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Khanduri to stay: Sushma
Notice to MLA Cheema
CM’s bait fails
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Skilled Workforce
Four SPs for Rahul’s security
6 villages get electricity
Displaced farmers burn effigies of BHEL, govt
Terrorists, Maoists major threats, warns DGP Joshi
Rural Litigation Kendra plans ‘open forum’
Mission Reform at Haridwar jail
Funds for Virasat no more
Dhabas to serve Hajmola
Drive to boost fish production
Man found dead with his throat slit
2 months gone, murder suspects still at large
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Khanduri to stay: Sushma
New Delhi, October 21 Swaraj, however, toed the party line insisting that no resignation letters had been handed over to party president Rajnath Singh here yesterday. She evaded a direct reply whether the leader of the dissidents’ group, a minister in Khanduri’s council of ministers Trivendra Singh Rawat had met the central leaders saying, “They (Uttarakhand leaders) are in constant touch with the central leadership of the party.” A group of dissidents led by Rawat had claimed yesterday that they had submitted the resignation letters of 17 party MLAs, including him and two other ministers, to the party president to serve an ultimatum to replace Khanduri. They had also claimed that they had the support of another 11 MLAs and if the party failed to heed to their demand, these resignation letters could then be handed over to the state Assembly speaker in Dehradun. The BJP has 36 MLAs in a House of 70 and another former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari leads the dissidents. Party dissidents from Uttarakhand had come here on August 11 and demanded a change of leadership. They had met several senior leaders, including Singh, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj and M. Venkaiah Naidu and most of all L.K. Advani. But Advani had asked them to allow the party high command time till the conclusion of the state panchayat elections. The fresh move coincides with the conclusion of the panchayat polls in the state, which the BJP has recently swept. Sushma Swaraj conceded that there were “problem of style” with Khanduri but added, “I and Venkaiahji have been talking to them (the dissidents) and we hope to sort out things in due course.” |
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Notice to MLA Cheema
Dehradun, October 21 Cheema had expressed dissatisfaction with the style of functioning of the Chief
Minister on television channels last night. Ajay Bhatt, general secretary, issued the notice asking Cheema to explain his
utterances against the party government within seven days. |
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CM’s bait fails
Dehradun, October 21 The discontent among party legislators just refused to die.The crisis in the ruling party has its roots in the race for the top post in the state following the victory of the party in the assembly elections last year. Former CM Bhagat Singh Koshiyari had to make way for Khanduri, who had the blessings of the central party leadership. In the past one year of the Khanduri rule, most disgruntled legislators have rallied around Koshiyari. The party suffered a jolt in September when 24 legislators approached the central leadership against the functioning of the Chief Minister. According to party sources, the rebels were persuaded to go back and work for the party win in the panchayat polls in the state. They were assured that their grievances would be addressed after the panchayat elections.At the same time, Khanduri was told to mend fences with the legislators. In a move to placate the legislators, the CM last week removed 23 posts of chairperson of various cells and committees out of the purview of office of profit. But the bait does not seem to have worked. |
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Skilled Workforce
Dehradun, October 21 The president of the apex business organisation Dr L.K. Malhotra and his team will touch the issues of water resources, skilled development and tourism with Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri here tomorrow. Outlining their agenda of interaction with the CM, Malhotra said they were of the view that the issues of creating trained manpower to cater to the requirements of the industry as well as tapping its great potential for power generation would go a long way in not only improving the employment scenario but also give a strong push to the economy of the hill state. “So we will make suggestions on how the Chamber can collaborate the state government in achieving these goals,” he said. As per the official assessment, the state has the potential of generating around 2500 MW power which besides meeting the power requirements of the state and its industry can fetch revenue to the tune of Rs 15,000 crore annually, informed Ravi Wig, chairman of Northern Region Development Council of the Chamber. Such a whopping income from the power sector can be used in funding 50 new hospitals and 300 schools annually in the state. “In this context, we will specifically discuss with the Chief Minister, the issue of constructing smaller dam projects for the purpose,” he said. Since the execution of these projects will involve 70 per cent civil work, so these could be a great source of employment for the local workforce over the next 15-20 years. On the issue of skill development, the state requires to go in for massive revamp of vocational and technical education being imparted in the state-run Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), industrial Training Centres (ITCs) and polytechnics. |
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Varsity students grill Rahul on Afzal issue
Dehradun, October 21 Rahul Gandhi said the judicial system was slow, but the youth must no lose patience. He said assassination case of his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had lingered on for years. He also interacted with teachers and employees of the university. He said divisive politics had no place in the country since India was a country of many cultures and religions. He was requested by the students to push for bringing railways to Karanprayag in Garhwal Himalayas. He hoped the granting of central university status to the university would go a long way in spreading quality higher education in the hills. He also visited Purola in Uttarkashi district and urged the youth to fight corruption. He emphasised the need for the youth to assume the role of leaders. He took stock of the problems faced by students due to shortage of schools in remote areas. In the evening, he visited Tehri and interacted with the youth there. |
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Four SPs for Rahul’s security
Dehradun, October 21 As per the information given by top police officials here, four SPs, six DSPs, 20 inspectors, 70 sub-inspectors, 45 head constables, 450 constables and three-and-a-half companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) will be deployed for security. Besides venues, where Rahul would be attending functions and programmes, police personnel would be present on all routes from where Rahul Gandhi’s cavalcade will pass. The police has also set up ‘safe houses’ at all places to be visited by Rahul. “A safe house is equipped with all types of security arrangements and serves as a place to safeguard the VIP in case of any exigency,” disclosed a police official engaged in security arrangements. SSP Amit Kumar Sinha has personally reviewed the security arrangements and is also convened a meeting with police officials. Speaking to The Tribune, he said that they have made elaborate security arrangements ahead of Rahul’s visit. |
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6 villages get electricity
Mussoorie, October 21 A total of six villages including the villages of Junsi, Jodi, Kaffolti, Chuti and Tuneta got electric power. According to Puran Singh, gram pradhan of Junsi, the villagers have been celebrating since yesterday. "Sweets were distributed in the entire gram sabha and people went to congratulate each other as if it were Diwali," he said. Pran Singh said that without electricity, the villagers have spent a major part of their lives in darkness. "But this year, the festival of lights will be very special to us," he added. The womenfolk derived satisfaction from the fact that electricity would help in improving the academic performance of their children. "Now our children would be able to study properly at night and would be able to do better at school," said Rama Devi from Junsi. |
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Displaced farmers burn effigies of BHEL, govt
Haridwar, October 21 The members gathered at Devpura Chowk for the protest. Later in the day, they squatted in front of the office of the District Magistrate and submitted a memorandum of demands. The factory was established in 1962 in which hundreds of acres belonging to nine villages was acquired by the then Uttar Pradesh government. The agitators are demanding employment, medical facilities and education for their children. They are also demanding that the vacant land outside the BHEL factory and residential quarters be given to displaced farmers. Irfan Ali, general secretary of the samiti, said they had launched an agitation earlier too following which the BHEL management had signed a pact with them on January 1, 2008, on temporary use of barren land but nothing had been done. BHEL officers, however said the land was given to them by the government on a lease and if there was any issue over the land, the farmers should approach the state government. |
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Terrorists, Maoists major threats, warns DGP Joshi
Dehradun, October 21 He said terrorism was acquiring alarming proportions and it needed a concerted effort to stop anti-national elements from succeeding in their sinister designs. Appreciating the men in uniform for their sacrifices in protecting their motherland, Khanduri said: “ Since Mahakumbh is to be held in 2010 in our state, terrorists will try to disturb peace so as to create panic among the masses. But I am confident that our police force will live up to expectations and wont let anyone commit this crime.” As a tribute to 10 CRPF jawans who died while fighting Chinese soldiers in Ladakh on October 21, 1959, every year a function is organised on this day. Uttarakhand DGP Subhash Joshi said terrorism and Maoist threat were the biggest dangers the country faced today. He, however, said the police was well-equipped and committed to maintaining peace. On the steps being taken for the welfare of police personnel, he said considering the fact that cops had to spent most of the time in field, there had been several cases of officials losing their life in road accidents. “ We have provided an insurance cover of Rs 20 lakh to policemen” he said, adding this year they had started Police Modern Schools for wards of the personnel. There was a proposal to set up a police hospital and police welfare bureau. Tourism minister Parkash Pant, chief secretary Indu Kumar Pandey and Speaker Harbans Kapoor were also present on the occasion. |
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Rural Litigation Kendra plans ‘open forum’
Dehradun, October 21 Uttarakhand had recently declared that gram pradhans in the state would be designated Public Information Officers of their respective panchayats under the Right to Information Act, 2005. Further, the block development officer would be the appellate authority over the gram pradhan. The elected block pramukh would act as information officer at the block level and the BDO would act as appellate authority. “This step by the state government is a conspiracy against grassroots democracy,” said RLEK chairman Avadhesh Kaushal, who said an elected representative could not be subordinate to any government officer. He said the ideal way to implement the Rights to Information Act would be discussed at the “Open Forum.” |
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Mission Reform at Haridwar jail
Haridwar, October 21 Their hands move efficiently as their feet control the pedals. They are busy stitching orange medicine handbags for an ayurvedic institution here. In another area, a young boy is weaving a rug on a handloom. Welcome to the Haridwar District Jail. Once infamous for its isolation and neglect, it now runs diverse rehabilitation projects, earns revenue from these and even helps other state prisons. "Just by putting a culprit in jail, the duty is not over. He does not get automatically reformed. He must be given an environment to evolve. Environment plays an important role in transforming the psyche of a convict," says Rakesh Verma, deputy jailer. With a big tailoring unit, a handloom project under the Uttarakhand Khadi Evam Gramudyog, a medicinal plant garden and educational courses, the jail with about 950 prisoners - of whom 400 are lifers - seem to be on a mission to reform. Mahendra Singh, chief jailer, says the aim behind the projects is to improve human rights standards inside penal institutions like jails. Perhaps, much of the credit for the change that has swept through the jail, especially in the past year, goes to District Magistrate (Anand Vardhan and IG (Prisons) Bhaskaranand. "Before the district magistrate took over its administration, no one could go beyond the main gate of Haridwar Jail. With the idea of an open jail in mind, the magistrate along with his team has transformed the jail," says Verma. The jail grows medicinal plants like Ashwagandha. One side of the barracks is utilised for growing aloe vera. The herbal garden grows stevia, which is 300 times sweeter than sugar, on a large scale. Lemon-scented eucalyptus citriodora is another useful plant grown in the premises. "The hard work of the prisoners has helped the jail earn a revenue of Rs.1.3 million since November 2003 from its plantation project," says Pawan Kothari, another deputy jailer. An old convict, Khushal Singh, serving a life term, is the supervisor of the garden. "Antaratma ka prakash hamesha khush rakhta hai, jis haal mein bhi rahna padey (Awakening in your soul always keeps you happy, whatever your situation). It's my sadguru's teaching," says the convict. The district magistrate has opened a National Institute of Open School (NIOS) centre in the jail under the human resources development ministry. Now prisoners can utilise their time studying high school and intermediate courses. In the academic session 2008-09, 24 prisoners filled application forms for high school and two for intermediate. The Rotary Club donated Rs 26,300 towards the fee of prisoner students. A study centre for Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has been established in the jail and 124 inmates registered with it. Ten computers have been donated for the project by the Gujarat Ambuja Foundation. Arun Chorakoti, a convict in the isolation cell, was one of the inmates enrolled for IGNOU's six-month computer course. He is a science graduate from Haldwani, a staunch Maoist and was reading an English newspaper sitting on his concrete bed on the floor when this reporter saw him. When wished all the best for the course, he reciprocated with a warm smile. Many also find solace in creative work. The Janmashtami festival has special craze for the inmates as Lord Krishna, whose birthday is celebrated on that day, was born behind bars. On that day, prisoners engage in making decorations depicting Krishna's birth. Another sculpture, that of Lord Shiva, greets one in the jail — the beautiful creation has been carved out with the help of a spoon by a prisoner, Pushkar Singh. They are all symbolic of reform in the jail. — IANS |
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Funds for Virasat no more
Dehradun, October 21 Virasat, which started on October 11 at BR Ambedkar ground in Dehradun and has been witness to performances by several celebrities, was in for a shock when the Uttarakhand government decided to discontinue its financial assistance. “We have to first analyse as to how any cultural festival would benefit the state before granting financial assistance to it,” the Chief Minister said. “It is solely the organiser’s headache if the financial crunch led to the cancellation of programmes of certain celebrities,” the Chief Minister said. Meanwhile, reacting to the development, Dr R.K. Singh of REACH, the organiser of Virasat, said they were yet to receive an official communication in this regard. He, however, categorically added that under any circumstances, it will be their endeavour to ensure that Virasat gets revived. He also said that Padma Shri Sobhana Narayan, Karan Sehgal and Bharti Shivaji have given their consent to perform at Virasat despite the unfortunate development and their performance will be on as per schedule on October 23. Despite being one of the most known cultural fest of Dehradun, Virasat has been in the thick of controversy with its detractors terming the show as of little interest to the local artistes |
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Dhabas to serve Hajmola
New Delhi, October 21 The company, which had earlier tied up with restaurant chain Nirula's to promote the product in the metros, is now looking beyond the urban landscape. It has already identified 150 dhabas on five highways from Delhi to Jaipur, Agra, Chandigarh, Dehradun and Haridwar. In the next phase, the company intends to add 1,000 more 'dhabas' to the list across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar. "We will start out with the northern region. In the next phase, we will move to the rest of India within the next six to nine months," Dabur India senior marketing manager (digestives) Rajeev John said. The idea is to promote Hajmola as a post-meal consumption product and achieve a greater connect with consumers. "So we are talking with various organised as well as unorganised retail chains in the metros to conduct our marketing activity and Nirula's is one of them," John added. He claimed Dabur India had a 70 per cent share in the estimated Rs 220-crore market of the digestive products. "We are a market leader in this category. With this initiative we will only be expanding the market. We want to take it beyond Rs 220 crore," he said. — PTI |
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Drive to boost fish production
Dehradun, October 21 For value addition, it was decided to set up a fish-processing unit in Udham Singh Nagar district. After chairing a meeting on the issue, minister for agriculture and fisheries Trivendra Singh Rawat said they had decided to start the drive in all 30 development blocks of the state. Local people would be imparted the necessary training to set up hatcheries. This could help tackle the problem of employment . The state is a favoured market destination for fish producers from outside. About 80 per cent of seafish consumed in the state comes from outside. The minister said the state had the potential of producing 62000 tonnes of fish annually. But the present production was only 6000 tonnes. As per the average national consumption, the state required production of 22,000 tonnes annually. “ We have set the target of increasing the production to 12,000 tonnes over the next five years,” he informed. As part of the drive, the government would appoint a fisheries-friend in each subdivision to supplement government efforts in boosting fish production. |
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Man found dead with his throat slit
Dehradun, October 21 “ When Surjit went to the house at 3.30 pm today, he found Arun’s body on the floor withthe throat slit,” said a police official. Arun also had head injuries. A case has been registered. Sleuths from the police department inspected the murder site. They gathered some clues with which they are likely to crack the case. |
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2 months gone, murder suspects still at large
Roorkee, October 21 In a harrowing incident on August 17, four men allegedly killed Sayed (24) by pouring kerosene on him and then setting him ablaze. The victim was admitted to the civil hospital here and later referred to Doon hospital where he succumbed to injuries. The father of the victim, Khalil Ahmed, in a letter to the SP, Haridwar (rural), has urged for action in the case. When contacted, SP Ajay Joshi said the police was on the lookout for the suspects and they would soon be arrested. "If suspects are not traceable, we will initiate the process to attach their property under Section 82-83 of the CrPC," he said. |
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Dehradun, October 21
