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11,85,606 to cast vote today
Try URM this time: Bhandari
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Close contest on cards in Tehri bypoll
Saket seeks votes of agitated Secretariat staff
Dhasmana sees landslide win for Congress
Gehlot accuses CM of corruption
Cong 'misused official machinery’
Janmanch's campaign to boycott poll ends
I am a committed Cong worker: Sajwan
Govt mulls making wine, cider from rotting apple crop
Physically challenged given tricycles
India traders use Nepalese currency for trade in Tibet
Students losing interest in
maths: Experts
Tehri Byelection
Red Ribbon Express to reach Doon on Nov 29
ICFAI varsity holds series of lectures
Traders for ban on Maoists’ entry into India
Madan Gopal honoured on World Postal Day
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11,85,606 to cast vote today
Dehradun, October 9 The Tehri Parliamentary seat comprising Uttarkashi, Purola (SC), Yamnotri, Gangotri, Ghansali (SC), Pratapnagar, Tehri, Dhanolti, Chakrata (ST), Vikasnagar, Sahaspur, Raipur, Rajpur Road (SC), Dehradun and Mussoorie has a total of 11,85,606 voters. Out of which a total of 443 polling stations are in Uttarkashi, 529 in Tehri Garhwal and 1,009 in Dehradun. “We have declared 251 polling booths sensitive and 125 hyper-sensitive in the state,” said Radha Raturi, Chief Electoral Officer. She said on the day of counting, the counting of service voters will take place first. “All those postal ballots of service voters received by 8’o clock will be counted first,” said Raturi. A total of 858 polling parties left for their respective polling stations/booths at Chakrata, Vikas Nagar, Sahaspur, Raipur, Rajpur Road, Dehradun Cantonment and Mussoorie. Along with this, 101 sector magistrates, 23 zonal magistrates and 104 micro observers have also left with the parties. District Election Officer Ravinath Raman expressed satisfaction saying that the polling parties had successfully reached their respective polling stations/booths. Barring one sector magistrate who refused to join the election duty about whom he had recommended suspension, the rest had joined their duties along with election paraphernalia. |
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Try URM this time: Bhandari
Dehradun, October 9 Bhandari also encouraged the activists to continue meeting voters in their respective localities for casting their ballot in favour of the URM. He said, “We must tell people in our door-to-door campaign that they have given a chance to both Congress and BJP to rule in the state which have only deceived them. Now is the time to try the URM, a regional party which will solve the problems of unemployment, inflation and migration.” He said a regional party with their support would be able to raise the issues in Parliament of the country. Statehood agitator Jabbar Singh Pavel said the Congress wanted to replicate the example of the Sitrganj election in Tehri by using all trappings but the voters were all set to reply back in a stronger way. —
TNS
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Close contest on cards in Tehri bypoll
Dehradun, October 9 Though a political greenhorn himself, Saket is also the grandson of former UP Chief Minister HN Bahuguna. The campaigning for the bypoll, which drew to an end yesterday after a fortnight, saw the main contenders, the BJP and the Congress, seeking votes in the name of development. While the BJP sought votes banking on the traditional clout of the erstwhile Tehri royals in the area and accusing the six-month-old Bahuguna government in the state of doing nothing for the development of Uttarakhand, the Congress tried to mobilise support for itself promising to bring big time investment to Tehri as it was the party in power both in the state and at the Centre. The Congress also feels that it has an advantage as the constituency belongs to the party. The seat fell vacant after Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna resigned from it following his victory from the Sitarganj Assembly constituency. Another factor which the Congress thinks may work in its favour is the young age of Saket and his international exposure as he gave up a promising career with a multinational giant to join politics. "Our candidate is drawing big crowds to his meetings. All this indicates that we are going to win with a huge margin,"said vice-president of the state unit of the Congress Suryakant Dhasmana. However, the BJP feels that Saket is a political greenhorn pitted against a formidable opponent in Mala Raj Lakshmi Shah who looked after the poll campaigns of her father-in-law Manvendra Shah, an eight-time winner from the seat.
— PTI
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Saket seeks votes of agitated Secretariat staff
Dehradun, October 9 With party workers and supporters in tow, Saket reached the Secretariat and met officials of different departments asking for votes. Ever since campaigning for the bypoll through public rallies and meetings came to an end yesterday, Saket has been going from door to door to reach out to people and seek their votes for tomorrow’s poll. Secretariat employees had been on a strike for over a fortnight in September protesting promotional quota to the SCs and STs in government jobs. The protesters had withdrawn their agitation in view of the Tehri bypoll after being given an assurance by the Chief
Minister that the government will review its decision on creating an ex-cadre for giving reservation to the SCs and STs on October 15 after the conclusion of the poll
process. — PTI |
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Dhasmana sees landslide win for Congress
Dehradun, October 9 Issuing a statement on the eve of polling for the Tehri Parliamentary bypoll, Suryakant Dhasmana said the development was the biggest issue before the people of Tehri and asserted that the victory margin of Congress candidate Saket Bahuguna would be of more than 1 lakh votes. He said the people of the Tehri Parliamentary constituency understood very well that the MP now elected would have the tenure of just 16 months and thus electing the BJP candidate would be of no benefit for the people. "On the contrary, there is the Congress government in the state as well as the Centre. The election of Congress MP from the Tehri Parliamentary constituency will yield rich dividends on the development front", he pointed out. Dhasmana admitted that rising inflation was certainly a matter of concern but asserted that it was a global phenomenon and not just limited to the country. On the LPG cylinder subsidy, the Congress leader said the BJP was trying to mislead the people. He said the BJP had already gone to the Election Commission over the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's indication of providing people of Uttarakhand with 12 subsidised LPG cylinders. Suryakant Dhasmana also alleged that BJP leaders in the state, who were certain of their defeat, were now trying to defame Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and his family. He asserted that the BJP's negative politics would never succeed as voters in the Tehri Parliamentary constituency had already made up their mind to vote for the Congress. Charges baseless, says Congress The state Congress has refuted all charges levelled against Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna by the BJP. Vice-president of the state Congress Surya Kant Dhasmana, in a statement, said the BJP, sensing its defeat in the Tehri Lok Sabha byelection, had been making such baseless allegations. He further said such false propaganda against Bahuguna was also done during previous elections and also during the Sitarganj assembly byelection. |
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Gehlot accuses CM of corruption
Dehradun, October 9 Raking up the past, Gehlot said when Bahuguna was a judge of the Mumbai High Court, the allegations of trying to influence a decision and bribery swirled around him. “To evade a CBI inquiry in 1995, Bahuguna had preferred to put in his papers as the allegations of corruption and bribery surfaced against him. A person whose image was already tarnished with corruption cannot be expected to work for the welfare of the people of Uttarakhand,” he alleged. Gehlot said: “For the past six years, his report card has been a big zero. In the interest of the state, Bahuguna did not use his influence. He did not raise a murmur of protest even when the concessional industrial package extended to Uttarakhand was withdrawn by the Congress-led UPA government in 2010.” Taking on the charges levelled by Congress ministers about the lack of development during the BJP government’s rule, Gehlot said: “When the BJP took office, the GDP of the state hovered between 3 per cent and 4 per cent. But due to the initiatives launched by the then BJP Chief Ministers, the GDP of the state rose to 10.2 per cent. The state was even commended by the Planning Commission for its efforts and given an extra grant for its performance,” he said.
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Cong 'misused official machinery’
Dehradun, October 9 In a complaint filed with the Election Commission, Madhwal referred to yesterday’s incident in the Pratapnagar region of Tehri in which he was stopped from canvassing by Pratapnagar SDM Pradeep Tiwari. “There was no point in stopping me from canvassing. I was doing it as per the norms and guidelines of the Election Commission”, said Madhwal. — TNS
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Janmanch's campaign to boycott poll ends
Dehradun, October 9 Janmanch’s officiating president Shashi Bhushan Bhatt, who led the campaign, asserted that they had received a good response from the Tehri parliamentary constituency. He pointed out that organisations like the Maniyar Patti Vikas Samiti, the Chamba Vikas Sangharsh Samiti and the Tehri oustees had supported the Janmanch’s boycott call. Janmanch general secretary Rajan Todariya disclosed that during the boycott campaign that continued for nearly 10 days in the Tehri Parliamentary constituency they had interacted with more than one lakh voters. Todariya said the voters in Tehri and Uttarkashi districts had resentment over the apathy of governments in power. “The condition of infrastructure in the Garhwal hills is pathetic and the inhabitants are fed up with the political system”, he pointed out. Todariya said the Congress, the BJP and the UKD all had only cheated the voters and promoted corruption. He said he was hopeful that a large number of voters would
boycott poll. The Janmanch general secretary said after the Tehri Parliamentary bypoll, it would launch another awareness drive against corruption. He said the issue of rehabilitation of the disaster-affected would also be taken up shortly. |
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I am a committed Cong worker: Sajwan
Dehradun, October 9 Addressing a press conference here today, Shoorveer Singh Sajwan said some distorted statements attributed to him had been circulated. He clarified that he was a committed Congress worker belonging to a family of freedom fighters and would continue to work to strengthen the party in the state. He also said Saket Bahuguna was a young enthusiastic candidate of the Congress and the entire Congressmen of the Tehri parliamentary constituency would work wholeheartedly for his win. Interestingly, after his reported differences with the Chief Minister, there were reports that he could join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A senior BJP leader and former Uttarakhand minister Trivender Singh Rawat had reached the residence of Shoorveer Singh Sajwan in anticipation of his decision to quit the Congress. However, senior Congress leaders led by state Congress chief Yashpal Arya had placated him. |
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Govt mulls making wine, cider from rotting apple crop
Dehradun, October 9 The department is studying the liberal policies of Himachal Pradesh that allow department and general stores to stock fruit wines. “We are looking at various options for using the rotting apple crop. Himachal Pradesh has used its fruit that may have gone waste by manufacturing wine from it. We are also thinking on the similar lines. Several things have to be looked into, including the excise policy. Soon, we will hold a meeting with fruit wine producing companies of the country in Dehradun,” said Preetam Panwar, Minister for Food Processing. The total area under apple crop in the state is 33,023 hectares and the fruit production is 135,894 metric tonne. Out of total production of apple, more than 20 per cent usually goes waste. Initially, the government plans to use abundantly grown apple for making wine and cider. Later, other fruits, including pear, walnut and apricot, could be added to the list. Sources claim that while a liberal excise policy may be behind the success of fruit wine in Himachal Pradesh, it will be a different ball game in Uttarakhand. The government will have to tread cautiously due to general antipathy towards products with alcoholic contents among the members of civil society. The state had witnessed several anti-liquor agitations in the past. In Himachal Pradesh wines classified as fruit or sweet wines with mild alcoholic contents make use of locally grown fruits, including apple, orange, plum, pear etc. The fruit content is processed at the local state unit. However, market watchers say once the government begins encouraging fruit wine making by offering incentives, it will revolutionise the fruit economy of the state within a few years. “For this, the government will have to encourage liberal policies that allow department and general stores to stock the products. This will help in promoting fruit wine,” said an official in the Excise Department. |
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Physically challenged given tricycles
Haridwar, October 9 Rakesh said the state government was trying to provide tricycles and other equipment to maximum number of physically-handicapped persons in the state earmarked by the state Social Welfare Department. He said for this, in Roorkee alone, 1,000 tricycles and equipment had been distributed in the past two days. He pointed out that his focus was on providing social welfare benefits to all sections of society. Rakesh also gave directions to the department officials to disseminate information via various tools about the numerous beneficiary schemes run by the state government and the department concerned for poor, suppressed and needy persons. Roorkee Joint Magistrate Sonika Rana said various camps were being organised in Roorkee where physically-handicapped persons were being provided tricycles and other related equipment.
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India traders use Nepalese currency for trade in Tibet
Pithoragarh, October 9 “As Chinese traders are happily accepting the Nepalese currency, Indian traders are using it where ever required,” said Padam Singh Raipa, an Indian trader and president of the Bharat-Cheen Vyapar Samiti based at Dharchula. “The Indian traders are taking the Nepalese currency from Nepalese traders in India for trade in Tibet in exchange for the Indian currency which is easily acceptable to the latter. They are using the Nepalese currency for trade in Tibet as the Chinese traders easily accept it,” said Raipa. He said the traders from India and China were not interested in trading in the currencies of either country as their exchange rates were not fixed by the respective governments for the benefit of traders taking part in the border trade which in principle runs on the barter system. “Has the Nepalese currency not been easily available, the trade would have been a bit difficult for Indian traders. The trade has become dependant on currency rather than on the barter system as was originally conceived by the respective governments in 1992,” said Mangal Singh Gunjiyal, another trader from the tribal community. |
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Students losing interest in
maths: Experts
Haridwar, October 9 Director General, Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology, Dr Rajendra Kumar Dobhal, said this was a matter of concern as without mathematics, students could not have full dexterity in science or arts. Dobhal said maths had its importance not only in technical field but also in day-to-day life. Mathematics is imperative for all types of figures, calculation and data and enhances one’s mental abilities, which is making the use of calculative machines easier the younger generation. Lamenting at the lack of mathematics teachers in 76 engineering colleges based in the state, Dobhal said this would have a major impact on the capability and performance of the students passing out from these colleges. To promote the subject, a mathematics centre of excellence is in the pipeline at Almora where maths students will be given research-based projects financed by the government. Emphasising the need for adopting vedic mathematics, the Vice Chancellor of Gurukul Kangri University, Prof Swatantra Kumar, said in Gurukul as well as other Arya Samaj educational institutions, only vedic mathematics was taught. |
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Tehri Byelection
Dehradun, October 9 Member of the party Anant Akash alleged that both the Congress and the BJP had always ignored the problems of the people of the state and were responsible for inflation and corruption. District secretary of the party Surender Singh Sajvan, Virender Bhandari, senior leaders Shiv Prasad Devli, Qamruddin , Rajender Purohit, Lekhraj, Indu Naudiyal, Nuresha Ansari and Shambhu Prasad Mamgai were present on the occasion.
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Red Ribbon Express to reach Doon on Nov 29
Dehradun, October 9 The train will comprise eight coaches exhibiting biomedical aspects of HIV and AIDS, educational materials, information about communicable diseases like swine flue and TB, conferences, counselling and general health check-ups. Giving information about Red Ribbon Express at a state-level monitoring committee meeting at the Secretariat here today, Principal Secretary (Health), Dr Ranvir Singh said the train would arrived at Raiwala railway station at 5 am on November 29 and would remain there till 1 pm on December 2. He said December 1 being World AIDS Day, a programme would be organised. Four doctors, two pharmacists, six Asha workers and other officers of the Health Department will be available at the railway station. A blood donation camp would also be organised. Forty volunteers would be posted inside the train and 50 outside it to look after the arrangements. He said folk and dance troupes would carry out public awareness campaigns in 127 villages. Additional Secretary, Health, Piyush Singh, Deputy Director, NACO, Santosh Bannerjee and other officers were present at the meeting. |
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ICFAI varsity holds series of lectures
Dehradun, October 9 The event was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor SC Deorani, who highlighted the contributions made by Yasaswy to education. “An eminent educationist and visionary, Yasaswy stood for professional management, excellence in the quality of education offered at ICFAI institutions and absolute discipline,” said Deorani. In this series, the first lecture was on “Cosmic intelligence”, delivered by Prof Dinesh C Thapliyal, former Dean and ex-Registrar, GB Pant University, Pant Nagar and former Registrar, Doon University, Dehradun. In his talk, Prof Thapliyal connected science, religion and cosmic intelligence. The speaker said: “Cosmic intelligence which has many synonyms like God, brahm, supreme spirit, transcendental reality and so on is the living energy having its own intelligence. This intelligence is beyond time (kalateeta), beyond qualities (gunateeta), beyond duality (dwandateeta) and beyond a state of being (bhavateeta)." He quoted Swami Vivekananda saying that any religion has three components: philosophy, mythology and rituals. |
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Traders for ban on Maoists’ entry into India
Pithoragarh, October 9 “We have convened a meeting of the organisations like the RSS, the local Youth Club, the Chetna Manch and the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha today in which all organisations agreed that they will ask the police to ban Maoists’ entry into our country as they are playing in the hands of China,” said Sanjeev Joshi, president of the Jhoolghat Vyapar Mandal. According to Joshi, speakers at the meeting lauded the India-Nepal relations and said while the common man of Nepal went to India for his problems, only the Maoists went to China to take anti-India materials. “The people of Mahakali Anchal of Nepal comprising three far western districts of that country are also with us in this initiative,” said the Vyapar Mandal president. The traders’ president said youths from local villages on the border also took part at the meeting and said whenever the Maoists lost power in Nepal, they got frustrated and started anti-India tirade to prove themselves to be true Nepalese. “If they want to oppose the Nepal government, they should rather go to Kathmandu and start agitation there instead spreading venom against India on the border,” said Bhim Gobari, a participant from the youth wing of the BJP. |
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Madan Gopal honoured on World Postal Day
Mussoorie, October 9 The programme was jointly organised by the postal community and the Mussoorie Autumn Fair Committee at the main branch of the Post Office here. A symposium was also organised in which speakers highlighted the valuable role being played by the Postal Department even today. President of the committee Pradeep Bhandari said the department was still considered as the most faithful means of communication. He said the people of the town still had an emotional attachment with postman, who was considered the messenger of all kind of news still. Postmaster MS Pundir informed about new schemes being run by the department. Pundir said World Postal Day was celebrated on October 9 to mark the anniversary of the founding date of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874. It was declared World Postal Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1969. He said the purpose to celebrate the day was to create awareness about the role of the postal sector and its contribution to social and economic development. Garhwali folk singer Jitender Panwar mesmerised the audience on the occasion. “Awaaz Punjab Di” fame Mannu Vandana, Anil Godiyal, Sandeep Rana, senior citizen RS Sharma, NK Sawhney and others were present on the occasion. |
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Sports meet of CISF begins
Haridwar, October 9 A beautiful flag march was taken out by Airport Sector, Western Zone-I, Western Zone-II, Eastern Zone, South Zone, North East Zone, RSP
Rourkela, BCCL Dhanbad, North Zone-I, BSL Bokaro and North Zone-II participants prior to the start of the sporting events. Athletics events comprising 100 m, 400 m, 1,500 m, 10,000 m, shot put throw, triple jump, long jump and hammer throw were held till filing of the report. Earlier, inaugurating the opening session, BHEL Executive Director Virendra Pandhi lauded the role played by CISF jawans in providing security both on the border and in various industries in the country. Commandant of the CISF-Ranipur BHEL SV Bhai emphasized the need of having regular sporting events which made CISF personnel physically stronger. |
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A total of 11,85,606 voters will exercise their franchise when they go to vote tomorrow for the Tehri byelection in 2,011 polling stations. The counting will take place on October 13.
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna’s son and Congress candidate for the Tehri byelection Saket Bahuguna today visited the Secretariat to seek votes of its employees who had recently been on a strike against the proposed quota to the SCs and STs in
promotion in government jobs.
enior Congress leader and former Uttarakhand minister Shoorveer Singh
Sajwan, who has reportedly developed differences with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on campaigning in the Tehri byelection and later patched up with him after the intervention of other senior central and state Congress leaders, has reiterated his commitment to the Congress.
In the absence of processing facilities, farmers in Uttarakhand are forced to dump their apple crop hit by frost. But in order to encash on the rotting fruit, the Department of Horticulture and Food Processing is mulling various ways to encourage wine and cider making from the fruit in the state.
