Haridwar, April 15
Congress Uttarakhand election incharge Indira Hriyadesh during her tour of Haridwar highlighted the achievements of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre and termed the two-year tenure of the Khanduri-led state government as dismal.

From the nuclear deal to the stable Indian economy in the time of global recession, Hriyadesh put forth all major achievements of the UPA government.

She said that it is in the best interest of the country that people vote the Congress back to power.

“Only the Congress can provide a stable government. The fact that our economy is resisting worldwide financial meltdown is a testimony to this,” remarked Hriyadesh.

Clearing the party’s stance on the Women’s Reservation Bill, Hriyadesh said that only the Congress was clear about this Bill. Despite being tabled by the government in Parliament, it couldn’t be passed due to the non-cooperation from other political parties.

In Gram panchayats and municipal committees, reservation for women was bearing fruit as women are coming out of their homes and contributing socially and politically in the development of the country, she added.

On the question of her supporting Harish Rawat’s candidature during ticket allotment, she said that there was no factionalism and that Harish Rawat was a senior leader.

“He is a four-time MP and has seven years of experience as state Congress chief. He knows every nook and corner of the state. He has got the ticket on his own merit,” said Indira.

Lashing out at the state government for failing to provide basic and infrastructural facilities to the corporate sector, she said that had the BJP government given land to Tata as per their expansion requirement, the Nano, which is now being projected as the jewel of Gujarat, would have been jewel of Uttarakhand.

“It was only an issue of land allotment and had the BJP taken a wise decision, Nano’s revenue and taxes, apart from getting worldwide recognition, would have made Uttarakhand economically stronger and Pantnagar a global city” voiced Hriyadesh.

Hriyadesh put forth the Congress as a secular party and one which cares for the minorities. “The Congress had formed the Sachar Committee and its recommendations bore the truth and the real status of minorities which is quite helpful in their development and uplift,” she added.

Haridwar, April 15
After conducting a three-day religious discourse named ‘Sadbhavna Sammelan’, Satpal Maharaj, politician-cum-spiritual guru, is back to what he should be doing — politics.

As a spiritual guru, Satpal had recently conducted the sammelan which saw more than 50,000 of his followers from over the state.

Speaking to mediapersons, Satpal, Congress candidate from Pauri Garhwal constituency, was optimistic about his party’s victory on all five seats in the state.

“The BJP’s anti-people policies have put the common man in distress. All developmental works are hanging fire and the projects are buried in files. So, the people are looking for a change. The Congress is the party which the people are looking forward to,” said Maharaj.

Criticising Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri, Maharaj said that the Chief Minister has been inaugurating projects and developmental works which were sanctioned during the Congress regime two years back.

“He is riding on a false notion that people don’t know the truth and will vote the BJP to power,” he said.

On the last by-election result when he lost on postal ballot, Satpal termed it as a conspiracy. He said that this time, videography of the postal ballot counting would be done so that there is no misuse.

Satpal Maharaj had been contesting from Pauri Garhwal Lok Sabha seat since 1989 but has only won in 1996. This time, he faces his own disciple Lt Gen TPS Rawat (retd) whom he had brought into politics but who later defected to the BJP.

On the support of independent legislator from Pauri, Yashpal Benaam, Satpal Maharaj termed it as a right step in the right direction.

He said that with Benaam’s support, who himself is a former Congressman, the party is in a strong position.

The utter neglect by Chief minister BC Khanduri of his home constituency Pauri in terms of development work and projects will surely prove to be decisive in this election, he said.

Maharaj also lauded Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s economic policies and his stance on the nuclear deal which compelled the USA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group to have a nuclear deal on Indian terms.

Dehradun, April 15
While the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remain the two main political contestants in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in Uttarakhand, the third political party in the state, namely Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), is fast catching up in an effort to make the contest triangular in three out of five Lok Sabha seats.

Today, the Dehradun unit of the Maidani Kranti Dal merged with the BSP. MKD leaders and activists vowed to work for the victory of Munna Singh Chauhan, the BSP candidate for the Tehri parliamentary constituency.

In the first-ever assembly polls in Uttarakhand in February 2002, the BSP emerged as the third force in the new state by capturing seven assembly seats out of 70 and cornering 10.93 per cent votes.

The party improved upon its records by securing eight assembly segments in the second assembly polls in February 2007 by securing 11.76 per cent votes.

The BSP, which is concentrated in the plains, won six assembly segments in Haridwar district and two segments in Udham Singh Nagar district.

In the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, the BSP, taking a head start, has made the contest triangular in Nainital, Haridwar and Tehri Garhwal constituencies.

BSP chief Mayawati decided to field two of its legislators from Nainital and Haridwar seats.

While, Narayan Pal, a two-time legislator from Sitarganj in Udham Singh Nagar district, is party candidate from Nainital, Shahzad, leader of the BSP legislature party in the assembly and legislator from Bahadarbad, is contesting from Haridwar.

Out of total nine assembly segments in Haridwar district, the BSP has won six in the 2007 assembly polls.

In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, BSP candidate Bhagwan Dass polled 1,19,672 votes to secure 24.62 per cent of the total votes polled and stood second.

It is in Haridwar that party planners are sensing victory. However, with the entry of senior Congress leader Harish Rawat as Congress candidate and with the BJP and Samajwadi Party also in the fray, the contest has become all the more tough.

With more than four lakh voters belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Muslims in the Haridwar constituency, the BSP has a solid base to built its victory around.

Similarly, Narayan Pal, the BSP candidate in Nainital, has been working overtime for the past one year in the constituency which has a sizeable number of voters belonging to minorities namely Sikhs, Muslims and Dalits.

Even BSP chief Mayawati addressed a successful election rally at Rudrapur in the beginning of April.

In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, BSP candidate from Nainital had secured 50,803 votes. But this time, even the rivals admit that the contest would be triangular between the BSP, BJP and Congress.

KC Singh Baba, the sitting Congress MP will be defending his seat. The BJP has fielded Bachi Singh Rawat, a former union minister and president of the Uttarakhand unit of the BJP. The BSP got a shot in the arm when Vikasnagar BJP legislator Munna Singh Chauhan resigned from the assembly and quit his party to join the BSP.

He has been fielded as BSP candidate from Tehri Garhwal turning the straight contest between sitting Congress MP Vijay Bahuguna and ace shooter and BJP candidate Jaspal Rana into a triangular one.

Munna Singh Chauhan, a seasoned political campaigner, had been twice legislator - once as Samajwadi Party legislator from Chakrata in the Uttar Pradesh assembly and then winning the Vikasnagar assembly seat as BJP candidate. He also fought the 1998 and 1999 Lok Sabha elections as Samajwadi Party candidate from Tehri Garhwal securing 61,034 and 50,196 votes respectively.

In 1999, Vijay Bahuguna of the Congress lost the poll by only a margin of 15,771 votes to Manvendra Shah of the BJP while Munna Singh Chauhan secured more than 50,000 votes.

Dehradun, April 15
With a vision to reform the legal and judicial system in India and inform students about the various opportunities in the field of law, OP Jindal Global University is opening India’s first global law school in September in Sonepat, Haryana. The university will soon start its operations from Dehradun also.

Prof C Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor of Jindal University was here today to present career opportunities in Law and the need for global approach in the education system.

Unlike other ordinary Law schools, OP Jindal Global University aims to provide best of environment and opportunities required for students to compete with other international universities.

The university is starting its session in September in collaborations with leading Law Universities of the world like UN University, Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, New York University School of Law, King’s College London School of Law and Sydney School of Law.

In the present scenario, there’s an immense potential in the field of Law.

Globalisation has thrown great challenges for legal education to address the issues of increased trans-border trade, intellectual property, maritime transport, arbitration, human rights and many more.

Addressing a press conference, Prof C Raj Kumar said, “Gone are the days when lawyers used to practice only in courts.

“Presently, there are plethoras of opportunities and Jindal Law School aims to provide all basic qualities required to encourage research and philanthropic initiative in legal education in India.

“This will help in meeting global challenges and improving administration and perfecting the method of legislation,” he said.

Contrary to the national barriers for law career in the past, today many countries are allowing graduates of universities in other countries to enroll in the bar of their courts.

“Due to the increased levels of awareness, both parents and students hold a positive approach towards the upcoming careers in various fields.

“We are meeting various school principals and students in the city to enlighten them about our vision and various career opportunities available in the legal field. In collaboration with best of international law universities we have also tied up with top four law firms in India to provide a secure future to our students,” he said.

Students who are interested in the field of law would benefit from the global law school. It has an international benchmark and pedagogy, globally reputed faculties in teaching and research, state of library.

It also includes extensive electronic database, international students and faculty exchange program with scholarships and globally networked career development and placement division.

“Students who are interested may register online at www.Lawtestindia.com, and for graduate and under graduate courses, students should have minimum of 50 per cent in the lower examination after which they will be selected on merit through results of L-SAT India,” said Prof C Raj Kumar.

Dehradun, April 15
In order to foster links with the youth, the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Among the Youth (SPICMACAY), which was earlier confined to the state capital, is now spreading it’s wings by opening sub-chapters in other parts of the state.

Stating this today at a press conference, chairperson of SPICMACAY (Dehradun Chapter) Rupi Mahindroo said the Dehradun chapter of the society was established way back in 1987, since then the movement has managed to involve students studying at various colleges and schools in the city.

“Now, we plan to open a sub-chapter at Mussoorie and one in Garhwal in the near future.

“The idea is go beyond the metros and reach small towns and cities. We want to involve them with cultural activities and provide them with an opportunity to interact with musicians and performers hailing from different parts of the country,” said Rupi Mahindroo.

Elaborating further she said the Dehradun Chapter of SPIC MACAY will hold Uttarakhand State Convention between April 17 and April 19 in which renowned artistes Padma Vibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj, Padma Vibhushan Sonal Man Singh, Saswati Sen and Paramita Maitra and others are expected to perform.

“As has been the practice the artistes do not charge for their performances.

They readily agree to perform and even give lessons to children upholding the guru shishya parampara. Where else do you get to see maestros mingling with youngsters imbibing them the skills of sur, tal or even a dance step,” said Rupi.

To make the convention Uttarakhand centric the society would also focus on cultural traditions of the state. Special programmes have been slotted for the three days.

In an answer to a query if SPICMACAY focus was on elite schools and colleges, Rupi Mahindroo said, “ For this convention around 350 students will be participating in the convention. We have ensured that students from government schools too participate in the activities.

In fact the state education has promised to send around 80 students from various government schools of the state.” 

Dehradun, April 15
Pirated CDs and VCDs are openly sold at every nook and corner of the city. Piracy affects the business of cinema halls and authorised music stores. The most prominent locations where vendors can be easily noticed with old and new audio and video CDs are at Ashley Hall, Clock Tower and Paltan bazaar.

“We have been facing a hard time with the increased piracy business in the city, since last 15 years. Now days, viewers generally watch small budget movies at home due to the easy accessibility of cheap pirated movie CDs.

They avoid going to cinema halls and visit only when a block bluster releases,” said Chaudary Ram Bahadur, booking clerk at Orient cinema hall. In spite our complaints to the entertainment department and police, vendors are doing their business with openly,” said Chaudary.

Where a genuine movie CD comes for Rs 40 and above, pirated CDs are sold at Rs 20.

“Since the year 2007, piracy is at its peak and has definitely affected the sales of our store. But since the Moserbeer Company has come up with the low priced CDs, people prefer buying them.

“Those who want see the uncensored versions purchase CDs from vendors. They are least bothered by the fact that pirated CDs can even ruin their computers and CD players,” said Pradeep Kumar, area operation manager, Planet M.

Taking the matter seriously the district police has also launched a drive and has been conducting raids in the city. GC Tamta, circle officer, clock tower said, “Over few months we have conducted raids and have recovered thousands of pirated CDs in Paltan bazaar.

“We will continue our mission against the practice,” he said.

VK Saxena, assistant commisioner, Entertainment Tax said, “We conduct raids to control the menace but as they have a big network it’s not easy to eradicate the problem completely.

“ We our working on the issue and in future we are going to recruit more officers who will surely control the numbers of CD vendors in the city,” he said. 

Haridwar, April 15
The Balmiki community has come out in the open against illegal selling of liquor in the Ranipur area of the city. The Balmikis held a protest in the premises of the city magistrate’s office in Devpura and later handed him a memorandum specifying their demands.

The community has the support of the locals. Its members say despite repeated requests and demands, nothing concrete has been done in terms of real action and the liquor mafia continues to be a blot on the religious environs of the city.

Earlier too, Poonam Valmiki, now a Lok Sabha Haridwar candidate of the Valmiki Samaj, had led an agitation in this regard. On former district magistrate’s assurance, she had withdrawn her protest. But nothing was done to check the liquor mafia since and hence the protest.

Mira Katariya, a protester, pointed at the nuisance of the wine shop for those living in the vicinity. “The administration should instantly remove the illegal liquor shop at Ranipur Jhal as it is having a negative effect on the lives of area residents.”

According to Haridwar municipal committee bylaws, no liquor shop can be opened within the 12-km radius of Har-ki-Pauri. But the Ranipur Jhal wine shop violates this norm. Also, as it is situated on the Dehradun-Haridwar-Roorkee highway, it is a major nuisance.

“It can be risky to pass through the area, especially for girls, as inebriated persons often pass lewd comments and misbehave,” complained Muskan Negi, a Ranipur resident.

The agitators alleged that at ‘teerth ghats’ too, alcohol was being sold under the nose of the police. The administration had paid little heed to this issue.

A copy of the memorandum was forwarded to President Pratibha Patil, Governor BL Joshi, Chief Minister BC Khanduri, state cabinet minister Madan Kaushik and the chief secretary of Uttarakhand.

The city magistrate has assured the agitators that she will look into the matter and take proper action.

Among the agitators were Sathish Valmiki, Pradeep Valmiki, Munni Devi, Charan Das Ghodiyal, Raj Kumari, Maya Valmiki, Supriya, Radha, Sunaina, Kiran, Intzar Ansari, Ali Hasan, Meer Hasan, Rav Mir Hasan, Shankar Sharma, Krishna Devi, Sanjeev Kumar, Ismail Master and Mannu Valmiki.

Dehradun, April 15
Welham Boys School, Dehradun created history at the 19th Afzal Khan Basketball Tournament by clinching the trophy for the second time in a row, here today.

In the final held at Doon School, Welham Boys outclassed Lawrence School Sanawar 47-34.

It was a closely contested final between Welham Boys School and Lawrence School.

Both the team tried to mount pressure on each other in the first quarter by scoring frequently.

Welhams scored 8 points and Lawrence scored 7.

In the second quarter, Welham Boys was in control of the game scoring baskets at regular intervals, to score to 21 points.

Welham’s, Ravi scored two brilliant three pointers to help his team take the lead.

Lawrence School could only manage to score 12 in the second quarter to take the score to 19.

The third quarter was a low scoring one with Welham Boys managing to score just 9 points, whereas Lawrence School could only score three points from the quarter.

In the last quarter, Lawrence School made all efforts to cover-up the lead but failed.

The final score read 47 to 34 points in the Welham Boys favour.

Whereas, in the contest for the third place between Delhi Public School and Shri Ram Aravali School, Delhi Public School won the match by 54-26 in a one sided affair. 

Dehradun, April 15
Chandragupt section of Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) bagged the Inter-Section Basketball Championship, which concluded at RIMC, here yesterday.

Matches in three divisions were played between Chandragupt and Pratap - seniors, middles and juniors.

In the juniors match, Chandragupt defeated Pratap with a score of 18 - 14.

In the middles and seniors, Chandragupt again defeated Pratap with the scores 44-30 and 27-17 respectively.

The best player of juniors division was given to cadet Ankit Singh of Ranjit section.

Cadet Lalit Thapliyal of Pratap and cadet Rahul Kadian of Ranjit Section won the same award in middles and seniors, respectively.

The highest scorer was awarded to cadet Bhuperndra Singh, cadet Ayush Salaria and cadet Ankit Sood, all three representing Chandragupt in juniors, middles and seniors division, respetively.

Cadet B Valmansawma of Pratap bagged the most upcoming player of the tournament..

Col H Dharmarajan, SM, Commandant, RIMC spoke on the occasion and praised the high standards and skill of the cadets.

He also encouraged the cadets to practice the game regularly as the game had a great future.

He laid emphasis on sportsmanship, aggression on field and fair play.

The other dignitaries present were Lt Col Rajesh Nathawat, KS Ahlawat, Maj Rexson Robertson, CS Vishwakarma, Prashant Sharma and DN Thapliyal.

Dehradun, April 15
Mokhampur XI team and Doon Defence Academy registered victory at the ongoing Khalanga Cricket Tournament here yesterday.

Doon Defence Academy team registered 87 runs victory over MDDA team in the first match of the day. Batting first, Doon Academy piled a total of 178 runs in allotted 15 overs.

Vijay and Kuldeep gave their team a fine start contributing 29 runs in three overs. Raj Verma was the lead scorer for the team with 35 runs off 18 balls. Rahul was the second highest run getter scoring 26 runs off 15 balls. For MDDA team, Jhangir and Rohit took two wickets each.

The MDDA team was all out for 73 runs in 11 overs. Apart from the opening batsman Rohit, no other batsman showed resistance.

Rohit was the top scorer with 22 runs off 16 balls, smashing two fours and one six in his innings. For Doon Defence Academy, Rahul and Praveen took two wickets each.

Mokhampur XI registered 57 runs over DIT XI in the second match of the day.

The Mokhampur XI team scored a 117 runs in 15 overs. Vaibhav was the top scorer with 92 runs off 51 balls, hitting eight fours and eight sixes.

For DIR XI team Mahender and Kamaljeet took two wickets each. DIT XI scored 70 runs. Maheshwar was the top scorer for the team with 23 runs. For Mokhampur XI, Rinku, Ankit and Vicky picked up two wickets each.