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Tehri Bypoll: Congress goes on offensive
Bahuguna sure of Saket’s victory
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Chuphal sure of BJP's victory
dehradun Diary
Yogendra Khanduri lashes out at BJP
Cong least committed to common man’s welfare: CPI (ML)
Angry people will vote against Congress, feels Harbans Kapoor
CPM throws weight behind URM
Diarrhoea claims life in Pithoragarh village
RIMC employees visit Ukhimath
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Tehri Bypoll: Congress goes on offensive
Dehradun, October 7 Most of the senior Congress leaders and ministers pitched in to campaign for the party. Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla was present at a Yuva Shakti Sammelan where the Aryan group, a powerful students group of DAV College, pledged its support to Saket
Bahuguna. Rajeev Shukla exhorted the youth to work wholeheartedly for ensuring the win of Saket Bahuguna who is a young and enthusiastic candidate. Uttarakhand Congress chief and Uttarakhand Revenue Minister Yashpal Arya, Sports Minister Dinesh Aggarwal, Health Minister Surender Singh Negi, former Uttar Pradesh Congress chief and sister of the Chief Minister Reeta Bahuguna Joshi, Legislators Umesh Kau, Raj Kamar and Uttarakhand Congress vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana addressed a number of election meetings in different parts of Dehradun and nearby areas. In the evening, a public meeting was held by Guru Singh Sabha at Guru Nanak Bhawan where a call was made to support the Congress candidate. Congress chief Yashpal Arya also addressed three election meetings in the Kanwali area. He called upon the electorate not to be misled by BJP propaganda on inflation and
corruption. "Our state government will ensure that every family gets at least 12 LPG cylinders per year. Already, the state government has allowed three subsidised LPG cylinders apart from the six allowed by the Central Government," he said. Reeta Bahuguna Joshi, Sudha Bahuguna, wife of Chief minister Vijay Bahuguna and Gauri Bahuguna, wife of Saket Bahuguna also went door to door to canvass in support of the Congress
candidate. |
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Bahuguna sure of Saket’s victory
Dehradun, October 7 Addressing mediapersons here today, Bahuguna said the result of the Tehri bypoll remained a matter of prestige for the ruling Congress and for himself. He alleged that BJP leaders were indulging in a negative and false campaign against the state government. “Their only campaign is inflation and corruption which are devoid of facts,” he said. The CM said as far as corruption was concerned, it was easier to vilify and malign someone than prove the charges. Giving the examples of the Bofors and the 2G Spectrum cases, Bahuguna said the BJP did create a lot of ruckus but finally it had been proved that no kickbacks were taken either by Rajiv Gandhi or more recently by P. Chidambaram. “The BJP has become an expert in the vilification campaigns without debating the issues raised by them on the floor of Parliament,” he said. On the rising prices of petroleum products, Bahuguna said the international prices of petroleum products had risen sharply leading to the increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG. He said the Uttarakhand Government had cut VAT on diesel and petrol in the state to offset the price hike. Similarly, on the issue of capping of LPG cylinders, the CM said the state government had decided to give three more cylinders to each family making it nine subsidised cylinders in a year. “ I have written to the Prime Minister to provide at least 12 cylinders per family per year to the hill states so that forests could be saved,” he said. Regarding providing rice at subsidised rates to the APL people in the state, Bahuguna said the Centre had given a quota of 50,000 MT of rice which would be provided to APL families at the rate of Rs 6 per kg. The Chief Minister also blamed the previous BJP government in the state on the dismal situation of power generation. He alleged that in the past five years, the BJP government had failed to produce any power but rather stopped two major projects on the Bhagirathi river. “There were irregularities in the allotment of smaller hydropower projects during the regime of Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, which delayed power generation and has now forced us to purchase power at the rate of Rs 12 per unit to meet the demand,” he said. He announced that his government would start the process of competitive bidding for these smaller hydroelectric project worth 900 MW. “We have asked IIT, Roorkee, to study the environmental impact of these projects and by the year end, we will be able to allot these smaller hydroelectric projects that will start generating power within two years,” he added. He claimed that he had got clearance of three more hydroelectric projects worth 630 MW from the Union Government. “ I am open to debate with any of the BJP leaders, including their three previous Chief Ministers, on the issue of power generation in the state. I am trying to sort the mess created by the previous BJP state government in the past five years and it was comically on the part of BJP leaders to question the Congress-led state government on development front,” Bahuguna said. On the rehabilitation of disaster-affected people, the Chief Minister said his government had increased the relief and rehabilitation package by 100 per cent. "Uttarakhand is the only state in the country to provide such an enhanced relief package to the disaster-affected people,"
he said. Bahuguna said he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to demand a package for the immediate rehabilitation of 90 disaster-prone villages in the state. “ The previous BJP government had failed to provide any succour to such villages,” he said. On the candidature of his son Saket, he said his son, who was a Supreme Court lawyer and a corporate
honcho, could be considered a “baccha” as claimed by the BJP. “The BJP has only used the erstwhile royal family of Tehri for electoral gains and the royal family which represented the Tehri seat for more than 45 years also did nothing for the people of Tehri. Can they show one development scheme started by them,” he asked. |
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Shahnawaz for probe into Vadra’s deals with DLF
Dehradun, October 7 He said it was strange that Cabinet ministers in the UPA government were holding press conferences to defend Vadra. Addressing the media here today, Shahnawaz said a probe into the allegation was a must and the DLF spokesperson’s clean chit to Vadra could not be taken as final. Shahnawaz said in the 2G Spectrum and Commonwealth Games scams, the Congress had pointed an accusing finger at its allies. However, now the coal scam and the DLF scam had exposed the wrongdoings of the Congress, he alleged. “The Congress has no right to loot people in the name of majority in Parliament”,
he said. Responding to queries, Shahnawaz said the formation of the NDA government at the Centre was certain in the next Lok Sabha elections. He refuted the allegation that the BJP was responsible for the recent stalemate in the Lok Sabha. Referring to the Tehri bypoll, Shahnawaz said the BJP would emerge victorious. He also refuted Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna’s charges that BJP candidate Mala Raj Lakshmi
Shah was a Rajya Sabha material. |
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Khanduri ready for debate on rising prices, other issues
Dehradun, October 7 He reminded that the BJP was solely responsible for the creation of Uttarakhand and the Congress had no role in it. He asked the people to teach the Congress a lesson in the Tehri parliamentary byelection. Dehradun Cantt BJP MLA Harbans Kapoor said the Congress had always promoted corruption. He said the Congress government in Uttarakhand had even stopped development works started by the
earlier BJP government in the state. BJP Yamkeshwar MLA Vijay Barthwal also addressed the meeting. |
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Chuphal sure of BJP's victory
Dehradun, October 7 Banking on the issue of development, the Congress has intensified its campaigning to ensure electoral victory in the October 10 Tehri Lok Sabha bypoll in Uttarakhand. "People will rely on the Congress to bring about big time investment and development to the area as the party forms government both in the state and at
the Centre," state Congress president Yashpal Arya said. Saket Bahuguna, the Congress nominee and the son of Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, has been fielded against BJP's Raj Lakshmi Shah, the daughter-in-law of the late Maharaja Manvendra Shah who represented the constituency in the Lok Sabha for a record eight
times. — PTI |
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118 polling stations declared super-sensitive
Dehradun October 7 Senior Superintendent of Police Neeru Garg and election observer Baji Rao Jadhav was also present on the occasion. Raman said all employees and police personnel must conduct election in fair manners without making any mistake which could cause repolling in any polling booth. He said 182 polling parties would leave for Chakrata Vidhan Sabha on Monday. They would be distributed all the required material in the morning. Security personnel would also leave with them. For the rest of the six Vidhan Sabha seats, Vikas Nagar, Sahaspur, Mussoorie, Dehradun Cantt, Rajpur Road and Raipur, the polling parties would leave on October 9. He said the police personnel must keep in touch with Returning Officers while ensuring about the list of those who would be allowed entry inside the polling station. The handicap people could take one person for help with themselves. He made it clear that neither any influential person of the area nor even gunman of any MLA should be allowed inside the polling station. He said the police personnel must ensure security to the material related to election and EVM machines. In case of any violence or problems, they must contact sector magistrates or higher police officials. Sanjay Gunjiyal said the election duty was most important in the government service in a democratic country. He said new rules and regulations were framed with regard to election every time which must be followed sincerely. He directed the police personnel to observe patience during their election duty and prevent fake voting effectively. He also instructed police and security personnel not to accept any favour from political parties. Neeru Garg said in the seven Vidhan Sabha areas, 128 polling stations were sensitive and 118 were super sensitive. She said sufficient police force would be deployed to ensure security on these polling station. At least 22 zonal officers had been kept in reserve. In the Vidhan Sabha area, 22 zonal magistrates, 22 zonal police officers and 101 sector magistrates and 101 police personnel have been deputed. There will be one super-zone comprising of seven zones, manned by SP level officers. Besides this, there will also be one flying squad, 22 static surveillance teams. Baji Rao Jadhav, who has been deputed by the Election Commission of India, in his address said, they must perform their duties sincerely from beginning of the election till the end. He said they must also report all election-related activities to the
Election Commission. He advised them to make the most of the training given to them in this regard. He said he was satisfied with the briefing given today with regard to election. SPs in charge of super zones
Dehradun district, which has seven Vidhan Sabha constituencies involved in the election, has been divided into three super zones, 22 zones and 101 sectors. Officials of the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP), the SP Traffic, the SP City and the SP Rural, have been made in charge of the super zones. In charge for zones will be inspectors whereas of sectors will be sub-inspectors/head constables. Keeping the sensitivity of the election, 6 intra-state barriers and 10 barriers have been planned. To conduct election peacefully, seven police companies, one platoon of the PAC and seven companies of the ITBP, police personnel from Dehradun district and other districts have been arranged. Besides, Home Guards, the PRD, forest guards and village chowkidars have also been deputed on
election duty. Meanwhile, an inter-district competition of the PAC and the IRB battalions with regard to scientific investigation, videography, photography and anti-sabotage methods took place in Haldwani today. District Dehradun bagged the first position and received a shield for scoring the maximum in competition related to computer knowledge. Those who received medals were sub-inspectors Yogender Singh, Bachan Singh Rana, Digpal Kohli, Neetu, Shikha Rana and Devender Singh Negi. |
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dehradun Diary
THE Tehri Lok Sabha byelection has become a prestige issue for Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and for the ruling Congress in the state. Since the Tehri Lok Sabha seat has been vacated by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna himself and his son Saket Bahuguna is the Congress nominee, political stakes are high for the Bahugunas.
In the given circumstances, it will not be an easy task for the ruling Congress to win the Tehri Lok Sabha byelection. The overall situation where inflation is skyhigh, petrol and diesel prices are rising and the cap on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders are affecting every household kitchen, the ruling Congress is fighting with its back to the wall. The opposition BJP is leaving no stone unturned in pressing the issues of inflation, capping of LPG cylinders and lack of developmental initiatives at the local level. The issues of relief and rehabilitation to the people affected by natural disaster at Uttarkashi and the strike by state government employees on reservations in promotions have also left a sizeable section of voters dissatisfied with the state Congress government. The scrapping of the Transfer Act for the state government employees by the present state government has also led to resentment among employees, particularly the state government teachers, which form public opinion. However, as far as the management of elections are concerned, the ruling Congress is better placed than the opposition BJP. Mala Raj Lakshmi Shah, the BJP candidate who is the daughter in-law of erstwhile Maharaja Manvendra Shah of Tehri state, has not been able to campaign aggressively and vigorously as compared to the ruling Congress. Although, the result of the lone Tehri Lok Sabha byelection will not have any direct impact on either the Central Government or the state government, still it would have a bearing on the political stake of the Bahuguna family. Political observers believe that a win for Saket Bahuguna will consolidate the position of the Bahugunas in the state Congress politics marking the entrance of the third generation of the Bahuguna family into politics. But, a loss will be construed as a personal defeat of the Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna. Vijay Bahuguna, was made the Chief Minister of the state after the state Assembly polls in March this year amid resentment by Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Food Processing and Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat. The Congress legislators supporting Harish Rawat for the top post in the state had resorted to a dharna for a week in New Delhi against the decision of the party high command. Later, Harish Rawat was placated by the senior party leadership and his supporters adjusted in various important positions. In the run-up to the Tehri Lok Sabha byelection, there seems to be truce between Vijay Bahuguna and Harish Rawat. Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna even claimed that Harish Rawat was on board in the decision to field his son Saket Bahuguna. Harish Rawat has also been campaigning for Saket Bahuguna in Tehri. But an electoral setback can change the equation. The defeat could bolster the Harish Rawat faction which could then start a campaign against Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna before the general elections in May 2014 demanding a change in the state leadership. For the opposition BJP, the Tehri Lok Sabha byelection is a test of their popularity and strength for the final match of Lok Sabha polls of
2014. — By SMA Kazmi |
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Shiv Sena extends support to Mala Raj Lakshmi Shah
Dehradun, October 7 He said the Centre had crossed all limits of corruption starting from Commonwealth Games, 2G spectrum, coal scam and now Vadra scam. "While the people are suffering from the rising inflation, the Centre is busy in committing one scam after another", Gaurav Kumar said. He also held that the Shiv Sena and the BJP were natural allies and two would together work for the betterment of Uttarakhand. Welcoming the Shiv Sena support, Uttarakhand BJP general secretary Suresh Joshi said he was hopeful that Shiv Sena workers would support and vote for BJP candidate in the Tehri parliamentary bypoll. He criticised the Congress at the Centre for introducing FDI in the retail sector. "By bringing in FDI in the retail sector, the Congress at the Centre wants to hurt small traders and even farmers", he asserted. He accused Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna of doing little for the benefit of common man. "The Chief Minister seems worried only about his own son's future, who is now the candidate for the Tehri Parliamentary bypoll and is least committed to the development of the state", he pointed out. |
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Yogendra Khanduri lashes out at BJP
Dehradun, October 7 In a statement issued here today, Khanduri said BJP star campaigner in the state and its former National President Rajnath Singh had always backed those who had been perpetrators of atrocities on the people of Uttarakhand during the days of the state agitation. Khanduri reminded that Rajnath Singh, as the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, had always patronised then Muzaffarnagar District Magistrate Anant Kumar Singh, who was made the prime accused in the Rampur Tiraha shootout by the CBI. “Rajnath Singh as the then UP Chief Minister made Anant Kumar Singh his personal secretary. This proves that he keeps no regards for the sentiments of the people of the state,” said Khanduri. He said it was unfortunate that instead of giving clarification for the acts of Rajnath Singh, the BJP had been projecting him as the star campaigner in the state. |
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Cong least committed to common man’s welfare: CPI (ML)
Dehradun, October 7 In a statement issued here today, CPI (ML) secretary for the Garhwal region Indresh Maikhuri alleged that while on the one hand, the Central Government was selling the nation’s interest to multinational companies by allowing foreign investments in the pension and insurance sectors, on the other hand, it was neck deep in
corruption. “A free and fair probe into the dealings of Robert Vadra with the DLF must be conducted,” he demanded. Maikhuri alleged that
the BJP was also involved in large-scale irregularities as its national president
Nitin Gadkari had recently been found protecting the interests of an industrialist. He said both the BJP and the Congress were interested in serving the interests of industrialists while common man was suffering due to increasing inflation. |
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Angry people will vote against Congress, feels Harbans Kapoor
Dehradun, October 7 "Going by the poor performance of the Congress government at the state and the Centre, the angry people of Tehri would vote against the Congress candidate," said Kapoor. Addressing a press conference yesterday, Kapoor said that the Bahuguna government had nothing to show since coming to power in the state a
few months. "It has overturned several of the good decisions of the BJP government. The people will give it a fitting reply on October 10,"
said Kapoor. He said that along with keeping the Transfer Act in abeyance, the Congress government had shut several schemes launched by the BJP, including the Atal Vikas Yojana, the Pt Deen Dayal Avas Yojana, Atal Panchayat Yojana ( For solving village-level disputes) and Atal Adarsh Gram Yojana. Kapoor charged the Congress with ganging up with the forces that were opposed to the creation
of the state. "The Congress may have forgotten the anti-Uttarakhand role played by the BSP and the Samajwadi Party in the state, but the people of Uttarakhand have not, and they would give a fitting reply in the Tehri
bypoll," added Kapoor. On the occasion members of Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha Party also decided to extend support to the
BJP. |
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CPM throws weight behind URM
Dehradun, October 7 She said these parties showed no concern to the incidents of natural calamities which took place in various pockets of the state recently and triggered massive damage to human lives and property. Another senior leader Anant Akash said it had become important to give an alternative to the people of the state while referring to the URM. He praised the party for its pro-people ideologies and issues. |
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Diarrhoea claims life in Pithoragarh village
Pithoragarh, October 7 Dr JS Pangti, Chief Medical Officer, Pithoragarh, said 78-year-old Laxmi Dutt Joshi died of diarrhoea in Dobans village. Two others had been admitted to the Pithoragarh District Hospital and their condition was stated to be critical. Five persons were taking treatment from a medical team in the village, he added. The worst-affected villages in Champawat are in the Talla Desh Patti area, where several children and women are suffering from it. Maha Singh, former Gram Pradhan of Tarkuli village of the area, demanded that medical camps be organised in these villages to check the spread of the disease. According to information received from the remote village of Manch in Champawat, villagers are being forced to drink water from open sources as the drinking water scheme that supplies water to the village is yet to be repaired by the Jal Sansthan after it damaged in this rainy season. “We took up the issue with Jal Sansthan engineers many a times. However, they did not pay any heed to our complaint. Most of the villagers are now suffering from diarrhoea as they are being forced to drink water from open sources," said Sher Singh Mahar, a social worker from the area.
— OC |
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RIMC employees visit Ukhimath
Dehradun, October 7 Col Pankaj K Kumaria, Commandant, RIMC, Maj R Richardson, Asst Adm Officer,
RIMC, and Subedar Kundan Singh flagged off the group of relief workers from the college on September 26. Those who participated in the relief work were Abbal Singh Rawat, Samir Sarkar, DS Uniyal, Ranjit Chauhan, Arjun Singh and Satish
Bist. |
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