Warring Khanduri, Nishank factions call truce, for now
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 10
Warring Uttarakhand BJP leaders have called a temporary truce following directions from the party high command to exercise restraint. The warring faction leaders had been camping in New Delhi to give their versions of the anti-party activities witnessed during the Assembly poll on January 30.

Factions led by Chief Minister BC Khanduri and former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank are claiming victory in the elections and trying to convince the BJP central leadership of their efforts in this direction.

The direction of the BJP leadership, which is busy in the Uttar Pradesh elections, seems to have the desired effect on the warring factions. The state BJP leaders today sang different tunes and tried to convey how the prospects of the party were bright under the leadership of Chief Minister Khanduri.

Sources said while Khanduri presented to the high command the details of the Assembly seats where anti-party activities could mar the chances of victory of the BJP candidates, Nishank on the other hand gave the details about the Doiwala Assembly seat from where he contested the elections and how he was target at the personal level.

After Nishank called on the party leadership in New Delhi, the Chief Minister apprised the high command about the electoral prospects of the party and assured it of a comfortable win.

Nishank has been maintaining that his visit to New Delhi was more to do with the day-to-day affairs of the party and the elections in Uttar Pradesh where he had volunteered to campaign. “The central party leadership will take action after the declaration of poll results on March 6. In case Khanduri wins from Kotdwara the issue may be sidelined for the time being, but not for long as there have been reports of anti-party activities from other Assembly seats as well,” said a BJP leader.

Fake Currency
Vigil stepped up along Nepal border
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, February 10
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) guarding the Indo-Nepal border and the Pithoragarh police have intensified vigil along the border to check the smuggling of fake currency into India. "Personnel of our intelligence wing deputed at Jhoola Ghat and other bridges along the Indo-Nepal border have been asked to find out the sources of the smuggling of fake currency into India,” said NA Bharane, SP, Pithoragarh.

According to information, last week when a shopkeeper had gone to deposit money in a local bank at Jhoola Ghat town, two notes of 1,000 denomination and one note of 5,00 denomination were found to be fake.

According to the shopkeeper, one of the notes of 1,000 denomination was given to him by a Nepal citizen who had purchased grocery items from his shop at the Jhoola Ghat market.

In the wake of the incident, SSB officials have increased vigil near all five bridges to check the smuggling of fake currency from Nepal. “As the border of India and Nepal is open, we cannot stop Nepal citizens from shopping in Indian markets situated near the border. However, we have asked our personnel guarding all five bridges across the Kali river, which makes the border between the two countries in this part of the country, to keep vigil on the persons whose activities are found to be suspicious,” said SD Serekhane, an SSB official.

A newspaper vendor said when he went to collect newspaper bills from a client in Nepal last week the latter gave him Rs 1,000, which was later declared fake by a bank employee in Jhoola Ghat town. “This shows that fake currency is being smuggled into India as Nepal citizens are dependent on Indian markets for their daily needs and usually come here to buy things,” he said.

Kanwariyas start coming to Haridwar
Tribune News Service

Kanwariyas from Gurgaon prepare an on-wheel kanwar in Haridwar on Friday. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur

Haridwar, February 10
With the completion of the Magh Poornima bath on February 7 and the festival of Mahashivratri coming on Feburary 20, kanwariyas have started coming to Haridwar for fetching holy Gangajal. Though the number is not large, still one can see saffron-clad kanwariyas with beautiful kanwars in their hands at Ganga ghats of Neel Dhara and Pant Deep.

Kanwariyas will start pouring in large number in the next few days as the Shivratri approaches near with kanwariyas from far-off places coming earlier.

One can see kanwariyas at Pant Deep, Laljiwala areas adjacent to Har-ki-Pauri, VIP ghat, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya multi-parking lot and other open spaces.

Like a group of kanwariyas from Manesar, Haryana, were seen giving final touches to their vehicle on which statue of Lord Shiva and shivlingams are placed.

Beautifully decorated, this kanwar takes almost two-day time and Rs 10,000.

Manoj Kumar, a kanwaria, said they got immense pleasure by coming to Haridwar at Har-ki-Pauri for fetching the Gangajal.

He said, “The hard work put up in decorating this kanwar bore fruit when people appreciate their kanwar,with people offering obeisance at Lord Shiva statue and chanting of ‘Bam bam Bholey’ reverberates throughout the route to Gurgaon which is almost 200 kilometeres,” said Kumar. In the coming days, the kanwar market will also be set up at Pant Deep where decorated kanwars will be available for kanwariyas whose number touch lakhs.

Drive to make Haridwar garbage-free
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

A cleanliness drive under way at Shiv Moorti chowk in Haridwar on Friday. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur

Haridwar, February 10
The local Municipal Corporation (MC) has mooted a cleanliness drive to make Haridwar city a world class clean city. The drive, Ever Clean Zone, is not time bound and will be carried round the clock with initially 100 employees to ensure the city remains clean.

On the directions of District Magistrate D Senthyl Pendiyan, MC officials have planned the initiative, concentrating on one zone at a time. For the purpose special booths have been set up where a warden will be on duty 24 hours. He will maintain a register of employees on field duty in their respective zones.

A week-long awareness drive is also being carried out and traders, locals, pilgrims, visitors and tourists are being urged not to litter garbage in the zone. Also, special garbage-lifting machines have been purchased, which will dispose of garbage from bins every half an hour or as soon as the bins get filled.

Health Officer, Haridwar city, Dr Anil Tyagi told The Tribune that initially the drive had been launched from the railway station-bus station area till the Har-Ki-Pauri-Bhimgoda barrage area. It would then be carried out in other parts of the city, thus bringing them under the clean zone purview.

“After the awareness drive we will start penalising violators as the cleanliness drive is a round-the-clock exercise and we want to change the face of the city,” said Dr Tyagi while himself monitoring the drive in the Shiv Moorti Chowk area.

The MC has sought cooperation from social organisations, schools, colleges, institutions and local people to ensure the drive achieves its goal.

A mega awareness rally will be held in the city on February 19 which will be flagged off by the District Magistrate. Already 700 volunteers of the Shantikunj Gayatri family has extended support to the rally, while several schools, colleges and groups will also support the MC drive.

Shikha Ohri, a resident of Shiv Moorti Chowk, termed the cleanliness drive as one of the best initiatives of the administration. Earlier the Shiv Moorti Chowk remained littered with garbage, but now cleanliness was visible. If the people realised the benefits of the drive, Haridwar city would become a clean city, added Shikha.

Govindacharya backs Save Ganga movement
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 10
Veteran Rashtriya Sewak Sangh ideologue Govindacharya today extended support to the ongoing “Save Ganga” movement which is currently ongoing at Matra Sadan ashram in Haridwar.

Perturbed by numerous vain attempts initiated by the Centre and the state government on cleaning the Ganga, Govindacharya even urged people not to go on pilgrimage on the Ganga like Char Dham yatra to express resentment against pollution in the Ganga.

He said despite numerous schemes, projects and even spending crores from the World Bank on cleaning the Ganga, nothing much had been done. So now it’s the time that people should express resentment by various modes and also make sure they would not contribute in affecting the sanctity of the Ganga.

Govindacharya supported agitating saint Guru Das Aggarwal, other saints and Ganga activists terming their “tapasya” mode of agitation unique and hoped that it would surely bore results.

While meeting with Matra Sadan founder Swami Shivanand, Govindacharya also had a word on the anti-quarrying movement initiated by the Matra Sadan and dwelt on the future course of this movement. Govindacharya has been associated with cleaning of the Ganga campaigns in past and is a regular visitor to the Matra Sadan ashram.

He also had been quite active during late Swami Nigamamand’s fast unto death agitation against illegally quarrying on the Ganga riverbed in Haridwar and now supported GD Aggarwal during his famous agitation on the closing of Lohari Nagpala and Pala Maneri projects in Garhwal hills.

Meanwhile, a large number of people and social organizations are also extending their support to this movement which is speedily catching attention of the masses. As the mode of agitation is “tapasya” only with no gathering, speeches or awareness drive, people are realising the significance of this movement which is related with the holy Ganga for which billions of rupees have been spent for no result.

Tanveer Ali, a local, said the saints and Ganga activists had resorted to a silent mode of expression of anger which itself indicated the lack of seriousness on the part of the government.

NSS girls spread awareness among villagers
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 10
Girl students of Shravan Nath Math Jawaharlal Nehru College as part of the National Service Scheme are on a visit to villages. They are also doing social works generating awareness among villagers on various issues. They have been camped at Sadhna Ashram near the Shankaracharya chowk, so they get a spiritual feel of the ashram life too doing yoga sessions early in the morning and also practising meditation.

Programme coordinator Sushma Mayal said students had been divided into two groups, with each group being given different tasks.

“Be it generating awareness about social myths, ill practices prevalent in society, female foeticide, apprising elders about sending children to school, sanitation and also forming women groups, youth and elder groups for better coordination among villagers, NSS activists are actively working in this camp” said Nayal.

NSS students of the Sufi wing are preparing food in the ashram getting the blessings of the ashramites.

Gudiya, a BA-II student, termed this camp a turning point in her life as she got to know the other side of the life. She further added that be it doing yoga, helping poor, making food at ashram, doing cleaning work, teaching elders everything was a new thing for them.

Ashram inmates of Sadhna Dham are also impressed with the behaviour of students and the way they are doing social work.

College principal AK Ghildiyal said girl students were doing marvellous job.

Prerna Kainthola, students union chief and gold medallist in various sporting disciplines and other events, said they worked with dedication.

UPP demands withdrawal of bus fare hike
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 10
The Uttarakhand Parivartan Party (UPP) has demanded immediate withdrawal of the increase in bus fares that came into effect from January 31, a day after the Assembly elections in the state.

The UPP held a demonstration in Almora today and termed the bus fare hike as treachery with the masses of the state. It said the fare hike, which was nearly 100 per cent in the hill areas as compared to the hike in the plains, indicated the anti-hill mindset of the state government. The UPP added that it would fight against injustice meted out to the people.

Party workers gathered at the district headquarters to hold a protest this morning. The protesters said while the bus fare hike in the plain areas was 18 paise per km, it was 34 paise per km in the hill areas.

The UPP leaders said the people travelling in the hills were compelled to pay more as they had to travel more on winding roads to cover short distances. In the process more time was also consumed.

UPP president PC Tiwari said the Congress and the BJP were systematically destroying all the possibilities of the development of the hills. He charged the two parties with working against the spirit that underlined the creation of Uttarakhand state. Tiwari also criticised the Congress and the BJP for their approach on the issue of a permanent capital for the state. He said the regressive policies of the two parties were responsible for villages witnessing a large scale migration, chronic unemployment and spiralling prices.

Tiwari claimed that the delimitation exercise had resulted in a decline in leadership in the hills. Senior party leader Govind Lal Verma said the bus fare hike was a result of the regressive mindset of the government led by Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri and the bureaucracy.

The UPP leaders later submitted a memorandum, addressed to Governor Margaret Alva, to District Magistrate DS Garbyal. Besides the withdrawal of bus fare hike, the UPP demanded an end to the contractual mode of employment, regularisation of the services of employees and an end to corruption in the state. It also sought similar bus fares for both hill and plain areas.

Barthwal slams Cong, BJP for unfair practices during poll
Tribune News Service

Dehradun February 10
State president of the Samajwadi Party Vinod Barthwal appreciated the Election Commission of India for conducting peaceful elections in the state. He, however, slammed the Congress and the BJP for indulging in unfair practices of alluring voters with liquor.

He said the voters of the entire belt of Jaunsar Bawar were bought for Rs 4 lakh.

He also rebuffed the practice of releasing manifestoes amid fanfare by political parties before elections, saying that tall and hollow claims mentioned in the manifestoes had little meaning for the public.

He said, “The Congress favours unemployment allowance in Uttarakhand and condemns it in Uttar Pardesh as begging. The hypocrisy of the party has been exposed during the elections in both states. On the other hands, both former and present Chief Minister of the BJP in the state have begun blaming each other for conspiracy. The day they actually will have drubbing imagine what will happen.”

Reacting on the issue of absence of star campaigners and central leadership of the Samajwadi Party from the election scene in Uttarakhand, he said, “It is we who did not ask for star campaigners or central leaders to campaign for us during the Assembly elections in the state. Had they come, the leaders of other parties would have vehemently campaigned against us on the Mujaffarnagar fiasco.”

He expected of winning six seats in the state.

Youths to be prepared for disaster management
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, February 10
The district disaster management office has begun preparations for future disaster by providing training to village youths in disaster-prone villages of the district, six months ahead of rainy season.

“The training of disaster management, involving a group of youths from every village, will focus on giving immediate relief to the victims of earthquake, landslides, cloud bursts, fire incidents and other related accidents in the village,” said RS Rana, district disaster management officer.

According to Rana, the youths are being given training on how to get accurate information and how to get the infrastructure for a disaster.

“Our experts are also training the village youths on how to retrieve the injured at the time of disaster and to send them for primary treatment as soon as possible,” said Rana.

“We have a target to train a team of 25 youths each from all 64 Nyaya Panchayats of the district, which are disaster prone, and the training will begin from Nyaya Panchayat Majhera in Pithoragarh block,” said Rana.

Infant girl charred to death in Nainital
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 10
An infant girl was charred to death when her house caught fire in remote Dalkanya village in the Dhari area of Nainital. According to information, the incident took place on Wednesday night when the parents of the baby girl, Kamla, had gone to work in the fields while placing her cot close to an angeethi so that the baby would keep warm.

It is being assumed that the fire was caused by the angeethi. The entire family of Bishan Dutt had gone to work in the fields and the cattle shed when the incident took place.

When they were working in the field located at a distance from the house, they saw smoke rising from the building. Bishan Dutt raised the alarm but by the time he reached there along with some other villagers the house had been burnt to ashes and the girl was charred to death.

Villagers and social activists have demanded that appropriate compensation and counselling be provided to the aggrieved family.

Ramdev accused of working against Cong during poll
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 10
Congress sitting MLA from Tehri Kishore Updhayaya has accused yoga guru Ramdev of working against the Congress during the state Assembly elections.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Updhayaya, who is seeking re-elections from the Tehri Assembly constituency, alleged that Ramdev and his supporters had worked against the Congress candidates across the state during the elections. He asked Ramdev not to indulge in “dirty politics”.

He also asked Ramdev to disclose the name of the state BJP minister who allegedly demanded Rs 2 crore as a bribe from him.

On the Assembly elections, he claimed that the Congress would win with a majority the state.

Congress spokesperson Surendra Kumar was also present.

Quake hits state

Dehradun, February 10
Parts of Uttarakhand experienced tremors late last night as moderate earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale shook the state.