BJP eyes all 5 SC Lok Sabha seats in parliamentary poll
Pithoragarh, October 23
The BJP plans to garner at least 60 per cent of the Scheduled Caste (SC) votes in the state to win all five seats in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. It has started organising meetings of the Scheduled Caste cells of the party in the state, said Veena Arya, state president of the SC cell.

If feel threatened, move court, Rawat tells Ramdev
Haridwar, October 23
Union Minister for Water Resources Harish Rawat today sought an explanation from Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev over the recent remarks that he feels threatened that he would be dragged in false criminal cases by the government on the directions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Aam Admi Party alleges corruption in PWD
Dehradun, October 23
The Dehradun district coordinator of Aam Admi Party (AAP), Sanjay Bhatt, has alleged corruption in the Public Works Department (PWD) of Uttarakhand.

DIT’s annual tech fest begins today
Dehradun, October 23
The three-day annual cultural and technical fest of the DIT University, ‘Youthopia-2013’, is going to start tomorrow on the university premises in Dehradun.

Dehradun, October 23
For increasing revenue of the state, the Uttarakhand Government will soon invite open tenders for undertaking river bed mining in 24 rivers in the state, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said today.

“After earmarking lots in pursuant of the environment guidelines, tenders would be invited for extraction of sand and other small minerals from the river beds of these rivers,” said Vijay Bahuguna while interacting with reporters at the end of the cabinet sub committee meeting.

The government has also decided to take away the rights of mining of river beds of Dabka and Sharda rivers in possession of the Uttarakhand Forest Corporation and invite tenders.

“The Uttarakhand Forest Corporation managed to generate revenue to the tune of Rs 80 crore. By going for tendering process, we hope to earn a revenue of Rs 200 crore,” said Rakesh Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary.

Of the 24 new seasonal rivulets earmarked for quarrying, permission would have to be sought from the Ministry of Environment for undertaking quarrying beyond 50 hectares.

The government’s decision comes in the wake of the Supreme Court order that prohibits sand mining without the requisite clearance from the required authorities and places limits on the quantities that can be mined to meet the rising demand of construction industry and for extraction of minerals

Significantly, out of the 24 new seasonal rivulets selected for mining, rivers Gulata, Malan, Kaluwala, Panar, Ramgarg, and Sukhru fall in Dehradun.

However, there would be no change in the procedure for carrying out sand mining in Song, Gola Haldwani, Gola Lal Kuan, Jakhan, Nandour and Kosi rivers that are under the Forest Corporation.

The Uttarakhand government has also taken a decision to constitute a special vigilance mining force to check illegal mining on the Kosi river.

A Cabinet sub-committee was constituted to look into the issue of opening up river bed mining/quarrying for private players, according to new mining policy announced in March this year. The government at that point of time had claimed that privatisation would help in increasing revenue of the state.

In Uttarakhand mining/quarrying is undertaken by three government entities namely, Uttarakhand Forest Corporation, Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam and Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, providing employment to scores of youth from the state. However this is set to change with the entry of private players.

Dehradun, October 23
The striking employees continued with their indefinite strike all across the state today. The employees owing allegiance to the State Employees Joint Council were addressed by the vice president of Uttarakhand Congress Suryakant Dhasmana at the Parade Ground.

He assured the striking employees that the government would meet all their demands and they should call off their strike.

According to the programme announced yesterday, the members of State Employees Joint Council had declared that they would march up to Congress Bhavan today and submit a memorandum of demands to the president of the party Yashpal Arya.

But Arya deputed vice-president of Uttarakhand Congress as his emissary. He received the memorandum on behalf of Arya and also addressed the employees.

Meanwhile, the employees said that they would wait for the government orders before taking a decision to call off their strike.

Yesterday, the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand had also appealed to the employees to return to work but the employees had rejected his appeal. 

Dehradun, October 23
Kedarnath Shrine in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand will be closed for winters from November 5.

A decision to this effect was taken at the meeting of Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee held today. Utsav Doli of Shri Kedarnath will be subsequently taken to Ukhimath.

Located at a height of 3,581 metres, Kedarnath is the most important of the Dwadash Jyotirlingas. The shrine this season faced worst rain disaster at the beginning of the monsoons leading to large-scale deaths of a large number of pilgrims. Besides, scores of the pilgrims went missing. The other holy Badrinath Shrine in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand has already been closed for winters from November 18. 

Pithoragarh, October 23
The BJP plans to garner at least 60 per cent of the Scheduled Caste (SC) votes in the state to win all five seats in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. It has started organising meetings of the Scheduled Caste cells of the party in the state, said Veena Arya, state president of the SC cell.

Arya addressed party workers and members of the SC cells in Pithoragarh and Didihat districts today. She said the BJP Anusuchit Jati Morcha had plans to enroll the maximum number of people belonging to the community as members of the SC cell before the Lok Sabha elections. “We have planned to invite the maximum number of educated party workers belonging to the SC community as they will impress upon other workers about the future political realities of the country. As the entire nation today is supporting Narendra Modi for the post of Prime Minister of the country, the youth belonging to the SC community should understand this reality,” she said.

The BJP leader said a conference of the SC community members would be organised in the district next month. “We appeal to the youths belonging to the SC community to join the BJP as the Congress has befooled them in the last 65 years after Independence by making false promises,” said Arya. 

Haridwar, October 23
Union Minister for Water Resources Harish Rawat today sought an explanation from Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev over the recent remarks that he feels threatened that he would be dragged in false criminal cases by the government on the directions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Referring to lakhs of followers that Yoga Guru has, Rawat said that Ramdev should not feel threatened as now he has to his side the "Kamandal" (BJP ), the party for which he was campaigning in Madhya Pradesh.

"Four local BJP legislators arrived at Kankhal police station at midnight to free the four security guards arrested by police, who had illegally confined Nitin Tyagi, former driver at Patanjali Yogpeeth Ashram, for four days.

If Ramdev feels threatened by Soniaji and Rahulji, then all the BJP legislators will surely back him. "If they can be with the security guards, surely they will stand by Ramdevji too," commented Rawat.

Citing the presence of judiciary and the police force, Rawat pointed that Ramdev and his brother could have option of moving these institutions if they feel threatened by the Congress.

"Swami Ramdev sees hands of Soniaji and Rahulji in every wrong or controversial act he gets involved in. Any citizen can approach Supreme Court or high court," said Rawat during his stay at Damkoti state guest house here today.

Rawat, who is a parliamentarian from Haridwar where Baba Ramdev is based, said that illegal confinement of a former employee by Patanjali Yogpeeth security employees was totally wrong. As per the Constitution, no citizen is allowed to take law in his hands.

On the controversy surrounding the Lokayukta Act of Uttarakhand, the Union Minister said that by doing some amendments, the Uttarakhand government can enact the law in the state.

Rawat, a former three-time Almora MP, refuted that he has differences with Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, saying that he offered only suggestions when he felt it was right. He never hesitated in lauding the efforts of Chief Minister.

Dehradun, October 23
The Dehradun district coordinator of Aam Admi Party (AAP), Sanjay Bhatt, has alleged corruption in the Public Works Department (PWD) of Uttarakhand.

Addressing a press conference today, Bhatt said since 2008, large-scale corruption linked to allotment of tenders had taken place in the PWD. He said no guidelines for allotment of tenders had been followed.

He sought action against the PWD officials responsible for the irregularities under the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act 2013. He said both Congress and BJP governments had supported these acts of corruption at PWD .

AAP leader Bhargav Chandola was also present at the conference.— TNS

Dehradun, October 23
Sai Grace School won the RK Agarwal Memorial Inter-State School T-20 Cricket Tournament after defeating New Vidhya Mandir School, Lucknow, in the final match played here today.

After winning the toss, Sai Grace elected to bat first and put up a massive score of 189 runs on the scoreboard. Harjit scored the highest 59 runs in the innings but the cameo of 37 and 40 runs by Aryan and Rajat, respectively, added up in the score.

In reply, New Vidhya Mandir School openers gave the team a good start. Ashutosh scored 77 runs and gave a brilliant platform to his team but the other batsmen could not capitalise on it and lost their wickets casually. No other batsman could reach the double-digit mark. The team got bowled out at 129 runs and lost the match by a margin of 60 runs.

Later, Vikas Rawat of Doon Global School was adjudged the best bowler of the tournament and Mohit Singh Negi of Doon Global School won the best fielder award.

Dehradun, October 23
The match between Union Bank Mumbai and Garhwal Heroes went on to be a tiebreaker and the Union Bank won the match 3-0 in the 2nd Narendra Singh Kharola Memorial All-India Football Tournament-The Doon Cup-2013 here today. Prakash, Linker and Johnson scored the goals for Union Bank.

In the second match, Titanium FC, Kerala, defeated Delhi United, Delhi, 9-8 in the tiebreaker. Earlier, the match in the normal duration ended in a 2-2 draw. Sazith scored two goals in the match for Titanium whereas John Lepecha and Michel scored goals for Garhwal Hereos.

Dehradun, October 23
The Nehru Colony police has arrested a woman drug peddler today and recovered 210 gm of charas from her possession. The woman, Mehraj, commonly referred as ‘chachi’, supplied drugs among girls, the police claimed.

She was arrested from the Patel Nagar area and is said to be a resident of Mauthrawala in Dehradun.

The police said she used to get charas from Barailley and supply it in Dehradun. Reportedly, most of her 'customers' studied in private institutions and colleges in Dehradun. The police has started investigations to find out the names of the girls who bought charas from the accused.

An electronic weighing machine was also recovered from her possession. The police is investigating the alleged possibility of a gang working behind the accused.