrial policy
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 13
Dr S Farooq, Chairman of the Uttarakhand Chapter of the CII, and Pankaj Gupta, President of the Industries Association of Uttarakhand, have welcomed the amendments to the Special Integrated Industrial Promotion Policy - 2008 for the hilly and remote areas of Uttarakhand cleared by the Cabinet yesterday.

Dr Farooq said the steps announced yesterday will go a long way in clearing some of the major hurdles which had stood in the way of development of industry in the hills. The decision to set up 11 industrial hubs with fully developed supporting infrastructure and making land available at competitive rates will provide a big impetus to development of industry in the hills. Offering fully developed world-class industrial estates was a key element of the state’s strategy to attract industry in the plains. The CII has been strongly recommending this for the hill areas as well. The measure will also encourage planned industrial development in the hills, added Dr Farooq.

Relaxation for micro units on land use conversion, decision to extend benefits to existing units expanding capacity by 25 per cent, and bringing in additional areas in the districts of Nainital and Dehradun (at heights greater than 650 metres) under the policy will help many more medium and small-scale industries benefit from the incentive package.

Meanwhile, Gupta also welcomed the decision of the state government to give encouragement to set up industry in the hilly regions of the state. He thanked Chief Minister BC Khanduri for taking far-reaching decisions to give a fillip to the industry in the hills.

Bus falls into gorge, 3 killed
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, November 13
Three youths were killed when the jeep they were travelling in fell into a gorge near Bardakhan in Lohaghat subdivision of Champawat district last evening.

According to the police, the ill-fated jeep that was on its way to Chulape from Barakot fell into a 500-metre-deep gorge, killing Deepak Pant (35), Ramesh (36) and Narain Singh (27) of Barakot on the spot. The bodies have been handed over to their kin after a post-mortem examination.

In another incident, two bodies were found in Pithoragarh today. One body was found hanging in Toli village near Gurna while another was found in a home in Dharmashala locality. 

Koshiyari slams PM

Mussoorie, November 13
Former Chief Minister and BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Uttarakhand Bhagat Singh Koshiyari has slammed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for calling his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani a “man of peace”. Koshiyari, while speaking to the media on his visit to the town yesterday, said if the Prime Minister believed that Gilani was an ambassador of peace then he should also answer who was spreading violence in India.

Koshiyari said if Pakistan were a peaceful nation then the drone attacks by the USA would not have taken place and it was evidence enough that Pakistan had emerged as a warmonger state that believed in supporting violence through any means. — OC