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Amid fanfare, Bahuguna files nomination
Analysis |
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BJP leader Kulvir quits for BSP
Shiv Sena also to back BJP
UKD minister Bhatt resigns
Birju frowns on Padma awards for filmstars
Central Zone Cricket Camp
St Thomas down Seven Oaks
Royal Club, Kiran XI in quarterfinals
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Amid fanfare, Bahuguna files nomination
Dehradun, April 17 Putting factionalism aside, all senior leaders of the state Congress, including legislators, were present on the occasion along with their supporters, jamming the main streets of Dehradun city. Thousands of party workers and supporters had started arriving from far-off places in Uttarkashi and Tehri Garhwal districts since last night. By this morning, the entire Congress Bhawan building was packed to capacity and the venue was shifted to nearby Gandhi Park. Harish Rawat, Congress Candidate from Haridwar, Yashpal Arya, Uttarakhand Congress chief, Indira Hariydesh, incharge of the election campaign committee, Leader of Opposition Harak Singh Rawat, along with party legislators from Dehradun, Tehri and Uttarkashi districts were present at the venue. While addressing a gathering of as many as 15,000 people, Congress leaders sought votes for the party so that a stable government, led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is formed at the Centre. Yashpal Arya said the massive gathering was an indication that Vijay Bahuguna has started the "Vijay Abhiyan" of the party. Bahuguna said during his two-year term, he could do whatever was possible in that time frame. Bahuguna had won the Tehri Garhwal seat in a byelection following the death of sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Manvendra Shah in 2007. Bahuguna claimed that he was instrumental in abolition of the 107-year-old gate system at Chakrata. In addition, people of Tehri got Rs 149 crore as special rehabilitation package, besides a hydroelectric engineering college, he claimed. Bahuguna promised that he would work to get backward class status for people of Jaunpur, Jaunsar and Gorkha communities if voted to power. Later, Bahuguna along with party leaders, legislators and workers filed four sets of nomination papers, seconded by party legislators, with the Returning Officer. "The huge response is a clear indication that people of the state have decided to vote for the Congress," said an elated Vijay Bahuguna. |
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Analysis
Dehradun, April 17 This follows the resignation of BJP legislator Munna Singh Chauhan and withdrawal of support by an Independent MLA Yashpal Benaam. Albeit it may not pose an immediate threat to the two-year-old Khanduri government, the development would definitely make the BJP more dependent on the two Independent legislators who are still in support of the government. Utttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) had won three seats in the assembly elections held in 2007 and had extended support to the BJP government. Diwakar Bhatt, a senior party leader, was made a Cabinet minister while the two leaders were given other offices. However, the rank and file of the party was against these leaders. And as the Lok Sabha elections drew closer, UKD workers demanded that the party should withdraw support from the state government and fight elections independently, after the BJP spurned UKD's plea of their candidate from at least one Lok Sabha seat out of the total five. Interestingly, while Bhatt was in favour of continuing support to BJP government, all others were against it. In the ensuing confusion, the party decided to field candidates for all the five seats. Now, with Bhatt's resignation, the next logical step should be withdrawal of support from the government. After the 2007 Assembly elections, BJP had won 35 seats out of the total 70. They got the support of three Independents namely Rajinder Bhandari, who was made sports minister, Yashpal Benaam and Gagan Singh Rajbar. The three-member UKD also supported the government making it easier for Khanduri to form the government. However, after a revolt by former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, who was also a legislator, he was sent packing to Rajya Sabha, which left the seat vacant. Subsequently, Independent legislator Yashpal Benaam withdrew support, followed by resignation of BJP legislator Munna Singh Chauhan. Although with two seats vacant and a nominated Anglo-Indian legislator there is no imminent threat to the survival of the Khanduri government, but these developments would make the party more vulnerable to pressures from the two Independents supporting the government. However, with elections less than a month away, these happenings would definitely demoralise the ruling BJP workers as well as give a wrong message to the general public about stability of the state government. Meanwhile, former UKD president and Bhagirathi Valley Development Authority chairman BD Raturi, while terming Bhatt's step as a hasty one, has denied any news of immediate withdrawal of support to the BJP government. He said Bhatt did not take the party into confidence before tendering his resignation. |
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BJP leader Kulvir quits for BSP
Roorkee, April 17 Giving reasons for leaving the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Kulvir Singh, who belongs to Gujjar community and represents the OBCs of the area, accused the BJP of ignoring the OBCs and other downtrodden classes, which led to him switching over to BSP. "While in the BJP, I tried a lot to put forward the problems of OBCs but no notice was ever taken by the top leaders," alleged Kulvir Singh. He added that the BJP did not give proper representation to OBC leaders, even though the backward classes have over 25 per cent of votes in the state. Lashing out at the top BJP leaders, Kulvir said, "The party is being run as a private limited company by a handful of persons. It lacks transparency and a democratic set up. I was quite suffocated." Before joining BJP last year, Kulvir Singh had contested Assembly elections on Lok Dal ticket from Manglore seat and lost to BSP's Qazi Nizam-ud-din by only 3,500 votes. He was polled as many as 22,000 votes. When asked the reasons for joining BSP, Kulvir Singh, whose real brother is sitting BSP MLA from Iqbalpur seat, said: "No specific reasons." However, he added: "Basically the party fights for the rights of the downtrodden, so we are going to support it in the forthcoming elections." |
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Shiv Sena also to back BJP
Dehradun, April 17 Kulkarni said while BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra stood rock-solid, the Sena aspires to strengthen the bond between two parties even in Uttarakhand. He said the Sena cadres in the state would be working wholeheartedly for ensuring a comprehensive win for BJP. Kulkarni said the polls were coming at an important time, when terrorism and recession stand as two big challenges before the nation. The state health minister said after the support of Rashtriya Lok Dal, Gorkha Democratic Front and now the Shiv Sena, the BJP would definitely secure a win from all five seats. |
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UKD minister Bhatt resigns
Dehradun, April 17 “While my party upheld the sanctity of the coalition dharma, the BJP repeatedly failed to do so,” he alleged. Referring to the nine-point agenda of the UKD placed before the BJP at the time of forming the coalition, he said: “None of the issues mentioned in the agenda, like permanent capital and delimitation, were taken up by the government and I decided to resign,” Bhatt said. Asked whether his resignation indicated the UKD had finally withdrawn support to the government, he said it was for the UKD Legislature Party to decide on the issue. “A decision will be taken by all three UKD legislators and the party shortly.” he maintained. The firebrand Bhatt said it would have been improper for the UKD to continue being part of the government while simultaneously contesting polls against the BJP. He expressed displeasure over the BJP rejection of his party’s offer for seat arrangements, saying the “honour of smaller parties should be upheld.” Bhatt, who represents the Deoprayag assembly constituency, was instrumental in stitching alliance with the BJP government two years back, despite vehement opposition from a section in his party.
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Birju frowns on Padma awards for filmstars
“We have a centuries old tradition that do not permit vulgarity through ‘shringar’ and ‘abhiney’. Several facets can be presented without resorting to grossness,” Birju Maharaj said. He was here to participate in the SPICMACAY Uttarakhand State Convention that began today. He was also critical of the way the Padma awards were being conferred on film stars, year after year. The youngest recipient of Padma Vibhushan back in 1984, kathak dancer Birju Maharaj was taken aback when his name was announced for the prestigious award. “Those days the awards retained their aura and sanctity and were deemed as rare honour being conferred on the artistes. “However, things have taken a downturn since then, going by the number of film stars who are bagging them every year, the influence of popular films seems to be overwhelming. As it is there is no dearth of awards for film stars but then why lower the prestige of awards,” rued the maestro. He began choreography with Shatranj Ke Khilari, even made Madhuri Dixit match her steps in Dil to Pagal Hai and Devdas. “Though it was an out an out commercial film, but the producers came with a proposal in which the thumri and bols composed by my father were used. “When I began apprenticeship under the tutelage of my guru and father Acchan Maharaj and uncles Lachu Maharaj and Shambu Maharaj, the times were different. “Every word of the gurus had to be imbibed and every action observed minutely to get the grasp of the minutest details of dance and music. There were no tape recorders or videos that are now being used as practice aids by students. “I was blessed with good observation, it helped me sail through tough dance schedule and it has paid me off. I can continuously dance for more than four hours though my disciples tell me to go slow, ” said Maharaj. The sounds of ghungru and tabla that reverberated in his ancestral house were his constant companions in Lucknow. “I was drawn to the activities taking place in my house. “As I was poor in mathematics and other subject so my father did not unnecessarily burden me with school curriculum,” he said. There is an interesting anecdote related to the evolution of Birju Maharaj and his family members, who were known as Kathakars or those reciting Katha originally belonging to Katha khai village in Hariya Tehsil in Allahabad. The conglomeration of people at the village, comprised of dancers, tabla players and singers all engaged in chitra katha, that is how kathak took it’s name,” said Maharaj. His family members later moved to Lucknow and became regular performers at the court of Nawab Wajid Ali, who even presented the family a house as a token of appreciation. |
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Wood Stock triumph
Dehradun, April 17 Doon International School won the first against Wynber Allen, by a margin of 27 points. Doon International School scored 14 points in the first half, whereas Wynberg Allen could scored two points in the first half. In the second half, Doon International School scored another 19 points whereas Wynberg Allen could get four points. The final scorer was 33-6 in Doon International School’s favour. In the second match, Wood Stock team outclassed St Goerges College by 20-17. In the first half, Wood Stock scored 10 points and St Goerges College scored 9 points. In the second half, Wood Stock scored another 10 points, whereas St Goerges College could only manage to score eight points. Vinay Gupta was the top scorer for Wood Stock team. In the third match, Doon School defeated Welham Boys-B team by 44-18. In the first half, Doon School scored 29 points and Welham Boys-B team could get score 12 points. In the second half, Doon School further scored 15 points over Welham Boys-B team. Whereas, Welham Boys-B could only manage to score 6 points. For Doon School Shivam scored 9 points and Tushar scored 10 points. In the last match of the day, Welham Boys-A team crushed Raja Ram Mohan Roy by 54-11. In the first half, Welham Boys-A team scored 34 points, whereas Raja Ram Mohan Roys could not open its account in the first half. In the second half, Welham Boys-A team scored 20 points to take their final score to 54. Raja Ram Mohan Roy team scored 11 points in the second half. For Welham Boys-A team, Zoraver scored 13 points and Rishibh made 10 points. |
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Central Zone Cricket Camp
Dehradun, April 17 This was the first BCCI camp that was to get underway on April 16 in Uttarakhand. The decision has come as a big setback to the state and Abhimanyu Cricket Academy, in particular, which had done all the preparations for the camp. Even the selected players for the Central Zone Camp were not informed about the decision by the BCCI, as most of the players had checked in at Abhimanyu Cricket Academy premises, a day before the camp was to get underway. The camp was scheduled to begin from April 16, and was seen as a great learning opportunity for the upcoming cricketers of the city. “This decision has come as a rude shock to me. I was busy making arrangement for the camp for past many weeks and they deserted me at the last moment,” said Easwaran. The decision has brought greater financial burden on Abhimanyu Cricket Academy. “It has already costed me 15 lakh and I am not sure whether they will refund me this amount or not,” said Easwaran. Preturbed over the whole issue Easwaran said, “It is all because of internal politics of BCCI. People like us become victim of such issues and have to bear the brunt.” The academy was supposed to offer all the facilities for the camp. It had to arrange for food, lodging, traveling and other such facilities for the players. The academy was also offering two turf wickets for the practice purposes along with one synthetic and a cement wicket. |
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St Thomas down Seven Oaks
Dehradun, April 17 The first match of the day was played between St Thomas College and Seven Oaks School. St Thomas College made 79 runs and Vipin was the top scorer for the match. Chasing the victory target, Seven Oaks was all out for 39 runs. In the second match, Doon Public School defeated Raja Rammohan Roy Academy by six wickets. Batting first, Raja Rammohan Roy scored 45 runs. Chasing the victory target, Doon Public School reached the target with six wickets in hand. In the third match of the day, The Aryan School registered one-wicket victory over Constancia School. Batting first, Constancia School made 53 runs. In the fourth match played between Guru Nanak Academy and Doon Blossoms School, Guru Nanak Academy won the match by 14 runs. Guru Nanak Academy piled 32 runs on board. Chasing victory target, It was a dismal show by Doon Blossoms as they were all out for 18 runs. |
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Royal Club, Kiran XI in quarterfinals
Dehradun, April 17 Royal Club won the match first match of the day against Morowala team by 128 runs. Batting first, Royal Club piled a mammoth total of 221 runs in 15 overs. It was a fine batting display by Royal Club. In form middle order batsman Wasim was the top scorer for the team with an unbeaten 63 runs off 25 balls, hitting five fours and six sixes in his innings, much to the delight of his team mates. Sanjay was the second highest scorer for the team with 38 runs off 14 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes in his innings. For the Morowala team Firoz, Imran, Aamir and Yousuf picked up one wicket each. Chasing the massive total, Morowala team was under pressure right from the beginning. They began on a bad note losing two quick wickets at the score of 12 runs. Yousuf was the top scorer for the team with 39 runs. The team was all out for 93 runs in 13.3 overs. For Royal Club, Sanjay, Sushil and Wasim picked up two wickets each. The second match of the day Kiran XI defeated Raipur XI by 31 runs. Batting first, Kiran XI team went on to score 173 runs in allotted 15 overs. The team openers paved the way for the team by scoring 37 runs. Middle order batsman Arvind was the highest scorer for the team with 63 runs off 33 balls, smashing two fours and six sixes. Chasing the victory target of 174 runs in 15 overs, Raipur XI was all out for 142 runs, falling shot by 31. Kedar was the top scorer for the team with 24 runs off 17 balls. Middle order batsman Naushad was the second highest scorer for the team with 23 runs. For Kiran XI, Sultan was the lead wicket taker with three wickets. Gaggu claimed two wickets for
the team. |
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Dehradun, April 17