Staff called from other states to man 108 services
Dehradun, December 28
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) of the GVK-Emergency Management Research Institute (EMRI) 108 emergency ambulance services from the neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh will arrive in Dehradun tomorrow to man emergency ambulances services that have been paralysed by the indefinite stir launched by the field employees.

Dehradun , December 28
Rajender Bhandari, Uttarakhand Minister of Panchayati Raj, Home Guards and Jails, today resigned from the Council of Ministers, here today.

According to officials, Rajender Bhandari submitted his resignation to Chief Minister B.C.Khanduri amidst reports that he had joined the rival Congress Party.

Rajender Bhandari, a rebel Congress candidate, had won the Nandprayag Assembly segment in Chamoli district as an Independent after he was denied the Congress party ticket in the 2007 Assembly polls. He won as an Independent.

Later, he gave support to the Khanduri-led BJP Government and was made a minister in the BJP Government. According to Congress Party sources, he has already made bridges with the Congress leadership and would be joining the party to fight the forthcoming Assembly elections as a Congress candidate.

He has joined the Congress again through his mentor and Pauri Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj.

Dehradun December 28
Dharmender Kumar, an employee of a private company, today held a fast on the second day of the protest of social organisation People’s Forum at Deen Dyal Upadhyaya Park. He had also held a seven-day fast in August this year, when the same organisation held serial protests to extend its support to Gandhian socialite Anna Hazare in New Delhi.

Dharmender said he would keep fast whenever Anna would do so to back his resolve to eradicate corruption from the country. He castigated the Centre, saying that it had deliberately delayed the passing of the strong Lokpal Bill to “have enough scope to indulge in corruption.”

Leading figure of the JP movement, Kushal Kripal Singh said the Lokpal Bill had been deferred for the past 40 years and even now when the public of the whole country had come on roads to bring up an effective Bill against corruption, the politicians in the country were still playing games to hoodwink the people.

Dehradun, December 28
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) of the GVK-Emergency Management Research Institute (EMRI) 108 emergency ambulance services from the neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh will arrive in Dehradun tomorrow to man emergency ambulances services that have been paralysed by the indefinite stir launched by the field employees.

“Tomorrow, a total of 100 EMTs from the neighbouring states will take charge of our ambulances. Meanwhile, we have recruited a total of 24 new candidates today and 55 have been sent for training,” said Manish Tinku, state head of the GVK-EMRI.

Besides, a total of 48 drivers and 32 EMTs have returned to work and a total of 222 employees who are on strike have been issued termination letters. The company has also lodged an FIR against nine employees. — TNS

Dehradun, December 28
A group of 25 young school students from Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir met Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva at the Raj Bhavan today.

The students are here as part of their Sadbhavna Yatra organised for them by the Indian Army. They were led by Major Kamal Kaushal of 37 Rashtriya Rifles (Punjab) and were accompanied by two lady teachers. The governor interacted informally with them, asking them about their interests and plans for the future.

The students told the governor that they were looking forward to visiting various important places in Dehradun and Mussoorie, including the IMA, the FRI, the Archaeological Survey of India and Lala Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. They appreciated the initiative of the Indian Army, which organised this yatra for these students.

The students presented patriotic songs before the governor, who then wished them a bright future and called upon them to play an important role in creating a peaceful and united India.

The governor also met 58 poor and underprivileged children from 11 districts of Uttarakhand, who are here for a five-day camp under the aegis of the State Child Welfare Council. The camp is titled “Milkar Rehna Seekho Shivir 2011.” The governor inspired the children to learn to live together in harmony and become good citizens of the state and nation.

She told the girl children to be proud of themselves and be aware of their rights.

Dehradun, December 28
On the third day of the second phase of the demolition drive today, the Chakrata road was opened to traffic.

All the debris had been removed last night. The Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority did not allot any shop today. As many as 39 buildings were demolished during the second phase of the drive.

Meanwhile, in the new shopping complex, the shopkeepers who were given allotment letters have taken the possession of the shops.

Ramesh Verma, owner of Kumar Sweets, said he would begin his business in the new complex in the next 15 days. He, however, complained of the dusty veranda and pathways and said the MDDA must clean the area outside the shops so that the customers did not hesitate coming here.

Tomorrow, the District Courts will announce its decision regarding the petition filed by the Free Hold Traders Association against the MDDA for not giving them extra shops and preferential treatment in the allocation of shops.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered against an assistant of a contractor who had allegedly thrashed a small boy with an iron road full of nails when he tried to pick the bricks and metals strewn all around.

Dehradun, December 28
Describing it as the violation of the model code of conduct, the state BJP today lodged complaints at the Chief Electoral Officer against the advertisements issued by the agriculture ministry with regard to the steps taken for the state farmers and regarding the distribution of blankets by Congress leaders at a function in Dehradun.

Spokesperson for the BJP Vishwas Dabur today met Chief Electoral Officer Radha Raturi and lodged the complaints.

He said the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Processing Industries had issued advertisement in which the steps taken for the state farmers by the ministry had been highlighted. The BJP has also lodged a complaint against the alleged distribution of blankets by former Congress leader Hira Singh Bisht and Congress MLA Jot Singh Ghunsola at a function held to honour ex-servicemen and women.

Joint Electoral Officer Sowjanya said these complaints would be referred to the District Election Officer for examination.